Syracuse, the Necropolis of Pantalica with its 5,000 tombs
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- Published on Friday, 25 November 2011 11:44
Syracuse and the rocky Necropolis of Pantalica is a site that bears testimony to the development of Mediterranean civilisations in the past 3.000 years. It houses monuments of exceptional value from different periods within this time span. The Necropolis of Pantalica consists of about 5.000 burial chambers. They date from the 13th to the 7th century BC, and were made by the Sicani (indigenous people of Sicily). In Syracuse itself there are two designated areas: the archeological park of Neapolis and Ortygia.
Amalfi, St. Andrew Cathedral
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- Published on Thursday, 17 November 2011 13:16
The Cathedral was built in the sixth century and dedicated to St. Andrew the Apostle, whose relics are kept in the Crypt. Its façade, with the bright mosaics, is typical of oriental style; the bronze doors, the first ones that ever appeared in Italy, were a gift of the Amalphitan nobleman Pantaleone Di Mauro Comite, who made them melt, in the eleventh century, in Constantinople where he lived and led the Imperial Party. The Cloister of Paradise located next to the cathedral was built in the thirteenth century, in Arabic style.
The Romanesque Cathedral of Parma
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- Published on Wednesday, 26 October 2011 12:11
The cathedral of Parma, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered to be one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in all of Italy. It was erected by the bishop Cadalus, who later became antipope Honorius II. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1117, the church was rebuilt during the 12th century. The tall bell tower, topped by a gilt copper angel, was added in the following century and the side chapels were added during the 14th and 15th centuries.
The marble Cathedral of Siena
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- Published on Friday, 11 November 2011 14:05
The Cathedral of Siena, was originally designed and completed between 1215 and 1263 on the site of an earlier structure. It has the form of a Latin cross with a slightly projecting transept, a dome and a bell tower. The dome rises from a hexagonal base with supporting columns. The lantern atop the dome was added by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The nave is separated from the two aisles by semicircular arches. The exterior and interior are constructed of white and greenish-black marble in alternating stripes, with addition of red marble on the façade.
The Cathedral of San Gimignano
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- Published on Friday, 21 October 2011 12:50
The Cathedral or Collegiate Church situated on the west side of the Duomo square is a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany. The Cathedral is considered to be both a Temple of Faith and of Art. Indeed, many works of art still in the church were financed and created thanks to generous donations or offerings from dedicated individuals. In the church’s archives, there are numerous wills bearing testimony to this incredible devotion to the church.