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 Two of Barcelona's most famous streets, the Rambla (a wide promenade in the old city) and the Passeig de Gràcia (a grand showcase of modernist architecture in Eixample) start at the Plaça de Catalunya. Even though the square is enormous in size, it is constantly crowded with people walking to and from one of the nine streets emanating from the square. History Until the middle of the nineteenth century the Plaça de Catalunya was a rural area just outside the city walls. Eixample Masterplan The first place was awarded to a design by Rovira i Trias, which consisted of a plan with streets radiating from the historic Barri Gòtic neighborhood. The central government prevailed and the new Eixample district was designed according to Cerdà's design. Final Design La Deessa The Square
sans titre Sénèque dans Epistula 14 XC raconte à sa manière l’invention de la meule à broyer le grain : le sage aurait imité un processus naturel ! Lisez plutôt ! Deinde non est contentus his artibus, sed in pistrinum sapientem summittit; narrat enim quemadmodum rerum naturam imitatus panem coeperit facere. ‘Receptas’ inquit ‘in os fruges concurrens inter se duritia dentium frangit, et quidquid excidit ad eosdem dentes lingua refertur; tunc umore miscetur ut facilius per fauces lubricas transeat; cum peruenit in uentrem, aequali eius feruore concoquitur; tunc demum corpori accedit. Mais, non content de leur avoir attribué ces découvertes, il abaisse le sage jusqu’à le transformer en boulanger. Sur la terre était répandu un pauvre monceau de blé ; il en prend pour lui autant qu’en contenait sa mesure, qui peut renfermer le poids de deux fois huit livres.
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. The Villa d'Este, one of the first giardini delle meraviglie , was an early model for the development of European gardens. La Villa d'Este à Tivoli avec son palais et son jardin est un des témoignages les plus remarquables et complets de la culture de la Renaissance dans ce qu'elle a de plus raffiné. La Villa d'Este, de par sa conception novatrice et l'ingéniosité des ouvrages architecturaux de son jardin (fontaines, bassins, etc.), est un exemple incomparable de jardin italien du XVIe siècle. فيلاّ ديستي، تيفولي source: UNESCO/ERI 提沃利城的伊斯特别墅 提沃利城的伊斯特别墅及其宫殿和花园，全面系统而鲜明地反映了最精致的文艺复兴文化。 Вилла д`Эсте в Тиволи Villa d’Este (Tívoli) ティヴォリのエステ家別荘
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 In 1900 Güell commissioned his friend and protégé Antoni Gaudí with the development of the project. In 1918 the city of Barcelona acquired the property and in 1922 it opened to the public as a park. Two houses were completed as well as pavilions for visitors and park keepers. A connecting flight of stairs leads to another famous feature of the park: the Gran Placa Circular.
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. 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. Many modern depictions of the catacombs show them as hiding places for Christian populations during times of persecution, but there is little evidence for this. What to See Map Data Map References
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 One of these sights is the Palau Nacional (National Palace), originally built as the central pavilion for the International Exhibition. Magic Fountain Magic Fountain Mies van der Rohe Pavilion Mies van der Rohe Pavilion Poble Espanyol Poble Espanyol Anella Olímpica MontjuïcTelecommunicationsTower Montjuïc Gardens Castell de Montjuïc
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. is partially laid out in a formal French style, while other parts are more natural. Museo del Ejército Of the original palace, only two buildings survived, the rest was destroyed during the Napoleonic wars. Alfonso XII Monument is the cross that Columbus took with him to the New World. The Lake Close to the northern entrance of the Parque del Retiro is a large artificial lake, the Estanque del Retiro. Palacio de Cristal equestrian statue of the King in front. Palacios More to the south is another, much smaller lake. Palacio de Velázquez Satan Another feature of the park is the Rose Garden, the Rosaleda. Location
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 The idea for the construction of a new church was launched by a devout organisation whose goal was to bring an end to the de-christianisation of the Barcelonese, which had started with the industrialization and was caused by the increasing level of education of the Catalan population. The organisation purchased a plot of land in the new Eixample district in 1877. Antoni Gaudí's Design One year later, the modernist architect Antoni Gaudí took over as lead architect at the age of 31. Instead of sticking to the original plans, Gaudí changed the design drastically. Two of the towers Detail of theNativity Facade one facade (the Nativity Facade), one tower, the apse and the crypt were finished. Eighteen Towers Construction
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. Today the mostly car-free square is constantly bustling with people. Casa de Correos nearby such as the Plaza Mayor, the Opera House and the Plaza de Cibeles. In the middle of the Puerta del Sol is a large equestrian statue of King Carlos III, installed here in 1997. Kilometer 0 In the 19th century the building housed the Interior Ministry. In front of the Casa de Correos, on the pavement, is the 'kilometer 0' plaque, marking the center of the Spanish road network. El Oso y El Madroño It is the starting point from where all the highway distances are measured. The Puerta del Sol is also the location of the most famous symbol of Madrid: a 20 ton statue of a bear eating fruits from a tree.
Piazza della Signoria, Florence The origin of the square goes back to the thirteenth century, when the area was owned by the Uberti Family, at the time the most powerful family in Florence. The Uberti supported the Ghibellines (a pro-imperial faction) while their main opponents, the Buondelmonti family, supported the Guelphs (a pro-papal faction). The two parties tried to gain control for centuries, with the Ghibellines gaining the upper hand. In 1266 however, after the defeat of the imperial army at the Battle of Benevento, the Guelphs expelled the Uberti family and all their properties were razed. As a symbol of victory, the rubble was not cleared for more than a decade, after which it became an open square. Construction of a new building for the city council started at the end of the thirteenth century. While the square is not as large as some other Tuscan cities like Siena, it is very lively thanks to the many sights nearby. In 1533 another statue was added to the square, Hercules, created by Baccio Bandinelli.
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. 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 style would contrast with the neo classical style of the future cathedral's famous neighbor, the Royal Palace. While works would continue until 1999, the Almudena cathedral was officially declared complete in 1993. Pope John-Paul II That same year pope John-Paul II consecrated the new cathedral. The cathedral is 104m long and 76m wide.