Europa attraktioner

Det verdensberømte Colosseum blev bygget i år 80 e. Kr. for de romerske kejsere til dødbringende gladiatorkampe og vildtjagt, hvor publikum så de voldsomme og spektakulære forestillinger. Adgangen var gratis, men publikum blev placeret i henhold til deres sociale rang og rigdom. Gladiatorkampe blev forbudt i år 438 e. Kr., men vildtjagten fortsatte indtil 523 e. Kr. Colosseum er fantastisk på grund af sin komplekse og avancerede arkitektur og byggemetode. Selv om det blev brugt som kilde til byggematerialer på forskellige tidspunkter i historien, er det stadig stort set intakt. Du kan se de lagdelte siddepladser, korridorer og de underjordiske rum, hvor dyr og gladiatorer afventede deres skæbne. I dag sætter Colosseum standarden for alle moderne stadions. Den eneste forskel er, at nutidens hold overlever kampene.

Bygget af Gustave Eiffel til verdensudstillingen i 1889 for at fejre hundredåret for den franske revolution - Eiffeltårnet (Tour Eiffel) var verdens højeste bygning med en højde på 320 m (1.050 fod), indtil Chrysler Building på Manhattan i New York stod færdig. I starten var Paris' kunstneriske og litterære elite modstandere af tårnet, og Eiffeltårnet var nær blevet revet ned i 1909. Tårnets redning kom, da det viste sig, at det var den ideelle platform for antenner til den nyligt opfundne radioteknik. I dag er udsigten fra tårnet højdepunktet for en tur til Paris. Når du har kigget op igennem tårnets jerndragere, kan du besøge de tre etager, der er åbne for offentligheden. Lige sydøst for Eiffeltårnet ligger der en græsmark, der engang var det sted, hvor verdens første ballonflyvninger fandt sted, og som i dag benyttes af teenagere som skateboard-stadion, og af politiske aktivister til at give udtryk for, hvad de mener om den franske stat.

The Louvre may be the world's greatest art museum. Don't be daunted by its size and overwhelming richness; if you have even the merest interest in the fruits of human civilization from antiquity to the 19th century, then visit you must. The former fortress began its career as a public museum in 1793 with 2,500 paintings; now some 30,000 are on display. The most famous works from antiquity include the Seated Scribe, the Jewels of Rameses II, and the armless duo - the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo. From the Renaissance, don't miss Michelangelo's Slaves, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and works by Raphael, Botticelli, and Titian. French masterpieces of the 19th century include Ingres' La Grande Odalisque, Géricault's The Raft of the Medusa, and the work of David and Delacroix. The Grand Louvre project has rejuvenated the museum with many new and renovated galleries now open to the public.

Paverne var blandt de allerførste adelige, der åbnede deres store kunstsamlinger for offentligheden. Pave Julius II (1443-1513) begyndte at indsamle skulpturer i renæssancen, og lige siden har de fleste paver deltaget aktivt i kunstverdenen og købt kunst fra de bedste kunstnere på deres tid. I dag kan du se Vatikanets utrolige samling på din rundvisning i det såkaldte Vatikanmuseum, som er et enormt kompleks af gallerier og museer, der udstiller malerier, skulpturer, kalkmalerier, vægtæpper og klassiske antikviteter (bl.a. romerske, græske og egyptiske). Der er naturligvis også samlinger af religiøs art, pavelige portrætter og overraskende nok også hestevogne og biler. Ethvert besøg i Vatikanet bør også omfatte det berømte Sixtinske Kapel og Raphael-rummene. Sørg for, at du har god tid til at vandre ad museernes snoede gange, smalle korridorer og trapper.

