tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36548160205483605442024-02-08T03:00:50.901-08:00Travel ExtractsOur Travelogues and Travel Research for your use...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-37673637202529553592016-08-25T07:11:00.001-07:002016-08-25T07:20:21.088-07:00Sikkim & Darjeeling Tour (GPD Tour) - Gangtok(3), Pelling(2N), Darjeeling(2N) : 07 Nights 08 Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Planned Sikkim & Darjeeling Tour this summer (starting from April) though could not execute because of other assignments. However may help in your planning:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 1: Bagdogra Airport / NJP Station to Gangtok, 130kms in 4 Hrs. – Drive to Gangtok (Alt 5550Ft / 1675M), the Capital of Sikkim. Check in at Hotel. Free Evening, Overnight at Gangtok </span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 2: Full day Gangtok City tour (Timing 8.30AM to 4.30PM). Visit Rumtek Monastery, Botanical Garden, and Santi View Point, Sikkim Research Institute of Tibetology, Dodurl Chorten, Government Institute of Cottage Industry (Closed on Sunday, 2nd Saturday), Orchid House Flower Show. After lunch visit Tashi View Point, Ganesh Tok and Bakthang Falls. Back to hotel and free evening to roam around M G Marg Mall for shopping. Overnight at Gangtok</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 3: Tsongo Lake with Baba Mandir (Alt 13000ft/3950M) Excursion - 52kms in 3hrs (One way). Drive to Tsongo Lake after breakfast to enjoy Snow and Yak Ride at the high altitude Alpine Lake and proceed further to Legendary Baba Harbhajan Singh Mandir. Back to Hotel for late Lunch. Afternoon free for personal activities. Overnight at Gangtok</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Optional tour to Nathula Pass (14000Ft / 4200M) on China Border (Allowed for Indian Nationals only)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Please Note: Nathula Pass (Indo Chinese Border) and Baba Mandir : Subject to the availability of Permits.It is in an elevation of 14700ft and is accessible from Gangtok Sikkim which is a restricted tourist destination. This is one of the demanding tourist destination the permits are only issued by the army in 24hrs advance and limited vehicles are allowed for five days in a week i.e. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays to visit this destination. </span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 4: Gangtok to Pelling, 130kms in 4.5hrs – Check out from Gangtok and drive to Pelling in West Sikkim (Alt 7175Ft / 2150M) via Rabangla. Enroute Optional visit to Temi Tea Garden and Sumdruptse Statue & Char Dham at Namchi. On arrival check in at Hotel. Free evening. Overnight at Pelling </span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 5: Full Day Pelling City Tour (Timing: 8.30AM to 4.30AM). Local tour in Pelling with visits to 8 popular tourist points – Darap Village and Valley, Rimbi Waterfalls, Rock Garden, Kunchenjungha Water Falls and Khecheopalri Holy Lake. After lunch visit Pemayangtse Monastery, Helipad View Point, Rubduntse Palace Ruins and Bird Sanctuary. Free evening Overnight at Pelling </span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 6: Pelling to Darjeeling, 80kms in 3hrs – Check out from Pelling and drive to Darjeeling (Alt 6825Ft / 2050M). Enjoy scenic beauty of Rangeet River Valley on the way. On arrival check in at Hotel. Free evening. Overnight at Darjeeling </span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 7: Full Day Darjeeling City Tour. Early morning tour in Darjeeling with visits to – Tiger Hill Sunrise Point, Batasia Loop and Ghoom Monastery (Timing 4.00AM to 7.30AM). Free time for personal activities between Breakfast and Lunch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Post Lunch City Tour - visit 7 points (Timing: 1.30PM to 5.00PM) - Darjeeling Zoo and Mountaineering Institute (Closed on Thursday), Tea garden, Tenzing Rock and Gombu Rock, Tibetan Refugee center (Closed on Sunday) and Lebong Race Course Area. Free evening at Mall for Shopping. Overnight at Darjeeling </span><br />
<hr />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Day 8: Darjeeling to Bagdogra Airport / NJP Station, 90kms in 3hrs – Check out from Darjeeling and drive back to NJP/Bagdogra Via Mirik. Farewell and tour ends.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "cambria" , serif;"><u5:p></u5:p></span></span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-91704988594102515702012-02-05T03:39:00.001-08:002012-02-05T03:54:27.922-08:00Kerala Trail – AMK - Deliberation<p>Decision on timing and places:</p> <p>We decided that we need to go for a short trip. Where to go was matter of discussion and availability. We had around six days on hand. Being in Chennai, South India, we were deliberating on following options:</p> <p>1. Kerala > Kochi – Munnar* – Thekkady* – Peermedu – Kumarakom* – Kochi*</p> <p>2. South India > Yercaud*, Ooty*, Mudumalai, Mysore*, Medikari*, Thala kaveri, Bangalore*, Vellore Sripuram Golden Temple.</p> <p>3. Tamilnadu > Pondicherry, Pitchavaram, Chidambaram, Vaitheswaran Koil*, Nagore, Velankanni, Thanjavur* Rameswaram*. Suchindram, Kanniyakumari*, Madurai*, Kodaikanal*, Trichy*.</p> <p>4. Coorg > Coorg & Mysore</p> <p>5. East – West Coast > Thiruvannamalai, Yercaud*, Mudumalai, Coimbatire*, Guruvayur, Kaladi, Cochin*, Alleppey, Thiruvananthapuram*, Kumarakam, Kottayan*, Munnar*, Palani, Tiruchi*</p> <p>6. Others > Other options were to go to only one place like Kodaikanal or Vythiri or Ooty etc.</p> <p>We originally had plans to do this in Christmas vacation but it was too late and most of things were booked as also everything was at premium so we planned for Pongal holidays but that too was more or less booked. Finally we said forget about vacation let us go ahead whenever we get. So that was on timing.</p> <p>On places, we thought Tamilnadu we can do in our own car covering 1-2 at a time on weekends so why to spend one week time on this trip. So finally we started zeroing down on Kerala.</p> <p> Decision on mode and places:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:0e9cfeb5-fc0d-4a31-ace1-448562adc64c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p>One option was to take conducted tour – Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) or Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) or IRCTC or private tour operators.</p> <p>Other option was that one of our friend from Kerala was going to his native place in his car. He offered ride to us till Kochi and said we can join him in return journey.</p> <p>Third option was to go by train.</p> <p>Considering two kids – 7 years and 1.5 years, we were apprehensive about conducted tours that were all in the bus as that could be taxing. As also the accommodation provided may not be very clean.</p> <p>Finally we decided to go ahead with the train till Kochi and hire cab from there.</p> <p>We decided to start on 20th Jan Friday and return on 27th Jan morning to take advantage of Saturday, Sunday and Republic Day (26th Jan) holidays.This was 04 Jan night. We checked the tickets and the tickets to Ernakulam (railway station for Kochi) in the convenient train – Alleppey Express (starting from Chennai at 09:15 PM) was in waiting for all classes. So checked other trains and luckily there were some seats available in Kollam Express in sleeper class so went ahead booked those as safety net. On return side there were few seats available in Chennai Mail for 26 Jan evening in AC 3T, we quickly booked the same. So we had reservation on both side now. In order to keep choice open, we tried booking in Alleppey Express in AC 3T in waiting list. It went through but after paying, the ticket did not get booked, reason – it crossed night 12:30 time – which is the time when reservations system closes for 1 hour. So of all odd 1 hour in 24 hour materlised for us. Any way waited for 1:30 AM and booked again and go waiting list of 23/24/25 in AC 3T. At the time of booking these tickets we did not even know what we are going to do for these 6 days and 5 nights. </p> <p>Then started to put pieces together. Our initial plan was to get a cab from Kochi and cover Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarkom, Kochi with 2 nights in Munnar and 1 at all other places. </p> <p>As we started to check more closely, we felt that this can again be too taxing for kids so we planned to drop Thekkady as that can be covered some other time even from Tamilnadu. Hence it became Munnar, Kumarkom and Kochi. This was making trip too complicated because from Munnar going down and then coming back so we will be using cab for two days just to go up and down. Little rethinking and we planned to replace Kumarkom with Alleppey as both can give same experience. The benefit was that we can go directly to Alleppey and finish that and come back to Kochi next day and go to Munnar from there. So we went ahead and booked tickets from Ernakulam to Alleppey in Alleppey express (since we would be going either by Kollam express which will reach there earlier then Alleppey express and we can change to that or if our ticket get confirmed in Alleppey then we can take same train further though the reservation till Ernakulam was in AC 3T whereas from there it was in Sleeper). Also booked Shatabdi Express from Alleppey to Ernakulam for 22 Jan morning.</p> <p>Attractions and Finer details:</p> <p>Having set with places next was to book hotels and car. Here is where we took help of tripadvisor. With frantic search of accommodation and their ratings – we have to take an important decision on whether hotel or homestay (which looks a popular option). The benefit of homestay was that the kids will not feel difference as also it will be cleaner then hotels. In last we planned to mix the things – we zeroed down on Hotel for Munnar and Homestays for Alleppey and Kochi.</p> <p>More on hotel decision, booking and experience as well car booking experience in next post.</p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-39615230700151160932010-01-05T11:07:00.000-08:002010-08-30T12:08:01.027-07:00Jaipur – Fort Trio<p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca"><a class="zem_slink" title="Jaipur" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=26.926,75.8235&spn=1.0,1.0&q=26.926,75.8235 (Jaipur)&t=h" rel="geolocation">Jaipur</a> is called the Pink City. It is founded by King Sawai Hai Singh in 1727 A.D. The city is rich with heritage forts built during the royal era. The three forts are the <a class="zem_slink" title="Amber, India" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=26.9833333333,75.8666666667&spn=0.1,0.1&q=26.9833333333,75.8666666667 (Amber%2C%20India)&t=h" rel="geolocation">Amber</a>, Jaigarh and Nahargarh. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">Many people would like to visit Jaipur just to primarily see its three famous royal forts. The city was founded in 1727 A.D. and became the home of these three magnificent and historical structures. These are the Amber, Jaigarh and Narhargarh. These forts are enjoyed by many <a class="zem_slink" title="Tourism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism" rel="wikipedia">tourists</a> because of its grandeur monuments and buildings. </font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:eae32108-3f18-4d07-a288-825091cdb7b1" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><font face="ca"><strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Amber Fort" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=26.9859,75.8507&spn=0.01,0.01&q=26.9859,75.8507 (Amber%20Fort)&t=h" rel="geolocation">Amber Fort</a></strong> <br>Amber Fort lies at the southern part of the colossal Fort of Jaigarh. It is among the best hilltop forts in the Indian state. Amber is situated at the Amber Fort complex 11 kilometers from Jaipur. The place is not only used as a defense system but it serves as the main residence of Kachawas rulers. </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">Amber Fort is an example of adventurous and combative style of living in order to witness the past. The exteriors have carved temples, large halls, hilltop palaces and lush green gardens. A great Indian <a class="zem_slink" title="Indian Elephant" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Elephant" rel="wikipedia">elephant</a> embellished with artifacts and ribbons is set to complete the royal flavor. A royal ride gives tourists a comfortable view of the panoramic sights and hilly region around the fort. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">Amber Fort can be climbed in a matter of 10 minutes just to to get through a stairway to Diwan-i-am (public audience hall). Every door of this hall has mosaics and sculptures along with a royal cart preserved in its original condition. Sukh Niwas or the hall of pleasures can be reached by walking on an elevated ground. The fort's premises also have a temple called Kali Mata. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">Hence, Sheesh Mahal (mansion of mirrors) is the most enchanting bay inside the fort. Its walls and ceilings are decorated with colorful glasses. The pillars at the opposite of Sheesh Mahal are singing rhymes of <a class="zem_slink" title="Fine art" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_art" rel="wikipedia">fine arts</a>. One can make a floral pattern on their body or it may turn out to be a scorpion or butterfly. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">Today, the fort remains to be a remainder of the past glory of Jaipur City. As a general advisory, Amber Fort has a hot climate, so visitors are advised to dress comfortably. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><font face="ca"><strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Jaigarh Fort" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaigarh_Fort" rel="wikipedia">Jaigarh Fort</a></strong> <br>Jaigarh Fort is one of the military structures of <a class="zem_slink" title="India" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=28.6133333333,77.2083333333&spn=10.0,10.0&q=28.6133333333,77.2083333333 (India)&t=h" rel="geolocation">India</a> that completely stands intact. It was mainly used as a defense system. It even apprehended the famous Treasury of Kachawas. Jaighar Fort is situated 15 km from Jaipur and was born during the 15th and 18th centuries. The large fort is surrounded by outstanding stone ramparts. </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">The fort is known as the Victory Fort that offers beautiful gardens, granaries, palaces, temples and reservoir having bastions, watch towers and wide walls. Giant mounted cannons called Jaivan is believed to be the largest cannon in the world. It was fired only once and was never used in war. These canons are still worshipped by the Majarajas. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">The breathtaking views at Dungar Darwaza overwhelm people who visit the place. There is an armory museum and a collection of puppets as well as coins worth exploring. The hilltop location makes it more appealing to tourists in a two hour exploration of the entire fort. It is an impressive monument that showcases the history of <a class="zem_slink" title="Rajasthan" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=26.57268,73.83902&spn=1.0,1.0&q=26.57268,73.83902 (Rajasthan)&t=h" rel="geolocation">Rajasthan</a>. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3"><font face="ca"><strong><a class="zem_slink" title="Nahargarh Fort" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahargarh_Fort" rel="wikipedia">Nahargarh Fort</a></strong> <br>Nahargarh Fort is located along the mountain top and built in the year 1734 by Sawai Raja Jai Singh. It was once used as the summer residence of Amber rulers such as the Kachawas and the Maharanis. The place was also known as the Tiger Fort. </font></font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">Legend tells that the Fort was named after the prince, whose spirit haunted the site, causing mischief to its workers. A tantrik prayer was used so that the prince would leave the fort but a condition was made to name the fort after the name of the spirit. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">Attractions in and out of the fort include the Man Sagar Lake, historical buildings and the Madhavendra Bhavan houses. </font> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca">Tourists really enjoy the magical and grand ambiance of these three forts. The rich heritage continues to attract many people in all walks of life so as to experience the history of the royal age. </font></p> <p align="justify"><font size="3" face="ca"></font></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; float: right; border-left-style: none" class="zemanta-pixie-img" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=086ef562-75c4-4535-a64a-c78c1e7a1b4c"></a></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-53077231470198934172009-06-10T06:53:00.000-07:002010-04-02T07:02:27.683-07:00German - Some important phrases<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><font size="2" face="Arial">Some important German phrases which can be your saver during your Germany visit</font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:5ec75329-d471-455e-b098-caf31a9303f8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div></span> <p><font size="2">Yes - Ja<br>Hello - Guten Tag<br>Goodbye - Auf Wiedersehen / Tschüs (informal)<br>Please - Bitte<br>Thank you - Danke<br>My name is … - Mein Name ist …<br>How are you? - Wie geht es Ihnen? (polite) / Wie geht es dir? (informal)<br>I’m very well - Mir geht es gut<br>I feel ill - Ich fühle mich unwohl<br>How much does it cost? - Wieviel kostet das?<br>Do you speak English? - Sprechen Sie Englisch? (polite) / Sprichst du Englisch? (informal)<br>I don’t understand - Ich verstehe nicht<br>Where is …? - Wo befindet sich …?<br>Entrance - Eingang / Einfahrt (vehicles)<br>Exit - Ausgang / Ausfahrt (vehicles)<br>Danger - Gefahr / Vorsicht<br>Open - Geöffnet<br>Closed - Geschlossen<br>Toilets - Toiletten / WC<br>Doctor - Arzt / Ärztin (female)<br>Hotel - Hotel<br>Restaurant - Restaurant<br>Beer - Bier<br>Wine - Wein<br>Menu – Speisekarte<br>Today - Heute<br>Tomorrow – Morgen<br> Monday - Montag<br>Tuesday - Dienstag<br>Wednesday - Mittwoch<br>Thursday - Donnerstag<br>Friday - Freitag<br>Saturday - Samstag<br>Sunday – Sonntag<br>One - Eins<br>Two - Zwei<br>Three - Drei<br>Four - Vier<br>Five - Fünf<br>Six - Sechs<br>Seven - Sieben<br>Eight - Acht<br>Nine - Neun<br>Ten - Zehn<br>Twenty - Zwanzig<br>Thirty - Dreissig<br>Forty Vierzig<br>Fifty - Fünfzig<br>Sixty - Sechzig<br>Seventy - Siebzig<br>Eighty - Achtzig<br>Ninety - Neunzig<br>One - Hundred Hundert</font><br><font size="2">One - Thousand Tausend</font></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-56220836564326217182009-01-14T05:47:00.000-08:002010-04-02T06:48:16.074-07:00Amsterdam – Quick guide<p style="line-height: normal"><font style="font-family: times new roman,times,serif; font-size: 12pt" face="times new roman,times">A quick guide for Amsterdam providing summary for all attraction with Tram access. You can print this and keep it for ready reference for your visit to Amsterdam.</font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:b34fc17f-3ea5-461b-8906-fe8be18fc099" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Museums and attractions </span></p> <ul> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://cf.uba.uva.nl/apm/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Allard Pierson museum (Archeology)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Tram 4-9-14-16-24-25 stop Spui </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.ahm.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Amsterdams Historisch museum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> (Historical) Tram 1-2-4-5-9-14-16-24-25 stop Spui </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.artis.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Artis/Aquarium/Planetarium/Geologisch museum/Zoölogisch museum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Tram 9-14 stop Plantage Kerklaan </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.annefrank.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Anne Frank huis</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 13-14-17 stop Westermarkt </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.heinekenexperience.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Heineken Experience</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 16-24 stop Stadhouderskade </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.hortus-botanicus.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Hortus Botanicus</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 9-14 stop Plantage Kerklaan </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.jhm.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Joods Historisch Museum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Metro 51-53-54 stop WaterloopleinTram 9-14 stop Mr. Visserplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.madame-tussauds.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Madame Tussaud's Amsterdam</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 1-2-4-5-9-14-16-17-24-25 stop Dam </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.filmmuseum.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Nederlands Filmmuseum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 1 stop 1e Constantijn HuygensstraatTram 3-12 stop Overtoom </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.scheepvaartmuseum.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Bus 22-43 stop Kattenburgplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.e-nemo.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">NEMO (Science and technology center)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Bus 22-42-43 stop Kadijksplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Rijksmuseum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 2-5 stop Hobbemastraat,Tram 7-10 stop Spiegelgracht, Tram 3-12-16-24 stop Museumplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.rembrandthuis.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Het Rembrandthuis</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Metro 51-53-54 stop WaterloopleinTram 9-14 stop Mr. Visserplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.stedelijk.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> At walking distance from Central Station </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.theatermuseum.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Theatermuseum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 13-14-17 stop Westermarkt </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.kit.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Tropenmuseum (Royal Tropical Institute)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 9-14 stop MauritskadeTram 3 stop WijttenbachstraatBus 22 stop Mauritskade </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Van Gogh Museum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 2-3-5-12 stop Van BaerlestraatTram 16-24 stop Museumplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.verzetsmuseum.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 9-14 stop Plantage Kerklaan </span></li></ul> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Monuments </span></p> <ul> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Begijnhof (Garden)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 1-2-4-5-9-14-16-24-25 stop Spui </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.nieuwekerk.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">De Nieuwe Kerk (New Church)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 1-2-4-5-9-13-14-16-17-24-25 stop Dam </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.oudekerk.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">De Oude Kerk (Old Church)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 4-9-16-24-25 stop Dam </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/english/content.jsp?objectid=5689" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 1-2-4-5-9-13-14-16-17-24-25 stop Dam </span></li></ul> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Theater </span></p> <ul> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.theatercarre.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Carré</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Metro 51-53-54 stop WeesperpleinTram 7-10 stop OosteindeTram 9-14 stop Waterlooplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.concertgebouw.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Concertgebouw (Concerthall)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 3-5-12-16 stop Museumplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.heinekenmusichall.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Heineken Music Hall</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Metro 50-54 stop Station Bijlmer ArenA </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.paradiso.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Paradiso</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 1-2-5-7-10 stop Leidseplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.melkweg.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Melkweg</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 1-2-5-7-10 stop Leidseplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.hetmuziektheater.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Muziektheater</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Metro 51-53-54 stop WaterloopleinTram 9-14 stop Waterlooplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.stadsschouwburgamsterdam.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 1-2-5-7-10 stop Leidseplein </span></li></ul> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Markets </span></p> <ul> <li style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Albert Cuyp</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> (general goods)Tram 4 stop StadhouderskadeTram 16-24 stop Albert Cuypstraat </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Bloemenmarkt </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">(flowers)Tram 1-2-5 stop KoningspleinTram 4-9-14-16-24-25 stop Muntplein </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Dappermarkt</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> (general goods)Tram 3-7 stop DapperstraatTram 9 stop 1e Van SwindenstraatTram 14 stop Pontanusstraat </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Waterlooplein</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> (fleamarket)Metro 51-53-54 stop WaterloopleinTram 9-14 stop Waterlooplein </span></li></ul> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Other </span></p> <ul> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.amsterdamarena.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Amsterdam Arena / Ajax museum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Metro 50-54 stop Station Bijlmer ArenA </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.ptamsterdam.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Passenger Terminal Amsterdam PTA</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Tram 25 stop Passenger Terminal AmsterdamTram 26 stop Muziekgebouw Bimhuis </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Politie Hoofdbureau </span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">(Police)tel: 0900 8844Tram 7-10-17 stop Elandsgracht </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><a href="http://www.rai.nl/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">RAI (Congress center)</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Metro 50-51 stop Station RAITram 4 stop Station RAIBus 15 stop Dintelstraat </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Vreemdelingen Dienst</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> (Police)tel: (020) 559 63 00Tram 2 stop Aletta JacobslaanBus 18-62-195 stop Aletta Jacobslaan </span> <li style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">World Trade Center</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Metro 50-51 stop Station ZuidTram 5 stop Station ZuidBus 15 stop Station Zuid </span></li></ul> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-53435290415991316792008-09-27T07:57:00.000-07:002010-04-02T04:57:42.993-07:00A few days in Perth<div align="justify"><span style="color: black">(Contributed by D Wright - One of the ex-contributer of our site ) (27 Sep 2008) </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">Even though the city of Perth isn't as well known as other cities in Australia, the city has many sights and activities for tourists to participate in. Bordered by the Indian Ocean, you can spend your day visiting one of the city's many stunning beaches, rent a charter boat and go deep sea fishing or you can stroll along the boardwalks and visit some of the many shops and restaurants. </span></div><a name="more"></a> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:58104d7b-b118-426a-9110-a8404b201fef" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <div align="justify"><br></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">Visitors to Perth will find friendly people, fine dining and casual restaurants, and many opportunities to learn more about the city and those who inhabit while visiting museums and historical attractions. </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">Museums in Perth </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">In Perth you will find a variety of museums including The Western Australia Museum, The Western Australian Cricket Association Museum, The Army Museum of Western Australia, The Art Gallery of Western Australia, and The Francis Burt Law Museum. </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">Most of these museums are located in Perth's Cultural Center, which can be found near an area of the city known as Northbridge. Here, you will also find small art galleries, restaurants and cafes, open air sculpture and other unique sights. </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">Parks and Gardens </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">In addition to visiting museums, you can also spend time at Kings Park and the Botanical Gardens. This park is located near Perth Cultural Center and overlooks the city and Swan River. Enjoy a long walk through this lush wonderland that's filled with more than 80 species of plants as well as sculptures, artwork and me memorials. Free music concerts are held during the summer months. </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">Other parks and gardens to visit include: </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">Harold Boas Gardens (Wellington and Havelock Streets, West Perth) <br>The Esplanade Reserve (located near the Perth Convention Center) <br>Langley Park (Riverside Drive between Victoria Avenue and Plain Street) <br>Wellington Square (Wellington Street) <br>The Perth Zoo is another attraction that tourists and residents of the city visit often. Not only will you be able to enjoy the Zoo’s natural setting, you will also be able to see animals and other creatures native to Australia up close. See kangaroos, dingoes, wallabies and other animals in their natural habitat. </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">Important & Historic Sights </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">A trip to Perth would not be complete without seeing a few historic sights. Even though the city has become more modern over the years, it has still managed to hold on to its roots. Buildings to visit include: </span></div> <div align="justify"><span style="color: black">The Old Mill – historic landmark located near the Swan River was built in 1835. <br>Barracks Arch – Located on the corner of Malcolm and Elder Streets. This building is all that's left of the former Enrolled Pensioner Guards barracks. <br>London Court - Located between the Hay Street Mall and St Georges Terrace. This area is filled with small architectural details such as engraved clocks, weather vanes and stairways. <br>Perth Mint – Located at 310 Hay Street in East Perth. Take a guided tour to learn more about how the city prints its money. <br>With so many interesting sights to see in Perth, those who visit will be left with a lifetime of memories.