Tips for tourists
luni, 30 aprilie 2012
marți, 24 aprilie 2012
Top 5 places to see in Venice
Venice
is a unique city built entirely on water, which managed to survive without cars
to this day. The city remained unchanged for hundreds of years and is like a
time machine that offers
lovely views.
1. Basilica San Marco
This
lovely Byzantine church dominates the Piazza San Marco and was built to show
the world the infinite power of the Venetian Republic and to house the tomb of
St. Mark. Visitors can admire the west façade, the atrium and floor mosaics, the
central dome and Pala D Oro, the gold atlarpiece
decorated with jewels, made in Constantinople
in 926.
The Basilica houses a museum where there is a
bronze quadriga with gold-plated horses, statues that adorned the Hippodrome of
Constantinople. Loggia dei Cavalli is a wonderful balcony overlooking the
Piazza San Marco, decorated with replicas of horses in the museum.
2. Doges Palace
This
palace was the official residence of the Venetian Doges and features a
wonderful combination of Gothic, Byzantine and Renaissance architecture. The
palace is decorated with paintings and sculptures of famous artists, including
Titian, Tintoretto and Bellini. It
includes The Hall of the Full Council, flourished with canvases illustrating Venice 's victories, The Senate
Hall, a fascinating maze of cells for prisoners and the Doge's apartments,
decorated with rich brocades, impressive fireplaces, gilded ceilings and
artwork.
3. Piazza San Marco
The political and religious
centre of Venice used to be the garden of an old monastery, crossed by a river.
The square is animated by a museum complex,
elegant cafes and orchestras. Here you can find Basilica San Marco, The Doges
Palace, the Clock Tower, Campanile tower (98 meters tall) and the columns of
St. Mark and Sf.Theodore.
4. Canal Grande
It is Venice's highway, with
a length of 4 km and a width of 30-70 meters. It winds through the city with a double curve, and its banks are full of
the most beautiful palaces, such as Fondaco Dei Turchi, a Venetian-Byzantine
building with an exotic air and round arches, and Ca' Pesaro , a magnificent Baroque palace
decorated with stone work. Important nobles and merchants once lived in these
castles.
5. Rialto Bridge
This
bridge is located at the narrowest point of the Canal Grande, it is 28 meters long
and was built out of stone in 1588. In the middle of the bridge are
small shops selling jewellery, paintings, Murano glass and other items for
tourists.
Top 5 places to see in Prague
Prague, also
known as the City of a hundred towers, is located on the Vltava river in the
heart of Europe. The city’s architecture’s is over 600 years old, but it is
very well preserved. The new town contrasts with the old town and it is crossed
by wide boulevards and large squares, out of which Wenceslas Square is the best known one.
1. Olt town (Staroměstská namesti)
All the old
buildings date century from the 11th century. Besides Prague Castle ,
St. Vitus Cathedral and Charles
Bridge , there are many
churches and palaces that make up an extraordinarily architectural, cultural
and artistic complex. The oldest part of the complex is St. George, dating in
921. The center has a surface of 866 ha and it is situated on the banks of the Vltava River .
It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.
2. Prague Castle
The Prague
Castle is an amazing castle that hosts the presidential office. It is the
largest medieval complex in Europe , with a
surface of 7 ha. The Castle holds the royal treasury. On the Gold Street there are 11 historical
houses built within the castle walls, where medieval armor and textiles are
exposed.
3. City Hall
and Astronomical Clock
The appearance of the City Hall has changed several times over the
years, but it became famous after the events of 1419 connected to Jan Hus.
Today, the memorial hall hosts cultural, social and religious events. The
astronomical clock dates from the 15th century. Every hour a small
door opens and figurines come out through it in the sound made by bells.
Beneath the clock there are 12 medallions with zodiacal signs. The Tower Hall
is one of the most impressive buildings in the city. Inside there are stairs
and elevators that tourists can use to visit it
.
4. Charles Bridge
The construction of Charles Bridge began in
1357 and was completed at the beginning of the 15th century. It is
515 meters long and 9,50 meters wide. It has 16 pillars (with heights ranging
between 16 and 23 meters) and it is 13 meters above the River Vltava. Since
1657, statues have been placed over the bridge. In the 20th century,
the old statues have been replaced with modern replicas of baroque statues.
5. The Hebrew
Quarter
This district is named
after the Franz Josef Emperor and it preserves remnants of the old Hebrew
ghetto. The Hebrew
Museum has one of the
most impressive collections of Jewish art in the world. The old cemetery is the
oldest Hebrew cemetery in Europe . In the
neighborhood there are several museums housing historical synagogues and many
amazing buildings.
