Rome. A Tour through Ancient Rome in 320 C.E. Rome in a nutshell - HD - travel guide of italy. Early Christian Catacombs - Rome, Italy. The Early Christian catacombs are one of the most interesting and most popular sights in Rome.
Forming an underground maze in the outskirts of the city, the catacombs provide a rare glimpse into the earliest centuries of Christianity. In addition to the countless burial chambers that line the tunnels, the catacombs are home to some of the earliest examples of Christian art. History The burial custom of most ancient Romans tended to be cremation, with ashes stored in urns. But Christian belief in the bodily resurrection led the early Christians to reject this practice and bury their dead instead.
The catacombs had other advantages as well: they were an ideal way to strengthen the sense of Christian community (both in life and death) and they provided quiet, out-of-the-way places for memorial ceremonies and displaying Christian symbols. The first large-scale Christian catacombs were excavated in the 2nd century AD. What to See There are 40 known underground cemeteries in Rome. Map Data Map. Villa d'Este, Tivoli. Villa d'Este, Tivoli The Villa d'Este in Tivoli, with its palace and garden, is one of the most remarkable and comprehensive illustrations of Renaissance culture at its most refined.
Its innovative design along with the architectural components in the garden (fountains, ornamental basins, etc.) make this a unique example of an Italian 16th-century garden. Ostia Antica: The Ancient Port City of Rome. Ostia Antica Chapter 1: An Introduction and Overview. Ostia Antica Chapter 6: Baths and Bathing. Florence. Piazza della Signoria, Florence. Duomo di Firenze, Florence. The Duomo di Firenze, the Florence Cathedral, was built between 1296 and 1436.
The cathedral is one of the largest in the world. Its imposing dome, attributed to the Florentine architect Filippo Brunelleschi, still dominates the city. Cathedral Florence Cathedral The Cathedral of Florence, officially known as Cattedrale Santa Maria del Fiore but better known as the Duomo, was originally planned in 1296 as a Gothic cathedral by Arnolfo di Cambio. The new cathedral symbolized Florence's growing importance and was to be significantly larger than its predecessor. Front facade. Nice, France - 1080HD Travel Video. Barcelona Attractions. Sagrada Família, Barcelona. The Sagrada Família, Antoni Gaudí's unfinished masterpiece, is one of Barcelona's most popular tourist attractions.
Construction on this church will continue for at least another decade, but it has already become Barcelona's most important landmark. A New Church Sagrada Família. Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona. The Plaça de Catalunya, a large plaza surrounded by monumental buildings, is Barcelona's busiest square.
It is located between the old city (Ciutat Vella) and the nineteenth century Eixample district. Plaça de Catalunya. Montjuïc, Barcelona. The Montjuïc is a hill located near the center of Barcelona.
It features a large number of attractions including the Spanish Village, the Magic Fountain and MNAC, one of the city's most important museums. Sardana Monument, Montjuïc Several thousand years ago, Iberic Celts settled on the Montjuïc, a 213 meter high hill southeast of Barcelona's current city center. The hill was later used by the Romans as a ceremonial place. Today the Montjuïc is a mostly recreational area with a large number of sights and attractions, most of them originating from two major events that took place here: the 1929 International Exhibition and the 1992 Olympics. Palau Nacional Palau Nacional. Parc Güell, Barcelona. Parc Güell is one of the world's most intriguing parks.
The park's colorful main staircase and the fanciful pavilions that were designed by Antoni Gaudí look like they belong in some fairy tale. This popular park started out as a development project. Eusebi Güell, a well known Catalan industrialist, acquired a seventeen hectare (42 acres) large hilly plot in the Gràcia district, just north of Barcelona. He wanted to turn the area into a residential garden village based on English models. Sixty housing units as well as several public buildings were planned. Pavilion. Our Lady of the Pillar, Zaragoza. Top Ten Attractions in Madrid. Segovia. Parque del Retiro, Madrid. The Parque del Buen Retiro is the most popular park in Madrid.
It can get crowded during weekends when many Madrilenian families go for a stroll in the park and street musicians, sidewalk painters, fortune tellers, jugglers and street performers animate the crowd. A Royal Park The Retiro Park was created as a royal park; it belonged to the Real Sitio del Buen Retiro palace. Puerta del Sol, Madrid. The Plaza Puerta del Sol is the perfect starting point to explore Madrid.
This bustling, centrally located square is one of the city's most lively places. Now the heart of Madrid's historic center, this site used to be on the eastern border of the city. The plaza's name originates from the eastern city gate located here in the 15th century. The gate was probably called after a sun drawn on it, hence the name Puerta del Sol or 'Sun Gate'.
The current semi-oval square was created in the 19th century. Today the mostly car-free square is constantly bustling with people. Casa de Correos. Almudena Cathedral, Madrid. Madrid's cathedral, The Cathedral de la Almudena, took more than 100 years to complete.
It was finally consecrated by pope John-Paul II in 1993. Soon after King Philips II made Madrid the capital of Spain in 1561, he wanted a cathedral for his new capital. Partly due to political turbulences and strong opposition by the powerful archdiocese of the then larger city Toledo, the construction was constantly postponed. Finally in 1868 a congregation devoted to Virgin Almudena, the female patron saint of Madrid, received the permission from the archdiocese in Toledo to construct a new church dedicated to the patron saint. In 1883 construction finally starts and one year later, Madrid becomes a diocese thanks to Pope Leo XIII. Construction progressed slowly and even came to a complete halt during the civil war in the 1930s. Main nave. Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid. Possibly the most beautiful of the many grand squares in Madrid is the Plaza de Cibeles. The unfortunately heavily trafficed square is surrounded by majestic buildings. At its center is the Fuente de la Cibeles.
This fountain, named after Cibele (or Ceres), roman goddess of nature, is seen as one of Madrid's most important symbols. Madrid, Spain: Side-trip to El Escorial. El Escorial.