Rome: Spanish Steps

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

It all started as a competition as to how the steep hill could be urbanized to connect the square and the Trinità Church. It is common that the Piazza di Spagna is alive with people all around. It is a picturesque environment where hundreds visit each day. The steps were designed in 1717 by the little-known Francesco de Sanctis. The steps are embellished with pots that are quite an image to see in the spring time.

Keep in mind folks, that these famous Spanish Steps are not to be used for enjoying your lunch, rather they are convenient to enjoy one’s surroundings and view the beautiful Barcaccia Fountain at the base of the stairs.

By: Erica Whitehead

Banqueting House

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Being inspired by buildings in Italy, designer, Inigo Jones, decided to recreate something to their same effect in London. The Banqueting House was the exquisite result, looking like a piece of ancient Rome. It was built in 1622 and was originally a part of the great Palace of Whitehall, the sovereign’s main London residence. In 1698, a destructive fire destroyed the Palace, leaving the Banqueting House undamaged.

The Banqueting House has remarkable art by Peter Paul Rubens displayed on the ceiling. The paintings took years to complete. The building was originally intended to be used for masques, receptions, and entertainment but as soon as the ceiling was installed, the entertainment turned elsewhere because the candlelight smoke began to damage the paint. However, the Banqueting House is being used today for evening events, entertainment and other events. It can hold approximately 380 for a lunch, dinner, or banquet, while nearly 400 can enjoy a cocktail reception. What a remarkable place to experience!!

By: Erica Whitehead

Fontainebleau

The commune of Fontainebleau is located about 35 miles south of Paris, and boasts the largest land area in the Ile-de-France region. It is the only commune to cover a larger land mass than Paris.

Fontainebleau is renowned for it's enormous forest which is a favorite weekend getaway for Parisians, as well as it's chateau which at one time belonged to the King's of France. The commune is also home to one of the worlds most renowned business schools, INSEAD.

Those who inhabit the commune are called Bellifontains.

From the 16th to 18th century, each and every monarch made many changes in the Palace of Fontainebleau. This included demolitions, embellishments, reconstructions and additions. While these renovations created a heterogenous character, the Palace remains a harmonious blend of styles.

Vaux-le-Vicomte

Vaux-le-Vicomte is a baroque French chateau, located in Maincy approximately 55 km southeast of Paris. It was built between the period 1658 to 1661 and it was built for Nicolas Fouquet, Marquis de Belle-Isle, Viscount of Melun and Vaux, the superintendent of finances of Louis XIV. The chateau was very extravagant and lavish and and dazzling to the eye. It was because of this extravagant nature of the chateau that Fouquet was arrested. He had thrown a celebration that was very impressive and it led Jean-Baptiste Colbert to persuade the king that his minister's magnificence was funded by the misappropriation of public funds.

After Fouquet was arrested and imprisoned for life, and his wife exiled Vaux-le-Vicomte was placed under sequestration. The king then confiscated and purchased new tapestries and statues that would eventually go into a much larger project the palace and gardens of Versailles.

Like many chateau in the north of France, Vaux-le-Vicomte is surrounded on three sides by a rectangular moat, with an avenue across a center bridge to the forecourt. The structure is very symmetrical and tightly integrated. It has slightly projecting central block and end pavilions, and two returned wings that project forward. From the rear it is dominated by the projection of its central oval salon, which is the entire height of the house, under an oval dome.

The Roman Forum

"The Heart of the City"

In ancient times the Roman Forum served as the epicenter of public life for Roman citizens. It includes 21 landmarks consisting of temples, basilicas, arches, as well as the Colosseum. Due to it's central positioning it became a major trade center for those that lived in the city and the surrounding hills. As well as a commerce arena, assemblies of the people and the senate took place here, including Judicial and Religious ceremonies.

As the population and economy grew, the need for more forums took the limelight away from this central Forum. Eventually it became a pasture until the 18th century when excavations began to give us insight into this ancient gem.