En stor del af berømmelsen er direkte relateret til, at det også er pavesædet: Det Sixtinske Kapel er, hvor samles for at vælge en ny pave (kendt som den pavelige konklave). Michelangelos betagende loftsfresker skabt mellem1508 og 1512 er den primære årsag til, at det Sixtinske Kapel er så berømt. Det store maleri skildrer skabelsen af verden, og til trods for, at det Sixtinske Kapel er én af Roms største turistattraktioner, er der alligevel plads til at nyde det kunstneriske indtryk fuldt ud. Oplevelsen forstærkes af, at en renovering foretaget for nylig har bragt både dybden i kunstværket og ikke mindst de ægte farver frem. Michelangelo vendte tilbage til det Sixtinske Kapel mellem 1537 og 1541 for at male den storslåede "Dommedag" på altervæggen. Meget få mennesker forlader det Sixtinske Kapel uden at føle sig bevæget af Michelangelos arbejde.

In Ancient Rome, the Forum was the centre of the Roman Empire. Until the 4th century AD, a thousand years of decisions affecting the future of Europe were made here. When Roman soldiers were out conquering the world in the name of the Emperors, temples, courts, markets, and government buildings were thriving in the Forum. Located between two of Rome's famous hills, the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, it is now a collection of ruins having spent centuries as a quarry for marble and a cow paddock. The Forum became a very dense collection of buildings in its time but mostly all that remains today is columns, arches, and some scattered marbles so it can be difficult to make sense of it all. Ongoing archaeological work continues, and getting a map or a guide can really bring the bustle of the ancient site to life. You can get a great view over the Forum from the overlooking hills in the Farnese Gardens and from Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio.

Paris lies 277 miles (445 km) from the river mouth and the slow-moving river is navigable up to 348 miles (560 km) inland from Le Havre, to Paris and beyond. This made it a lucrative trading route and Paris a prosperous city even back in the days of the Roman Empire. In Paris, many bridges cross the Seine, the oldest being the Pont Neuf dating from 1607 and the newest the Pont Charles de Gaulle completed in 1996. The river forks in central Paris creating two islands: the Ile de la Cité which is one of the most expensive districts to live, and the Ile Saint-Louis. Many of Paris's famous landmarks are beside the Seine: Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the Musée d'Orsay.

Stonehenge er af verdens største uløste mysterier og har fået folk til at spekulere og undre sig over, hvem der byggede det, hvorfor og hvordan i århundreder. Cirklen med de massive opretstående sten, der ligger midt på en grøn mark, er ca. 3.500 år gammel og vil måske for altid forblive indhyllet i mystik, hvilket gør den til et endnu mere spændende sted at besøge. Oplev den imponerende konstruktion, og hør de forskellige teorier, der er kommet frem om Stonehenge.

The Moulin Rouge is the world famous cabaret venue which opened in 1889. This was the time known as the Belle Epoque - France was not at war for a change, a century was coming to an end, creativity was blooming, and people were filled with the joys of life. What better time to launch a dance-hall of beautiful showgirls? The fact that Toulouse-Lautrec was obsessed with drawing them didn't hurt either. Opened by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler, who were confident their place would outshine everywhere else, the Moulin Rouge had a huge dance floor, mirrors everywhere, and an atmosphere of total euphoria. Here aristocrats came to mingle with the riffraff and women of easy virtue. There were even donkeys for the ladies with an adventurous spirit. Today there are no donkeys, but the euphoria continues. Oller and Zidler were right.

La Sagrada Familia er uden tvivl det mest ikoniske bygningsværk i Barcelona. Kirken, som ligger i L'Eixample, har været en fast og velkendt bestanddel af Barcelona, siden byggeriet begyndte i 1882, og da byggeriet fortsætter i dag, vokser dens berømmelse stadig. Selv om kirken stadig er under opførelse, er den allerede utroligt kompleks. Antoni Gaudí brugte 43 år på dette projekt, og siden hans død i 1926, har adskillige arkitekter haft ansvaret for at færdiggøre kirken. Selv om ansvaret har skiftet hænder med tiden, har arkitekterne overholdt Gaudís vision og har udført tilføjelser med hans oprindelige planer i tankerne. Inde i kirken findes imponerende mosaikruder i den store sal, og en elevator fører de besøgende op til et af tårnene, hvor de kan nyde udsigten. Mindre lokaler indeholder udstillinger om kirkens historie og fremtid. La Sagrada Familia forventes at stå færdig i 2026, hvor der er gået 100 år siden Gaudís død.< /p>