</span></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-54221005757623840122008-09-15T07:03:00.000-07:002010-03-31T13:05:35.324-07:00Broome and Down the West Australian Coast<div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">(Contributed by D Wright – One of our ex-contributors) (15 Sep 2008) </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Planning for this holiday had involved little more than booking Australian travel insurance, a flight from Sydney to Broome and a rental car which we intended to drive all the way down the coast to Perth, stopping frequently along the way. To avoid needing to be anywhere we made hotel reservations online using Wotif, always a couple of days in advance but we never had any problems with availability. </span></div><a name='more'></a><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">I had been warned in advance, but stepping out of the plane onto the Broome International Airport runway at midday was like stepping into a sauna fully clothed and carrying packed bags. We collected our rental car at the airport, switched on the air conditioning and checked in at the serviced apartment we had booked. Thankfully the apartment also had air conditioning. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">The sand around Broome is a rich red which taints the black tar roads and settles to form a thin layer over all of the cars. I was amazed at the amount of construction of new houses and roads was going on, upon reflection probably due in large part to the mining boom in Western Australia. For such a remote place, houses certainly weren't cheap. The frames of the part-completed houses were all steel - due to hurricanes I was later informed. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">In contrast the sand down at Cable Beach was a beautiful white, and the water of the Indian Ocean amazingly clear and pleasant. They do get sharks at the surf beach, and given the warmth of the water, even crocodiles coming around from the river mouth. But not that early in the year we were told by the lady we picked up the rental car from - we were there in November but it gets a lot hotter and more humid in the following months. We did have a swim, albeit with less than total confidence. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">A main attraction is the camel rides at sunset, but we gave that a miss and just watched the chain procession of camels and riders pass us instead. After living on the east coast of Australia for 5+ years now it was great to watch the sun set over the ocean. We were persuaded back to the car by a storm of heavy raindrops that developed out of nowhere. It stopped within 20 minutes though and did little to cool down the hot evening, the dark clouds vanished almost as quickly as they appeared. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">On a drive through the still industrial area to the heads we noticed a shop that looked almost abandoned selling fresh fish so stopped and bought some to grill for dinner. It turned out to be a great decision - we tried a variety of salmon I had never heard of before that was unbelievably fresh, and even went back to buy fish for the following evening. In the end we spent three days in Broome before starting the drive down.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-54072119991877715792008-08-30T04:24:00.000-07:002010-04-02T05:08:01.542-07:00When in Sydney, Australia<div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">(Contributed by D Wright – One of our ex-contributors) (30 Aug 2008)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Though not Australia’s official capital city, Sydney is the capital of Australia. The city is filled with many historic sights, a vibrant nightlife and features exciting attractions and restaurants. Whether you want to take a long stroll in one of the Sydney's many parks or you want to visit an art museum or two, you will always find something interesting to do during your stay. </span></div><a href="" name="more"></a> <br />
<div align="justify"><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Well known for its beautiful harbour – which boasts the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House – Sydney is a great vacation destination for those who enjoy the outdoors. With a public transportation system that includes buses, light rail, taxis and ferries, it is not difficult to get around without a hire car. You can also walk around specific neighborhoods to experience the variety of cultures that have settled in the city over the years. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Sydney's Beaches <br />
Sydney is well known for its beaches, and for visitors there are many to choose from irrespective of whether you want to sunbathe, swim or just sit and enjoy the sunshine. Popular beaches include Bondi Beach, Collaroy Beach, Manly Beach, and Coogee Beach. In addition to miles of sand, there are also shops, restaurants and cafes to enjoy. Smaller, less populated beaches can be found by going a little way north or south of Sydney. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Museums <br />
The Art Gallery of New South Wales, The Australian Museum, The Museum of Sydney and the Powerhouse Museum are just a few of the many museums in Sydney. In these museums, you will learn more about the history of Sydney, how Australia has evolved since the first colony, and you will learn more about Australia’s traditional owners. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Other Attractions <br />
From the Circular Quay, you can take a ferry to different parts of the city. You will be able to visit the Taronga Zoo, Sydney Olympic Park and Sydney Harbor. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Because the climate in Sydney is agreeable for most of the year, you can participate in different outdoor activities during your stay. Cycling tours are very popular because not only will you get a great workout, you will also be able to see many historic landmarks along the way. Cycling tours through the city and along the many beaches are also available. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">If you want to see a different view of the city buy a day-pass for the ferry to Manly – a highly recommended half hour trip which takes travellers through the Harbour and outside the Heads. From the ferry, you will be able to see skyline views of the city and the foreshore. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Sydney Nightlife <br />
Depending on your interests, there are many places to eat, dance, drink and socialise in Sydney. Many local bars feature live music, theme nights and large dance floors. Darling Harbour and Oxford Street are two of the popular and trendy neighborhoods to visit if you want to spend the night dancing and meeting new people.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-45064857483306506412008-08-17T05:02:00.000-07:002010-04-02T05:04:52.033-07:00Bahrain National Museum<div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Opened: 15th December 1988.<br />
Contains: The main building contains nine exhibition halls, classroom theatre, gift shop and cafeteria</span></div><div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:d24a2db9-f20f-409a-9f71-cbf4990c4696" style="display: inline; float: none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">H.H. The Amir of Bahrain, Donated this 1932 Buick to the Bahrain National Museum.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Jalboot, "Samha", was presented by Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince on the occasion of the opening of the Bahrain National Museum in December 1988. It was built in Bahrain in 1924 and used by his grandfather, Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, who was the ruler of Bahrain from 1932 to 1942.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The museum gift shop sells Bahrain handicrafts such as baskets, pottery and cloth as well as books, postcards and souvenirs.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The cafeteria is open during museum hours and serves snacks and light lunch.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Manama, Bahrain26.2166667 50.583333326.1781662 50.5249683 26.255167200000002 50.6416983tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-62431244311043354502008-08-11T05:00:00.000-07:002010-04-02T05:06:01.110-07:00New York on Budget<div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">You don't need big bucks to enjoy the Big Apple big time. </span><a href="http://travelextracts.com/?q=content/new-york-budget" target="undefined"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Travel</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> like a New Yorker on the subway. Eat like a New Yorker on the street. And see the city like a New Yorker by visiting public spaces, landmarks and famous places, many of which can be enjoyed for free. Here are some strategies.</span></div><div class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:93ffea8a-63b2-4559-ad1b-2b8ed7cdaf4e" style="display: inline; float: none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a name='more'></a></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">GETTING AROUND: Subway fare is $2. A MetroCard with unlimited rides on subways and buses is $7.50 for the day or $25 for seven days.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">FAMOUS PLACES: Stroll the serpentine paths of Central Park on your own or take a free walking tour from the Central Park Conservancy, </span><a href="http://www.centralparknyc.org/" target="_blank" title="http://www.centralparknyc.org"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.centralparknyc.org</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">. Carousel rides are $2. For $8, you can hang out with polar bears and penguins at the zoo ($3 for ages 3-12).</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">At Fifth Avenue and 50th Street is Rockefeller Center. The elegant art deco skyscrapers, Channel Gardens, and statues of Prometheus and Atlas are worth seeing in person, no matter how many times you've seen them on TV.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Grand Central Terminal, at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, is worth a visit too. Spend a few minutes inside gazing at the arches, cathedral windows and ceiling that make the place so grand.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Head west on 42nd Street to Times Square, but wait until after dark to fully appreciate the neon lights. Don't worry — the place is packed, even at night. You'll be perfectly safe.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Take the No. 1 train to the South Ferry stop and hop on the Staten Island ferry. It's free and offers fantastic views of the Statue of Liberty and city skyline, not to mention the manmade waterfalls on the East River, in place through Oct. 13. Details on other vantage points and boat rides for viewing the falls at </span><a href="http://nycvisit.com/waterfalls/" target="_blank" title="http://nycvisit.com/waterfalls/"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://nycvisit.com/waterfalls/</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Free ferries to Governors Island — </span><a href="http://www.govisland.com/" target="_blank" title="http://www.govisland.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.govisland.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> — also offer waterfall views with boats Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 12.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another way to see the city from the water is by kayak. The Downtown Boathouse — </span><a href="http://www.downtownboathouse.org/" target="_blank" title="http://www.downtownboathouse.org"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.downtownboathouse.org</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> — offers free kayaking weekends through Oct. 13 on the Hudson River on the city's West Side.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For a thrilling view of Lower Manhattan's urban canyons and skyscrapers, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ENTERTAINMENT: Whether your taste runs to David Letterman, Stephen Colbert or Maury Povich, if your favorite TV show is filmed in New York, you may be able to see it live for free. Details at </span><a href="http://www.nytix.com/" target="_blank" title="http://www.nytix.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.nytix.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A few Broadway shows hold nightly lotteries for cheap front-row tickets ($21.50 for "Avenue Q," $26.50 for "In The Heights," check Web sites for details). It's a great deal if your plans are flexible. Or try the TKTS booth in the Marriott Marquis Hotel, West 46th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue, which sells tickets at up to 50 percent off for that night's performance at many Broadway and off-Broadway shows.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Many city parks host free shows in the summer, but they mostly end in August. In September and October, though, parades and street fairs abound. The West Indian-American Day Parade is a massive carnival-style pageant every Labor Day along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Look for politicians and other celebrities in the Columbus Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, 44th to 79th streets, noon-3 p.m. The Feast of San Gennaro street festival takes place on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, Sept. 11-21.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">MUSEUMS: Most museums have some free hours. Arrive early and be prepared for crowds. (What, you thought you were the only one on a budget?)</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Museum of Modern Art, 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue, hosts free Fridays, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. The Whitney Museum of American Art, Madison and 75th Street, has "pay what you wish" admission Fridays, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. The Brooklyn Museum (Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum stop on the No. 2 or 3 train) has free admission the first Saturday night of each month except September, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. The arts-and-entertainment event draws huge crowds, from young hipsters to families to older folks.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, always has a "suggested admission" of $20, which means that no, you really don't have to pay the full amount. Don't be embarrassed; New Yorkers on a budget do it all the time. (One of my high school teachers famously sent us off to the museum with this advice: "A polite quarter will do!")</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In Lower Manhattan, the National Museum of the American Indian is always free. Its thought-provoking exhibits include ancient artifacts; masterpieces of pottery, basketry, apparel and other objects; and contemporary art. The museum is housed at One Bowling Green in the former U.S. Customs House, an architecturally stunning 1907 Beaux Arts building.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">FOOD: For breakfast, a bagel with cream cheese is the real deal. (Don't you dare put jam on that bagel!) And don't ask how many calories it is; just know that you won't be hungry for hours. In many parts of the city, corner coffee carts sell decent java, pastries and donuts for about $1.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A cheap lunch might be a hot dog from a cart, a slice from a pizzeria or a sandwich to go from a deli. Also popular are "halal" grill carts selling falafel, chicken in pita and other Middle Eastern fare for $5 or less.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For a sit-down splurge, try Dawat, 210 E. 58th St., an Indian restaurant with impeccable service and an outstanding menu created by the writer and actress Madhur Jaffrey. There are several $16 lunch specials. Dinner entrees run more but even at night, you can get a half-order of tandoori chicken for $14.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Supermarkets often sell whole cooked rotisserie chickens to go for under $10. Add a loaf of Italian </span><a href="http://travelextracts.com/?q=content/new-york-budget" target="undefined"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt;">bread</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">, a readymade salad, and find a park for a picnic for two. Or round up some friends and order a few dishes to share in an ethnic restaurant. Chinatown has many inexpensive restaurants but one of my favorites is Joe's Shanghai at 9 Pell St. You may need a map to find it, but the dumplings are divine. At Aura Thai, 462 Ninth Ave. near 36th Street, panang curry with chicken, beef or tofu is $8.95.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dessert for two: Split the six-for-$9 selection of truffles and pralines at Max Brenner's, 141 Second Ave. at Ninth Street.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">NEIGHBORHOODS: Spend an afternoon exploring. Take the No. 7 train to Jackson Heights and soak up the sounds, sights and smells of the Latin and Asian shops and restaurants. Walk across 125th Street in Harlem. Wander around the Lower East Side, where bargain stores still sell housedresses on racks, but trendy bars and cafes are encroaching on the old neighborhood. Don't forget Coney Island, last stop on the D, F, or Q trains to Brooklyn. If you're tempted by laughter, screams and music from the amusement park, a ride on the Wonder Wheel is $6 while the Cyclone roller coaster is $8. Stroll the boardwalk or wade in the ocean for free.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Big Apple Greeters — </span><a href="http://bigapplegreeter.org/" target="_blank" title="http://bigapplegreeter.org"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://bigapplegreeter.org</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> — offers free, personalized tours led by volunteers who love sharing their inside knowledge of the city. Request the neighborhood of your choice or let them surprise you with an authentic corner of the city you might otherwise never see. Reserve three to four weeks ahead.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">ACCOMMODATIONS: If you don't have a friend or relative to stay with, the Pod Hotel — 230 E. 51st St., </span><a href="http://www.thepodhotel.com/" target="_blank" title="http://www.thepodhotel.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.thepodhotel.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> — has some rooms under $200. Or pretend that Sunday is the new Friday, and book a Sunday-Monday stay through NYC Sunday Stays at </span><a href="http://www.nycvisit.com/sundaystays" target="_blank" title="http://www.nycvisit.com/sundaystays"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.nycvisit.com/sundaystays</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> with room rates 20-30 percent off, free breakfasts and other deals. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">[Source: The Economic Times ]</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7142691 -74.005972940.4540391 -74.472891900000008 40.9744991 -73.5390539tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-85450573089810604042008-07-22T07:55:00.000-07:002010-03-31T14:57:08.072-07:00Travel-maniac - Travelling my hobby<div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Travelling is one of my hobby. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">I have travelled lot of Europe - Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Berlin, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Bregenz, Luzern (Titlis, Pilatus), Interlaken (Jungfrau), St Moritz, Venice, Florence, Rome. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">On other side of Atlantic, I have been to New York. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">In middle east have enjoyed Dubai & Abu Dhabi. Flying trip to Qatar and Oman. Explored Bahrain in detail. </span></div><a name='more'></a><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Another area is India. I have been literally to all parts of India except North East India beyond Assam and Jammu & Kashmir state. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">I have been to lot of places in Rajasthan including Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, extensive travel in Shekhawati covering Chirawa, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Pilani, Rajgarh, Mandawa. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">In Harayana and Punjab, have covered, Nangal, Chandigarh, Hissar, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Gurgaon. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Then national capital New Delhi and Old Delhi. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">In Uttranchal, have been to Dehradoon, Mussorie, Haridwar, Gangotri and then that nice snow trek for Kedartaal. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Continuing in Uttar Pradesh, covered Merrut, Garh Mukteshwar, Lucknow, Agra and Allahabad. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">In eastern side, travelled Kolkata, Siliguri, Malda, Bengdubi, Bagdogra, Darjeeling in West Bengal, Rangpo and Gangtok in Sikkim. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">In central India covered Bhopal, Jhansi, Dewas, Ujjain and Indore. Places like Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Kutch, Bhuj, Mandavi, Mundra, Anjar, Narayan Sarovar, Vadodara, Surat. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">On other side of Vindhyachal, Pune, Amravati, Nagpur, Wardha, Mumbai. Have done many trips and treks around Mumbai from Lohgad, Rajmachi, Naneghat, Matheran, Nagphani (Dukes’ Nose) and Tiger Leap in Lonavala, Naikhind, PEth, Chinchoti falls, Mulund to Borivali through Sanjay Gandhi National Park and many more. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">On eastern ghat, Vishakhapatnam, Arku Valley and further in Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, Secundrabad, Vijayawada. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">In neighbouring state Karnataka, have been to Bangalore and Mysore. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">In southern state Tamilnadu covered Chennai and Rameswaram whereas in Kerala have visited Kanyakumari and Trivendrum. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Nestled in western ghat, Goa is one where I have been too. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color: black;">Since these all travels happened over a lot of time and had not been writing too much, it will be difficult to produce all but over the period will try to blog it out on this site.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-66725476962781201222008-05-15T04:17:00.000-07:002010-04-02T04:21:16.728-07:00Bahrain - Traditional places tour<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">We at our office are planning to have a tour of Bahrain covering Traditional Places.</span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Our tentatively planning is to cover following places:</span></p> <a name='more'></a> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Bahrain Fort<br>Barbar Temple<br>Camel Farm<br>Al Jasrah House<br>Burial Mounds<br>A'ali Pottery<br>(Stop for lunch)<br>Al Fateh Mousque<br>Muharraq Traditional Houses</span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">This tour is planned for Saturday 17 May 2008.</span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">I am planning to join the tour along with my wife and daughter.</span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-50580458632316892008-02-15T04:15:00.000-08:002010-04-02T05:16:54.303-07:00Venice Accommodation-Our Experience<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">In Venice we stayed at B & B Residenza Degli Angeli. It is essentially an apartment of 3 rooms. 1 with private bathroom and the other 2 share the bathroom on the floor !!! All rooms are equipped with air conditioning and satellite TV. Furniture is in Venetian style. Really beautifully decorated. This B&B is located 5 minutes walking from the infamous Rialto Bridge and 20 minutes from St. Mark's Square. </span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:20c09a2a-f53f-450c-b579-0bf36998f9c9" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">There is no point in taking address because you cannot reach it unless it is shown to you. You need to take Water bus (Vaperatto # 1) from Railway station to S. Silvestro where owner Mario will arrange pick up and show you not only place as also explain you the path so that you can reach their later. </span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Best part was Breakfast. Really nice breakfast with sooo soft croissants but that is available only after 8 AM as Mario has to drop his girls to school. Though on last day when we wanted to leave early and he was kind enough to give us some packed breakfast in night itself. </span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Address:<br></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Mario Fiorentini<br>Hotel Alex<br>S.Polo 2606<br>30125 - Venise<br>Tel & Fax # 0039 041 5231341<br>mariofiorentini@libero.it <br></span><a href="http://www.hotelalexinvenice.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.hotelalexinvenice.com</span></a><br><a href="http://www.angelibb.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.angelibb.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Mobile number: (0039) 349 342 1148 (to contact for pick up)</span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Our Booking details for idea about cost etc:<br></span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">We confirm with pleasure the reservation at RESIDENZA DEGLI ANGELI from Tuesday the 22nd of May for 2 nights a nice double room with private bathroom, where we will put a cot free of charge, at the daily rate of 130 Euro including breakfast and all taxes.</span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-91813677388809490852008-02-12T04:18:00.000-08:002010-04-02T05:18:58.689-07:00Rome Accommodation – Our experience<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">In Rome, we stayed at Downtown Accommodation. We booked this directly with owner Isa (</span><a href="mailto: isajiang@virgilio.it "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> isajiang@virgilio.it </span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">). They have their own site </span><a href="http://www.downtownaccomodation.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.downtownaccomodation.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> where most of the details are available.</span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:b99811b0-3fae-47f6-804d-1b8b6f6d1eee" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br><strong>Location:</strong> Though walk able when you do not have luggage with you but little time consuming. Instead bus service from Railway Station is fantastic and we alighted in front of the building. You have to be little careful in searching as it is having a big gate like some house and name plate is very small. There is small departmental store below and post office nearby.<br><strong>Direction:</strong> When come out of the Railway station in the direction of City Bus stand then you can walk down on left side on Via Cavour however better to take bus.<br><strong>Our recommendation:</strong> Really good place. Very close to Forum area where you have many attractions. Very good breakfast and very accommodative owners.<br><strong>Our Booking details to give idea about cost etc:<br></strong>We are very happy to receive your e-mail , your reservation at Downtown Accommodation is confirmed , you will arrive on May 26th , 2007 , and depart on May 28th , 2007 , one triple room ( one double bed + one rollaway bed ) with private bathroom stay for 2 nights , the price is 110 euro per night per the room which includes breakfast and taxes , so total price is 220 euro or special price 210 euro payment in cash , for your credit card information is just to guarantee the room , we will not charge it , when you arrive , you will decide to pay credit card or cash .