Forum Romanum or The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is a major tourist destination in the city of Rome. It is a small, rectangular plaza encircled by the ruins of buildings from the ancient glory of the city. Romans used to call it Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum. It has been the center of Roman public life for centuries, where they hold triumphal processions and elections, a place for public speeches, criminal trials, and where gladiators measure each other’s strength. It is also a center for commerce.

This is the place where they erect statues and monuments to celebrate great Roman men. Scholars believe that this is the most famous meeting place in the history of the world.

Excavations and restorative efforts continue at the Roman Forum and continuously attract people around the world.

Images above courtesy of:

www.wikipedia.org

The Colosseum: The Flavian Amphitheater

The Colosseum of the Flavian Amphitheater is one of the oldest structures still existing. It is a showcase of ancient Roman architecture and engineering. It sits at the center of Rome with a capacity of 50,000 people. Although, because of the ruin state of its interior, it is not used as a venue for large events but its exterior can be used as a backdrop.

The 9^th Emperor or Rome, Vespasian (Flavius) has ordered the construction the colosseum from the his generals’ share of the booty or treasures they have captured during the Great Jewish Revolt in 70 AD and has become a monument that celebrates Roman victory. Dio Cassius, a noted Roman consul and historian writing in Greek has said that 9,000 wild animals have been killed during the inauguration games in the colosseum. It has been a center of entertainment with battling gladiators, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of legendary battles and drama based on Roman mythology.

By the 6^th century, it has ceased to be an entertainment spot. A church has been erected into the edifice of the Colosseum and the arena has become a cemetery. By the 1200, during the European patricians, the Frangipani family, a powerful Roman patrician (family that holds political functions) has used the Colosseum as a fortified castle.

In 1349, the Colosseum has suffered great damage from an earthquake that has collapsed its southern wall into the ground. Most of the stones that have fallen have been used to build churches, palaces and hospitals. In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV has declared the colosseum sacred in memory of the Christian believers who have been martyred in the theater. However, there have been no evidence to back up the claim.

Today, the Colosseum or the Flavian Amphitheater is Rome’s most popular tourist attraction. Millions of tourists visit the old amphitheater every year. I surely wish to be one of those.

Images and info above courtesy of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum

Rome: the Ancient City

At a certain time in history, all roads have led to Rome, the capital of the mighty Roman Empire, the governing power in Western Europe for at least 700 years from 100 BC to 700 AD. 

From 800 AD, it has become the seat of Papal States until 1870. In 1871, it has become the capital of the Kingdom of Italy until 1946 when the Italian people have adapted a republican constitution. Since then, it has become the capital of the Italian Republic or Italy.

Rome is the eleventh most-visited city in the world and the third most visited in the European Union. Undoubtedly, it is the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. UNESCO has listed its historic center as a World Heritage Site. The Vatican Museums and the Colosseum are among the world's fifty most visited tourist destinations. According to reports, the Vatican Museums receive four point two million tourists and the Colosseum receive four million tourists every year.

Rome’s rich archaeological and architectural treasures make it the most significant tourist destination in the world.

Recently, Rome has beaten London in becoming the world’s fourth most important center for fashion. Milan remains on top along with Paris and New York.  Fashion houses and jewellery chains, such as Bulgari, Fendi, Laura Biagiotti and Brioni (fashion), are in Rome.

When visiting Italy, you must not miss the ancient city of Rome.

Image above courtesy of:

http://www.eventservices-rome.com/

The Pizza City: Naples Italy

Naples is one of the oldest cities in the world and the largest in Europe. The Greeks have founded it in the 8^th and 9^th century BC. Naples sits at the west coast of Italy by the Gulf of Naples near the famous Mount Vesuvius. It has a wealth of history, culture, art and architecture that go back 2,800 years in Italy’s rich history. UNESCO has listed the city as one of the World Heritage Sites.

It boasts of about 448 historical churches, which has made Naples one of the most Catholic cities in the world. There are fascinating monuments and structures that bear ancient architecture including castles and fountains. If you want to walk down history lane, walking down the streets of Naples would be a remarkable experience.

Naples is also a home to the best tasting real Italian pasta and pizza, which has remained unaltered after so many years. In fact, a Julia Roberts’ film has featured a famous pizzeria in Naples, which has attracted many tourists who have seen the movie.

Your visit to Naples can never be complete without indulging in the best tasting pizza in the world.

