Interesting places in Italy
ROME
This eternal city, located in the central part of the Mediterranean coast, should not be omitted while being in Italy. Rome has the greatest collection of relics dating back to different periods, the works of ancient and modern architecture and priceless treasures of culture and art. It is a cradle of the European civilization, once a capital city of one of the mightiest empires of the ancient times, a capital city of Christianity, a place where thousands of principles of law, politics, medicine, architecture, art, philosophy as well as military strategies were born.
An interesting fact for tourists is that Rome has the best-developed communication
network in the whole country, from the airport, dense railway network to the
underground which takes us nearly to every part of Rome. If tourists go sightseeing
in the centre of the city, they should bare in mind the traffic jams present
all the time and they should choose going on foot instead. The most interesting
relics are located in the oldest parts of the city, and tourists can take a
special cab which reaches the most wonderful places in Rome.
Here is a list of a few mot important and most valuable historical relics of
Rome that should not be omitted during sightseeing:
Capitolium – the ancient centre located on one of seven hills in the city. The most magnificent temple in the city was situated on its southern peak, and it was devoted to three patrons of Rome: Jupiter Greatest and Best , the goddess of wisdom and war - Minerva and Juno. The Capitolium was built according to the design of Michelangelo in the 16th century. A present trapezoid square – Piazza del Campidoglio – with wide stairs leading to it, called Cordonata, was also built at that time. The square is surrounded by Palazzo Nuovo and Palazzo dei Conservatori, which house Capitoline Museums with their valuable collections of sculptures and paintings. It is also worth to go to the back of the museum to see the Forum Romanum from the height of Tarpeian Rocks. Below the Capitolium there are the Forum, which was once a centre of trade, social and political life, emperor’s forum built for the increasing number of city inhabitants and the Colosseum- the centre of entertainment. Above the Forum there is the Platine Hill where Romulus founded Rome in 753 BC and where the emperors lived for 400 years.
Forum Romanum – from the ancient times it was a representative and a central part of the city. It was first occupied by merchants’ stalls and courts and later many temples and monuments were built there. The most interesting relics located there are the temples of Venus, Vesoasian, Antoninus and Faustina and the triumphal arch of Augustus; they were all renovated during the Roman times.
Colosseum – the construction of the biggest amphitheatre of Rome started in 72 AD at the order of the emperor Vespasan. The construction was completed in 79 AD. Next emperors and rich citizens organized gladiatorial and wild animals contests here to gain popularity. During its best years, the Colosseum had enough space for 50,000 spectators which were seated according to their social status.
Piazza Navona – a place that has been existing and has been inhabited for nearly 2 thousand years. Nowadays, it is mainly a concentration of cafes, picturesque restaurants and it is a centre of social lie in Rome.
Pantheon – a large number of narrow alleys comprises countless restaurants ad cafes and a few most beautiful relics of Rome. It is a political and financial centre of the city where the parliament, state offices and the market are located. The Pantheon with its spacious interior covered with a dome has been the symbol of the city for a long time. This Greek “temple of all gods” is the most extraordinary and best-preserved ancient building of Rome. Its rotunda with a semicircular dome has a diameter which equals its height; thanks to it the whole building has extraordinarily harmonious proportions. An opening in its peak is the only source of daylight. The Pantheon is full of tombs from a Modest Raphael epitaph to huge marble and porphyry sarcophagus of kings of united Italy.
Piazza di Spagna – it is one of the most elegant and exclusive districts of Rome. Numerous cafes, restaurants and shops attract countless crowds of tourists.
Piazza Venezia – a piazza built in the 15th century by Leone Battista Alberti. The Palace, situated on the square, was a pope’s residence untill the first half of 16th century and was next a seat of the Republic of Venice and the embassy of Austria-Hungary. During the reigns of Mussolini, palace chambers were his residence and the dictator gave his famous speeches from the palace balcony. Moreover, a fountain in the courtyard is also interesting and it shows a symbolic scene of engagement of Venice with the sea. Next to the place, there is another Roman monument – the San Marco church. The church was rebuilt in the 9th century. The interior of the temple consists of three aisles designed in the baroque style.
