Sicily, Italy is the place I desire to journey to the most. It is the “toe” of the Italian “boot,” and also the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. This destination is a tropical region where waves from the crystal blue ocean crash on sandy beaches as well as rocky walls. If you gaze up from the water, you can observe beautiful, ancient structures that line the city. In addition to these breathtaking sights, Sicily includes the highest and most active volcano in Europe. While visiting, it is imperative that everyone must enjoy the Sicilian food because it has a heritage, culture, and style all of its own (“Why Go to Sicily”). Although Sicily has endless opportunities of exploration, I will focus on and explore its ancient archaeological …show more content…
The Valley of the Temples is supposed to be one of the best attractions; although, it is not even a valley but a ridge with seven temples upon it. Each structure was made in honor of a mythological God, including Zeus, Hephaestus, Hera, and more (“Valley of the Temples”). Out of the seven, the Temple of Concordia, built in the 5th century B.C., is the best kept and truly reflects the country’s dedication to “beauty and architectural perfection.” The Temple of Zeus is also incredibly special because it depicts the “Telamone” which is one of 38 statues of Atlas holding up a structure (“Visit the Valley of the Temples”). Another intriguing place that encourages me to visit lies in the city of Palermo which is the capital of Sicily. Here, the Palermo Cathedral, designed in 1184 with yellow stone, hosts an experience of 15th century architecture and culture like no other. The church, even though rebuilt many times, still “hides the royal Ruggero II, Henry VI, his wife and son” (“Palermo-”). On the whole, Sicily includes a countless amount of unmentioned sites, but these are just a few that definitely catch my eye and encourage my
Castex, Jean. Architecture Of Italy. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2008. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 5 Feb. 2012.
“A Pilgrim’s Visit to The Five Terraces Mountains”. Making of the Modern World 12: Classical & Medieval Tradition. Trans. Richard F. Burton. Ed. Janet Smarr. La Jolla: University Readers, 2012. 108-110. Print.
Leniaud, Jean-Michel and Francoise Perrot. The Sainte Chapelle. Paris: Centre des monuments nationaux, 2007. Print .
Nearly two millenniums ago a massive eruption rocked the Roman city of Pompeii, destroying buildings and coating the town in deep layers of volcanic ash. Fortunately, this same ash served as a tool for preservation and has allowed archaeologists to discover the remains of various types of Pompeii’s art. The values, beliefs, and daily workings of Roman culture have been brought to new light through the paintings, mosaics, statues and other forms of art found in the lost city of Pompeii.
...ns greatest treasures.? These architectural areas have provided insight into the culture, religion, and government of ancient Athens.? The Agora has become a symbol of civic space, and has influenced how modern architects plan public areas.? It has also provided scholars with understanding of religious and cultural aspects of Greek life.? The Acropolis has served as symbol of the power of both Athens of religion in Greek life.? This structure has unlocked questions about art and architecture, and it continues to symbolize perfection.? Together, these ancient sites unlock the mysterious of ancient Athens.?
Brown, Patricia Fortini. Art and Life In Renaissance Venice. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1997.
St Peter’s basilica which is built based on rational form of architecture is a Late Renaissance church located within Vatican City, designed by Donato Bramante. Its significant history is that according to the Catholic tradition this was the place that Saint Peter was buried. Not so far away...
The travels of Ibn Jubayr is a travel account by a Muslim man who currently resides in Granada, as Ibn Jubayr travelled back from a pilgrimage to Mecca between 1183 and 1185, and wrote about the cities that he travelled through. In this section he is stopped in Sicily on his way home to Grenada. As this is a travel account, there must be some skepticism applied when reading this account because there are many factors that could influence the way that this document was written. Travel documents are also a valuable resource for historians as they can provide an outsider’s perspective and provide insight into things that locals may not have thought to write about. This document allows historians to gain an insiders perspective on the Mediterranean
The "Pazzi Chapel" - "Pa The Museum of Florence. Web. The Web. The Web. 05 Feb. 2012.