Hip Rome Hotels

I was able to find a bunch of hip Rome hotels so it was kind of hard for me to choose. But I have selected a few that looked the best to me. I basically picked the ones that I thought would have the most interior design value to them.

The Hotel Lord Byron is situated in the elegant Parioli district of Rome, the area of Italy's capital city which boasts the highest concentration of foreign embassies, banks and top corporate head quarters, most of which located in sumptuous 19th century town houses once home to the noble classes of Rome. The Lord Byron, one of Rome's most charming 5 star luxury hotels, is also close to the Villa Borghese with its 80 hectares of garden and Art Gallery.
The hotel's 32 guest bedrooms and suites

The Grand Hotel De La Minerve is set in one of Rome's most fascinating squares, right in the heart of the city's historic center, It's just 50 meters away from the Pantheon and within easy walking distance of Piazza Navona, the Trevi fountain and the Spanish Steps. It dates back to 1620 and was originally built for a famous Roman Family the Fonesca family.

The Visconti Palace hotel is located on the right bank of the River Tiber, strategically placed in the historic and cultural heart of Rome, a short distance away from the Vatican city, Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona. This hotel has 247 different rooms and they are all decorated with contemporary style. All of the rooms that I saw were bright with lots of color. It is also said that the hotel is very family friendly whatever that means.

London Modern Architecture

Juxtaposing the gothic architecture of traditional London is the sleeker modern architecture of current day England. The city scape takes you through every architectural style imaginable in one city view. Peering across the River Thames the Millennium Footbridge links Bankside with the City though a gate way to modernism. Paralleled by the London Eye, the 30 St. Mary Axe and London City Hall give London an ergonomic motif.

Commanding Thames-side presence is Tate Modern at Bankside and Battersea Power Station. Two works by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott during the industrial period. At the Forefront of contemporary design doting the city scape of London are designers Richard Rogers and Norman Foster. The Roger’s Lloyds Building at 1 Lime Street and Diamond-patterned Foster’s Swiss Re headquarters at 30 St. Mary Axe.London not only feasts in the history of architecture but dapples in the sleekness of modern architecture. A living visual time line of the creative architecture

Sacré-Cœur

The Basilique Sacré-Cœur (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) is a Roman Catholic Church located on the highest point of the city in Montmartre. The site of the 19th-century basilica is traditionally associated with the beheading of the city's patron, Saint Denis, in the 3^rd century. According to legend, after he was martyred, Bishop Denis picked up his severed head and carried it several miles to the north where the city of Saint Denis stands today. The hill was later home to a large Benedictine abbey, which was destroyed at the French Revolution.

The chalky white Basilique Sacré-Coeur was designed by the architect Paul Abadie in a Romanesque-Byzantine architectural style. Its foundation stone was laid in 1875 but it wasn’t opened for worship until 1919. The triple-arched portico is surmounted by two bronze equestrian statues of France's national saints, Joan of Arc and King Saint Louis IX. The great bell, the Savoyarde, is one of the world's heaviest bells at 19 tons. Golden mosaics glow in the dim, echoing interior, and the mosaic of Christ in Majesty in the apse is one of the worlds largest. A climb to the top of the dome provides an excellent view of Paris - at 271 feet above Montmartre Hill it is the second-highest viewpoint after the Eiffel Tower. The view from the front steps of the basilica is quite excellent, and at the rear of the grounds is a contemplative garden and fountain. Interesting Fact: The Blessed Sacrament has been continually on display in a monstrance above the high altar. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has continued uninterrupted in the Basilica since 1885. The crypt contains a relic that some believe to be

