Colosseum, Rome, Italy / Photo by admin

A Bit of Romance

If you want a bit of romance you know where to go, don’t you? Actually, the whole country is extremely good for romantic breaks but the word Venice springs instantly into the minds of most couples who want to enjoy an unforgettable break. Even if you have read a thousand stories about the place and seen hundreds of pictures of it you will still be bowled over by the setting and the atmosphere.

A Lot of Art

Art is all around you when you go to Italy and nowhere more so than in Florence. This famously beautiful city holds some of the most exciting art treasures known to man. If walking from one museum to another and looking from one stunning piece of art to another is your idea of heaven this is a fantastic choice of destination. As it is in Tuscany you can expect great food and lots of friendly hospitality.

A Whole of Sight Seeing

The only problem with Rome is that there is just so much to do there. This is fine if you have plenty of time to wander around and see the famous sights but in shorter breaks the overwhelming number of things to do can be just too much to take in. The Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican and the Pantheon are just some of the amazing tourist attractions which have fascinated visitors here for centuries. If you want to feel as though you are steeped in history while on holiday then you can’t do much better than go to Rome, as long as you have the time to enjoy it all.

A Huge Amount of Freedom

Going on a camping holiday has always been a popular choice with those people who want to enjoy a lot of freedom while they are away. This type of break is especially recommended for families and those who want to enjoy their family holidays on a relatively tight budget. Camping in Italy is increasingly common now as there are lots of top campsites across the country. A quick look at a travel site like Eurocamp or Keycamp ones will give you a good idea of what to expect once you get across there.

The post What Type of Italian Holiday Would You Like appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by McPig

Florence Cathedral is the fourth largest in Europe. Its construction started in 1296 by architect Arnolfo di Cambio. The main task of the architect was to create a huge cathedral, which size would express the growing importance of Florence, and overshadow the cathedrals in the competing cities, such as Siena and Pisa. Finally, there was built a huge, 106 meter high building that really can not be overlooked. Moreover, it is complemented by the largest dome since antiquity period. This masterpiece of medieval architecture was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The dedication of the cathedral was in 1436. The original facade, of which only a quarter was completed by Arnolfo di Cambio was removed in 1587. The present appearance dates back to 1887, when the Florence Cathedral got the colourful Neo-Gothic facade.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Ed Webster

Rich outdoor decor contrasts markedly with, at first sight, a simple interior. The building is so obvious that the main aim of the architects was the size. However, if you look carefully, you discover a surprising number of art treasures. One of them is the crypt, where can be seen remains of the former church of Santa Reparata, and the dome, which is a masterful architectural work of Brunelleschi, and which offers a beautiful view of Florence.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Ed Webster

In Florence Cathedral you can also admire great paintings. On the left side you can see such as Dante and the Divine Comedy by Domenico di Micheli, equestrian portraits of Sir John Hawkwood by Paolo Uccello or Niccolo da Tolentino by Andrea del Castagno.

View Florence Cathedral – a symbol of the city of Florence Italy in a larger map

The real treasures of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore include two sacristy. Sacrestia Nuova, which is the work of Michelozzo and Luca della Robbia, is paneled with wood and protected by a bronze gate. Above the entrance is a blue and white terra-cotta roundels from 1442 also by Luca della Robbia. By contrast, there is Sacrestia Vecchia, which is adorned with a similar roundels from the same artist. Between those two sacristies is the central apse, which houses the magnificent bronze reliquary in which are deposited the remains of the first bishop of Florence, Saint Zenobius.

View Florence Cathedral – a symbol of the city of Florence Italy in a larger map

The post Florence Cathedral – a symbol of the city of Florence | Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.