Spanish Steps – it is a famous work of the architect, Francesco de Sanctis, completed in 1726. The eternal Holy Trinity Church dating back to the 16th century, located at the top of the steps, draws a lot of attention. Spanish Steps is a most willingly visited place in Rome – fashion shows, flower fairs, festivals and cultural events take pace here. It is an excellent place for relaxation during the sightseeing in Rome.
Trevi Fountain– the design of the biggest and the most popular fountain in Rome was drawn in 1762 by Nicola Salvi. Its central figure is Neptune standing between two tritons and one of them is trying to tame a seahorse, and the second one is guiding a chariot of other calm creatures. These sculptures symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea.
VATICAN CITY
It was declared a sovereign city-state ruled by the Pope in the 30’s
of the 20th century. It has a population of about 500, it has its own post office,
banks, coins, officials, legal system, radio broadcasting station, shops ad
everyday newspaper. It is also a place where the greatest works of past and
modern art, priceless relics and magnificent buildings are located. Much attention
should be paid to the St. Peter’s Basilica which is the destination of
pilgrimages of tourists from all over the world. It delights with its rich decoration,
splendor, its rich relics and shiny marble. Hundreds of valuable pieces of art
are stored there. They include, for example, relics from the previous basilica
built in the 4th century by Constantine and other relics created in the period
of Renaissance and Baroque. A baldachin placed under a huge dome of Michelangelo
built on high spiral columns is a work of Bernini, as well as the throne of
St.Peter held by the figures of four saints and located in the apse above the
altar. The throne contains some fragments which are considered to be the remnants
of the chair, from which St. Peter preached for the first time. The next “pearl”
of Vatican are the famous Vatican Museums which consist of the Sistine Chapel,
the Stanze decorated by Raphael and one of the most valuable collection of works
of art in the world. They are located in the Renaissance palaces of the popes:
Sixtus IV, Innocent VIII and Julius II. The major changes of the buildings were
made in the 18th century when the priceless treasures gathered there for centuries
were made available for public. The greatest treasures of Vatican are also excellent
monuments of ancient art of Greece and Rome as well as magnificent ancient Egyptian
and Etruscan relics found during archeological excavations in the 19th century.
The works of the greatest artists of Italy, i.e., Rafael, Michelangelo and Leonardo
da Vinci are located in Pinacoteca, which is a picture gallery, and in different
parts of pope’s palaces, where the artists received the orders to decorate
the halls and the galleries of apartments. Michelangelo received an order from
the Pope Julius II to paint frescos on the dome of the chapel. He worked on
them between 1508-1512 using a special scaffold. The central part with the scenes
of the Creation of the World and Fall of Man is surrounded by the Old Testament
prophets and Sybilla, who are said to have prophesied the birth of the Christ.
Michelangelo painted the Doomsday on the altar wall in years 1536-1541. Basilica
of St. John Lateran is one of four patriarchal basilicas located in Rome and
Vatican. The temple was built at the beginning of the 4th century (approx. 313
- 319) as the Savior church and first in the times of the Pope Gregory the Great
the church was renamed and called the John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist
church. In the 14th century, the church was the residence of the pope, but for
a short period of time, because the church was burned during the times of the
great schism. That is when the pope Gregory IX decided to move the pope’s
capital city to Vatican. Restoration works of the temple lasted very long- from
the 16th to the 19th century. The present appearance was finished during the
pontificate of the Innocent X . The interior of the church draws the attention
thanks to huge status of 12 apostles made by the apprentices of Bernini; the
dome is decorated with the emblems of three popes, the Gothic baldachin is placed
on the main altar and there is a colorful mosaic on the apse from the 13th century
and frescos from the 15th and the 16th centuries showing the history of basilica.
Next to the temple, there are also side chapels- the place of burial of popes
and cardinals.
Aventine is one of the greenest parts of the city; it comprises the Caelius
and Aventine Hills as well as a densely built-up area surrounding San Giovanni
in Laterano basilica. The Caelius Hill, where many churches are located currently,
was a very fashionable district in Rome in the ancient times. The remnants of
the past magnificence can be observed in the ruins of Karakalla thermal springs.
Behind the baths there is the Aventine – a quiet, green area with a magnificent
Santa Sabina basilica and with a view over Trastevere and the St. Peter’s
Basilica.