Baptistery Doors of Florence, Italy

Monday, June 15, 2009

The Baptistery in Florence has three extraordinary doors escorting patrons to enter. Starting with the South Doors, the bronze casting and gilding was created by Leonardo d'Avanzano. Completed in 1336 these bronze reliefs, consisting of 28 quatrefoil panels, depict scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist and eight panels exemplifying the eight virtues.
In 1401, a competition was announced for designs of the North Doors. The commotion was won by 21-year old Lorenzo Ghiberti. After 21 years the gilded bronze doors were completed consist of twenty-eight panels, twenty panels depicting New Testament biblical scenes and eight lower panels depict four evangelists and Fathers Saint Ambrose, Saint Jerome, Saint Gregory and Saint Augustine.
In 1425 Ghiberti received a second commission for the East Doors. After 27 years, ten panels depicting the story of Joseph from the Old Testament were completed. These panels are larger rectangles and are no longer embedded in Gothic quatrefoil. Because of the use of different sculpting techniques and tools these are more exquisitely crafted than the previous two doors.

Michelangelo referred to these doors as fit to be the "Gates of Paradise", and they are still invariably referred to by this name. (Originals were deteriorating, and could only be saved if they were moved indoors to Museo dell'Opera del Duomo.)

Pontivecchio

The Ponte Vecchio, which is Italian for Old Bridge, is a Medieval bridge over the Arno River in Italy. It is the most famous bridge in Florence and also the oldest. This structure with three stone arches replaced a wooden bridge which had crossed the Arno River at this spot since Roman times. The upper side of the bridge, known as the Vasariano corridor, was designed by Vasari to link the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery to the Pitti Palace; today it is an art gallery. The bridge is inhabited with jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers. An opening midway across the bridge offers views of the river and shore.

Interesting Fact: It is said that the economic concept of bankruptcy originated here. When a merchant could not pay his debts, the table on which he sold his goods (the "banco") was physically broken ("rotto") by soldiers, and this practice was called "bancorotto" (broken table; possibly it can come from "banca rotta" which means "broken bank"). Not having a table anymore, the merchant was not able to sell anything.

Blenheim Palace

Built between 1705 and 1722, Blenheim Palace was home to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, as well as the birth place of Sir Winston Churchill. Since its completion, it has been home to the Churchill’s for over 300 years. Blenheim Palace was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in the English Baroque style.
Not only was it Vanbrugh’s duty to create a home, but he also was to create a national monument to reflect the power and civilization of the nation. In order to create such a monument, Vanbrugh used great masses of stone to imitate strength and create shadow as decoration. He planned Blenheim Palace in perspective, as to be viewed best from a distance. Being on 2100 acres of parkland makes that view very possible. The palace is now open to the public and contains many tourist attractions on its grounds.

Villa Savoye

Built in 1928 and designed by Le Corbusier, Villa Savoye stands as an early example of International Style architecture. It was built as a weekend country house in a meadow just outside the city of Poissy. During World War II it fell into ruin but has since been restored.
Villa Savoye is made out of concrete and plastered unit masonry, exemplifying Corbusier’s Five Points of Architecture. Formulated in 1926 they included: (1) the pilotis elevating the mass off the ground, (2) the free plan, achieved through the separation of the load-bearing columns from the walls subdividing the space, (3) the free facade, the corollary of the free plan in the vertical plane, (4) the long horizontal sliding window and finally (5) the roof garden, restoring, supposedly, the area of ground covered by the house.

Paris Hip Hotels

There are so many hotels available in Paris, you could find tons of unique and interesting ones, so I picked three that stood out to me as worthwhile to see.

Ritz Hotel: Established in 1898, the Ritz hotel is one of the most prestigious and luxury hotels in the world. One night can cost up to $12,000. Many celebrities and royalty have stayed at this hotel.

Mama Shelter: Designed by Philippe stark, this hotel was awarded Best Design in 2009. It offers an eclectic and electric ambiance thanks to its friendly, warm and casual common areas.

Kube Hotel: This hotel combines geometric architecture with a 1960s sci-fi theme in its furnishings and décor, producing a fun version of the future.

By: Laura Andersen

London Hip Retail

London is basically the shopping capital of the world. Hundreds of shops, from high end designer brands to second hand, are available. I’ve listed a few shopping districts that offer a great variety.

