Normally, Roman archaeological sites can be classified under the rather boring description of “a series of small walls”.  It’s true that kids have remarkable imaginations but some ruins defy anything more imaginative than jumping on to them and then off again.  For no real good reason this is normally strictly prohibited on archaeological sites.  Manchester’s Roman Fort has, however, been so mangled by the placing of one of Britain’s foremost industrial cities on the top of it, that a different and very refreshing approach has been taken to its ancient built heritage. They’ve rebuilt sections, including a full scale gatehouse.  Even if the kid’s imaginations don’t need much stoking, yours might, and Mamucium is one Roman ruin that is well worth a visit.

Manchester Cathedral / Pimlico Badger

Cotton Buds

Like any city Manchester’s history is encapsulated in its architecture.  Manchester and industry are inextricably linked and the city’s earliest industrial origins were in the mid to late 16th century.  The cotton trade helped turn the medieval town into one of the most important cities in the British Isles.  Humphrey Chetham, a cotton trader and manufacturer in the 16th century is responsible for helping to establish the trade and the Chetham’s Library was built by with some of the proceeds.  Like all good northern industrialists he wasn’t afraid to indulge in a little philanthropy, and the resulting library is something of a surprise amidst Manchester’s mostly modern architecture.

Monuments, Massacres and Modernity

There’s not much in the way of monuments specifically dedicated to the lower orders of this land who built the country’s wealth and empire.  However, if there was ever a fitting candidate for the role it would be found in Manchester’s industrial architecture of the 19th century.  This history is not all dark satanic mills, but includes such ‘monuments’ as the Free Trade Hall.  Built on the site of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre, the Hall was constructed by public donation to celebrate the repeal of the Corn Laws.  The massacre was designed to discourage the plebs from demanding the vote and the Laws were designed to keep them hungry.  The Free Trade Hall was badly damaged during the Manchester Blitz but the façade remains intact; if there was ever a site that encapsulates the struggle and resilience of the bottom 95 per cent of the population, it’s probably this one, and Manchester is the city to host it.

Radical Capitalism

Despite being the home of many a radical, left wing movement, Manchester has remained a city of industry, innovation and originality.  It has, in its time, managed to combine rampant socialism and rampant capitalism at one and the same time.  Today, it continues to exist as a vibrant modern city of culture, politics and innovation.  Steadfastly refusing to be outdone by newcomers to the idea of architectural innovation (London) and is not afraid to express itself in modern design. A visit to the Imperial War Museum, Urbis or the Beetham Tower, will give your Shards and Gherkins a run for their money.  When it comes to school trips Manchester style, the city’s built heritage offers an insight into everything from Roman Britain to the best of modern architecture.  History, industry and revolutions of various kinds have all made their mark on Manchester’s identity.

Carlo Rossi is a freelance writer based in Manchester and blogs about parenting, entertainment and travel covering everything from LEGOLAND Discovery Center school trips to contemporary architecture tours. When he’s not online or cycling around town, you can’t get him out of the kitchen for his love of food.

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As one of the few Italian regions, Piemonte is not washed by the sea, but it is mostly mountainous area. Due to this fact was created also the name of the region, which comes from the phrase “ai piedi dei monti” – at the foot of the mountains. The territory was inhabited already in the Neolithic, but we can see the relics of the Romans and later of the Longobardi and not least the French and the Habsburgs, who were fighting a long for the region.

Mountains and lakes

Piemonte is suitable especially for those loving hiking, because the region boasts the two most famous Italian mountains – the Alps and Apennines. There are many valleys, which are accessible not only in summer but also in winter, so enjoying hiking here is possible all year-round. When you walk down from the mountains, you can stop at the region’s largest lake, Lago Maggiore, which extends also to the region of Lombardy, and even to the Italian canton of Ticino in Switzerland. Like many others in this area it is one of the glacial lakes and is known to influence many artists such as Ernest Hemingway.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Falk Lademann

Cities

Mountains and lakes are not the only place that tourists usually visit in Piemonte. The region is also famous for its modern, industrial cities such as Torino, where are the headquarters of the largest Italian automaker Fiat or Ivrea, and where is based famous office equipment manufacturer Olivetti. But those places are also imbued with history and beautiful architecture. Very visited, especially in the summer, is for example Aglio castle.

Specialties of Piemonte, chocolate and Barolo

Lovers of chocolate also come into their own here, as the region’s production of sweet snacks is famous not only throughout Italy, but also in Europe. The secret of making chocolate brought to Piemonte Emanuele Filiberto from Savoy in the 16th century. In cities, you find plenty of shops where you can buy a variety of chocolate candies, nougat, chocolate chestnut, etc. You will find that the Piedmont chocolate may well equal to the Swiss or Belgian.

However, if you prefer salty foods, you should taste il brasato al Barolo – beef with celery, onion and carrots cooked in one of the best wines of Piemonte region – Barolo.

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The village is built around white rocky hills and has a terraced structure. This strategically advantageous location has been inhabited since prehistoric times. During the Roman occupation, Oppidum was built here and in the Middle Ages the local fort became a haven for people from far afield. The village has never been conquered, even during the bloody religious wars in the 16th century. The worst period for Gordes was the beginning of the 20th century, when many of its inhabitants moved to work out in industrial cities.

The village has been finally saved from decline thanks to the modern art. In 1938 Gordes has been discovered by André Lhote – a French sculptor and painter, who invited here well-known artists such as Marc Chagall, Victor Vasarely and other involved in contemporary art. All of them spent a lot of time here, however their quiet creative period was interrupted by war. In 1944 the village was invaded by German troops, who wanted to revenge for the attack of the French resistance, and thus they destroyed more than a half of the village with its monuments. One monk from the nearby Sénanque monastery tried to intervene against this destruction, but he was killed.

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Anyway the village managed to retain its ancient charm. Gordes is in fact a labyrinth of cobbled streets that are lined with beautiful houses. Many of them are souvenir shops, but also cafes and wine bars, where the more affluent tourists can enjoy the right muscat wine. All houses in the village were built of the traditional Provencal materials – stone and terracotta plate used on the roofs.

At the highest point of the village there is a Renaissance castle, which was built on the site of the original medieval fortress. From the outside of the castle you can explore beautiful Renaissance windows. In the past, the only access to this point was through very steep, almost vertical stairs carved into the rock. The castle now houses a museum of contemporary French art. If you want to see the beautiful Renaissance fireplace in the main hall, you must purchase a ticket to the Musée Pol Mara. Pol Mara was an important Flemish artist.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Thierry

Not far away there is the Eglise Saint-Firmin Church from the 18th century. You can then proceed down the aisle Rue de l’Eglise, which will take you to the Rue du Belvédère – a lookout offering a spectacular view of the surroundings.

The beauty of this place attracted famous people, film directors, painters, musicians and of course the crowds of tourists. However in the main summer season it is better to avoid it. The roads are usually totally congested and it is almost impossible to get here. The best time for a visit is spring or autumn.

Near Gordes, you can visit Sénanque monastery, one of the three great Cistercian abbeys in Provence. It is well known for its Romanesque architecture and the cultivation of lavender.

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