Must Know Places of the World

The Must Know Places of the World: Europe: Italy



General Information
Naples
Pompeii
Rome
Tuscany
Carrera
Firenze (Florence)
L'Academia
Il Duomo di Firenze
Venice

General Information


Naples


Pompeii


The ancient Roman town buried alive with the eruption of Mount Versuvius, underneath which the town was built. It instantly became a legend due to it appearing in the Roman epic the Anneid (I believe, but not sure). Upon being rediscovered just south of Naples, archeologists found the oldest "Beware of Dog" sign ever. It was tiled on the enterance to someone's house.

Rome


Tuscany


Carrera


Firenze (Florence)


L'Academia


A world famous art museum for five major things. It houses Michelagelo's David and his four unfinished slaves. The David was carved out of the Duccio block, which had been badly damaged by a prior owner. Michelangelo won the block in a contest and carved the David out of it, in only two years. The four unfinished slaves were to be part of the tomb of Pope Julius II. The original drawings had included plans for 40 sculptures, but in the end held only a few. The slaves are some of the most famous in the world because they were never completed.

The Baptisty


Two sets of bronze casts doors made by Ghiberti that are on the sides of the Baptistry were declared by Michelangelo as the Gates to Paradise. Each set took 26 years to cast. Ghiberti won the contest to do the doors. The runner up, Brunelleshi, quit bronzing to become an architect. He later designed the dome of the Duomo, which stands across the street from the Baptistry. The inside ceiling is of an old Byzantine style, with gold and multicolored tiles.

Il Duomo di Firenze


The official name is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. But every knows it as the duomo. It was designed to by Giotto to match the Baptistry, while the dome was designed by Brunelleshi. Legend has it, that when asked how he would design the dome, to took and egg and smashed the large end on a table, leaving the top intact. That is why Il Duomo's dome is much like the small half of an egg.

Venice