Images above courtesy of:

http://qe2palmjumeirah.com/

http://old.portpromotions.com/

You Tube User: johnnikkol

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

One of the most famous structures in the world is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It stands around 183 feet on the low side and around 186 feet on the high side. It has seven levels with a bell chamber at the top.

It has been a popular tourist destination in Italy. In fact, UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site. Many make funny poses at side of the tower as photographers capture with their cameras their incredible positions as if they are pushing it back up. It could have been an amusing experience.

I can say that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a clear example of an error in construction. The tower has started in 1173.  However, after the construction of the second level by 1178, it has begun to sink because the foundation has been weak. It has been only 3 meters on wobbly layer of soil. That has halted the construction for about a hundred years.

In 1272, a new architect has resumed construction. He added upper levels but to correct the tilt, he built levels that are higher on one side, which have made the tower curve. However, due to war, the construction stopped in 1284.

Construction has continued again. The seventh level has been finished in 1319 and the bell chamber has been added in 1372. It has 7 bells at the top, which correspond to the seven notes in the major scale.

In 1964, the government of Italy has asked the help of multinational experts to prevent the tower from falling since the tilt has been increasing as time goes by without removing the tilt because if its historical and tourism value. Initially, they have applied lead counterweights on the high side of the tower. In 1990, Italian authorities has closed the tower to the public and the bells have been removed to ease some weight on the tower in order to implement the necessary repair according to a two-decade study of multinational experts. Finally, in 2001, the tower has been declared stable after removing 38 cubic meters of soil from beneath the high side of the tower.

It’s amazing that such a structure with a faulty foundation has received great historical significance instead of structural condemnation. I guess, that’s one reason that has made the Leaning Tower of Pisa truly incredible.

Image Above Courtesy of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaning_Tower_of_Pisa

Derweze: The Door to Hell?

Derweze: The Door to Hell (view at night)

I have encountered a very peculiar place in Central Asia. I don’t know if it's possible to visit the place or if they welcome tourists in that area. It's what they call “The Door to hell”. It seems hair-raising to hear but that’s how they call it.

It's in Derweze, a village in Turkmenistan which is located at the middle of Karakum Desert where we can see the Balkan Mountain Range where archaeologists have dug human remains that date back to the Stone Age.

Anyways, it seems that Derweze village and the Karakum Desert is rich with natural gas deposits. In 1971, geologists have drilled a cave in the area to mine natural gas deposits but in the process, the land beneath the spot have collapsed causing a huge hole that measures to about 230 feet in diameter. Geologists have feared that poisonous gas might escape from the hole so they have decided to burn the fuel thinking that the fire would use up all the gas deposit from the hole in a matter of days. Unfortunately, 40 years have gone and still the fire has not stopped from burning. Thus, people have called it "The Door to Hell".

It's like a fiery furnace that never stops. I’m not sure how the people from the locality have been affected by the seeming eternal fire from the ground. It must be very scary to be in that place and perhaps burning gas emits toxic substances that are detrimental to people’s health.

However, it is an interesting place to see. It could be an amazing experience.

Image Above Courtesy of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/

Christ the Redeemer Statue: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Today is Ash Wednesday, a religious event Roman Catholics celebrate. It is the first day of the 40 day season of lent, which celebrates the life and passion of Christ.

One of the biggest icons of Catholicism in our generation perhaps is the “Christ the Redeemer” statue, which has been built on the peak of the Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest national park in Brazil. It is considered as the second largest Art Deco structure in the world. In 2007, it has been named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

A Brazilian Catholic priest, Pedro Maria Boss introduced the concept of building a statue on top of the Corcovado Mountain to Brazil’s Imperial Princess Isabel in the 1850’s but she did not give much attention to it until the imperial monarchy lost its governmental authority when Brazil became a Republic in 1889. Then in 1921, the Catholic Circle of Rio proposed again the construction of a structure on top of Corcovado Mountain and they initiated a fund-raising activity for the construction. In 1922, the construction of the statue began until 1931. The cost was estimated at US$250,000 at that time.

The statue stands at 130 feet tall, 98 feet wide, with a 31 feet pedestal. From there, you can have a picturesque view of the city of Rio de Janeiro below the mountain. They say that the statue of Christ with outstretched hands symbolize Christianity and peace.

 It is a perfect place for Catholics who want to visit places where they can have both an ambiance of spirituality and majestic scenery. 

Image Above Courtesy Of:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Redeemer_%28statue%29