<br><strong>Address:<br></strong>Downtown Accomodation<br>Via: Cavour 275, flat (int) 2, 1° floor with lift,<br>00184, Rome, Italy<br>Fax: 0039 06 483892<br>Mobile phone: (0039) 3476706181<br>E-mail: </span><a href="mailto: isajiang@virgilio.it "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">isajiang@virgilio.it </span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Web: </span><a title="www.downtownaccomodation.com" href="http://www.downtownaccomodation.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.downtownaccomodation.com</span></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-89594864962210900452008-02-11T04:41:00.000-08:002010-04-02T05:41:33.374-07:00Florence Accommodation – Our experience<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">In Florence we stayed at Bed & Bed Peterson (BBP). We booked BBP through florenceby.com<br>Address: Via Guido Monaco 25, Firenze, Italy, 50144<br>Telephone: +39 3488428160<br>email: peterson@florenceby</span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:1cd061fc-f88c-4145-9327-a90e0ca83fb5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><strong>Location:<br></strong>BBP is located near the main Florentine railway station S.M. Novella around half a kilometre.<br><strong>Direction:<br>From main railway station S.M. Novella</strong>: Leaving behind the train station, you take the right exit, you go down the stairs, turn right, than straight on (along railway line in the same direction where from your train arrived) (Via Alamanni) till the traffic lamp, cross the road and on the left pavement at nr. 25 you find B&B. This is next to Tabacchi shop which is in corner and bang on Bus stop. But careful this street is one way so you cannot catch bus from Railway station to reach BBP.<br><strong>From Airport A. Vespucci (about 8 kms</strong>): There is a bus shuttle leaving every 30 minutes from the airport and in 20 minutes it takes you to the railway station of S.M. Novella<br><strong>From highway (about 8 kms):</strong> Exit Firenze nord, than after the airport you will find a big road called Via di Novoli, than Via Redi and at the end of it Viale Belfiore, the first on your left is our street Via Guido Monaco.<br><strong>Distance from main attractions:<br></strong>BBP is in opposite direction from the historic downtown (Duomo, Uffizi etc.) which is I think aroung 2 km away however same is walkable and can be reached on foot (25-30 minutes walk) or by bus (stop is bang at the gate of the building.<br>Contact person: Peterson/ Chiara. Really nice people. In fact they were very prompt in answering our email/ queries and helped us in booking museums that is must for short well planned trips.<br><strong>Our booking details</strong> to give an idea about cost etc. (We booked nearly one month in advance):<br>******<br>Accommodation / Bed Type: Double Room, En-Suite Bathroom, Double Bed<br>Service: Self Catering / Room Only<br>Number. Of Guests: 2 Adults, 1 Kid<br>Check-In: 24 May 2007, Any Time<br>Check-Out: 26 May 2007, Before 10am<br>Unit Price: 65,00 EUR Per Accommodation Per Day<br>These prices include all taxes<br>Includes : Air Conditioning, Daily Cleaning<br>Excludes : Extra Bed<br>*****<br><strong>Our recommendation:</strong> We found this very convenient and walking distance to most of the places. In fact we did not require any local transportation during our stay. Room was airy and lighted.<br>Only issue was availability of the food around. Better get your food before reaching B&B in night else there are not many places around. For quick bite, McDonnalds at Railway station is one option. For water and other quick supply store next to the station is what we used.<br>There is tourist office bang opposite to railway station across the main road but we did not find it open anytime.</span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-62799908279823674702008-02-11T04:28:00.000-08:002010-04-02T05:38:32.157-07:00Frankfurt - Attractions Guide<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">List of most of the attractions in Frankfurt with quick information:</span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:2b63b87e-69a4-429b-a202-1294e22a1dd5" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> <hr> <br></span> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">GF04 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Bockenheim Strasse</span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Many of Frankfurt's liveliest bars, cafés and restaurants are in Bockenheim (sometimes called Pig-Out Alley), a working-class district that has evolved into an alternative scene center, heavily populated by students and bohemians. Food shops offer cheeses, fish (smoked or fresh), and local favorites such as Frankfurter sausages.<br>Location:<br> <hr> *<br>GF05 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Brotfabrik</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Brotfabrik is one of the city's most original performance venues, featuring live and disco music, heavy on salsa, African and Asian sounds. A restaurant and café are on site.<br>Location: Bachmannstrasse. Call (069) 978-455 for more information.<br> <hr> <br>GF06 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Frankfurt Zoo</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Frankfurt’s zoo is one of the most attractive in Europe and is very popular with both locals and visitors. There are 13 different areas in these 14 hectares (35 acres) of land, where thousands of animals from all over the world, including eight endangered species, can be observed. The obvious highlight is the Grzimek Haus, where artificial darkness is created in order to observe nocturnal animals going about their business.<br>Location: Alfred-Brehm-Platz 16<br>Tel: (069) 2123 3735.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.zoo-frankfurt.de" href="http://www.zoo-frankfurt.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.zoo-frankfurt.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1900 (summer), daily 0900-1700 (winter).<br>Admission charge (concessions available).<br> <hr> <br>GF07 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Geldmuseum der Deutschen Budesbank (Money Museum of the German Federal Bank)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Money Museum is a sign of the changing times. In this Deutsche Bundesbank building, an extensive historical collection of coins and paper money has finally been made accessible to the public. The museum also explains the complex nature of monetary policy (especially the new European system) using films, challenging computer games and interactive teaching programmes.<br>Location: Wilhelm Epsteinstrasse 14<br>Tel: (069) 9566 3073.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.geldmuseum.de" href="http://www.geldmuseum.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.geldmuseum.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>GF08 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Goethehaus & Goethe-Museum</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Completely destroyed by Allied bombers in 1944, the house where Goethe (1749-1832) was born and spent most of his youth was rebuilt after the war, in 1951, and restored to its former 18th-century glory. Visitors can see the family music room, library, living room and Goethe’s own puppet show and study. Next door, the Goethe-Museum displays German paintings and sculpture from the late Baroque period up to early Romanticism. There are daily guided tours of the house at 1030 and 1400. Tours of the museum can also be arranged on request.<br>Visit Goethe's birth house and the adjoining Goethe Museum. The Goethehaus is the birth home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of the greatest figures in Western literature. Destroyed in the Second World War, it has been restored to look as when he lived there, with a few original items surviving the war.<br>Location: Grosser Hirschgraben 23-25<br>Tel: (069) 138 800.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.goethehaus-frankfurt.de" href="http://www.goethehaus-frankfurt.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.goethehaus-frankfurt.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 1000-1800 and Sun 1000-1730.<br>Admission charge (concessions available).<br> <hr> <br>GF09 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Haus Giersch Museum Regionaler Kunst (Haus Giersch Museum of Regional Art)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: This newcomer on the Frankfurt museum scene is devoted to work from artists from the Rhine-Main region and is a wonderful way for culture-keen visitors to get a taste of the regional artistic fare. Taking its place alongside Frankfurt’s finest institutions on Museumsufer, the bright, airy and thoroughly contemporary gallery hosts two changing exhibitions on art and art-historical themes. The one constant exhibit is the building itself, the neoclassical Villa Holzmann.<br>Location: Schaumainkai 83, Museumsufer<br>Tel: (069) 6330 4128.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.museum-giersch.de" href="http://www.museum-giersch.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.museum-giersch.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>GF10 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Historisches Museum (Historical Museum)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Historical Museum is housed in a complex of imperial buildings overlooking the Main, which also includes the 12th-century palace chapel. The museum traces the story of Frankfurt (including its destruction in World War II) and visitors can learn about the traditions of Äppelwoi in the museum café. There are guided tours on the last Saturday of each month.<br>Location: Saalgasse 19<br>Tel: (069) 2123 5599.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.historisches-museum.frankfurt.de" href="http://www.historisches-museum.frankfurt.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.historisches-museum.frankfurt.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>GF11 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Jüdisches-Museum (Jewish Museum)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Until the Holocaust, Frankfurt was home to Germany’s second largest Jewish population, many of whom played a key role in the city’s financial and cultural success. The story of this important community from the 12th to the 20th century, is told in the Jewish Museum, housed in the Rothschild Palais (a mansion that was the former home of the Rothschilds). The remains of Mikvah (women’s ceremonial baths) in the former Jewish ghetto and special exhibitions are displayed in the supplementary Judengasse Museum (Jewish Alley Museum).<br>Location: Untermainkai 14-15<br>Judengasse Museum Kurt-Schzumacher-Strasse 10<br>Tel: (069) 2123 5000.<br>Tel: (069) 297 7419.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.juedischesmuseum.de" href="http://www.juedischesmuseum.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.juedischesmuseum.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Website: </span><a title="www.juedischesmuseum.de" href="http://www.juedischesmuseum.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.juedischesmuseum.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>GF12 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Liebieghaus</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Liebieghaus is Germany's premier specialist museum of sculpture, with exhibits ranging from ancient civilizations of Sumeria, Egypt, Greece and Rome to the colossal altarpieces of European Baroque.<br>Location: Schaumainkai 71, Frankfurt. Call (069) 2123-8617 for more information.<br> <hr> <br>GF13 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Museum für Angewandte Kunst</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Displayed in an innovative building by the American Richard Meier, the Museum für Angewandte Kunst has large collections of decorative art from Europe, the Islamic world and the Far East.<br>Location: Domstre. 10, Frankfurt. Call (069) 21230447 for more information.<br> <hr> <br>GF14 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Museum für Moderne Kunst (Museum of Modern Art)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The outside of the Museum of Modern Art alone would count as one of the city’s major attractions. It is therefore a bonus that this museum, designed by Viennese architect Hans Hollein, is filled with a superb collection of post-war art, predominantly by German and American artists, including Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys. There is also a café-restaurant.<br>Location: Domstrasse 10<br>Tel: (069) 2123 0447.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.mmk-frankfurt.de" href="http://www.mmk-frankfurt.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.mmk-frankfurt.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues, Thurs-Sun 1000-1700, Wed 1000-2000.<br>Admission charge (concessions available).<br> <hr> <br>GF01 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Palmengarten Und Botanischer Garten (Palm Garden)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Palm Garden is a wonderland of tropical plants and exotic birds. Hidden away from the bustle of the city centre, the attractions of this botanical garden include glasshouses, some 300 different palms and a boating lake. There are concerts staged here in summer, as well as a number of exhibitions and events. Guided tours are available.<br>Tropical and semitropical greenhouses contains flora, including orchids, and palms. The surrounding park has a lake with rowboat rentals. Between the Palmengarten and the adjoining Grüneburgpark, the botanical gardens have an assortment of wild, ornamental, and rare plants. Flower shows and exhibitions take place throughout the year.<br>Location: Siesmayerstrasse 63<br>Tel: (069) 2123 3939/6689.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.palmengarten-frankfurt.de" href="http://www.palmengarten-frankfurt.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.palmengarten-frankfurt.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600 (Nov-Jan), daily 0900-1800 (Feb-Oct).<br>Admission charge (concessions available).<br> <hr> <br>GF02 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Römerberg</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: In 1240, this low hill (the main square and heart of the Old Town) was the site of the city’s first official trade fair. The Römerberg is bordered by half-timbered houses (Fachwerkhäuser), reconstructed after total destruction in 1945, and the former court chapel – the Nikolaikirche (Church of St Nicholas). The main attraction, however, is the Rathaus Römer (Frankfurt’s city hall since 1405) with its Gothic stepped gables made of Frankfurt’s trademark red sandstone. The coronation of German emperors was celebrated by banquets in the Kaisersaal (Emperor’s Hall) on the upper floors. Portraits of 52 emperors, from Charlemagne to Franz II, now hang on the walls. It is a working town hall, however, and there are currently no tours. The Christmas market that takes place on Römerberg every December is one of the best in Germany, and has taken place here since the late 14th century.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>GF03 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Römerberg, Römer Sankt Bartholomäusdom (Cathedral of St Bartholomew)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Between 1562 and 1792, German emperors were crowned in the Cathedral of St Bartholomew, hence its other name – the Kaiserdom (Emperor Cathedral). In the 1950s, this was Frankfurt’s tallest building, at 96m (315ft), which illustrates just how much the city has developed since then. The cathedral has a red sandstone façade and interior and is one of Frankfurt’s most recognisable landmarks. The present structure was rebuilt after World War II but contains a number of original carvings. There are also great views of the city from the tower. A museum, the Dommuseum, is adjoined to the cathedral and is packed full of ancient archaeological findings.<br>Location: Domplatz 14<br>Tel: (069) 297 0320.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.dom-frankfurt.de" href="http://www.dom-frankfurt.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.dom-frankfurt.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Mon-Thur and Sat 0900-1200 and 1430-1800, Fri and Sun 1430-1800, until 1700 in winter (cathedral), Tue-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 1100-1700 (museum).<br>Free admission to the cathedral, charge for the museum.<br> <hr> <br>GF15 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Sachsenhausen</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Frankfurt is Europe's cider metropolis, and most of its distinctive apple wine taverns are in Alt-Sachsenhausen, the heart of the historic south bank quarter.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>GF16 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: St. Bartholomäus Cathedral</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Gothic cathedral of St. Bartholomäus, the ancient venue for election and coronation of the Holy Roman Emperors, has a tower that invites climbing for a fabulous view.<br>Location: Dompl. 1, Frankfurt.<br> <hr> <br>GF17 City: Frankfurt<br>Name of Attraction: Städelsche Kunstinstitute und Städtische Galerie (Städel Art Institute and Municipal Gallery)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: An exemplary and comprehensive collection of European painting from the 14th to the 20th centuries is housed in this museum (commonly known as just Städel) on Frankfurt’s legendary Museumsufer (Museum Embankment). German masters, such as Cranach, Holbein and Beckmann, are displayed alongside the likes of Botticelli, Rembrandt and Rubens. Around 500 sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries are also on show, including works from artists such as Rodin, Kirchner and Picasso. There is also a café, and an excellent bookshop. Originally founded by Johann Friedrich Städel as an art museum and art school, the Städel is now one of Europe's most comprehensive art galleries, with paintings ranging from German, Dutch and Italian Primitives to the avant-garde.<br>Location: Dürerstrasse 2<br>Tel: (069) 605 098 200.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.staedelmuseum.de" href="http://www.staedelmuseum.de/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.staedelmuseum.de</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues, Fri-Sun 1000-1700, Wed and Thurs 1000-2100.<br>Admission charge (concessions available).<br></span></p> <hr> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-75163117588817904552008-02-10T04:39:00.000-08:002010-04-02T05:39:20.105-07:00Zurich - Attractions Guide<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">List of most of the attractions in Zurich with quick information:</span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:d970788a-1479-423c-89d0-fa632a088ba0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> <hr> <br>SZ01 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Botanischer Garten (Botanical Gardens)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Zurich University's Botanical Gardens make for a wonderful place to get away from it all. Inside are over a million plants that comprise the university's botanical collection, representing a number of different ecosystems from tropical rainforests to alpine meadow flowers.<br>Location: Zollikerstrasse 107<br>Tel: (044) 634 8461.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.unizh.ch/bguz" href="http://www.unizh.ch/bguz" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.unizh.ch/bguz</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0700-1900, Sat and Sun 0800-1800 (Mar-Sep), Mon-Fri 0800-1800, Sat and Sun 0800-1700 (Oct-Feb).<br>Free admission.<br> <hr> <br>SZ02 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Fraumünster</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Although this beautiful church dates from the ninth century (when it was a Benedictine abbey), it is often the five 20th-century stained-glass windows in the choir by Marc Chagall (1970) that attract visitors. These glass works of art are best seen in the morning light. The church itself was begun in the 12th century, although the undercroft contains the original abbey crypt. The Fraumünster spire is an elegant and notable landmark dating from 1732. The rest of the church is predominantly gothic, although the choir is romanesque. The site was originally endowed by Charlemagne's grandson, the German king Ludwig, in 853 and later became the church of the Zurich noblewomen's convent. The stained glass windows in the north transept are by Alberto Giacometti's cousin, Augusto.<br>Location: Am Münsterhofplatz<br>Tel: (044) 211 4100.<br>Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1115-1800 (Apr-Oct), Mon-Sat 1000-1600, Sun 1115-1600 (Nov-Mar).Free admission.<br> <hr> <br>SZ03 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Grossmünster</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The twin towers of this attractive cathedral (the largest in Zurich and the city's symbol) face onto the River Limmat and are best seen from Rathausbrücke. Originally endowed by Charlemagne, parts of this minster date back to the 11th and 13th centuries, notably the crypt, which is the largest of its kind in Switzerland. Recent archaeological discoveries suggest the existence of a Roman cemetery underneath the church. There are remains of a romanesque cloister, 12th-century statuary and stained glass in the choir by Augusto Giacometti (Alberto's cousin). The Karlstrum tower has 187 steps, there is no lift.<br>Location: Grossmünsterplatz<br>Tel: (044) 252 5949.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.kirche-zh.ch" href="http://www.kirche-zh.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.kirche-zh.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (15 Mar-31 Oct), daily 1000-1700 (1 Nov-14 Mar). Karlstrum tower: Mon-Sat 100-1700, Sun 1115-1600. Cloister: Mon-Fri 0900-1800 (15 Mar-31 Oct), Mon-Fri 100-1700 (1 Nov-14 Mar).<br>Free admission (charge for tower).<br> <hr> <br>SZ04 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Kunsthaus Zürich (Zurich Art Gallery)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: This is the city's most important art gallery, boasting a collection of paintings and sculptures by Swiss and international masters, covering most periods from medieval times but predominately from the 19th and 20th centuries. Two of Monet's Water Lilies paintings and the largest collection of Edvard Munch's works outside Norway can be found here, as well as many works by Füssli and Hodler and important works by Expressionists like Kokoschka, Bechmann and Corinth. There are also good collections of photography, the Dadaists and Alberto Giacometti, as well as an important library. Tours are available in English if reserved beforehand.<br>Location: Heimplatz 1<br>Tel: (044) 253 8484.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.kunsthaus.ch" href="http://www.kunsthaus.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.kunsthaus.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 1000-2100, Fri-Sun 1000-1700.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>SZ05 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst (Museum of Contemporary Art)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Devoted to collecting and exhibiting contemporary art, especially from the 1990s, the Museum of Contemporary Art features a core collection of works of the Migros Co-operative Society in the open-concept exhibition space. These create a dialogue with the rotating exhibitions and special installations. There are both solo and group exhibitions.<br>Location: Limmatstrasse 270<br>Tel: (044) 277 2050.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.migrosmuseum.ch" href="http://www.migrosmuseum.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.migrosmuseum.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues, Wed, Fri 1200-1800, Thurs 1200-2000, Sat and Sun 1100-1700.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>SZ06 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Museum Rietberg</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The collection of the Rietberg Museum of Non-European Art is housed within two buildings dating from the 1850s which are set within the Rieterpark. The Villa Wesendonck has special exhibitions in addition to its collection of Indian, Chinese and African art (the core of which is the sculpture collection donated by Baron Eduard von der Heydt), while the Park-Villa Rieter has paintings from China, Japan and India. The latter also holds occasional world music concerts.<br>Location: Villa Wesendonck and Park-Villa Rieter Gablerstrasse 15<br>Tel: (044) 206 3131.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.rietberg.ch" href="http://www.rietberg.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.rietberg.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1700.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>SZ07 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Schweizerisches Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Swiss National Museum lies on a landscaped triangle between the Hauptbahnhof and the Limmat and Sihl rivers, and has fulfilled the role of the nation's attic for over a century. Special exhibits in this castle-like museum supplement the permanent display of items related to Switzerland and Swiss culture. These include not only paintings and sculpture but also weapons, flags, watches, clocks, tools, toys and prehistoric objects.<br>Location: Museumstrasse 2<br>Tel: (044) 218 6511.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.musee-suisse.ch" href="http://www.musee-suisse.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.musee-suisse.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1100-1700.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>SZ08 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Üetliberg</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: At an elevation of 871m (2,857ft) this is the tallest point in the city, with views over Zurich, the lake and (on a clear day) the Alps. The Üetliberg is part of the Albis ridge. There is a one-and-a-half to two-hour walk to Felsenegg, from where a cable car connects to Adliswil station, which has connections on S-Bahn line S4 to the city. A 24-hour train/cable car pass is available. The SZU Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn (website: </span><a title="www.szu.ch" href="http://www.szu.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.szu.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">), S10, goes to the top of the city's peak (departing from many stations, including the Hauptbahnhof). A restored 1920s electric railway car can also be hired for groups. The hotel and restaurant Uto Kulm is an excellent venue from which to look down upon the city.<br>Location: Uto Kulm<br>Tel: (044) 457 6666.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.utokulm.ch" href="http://www.utokulm.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.utokulm.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0800-2400.<br> <hr> <br>SZ09 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Zoo Zürich</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The open, park-like enclosures of the Zurich zoo house some 1,500 animals from points near and far, in areas that replicate the animals' natural environments. The zoo's animals draw crowds during feeding times (details are available on the website). A complex duplicates Madagascar's Masoala rainforest. There are several good restaurants at the zoo, including the Altes Klösterli, Siesta and Outpost.<br>Location: Zürichbergstrasse 221<br>Tel: (044) 254 2505 or 0848 966 983.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.zoo.ch" href="http://www.zoo.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.zoo.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (Mar-Oct), daily 0900-1700 (Nov-Feb).<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>SZ10 City: Zurich<br>Name of Attraction: Zunfthaus zur Meisen (‘zur Meisen' Guild Hall)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The ‘zur Meisen' Guild Hall, opposite the Fraumünster, has exhibits of 18th-century Swiss pottery and china. The elegant rococo galleries are an appropriate setting for the beautifully decorated porcelain figurines that were produced in Kilchberg-Schooren, Zurich and other porcelain and pottery factories. The building itself, built in 1757, expresses a baroque aesthetic and is considered to be the most beautiful of all the Zürich guild houses.<br>Location: Münsterhof 20<br>Tel: (044) 221 2807.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.musee-suisse.ch" href="http://www.musee-suisse.ch/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.musee-suisse.ch</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1030-1700.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> </span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-57537470552020811962008-02-09T04:55:00.000-08:002010-04-02T05:56:25.838-07:00Vienna - Attractions Guide<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">List of most of the attractions in Vienna with quick information:</span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:bd23fd33-62f0-4b9e-9ae5-74411d653ce8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> <hr> <br>AV03 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Albertina (Mozart exhibit)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV04 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Ancient Armour and Weapons Museum</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV05 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Antique Musical Instruments Museum</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Museum of old instruments is one of the collections inside Neue Burg and there you may see the pianos, where Mozart, Beethoven, Joseph Hayden and Franz Schubert used to perform their works. Even more famous is their collection of renaissance-instruments - it is considdered the most precious collection of these instruments. Another highlight in their collection is a Klavichord, dating back to 1596 - it is able to imitate various instruments and even the singing of birds.