Oxford Street: Runs approximately a mile and a half and has over 300 shops, making it London’s busiest shopping street. Home to big department stores as well as hundreds of smaller shops. Not the most fashionable but also not expensive. Runs into Regent St., Charing Cross Roads(bookstores, music shops), and New Bond St.(more high end designer).

Covent Gardens: Known for its street performers that go through auditions to perform there, it also houses many small boutiques, a market for handmade art and crafts, and the Royal Opera House.

Portobello Road: Claims to be the World’s Largest Antiques Market. It’s known for its second hand clothing, antiques, and fruit and vegetable stands. The main market is on Saturday’s but shops are open all week. Also the setting for the movie “Notting Hill.”

By: Laura Andersen

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is where almost all of the British monarchy have been crowned and buried. Many other famous people have been buried there as well. Different sections of it have been built over a long period of time, starting in 1245. Many parts of it have been rebuilt. It has a long history and only two parts of the original abbey still remain: the Pyx Chamber (royal treasury) and Norman undercroft. Within its walls monuments of poets, artists, scientists, and musicians can be found. Although it is now more of a historical site than religious, the Abbey still provides daily worship services where you can attend Morning Prayer, the Eucharist, and Evensong.

Westminster Abbey is a must-see and a great tourist attraction. During the summer there are many events that go on at the Abbey such as festivals and concerts. Most of them are free. A list of these events can be found at http://www.westminster-abbey.org/whats-on/summer-events.

Hip Retail in Florence

Florence is known for its leather and jewelry. The most prestigious jeweler is Bulgari (www.bulgari.com) known for their large colorful stones. This is where all the celebrities shop. Another top place to buy jewelry is Alessandro Dari located at Via San Niccolò 115/r, Santa Croce. They are especially well-known for their castellated rings and over the top jewelry. For affordable jewelry visit II Gatto Bianco (the white cat). Many of the world’s top designers do all of their shopping at Luisa (www.luisaviaroma.com), also well-known for having the haughtiest sales assistants in the city. If you want to see art the Galleria Tornabuoni is the city’s most prestigious art gallery (www.galleriatornabuoni.it).
Florence is very high in fashion and many famous design names actually originate here. Gucci, now famous all over the world, began in Florence, so check it out where it was first created. Prada is also a top place to shop (www.prada.it). Salvatore Ferragamo (www.salvatoreferragamo.it) is another famous name in the shoe business that originates in Florence. Raspini, a successful chain throughout the city, is a great place to buy designer name shoes (www.raspini.com). Many of the world’s top designers do all of their shopping at Luisa (www.luisaviaroma.com), also well-known for having the haughtiest sales assistants in the city. Check out http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/florence/shopping for more places to shop in Florence.

St. Paul's Cathedral-London

St. Paul’s Cathedral is dedicated to Christ’s apostle St. Paul. A cathedral dedicated to St. Paul has looked over London since 604 AD. The Cathedral that stands today is the 4th to be built on the site and was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1708, after the previous church was burned down in 1666 during the Great Fire of London. St. Paul’s Cathedral is built of Portland stone in a late Renaissance to Baroque style. The Cathedral’s impressive dome rises 108 meters and is inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It was built in the shape of a cross, and on the inside of this cross-shaped dome are beautiful mosaics. This dome is one of the largest in the world making St. Paul’s Cathedral one of London’s most famous landmarks.
Inside the Cathedral there is a place called the Whispering Gallery. In this area of the Cathedral you can whisper against the walls and can hear what you said on the opposite side. After the Whispering Gallery there is the Golden Gallery that is at the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is 530 steps above ground level and is said to have some of the prettiest views of London. Inside the Cathedral are the monuments dedicated to the Duke of Wellington and to Admiral Nelson. There is also an American Memorial Chapel in the Apse that honors American servicemen and women that died in World War II. In the crypt lie the tombs of the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Nelson, and Sir Christopher Wren. Besides Sir Christopher Wren’s tomb is a stone that bears his architectural mark, and he is surrounded by tombs and memorials of family members.
St Paul’s Cathedral is not only a place of spiritual focus, but is also the location of many important events. St Paul’s Cathedral has held the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Sir Winston Churchill; as well as the birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth, and the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. This use of national celebration makes St. Paul’s Cathedral one of London’s most recognized and greatest attractions.