VENICE
Venice has been one of the most important and the biggest harbors of the Mediterranean Sea for more than thousand years. It was built on an unstable area of a boggy lagoon, it was flooded by the sea for a coupe of times over hundreds of years, but it avoided destruction and still offers its visitors countless number of relics, interesting architecture and unforgettable atmosphere. It is one of the most popular places for tourists in the world. Here is a list of a few mot important and most valuable historical relics of Venice that should not be omitted during sightseeing:
Canal Grande – the best and the most pleasant way to admire the Canal
Grande, which winds through the whole city, is a trip on the water tram. The
palaces, which were built within five centuries and which stand along the channel,
are also worth the attention. They constitute a panorama of the city’s
history. Most of them are named after the surnames of the past great Venice
families.
Canal Grande from Rialto to San Marco – behind Rialto the channel takes
a turning. This stretch is called La Vilta (turning). In the vicinity of San
Marco, it broadens and offers its most breathtaking views. The colors of facades
got blurred with time, the waves rounded the walls of foundations, but the channel
is still “the most beautiful street in the world” - as the French
ambassador said in 1495.
San Polo – Rialto Bridge and bazaars have been attracting tourists for
years. For centuries, it has been a traditional commercial street, where bankers,
intermediaries and buyers do their business. There are no stalls with spices
and valuable fabrics, but it is worth to see vegetable market and shops with
pasta that can’t be found in any other place. Further from the bridge,
the alleys are empty; they lead to small squares and lost and charming churches.
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari – this church, called Frari, is a gothic
building dominating the eastern part of San Polo square. The first church at
this place was built by Franciscans in the middle of the 13th century. Next,
it was replaced by a bigger temple completed in the middle of the 15th century.
The interior is astonishing due to its size and valuable works of art stored
here, e.g., masterpieces of Tatian, Giovanni Bellini, the sculpture of Donatello
and many impressive tombs.
Dorsoduro – the district of Venice built on the firm ground – its
name means „ a firm back”. Its center comprises a lively Campo Santa
Margherita – the biggest open space of the city. The square is full of
life, especially in the morning, when the market stalls are open, and in the
evening when hordes of students from the nearby Ca’ Foscari, which is
a seat of the university in Venice, go out. Side alleys consist many treasures
of architecture like, for example, Ca’ Rezzonico and Scuola Grande dei
Carmini with Tiepol’s decorations.
Among many channels, a picturesque Rio San Barnaba can be admired from Ponte
dei Pugni, which is also near to the barge where fruit and vegetables are sold.
Along Rio Terrà channel, there are a few popular cafes and an interesting
shop with carnival masks.
Piazza San Marco – it is probably the best-known place in Venice among
tourists in the world. During its long history, Piazza San Marco was a witness
of many gatherings, processions, political events and countless carnivals. It
is now full of tourists who want to see the two most important historical monuments
of the city – the Basilica and Doge’s Palace. Apart from these buildings,
there are also: a campanile, Museo Correr and Torre dell’Orologio, not
to mention the gardens – Giardinetti Reali, orchestras playing outdoors,
chic cafes – especially Quadri and Florian – and numerous elegant
shops.
Basilica di San Marco – this famous Venetian basilica is a combination
of styles from the East and West. As a result, one of the most magnificent buildings
in Europe was constructed. Its exterior splendor is a result of great treasures
brought from oversea properties of Venice. Among them, there are famous bronze
horses (currently replaced by Copies) stolen in 1204 in Constantinople, countless
columns, low reliefs, colorful marbles covering the façade. Mosaics from
different periods decorate tympanums and the niches of five portals and in the
main entry there are the Roman sculptures (1240-1265)- one of the most beautiful
sculptures in Italy.
Doge’s Palace- it was an official seat of the Venetian ruler – the
doge. The beginning of the construction works dates back to the 9th century.
The present look of the palace is the result of construction works from the
14th century and the beginning of the 15th century. Its constructors broke with
tradition and based the smooth body of the three-storey building made of pink
marble from Verona on an openwork lace loggia and arcades made of Istrian marble
and they created a light masterpiece of Venetian gothic.
Santi Giovanni e Paolo Church (St.John. and St. Paul), called by the Venetians
San Zanipolo, competes with the Frari Church for the title of the biggest Gothic
temple in the town. It was constructed in the 13th century and extended by the
Dominicans in the 14th century; it distinguishes itself by its huge and severe
body. It is also called a Venetian Pantheon, because the tombs of at least 25
doges are located there. Many of them are outstanding works of art made by the
artists form the Lombardi family and other sculptors.