<br>Another highlight of the museum is a small-scale model of the city of Vienna. It dates back to the year 1845, and shows still the medieval townwalls around the city - that wall was taken down later-on in order to build Ringstrasse, as you may see it nowadays !<br>The Museum of old instruments is open<br>daily except tuesday 10.00a.m. - 06.00p.m<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV01 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Belvedere</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Oberes Belvedere (Upper Belvedere Palace), which was built in 1721–23, for Prince Eugene of Savoy, offers terrific views across the gardens to the Unteres Belvedere (Lower Belvedere) and the city beyond. Artwork from the middle ages and the Baroque era is featured in the Unteres Belvedere. The Oberes Belvedere houses art from the 19th-century classical, Romantic and Biedermeier periods on the second floor and post-1918 art on the ground floor. The first floor, however, is what draws visitors, with paintings by Gustav Klimt (including der Küss), Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and other fin-de-siècle artists.<br>Location: Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Prinz Eugenstrasse 27<br>Tel: (01) 79557.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.belvedere.at" href="http://www.belvedere.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.belvedere.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800. Closed Dec 24-25.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>AV06 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Danube </span><a href="http://travelextracts.com/?q=content/vienna-attractions-guide" target="undefined"><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt">River cruise</span></a> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV07 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Ephesus Museum</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV08 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Fine Arts Museum</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV09 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Haus der Musik (House of Music)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Haus der Musik is a major addition to Vienna’s museum scene, offering a link between technology and art. It includes the museum of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, where visitors are given the opportunity to view the last New Year’s Day Concert, the Sonosphere, where many aspects of sound are presented, using hands-on computer technology and giant instruments, the Virtual Conductor, where visitors can use virtual technology to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Brain Opera, an interactive musical environment with unique ultramodern musical instruments. There are also historic displays of great Viennese composers, from Haydn to Berg, a wine bar, a café and several concert rooms. All exhibitions are presented in both German and English and anyone can happily spend hours here, whether musically inclined or not. Open daily 1000-2200.<br>Location: Seilerstätte 30<br>Tel: (01) 516 48.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.hdm.at" href="http://www.hdm.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.hdm.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AV10 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Hofburg</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Imperial Palace until 1918, the Hofburg is almost a city in itself. Today, it houses the office of the Austrian president, an international conference centre, a number of museums, the chapel where the Vienna Boys’ Choir sings and the hall in which the Lipizzan stallions perform. Visitors can tour the Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments), including Franz Joseph's and Sisi's (Empress Elisabeth's) private rooms, the great audience hall, dining rooms and staterooms. The Silberkammer (Imperial Silver Collection) is also on show. The Schatzkammer (Treasury), Schweizerhof 1, contains stunning exhibits that exemplify the power and wealth of one of Europe’s most important empires. The Imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire rests here, as does the crown of the Austrian Empire, the 15th-century Burgundian treasure and the treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The Sisi Museum, which opened in 2004 to commemorate the 150th wedding anniversary of Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph, showcases many personal objects and some of the most famous portraits of the beautiful empress. Last but not least, the State Hall of the Austrian National Library is a jewel of profane baroque architecture and one of the most beautiful historical libraries in the world, and should not be missed. Hofburg is a giant area in the very centre of vienna and it includes all of the buildings between Albertina - Nationalbibliothek - Ballhausplatz and between the Burg-Ring and the stables of the Vienna White Horses / Lippizaner. The Hofburg used to be the living-quaters of the austrian emperors and their employees and today you may see most of these rooms that were transfered into various museums. Even when you do not have enough time to enter any of these museums, you may still spend 1-2 hours to enjoy all of the interesting details of the parks and buildings of Hofburg :<br>Michaelator - the giant gate under the golden dome of Hofburg takes you to Amalienburg ( the large innercourt with great renaissance-facades and a giant monument in the centre.)<br>Schweizertor is the most beautiful side-gate and it is dating back to the 16th century.<br>Neue Burg is the big building with the statue of Prinz Eugen in front of it.<br>In Burggarten you may see the lovely Mozart-monument, the Palmenhaus and the Schmetterlingshaus with exotic butterflies humming in the former Orangerie of the emperor... Schatzkammer is the treasury of the Hofburg and it shows various crowns of the Austrian empire, precious gold- and silverplates and cutleries, and even a 33-meters long centre-piece made of gold-bronze, it was ment as a table-decoration for banquets at the royal court. The oldest crown in Schatzkammer dates back to the 10th century and so it is no wonder, there is a real tresor-door at the entrance to this museum and a lot of people watching each of your steps through the collections !<br>Photography is not forbidden, but unfortunately it is quite dark in that museum !<br>Photography only without flash or tripod !!<br>the Schatzkammer is open daily except tuesday 10.00a.m.-06.00p.m.<br>at dezember 31st it is only open untill 01.00p.m.<br>it is closed january 1st + may 1st + november 1st !!<br>You can purchase a single ticket for all three museums or purchase the "Sisi Ticket", which entitles you to a visit to Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg with Audio Guide (Imp. Apartments, Sisi Museum, Imp. Silver Collection) and Imperial Furniture Museum • Vienna Furniture Museum).<br>Location: Innerer Burghof 1, Kaisertor State Hall of the Austrian National Library Josefsplatz 1<br>Tel: (01) 533 7570 (Imperial Apartments, Imperial Silver Collection and Sisi Museum) or 525 240 (Treasury). Tel: (01) 534 100.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.hofburg.wien.info" href="http://www.hofburg.wien.info/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.hofburg.wien.info</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> or </span><a title="www.hofburg-wien.at" href="http://www.hofburg-wien.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.hofburg-wien.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> Website: </span><a title="www.onb.ac.at" href="http://www.onb.ac.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.onb.ac.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700 (Imperial Apartments, Imperial Silver Collection and Sisi Museum), Wed-Mon 1000-1800 (Treasury). Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800, Thurs 1000-2100.<br>Admission charge. Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>AV11 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Kaisergruft (Imperial Burial Vault)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Imperial Burial Vault in the Kapuzinerkirche (Capuchin Church), which was build between 1622 and 1632, is well worth a visit. The vault became the burial place of the Hapsburgs and the highlight is the double casket of Maria-Theresa and Franz I.<br>Location: Neuer Markt 1<br>Tel: (01) 5126 853/16.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.kaisergruft.at" href="http://www.kaisergruft.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.kaisergruft.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AV12 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: KunstHausWien (Vienna Art House)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: KunstHausWien is the unmistakable architectural expression of Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s unique vision. Appearing like a Klimt painting as seen through a kaleidoscope, the building contains an exhibition of Hundertwasser’s artwork as well as a bright café with a chic clientele and relaxing garden. The goulash is excellent. The nearby Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment project, which can only be viewed from the street.<br>Location: Untere Weissgerberstrasse 13<br>Tel: (01) 712 0491.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.kunsthauswien.com" href="http://www.kunsthauswien.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.kunsthauswien.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AV25 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Kunsthistorisches Museum</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: If you're an art buff don't miss the Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of the finest in Europe. The Habsburgs loved to collect, and many goodies found their way back to Vienna from their extensive territories. It's impossible to see the whole museum in one visit, so plan ahead or expect to indulge in repeat excursions.<br>Rubens was appointed to the service of a Habsburg governor in Brussels, so it is not surprising that the museum has one of the best collections of his works. The collection of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder is also unrivalled.<br>The works by Canova, Vermeer, Dürer, Rembrandt, Raphael, Van Dyck, Cranach, Caravaggio, Canaletto and Titian aren't bad and there are extensive collections of Egyptian, Greek and Roman artefacts, and sculpture and decorative arts covering the Austrian high baroque, Renaissance, mannerist and medieval periods, including Cellini's famously over-the-top salt cellar.<br>The building itself has some delightful features. The murals between the arches above the stairs were created by three artists, including a young Klimt (northern wall), painted before he broke with classical tradition.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV02 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: This museum was built to house the Imperial Hapsburg collections in one place, although these have now grown to such an extent that some are housed in the Hofburg and in Schönbrunn Palace (see above). The grand staircase in the Kunsthistorisches Museum provides passage to the galleries, which include the Antiquities, Egyptian-Oriental and Coin collections. The Kunstkammer (art chamber) houses sculpture and decorative arts. The Gemäldegalerie (picture gallery) has works by Old Masters, including Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian, and the most comprehensive collection of Brueghels in the world.<br>Location: Maria-Theresien-Platz 1<br>Tel: (01) 525 240.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.khm.at" href="http://www.khm.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.khm.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800 (until 2100 Thurs).<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>AV13 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Mozarteum</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV14 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: MuseumsQuartier</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: On the site of the former imperial stables, this large cultural complex, which opened in 2001, is one of the biggest of its kind in the world. Don’t miss the excellent Leopold Museum, a must for anyone interested in Austrian art, and MUMOK, the Museum of Modern Art. The MuseumQuartier is a very pleasant place to hang out for a few hours, especially in summer, as the place is packed with students and young people relaxing outside or in one of the many cafes.<br>Location: Museumplatz 1<br>Tel: (01) 523 5881 or 525 70-0 (Leopold Museum) or 525 00 (MUMOK).<br>Website: </span><a title="www.mqw.at" href="http://www.mqw.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.mqw.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> or </span><a title="www.leopoldmuseum.org" href="http://www.leopoldmuseum.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.leopoldmuseum.org</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> or </span><a title="www.mumok.at" href="http://www.mumok.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.mumok.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: (Leopold Museum) Wed-Mon 1000-1900, Thu 1000-2100. (MUMOK): Tue-Sun 1000-1800, Thu 1000-2100.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>AV23 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Parliament</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV15 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Prater</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Prater is a giant wooded park, fairground and the location of one of Vienna’s most famous sights – the century-old Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel). Harry Lime fought here in The Third Man (1949) and Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy fell in love here in Before Sunrise (1995).<br>Location: Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel) Prater 90<br>Tel: (01) 969 7817 or 728 0516.<br>Tel: (01) 729 5430.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.wiener-prater.at" href="http://www.wiener-prater.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.wiener-prater.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Website: </span><a title="www.wienerriesenrad.com" href="http://www.wienerriesenrad.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.wienerriesenrad.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AV16 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Ringstrasse</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Ringstrasse is the traditional center of the city.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV17 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Royal Treasury (by the Royal Apartments)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV18 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Schloß Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Palace)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Schönbrunn Palace is Vienna’s answer to Versailles and was used as the summer residence of the Habsburgs from the 18th century until 1918. Of the 1,411 rooms in the palace and its adjacent buildings, 40 state rooms are open to the public. The golden-yellow palace is set within equally magnificent gardens, landscaped in the Baroque style, with some fabulous views. The palace and gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Gloriette is a triumphal arch that stands on the hilltop behind the palace and affords a stunning view over the grounds and the city beyond. The Palmenhaus (Palm House) is an excellent example of late 19th-century architecture, with cast iron columns delicately holding up the glass walls and roof. The world’s oldest zoo can be found in the park. It was commissioned in 1752, to amuse and educate the court. This sumptuous baroque palace is one of Vienna's most popular attractions. It has 1441-rooms-worth of imperial splendour (of which 40 can be visited), complete with a classically landscaped garden. Additional attractions (with separate entrance fees) include a maze and the world's oldest zoo.<br>The pinnacle of finery is reached in the Great Gallery. Gilded scrolls, ceiling frescoes, chandeliers and huge crystal mirrors create the effect. Numerous sumptuous balls were held here, including one for the delegates at the Congress of Vienna (1814-15).<br>The Mirror Room is where Mozart (then six) played his first royal concert in the presence of Maria Theresa and the royal family in 1762. His father revealed in a letter that afterwards young Wolfgang leapt onto the lap of the empress and kissed her.<br>The Round Chinese Room is over the top but rather ingenious too. Maria Theresa held secret consultations here: a hidden doorway led to her adviser's apartments and a fully laden table could be drawn up through the floor so the dignitaries could dine without being disturbed by servants.<br>Location: Schönbrunn Palace<br>Tel: (01) 811 13 ext. 239.Schönbrunnner Schlossstrasse 1130<br>Tel: 01 811 13 (info)<br>Tel: 01 811 11 333 (booking)<br></span><a href="mailto: info@schoenbrunn.at "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">info@schoenbrunn.at </span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Website: </span><a title="www.schoenbrunn.at" href="http://www.schoenbrunn.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.schoenbrunn.at</span></a><br><a title="http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/site/publicdir/0101040000_8f.php" href="http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/site/publicdir/0101040000_8f.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/site/publicdir/0101040000_8f.php</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0830-1700 (Apr-Oct, until 1800 Jul and Aug), daily 0830-1630 (Nov-Mar). Hours: Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct 8:30am-5:00pm, Jul-Aug 8:30am-6:00pm, Nov-Mar 8:30am-4:30pm Palace opening hours<br>1st April to 30th June 8.30 am to 5 pm<br>1st July to 31st<br>Complete : EUR 36. Imperial Tour - EUR 8.90<br> <hr> <br>AV19 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: For over 400 years, the horses of the Spanish Riding School have performed their elegant manoeuvres at the Imperial Stables. The Lipizzaner Museum Wien (situated at the stables) traces the history of these renowned performing horses and offers the opportunity to see into the animals’ quarters. The easiest way for visitors to see the horses in action is at their morning training sessions, 1000-1200 Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets to the training sessions, which involve classical dressage exercise to music, are only available at the door on the day. Tickets for the actual performances are in high demand and need to be booked well in advance. The season generally runs from March to June and from September to December. Gala performances vary from month to month, usually Saturday or Sunday mornings and occasionally Friday evenings. Tickets are available on the Internet, by post or by fax and cost and are expensive (standing room is cheaper). Final dress rehearsals before the season starts are cheaper and tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis.<br>Location: Michaelerplatz 1 (Riding School ticket office), Reitschulgasse 2 (Lipizzaner Museum)<br>Tel: (01) 533 9031 (Riding School) or 5252 4416 (Lipizzaner Museum).<br>Website: </span><a title="www.spanische-reitschule.com" href="http://www.spanische-reitschule.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.spanische-reitschule.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> or </span><a title="www.lipizzaner.at" href="http://www.lipizzaner.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.lipizzaner.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800 (museum), Tues-Sat 1000-1200 (morning training sessions). Guided tours Tues-Sat in the afternoon. Gala performances are usually held on Sunday morning at 1100, occasionally on Friday evenings.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>AV20 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: St. Ruprecht</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: St. Ruprecht is Vienna’s oldest church.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV21 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Staatsoper</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AV22 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: Stephansdom (St Stephen’s Cathedral)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The imposing St Stephen’s Cathedral marks Graben’s eastern end and is easily spotted, due to its brightly coloured roof tiles, from more distant viewpoints. Construction began on the cathedral in the 12th century and was completed in 1433. Major restoration and rebuilding work was necessary after the cathedral caught fire at the end of World War II. The incredible latticework spire of this Gothic masterpiece is a focal point for all visitors. The dominating feature of the church is the skeletal 136m (446ft) Südturm, or south tower; nicknamed 'Steffl', it has a cramped viewing platform but is worth an elbow or two to get a glimpse of the enchanting postcard views of Vienna.<br>The church was re-created in Gothic style at the behest of Habsburg Duke Rudolf IV in 1359, who laid the foundation stone and earned himself the epithet of 'The Founder' in the process.<br>Südturm took 75 years to build and was to be matched by a companion tower on the north side, but the imperial purse withered and the Gothic style went out of fashion, so the half-completed tower was topped off with a Renaissance cupola in 1579. Austria's largest bell, the Pummerin ('boomer bell'), was installed here in 1952.<br>A striking feature of the exterior is the glorious tiled roof, showing dazzling chevrons on one end and the Austrian eagle on the other; a good perspective is gained from the northeast of Stephansplatz. The cathedral suffered severe damage during a fire in 1945, but donations flowed in from all over Austria and the cathedral was completely rebuilt and reopened in just three years.<br>Location: Stephansplatz 1<br>Tel: (01) 515 523 767.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.stephansdom.at" href="http://www.stephansdom.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.stephansdom.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0600-2200, services Sat 1900 and Sun 1015 (Sep-Jun), Sun 0930 (Jul-Aug), guided tours Mon-Sat at 1030 and 1500, Sun 1500. Hours: Mon-Sat 6:00am-10:00pm, Sun 7:00am-10:00pm<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>AV24 City: Vienna<br>Name of Attraction: The Giant Ferris Wheel</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Giant Ferris Wheel, trademark of Austria's capital city and a symbol of Vienna's world-famous Prater, creates a very special point of reference for every visitor with its unmistakeable silhouette, clearly visible even from great distances.<br>A circular trip on one of the most significant and fascinating structures in the world, and the unique view of the city of Vienna, make the Giant Ferris Wheel an absolute cultural and architectural must for every visitor to Austria's capital.<br>Location:<br></span><a title="http://www.wienerriesenrad.com/cgi-bin/tagnacht.cgi?sprache=englisch&site=info.htm" href="http://www.wienerriesenrad.com/cgi-bin/tagnacht.cgi?sprache=englisch&site=info.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">http://www.wienerriesenrad.com/cgi-bin/tagnacht.cgi?sprache=englisch&sit...</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>01. January - 28. February 10.00 - 20.00 Uhr<br>01. March - 30. April 10.00 - 22.00 Uhr<br>01. May - 30. September 09.00 - 24.00 Uhr<br>01. October - 31. October 10.00 - 22.00 Uhr<br>01. November - 31. December 10.00 - 20.00 Uhr<br>Admission: Adults Euro 8,00<br> <hr> </span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-87908281029165832802008-02-08T04:58:00.000-08:002010-04-02T05:59:12.180-07:00Venice - Attractions Guide<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">List of most of the attractions in Venice with quick information:</span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:a80051d9-26fe-4154-9498-1824096822dd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <hr> <br>IV03 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Academy Gallery</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: From Titian to Tintoretto, from Giorgione to Veronese, the Academy has representative works from its Venetian sons in a remarkable collection of paintings spanning the 13th to 18th centuries. The glory that was Venice lives on in the Accademia, the definitive treasure house of Venetian painting and one of Europe's great museums. Exhibited chronologically from the 13th through the 18th centuries, the collection features no one hallmark masterpiece in this collection; rather, this is an outstanding and comprehensive showcase of works by all the great master painters of Venice, the largest such collection in the world.<br>It includes Paolo and Lorenzo Veneziano from the 14th century; Gentile and Giovanni Bellini (and Giovanni's brother-in-law Andrea Mantegna from Padua) and Vittore Carpaccio from the 15th century; Giorgione (whose Tempest is one of the gallery's most famous highlights), Tintoretto, Veronese (see his Feast in the House of Levi here), and Titian from the 16th century; and from the 17th and 18th centuries, Canaletto, Piazzetta, Longhi, and Tiepolo, among others.<br>Most of all, the works open a window to the Venice of 500 years ago. Indeed, the canvases reveal how little Venice has changed over the centuries. Housed in a deconsecrated church and its adjoining scuola, the church's confraternity hall, it is Venice's principal picture gallery, and one of the most important in Italy. Because of fire regulations, admission is limited, and lines can be daunting (check for extended evening hours in peak months), but put up with the wait and don't miss it.<br>Location: Campo della Carita, Dorsodura. (041) 522-2247 Dorsoduro, at foot of Accademia Bridge<br>041-522-2247<br>Vaporetto: Accademia<br>Mon 8:15am-2pm; Tues-Sun 8:15am-7:15pm; last admission 30 min. before close (winter hours may be shorter)<br>Prices Admission 6.50€ ($8.15) adults, 3.25€ ($4.05) children 12-18, free for children under 12<br> <hr> <br>IV04 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Basilica dei Frari (Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The glorious Gothic Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, constructed around 1330, is primarily associated with the name of Titian, Venice’s painter son who is buried here, alongside the city’s celebrated sculptor, Antonio Canova. Titian made his reputation and crowned his early years by painting the huge altar piece, The Assumption of the Virgin, for the Franciscan brothers of the Frari in 1518. The view through the choir screen and wooden choir to the high altar influenced Titian’s choice of frame and composition. The best way for one to admire it is to walk slowly up the centre of the nave towards the altar. Titian also executed the painting over the Pesaro family altar in the north aisle. The inclusion of the flag and Turk in the painting alludes to Bishop Pesaro’s victory over the Turks at Santa Maura. Titian’s tomb, located in the south aisle, faces the large marble pyramid created for Canova, depicting St Mark’s lion paying homage to the dead sculptor. Ironically, the design, executed by Canova’s pupils, was based on Canova’s own plans for a new monument to Titian.<br>Location: San Polo 3072<br>Tel: (041) 272 8611.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.basilicadeifrari.it" href="http://www.basilicadeifrari.it/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.basilicadeifrari.it</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82 to San Tomà.<br>Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1800 and Sun 1300-1800.<br>Admission: €2.50<br> <hr> <br>IV05 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Basilica di San Marco (St Mark’s Basilica)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: St Mark’s Square was memorably described by Napoleon as the ‘drawing room of Europe’. Here, visitors can sit at one of the elegant 18th-century coffee houses (Florian and Caffe Quadri, with tables spilling out into the sunlight from the shadows of the Renaissance colonnades) and peer at one of Europe’s most unusual churches, the golden Byzantine Basilica di San Marco. The basilica was founded in the ninth century, as a shrine for the relics of St Mark, whose body was smuggled from Alexandria in a barrel of salted pork. Formerly a private chapel of the Doges, the church was completely rebuilt in the 11th century, following a fire. Built on a plan of a Greek Cross, its Eastern appearance is enhanced by golden mosaics both inside and out, originally created by craftsmen from the Byzantine court at Ravenna. To see how the church appeared in 1260, visitors should take a look at the mosaic over the left portal – one of the oldest surviving mosaics on the façade. Also on the façade are copies of four bronze horses seized from Constantine’s Hippodrome at the sacking of Constantinople in 1204, which became one of the symbols of the city. The originals are now displayed in the Museo Marciano, inside the church. The interior, lit by the expanse of golden mosaics, houses many of Venice’s greatest treasures. In the chapel north of the main altar is the venerated icon of the Madonna Nicopeia. Once worshipped by the Roman Emperors in Constantinople, she came to Venice in 1204, as their Madonna of Victory, whose blessing was vital for Venetian military campaigns. The golden screen behind the high altar – the crypt in which St Mark is supposed to be buried – is the Pala d’Oro. Decked with sapphires, emeralds and rubies and inset with enamels from Constantinople, it was ordered by Pietro Orseolo, the Doge who was responsible for the rebuilding of the Basilica. Before leaving St Mark’s, visitors should pause to admire the 12th-century pavement, a resplendent mosaic of glass and marble. Now filled with uneven dips, it is a fitting witness to Venice’s unique situation, as the weight of its history threatens to submerge it below the waves. The attempts to reverse this process are all too visible if you cast your eyes towards the lagoon. The waterfront by Piazza San Marco is currently blighted by much-needed attempts to shore it up, and looks destined to ruin many a tourist photo for some time to come.