The Auschwitz concentration camp was established in April 1940 in the prewar Polish army barracks on the outskirts of Oświęcim. Originally intended for Polish political prisoners, the camp was 'repurposed ' as a dedicated center for the genocide of the Jews of Europe. For this purpose, the much larger camp at Birkenau (Brzezinka), also referred to as Auschwitz II, was built 2km west of the original site in 1941 and 1942, and another in Monowitz, several kilometers to the west. It is now estimated that this death factory eliminated some 1.6 million people of 27 nationalities, including 1.1 million Jews, 150,000 Poles and 23,000 Roma.Auschwitz was only partially destroyed by the fleeing Nazis, and many of the original brick buildings stand to this day as a bleak testament to the camp's history. Some 13 of the 30 surviving prison blocks now house museum exhibitions, either general or dedicated to victims from particular countries or races that lost citizens at Auschwitz.

Siena's magnificent Tuscan Gothic cathedral is not to be missed. And if you're in Siena you can't miss it because it dominates the place. Rising high with its magnificent white and greenish black stripes, it has a bit of red thrown in on the front facade and lots of detailing - including scrolls, biblical scenes and gargoyles. In the centre is the huge rose window designed by Duccio di Buoninsegna in 1288. Statues of prophets and philosophers by Giovanni Pisano which used to adorn the facade are now housed indoors at the nearby Museo Dell'Opera. Inside the place is equally impressive with art by Donatello, Bernini and early Michelangelo. Some of the best pieces such as Duccio di Buoninsegni's Maesta have been moved next door to the Museo Dell'Opera. Unlike other cathedrals where you are craning your neck to see magnificent ceilings and frescoes, here you need to look down at the mosaic floor. The whole floor is tiled and is one of the most impressive in Italy.

The Chateau de Versailles was the creation of Louis XIV. He took his father's hunting lodge and transformed it into the château, then moved the whole court and government of France from Paris to Versailles in 1682. The next two French kings added their own special touches but eventually it all became too much for the starving French people and in 1789 they revolted. After the French Revolution, Versailles was no longer the seat of power and after 1830 it became the Museum of the History of France. Any visit to Versailles must include seeing the Hall of Mirrors, the King's Grand Chambers, the Grand Trianon, the extensive formal gardens and Marie-Antoinette's famous estate.

Vatican City was created in 1929 and run by the Pope (who is the supreme monarch!). The official population is a little over 800 and it covers an area of 110 acres (44 hectares). Within the walls of the city are St Peter's Basilica, St Peter's Square, the Vatican Museums, the residence of the Pope and offices of the Catholic Church. Being a separate state, the Vatican has its own postage stamps, and the official language is Latin (as well as Italian). It has its own bank and the world's only ATM with instructions in Latin! Although it uses the euro, the Vatican does issue its own coins. The economy revolves around tourism, printing, mosaics and manufacturing uniforms (who knew!). There are two forces for law and order; one is the Gendarmerie, who keep order, the other is the Swiss Guard (notable for their crazy yellow, blue and red uniforms) the Pope's personal bodyguard since 1506. All 134 members are indeed from Switzerland.

Windsor Castle is the largest working castle in the world, meaning it is still occupied by royalty. For over 900 years, since William the Conqueror built a wooden fortress here, this has been a royal home and fortress. Queen Elizabeth spends a month at Easter, a week in June and most weekends at Windsor. This is also where she often hosts State Dinners for international dignitaries and entertains those she has knighted into the Order of the Garter.