Correra Museum– it is located in the Royal Palace on the Pizza San Marco.
It stores collections of old coins, pottery and Venetian painting. Works of
Bartolomeo, Vivarini, Carpaccio can be found here.
Museum of Archeology – it is located in the Royal Palace on the Pizza
San Marco. It stores a rich collection of Greek and Roman sculptures.
FLORENCE
The history of this beautiful city dates back to the beginning of anno dominium when the Romans founded a settlement at this place for former soldiers and its name remained unchanged. Florence is currently a proof of its rich and long history. It is a city of relics, great works of architecture and art, galleries and museums.
San Marco – it used to be the outskirts of Florence where stables and barracks were located in the past . The menagerie of the Medici family , where lions, elephants and giraffes were kept, was housed here. Currently, it is a student district, groups of students in a hurry to attend their lectures at Accademia di Belle Arti – the oldest European art university founded in 1563, are often seen here.
Santa Maria del Flore – a cathedral standing in the center of the city,
with a dome covered with a light-red tile roof at the top, became the symbol
of Florence. Florentine inhabitants, driven by a desire to be the best at everything,
constructed a building which is currently the biggest in the city and is the
fourth-biggest building in Europe. Its baptistery with magnificent bronze doors
dates back to the beginning of the 4th century and is one of the oldest buildings
of the city. The campanile designed by Giotto in 1334, was completed after the
death of its creator in 1359.
Uffizi – the concentration of the greatest works of art of Italian Renaissance
as well as of masterpieces made in countries remoted from Italy such as: the
Netherlands, Spain and Germany. The Medici family had been collecting these
works for centuries and in 1581 they were moved to Uffizi. Anna Maria Lodovica,
the last person from the Medicici family, devised all the treasures of art to
Florence.
Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio – they were the centre of political
and social life of Florence from the 14th century. A huge bell summoned the
inhabitants of the city to parlamento (public gathering) in the past. The square
is currently a popular place for walks among the inhabitants and tourists. Sculptures
are the remainders of important events from the city’s history. However,
a simple plate lying in the pavement, which is located in the vicinity of loggia,
is dedicated to the most important event- that is the place where the fanatical
leader of masses, Girolamo Savonarola, was burned at the stake.
Piazza della Repubblica – the street plan of present Florence is partially
identical with the antique network of streets of a Roman city. This phenomenon
can be best observed in the neighborhood of former forum which is currently
the Republic square surrounded by narrow alleys. The main market was once located
on this central square, but in the 60’s of the 19th century the whole
quarter was destroyed to make space for the construction of a new square and
a triumphal arch, which currently looms over the local houses.
San Lorenzo – was a parish church of the Medici family. In 1419, Brunelleschi
rebuilt the temple in the classical Renaissance style. Nearly 100 years later,
Michelangelo started works on the tombs of the Medici family. He also designed
a library consisting great collections of manuscripts gathered by the Medici
family.
Santa Maria Novella Church was built between 1279-1357 by the Dominicans. The
lower Roman part of the façade was set in the new one designed in accordance
with classical standards of proportions by one of the architects of the Renaissance,
Leon Battista, and completed in the 15th century. Magnificent frescos can be
found in the Gothic interior and the “Holy Trinity” of Masaccio
is among them .
Santa Maria del Carmine Church is known for its series of frescos located in
the chapel of the Brancacci family. They show the life of St. Peter. The decoration
of the Chapel was initiated by Masolino in 1425 and the works were continued
by his apprentice - Masaccio. Due to the innovatory use of perspective by Masaccio,
the dramatic narration and realistic tragic nature of figures, the artist is
considered to be one of the most prominent artists of the Renaissance.
Oltrarno – a district of Florence consisting in particular of small houses.
There are many antique shops and small groceries. Via Maggio, a lively arterial
route is different, but it is enough to turn into many side alleys to find peace
and quiet among old backstreets of Florence and to be far away from bustle and
crowd. Local restaurants offer simple and inexpensive dishes. In numerous workshops
and studios antiques are being renovated. It is worth to visit Santo Spirito
Church and Palazzo Pitti – one of the biggest palaces in Florence comprising
museums, where the collections are second- best after collections in Uffizi
as far as their size and abundance are concerned.