Europe Explored » architectural history https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Grande Italia: Experience the Best of the Tuscany Region https://europeexplored.com/2012/10/22/grande-italia-experience-the-best-of-the-tuscany-region/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/10/22/grande-italia-experience-the-best-of-the-tuscany-region/#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:53:11 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=11923 Italy is one of the most romantic places to visit in the world, and when you are planning your Italian getaway you want to be sure that you experience the best it has to offer. When travelling to the very popular Tuscany region of the country, book your Tuscany villas and prepare to be blown […]

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Italy is one of the most romantic places to visit in the world, and when you are planning your Italian getaway you want to be sure that you experience the best it has to offer. When travelling to the very popular Tuscany region of the country, book your Tuscany villas and prepare to be blown away by the beauty, culture, and offerings of Italy. Here are the best areas of Tuscany to visit as awarded by U.S. News Travel.

1) Florence

The capitol of the Tuscany region, Florence is one of the top destinations in all of Italy. U.S. News Travel rated the city based on the value, food offerings, atmosphere, and overall experience and awarded Florence a five out of five in all categories. There is a rich architectural history in Firenze, but there is so much more to do and see than just pretty buildings. While in Florence, be sure to check out the Duomo, the Galleria dell’Accademia, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Boboli Gardens—don’t forget all of the local shops and restaurants as well!

Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Florence, Tuscany, Italy by Chris Yunker

2) Siena

Scoring just behind Florence in the best places to visit in Tuscany is the city of Siena. The U.S. News Travel report gave it an overall score of 4.6 having scored a five in value and a 4.5 in each food offerings and atmosphere. When visiting Siena you will get a whole different experience than in a city such as Florence as it is the quintessential example of the Gothic era, as can be seen when taking in the sites of the area’s buildings and architecture. Some of the major attractions you won’t want to miss out on include: the Piazza del Campo, the Torre del Mangia, Museale di Santa Maria della Scala, and the Siena Cathedral.

Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Siena, Tuscany, Italy by Lars Magne Sunnanå

3) Cinque Terre

For the more adventurous and outdoorsy visitors, a trip to Cinque Terre is a must. It is not just one town, but rather a group of towns that lie along high cliffs that overlooks the Liguarian Sea. This beautiful pairing of villages has been protected from mass development as it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a national park. Once you secure one of the beautiful Tuscany villas in the area be sure to come here to experience the hiking, beaches, and boat tours.

Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy
Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy by Richard Kelland

No matter where you choose to spend your Tuscany vacation—whether you are experiencing just one city or the entire region—be sure to take full advantage of the wonderful sites, delicious food, and rich culture of one of Italy’s most popular regions.

Stephen Craig is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow him @SCraigSEO.

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Notre Dame du Haut – unique Roman Catholic chapel in France https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/01/notre-dame-du-haut-unique-roman-catholic-chapel-in-france/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/01/notre-dame-du-haut-unique-roman-catholic-chapel-in-france/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 19:51:36 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=3598 Notre Dame du Haut is a unique Roman Catholic chapel of the French architect Le Corbusier. It is situated at Ronchamp in Haute-Saone department in the region of Franche-Comté in France. It was built between 1950-1955 and is one of the most daring solution of the church buildings in the history of architecture at all. […]

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Notre Dame du Haut is a unique Roman Catholic chapel of the French architect Le Corbusier. It is situated at Ronchamp in Haute-Saone department in the region of Franche-Comté in France. It was built between 1950-1955 and is one of the most daring solution of the church buildings in the history of architecture at all.

Le Corbusier (Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, 1887 – 1965) has been dominated in French architecture from the 1920. Notre Dame du Haut, was built on the foundations of a Christian chapel of 4th century, which was destroyed during the World War II. The construction of Notre Dame du Haut represents an extreme outcome of Corbusier’s artistic endeavors. The chapel has a simple structure with two entrances, the main altar and chapel under the towers. Concrete and stone, which were the remnant of the original chapel, form the basics of the monumental structure.

Notre Dame du Haut is the first example of post-modern architecture. Its exclusivity – both in the history of European architecture and architectural history of the church – can everyone appreciate in Ronchamps.


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