Streets in Chester, UK by Christopher John SSF

Wander the city walls

When you first get to Chester, one of the best ways to get your bearings is to take the 3km walk around the city walls. Erected during the Roman period for defensive purposes, the city walls give Chester its nickname of “The Walled City”. Although Chester’s walls have been rebuilt during their history, they form the most complete city walls of any British city. As you walk the walls you can be stood in the spot where history was made – for instance, King Charles observed a civil war battle from the walls – and take in the structures incorporated into the walls; you will probably be familiar with pictures of the Eastgate Clock, built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. If you are keen to learn more about Chester’s history, join one of the guided tours of the walls, to find out more about its interesting past. For anyone with limited mobility who would like to see the whole city, a tour aboard the only remaining operating open top vintage bus from 1924 comes well recommended.

Visit Chester’s cathedral

There has been a church on the spot where the cathedral stands for the last 1000 years – initially a Saxon minster before the Benedictine abbey was built. As you walk round this impressive building, you can marvel at the Norman arches, Gothic columns, wood carvings and stained glass windows. Chester’s cathedral is one of the best examples of a Medieval monastery in England and the garden in the cloisters is equally splendid, hosting ferns, exotic bulbs, springtime flowers, majestic trees and herbs. The plants themselves are not the only attraction, but the way in which the cathedral garden is designed and the “Water of Life” sculpture by Stephen Broadbent that is sited there.

Chester’s Cathedral, UK by David Merrett

Sit in the amphitheatre

Located near the River Dee, Chester’s amphitheatre is the largest in Britain. In 2004 and 2005 excavation by English Heritage and Chester City Council uncovered two amphitheatres made of stone. In one, access to the upper seats is by way of stairs at the rear wall, while in the other the seats in higher tiers were reached by vaulted staircases. The two buildings not only differ from each other, but from other British amphitheatres indicating how important Roman Chester was. Various musical and theatrical events are periodically hosted at the amphitheatre, so if you are lucky enough, you might be able to coincide your trip with one of these performances. Discover more about Roman Chester at the Grosvenor Museum, where you can also learn about the local natural history and geology, as well as home life from the seventeenth century to the early twentieth century and art work.

Potter along The Rows

The Rows are unique to Chester. They are part-timbered balconies, which give rise to a second row of shops above those at ground level. You can find these second level shops along Watergate Street, Northgate Street, Eastgate Street and Bridge Street. If you are looking to buy something more unusual for yourself or a gift, you are likely to find exactly what you are after in the many independent stores located in The Rows. Also take the time for a coffee or lunch at one of the cafes in The Rows, before you set off to explore the rest of the city.

Claire writes about city planning and architecture on behalf of a landlord and property advice news site, Pro Buy To Let where thousands of landlords come every month for the latest news on property hot spots around the UK. Chester is surely one of those.

The post Chester – a Historic City Waiting to Be Explored | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by ho visto nina volare

The church was founded in 1099 over the alleged tomb of Emperor Nero. This place was chosen in order to sanctify this place which was defiled by the pagan tyrant. For many years, allegedly haunted spirit of the emperor in the form of ravens.

Its recent appearance the church finally received during reconstruction works in the 16th and 17th century, which involved architects Bramante and Bernini. The church has elements from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The interior is decorated with the works of prominent artists of this time – Caravaggio, Raphael and many others.

Inside there are chapels of many well-known families. The most precious treasure within the church is the Capella Chigi of 1513, which was ordered at Raphael by banker of Siena Agostino Chigi. Its interior is decorated by altar painting “Birth of the Virgin Mary” by Sebastian del Piombo, and sculptures by Bernini and Lorenzetti.

Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (photo by admin)

You can see also other masterpieces here such as paintings by Caravaggio, frescoes by Pinturicchio located behind the main altar or two tombs by Andrea da Sansovino in the presbytery.

In the church of Santa Maria del Popolo are hidden additional beautiful chapels, for example the Cappella della Rovere or Cappella Ceraso with the paintings by Caravaggio. Stained glass windows in the church are one of the oldest in Rome.

Porta del Popolo (photo by admin)

Piazza del Popolo was designed by Valadier at the beginning of the 9th century and today is considered one of the best urbanistic solutions in the city. In the middle of this great area is the second largest Roman obelisk, brought here by the emperor Augustus and placed at the local fountain. In addition to the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, there are two other churches at the square – Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Another characteristic feature of this large square is the Porta del Popolo, which used to be the most important approach to Rome.

View Santa Maria del Popolo – notable Augustinian church in Rome Italy in a larger map

View Santa Maria del Popolo – notable Augustinian church in Rome Italy in a larger map

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Santa María de León Cathedral was built of golden sandstone, in the Gothic style in the 13th Century. Master Cathedral architect was Enrique. It was built in the place where originally (in the 2nd century BC) stood Roman Spa, which was about 800 years later converted into a palace.

León Cathedral was completed in the 16th century. Today it is a wonderful building and since 1844 it is Spanish National Monument.

View Santa María de León Cathedral – one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe Spain in a larger map

Right at the entrance of the León Cathedral there are three decorated portals. Inside the cathedral there are more than 250 magnificent stained glass windows and a large circular window. Stained glass windows occupy more than 1800 m2.

In León Cathedral you also find cathedral’s museum. You can see there La Virgen Blanca, which is a Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary. Then the treasury of the 16th century and the cloister decorated with frescoes by Nicolás Frances. Cathedral Museum is in the summer (July-September) open from Monday to Friday, from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:30. On Saturday it is open from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. Cathedral is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

But the museum is open all year round, however opening hours are changing, it is better to look at the official site of the León Cathedral. Basic admission fee is 4 €.

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Riga’s historical centre is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its amazing houses. The city is known as the most expensive Baltic city and is particularly notable for its extensive Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) architecture, which UNESCO considers to be unparalleled anywhere in the world.

Around Riga you can visit several great places such as the coastal resort Jurmala, the Sigulda castles overlooking the scenic Gauja River Valley, and the Rastrelli Palace at Rundale.

What to see in Riga

• Great Guild Hall and Small Guild Hall
• Symbol of the historical centre – The Dome Cathedral – impressive mixture of romantic, gothic, Renascence, baroque and classical styles. There is one of the largest organs in the world in the cathedral
• The architectural complex Three brothers – three houses are the oldest stone buildings in Riga built in the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries
• St. Maria Magdalena Catholic Church – built in the 13th century
• Sweden Gate – the newest and the only saved as they are of 25 gates of Riga, which used to protect the city from enemies
• St Jacob Church – served both to the Catholics and the Lutherans in the past

View Riga – the biggest and most vibrant city in the Baltics Latvia in a larger map

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