Travel Articles

Friday, May 28, 2010

First time visitors to Europe hanker for historic sites and world-class museum's in Europe's most famous cities. Return travelers revisit their favorities for in-depth exploration. Here is my list of four must see European cities and things to do in each.

LONDON, ENGLAND:
Buckingham Palace: Changing of the Guards A ritual that is one of the most famous aspects of the royal residence, the Changing of the Guards features real military soldiers in their trademark red jackets abd bearskin hats.
The Tower of London is not only the home of the crown jewels, it also features permanent exhibitions of crowns and diamonds in the Martin Tower and armor and armaments in the Royal Armouries. Free tours given  by the Beefeaters are riddled with tales of the Tower's history. The Ceremony of the Keys, a 700 year old ritual performed every night at evening lockup must be requested in advance for viewing two to three months in advance.
The British Museum holds one of the world's greatest collections of antiquities-94 galleries worth. The National Maritime Museum's 30 galleries contain one of the world's largets collections of boats and navigational equipment, as well as the world famous observatory.

PARIS, FRANCE 
La Basilique du sacre Coeur de Montmarte & Montmartre cemetery Sitting atop the highest hill in Paris, the basilica is visible from all over the city. At the top of the steps leading up to the church, there's a plaza with a great view and just beyond the church around the cobblestones is the market square of Place du Tertre with shops, cafes and artists painting. Street performers regularly put on shows. Walled and shaded by trees the cemetery off Rue Caulaincourt near Palce de Clichy is famous for its hillside graves of composers, artists and authors. Notre-Dame de Paris is well known for its towera, flying buttresses and gargoyles. The inside glows with stained glass. The bell in the south tower is heard only on the most solemn occasions. The 11th century organ, which has 8,000 pipes, is played in concerts every Sunday except during Lent. Musee de Louvre needs several days to fully appreciate the museum.

BERLIN - This city's most beautiful plaza is called Gendarmenmarket with its three neoclassical buildings. Flanking it are two rebuilt 18th-century churches, Franzosischer Dom to the North and Deutscher Dom to the South. The French Cathedral has a museum chroniclng the history of the French Hugenots who sought refuge in Berlin following their expulsion from France and a viewing platform at the top of its tower. The German Cathedral houses an exhibition on the history of parliamentary democracy in Germany. Classical music and opera events are held in the square. Museum Berlin-Karlshorst is for history buffs interested in World War II. Dokumentation Zentrum, berlin Mauer is located opposite a preserved piece of the Berlin Wall and the adjoining death strip that constituted the border fortification. This museum gives an overview of the Wall's development and its fall. Alliierten Museum focuses on the history and role of the Western Allies in berlin, particularly during the Cold war.

ROME, ITALY- The piazza is the heart of Rome's most fashionable shopping area, familiar to residents and visitors because of its grand and distinctive steps. At the base sits a fountain by Bernini and the house of 19th century poet John Keats. At the top there's a grand view of the city. The Pantheon is a monumental round  ancient structure prserved very well. The painter Raphael and the first king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II are buried inside with hundreds of early Christian martyrs whose remains were transferred from the catacombs in the seventh century. Basilica di San Giovanni in laterano holds the distinction of being the highest ranked church - even above St. peter's Basilica in the Vatican- since it conatins the papal throne. The famous Scala Sancta are also at this piazza. Basilica di San Pietro is the spiritual center of the Catholic Church. St. Peter's is the ultimate destination for Catholic pilgrims, but it also drawss visitors with its masterpieces of art and architecture. When the Pope is in residence, he blesses th crowds in Piazza San Pietro at noon on Sunday.