<br>Location: Piazza San Marco<br>Tel: (041) 522 5205. Fax: (041) 520 8289.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.basilicasanmarco.it" href="http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.basilicasanmarco.it</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82 to San Zaccaria.<br>Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0945-1700 and Sun 1400-1700.<br>Admission: Free (Church), €2 (Pala D’Oro), €2.50 (Treasury).<br> <hr> <br>IV06 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Burano</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Burano sees its fair share of tourists in the summer months and many Venetians descend on this lagoon island at weekends. But on a quiet, sunny weekday, the island is nothing short of idyllic. Many of its narrow canals are lined with brightly painted houses, said to have been painted originally by local fishermen, so that they could find their way home through the murky lagoon mists. The main industry today is tourism, which is fuelled by the production of traditional lace, on sale from many outlets around the island. Once visitors have purchased the obligatory lace souvenir, the only other pursuits are idling around the charming canals and lazing away the day in the waterfront cafés and restaurants. A meal at Il Gatto Nero (tel: (041) 730 120), a popular trattoria serving food every bit as good as Burano’s more expensive and more tourist-orientated restaurants, is an experience to remember, although booking is essential to secure an outside table beside the canal.<br>Location: Burano Island<br>Transport: Vaporetto 12.<br> <hr> <br>IV07 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Ca’D’Oro</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Once truly a Golden House with ornaments trimmed in pure gold, this Venetian Gothic palace was created in 1434 by Marino Contarini for his wife. A 19th-century Russian prince later presented it to dancer Maria Taglioni, adding to her collection of palaces along the Grand Canal. Its final proprietor left Ca' d'Oro to the city, after filling it with antiquities, sculptures and paintings on exhibit as Galleria Franchetti. One detached fresco on display was created by a young Titian for what is now the main post office.<br>Location: Calle Ca' d'Oro, Cannaregio 3933. (041) 522-2349<br> <hr> <br>IV08 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Caffe Florian</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Built in 1720, Caffe Florian’s Art Nouveau décor, plush red banquettes, and elaborate murals serve as a timeless backdrop for lunch, afternoon tea and libations extending into the night. Lord Byron was a regular, as was Casanova, often stopping by in search of female company. Dickens, Proust, Stravinsky, Modigliani and others also made Caffe Florian a second home. (Caffe Florian also has gone to sea, now operating a replica annex aboard Costa’s CostaAtlantica.)<br>Location: Piazza San Marco 56-59. (041) 520-5641<br> <hr> <br>IV26 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Campanile di San Marco</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: A grand, brick bell tower standing 325 feet tall is what you will find when making a stop by this site. Features to take note of include a lovely angel, which will cost you EUR6 to enjoy. It's an easy elevator ride up to the top of this 97m (318-ft.) bell tower for a breathtaking view of the cupolas of St. Mark's. It is the highest structure in the city, offering a pigeon's-eye view that includes the lagoon, its neighboring islands, and the red rooftops and church domes and bell towers of Venice -- and, oddly, not a single canal. On a clear day, you may even see the outline of the distant snowcapped Dolomite Mountains. Originally built in the 9th century, the bell tower was then rebuilt in the 12th, 14th, and 16th centuries, when the pretty marble loggia at its base was added by Jacopo Sansovino. It collapsed unexpectedly in 1902, miraculously hurting no one except a cat. It was rebuilt exactly as before, using most of the same materials, even rescuing one of the five historical bells that it still uses today (each bell was rung for a different purpose, such as war, the death of a doge, religious holidays, and so on).<br>Location: San Marco, Piazza San Marco<br>041-522-4064<br>Vaporetto: San Marco<br>Apr-June 9:30am-5pm; July-Sept 9am-9pm<br>Admission 6€ ($7.50)<br> <hr> <br>IV10 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Galleria dell’Accademia</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Many of Venice’s greatest paintings remain in the buildings for which they were created, but the most important art gallery, the Accademia, is still worth a visit. Housed in the former church of Santa Maria della Carita and the adjoining Scuola, the collection first opened in 1750. Oils were the favourite medium of the Venetian masters. Frescoes, popular on the mainland, were unsuited to the damp, salty climate of the lagoon and soon perished. Instead, oils painted on wood or canvas (long used in Northern Europe) were exploited to new limits, with the artists demonstrating an unusual sensitivity to colour and light, no doubt partly influenced by the play of light on the lagoon. The small paintings in rooms 4 and 5 are some of the finest in the collection. Giorgione’s Tempesta, depicting a naked mother and child sheltering under a stormy sky against the ruins of an ancient city, is full of mystery. Little is known about the artist and the subject of the scene is unclear, but the interplay of dark and light conveys a deep sense of drama. The larger canvases by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese in room 10 should not be missed either. Titian painted the Pieta for his own tomb, demonstrating his extraordinary ability to create light with his palette. Veronese’s bawdy picture, entitled Feast in the House of Levi, was originally painted as The Last Supper but the artist was forced to amend the subject after charges of indecorum. Visitors should allow time for room 21, to admire the drama and colour of the nine broad canvases in which Carpaccio has dramatically staged the Life of St Ursula.<br>Location: Dorsoduro 1050<br>Tel: (041) 522 2247. Fax: (041) 521 2709.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.gallerieaccademia.org" href="http://www.gallerieaccademia.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.gallerieaccademia.org</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82.<br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0815-1915, Mon 0815-1400.<br>Admission: €6.50.<br> <hr> <br>IV24 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Glass Musuem</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>IV23 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Gondola Ride</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>IV11 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Gran Caffe Lavena</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Composer Richard Wagner composed his greatest operatic works at the Gran Caffe Lavena, known for its ornate chandelier. Excellent tables are near the windows in front and great ice cream is available at the bar. Tables outside on the piazza carry a hefty cover charge. Historically, gondoliers also have hung out here.<br>Location: Piazza San Marco 133-134. (041) 522-4070<br> <hr> <br>IV12 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Harry’s Bar</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: What Sloppy Joes is to Key West, Harry’s Bar is to Venice as being among the favored watering holes of Ernest Hemingway. Lore has it that carpaccio, in its raw, beefy Hemingway-esque glory, was invented here. Harry’s is also known for its fresh peach juice and sparkling wine Bellinis, which the author called suitable for sissies. The Burtons, Bogart and Bacall were regulars here, and celebrities still stop by, often during film and art festivals.<br>Location: Calle Vallaresso, San Marco 1323. (041) 528-5777<br> <hr> <br>IV25 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Museo Civico Correr</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: This museum, which you enter through an arcade at the west end of Piazza San Marco opposite the basilica, is no match for the Accademia but does include some interesting paintings of Venetian life, and a fine collection of artifacts, such as coins, costumes, the doges' ceremonial robes and hats, and an incredible pair of 15-inch platform shoes, that gives an interesting feel for aspects of the day-to-day life in La Serenissima in the heyday of its glory. Bequeathed to the city by the aristocratic Correr family in 1830, the museum is divided into three sections: the Painting Section, the History Section, and the Museum of the Risorgimento (1797-1866). The latter two aren't worth much mention. Of the painting collection from the 13th to 18th centuries, Vittorio Carpaccio's Le Cortigiane (The Courtesans), in room no. 15 on the upper floor, is one of the museum's most famous paintings (are they courtesans or the respected elite?), as are the star-attraction paintings by the Bellini family, father Jacopo and sons Gentile and Giovanni. For a lesson in just how little this city has changed in the last several hundred years, head to room no. 22 and its anonymous 17th-century bird's-eye view of Venice. Most of the rooms have a sign with a few paragraphs in English explaining the significance of the contents.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>IV13 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Naval History Museum</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Cannons, ship models and pieces of vessels dating to when Venice reigned supreme on the Adriatic beckon from the Naval History Museum, housing a gilded model of the Bucintoro. This fabulous ship of the doge is said to have made Cleopatra’s famed barge look like a tanker. Also displayed are two dozen Chinese junks and maritime paintings. The Naval History Museum's most fascinating exhibit is its collection of model ships. It was once common practice for vessels to be built not from blueprints, but from the precise scale models that you see here. The prize of the collection is a model of the legendary Bucintoro, the lavish ceremonial barge of the doges. Another section of the museum contains an array of historic vessels. Walk along the canal as it branches off from the museum to the Ships' Pavilion, where the historic vessels are displayed.<br>Occupying one-fifth of the city's total acreage, the arsenal was once the very source of the republic's maritime power. It is now used as a military zone and is as closed as Fort Knox to the curious. The marble-columned Renaissance gate with the republic's winged lion above is flanked by four ancient lions, booty brought at various times from Greece and points farther east. It was founded in 1104, and at the height of Venice's power in the 15th century, it employed 16,000 workers who turned out merchant and wartime galley after galley on an early version of massive assembly lines at speeds and in volume unknown until modern times.<br>Location: Campo San Biasio, Castello 2148. (041) 520-0276<br>Vaporetto: Arsenale<br>Tues-Sun 9:30am-12:30pm; Tues-Sat 3:30-6:30pm<br>Admission 3€ ($3.75)<br> <hr> <br>IV14 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Palazzo Ducale (Doges’ Palace)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Doges’ Palace (once home to the elected leader of Venice, the Doge, as well as the city’s political nerve centre) is a must for anyone interested in the history of Venice and its former empire. A building seemingly too graceful for the dirty work of government, its pearly façade is best appreciated from the lagoon, in whose milky light her rosy complexion blushes beguilingly. A merging of Islamic and Gothic styles, the façade dates from 1365. In contrast to the stern fortifications of the castle that was formerly on this site, the undefended colonnade and arcaded balcony are a testament to Venice’s confidence and democratic outlook during the Middle Ages. The interior is more Renaissance in style, dating mainly from the 16th century, when Antonio da Ponte was employed to refurbish the palace after the fire of 1577. The first floor is predominantly made up of the Ducal apartments, all but empty except for some exemplary paintings by Titian and Bellini. It is on the upper floors that the business of government took place and it is here that Tintoretto and Veronese were commissioned to create new paintings to highlight the power and wealth of the republic. The Anticollegio (or waiting room) holds some of the palace’s best works – Tintoretto’s Bacchus and Ariadne vies for attention with Veronese’s Rape of Europa.<br>Further on, the Sala del Collegio is dominated by Veronese’s ceiling painting of Venice Triumphant above the throne. But it is the Chamber of the Great Council (Sala del Maggior Consiglio), the huge hall on the third floor, spanning the length of the façade overlooking the lagoon, which holds the palace’s most dramatic work. Tintoretto’s Vision of Paradise (painted with the help of his son, Domenico) is the largest oil painting in the world, with a cast of 500 figures. Tintoretto junior is also responsible for the frieze of portraits of the first 76 Doges, made memorable by the blacked-out image of Marin Falier, the only Doge ever to attempt to overthrow the council and install himself as absolute ruler. Falier was beheaded for his pains but his notoriety lives on in this silhouetted image. The Doges’ Palace is currently nearing the end of a five-stage restoration project, with the final completion date constantly changing. Concerted attempts are being made to keep as many of the museum areas as possible open throughout the running repairs.<br>Begun in the 12th century and continuously remodeled, this pink and white marble palace represents the most glorious period of Venice in terms of prosperity and power. The ceiling of the Senate Chamber features The Triumph of Venice by Tintoretto.<br>The pink-and-white marble Gothic-Renaissance Palazzo Ducale, residence and government center of the doges ("dukes," elected for life) who ruled Venice for more than 1,000 years, stands between the Basilica di San Marco and St. Mark's Basin. A symbol of prosperity and power, it was destroyed by a succession of fires and was built and rebuilt in 1340 and 1424 in its present form, escaping the Renaissance fever that was in the air at the time. Forever being expanded, it slowly grew to be one of Italy's greatest civic structures. A 15th-century Porta della Carta (Paper Gate; the entrance adjacent to the basilica where the doges' official proclamations and decrees were posted) opens onto a splendid inner courtyard with a double row of Renaissance arches.<br>Ahead you'll see Jacopo Sansovino's enormous Scala dei Giganti staircase (Stairway of the Giants; scene of the doges' lavish inaugurations and never used by mere mortals), which leads to the wood-paneled courts and elaborate meeting rooms of the interior. The walls and ceilings of the principal rooms were richly decorated by the Venetian masters, including Veronese, Titian, Carpaccio, and Tintoretto, to illustrate the history of the puissant Venetian Republic while at the same time impressing visiting diplomats and emissaries from the far-flung corners of the maritime republic with the uncontested prosperity and power it had attained.<br>If you want to understand something of this magnificent palace, the fascinating history of the 1,000-year-old maritime republic and the intrigue of the government that ruled it, take the Secret Itineraries tour. Failing that, at least shell out for the infrared audio-guide tour (at entrance: 5.50€/$6.90) to help make sense of it all. Unless you can tag along with an English-speaking tour group, you may otherwise miss out on the importance of much of what you're seeing.<br>The first room you'll come to is the spacious Sala delle Quattro Porte (Hall of the Four Doors), whose ceiling is by Tintoretto. The Sala del Anti-Collegio (adjacent to the College Chamber, whose ceiling is decorated by Tintoretto), the next main room, is where foreign ambassadors waited to be received by this committee of 25 members: It is decorated with works by Tintoretto, and Veronese's Rape of Europe, considered one of the palazzo's finest. It steals some of the thunder of Tintoretto's Three Graces and Bacchus and Ariadne -- the latter considered one of his best by some critics. A right turn from this room leads into one of the most impressive of the spectacular interior rooms, the richly adorned Sala del Senato (Senate Chamber), with Tintoretto's ceiling painting, The Triumph of Venice. Here laws were passed by the Senate, a select group of 200 chosen from the Great Council. The latter was originally an elected body, but from the 13th century onward, it was an aristocratic stronghold that could number as many as 1,700. After passing again through the Sala delle Quattro Porte, you'll come to the Veronese-decorated Stanza del Consiglio dei Dieci (Room of the Council of Ten, the republic's dreaded security police), of particular historical interest. It was in this room that justice was dispensed and decapitations ordered. Formed in the 14th century to deal with emergency situations, the Ten were considered more powerful than the Senate, and feared by all. Just outside the adjacent chamber, in the Sala della Bussola (The Compass Chamber), notice the Bocca dei Leoni ("lion's mouth"), a slit in the wall into which secret denunciations and accusations of enemies of the state were placed for quick action by the much-feared Council.<br>The main sight on the next level down -- indeed in the entire palace -- is the Sala del Maggior Consiglio (Great Council Hall). This enormous space is made special by Tintoretto's huge Paradiso at the far end of the hall above the doge's seat (the painter was in his 70s when he undertook the project with the help of his son; he died 6 years later). Measuring 7m by 23m (23 ft.*75 ft.), it is said to be the world's largest oil painting; together with Veronese's gorgeous Il Trionfo di Venezia (The Triumph of Venice) in the oval panel on the ceiling, it affirms the power emanating from the council sessions held here. Tintoretto also did the portraits of the 76 doges encircling the top of this chamber; note that the picture of the Doge Marin Falier, who was convicted of treason and beheaded in 1355, has been blacked out -- Venice has never forgiven him. Although elected for life since sometime in the 7th century, over time il doge became nothing but a figurehead (they were never allowed to meet with foreign ambassadors alone); the power rested in the Great Council. Exit the Great Council Hall via the tiny doorway on the opposite side of Tintoretto's Paradiso to find the enclosed Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs), which connects the Ducal Palace with the grim Palazzo delle Prigioni (Prisons). The bridge took its current name only in the 19th century, when visiting northern European poets romantically envisioned the prisoners' final breath of resignation upon viewing the outside world one last time before being locked in their fetid cells awaiting the quick justice of the Terrible Ten. Some attribute the name to Casanova, who, following his arrest in 1755 (he was accused of being a Freemason and spreading antireligious propaganda), crossed this very bridge. He was one of the rare few to escape 15 months after his imprisonment, returning to Venice 20 years later. Some of the stone cells still have the original graffiti of past prisoners, many of them locked up interminably for petty crimes.<br>An Insider's Look at the Palazzo Ducale--I cannot recommend the Itinerari Segreti (Secret Itineraries) guided tours highly enough. The tours offer an unparalleled look into the world of Venetian politics over the centuries and are the only way to access the otherwise restricted quarters and hidden passageways of this enormous palace, such as the doges' private chambers and the torture chambers where prisoners were interrogated. The story of Giacomo Casanova's imprisonment in, and famous escape from, the palace's prisons is the tour highlight (though a few of the less-inspired guides harp on this aspect a bit too much). I strongly recommend you reserve in advance, by phone if possible -- tours are often sold out at least a few days ahead, especially from spring through fall -- or in person at the ticket desk. Tours are at 10:30am Thursday through Tuesday (by reservation only), and cost 13€ ($16) for adults, 7€ ($8.75) for students, and 4€ ($5) for children 6 to 14.<br>Location: Riva degli Schiavoni, San Marco<br>Square San Marco. (041) 522-4951<br>Tel: (041) 271 5911.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.museiciviciveneziani.it" href="http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.museiciviciveneziani.it</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Vaporetto 1, 6, 14, 41, 42, 51, 52 or 82.<br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1900 (Apr-Oct) and 0900-1700 (Nov-Mar).<br>Admission: €11 or €15.50 (only Museum Card or Museum Pass holders are admitted).Admission on San Marco cumulative ticket) or 11€ ($14) adults, 5.50€ ($7) students ages 15-29, 3€ ($3.75) ages 6-14 (includes cumulative ticket, free for children younger than 5)<br> <hr> <br>IV01 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Peggy Guggenheim Collection</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Peggy Guggenheim’s collection of modern art is probably the most distinguished in Italy. The wealthy American heiress (a generous benefactor who helped promote Jackson Pollock amongst others) built up her collection between 1938 and 1947. Following the exhibition of the collection at the 1948 Venice Biennale, she bought the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, where she lived until her death in 1979, leaving her estate to the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation. The collection spans Cubism, European Abstraction, Surrealism and early American Abstract Expressionism, with works by a wide variety of artists, including Pollock, Picasso, Kandinsky and Dalí. The sculpture garden is particularly fine and enjoys lovely views over the Grand Canal.<br>Location: Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Dorsoduro<br>Tel: (041) 240 5411. Fax: (041) 520 6885.<br>E-mail: </span><a href="mailto: info@guggenheim-venice.it "><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">info@guggenheim-venice.it </span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Website: </span><a title="www.guggenheim-venice.it" href="http://www.guggenheim-venice.it/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.guggenheim-venice.it</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82 from Piazza San Marco.<br>Opening hours: Wed-Sun 1000-1800, closed Tue.<br>Admission: €10.<br> <hr> <br>IV21 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Piazza San Marco</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>IV02 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Rialto Bridge</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Venice is historically centred on Rialto Island, the name of which is derived from the Latin rivus altus, meaning high bank. In the 10th century, a provisions market developed spontaneously on the adjacent island and so, in 1264, the first wooden bridge linking the two landmasses was built. This wooden bridge collapsed in 1444, from the weight of crowds watching a wedding procession. It was replaced in 1588, by Antonio da Ponte’s design for the single stone arched bridge, which beat off proposals by Palladio and Michelangelo. Da Ponte’s bridge retained the covered shops of the original – today the haunt of tacky tourist traps and hawk-eyed goldsmiths but once home to Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. Visitors may note how the bridge crosses the Grand Canal at an angle, in order to align with the axis of the Ruga degli Orefici (Goldsmiths’ Road). Until 1854, this was the only point at which the Grand Canal could be crossed on foot. If visiting during the day, make sure to return when it is dark, or even better misty as well, when the bridge really takes on an otherworldly atmosphere.<br>Location: Ponte di Rialto, near Piazzale Roma<br>Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82.<br>Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.<br>Admission: Free.<br> <hr> <br>IV15 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Santa Maria Gloriosa Dei Frari</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Completed in the 1400s after more than a century of labor, this Gothic brick church houses Giovanni Bellini’s 1488 triptych Madonna and Child with Saints, among other treasured works including Titian’s Madonna di Ca’ Pesaro, which took nearly a decade to complete.<br>Location: Campo del Frari. (041) 272-8618<br> <hr> <br>IV16 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Scuola Dalmata di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni (Dalmation School of St George the Slav)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: During the Middle Ages, the large Dalmatian (Schiavoni means ‘Slav’) population in Venice provided labourers for building ships in the arsenal and sailors for the Venetian fleets. Forming a charitable guild in 1451, they moved their seat to the School of St George in 1480, under the patronage of the Knights of Malta. Vittore Carpaccio, himself of Istrian origin, painted a series of celebrated and brilliantly imaginative canvases, between 1502 and 1508. Located in a dark hall on the ground floor since 1551, the canvases depict scenes from the lives of the guild’s patron saints – St George, St Tryphone and St Jerome. Based on tales from The Golden Legend, the images depict St George killing the dragon, St Jerome welcoming the lion into the monastery, the funeral of St Jerome and the revelation of the death of St Jerome to St Augustine. Carpaccio’s canvases demand attention through a combination of drama and extraordinary detail. The canal-side wall, complete with its relief of George slaying the dragon, is in a dire state, but finally work is underway to shore it up, as well as to stabilise the rest of the exterior.<br>Location: Calle dei Furlani 3259/a, Castello<br>Tel: (041) 522 8828. Fax: (041) 520 8446.<br>Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 52 to San Zaccaria.<br>Opening: Tues-Sat 0930-1230 and 1530-1830, Sun 0930-1230 (Apr-Oct), Tues-Sat 1000-1230 and 1500-1800, Sun 1000-1230 (Nov-Mar).<br>Admission: €2.50.<br> <hr> <br>IV17 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Scuola Grande di San Rocco (School of St Roch)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The renown of the School of St Roch, one of the many lay fraternities established in Venice for charitable works, is the series of masterful canvases by Jacopo Tintoretto that decorate its interior. Founded in 1478, the school was dedicated to St Roch, following a particularly vicious outbreak of plague. Tintoretto won the commission to decorate the entire Scuola in 1564 and spent the next 23 years doing so, becoming a brother of the school. The ground floor holds a series of large canvasses depicting scenes from the Life of the Virgin (1582-1587). In the upper hall, connected by Scarpagnino’s staircase, are representations from the Old Testament on the ceiling and New Testament on the walls (1570-1581). The art critic and famous Victorian thinker, John Ruskin, reserved his greatest praise for the Sala dell’Albergo (1564-1567), where the chapter met. On entering the room, the visitor is confronted with the stunning expanse of Tintoretto’s Crucifixion along the breadth of the opposite wall, one of the world’s great works of art. Tintoretto manages to capture the painterly equivalent of tempo, rendering the darkened landscape busy with vignettes of activity while the divine halo around Christ’s head, his face partly hidden as his head bows in death, dimly illuminates the scene. Visitors attending one of the cultural events in the building can nip through during the interval for a free peek at the master’s work.<br>Location: Campo San Rocco, San Polo 3054<br>Tel: (041) 523 4864. Fax (041) 524 2820.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.scuolagrandesanrocco.it" href="http://www.scuolagrandesanrocco.it/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.scuolagrandesanrocco.it</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Vaporetto 1 or 82 to San Tomà.<br>Opening hours: Daily 1000-1600.<br>Admission: €5.<br> <hr> <br>IV27 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Squero di San Trovaso</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: One of the most interesting (and photographed) sights you'll see in Venice is this small squero (boatyard), which first opened in the 17th century. Just north of the Zattere (the wide, sunny walkway that runs alongside the Giudecca Canal in Dorsoduro), the boatyard lies next to the Church of San Trovaso on the narrow Rio San Trovaso (not far from the Accademia Bridge). It is surrounded by Tyrolian-looking wooden structures (a true rarity in this city of stone built on water) that are home to the multigenerational owners and original workshops for traditional Venetian boats. Aware that they have become a tourist site themselves, the gondoliers don't mind if you watch them at work from across the narrow Rio di San Trovaso, but don't try to invite yourself in. It's the perfect midway photo op after a visit to the Gallerie dell'Accademia and a trip to the well-known gelateria, Da Nico (Zattere 922), whose chocolate gianduiotto is not to be missed.<br>The Art of the Gondola--Putting together one of the sleek black boats is a fascinatingly exact science that is still done in the revered traditional manner at boatyards such as the Squero di San Trovaso . The boats have been painted black since a 16th-century sumptuary law -- one of many passed by the local legislators as excess and extravagance spiraled out of control. Whether regarding boats or baubles, laws were passed to restrict the gaudy outlandishness that, at the time, was commonly used to outdo the Joneses.