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| Friday, 20-Jan-2006 00:00 |
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Rome :: The Coliseum (Colloseo)
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The coliseum was commissioned by the Emperor Vespasian in AD 72 and was completed in the reign of Domitian between 81 AD and 96 AD. It was used for gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights which were staged free of charge by the emperor and wealthy citizens for public viewing as a way of demonstrating their wealth and power. It was built with 80 arched entrances and internal corridors
The three tiers of arcades are faced by three-quarter columns and entablatures, Doric in the first story, Ionic in the second, and Corinthian in the third. Above them is an attic story with Corinthian pilasters and small square window openings in alternate bays. At the top brackets and sockets carry the masts from which the velarium, a canopy for shade, was suspended.
The plan is a vast ellipse, measuring externally 188 m x 156 m (615 ft x 510 ft), with the base of the building covering about 6 acres. Vaults span between eighty radial walls to support tiers of seating and for passageways and stairs.
The facade of three tiers of arches and an attic story is about 48.5 m (158 ft) tall — roughly equivalent to a 12-15 story building.
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| Sunday, 15-Jan-2006 00:00 |
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Florence :: The Cathedral
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Dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore and is typical of Italian Gothic architecture. The present building was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio (1245-1302), one of the greatest architect-sculptors of his age. Finished in around 1367 it was completely covered with coloured marbles like the earlier Baptistery, earlier Baptistery, although the uncompleted facade was given its covering in the nineteenth century.
Inside are several important works of art, offset by the architecture's taut Gothic forms, completely different from medieval buildings north of the Alps. Of primary importance are the two frescoes on the right-hand wall showing the equestrian monuments of the "condottieri" (generals) by Paolo Uccello (1436) and Andrea del Castagno (1456).
Many of the sculptures from the Duomo are now kept in the Museum of the "Opera del Duomo" but others are still in place, such as the lunettes by Luca della Robbia above the doors of the Sacristy or the bronze door of the Mass Sacristy and the great Pietà by Michelangelo. The splendid stained glass windows should not be forgotten, mainly executed from 1434-1445 to the designs of such important artists as Donatello, Andrea del Castagno and Paolo Uccello. Also notable are the wooden inlays of the Sacristy cupboards to the designs of Brunelleschi, Antonio Del Pollaiolo and others.
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| Saturday, 14-Jan-2006 00:00 |
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Florence :: Ponte Vecchio and Arno River
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Spanning the Arno River at its widest point, it is the oldest and most famous bridge in Florence. The current bridge was built in 1345 as a replacement for the previous bridge swept away by a flood. It is the only bridge in Florence to survive World War II. Atop the shops on the bridge is the famous Corridoio Vasariano (Vasari's corridor). Designed by famous architect Vasari to allow Duke Cosimo I de Medici to cross safely from the site of the Medici government in the Uffizi to his palace in the Palazzo Pitti.
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| Tuesday, 10-Jan-2006 00:00 |
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Pisa :: La Torre De Pisa
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Official Name: TORRE PENDENTE DI PISA
Function: Bell Tower (Campanile)
Original Architect: Bonanno Pisano
Architect who realized that the Leaning Tower could not be straightened:
Tomasso di Andrea da Pontedera (1275)
Years Built: 1173-1350
Latitude: 43.7167 (43° 43' 0" N)
Longitude: 10.3833 (10° 22' 60" E)
Elevation of Piazza dei Miracoli: About 6 feet, (2 meters) (DMS)
First Construction Stop: 1178 (War with Firenze)
Year in which lean became obvious: 1178 (Third Story)
Height at which lean became obvious: 10.6 meters (35 ft.)
Level at which Tower Straightens to North: 5 (About 110 meters)
Second Construction Stop: 1185 (War with Firenze)
Later Construction Stop: 1284 (War with Genoa, Major Sea Battle Defeat)
Height: 55.863 meters (185 feet). 8 stories.
Outer Diameter of Base: 15.484 meters
Inner Diameter of Base: 7.368 meters
Weight: 14,700 metric tons
Thickness of Walls at the Base: 8 feet
Direction of Lean: 1173-1250 North, 1272-1997 South
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| Saturday, 7-Jan-2006 12:00 |
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Galway :: Cliffs Of Moher
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| Friday, 6-Jan-2006 12:00 |
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Belfast :: Giant's Causeway
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| Monday, 25-Apr-2005 00:00 |
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Dublin :: Powerscourt Garden
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Powerscourt Garden is a 45 acres blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and over 200 variations of trees and shrubs.
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| Thursday, 31-Mar-2005 00:00 |
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Belfast
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Located bout 3 hours driving up north from Dublin via the M5 motorway.. Currency used - pound.. shoot its pretty expensive going up there *sigh..
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| Monday, 3-Jan-2005 00:00 |
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Madrid
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| Friday, 31-Dec-2004 00:00 |
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Lisbon :: Lisboa
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