Cultural sightseeing in Italy

Italy is a country with an amazingly rich history and culture. Its capital, Rome, was founded in the 8th century BC, and for millennia its history was shrouded in legends, myths and great historical achievements. On the territory of the city there are monuments of history and architecture. One of the most recognizable is the Roman Coliseum, built in the 1st century. The Coliseum served as an amphitheater, where gladiators fought and other amusements of the ancient Romans were held. It accommodated more than 50 thousand people. Another unique construction is the Roman Forum, consisting of a complex of buildings. In the days of Ancient Rome, it was the center of the cultural, spiritual, political and economic life of the empire. It includes the temples of Saturn, Venus and Roma, Vesta, Caesar, Concordia, several arches, basilicas.

In the heart of Rome, the Pantheon, built in the 2nd century under Emperor Hadrian, was preserved. The temple of all the gods was built during the heydays of Roman architecture and has a non-standard form for the pantheon. Its dome towers over the modern city till date, forcing mental flashbacks. On the banks of the Tiber you can see the Castle of the Holy Angel, built in the 2nd century which became the mausoleum of Adriana. For a long time after the adoption of Christianity, the castle was the center and symbol of papal authority. Today it houses a museum where you can get acquainted with the history of this amazing structure. The symbol of the Catholic Church is St. Paul's Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Europe and the largest historical temple in the world. It was built in the 17th century. Such masters as Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, and Bramante worked on decorating its facades.

A fascinating excursion awaits the guests of Rome in the Capitoline Museums, the most ancient complex in the world. The museums were located in three palaces, created by Michelangelo Buanarroti in the 16th century. These museums present the legendary exhibits of the ancient world. The Museum of Rome, located in a historic building with incredible architecture, will tell visitors the history of the city from ancient times until the 19th century. A huge number of museums are concentrated in the Vatican. In the Gregorian Egyptian Museum you can get acquainted with the history of Ancient Egypt, see the sarcophagus’s covers, funeral masks, mummies, as well as statues of ancient gods. The Sistine Chapel will charm the unsurpassed works of the great Italian masters Michelangelo, Botticelli, Perugio. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

There are 155 UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the territory of Italy. This is more than in any other country in the world. Florence is another unique city in Italy. On its territory are an incredible number of monuments of history and museums. One of the most recognizable buildings of the city is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Flore, founded in the 13th century. It is in the heart of the city and is its symbol. Another popular attraction of the city is the Basilica of Santa Croce, painted with frescoes of Florentines Giotto, Gadi, and Veneziano. The Uffizi Museum is one of the oldest in Europe. The gallery was founded in the 16th century. It contains thousands of priceless paintings, antique sculptures, tapestries.

Venice was one of the largest and most developed cities in Europe. Today the city is a real open-air museum; most of the buildings in it are of historical value. One of the main attractions of the city is the Doge's Palace, founded in the 14th century and executed in the Gothic style. The palace is decorated with thousands of decorative elements and together with the oldest library of San Marco and St. Mark's Cathedral, sets the tone for the whole architecture of the city. The historical center of Naples is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Naples, it is worth visiting Castel Nuovo, built in the 13th century, which has witnessed many historical battles.

Milan is the second largest city in Italy. It has a huge number of museums and historical monuments. The symbol of the city is the Milan Cathedral in the style of flaming Gothic, amazing in its beauty. It was constructed in the 14th century. The Ambrosian library contains Leonardo da Vinci's unique manuscripts, and Villa Reale became the home of Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine. Genoa is another ancient city of Italy, a former independent republic for many centuries. The symbol of Genoa is Piazza Ferrari, the main square in the center. On the Via Garibaldi Street are the palaces of the aristocratic nobility of the city. Another popular area among tourists is Bokkadance, a region on the seashore where sailors live.