<br>Propelled by the strength of a single gondoliere, these boats, unique to Venice, have no modern equipment. They move with no great speed but with unrivaled grace. The right side of the gondola is lower because the gondoliere always stands in the back of the boat on the left. Although the San Trovaso squero, or boatyard, is the city's oldest and one of only three remaining (the other two are immeasurably more difficult to find), its predominant focus is on maintenance and repair. They will occasionally build a new gondola (which takes some 40-45 working days), carefully crafting it from the seven types of wood -- mahogany, cherry, fir, walnut, oak, elm, and lime -- necessary to give the shallow and asymmetrical boat its various characteristics. After all the pieces are put together, the painting, the ferro (the iron symbol of the city affixed to the bow), and the wood-carving that secures the oar are commissioned out to various local artisans.<br>Although some 10,000 of these elegant boats floated on the canals of Venice in the 16th century, today there are only 350. But the job of gondoliere remains a coveted profession, passed down from father to son over the centuries.<br>Location: On the Rio San Trovaso, southwest of the Accademia Gallery<br>Vaporetto: Zattere<br>Free<br> <hr> <br>IV18 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: St. Mark’s Square</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Rather than being a strict rectangle, St. Mark’s Square is wider at the basilica end. The long arcaded Procuratie Vecchie was built in the early 16th century for magistrates of San Marco, and the Procuratie Nuove was built a half century later. Napoleon, upon entering Venice with troops in 1797, called Piazza San Marco the “world’s most beautiful drawing room.” He then ordered it redecorated, and his architects razed a 16th century church to make room for the Napoleonic wing. St. Mark’s Square’s several cafes are excellent for taking tea while enjoying live music as sunlight moves across the piazza.<br>Location: Square San Marco. (041) 522-5697<br> <hr> <br>IV19 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: The Lido</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: While the fashionable set still checks into area hotels such as the Hotel des Bains and The Excelsior, this beach strip area has become quite touristy. Sands are inviting, but waters are too polluted for swimming. On the Lido is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe, established in 1386 with a surviving gravestone from 1389.<br>Location: Visits can be arranged by calling (041) 715-359<br> <hr> <br>IV20 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Torcello</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Torcello appears almost deserted and it is difficult to believe that, between the seventh and 13th centuries, it was home to a thriving community of 30,000 who prospered from the wool and salt trade. The town’s decline began in the 14th century, when silt from the rivers turned the waterways around the island into swampland and brought malaria to the community. A visit to this ghost town provides a fascinating glimpse into the early beginnings and architecture of the Venetian lagoons. The main square can be reached by crossing the Devil’s Bridge, the only medieval bridge remaining in Venice, allegedly built by the devil in a single night. The austere façade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, linked by a portico to the Church of Santa Fosca and the Baptistery, conceals lavish mosaic wall coverings. Founded in the seventh century and rebuilt in the ninth and 11th, the complex pre-dates St Mark’s Basilica by two centuries. In the central apse, there is a beautiful representation of the Virgin and the Mystic Lamb, inspired by works in Ravenna. The most magnificent mosaic is on the wall over the main door and is an enormous composition depicting Christ and the final judgement. Torcello also has its own provincial museum, Museo Provinciale Di Torcello, dedicated to the island’s history and evolution with exhibits from different eras including Roman and early-Veneto times.<br>Location: Torcello Island<br>Museo Provinciale Di Torcello Piazza Torcello, 30012 Torcello<br>Tel: (041) 730 761. Fax: (041) 730 875.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.provincia.venezia.it/assap" href="http://www.provincia.venezia.it/assap" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.provincia.venezia.it/assap</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Vaporetto 41 and 42 or ACTV 12 or 14 from Fondamente Nuove and Punta Sabbioni. Transport: Vaporetto 41 and 42 or ACTV 12 or 14 from Fondamente Nuove and Punta Sabbioni. Opening hours: Tue-Sun 1000-1200 and 1430-1730 (Apr-Oct) and 1030-1200 and 1430-1600 (Nov-Mar)<br>Admission: €3.<br> <hr> <br>IV22 City: Venice<br>Name of Attraction: Vaporetto ride up Canal Grande</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: A leisurely cruise along the "Canalazzo" from Piazza San Marco to the Ferrovia (train station), or the reverse, is one of Venice's (and life's) must-do experiences. Hop on the no. 1 vaporetto in the late afternoon (try to get one of the coveted outdoor seats in the prow), when the weather-worn colors of the former homes of Venice's merchant elite are warmed by the soft light and reflected in the canal's rippling waters, and the busy traffic of delivery boats, vaporetti, and gondolas that fills the city's main thoroughfare has eased somewhat. The sheer number and opulence of the 200-odd palazzi, churches, and imposing republican buildings dating from the 14th to the 18th centuries is enough to make any boat-going visitor's head swim. Many of the largest are now converted into imposing international banks, government or university buildings, art galleries, and dignified consulates.<br>Location: 2 most popular stations located at Piazzale Roma/Ferrovia (train station); and at Piazza San Marco<br>Vaporetto: 1<br>Tickets 3.50€ ($4.40)<br> <hr> </span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-91260023952773184852008-02-06T05:03:00.000-08:002010-04-02T06:09:03.225-07:00The Glacier Express<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: </span><span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt">Travel</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> on the famous Swiss mountain railways from St.Moritz to Zermatt and vice versa or from Piz Bernina to the Matterhorn. A 7 1/2 hour railway journey across 291 bridges, </span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:16a082c3-607a-474b-9bf0-0c306da4608e" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">through 91 tunnels and across the Oberalp Pass at 2’033 metres in altitude. A panoramic trip through the Alps in the heart of Switzerland. The Glacier Express travels a beautiful route between the sights of the Graubünden holiday region, central Switzerland, including Lake Lucerne and Lucerne itself, the sunny Valais region with its glacier landscape, and the beautiful regions of the South. Travel in comfort through the unspoilt natural beauty of a landscape rich in ancient, fragrant moun- tain forests, peaceful Alpine meadows, rushing mountain streams and mountain valleys, soaked in tradition and centuries-old culture.<br>Location:<br></span><a title="http://www.glacierexpress.ch/theglacierexpress.php" href="http://www.glacierexpress.ch/theglacierexpress.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">http://www.glacierexpress.ch/theglacierexpress.php</span></a></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-2314585922750917702008-02-05T07:33:00.000-08:002010-03-31T14:56:09.445-07:00Bernina Express (St Mortiz-Tirano)Details: Cross the Alps from North to South (or vice-versa) in style! The Bernina Express offers breath-taking vistas from the beautiful 1st and 2nd class panorama cars. Ride over graceful viaducts, through galleries hewn into the sheer rock, through switch-back tunnels, along rushing mountain streams, glaciers and even an alpine garden. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Technical buffs will enjoy knowing that the train climbs up to the 2253 m high Bernina Pass without the help of a rack-and-pinion mechanism. The entire trip is narrated. <br />
In summer, an optional bus connects Tirano (Italy) to Lugano. Seat reservations are mandatory for connections 1) and 2). Be sure to have valid entry documents for Italy since you will leave and re-enter Switzerland.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-77419756899010244722008-02-04T05:07:00.000-08:002010-04-02T06:07:33.934-07:00Schaffhausen - Rhine Falls<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Name of Attraction: Rhine Falls</span> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:a4625134-7971-45a5-aaaa-fef5d04ef950" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Schaffhausen’s best excursion is the short trip westwards to the Rhine falls, Europe’s largest waterfall. They are truly magnificent, not so much for their height (a mere 23m) as for their impressive breadth (150m) and the sheer drama of the place, with the spray rising in a cloud of rainbows above the forested banks. The turreted castle Schloss Laufen on a cliff directly above the falls to the south completes the spectacle. August 1 – the Swiss National Day – is particularly impressive, with a huge fireworks display mounted on the riverside.<br>Getting to the falls is simplicity itself: the 3km riverside walk from Schaffhausen to the suburban town of Neuhausen, where the falls are located, takes about 45 minutes; or you could take city bus #1 or #6 to Neuhausen Zentrum, from where the well-signposted falls are five minutes’ walk away. Schloss Laufen even has a train station (April–Oct only), served by hourly trains on the line between Schaffhausen and Winterthur. (Neuhausen’s own station is awkwardly far from the falls.)<br>Once you’re within sight of the falls, though, you’re inevitably brought down to earth with a bump by the hordes of tourists crowding both banks in search of the best camera angle, and by the circus of souvenir stalls and dismal restaurants all around. The worst of it is on the north bank; crossing by the arched footbridge over to the south bank – which can still get unpleasantly overrun – at least means you can experience the power of the falls at close quarters. Damp steps (Fr.1) lead from the souvenir shop at Schloss Laufen down to various platforms at the very edge, from where the roaring waters tumble inches from your nose.<br>The best way to see the falls is from one of the daredevil boats which scurry around in the spray; Rhyfall-Mändli (052/672 48 11) is the best-known operator, running a host of very popular trips continuously throughout the day (June–Aug 10am–6pm; May & Sept 11am–5pm; Fr.5–6.50). Boats depart from easy-to-spot jetties on both banks.<br>Location:<br></span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-39948574758639128002008-02-03T05:12:00.000-08:002010-04-02T06:12:46.959-07:00Salzburg - Attractions Guide<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">List of most of the attractions in Salzburg with quick information:</span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:d10208c8-cfbc-42ec-91cd-42c2d810752a" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> <hr> <br>AS01 City: Salzburg<br>Name of Attraction: Festival Halls</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Guided tours are given (once daily in winter, twice in June and September and thrice in July and August) of the splendid and world-famous Festival Halls, where all main ballet, opera and musical concerts during the Salzburg Festival are performed.<br>Location: Hofstallgasse 1<br>Tel: (0662) 849 097.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.salzburgfestival.at" href="http://www.salzburgfestival.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.salzburgfestival.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AS02 City: Salzburg<br>Name of Attraction: Getreidegasse</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Getreidegasse is the most famous shopping street in Salzburg, and it is famous not only for the excellent range of shops on offer, but also for the layout of the street and the peculiar and elegant interconnected houses, passageways and courtyards along the way.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>AS03 City: Salzburg<br>Name of Attraction: Mozart’s Birthplace</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The Hagenauer House is where Mozart’s family lived on the third floor from 1747 to 1773. The musical genius was born here in 1756. Today the house is a museum with exhibits such as Mozart’s childhood violin and several of his other instruments. There is also a museum at the Mozart family’s residence (tel: (0662) 8742 2740, website: </span><a title="www.mozarteum.at" href="http://www.mozarteum.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.mozarteum.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">) from 1773 to 1780 at Makartplatz 8.<br>Location: Getreidegasse 9<br>Tel: (0662) 844 313.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.mozarteum.at" href="http://www.mozarteum.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.mozarteum.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AS04 City: Salzburg<br>Name of Attraction: Salzburg’s Cathedral</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: This is the city’s ecclesiastical centre and the most significant piece of early Baroque architecture in the whole of Europe north of the Alps. Among the precious objects it contains is the baptismal font in which Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was baptised.<br>Location: Domplatz<br>Tel: (0662) 804 7450.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.kirchen.net/dommuseum" href="http://www.kirchen.net/dommuseum" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.kirchen.net/dommuseum</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AS05 City: Salzburg<br>Name of Attraction: St Peter’s Abbey and Monastery</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: St Peter’s Abbey and Monastery, S t Peter Bezirk, is the oldest continuously active monastery on German soil, founded by the Frankish missionary Rubert after he arrived in Salzburg around 700. There are catacombs, probably of early Christian origin, in the area.<br>Location: Postfach 113<br>Tel: (0662) 844 576.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.stift-stpeter.at" href="http://www.stift-stpeter.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.stift-stpeter.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AS06 City: Salzburg<br>Name of Attraction: The Hohensalzburg Fortress</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Overlooking and guarding the city from high above, this is the largest fully-preserved fortress in Central Europe and Salzburg’s chief landmark with a history going back to 1077. It can be accessed by using the Funicular Railway (Festungsbahn) (tel: (0662) 4480 9750) up the hill side from Festungsgasse 4.<br>Location:<br>Tel: (0662) 8424 3011 or 846 181.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.salzburg-burgen.at" href="http://www.salzburg-burgen.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.salzburg-burgen.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br> <hr> <br>AS07 City: Salzburg<br>Name of Attraction: The Residenz</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The former official apartments of the Salzburg prince archbishops is an extensive and impressive complex of buildings, which contains the Residenz Gallery (tel: (0662) 840 451-0, website: </span><a title="www.residenzgalerie.at" href="http://www.residenzgalerie.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.residenzgalerie.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">), an excellent art gallery with masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens and Brueghel, to name but a few.<br>Location: Residenzplatz<br>Tel: (0662) 8042 2690/2761.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.salzburg-burgen.at" href="http://www.salzburg-burgen.at/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.salzburg-burgen.at</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br></span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-54713493874178679782008-02-02T04:46:00.000-08:002010-04-02T05:47:28.334-07:00Rome – Attractions Guide<div align="justify"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4ejAvg4gwrk/S4qMYI9t28I/AAAAAAAAAGM/DlD2GUMmVd0/s1600-h/IMG_6272%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="IMG_6272" border="0" alt="IMG_6272" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4ejAvg4gwrk/S4qMaF4bY0I/AAAAAAAAAGQ/sG0Bs6gxUCM/IMG_6272_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a> List of most of the attractions in Rome with quick information: </div> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:628bd0ca-7d73-4085-af14-3ba878858cf8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <div align="justify"> <hr> <br>IR28 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Barberini Gallery </div> <div align="justify">Details: Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica di Palazzo Barberini <br>Location: <br></div> <hr> <a name="more"></a> <div align="justify"><br>IR04 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Basilica di San Pietro (St Peter’s Basilica) </div> <div align="justify">Details: St Peter’s Basilica lies above a former shrine, which is said to mark the burial ground of the saint. Pope Julius II pulled down the original structure (despite its venerable age of 1,000 years) in 1506 (with his architect Bramante in tow) in order to build a shiny new basilica. Construction lasted 120 years, during which time a team of architects and artists (including Alberti, Bramante, Raphael, Peruzzi, Sangallo the Younger and Michaelangelo) struggled over this enormous edifice. Michaelangelo was responsible for the huge dome and supporting drum but died in 1564, before work was finally completed in 1590. The basilica’s interior is an unashamed display of the power of the Church. Amid the grandeur (in the first chapel on the right) lies Michaelangelo’s Pietà (1498/9). Arnolfo da Cambio’s bronze statue of St Peter (1296), in the central aisle, has become famed for its foot worn to a nub by pilgrims’ kisses. Bernini’s Throne of St Peter (1665), above the papal altar (made with bronze purloined from the Pantheon on the Pope’s orders) dominates the far end of the nave. Optional extras include a trip (via lift or stairs) into the dome, the Vatican Gardens (pre-booked guided tours only), and the Vatican Grottoes, containing papal tombs. Access to the Necropolis below the Grottoes (the legendary site of St Peter’s remains) is allowed with written permission only. <br>+The saga of St. Peter’s dates to the year AD 319 when Emperor Constantine built a basilica over where the tomb of St. Peter. The Basilica is said to be near where the Circus of Nero was in ancient times. After near collapse in the 15th century, a long, labored reconstruction began. Five of Italy’s greatest Renaissance artists died while toiling away on the new St. Peter’s -- Bramante, Raphael, Peruzzi, Sangallo the Younger and Michelangelo. Inside the great church is Michelangelo’s Pieta. <br>Location: Piazza San Pietro St Peter’s Dome Necropolis Vatican Gardens/Vatican Guided Tours Office <br>Tel: (06) 6988 1662 (pilgrim and tourist information centre, open Mon-Sat 0830-1830). Tel: (06) 6988 4676 (Mon-Sat). Fax: (06) 6988 5100. <br>Transport: Metro Ottaviano, bus to Piazza del Risorgimento. <br>Opening hours: Daily 0700-1900 (Apr-Oct), last entry 15 minutes before closing time, daily 0700-1800 (Nov-Mar). Opening hours: Daily 0800-1800 (summer), daily 0800-1700 (winter), last entry 15 minutes before closing time. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700. <br>Admission: Free. Admission: €4 (without lift), €5 (with lift). Admission: €10. Admission: €9. <br> <hr> <br>IR07 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Campo de’ Fiori </div> <div align="justify">Details: From Monday to Saturday, each day at dawn, stall holders at Rome’s best-loved fruit and vegetable market set up their wares at Campo de’ Fiori. This down-to-earth square (surrounded by tumbledown orange-ochre facades) is a far cry from the more grandiose piazzas of the centro storico. Here one encounters the friendliness and spontaneity for which Romani are so renowned. Come sunset, some of the city’s liveliest and most authentic wine bars and trattorie spill their tables out onto the cobbles, as locals and visitors, famous actors and ordinary office workers alike flock here to eat and drink below the stars. <br>Location: Campo de’ Fiori <br>Transport: Bus to Largo Argentina. <br>Opening hours: Mon-Sat dawn-dusk. <br>Admission: Free. <br> <hr> <br>IR03 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Cappella Sistina & Musei Vaticani (Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums) </div> <div align="justify">Details: An awe-inspiring glimpse of Michaelangelo’s depiction of The Creation is worth the queues and crowds that go hand-in-hand with a visit to the Vatican City. Michaelangelo grudgingly accepted Julius II’s commission to paint frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – built as a private chapel of the popes between 1475 and 1480. Work began in May 1508, the frescoes were unveiled in August 1511, and completed in October 1512. 21 years later, a reluctant Michaelangelo painted the Last Judgement on the wall behind the altar, adding his own aged face below the figure of Christ. Pope Pius IV was scandalised by the display of nudity and the offending genitalia had to be concealed by hastily painted loincloths – most have been removed during restoration work. In fact, the recent restoration of the Old Testament scenes has caused great controversy. Although eclipsed by Michaelangelo’s artistry, the Renaissance paintings that line the walls are fine works, created by the masters – including Michaelangelo’s own teacher: Ghirlandaio. The Vatican Museums alone could easily eat up a day or two of a trip to Rome. Highlights include the Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael’s Rooms), the Etruscan Museum (depicting Italy before the Romans) and the Pio-Clementino Museum – containing the world’s largest collection of Classical statues. <br>+The Vatican Museums serve as a huge warehouse for treasures from antiquity and the Renaissance, held within lavish palaces, apartments and galleries leading to the renowned Sistine Chapel. The Vatican Museums occupy a part of the papal palaces built from the 1200s onward. Access to ticket windows is via a fabulous spiral ramp. Among highlights are the Borgia Apartments, Egyptian-Gregorian Museum, Ethnological Museum, Raphael Rooms, Pinacoteca, Raphael Salon and the Vatican Library. <br>Location: Vatican City, Viale Vaticano. (06) 6988-4341 <br>Tel: (06) 6988 4947. Fax: (06) 6988 1573. <br>Website: www.vatican.va <br>Transport: Metro Ottaviano, bus to Piazza del Risorgimento. <br>Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0845-1645 with last entry at 1520, Sat 0845-1345 with last entry at 1220 (Early Mar-Oct), Mon-Sat 0845-1345 with last entry at 1220 (Nov-Early Mar), last Sun of month 0845-1345 with last entry at 1220. <br>Admission: €12, free last Sun of month, concessions available. <br> <hr> <br>IR27 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Castel Sant'Angelo </div> <div align="justify">Details: From St. Peter's walking along Via della Conciliazione one can reach the second stop of our itinerary: Castel Sant'Angelo. The unique monument houses the National Museum where, besides the stuccoes, frescoes and furniture of the papal apartments, one can also admire an important collection of ancient arms. Castel Sant'Angelo is well known to Opera lovers, since right from its famous terrace overlooking the heart of Rome, Tosca, the protagonist of Giacomo Puccini's opera, threw herself down. <br>Brief historical outline <br>Castel Sant'Angelo is an imposing mausoleum built on the banks of the river Tiber, ordered and probably designed by Emperor Hadrian (2nd century AD), who wished to have a tomb for himself and his successors. Over the centuries Castel Sant'Angelo has undergone several changes: first a fortress against the attacks of the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, then a prison and finally a magnificent papal residence. <br>Location: <br> <hr> <br>IR08 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Centrale Montemartini (Montemartini Art Centre) </div> <div align="justify">Details: One of Rome’s most intriguing and memorable museums, the Centrale Montemartini displays four hundred pieces of Roman sculpture from the Capitoline collection of ancient sculpture displayed among the gleaming machinery and furnaces of a former electricity power plant. Initally intended as a stop-gap solution during renovations on the Capitoline Museums, its popularity has ensured it a place on the Roman museum scene. <br>Location: Via Ostiense 106 <br>Tel: (06) 574 8042/30. Fax: (06) 575 4207. <br>Website: www.centralemontemartini.org <br>Transport: Bus 23 or Metro B: Piramide. <br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0930-1900, last entry at 1800. <br>Admission: €4.20 (or €9.90 for a joint ticket including entrance to the Capitoline Museums). <br> <hr> <br>IR09 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Circus Maximus </div> <div align="justify">Details: In its day, the elongated oval of Circus Maximus provided a 250,000-seat arena for Ben-Hur-style gladiator action and was second only to the Colosseum as an impressive structure of ancient Rome. Circus Maximus now in ruins was plundered by medieval and Renaissance builders looking for marble and stone. <br>Location: Between Via dei Cerchi and Via del Circo Massimo <br> <hr> <br>IR10 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Climb to the top of Palatine Hill (Monte Palatino). </div> <div align="justify">Details: Legend has it that the ancient city of Rome was born atop Palatine Hill. Well-preserved samples of Roman era palaces and temples still stand, incorporated into the natural landscape by trees and vegetation that grow out of the ruins. Today these sites — which include the Baths of Septimus Severus — feel more like a park than an archeological site. Quiet paths shaded by slanting maritime pines give the place a serene feel. For a treat, visit Palatine Hill at early dusk, and watch the sun set on the center of ancient Rome — from Circus Maximus, to the Forum, to the Colosseum. <br>Location: Address: Via Sacra; Phone: +39 06 699-0110; <br>Web Site: Tourist Information Service, www.romaturismo.com <br>Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily April through October; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily November through March; <br>Cost: 12,000 lire; <br> <hr> <br>IR01 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Colosseo (Colosseum) </div> <div align="justify">Details: Near to Via Sacra and the fourth-century Arco di Costantino (Arch of Constantine) lies the gigantic oval of the Colosseum – 186m (620ft) long, 153m (510ft) wide and about 47m (157ft) high. Emperor Vespasian began construction in AD72 and work was completed eight years later by his son Titus. It was the scene for entertainment that one can hardly comprehend – gladiatorial conquests between men, lions and wild beasts, with death guaranteed. The ‘games’ were finally outlawed in the fifth century. The stadium has been pillaged over the centuries and rocked by earthquakes. Today, only its skeletal framework remains, with the winding passages used to force animals up to the battlefield of the arena (formerly underground) now exposed. <br>+The Colosseum is the most recognizable symbol of Rome. Once called the Flavian Ampitheater, it was built from A.D. 72 to A.D. 80 — in just eight years. Here, up to 50,000 spectators — protected from the sun by an ingenious system of shades — packed the stands to watch Roman gladiators fight it out in the ultimate combat. Today, the only wild animals haunting visitors are stray cats that make their home in the shadow of this monument. <br>+The Colosseum in its present shell-like state remains Rome’s greatest architectural legacy. The elliptical bowl seating 50,000 debuted in A.D. 80 with bloody combat between gladiators and wild beasts. Many historians now doubt legends of Christians being fed to the lions at the Colosseum. <br>Location: Address: Piazza del Colosseo; Via dei Fori Imperiali Phone: +39 06 700 4261; <br>Tel: (06) 3996 7700. <br>Website: www.pierreci.it (online booking) <br>Transport: Metro Colosseo, bus to Piazza del Colosseo. <br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1930 (summer), daily 0900-1630 (winter), last entry one hour before closing time. <br>Admission: €8 + €2 supplement when there are exhibitions (ticket also allows entry to the Palatine). <br> <hr> <br>IR23 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Fori Imperiali </div> <div align="justify">Details: Forum of Caesar, Augustus, Pax and Trajan (including Trajan's Column) and Traianus' markets, mark the passage from the Republic to the period of Empire and constitute the archaeological area of the Imperial forums. <br>Location: <br> <hr> <br>IR05 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Foro Romano (Roman Forum) and Palatino (Palatine) </div> <div align="justify">Details: The Roman Forum is now a heap of marble fragments, columns and floor layouts. A leap of imagination is required to recreate the former marketplace that was the political, commercial and social heart of ancient Rome and the symbolic centre of an Empire stretching to Greece, Sicily and Carthage. Fire, barbarians and pillaging builders in medieval and Renaissance times contributed to the Forum’s present state of disrepair but the Forum was only revealed during the excavation work of the 19th century. A bird’s-eye view is gained from behind Piazza del Campidoglio, while a closer look can be had from along Via Sacra, which runs through the heart of the Forum. Among