Top 5 places to see in Istanbul
Istanbul is the
only city in the world located on two continents and it is connected to two
seas: Black Sea and Marmara Sea. The old city was called Constantinople
and was the house of the Patriarch of the Eastern Christians until the Muslims
conquered it. The city lies at the confluence of several cultures.
1. Hagia Sophia
It was
originally a Christian-Orthodox church and was converted into a mosque in 1453
and then into a museum in 1953. It is covered by a dome that is 56 meters tall,
supported by pendants. Hagia Sophia is one of the most important examples of
Byzantine architecture that remains to this day. For 1,000 years, it was the
biggest Orthodox cathedral.
2. Blue Mosque
It was built
between 1609-1616 by Sultan Ahmet I to compete with Hagia Sophia. It is the
largest mosque in Istanbul and one of the most
famous, the only mosque in Turkey
that has six towers. It is built in classical Ottoman style, with spacious
interiors, impressive columns and a dome with Arabian motifs painted in the
ceiling. It gets its name from the 20,000 blue tiles decorated with flowers,
trees and abstract motifs. At the exterior there are 260 stained pieces of
glass and very tall domes supported on four enormous circular pillars.
3. Topkapi Palace
This palace
housed all the Ottoman sultans until the king Abdulmeid I (1860). The palace
was built by Mehmet II after the conquest of Constantinople ,
has an area of 700,000 square meters and a wall of 1400 meters, on which there
are three main gates: Otluk, Demir and Bab-i Hamayun. The palace is a complex
of buildings and annexes that are constantly being developed.
4. Basilica
Cistern
This huge
cistern was founded by Emperor Justinian I and was a venue for artistic and
scientific activities. At the entrance there are 52 steps that you need to
climb down in order to reach the wonderful, 9 meters tall columns set on 12
rows. The wall is 4,8 meters thick and the bricks were plastered with a thick
layer of mortar Horasan to be waterproof.
5. Grand Bazaar
This is one of
the largest covered markets in the world, with 60 streets and 5,000 shops and
is known for its jewelry, hand painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries and
antiques. The Grand Bazaar has been an important commercial center since 1461
and is located at the end of the two main streets.
Top 5 places to see in Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital of Romania, a member state of
the European Union. Although it is not at all as visited as other capitals in
the EU, Bucharest offers many interesting buildings and places.
1. Palace of the Parliament
It is the most controversial building in
Bucharest: while it amazes by size (being the second largest administrative
building in the World, after the Pentagon), for the Romanian people it is also
a vivid reminder of the sufferance they had to endure while former communist
dictator Nicolae Ceausescu continued his megalomaniac vision of the capital.
The building has 12 stories above ground and 8 stories underground, as well as
a huge anti-nuclear bunker. There are a total of 1100 rooms in the building.
The construction began in 1981 and there still are parts of the building that
have not been completed up to now.
2. Triumphal Arch
The Triumphal Arch was raised in order to
celebrate Romania’s victory in World War I. It was built in 1921 and restored
in 1935. It is 27 meters tall, half the size of the Triumphal Arch in Paris.
3.
The Village Museum
It is an open air museum that illustrates the different
architectural styles in rural Romania. The museum was opened to the general
public in 1936. The houses in the museum have been dismembered from the area
they come from, transported to Bucharest and that set back together within the
museum. The oldest house was built in the 17th century and the
newest one was built in the 19th century.
Built more than a century ago (between
1886-1888), The Atenaeum is a symbol for the Romanian culture and architecture.
It is built in a neoclassical style, but it also has some romantic influences. The
columns at the entrance remind us of ancient Greek buildings. In 1992 the
building was seriously restored, the total cost of the restoration being of 9 million
euros.
5.
The historic centre
The old centre of Bucharest lets you take a glance at the medieval
era or admire the many palaces and old buildings it houses. Thanks to many
investors and business men, the historic centre is now flourishing, becoming
one of the most animated areas of the city. Lots of cafes, clubs and restaurant
await you in this place of mixed architecture, culture and historical periods.
Top 5 places to see in Athens
Today’s Athens is a
bustling city where the past and the present meet at every step. Athens
attracts many tourists due to its pleasant climate, excellent traditional
cuisine, culture and history.
