Global Sports: Must See Tourist Attractions When Traveling In Italy

Friday, December 16, 2011

Must See Tourist Attractions When Traveling In Italy

By Eric Simmons


Traveling in Italy can be a once in a lifetime experience which is due to the scenery and historical sites. Not only are there exquisite art works awaiting the arrival of art lovers, but the landscape is a masterpiece in its own right. There are a multitude of places to visit in this country and far too many to list in a single article.

Because there are so many sites to see the following list contains some of the more popular venues that are open to the public. These include the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Borghese museum, the Vatican museum, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Roman coliseum. These structures are very popular so ordering tickets ahead of time is highly recommended to help avoid long waits in lines.

Built between 70 and 82 AD the Roman coliseum was built for pure and unadulterated entertainment. Unfortunately this entertainment included blood sports such as Gladiator games and chariot races where a multitude of men lost their lives. In order to provide enough room for the citizens, the architects provided an amazing 50,000 seats into the coliseum.

For art lovers the Vatican museums is a must visit location as the tours provide access to the Sistine Chapel where tourists can view the works of Michelangelo. But this is not the only reason to visit as there are treasures from the centuries when Rome ruled the lands and even treasures from Egypt. Tickets are available for entrance during the week and the museum is free for admission on the last Sunday of every month.

The Palazzo Vecchio of Florence is the city hall and is one of the most popular attractions in all of Florence. The building was constructed in the late thirteenth century and was built to house the newly formed Florentine Republic governmental offices. The name Palazzo Vecchio means old palace and the square on which it stands on was named after the building.

The Villa Borghese and the Borghese gardens are home to the Borghese Gallery which showcases numerous works of art from famed sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. Other floors offer paintings which are on display from famous artists such as Rubens and Raphael who were very influential during the Renaissance. The museum is truly one of a kind and should be visited if time permits during the trip, it is well worth the stop.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most recognized works of art the world over. This structure took over 177 years to complete and houses 7 total bells, one for each note in the major scale. The reason for the tower leaning is due to weakened and unsettled soil that was present when the workers started construction. When the ground finally settled, architects finished building the structure and actually built the upper levels unevenly to accommodate for the degree of lean.

Traveling in Italy is a once in a lifetime experience for most people that are lucky enough to visit the country. Because of this fact it is important to make it the best trip it can be and take in as many sites as possible. Life is too short to not enjoy the scenery and artwork that cities like Rome, Florence and Pisa have to offer.




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