the best preserved and most fascinating monuments are the AD203 triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus (built to celebrate victory over the Parthinians) and the remains of Caesar’s rostra, from where his great speeches were declaimed. Another stunning feature is the former atrium of the House of the Vestal Virgins and the adjacent Temple of Vesta, a circular building where the vestal virgins were entrusted in keeping the eternal flame alight. Just up from the Arch of Titus in the Forum is the Palatine where the palaces of the Roman emperors stood. <br>+You won't have to strain your imagination to picture the Forum as the political, commercial and religious center that it once was, Columns, arches and temples built between 500 B.C. and A.D. 400 — including the Temple of Vesta, where virgins once guarded the sacred fire — are artifacts of its ancient prominence. This center fills the valley between Capitoline and Palatine hills. <br>Location: Piazza di Santa Maria Nova 53 (off Via dei Fori Imperiali) <br>Tel: (06) 699 0110 or (06) 3996 7700. <br>Transport: Metro Colosseo, bus to Via dei Fori Imperiali or Piazza Venezia. <br>Opening hours: Daily 0900-1930 (summer), daily 0900-1630 (winter), last entry one hour before closing time. <br>Admission: Free for Foro Romano, €8 for combined Palatine and Colosseum ticket. <br> <hr> <br>IR11 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Foro Traiano e Mercati di Traiano (Trajan’s Forum and Trajan’s Markets) </div> <div align="justify">Details: Inaugurated in AD 112-113, Trajan’s Forum was the last built and most impressive of the Fora. The complex contained a main square, a basilica, two libraries and was completed by the markets of the same name, a sort of Roman, and remarkably well-preserved, equivalent of a shopping mall. The markets contained about 150 small shops spread over six storeys. Trajan’s column (which stands 38 m or 125 ft high) is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of Roman art, and was probably located between the two libraries on a base containing the burial urns of the Emperor and his wife. Its beautifully carved reliefs tell the tale of Trajan’s war campaigns in Dacia (now Romania). On the top of the column stood a statue of the emperor. This was removed by Pope Sixtus V in 1585 and replaced with a statue of St Peter made to face the direction of the basilica dedicated to the saint that was being built at the time. <br>Location: Via IV Novembre 94 <br>Tel: (06) 679 0048. <br>Transport: Any bus to Piazza Venezia. <br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1900 (summer), last entry at 1800, Tues-Sun 0900-1800 (winter), last entry at 1700. <br>Admission: €6.20. <br> <hr> <br>IR12 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Galleria Doria Pamphilj </div> <div align="justify">Details: A British voice with a cut-glass accent issuing from the hand-held free audioguide leads visitors through the picture-clogged rooms, lavish furnishings and ageing sculptures – in short, the excessive wealth of the powerful Doria Pamphilj family, a pillar of Rome’s papal aristocracy. Jonathan Doria Pamphilj, the half-British sibling and heir, along with his sister, of the Doria Pamphilj fortunes is a modern-day prince and recalls childhood memories of roller-skating along the parquet floor of the 18th-century ballroom – tiny indentations prove the truth of his tale. The rambling palace is still occupied and a number of the private apartments are open to the public (mornings only) for a small additional fee. Works by Correggio, Caravaggio and Velázquez are on show here, as well as some amusing pieces by lesser-known artists. <br>Location: Piazza del Collegio Romano 2 <br>Tel: (06) 679 7323. Fax: (06) 678 0939. <br>E-mail: arti.rm@doriapamphilj.it <br>Website: www.doriapamphilj.it <br>Transport: Bus to Piazza Venezia. <br>Opening hours: Fri-Wed 1000-1700. <br>Admission: €8, concessions available. <br> <hr> <br>IR22 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Gianicolo Hill </div> <div align="justify">Details: Gianicolo Hill If you make <br>your way to Gianicolo Hill, not only can you enjoy <br>out one of the best vistas of the city, but leave your <br>visit until the evening and you can witness a sunset <br>which will take your breath away. <br>Location: <br> <hr> <br>IR13 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Golden House of Nero </div> <div align="justify">Details: After Rome burned in the deadly blaze of A.D. 64 -- historians have yet to prove Nero set it, much less fiddled -- the emperor seized some 200 acres of the central charred city to erect one of history’s most opulent palaces, with a 150-foot statue of himself in the nude at the entrance. Successors destroyed much of the golden palace, but remains are again on view after a 15-year restoration re-opening in 1999. The Colosseum area was once a lake reflecting the Golden House. The word grotto comes from this palace, believed built underground. <br>Location: Via della Dommus Aurea. (06) 3974-9907 <br> <hr> <br>IR14 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Make a wish at Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi). </div> <div align="justify">Details: Squashed into the corner of a small piazza, Trevi Fountain's statue of Neptune seems ready to burst forward from the ancient Acqua Vergine aqueduct. The recently cleaned, and gleaming, 18th-century fountain is one of Rome's most famous sights. It draws throngs of tourists, who crowd into the tiny square to toss coins into the water over their left shoulders; legend says this assures a return trip to the city. A string of legends surround the Trevi Fountain, which is situated amid the labyrinthine streets off Via del Tritone. It is said that a virgin came across a three-way (tre-vie) spring, causing the original fountain to be built. More recently, the far-from-virginal Anita Ekberg immortalised the fountain in the famous scene of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1959). According to myth, a coin cast in these waters will ensure a return visit to Rome. The Baroque extravaganza was designed by Nicolò Salvi for Pope Clement XII and completed in 1762. The statues (representing Abundance, Agrippa, Salubrity, the Virgin and Neptune guiding a chariot drawn by sea horses) appear as a cast of characters performing a melodrama, with a Renaissance palace for their backdrop and craggy rocks in the foreground. <br>Location: Address: Piazza di Trevi, off Via del Tritone; Phone: Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT), U.S., (212) 245-4822; in Rome, +39 06 488-991; Rome Tourist Information Service, +39 06 360 04399; <br>Web Site: Tourist Information Service www.romaturismo.com <br>Hours: All; <br>Cost: Free; <br> <hr> <br>IR21 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele </div> <div align="justify">Details: Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele This <br>unmissable, imposing, white marble building beside <br>the Roman Forum is fastly becoming one of Rome's <br>best known landmarks. Not liked by many locals as <br>it looks so new beside so many ancient buildings, <br>there is a museum inside which is free of charge. <br>Location: <br>Open daily from 9am?5pm. <br> <hr> <br>IR15 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Musei Capitolini (Capitoline Museums) </div> <div align="justify">Details: The oldest public collection in the world, the Capitoline Museums are made up of two separate buildings: the Palazzo Nuovo houses the country’s most important collection of Roman sculpture (including the original of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius which stands proudly in the middle of the Piazza del Capidoglio), the Palazzo dei Conservatori and Braccio Nuovo house more ancient sculpture as well as Renaissance and Baroque art. <br>Location: Piazza del Campidoglio <br>Tel: (06) 3996 7800. Fax: (06) 678 5488. <br>Website: www.museicapitolini.org <br>Transport: Any bus to Piazza Venezia <br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-2000, last entry at 1900. <br>Admission: €6.20 (+ €1.60 exhibition supplement), €9,90 combined Capitoline Museums and Centrale Montemartini ticket (see in Further Distractions below). xx <br> <hr> <br>IR16 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: National Gallery </div> <div align="justify">Details: Palazzo Barberini ranks as one of Rome’s most outstanding baroque palaces. Within and on view are the lavish rococo apartments and the Gallery of Decorative Art, which is part of the National Gallery of Ancient Art. The Collection of bronze urns with engraving is outstanding. <br>Location: Palatine Hill <br> <hr> <br>IR02 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Pantheon </div> <div align="justify">Details: The best-preserved and most beautifully proportioned of Rome’s ancient monuments, the Pantheon has become an emblem of the city. Built by Hadrian between AD119 and AD128, as a temple to the gods, the Pantheon was converted to a Christian church in AD608 – the key to its miraculous survival. The radius of the dome is exactly equivalent to the height and a 9-m (30ft) hole, known as the oculus, in the dome’s centre allows light (and rain) into the building. Statues of the deities would once have decorated the interior. Now the focal point of interest is the tomb of Raphael. Most astonishing of all are the large brass doors, which belonged to the original Roman building. <br>Built in 27 B.C. and rebuilt in second century A.D, the Pantheon (All the Gods) is the lone ancient Roman building remaining intact. This perfect square resting in a cylinder measuring 142 feet wide and 142 feet high ranks among the world’s architectural wonders thanks to spatial concept. Michelangelo studied its once-gilded dome before designing the cupola of St. Peter's. Walls are 25 feet thick, and bronze doors weigh 20 tons each. More than a century ago, Raphael's tomb was discovered here. Buried nearby are Vittorio Emanuele II, king of Italy, and his successor, Umberto I. <br>Location: Piazza della Rotonda <br>Tel: (06) 6830 0230. <br>Transport: Bus to Largo Argentina or Via del Corso. <br>Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0830-1930, Sun 0900-1800, public holidays 0900-1300. <br>Admission: Free. <br> <hr> <br>IR26 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Piazza del Campidoglio </div> <div align="justify">Details: Ancient seat of the most important temple of the state cult and symbol of Rome “caput mundi”, the Campidoglio has always maintained its importance in the life of the city as centre of the City Government since the 12th century and with the presence of the Capitoline Museums, the most ancient in the world. The square, considered one of the most elegant in Europe, was designed by Michelangelo who created the splendid access ramp, new facades for the preexisting buildings (Palazzo Senatorio at the centre and the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the right), and added the Palazzo Nuovo on the left, giving it the trapezoidal shape that never fails to communicate a sense of harmony and equilibrium to visitors. The orientation of the square helps us understand the evolution of the city that at Michelangelo’s time had already turned its back to the remains of ancient Rome, the place of the past, of a historical phase that was concluded, to face the new centre of power and rule of the day, the Vatican. <br>The original of the bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius, whose copy is placed at the centre of the square is preserved in the Museum and escaped destruction in later times only because the personage on horseback was identified with Constantine, the first Christian emperor. <br>Location: <br> <hr> <br>IR25 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Piazza di Spagna </div> <div align="justify">Details: Heart of the most elegant and exclusive area of the historical centre, Piazza di Spagna has always been a meeting place for the Romans, but also for foreign visitors and artists who in the past used to stay in the numerous hotels and inns in the neighbouring streets. The famous staircase, designed in the 1700s by Francesco De Sanctis, proved to be an efficient and spectacular solution to the age-old problem of the connection between the square, controlled at length by the Spaniards whose embassy was located there, and the “French area” at the top of the hill that included the Renaissance church of the Trinità dei Monti. The 138 steps in the staircase are animated by terraces and curved sections that create the effect of a waterfall precipitating into the square below. In the spring it is decorated by colorful azaleas and it is also the setting of a famous fashion show. The Fountain of the Barcaccia was designed by Pietro Bernini, Gian Lorenzo’s father, and it represents a sinking boat placed in a low basin, a brilliant solution to the problem of low pressure in the conduits of the aqueduct that feeds it and that did not allow high jets of water. <br>The streets around the square are famous for the boutiques of the most famous brands in international fashion and include Via Condotti, one of the most elegant streets in the world. <br>Location: <br> <hr> <br>IR17 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Piazza Navona </div> <div align="justify">Details: This dramatic piazza, lined with cafés and restaurants, lies at the heart of the centro storico. Its oval shape follows the form of the former stadium, built in AD86 by Emperor Domitian. During the Renaissance, the site was flooded to stage mock naval battles. The piazza gained its current form in the mid-17th century, when Pope Innocent X commissioned Borromini to design the Church of Sant’Agnese. In front of the church Bernini built the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), adorned with powerful figures representing the four great rivers (the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges and the Rio de la Plata or River Plate) which in turn represented the four areas of the world known in Borromini’s time (Africa, Europe, Asia and America respectively). <br>Location: <br>Transport: Bus to Largo Argentina or Corso Rinascimento. <br>Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. <br>Admission: Free. <br> <hr> <br>IR18 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Protestant Cemetery </div> <div align="justify">Details: Amid cypress trees, romantic poet John Keats is buried with his requested epitaph -- "Here lies one whose name was writ in water" -- engraved on the tomb. Other occupants of this old cemetery include ashes of Percy Bysshe Shelley, author of Prometheus Unbound, who before age 30 drowned off the Italian Riviera in 1822. <br>Location: Via Caio Cestio 6. (06) 574-1900 <br> <hr> <br>IR19 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: South of the Forum and overlooking it, Palatine Hill is the oldest inhabited site in Rome, with remains unearthed from the 9th century BC. Hidden corners and shaded lanes make the Palatine a fine place to wander on foot. </div> <div align="justify">Details: Trevi Fountain <br>Location: Trevi Fountain, on a piazza of Via del Tritone, is a striking oasis of rest featuring mythical sea creatures and cascading waters. As if not sufficiently immortal on its own, films like Three Coins in a Fountain and Fellini’s La Dolce Vita have made it on <br> <hr> <br>IR24 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: The Capitol and the Vittoriano </div> <div align="justify">Details: <br>Since its origins the Capitol hill has been the seat of the city's government and the adequate place for solemn public celebrations. Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo, is surrounded by three noble palaces: the central one, Palazzo Senatorio, is the seat of the Municipality whereas the two on the sides, Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo, host the treasures of the Capitoline Museums. The Capitoline Picture Gallery contains over 200 paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries by extraordinary painters such as: Tiziano, Pietro Da Cortona, Caravaggio, Guercino, Rubens and many more. The square is dominated by a copy of the bronze equestrian statue of Marc Aurelius that survived destruction because it was believed to represent the Christian emperor Constantin. The elegant plinth was designed by Michelangelo. The original can be admired inside the adjacent Museum. <br>A new passageway connects Piazza del Campidoglio to the terraces of the Vittoriano which offer a breathtaking view of the city. The Vittoriano, also monument to Victor Emanuel II, first king of Italy, is now completely open to the public free of charge, including the Museum-Sanctuary of the Flags of the Armed Forces and the Museum of the Risorgimento that are housed in its interior. The monument was inaugurated in 1911 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the unification of Italy and since 1921 has been the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. <br>Location: <br> <hr> <br>IR06 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: The Spanish Steps and Keats-Shelley Memorial House </div> <div align="justify">Details: A grand outdoor staircase, the Spanish Steps offer a fabulous view of city monuments and rooftops. But they are also a great vantage point for people watching. The Spanish Steps are the meeting place in Rome, filled daily with guitar-playing city dwellers and stylish shoppers descending on the piazza's world-class boutiques. When you've had enough rest, head next door to the Keats-Shelley house, and take a look at memorabilia from literature's Romantic period. Or take a sip and a photo in front of the piazza's azalea-trimmed Fontana della Barcaccia (Old Boat Fountain). <br>+The Piazza di Spagna district is little changed from 18th-century prints depicting the area – and is still dominated by the elegant double steps known as the Spanish Steps. These were designed in 1723-26 by Francesco de Sanctis to link Via del Babuino with Via Felice – the first great street planned by Sixtus V (1585-90). Reminiscent of the grand ascent to the Sacré Coeur in Paris, the steps lead up to the 16th-century Trinità dei Monti. From here, spectacular views over the city rooftops more than warrant the steep climb. The Spanish Steps acquired their name from the neighbouring Spanish Embassy but the area is more intimately associated with England – even becoming known to the rather provincial Romans as er ghetto de l’Inglesi (English Ghetto). The tourists on the Grand Tour of the 18th and 19th centuries (including Keats, Shelley, Byron and the Brownings) helped to establish the district’s reputation as a cosmopolitan artistic quarter. At the foot of the steps lies the boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain, designed in 1627 by Bernini. To the right stands the modest Keats-Shelley Memorial House, where 25-year-old John Keats died of tuberculosis in 1821. Exhibits include pictures and prints, private letters, an urn bearing Shelley’s ashes and a lock of Keats’ tawny red hair. <br>Location: Address: Piazza di Spagna 26, junction of Via Condotti, Via del Babuino and Via Due Macelli; Phone: Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT), U.S., (212) 245-4822; in Rome, +39 06 488-991; <br>Tel: (06) 678 4235. Fax: (06) 678 4167. <br>Website: www.keats-shelley-house.org <br>Transport: Metro Spagna. <br>Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1800, Sat 1100-1400 and 1500-1800. <br>Admission: €3.50. <br> <hr> <br>IR20 City: Rome <br>Name of Attraction: Villa & Galleria Borghese </div> <div align="justify">Details: Just to the east of the Spanish Steps lies green relief from sightseeing – the sculpture-scattered gardens landscaped in the 17th century for Cardinal Scipione Borghese (nephew of Pope Paul V). This area includes the city zoo, Piazza di Siena arena, mock ancient temples, imitation medieval castles and an artificial lake. Unfortunately, the most playful elements of this Baroque extravaganza, trick fountains which sprayed unwitting passers-by, no longer exist. The pull of culture may be strong enough to lure the resting visitor into the Casino Borghese, a treasure trove of sculpture and antiquities, the Museo Etrusco (Etruscan Museum) in nearby Villa Giulia, with its remarkable sarcophagus of the reclining ‘Bride and Bridegroom’ from Cerveteri, or the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea (National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art) featuring Italian art of the 19th and 20th centuries housed in a massive neo-classical palazzo built in 1912. However, the Galleria Borghese (home to Bernini’s most famous work, Apollo and Daphne) should be seen first (ticket reservation is obligatory and visitors are only admitted every two hours). <br>Location: Galleria Borghese Piazzale del Museo Borghese 5 Villa Giulia Piazzale di Villa Giulia 9 <br>Tel: (06) 32810 (information and booking) or (06) 8413979. Fax: (06) 3265 1329. Tel: (06) 320 0562. <br>Website: www.galleriaborghese.it <br>Transport: Metro Spagna, bus or tram to Via Veneto. Transport: Tram 3 or 19. <br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1930, last entry at 1700. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0815-1915, last entry at 1815. <br>Admission: €8.50 (reservation required), concessions available. Admission: €4. <br> <hr> </div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com041.8954656, 12.482324341.8954656 12.4823243tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3654816020548360544.post-32991332231413993422008-02-01T05:17:00.000-08:002010-04-02T06:17:30.347-07:00Paris - Attractions Guide<p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">List of most of the attractions in Paris with quick information:</span></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:0a7b020c-2e51-4379-b078-a5387e1e26be:805065d8-dfac-44b2-83f2-2c8a3784f8dd" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a name='more'></a></div> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"> <hr> <br>FP10 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Alexander III Bridge</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP11 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Arc de Triomphe</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Originally commissioned by Napolean, the Arc de Triomphe has stood since 1836. Underneath the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier along with an eternal flame to mark those who have died in the two world wars.<br>This is a perfect first stop on your tour of the city. Built in honor of the French Army and unveiled in 1836, the top of the Arc de Triomphe offers a grand panoramic view (keeping in mind, of course, that in a city that boasts the Eiffel, offering a noteworthy view is no easy feat). Inside the arc, a museum details the monument's history. Outside, in the shadow of the arc, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pays homage to the soldiers killed in World War I.<br>Location: Place Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile, 16e Phone: 01-43-80-31-31<br>Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris; Phone: +33 (1) 55 37 73 77;<br>Hours: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., October through March; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., April through October;<br> <hr> <br>FP06 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Assembly Nationale</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP12 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Basilique du Sacre-Coeur</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The dome affords the best view of Paris, especially at night just as the lights are coming on. This 19th century cathedral also has an observation platform on the inside of the dome where you can get a full view of the church's interior.<br>Location: Place St-Pierre 18e Phone: 01-42-51-17-02<br> <hr> <br>FP01 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Cathédrale de Notre-Dame (Cathedral of Our Lady)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The stocky Notre-Dame Cathedral, situated on the Ile-de-la-Cité, could not be more different from the filigree Eiffel Tower. Bishop Maurice de Sully began construction on the cathedral in 1163, to outshine the new abbey at St-Denis, work was completed in 1345. The result is a gothic masterpiece, with three stunning rose windows. Visitors should be prepared to climb the 387 spiral steps to the top of the 75m (246ft) north tower. The views over the River Seine and the city centre are well worth the effort. There is also a treasury with various liturgical objects on display. A violent storm in 1999 caused significant damage to the cathedral, though by 2004 much of it had been repaired. The scaffolding, which has blighted the cathedral for as long as anyone can remember, looks set to remain for the foreseeable future.<br>At the center of the Parisian arrondissements is the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, around which Paris was built. Since the 1100s, Notre Dame has played an integral role in Parisian history, and is one of the oldest remaining structures in the city.<br>One of the most spectacular examples of Gothic architecture in Paris, the Notre Dame began construction back in 1163 and has been continually altered and restored ever since. Towering over the Place de Parvis on the Isle de la Cité is Notre-Dame, considered the most enduring symbol of the city. Completed in 1345, the Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece. Inside, the building can accommodate up to six thousand devotees and the interior features three massive rose windows and an enormous organ with 7,800 pipes. The top of the tower is accessible and offers a breathtaking view of Paris and also lets visitors take a closer look at the famous gargoyles.<br>The tower contains the bell that was rung by the fictional Quasimodo. There is also a museum opposite the North Door that focuses on the history of the Cathedral, and beneath the square fronting the Cathedral is Notre-Dame's archaeological museum, inside a crypt. </span></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Location: 6 Place du Parvis-Notre-Dame, 4th<br>Tel: (01) 4234 5610 or 4432 1672 (information on tower).<br>Website: </span><a title="www.cathedraledeparis.com" href="http://www.cathedraledeparis.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.cathedraledeparis.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Cité métro; RER Châtelet-Les Halles or Saint-Mic stations or bus 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 85 or 96.<br>Opening hours: Daily 0745-1845 (cathedral), daily 0930-1845 (towers), Mon-Sat 0930-1130 and 1300-1730 (treasury).<br>Free admission (cathedral), charge for towers and treasury.<br> <hr> <br>FP02 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Chartres</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: If you have the time, it is well worth the less than 2 hour trip to see this medieval wonder of stained glass and iron sculpture. The Cathedral at Chartres contains some of the oldest surviving and most beautiful stained glass in the world, much of it dating back to the 1100s. There is so much to see here that one should allow at least a full day for the adventure. Sundays are especially popular because of the free afternoon organ concerts.<br>Location: 16 Cloitre Notre-Dame, Chartres Phone: 02-37-21-56-33<br> <hr> <br>FP13 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Centre Georges Pompidou (Georges Pompidou Centre)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Considered outrageous in 1977, the Pompidou Centre, designed by Piano and Rogers, has become part of the Parisian landscape, primary coloured tubes and all. The building was revamped and extended a few years ago, to cope with the huge numbers of people visiting its expanding collection of contemporary art and multimedia library.<br>Location: Place Georges Pompidou, 4th<br>Tel: (01) 4478 1233.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.centrepompidou.fr" href="http://www.centrepompidou.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.centrepompidou.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Wed-Mon 1100-2100, late-night openings until 2300 for some exhibits.<br>Admission charge, free first Sun of each month.<br> <hr> <br>FP14 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Champs-Elysees</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP15 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Chateau de Versailles</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The palace of Louis XIV, the Sun King, where the staff gathered to witness the levee of the rising monarch every morning, is a jaw-dropping excursion into the 17th century world of unbelievable opulence and ornamentation enjoyed by the royal class, which kept a safe distance from the squalor of their subjects in central Paris. You should allow a full day to see this grand siecle phenomenon, though you could spend many days there and still not see everything. Although only about 13 miles southwest of downtown Paris, plan to spend the entire day touring the palace, exotic vegetable, fruit and flower gardens, and enjoy dinner at one of the special neighboring restaurants. Keep your car at the hotel, and use one of the many convenient public transportation or hotel shuttle alternatives available.<br>Built by Louis XIV back in the 15th century, the Palace of Versailles served as home to French royalty until the French Revolution. While it has suffered with the passing years, it stands as a monument to the past glory of France and remains a world famous attraction.<br>After meeting at the Paris office you'll ride your bicycle to the nearest train station (RER) for the quick 20 minute trip to Versailles. Once at Versailles, you'll first visit the village market to buy baguettes, cheese, ham, wine or whatever you desire for the delicious picnic later in the Chateau's gardens (cost of lunch is at your own expense).<br>The highlight of the day is your bicycle ride through the gardens behind the Chateau. The average Versailles tourist doesn't realize that they can only visit a small fraction of the gardens on foot. You, however, will be able to visit everything worth seeing including Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon, the Grand Trianon and the quiet Hameau. The gardens and forests are crisscrossed by a network of fantastic trails and tree-lined paths. Bring your camera for breath-taking views in every direction.