Gondolas in VeniceVenetian gondolas began in the early 14th century and were the primary form of transportation in Venice from the 12th century until speedboats roared into the canals in the late 20th. The average gondola ride is $120 and lasts for 40 minutes. Gondolas in Venice used to be a mode of transportation, but is now a tourist activity
|
ColosseumThe Colosseum is an oval amphitheater built out of concrete that is centered in Rome, Italy. This amazing structure was built between 72-80 AD. The Colosseum could hold between 50,000-80,000 people, with an average audience of 65,000 people. It held gladiator shows as well as other events for entertainment. As the world’s 39th most popular tourist destination, the Colosseum attracts about 4 million visitors each year.
|
Leaning Tower of Pisathe Leaning Tower of Pisa is a 183.3 feet high bell tower located in Pisa, Italy. Construction began in 1173 and was completed in 1372. The tower began to tilt during its construction because the ground on one side of the foundation was too soft and did not fully support the building.
|
The Vatican CityThe Vatican city state is located within the city of Rome and is ruled by the Pope. The name "Vatican City" came about on 11 February 1929 in the Lateran Treaty which established the modern city-state. Vatican City is the smallest state in the world with an area of .17 square miles and a population of approximately 1,000 people.
In the Vatican City there are religious and cultural sites such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. |
Amalfi CoastDuring the 11th and 12th centuries, Amalfi was the main city in the Amalfi Maritime Republic, and was a powerful naval force across the mediterranean. The first document of Amalfi was in 596 in a letter to the Pope. Amalfi declared itself a republic in 839, it remained isolated until Ferdinand II, Bourbon King of Naples, ordered a road to be built linking the villages along the coast. The villages were built by local architects, who used lively colors to represent their ideas portrayed by the buildings. Here, art and architecture worked hand in hand. A famous site in Amalfi would be the Emerald Grotto, which was discovered by Luigi Buoncore in 1932, a cave covered in stalagmites and stalactites where sunlight is absorbed by the water, and a blueish-green water is formed. This is a largely visited tourist attraction because of its beaches, homes, and overall color.
|
Trevi FountainThe Trevi Fountain was built and designed by Nicolò Salvi between 1732 and 1762. Clement XII had been the one to have the fountain built, and finished the construction once Salvi died. The Statue, “Oceanus” stands on a seashell that is being pulled by seahorses, and symbolizes water in every aspect, from lakes to ponds to rivers and oceans. Statues of “Abbondanza” and “Salubrità” sit on the right and left. Additionally, the coat of arms of the Orsini is found around the fountain. The long-standing tradition is that one who tosses a coin into the fountain is destined to return to Rome one day.
|
PompeiiThe first inhabitants of Pompeii were the colonists from the Oschi people, who lived by the volcano’s southern slope. Pompeii was a the time, controlled partially by Greeks, so it is not a surprise that the word Pompeii believed to be derived from Greek word “pempo” which means to dispatch. Samnites took control of the region and united it for the first time, ending the wars between the Greeks and Etruscans. This period was the time when Pompeii rediscovered its Hellenistic influence and its Italian nature was more widely seen throughout. Pompeii began as just a city on a slope until a chain of unfortunate events occurred leading to the end the civilization. It began with a violent earthquake in 62 A.D., that caused many buildings to go under construction to be rebuilt And then, in 79 A.D., the worst came about the city of Pompeii. Mount Vesuvius erupted, covering the entire city in mud and lava, killing everyone in the area. Fumes and ash covered the city in the days to follow and the site became a burial for the roughly 2,000 people who died from the eruption. The city was left untouched until it was rediscovered in the 1500-1600s. Since then, archaeologists have found writings and messages along the walls of the city, and are fascinated by the history belonging to them. Additionally, the silhouettes of bodies of the inhabitants who live there are still preserved in Pompeii today. Pompeii’s miraculous return to existence has brought a special touch to the Italian culture.
|