1. Acropolis
The most beautiful and
famous temple in Athens, a symbol of Greece, is located on this hill. It dates back
from the Vth century BC and reflects the beauty, wealth and power of
Athens. The stairs at the entrance, called Propilaea, were built by architect
Mnesicles. In south-west there is the Ionian temple of Nike Aptera, which has
been recently restored. The Parthenon and other buildings on the Acropolis were
built by Pericles in the Vth century BC. The Parthenon was built by
Iktinos Kallicrates to house a huge statue of Athena. Today it is the
world's most imitated building and it is in an ongoing process of restoration.
2. The Temple of Zeus
The Olympic Temple of Zeus,
called Olympeion, is located at 500 meters from the Acropolis and it is built
with marble from the Mount Pentelus. It is 96 meters long and 40 meters wide.
It had 104 columns, each 17 meters in height. Only 15 of these columns remained.
Hadrian dedicated the temple to Zeus.
3. The National
Archaeological Museum
This is the largest museum
in Greece and one of the largest in the world. The museum houses over 20,000
exhibits, including the most important historical vestiges around the country. It
offers a complete view of the Greek civilization, from prehistoric times to the
late Roman period. The museum is located in an imposing building that on its 5
stories houses Prehistoric Antiquities, sculptures, collections of vases and
minor arts, metalwork collection and Egyptian Collection and the Middle East.
Also, the museum features an impressive collection of photographs and a library
of rare books.
4.
Theater of Dionysus
This is the world's first theater built in stone and is the birthplace of the Greek tragedy. Here have been played works by Aeschylus, Sofocles, Euripides and Aristophanes. The theater dates back from the Roman Empire, had a capacity of 17,000 spectators and had 64 rows of seats, out of which 20 have remained to this day.
This is the world's first theater built in stone and is the birthplace of the Greek tragedy. Here have been played works by Aeschylus, Sofocles, Euripides and Aristophanes. The theater dates back from the Roman Empire, had a capacity of 17,000 spectators and had 64 rows of seats, out of which 20 have remained to this day.
5. Piraeus
This is the largest port of Greece, dating from the time of Temistocles. It gained importance when Greece became a naval power. It covers 8 km and consists of 3 ports. The harbor area is particularly important and has great streets, squares and parks.
Top 5 places to see in Bruges
Bruges
is an unique place because the local authorities have done everything in their
powers to maintain the medieval atmosphere and image of the city. The unique
combination of old and new fascinates everyone who comes for the first time in Bruges .
1. The
historic center
The historic center of Bruges became
part of UNESCO in 2000. Modern architecture and infrastructure
are rare in the center of Bruges. The streets are still covered by typical
medieval cobblestone instead of asphalt. Many historic buildings have been declared monuments
protected by the town council. Visiting the historic center is like travelling
back in time.
2. The Groeninge
Museum
The museum
was named after the street where the Flemish armies defeated the troops of the
French king in 1302. The museum's collection includes works of art belonging to
artists who lived or worked in
Bruges. The most important artwork in the museum is "Virgin with
the priest Joris van der Paele" painted by Jan Van Eyck in 1436. Other
paintings from the 15th century are "Virgin's Death" by
Hugo van der Goes, "Altar of St. Christopher" by Hans Memling and
"Baptism of Jesus" by Gerard David. Another part of the museum
includes artworks from Renaissance and Baroque painters such as Jan Provoost,
Lanceloot Blondeel, Adriaan Pieter Isenbrant and Pourbus. The 19th
century is represented by works from artists such as Joseph spool, Ducq Jozef,
Jozef Odevaere and Albert Gregory.
3. The Belfort
Tower
The Belfort
Tower in Bruges is a tourist attraction that was
built in the 13th century. It is 88 meters tall and houses the
treasure of old Bruges. If you decide to go up the 366 steps, you can admire
the impressive clock mechanism which has 47 bells, each with different sounds
and functions. The highlight is the panoramic city view from the top of the
tower.
4. Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate
Museum is a landmark located in "De Croon House" which dates from
1480. Here you can see various sculptures in chocolate and a history of how it
evolved. If
you want to discover how cocoa turned into chocolate and to
learn about the aspects of quality and health of the Belgian chocolate, you should
definitely visit the chocolate museum.
5. Aquarium
The Aquarium
has 1600 seats, providing enough space for all those who want admire the dolphins
and the seals in a fascinating show. Besides the performances offered by the
animals, the park also offers other attractions: mountain rousse (Hurricane,
Orca Ride), huge swings (Sancta Maria), panoramic Ferris wheel (Explorer II),
chains (Wave Swinger), water slides (Toboggan AQUATIQUE ), Carousel (Carrousel)
and antique cars (Oldtimers).
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