<br>Once you arrive at the far end of the Grand Canal settle down for a picnic in the exact spot where Kings Louis XIV, XV and XVI ate in order to marvel at their house. The magnitude of Versailles and the basis for the anger of the French citizens in 1789 is finally understood. But today simply relax all alone in the grass and sunshine since your cycling group will be the only ones that can easily reach the end of the Grand Canal.<br>After lunch pedal again through the gardens back towards the Chateau itself for an unforgettable view into the lives of the monarchy before being deposed by the Revolution in 1789. Visit the Hall of Mirrors (site of the treaty ending World War I), the King's State Apartments and the amazing King's Chapel. And finally after enjoying one of the treasures of France we'll return to Paris via train (RER).<br>Location: Versailles, place d'Armes Phone: 01-30-84-74-00<br> <hr> <br>FP16 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Visit the graves of Oscar Wilde, John-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, legendary American songwriter Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Moliere, Proust, Chopin, lovers Abelard and Heloise from the 1100s, the Rothschild family, and countless other famous authors, artists, politicians and intellectual leaders collected in one highly spiritual and inspiring setting. Even Rin Tin Tin's grave is here, curiously adopted by the ever-present cats draped reverently across his monument. A visit to Pere-Lachaise is an essential element of your itinerary, and one you will never forget.<br>Location: 16 rue du Repos, 20e Phone: 01-43-70-33<br> <hr> <br>FP17 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Disneyland Paris</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Despite its American roots, Disneyland Paris is the paradigm of European amusement parks. This 5,000 acre resort, one-fifth the size of Paris itself, is just 20 miles to the east from downtown Paris, and if you start early and allow yourself a full day, you can see a good bit of it. Your concierge can help you select from a variety of public transportation and hotel shuttle alternatives, or if you prefer, you can enjoy one of the excellent theme hotels right at the resort.<br>Location: Marne-la-Vallee Phone: 01-64-74-30-00<br> <hr> <br>FP18 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Ecole Militaire</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Literally translating to "military school" in English. Napoleon studied here and his discharge papers stated that he "could go far if the circumstances are right."<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP19 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Foret de Fontainebleau</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: A little more than a half-hour's drive south of Paris will bring you to Napolean's former palace and the old hunting grounds of French royalty. Fans of nineteenth century French history will find their treasure here, as well as many furnishings and personal effects of Napolean and his era. Even with lunch at one of the local restaurants, the whole adventure can be done in about half a day.<br>Location: Fontainebleau, place d'Armes Phone: 01-60-74-99-99<br> <hr> <br>FP20 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Grand Palais</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP21 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Jardin des Tuileries</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The stunning Jardin des Tuileries, famous for its statues, is at the edge of place de la Concorde, 1e ( Métro: Tuileries or Concorde). Designed by Le Nôtre, the gardener of Louis XIV, it contains impressive statues including eighteen magnificent bronzes by Maillol which can be found inside the Jardin du Carroussel where they were installed between 1964 and 1965. A century earlier, the Palais des Tuileries was built here under the order of Catherine de Médicis. The palace was occupied by Louis XVI and later by Napoleon. After it was attacked twice by Parisians, the palace was finally burned to the ground in 1871. Although the palace would never be rebuilt, the gardens survived. Today, the trees are still arranged in special patterns and the pathways are kept meticulously straight.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP22 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: This garden, part formal, part jardin à l'anglaise, was created for Marie de Médicis (Henri IV's widow), along with the Palais du Luxembourg, which now houses the French Senate. It is a favoured spot for a Sunday stroll, game of tennis, chess or boules, pony ride or yacht trip on the lake.<br>Location: Boulevard St-Michel, rue de Médicis, rue Guynemer, rue d'Assas, rue Auguste-Comte or rue de Vaugirard, 6th<br>Tel: (01) 4234 2362.<br>Opening hours: Daily 0715-2130 (Apr-Sep), daily 0800-dusk (Oct-Mar).<br>Free admission.<br> <hr> <br>FP23 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur (The Sacred Heart Basilica)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: A long, wide series of steps lead to the snowy-white domed Sacré-Coeur that dominates the arty district of Montmartre. A mishmash of styles, the Catholic church was built between 1870 and 1919, to fulfil a vow made during the Franco-Prussian war. The interior is splendid with neo-Byzantine mosaics and the domed tower offers a spectacular view over Paris. The crypt contains an interesting collection of religious relics and a slide show on the construction of the Basilica. Below the church, a park tumbles down the hillside in a flurry of benches that make an ideal spot for surveying the city skyline.<br>Location: Parvis du Sacré-Coeur, 18th<br>Tel: (01) 5341 8900.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com" href="http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Daily 0600-2300 (Basilica), daily 0930-1830 (crypt and dome).<br>Free admission (Basilica), charge for dome and crypt.<br> <hr> <br>FP24 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: La Grande Mosquée de Paris (Paris Grand Mosque)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Built between 1922 and 1926, close to the Jardin des Plantes, this Hispano-Moorish mosque caters for France's Muslim community. There is free access and guided tours to the sunken garden and patios. The prayer room, however, remains closed to the non-Muslim public. There is also an authentic hammam (Turkish bath) with masseurs at hand, as well as a wonderful mosaic courtyard complete with fig trees and a fountain - the perfect setting for enjoying a sweet mint tea served in tiny gilded glasses with some honeyed baklava. In the adjoining restaurant, couscous and other Arabic dishes are served.<br>Location: 1 place du Puits-de-l'Ermite (access via 39 rue Géoffroy-St-Hillaire), 5th<br>Tel: (01) 4535 9733.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.mosquee-de-paris.org" href="http://www.mosquee-de-paris.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.mosquee-de-paris.org</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs and Sat 1000-2100, Fri 1400-2100 (women), Tues 1400-2100, Sun 1000-2100 (men), tours Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-1800 (winter), Sat-Thurs 0900-1200 and 1400-2200 (summer), closed Muslim holidays.<br>Admission charge, free to tearoom.<br> <hr> <br>FP07 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: La Madeleine</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP25 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Les Catacombs</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: An attraction with limited appeal, but nonetheless one of the world's wonders, the Catacombs of Paris consist of almost a mile of illuminated dirt tunnels filled with human bones and skulls transposed for public health reasons from over-filled 18th century cemeteries. Also used by the French Resistance in the forties, the Catacombs have developed a mystique of their own, and are worth seeing while you are here, however briefly.<br>Location: 4850 1 place Denfert-Rochereau, 14e Phone: 01-43-22-47-63<br> <hr> <br>FP26 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Les Egouts de Paris</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The underground sewers of Paris have become one of the more sophisticated arrays of conduit for drinking water, waste, telephone and pneumatic tube systems in the world. This over 1,300 mile network of alphanumerically coded arteries is an engineering as well as logical marvel. Short tours and an educational program are provided, and the experience is well worth a couple of hours on your itinerary.<br>Location: Tours start at: Pont d'Alma, 7e (Left Bank) Phone: 01-47-05-10-29<br> <hr> <br>FP27 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Les Halles</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Les Halles is also known as the "Belly of Paris" because of the many vendors that sell food in the area. It is a popular haunt among local teenagers who frequent its vast underground shopping mall.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP28 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Literary Landmarks</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Paris has been the home of many great artists and writers, and a stay in Paris would not be complete without a tour of the places where they worked and played.<br>Ride the Métro to place St-Michel and look for the famous rue de la Huchette of the Left Bank. This street and its denizens were immortalised in the classic The Last Time I Saw Paris by Eliot Paul. Walking on you'll soon find yourself in the Paris of the hipster mind: the old haunts of the Beat Generation as described by Jack Kerouac in Satori in Paris. The Café Gentilhomme in his story is no longer there but the Hôtel du Vieux-Paris, 9 rue Gît-le-Coeur, 6e, a favourite of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, is still around, attracting dreamers and seekers inspired by the Beats.<br>A walk down the "Yankee alleyway", rue Monsieur-le-Prince, takes you into the world of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James McNeill Whistler, Richard Wright and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Martin Luther King Jr. went here once in 1959 to visit Richard Wright, the Mississippi-born novelist who wrote Native Son. King came to discuss with Wright his thoughts on the civil rights movement.<br>Whistler stayed at a studio at no. 22 and Longfellow lived on no. 49. Holmes stayed at no. 55.<br>From here you can head over to the Hôtel de Crillon, 10 place de la Concorde, 8e for a drink. The famed hotel was the setting of Hemmingway's The Sun Also Rises.<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP29 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Marche Buci</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: In the gastronomical capital of the world, you must see where the best chefs of Paris weigh, squeeze, sniff and taste their produce and meats. If you are fortunate enough to have cooking facilities at your hotel, you cannot do better than to obtain your ingredients here, at this famous open-air market. Just take the Metro, stop at St-Germain-des-Pres, and you will see it.<br>Location: Rue de Buci, 6e Phone: 01-42-51-17-02<br> <hr> <br>FP42 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Montparnasse Tower</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP05 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Musée d'Orsay (Museum of Orsay)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The museum's home, an impressively converted railway station by the banks of the Seine, is stunning, but the real strength of this large museum lies in its collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The collection, covering the decisive 1848-1914 period, is arranged chronologically, beginning on the ground floor, jumping to the third, and then descending to the middle level. Among the most famous works are Manet's Déjeuner sur l'Herbe (Luncheon on the Grass), rejected from the Salon of 1863, five of Monet's paintings of Rouen Cathedral and the realist work L'Origine du Monde (The Origin of the World), by Gustave Courbet, whose graphic depiction of the female sex continues to shock.<br>This museum is relatively recent compared to other Parisian museums but it is already well-known for its impressive collection. Located inside a railway station by the Seine , it contains work created between 1848 and 1914, covering the Art-Nouveau period as well as Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art for which the museum is famous.<br>The chronologically organised collection includes important works by Courbet, Monet and Manet. A permanent exhibit features the famous L'énigme by Gustave Doré and the statue of Joan of Arc in Domrémy by Henri Chapu<br>Location: Entrances at 1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur and 1 rue de Bellechasse, 7th<br>Tel: (01) 4049 4814.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.musee-orsay.fr" href="http://www.musee-orsay.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.musee-orsay.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: RER Musée d'Orsay; Métro Solférino; bus 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84 or 94.<br>Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0930-1800, Thurs 0930-2145.<br>Admission charge, free first Sun of each month.<br> <hr> <br>FP30 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Musée du Quai Branly</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: This grand new museum was a welcome to the Parisian cultural scene when it opened its doors during 2006 after much hype. The collections, which include a broad sweep of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, have been lauded by critics and the public alike. Inside there are over 3,500 artefacts. From the main reception a ramp takes visitors off towards the eclectic collections, which include masks in Oceania, costumes from Asia and also African musical instruments and textiles.<br>Location: 17 Quai Branly, 7th<br>Tel: (01) 5661 7000.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.quaibranly.fr" href="http://www.quaibranly.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.quaibranly.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Tue-Sat 1000-1830, Thu open to 2130.<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>FP04 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Musée National du Louvre (Louvre National Museum)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>The Louvre today was originally constructed as a fortress, before becoming a palace. It now serves as one of the finest museums in Europe, and contains some of the most famous pieces of art including da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. One of the greatest art museums in the world is the Louvre in Paris, an enormous building that contains a significant collection of paintings, artefacts and sculptures from different parts of the world. Open to visitors since 1793 (some time after the Revolution), it was first opened so that people could see the magnificent collection of treasures liberated from the royal palaces.<br>The most famous showcase of the collection is Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, encased within bullet-proof glass inside its own room. The main collections include objects d'art from the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, Rome and Asia.<br></span><a title="http://www.louvre.fr/+" href="http://www.louvre.fr/+" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">http://www.louvre.fr/+</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>During the 19th century this place was the home of Richelieu and a popular site for gambling and other hedonistic pursuits. Today it is the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, as well as a nice place to have a quiet walk, with its gardens and impressive arcades. The main courtyard stands out, with its black and white stripped columns courtesy of Daniel Buren (1980).+<br>The world's most famous works of art live here, including the Mona Lisa, the statute of Venus de Milo, the ancient Winged Victory, and thousands of other priceless works many of which originally were collected privately by French royalty throughout history and donated to the museum. You will not be able to see everything, not even in several trips on multiple visits to Paris, but your experience will be better if you research ahead of time just a few things you would like to see, then check with your concierge to see which times would be best for avoiding the crowds, so you can have a more leisurly time of it.+<br>The Louvre first opened to the public in 1793, following the Revolution, as a showcase for the art treasures of the kings of France. The museum is organised into three wings on four floors - Richelieu (along rue de Rivoli), Sully (around cour Carrée) and Denon (along the River Seine). The vast permanent collection includes Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Egyptian and East Asian antiquities, French, Spanish, Italian and northern European sculpture and 19th-century objets d'art. The painting collection is the strongest, with French, Italian, Dutch, German, Flemish and Spanish masterpieces from the mid-13th to the mid-19th centuries. Most famed French works include David's Coronation of Napoléon, Ingres' The Turkish Bath, Géricault's depiction of disaster, The Raft of the Medusa and Delacroix's ode to revolution, Liberty Leading the People. The museum's greatest treasure, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, is in a bullet-proof case. There are plans to move it into its own room, but for now it is on display in room 13, on the first floor of the Denon wing. Excavations have exposed traces of the medieval Louvre, which are on display together with the history of the Louvre under the Cour Carrée, in the entresol level in the Sully wing. Buying tickets from the official website in advance saves unnecessary time spent queuing. Following the massive Da Vinci Code hype the crowds are thicker than ever, so it is advisable to arrive early, especially if buying tickets upon entry.<br>Location: Cour Napoléon, 1. Reception area is under the giant glass pyramid<br>Tel: (01) 4020 5050.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.louvre.fr" href="http://www.louvre.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.louvre.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: Métro Palais Royal or Musée du Louvre; bus 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81 or 95.<br>Opening hours: daily 0900-1800, Wed and Fri until 2130, closed Tues. Opening hours for temporary exhibitions vary.<br>Admission charge, free first Sun of each month, advance tickets can be purchased from branches of FNAC and on the Internet, tickets allow same-day re-admission.<br> <hr> <br>FP31 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Musée National Picasso (National Picasso Museum)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Paris-based Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) owned most of this collection, one of the largest worldwide, housed in a 17th-century mansion in the Marais. All phases of his art are represented, with preparatory sketches and paintings covering the Blue Period, Rose Period, cubism, classicism, surrealism and sculptures ranging from a huge plaster head to a small cat. Memorable works include the Blue Period self-portrait Paolo as Harlequin, the surreal Nude in an Armchair and poignant paintings of Marie-Thérèse, his lover and muse. Photographs are displayed alongside the works they inspired, and African masks with Picasso's ‘primitive' wood carvings. There is also a glimpse of the artist's personal taste in paintings, with his Matisse and Cézanne paintings displayed alongside his own.<br>Location: Hôtel Salé, 5 rue de Thorigny, 3rd<br>Tel: (01) 4271 2521.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.musee-picasso.fr" href="http://www.musee-picasso.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.musee-picasso.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Opening hours: Wed, Fri-Mon 0930-1800, Thurs 0930-2000 (summer), Wed, Fri-Mon 0930-1730, Thurs 0930-2000 (winter).<br>Admission charge, free first Sun of each month.<br> <hr> <br>FP32 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Musée Rodin (Rodin Museum)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) lived and worked in this 18th-century hôtel particulier, now the Rodin Museum, and his sculptures populate the interior and gardens. Indoors, The Kiss portrays eternal passion frozen in white marble, while The Hand of God gives life to creamy white, half-formed figures. Works of Rodin's mistress and pupil, Camille Claudel, and paintings by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir and Rodin himself are also on display. The gardens are graced by the monumental bronze The Thinker, whose godly physique contrasts sharply with the decrepitude of the writhing figures of The Gates of Hell and the controversial final portrait of Balzac, once described as ‘a block that disgraces its author and French Art'.<br>Location: 77 rue de Varenne, 7th<br>Tel: (01) 4418 6110.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.musee-rodin.fr" href="http://www.musee-rodin.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.musee-rodin.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Access:<br>• Metro (line 13): Varenne, Invalides or Saint-François-Xavier<br>• RER (line C): Invalides<br>• Bus: 69, 82, 87, 92<br>• Parking: Blvd des Invalides<br>Opening hours: Museum: Tues-Sun 0930-1745, garden: Tues-Sun 0930-1845 (Apr-Sep), museum: Tues-Sun 0930-1645, garden: Tues-Sun 0930-1700 (Oct-Mar).<br>Admission charge, free first Sun of each month.<br> <hr> <br>FP33 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Napoleon's Tomb and Les Invalides</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Napoleon's Tomb and Les Invalides - This is where you can find the most famous Frenchman of all - Napoleon. In 1789 French citizens stole tens of thousands of muskets from here to use in the raid on the Bastille. The Revolution had begun!<br>Location:<br>How to get there<br>Metro line 8 : Latour-Maubourg,<br>RER C : Invalides<br>Buses : 32, 63, 93<br>Opening times<br>From 10am to 5h45pm from 1st april to 30 september<br>Closed on the 1st january, 1st may, 1st november and 25 décember.<br>The Dôme and the tombeau de l'empereur are open from 10am to 6h45pm from 15 june to 15 september<br> <hr> <br>FP34 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: This appealing park spreads over 23 hectares (57 acres) between Gare du Nord and Belleville. It was originally commissioned by Napoleon III and mixes grandeur with wildlife. Its walkways are alive with the likes of wagtails, tits, gulls, geese and swans. In the lake pike, tench and roach abound. The park is perfect for escaping the city for a while, strolling around its lofty inclines or even popping on some in-line skates and heading around the skate trail.<br>Location:<br>Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk.<br>Free admission.<br> <hr> <br>FP35 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Parc Zoologique de Paris</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The best way to get to one of the great zoos of Europe is by Metro, which has its own stop here. This is a habitat-style zoo, no cages, and offers a great opportunity to see wild animals truly at home. Many activities, children's programs and refreshment alternatives in the area also augment the experience, well worth a day's investment.<br>Location: Bois de Vincennes, 53 avenue de St-Maurice, 12e Phone: 01-44-75-20-00<br>Metro line 1 : Porte Dorée, Saint-Mandé-Tourelle.<br>Bus: 86, 325, 46<br>Summertime: From 9 am to 6pm<br>(6.30pm on the sunday and bank holiday)<br>Wintertime : From 9 am to 5pm<br>(5.30pm on the sunday and bank holiday).<br>Price : 8 Euros<br> <hr> <br>FP36 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Paris Plage</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: Since its inception in 2001, Paris Plage has become a highly successful annual event. The idea of shutting off a busy 3.5km (2-mile) section of riverfront expressway in the city centre and turning it into a giant leisure oasis is both simple and brilliant, though it has provoked the ire of some of the city's taxi drivers. A flurry of deckchairs and hammocks replace the cars and even an open-air swimming pool, mainly geared towards children, features alongside the stalls selling food, drinks and ice cream. Mist sprays, sand and the sight of relaxing locals and tourists manage to raise a smile from all but the most world-weary of Parisians. Such has been the success of Paris Plage that, even when there is no sand, for the rest of the year sections of the river are now closed frequently at weekends to allow Parisians to cycle and walk along the riverside.<br>Location: Banks of the Seine between Tuileries Tunnel and the Henri IV bridge<br>Opening times: Jul-Aug daily.<br>Free admission.<br> <hr> <br>FP37 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Petit Palais</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP08 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Place de la Concorde</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP38 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Place de Pigalle</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The 9th arrondissement spans the spectrum of French popular entertainment culture, from brassy to elegant, that defines a world famous part of the unique Parisian experience. Place de Pigalle, termed "Pig Alley" by the American soldiers present during the Allied Liberation, includes everything from the more lurid strip clubs to the famous Folies Bergere and the legendary Opera Garnier. Many of the world's famous entertainers have performed in at least one of these venues, notable poets and painters have frequented the sidewalk cafes, and you can trace their steps while you absorb a lot of the history and spirit of Parisian popular culture by spending an afternoon or evening there.<br>Location: 9th Arrondissement<br> <hr> <br>FP39 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Pompidou Centre</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: The modern Pompidou Centre was built in 1970s and today its striking design is part of the city's landscape. Named after Georges Pompidou, the former president of France, the building sees millions of visitors a year, making it one of the city's favourite attractions.<br>Inside is the Musée National d'Art Modern, which features a large collection of art from the 20th century, covering significant art movements such as Cubism, Abstract and Fauvism. The building also houses many theatres featuring musical and dance performances, as well as numerous cinemas.<br>West of the building is a square famous for its street performers.<br></span><a title="http://www.centrepompidou.fr" href="http://www.centrepompidou.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">http://www.centrepompidou.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Location: Address: Place Georges Pompidou, entrance by the plaza in Rue Saint-Martin Transport: Métro Rambuteau, Châtelet, Hôtel de Ville; RER (train) Châtelet or Les Halles; bus 21, 29, 38, 47, 58, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 81, 85, 96.<br> <hr> <br>FP03 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details: One of the most famous landmarks in the entire world, no trip to Paris would be complete without a tour of the Eiffel Tower. Built back in 1889, the tower stands tall at over 1000 feet and offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape from its observation decks. It also features two restaurants located on the first and second floors.The Eiffel Tower was originally intended to be a temporary structure to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Eventually it came to be known as the city's signature landmark, and today over 6 million people a year come to Paris to see it.<br>The tower rises 300 metres above the Champ de Mars, and it was the tallest building in the world until 1930. From the tower's highest level, visitors can enjoy a spectacular panorama of the city.<br></span><a title="http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/+" href="http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/+" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/+</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>For years the tallest structure in the world, this engineering marvel affords a view of over 40 miles, weather permitting, and includes a movie theater, restaurants and a bar. Built originally in 1899 as a temporary exhibition structure, the Eiffel Tower remained when Paris discovered its utility as a city-wide communications tower.+<br>The Eiffel Tower literally towers over the Champ de Mars in the smart 7th arrondissement. The top (third) floor offers a sweeping panorama of Paris. From directly underneath there is a fascinating view of the delicate ironwork constructed by Gustave Eiffel, who was commissioned to build the tower for the Exposition Universelle in 1889 - the centenary of the French Revolution. The Tour Eiffel is also home to a number of restaurants, which offer views of the city and sky high prices to match.<br>Location: Champ de Mars, 7th<br>Tel: (01) 4411 2323.<br>Website: </span><a title="www.tour-eiffel.fr" href="http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">www.tour-eiffel.fr</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt"><br>Transport: RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel station; Métro Bir-Hakeim, Trocadéro, Ecole Militaire; bus 42, 69, 72, 82, 87<br>Opening hours: Daily 0930-2300 (Sep-mid Jun), daily 0900-2400 (mid Jun-Aug).<br>Admission charge.<br> <hr> <br>FP41 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: Tuileries Gardens</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br> <hr> <br>FP09 City: Paris<br>Name of Attraction: UNESCO</span> <p></p> <p style="line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt">Details:<br>Location:<br></span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0