The iron giant seen here sees more visitors than any monument in the world, around six million per year. It is surprising that the world finds this tower so fascinating-it was almost torn down in 1909, until it found use supporting an antenna for telegraph transmissions.
The tower, which bears the name of the engineer who designed it, was built in 1889 as an entrance to the World's Fair. From the time it was built until 1930, it was the tallest structure in the world. Many citizens of the "City of Lights" opposed its construction, calling it an eyesore and a disgrace to the city. Today, however, it is considered one of the world's greatest architectural designs. My, how things have changed!
You are looking at one of the many canals that run through this city on the Adriatic Sea. The town is built on an archipelago of about one hundred and twenty islands that are connected by almost four hundred bridges. Although more traditional forms of transportation have made their way to the northern edge of the city, automobiles are not an option in a majority of the city-making this place the largest car-free zone on the continent! More than one hundred fifty canals run through the city, essentially becoming the city's streets. Vaporetti, motorized water buses, run regular routes around the city and serve as the city's public transportation. Gondolas were the traditional mode of transportation throughout the city's history, but they are now usually reserved for tourists and special occasions such as weddings or funerals.
The city was founded during the fifth century, although it did not begin to flourish for almost four hundred years. Due to its position on the sea, the city became an important trade centre and was the birthplace of a great explorer who is best remembered for his book detailing his family's journey to India and China, The Travels of Marco Polo.
Today this city which was built on a series of underwater woodpiles is gradually sinking under its own weight and poor planning. Rising sea levels further aggravate the problem. During the twentieth century, the city fell approximately nine inches into the sea, flooding basements and sending the city's residents higher and higher in their multi-level homes. A three billion dollar plan has been developed to save the city, at least temporarily. The plan calls for a series of barriers to be built on the sea bed that will "part the sea" and shelter the city from flooding due to high tides and takes its name from a biblical figure that famously parted the Red Sea.
This picture was taken in the capital city of a country which was the home of one of the world's most famous poets. The clock that you are looking at is one of the country's most famous landmarks. It gets its name from the 13 ton bell inside the clock which was named for Commissioner Benjamin Hall who ordered the casting of the bell.
You are looking at the world's oldest, and arguably most famous, house of collectibles. It was once a royal palace, built to defend the city against invaders from the north. The original building was destroyed in the 16th century to make room for a grand new gallery. Today the museum is the largest in the world, with additions commissioned by almost every ruler through the mid-nineteenth century. Its most recent addition was a geometric glass and metal structure designed by a world-famous New York architect. The museum saw over 7 million visitors in 2005, 1 of every 4 to visit the capital city where it is located, although part of the draw is the attention brought by a best selling novel and its subsequent movie.
This tiny nation, the smallest in the world, in fact, is home to one of the world's largest churches. The leader of this nation, with a population of less than one thousand, is an elected monarch with absolute power-controlling the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the country. He serves a lifelong term and oversees a country supported entirely by the donations of millions of people from around the world. The nation's official language is Latin, and all of its citizens are members of the Roman Catholic Church. Despite its small population, this nation receives millions of visitors each year, many to see its famous artwork and architecture.
The church in the picture above is an architectural masterpiece. Michelangelo oversaw a portion of its construction, and it houses forty-five altars showcasing some of the most famous artwork ever created, including the namesake of this church. The Apostolic Palace, home to the nation's revered leader, is the site of one of Michelangelo's most famous creations-a series of frescoes covering the ceiling of a chapel within the Palace.
This unsteady looking bell tower has actually been standing for over eight hundred years. Perhaps its good fortune is due, in part, to the fact that it was built in the Field of Miracles. Construction began on this tower in 1173, but after only five years, it became obvious that something was not right. With only three floors of the tower completed, construction was stopped for almost one hundred years. Architects hoped that by allowing the ground beneath the tower to settle, they would be able to prevent the tower from toppling over. Four additional floors, built on an angle to make the tower appear to be more vertical, were added by 1284 when the locals were defeated in a battle with the Genoans. It wasn't until 1372 that the tower was complete when the belfry was added to the top level.
Today, this bell tower is one of the most popular tourist sites in a boot-shaped European country famous for its pasta and cheeses. Although temporarily closed because of fear the structure was nearing collapse, the tilt has been corrected by almost a foot. This should keep the tower safe from collapse for another 300 years.
You are looking at the inside of what was once a grand amphitheatre. It was built in the first century A.D. by an intelligent leader who wanted to give something back to the people, who had endured starvation, disease, and the burning of the city under the reign of the country's most infamous ruler. At the centre of the amphitheatre was a wooden floor which was surrounded by many levels of seating, enough to hold up to 50,000 spectators. Although all were welcome, seating was based on class: women and commoners were forced to sit at the top level while dignitaries and upper class citizens took seats in the lowest level, with a view so up-close and personal that it is thought that nets were put up to shield these important citizens from the blood that would often splatter from the "games" below. The games continued for almost 500 years before being outlawed completely. It was then that the amphitheatre began its decline. Marble was removed for use in other building projects, and several earthquakes caused the collapse of a portion of the exterior walls. Today, this colossal wonder is visited by almost 3 million visitors per year.
The building shown here is the end result of a long-standing dream by Eugene Goossens, a famed violinist and conductor, born in London, England. In 1947, he travelled around the world to become the chief conductor of this city's Symphony Orchestra. When he arrived, the Town Hall was the only suitable venue for the Symphony's performances, and Goossens told reporters that he had ambitions to provide the city with a fine concert hall. Almost ten years passed before the project began. In 1956, the government announced that it was holding a competition to design a "National Opera House" that was to be built on Bennelong Point along the harbour. The building was to have two separate halls which could accommodate symphony concerts, opera, ballet, pageants, theatre presentations, concerts, and lectures. One year later, a Danish architect was awarded first prize for his design of the building shown in the picture above. The building was officially opened in 1973 with a televised ceremony that was led by Queen Elizabeth II and included a fireworks display and a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
The building is located in the "Harbour City." It is the oldest and the largest city in the country, with a population of more than four million people. Although the nation has been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous people, the Europeans did not discover this land until 1770 when Captain James Cook landed here. The British government decided to use the area as a penal colony, and convicts began arriving by boat in 1788. The prisoners were put to work building roads, bridges, and public buildings, and by the early 1800s, the city was welcoming immigrants from the British Isles who were eager to build a new life for themselves. In 1901, the six states of this nation, the world's smallest continent, formed a Federation. While the country's people now have a sense of national pride, they have not forgotten their British roots. British culture remains an important and easily recognizable part of this country's own identity-it has even incorporated the British flag into its own.