St Peter's Basilica was built between 1506 and 1590, when the dome was finally completed. It is on the site of the tomb of St. Peter; his relics were finally found and authenticated in the middle of the 20th century. Before the current grand basilica, a 4th-century church built by Emperor Constantine stood here. This is a church like no other. It is huge and full of significant artworks and tombs, including that of Pope John Paul II. One of the most beautiful pieces is the marble Pieta by Michelangelo just inside the door on the right. It is now behind bullet proof glass after being attacked by an art-hating lunatic in 1972. If you can time your visit with a Mass, you will see the most important hierarchy of the Catholic Church come to worship in their red robes and hats. Climbing to the top of the dome gives a wonderful view over the piazza and Bernini's enclosing colonnade below, and across Rome.

Covering some 79 acres (32 hectares), the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens is the world’s largest flower garden. Come springtime, the meandering, wooded gardens are visited by some 800,000 flower-lovers, who come to soak up the blaze of color that envelops the park, its greenhouses, brooks and shady ponds and winding paths. It’s truly a memorable sight. At Keukenhof Tulip Gardens, nature’s talents are combined with artificial precision to create a wonder of landscaping, where millions of tulips, along with narcissi and daffodils, hyacinths, bluebells, and many others blossom perfectly in place and exactly on time. And if the temperatures have been wilting, don’t worry: fresh blooms are planted by helping hands for the duration of the season. Special exhibits are held in the pavilions around the site, and there are cafes and refreshment stands throughout.

If Paris has a heart, then this is it. The cathedral of Notre Dame (Cathédrale de Notre Dame de Paris) is not only a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture, but has also been Catholic Paris' ceremonial focus for seven centuries. The cathedral's immense interior, a marvel of medieval engineering, holds over 6,000 people and has spectacular rose windows. Although Notre Dame is regarded as a sublime architectural achievement, there are all sorts of minor anomalies, the result of centuries of aesthetic intervention. These include a trio of main entrances that are each shaped differently, and are accompanied by statues that were once coloured to make them more effective as Bible lessons for the masses. The interior is dominated by a 7,800-pipe organ that was restored but has not worked properly since.

Raphael's Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) are four interconnected rooms in the Vatican which have frescoes painted by the renowned Renaissance artist Raphael (1483 - 1520). These late Renaissance frescoes are the second-most famous in the Vatican's collection, only behind the fresco adorning the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Raphael's themes for his frescoes were religion and politics; he often swapped portraits of the incumbent pope for the faces of important figures. Originally commissioned by Pope Julius II in the early 1500s, the frescoes were patronized by Pope Leo X after Julius died in 1513. When Raphael also died in 1520, artists from his studio finished the paintings. The 'Segnatura' room was the first to be decorated and contains Raphael's most famous painting, The School of Athens. The other rooms are known as 'Constantine', 'Heliodorus' and 'Fire in the Borgo'.

The Alhambra is not only Spain’s greatest architectural treasure, but one of the world’s wonders. It might not wow you right up front like a Taj Mahal or a Great Pyramid, but soon enough that austere exterior reveals a wonderland of musical fountains, cunningly devised gardens and finely carved palaces. Its construction was begun in the 11th century on the red hill known as Assabika, which overlooks Granada. The Alcazaba fortress was the first structure to be built, followed by the royal palace and residence of members of the court.

In 1785, Paris decided to solve the problem of its overflowing cemeteries by exhuming the bones of the buried and relocating them to the tunnels of several disused quarries, leading to the creation of the Catacombs, basically corridors stacked with bones. They are 65 ft (20 m) underground and contain the remains of six million Parisians. During WWII, the tunnels were used as a headquarters by the Resistance. The route through the Catacombs begins at a small, dark green Belle Époque-style building in the centre of a grassy area of av Colonel Henri Roi-Tanguy, the new name of place Denfert Rochereau. The exit is at the end of 83 steps on rue Remy Dumoncel, southwest where a guard will check your bag for 'borrowed' bones.