Its skyline, dominated by the dome of the Florence Cathedral, is half of what this beautiful building inspires. The Brunelleschi-designed dome remains the largest brick-and-mortar dome in the world 600 years after it was built. The towering Campanile (or bell tower), partly designed by Giotto, the beautiful frescoes, stained-glass windows and spectacular pink, white and green marble façade are unforgettable sights. Visit the Palazzo Vecchio and the Palazzo Pitti to catch a glimpse of the opulence that was the life of the ancient ruling family, the Medicis. Gaze at priceless treasures like Michelangelo’s David, a roomful of Botticelli masterpieces and the cream of the Renaissance paintings by masters such as Rubens, Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian.
In the Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy, there is a cathedral church whose octagonal dome, built without the aid of scaffolding, was considered the greatest engineering feat of the early Renaissance. Dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, Our Lady of the Flower, it is also known as the Duomo, after the Italian word for cathedral. Created by many great Early Modern artists, this piece of architecture is a perfect example the Renaissance style. We can come to a better understanding of why this is so by exploring what the characteristics of the Renaissance “style”. To understand the properties of the Florence Cathedral that fit the Early Modern style, I will begin with a description and its history. The cathedral's architectural style, although greatly influenced by French Gothic elements remained distinctively Florentine, especially the geometric patterns of red, green, and white marble on the building's exterior. Construction of the cathedral began in 1294 on the site of a Christian church founded in the 6th or 7th century and continued until 1436. Several celebrated Italian architects were involved in the project, including Giotto, Arnolfo di Cambio, Andrea Orcagna, and, most notably, Filippo Brunelleschi, who was responsible for designing and building the dome. The cathedral's exterior is ornamented with sculpture and mosaics by Italian artists Donatello, Nanni di Banco, and Domenico Ghirlandaio, among others. The building's stained-glass windows are the work of the Italian architect and artist Lorenzo Ghiberti, and the interior is decorated with sculpture and fresco paintings by several Renaissance masters. Construction of the campanile (bell tower), situated to the right of the entrance to the Duomo, was begun by Giotto and completed according to his plans in 1359, after his death. Nearly 278 ft high, the campanile is embellished with red, green, and white marble panels of relief sculpture by Italian artists Andrea Pisano and Luca della Robbia, and niches with sculpted figures by Donatello and other masters. Facing the cathedral and campanile is a smaller, octagonal structure, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, noted for its gilt-bronze doors, elaborately worked in high relief by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti. With that background information about the cathedral, one question comes to mind: what is it that makes the Renaissance style distinct? Renaissa...
Visiting Europe has been a long dream for me, especially visiting Italy. Italy has fascinated for as long as I can remember. Italian history and culture has always been intriguing to me ever since I learned about the Roman Empire in elementary school. I’ve always had Rome as my number one place I want to visit in the world. However, due to my financial status, I never had the chance to go to outside any country except the United States and my native country, Peru. Being in college has given me the opportunity to study abroad in a place I’ve always dreamed of. My university, Loyola University Chicago, have their own campus abroad in Rome, Vietnam and Beijing. Being already enrolled in the university, choosing to study abroad is facilitated as all my financial aid, including the university’s, and credits will transfer. I actually never planned on studying but the opportunity my university gave me to study in a place I’ve always wanted to go was too good for me to pass on. I
All over the world people still come to admire the beauty of European cathedrals. Many of the cathedrals are fragile due to age, neglect, pollution, and insufficient funds available to restore these historical and beautiful buildings. Nevertheless, visitors to these architectural masterpieces are fascinated by the design and structure of these churches. The cathedral builders using their own ingenuity, expertise, and limited resources were able to defy the laws of gravity and time. (Icher 30)
Rome, Italy’s capital, is a stretched, city with nearly 3,000 years of influential art, architecture and culture written to share to the world. Ancient Rome was one of the most advanced societies in its time. Ancient Roman culture lasted a long time in the history of the civilization of Ancient Rome. ancient Rome was a joint of the city of Rome which a lot of the activity’s happen. Ancient Rome is known for the prominent Colosseum which is the largest amphitheater ever built. , the , and the Pantheon.The Roman Pantheon is the most maintained and dominant buildings of ancient Rome. It is a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods of ancient Rome. The city also had many other theaters, gymnasiums, and many taverns. most of the population in Rome lived in
The capital city of Italy is a very extraordinary place to visit. The population of Rome is well over two-million. The people there are very friendly and are extremely proud of their country. Rome is a beautiful bustling city that has a moderate cli mate. The temperature usually stays around eighty degrees. The main way of transportation is by bus.