By: Amanda Colton

St. Mark’s Cathedral is the most famous of all of Venice’s churches. The Cathedral is the final resting place of Saint Mark the Evangelist. Venetian merchants stole the supposed relics of Saint Mark from it’s original resting place in Alexandria, Egypt and built the vast church in his honor in Venice. There are many different versions of how St. Marks remains were captured, but it is said that the Venetian merchants hid the relics in a barrel under layers of pork to get them past the guards. This grand theft is depicted in the 13th century mosaic that is above the door in the front entrance of the cathedral.
St. Mark’s Cathedral had been torn down and rebuilt many times. It was finalized and consecrated in 1094. The basic structure of the building has been altered very little, but it’s ornamentation has changed greatly over time. The centuries that followed all contributed to it’s decoration, a mixture of: Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish; giving the cathedral a style all of it’s own. Because of the changes in style and to the ornamentation and design of the church, and exact architect of St. Mark’s Cathedral is unknown.
The interior of St. Mark’s is designed on a Greek cross floorplan and modeled after Hagia Sophia. Covering the floors, walls, and ceilings of the cathedral are vast mosaics, an area of around 8,000 square meters. These mosaics are mostly from the 12th and 13th century. The 12th century mosaics recount events of the New Testament, while the 13th century mosaics depict stories from the Old Testament. The main altar of the cathedral is what holds the evangelist St. Mark’s remains. Above this Altar is the masterpiece, the Golden Altar Screen. It measures 11 x 4 ½ feet and has eighty enamel plaques surrounded by diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and topazes. The Golden Alter is said to be the grandest mosaic in the cathedral.

Olympic Architecture

We use architecture as an indicator of culture, history, and status. There’s no doubt that London’s Olympic venues are anything short of spectacular modern design. The committee has implemented some of the world’s best architects and designers to complete their masterful Olympic Park. The new venues are extremely contemporary and modern, yet will stand as landmarks for future generations. Their hope is that these venues, after the games, will be reusable for the London community. The biggest project, the Olympic Stadium, needs to be spectacular to compete with the recent Beijing games in 2008, and it will be with a 900m circumference. The proposed plan is a devised of a radical curve clad seemingly in bubble wrap, which will become a mural of sporting champions, flags, and sponsors. The stunning fact is that after the games, because there is no use for such a huge stadium, they will shrink the seating size from 80,000 to 25,000.

Other projects include the aquatics center designed by Zaha Hadid. The plan calls for a 160m long innovative steel structure with a striking aluminum cover. The firm has been working with engineers as it seems too complicated to be built. After testing timber cladding for 12 months, it has been approved to be built and should be installed in 2010. The facility will hold two 50m pools, a diving pool, and a bridge that will serve as the main pedestrian gateway into the Olympic Park. After the 2008 England cycling team placed so well, the Olympic committee has planned to create a world class cycling venue, the VeloPark which will seat 6,000. Hopkins Architects are leading the modern architecture world with this plan to create an indoor circuit, with BMX events, mountain biking courses, and cycle routes that will lead across London. The plan is to leave this as a permanent venue as the sport of cycling has grown tremendously in the past year.

Paris Modern Architecture

Modern architecture in Paris is something of a brainchild of Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano. Before they blew the minds of all Parisians alike with the Pompidou, Paris was a highly historic city. No building is to be taller than 8 stores high..except obviously for our beloved tour eiffel. The historic skyline was not to be disrupted with some monstrosity thought up by the glass box boys. Whether you like the pompidou or you hate it you can't help but be intrigued by the juxtaposition of something so modern against a historically rich surrounding. As Paris Chewed over the Pompidou and its modern appearance not much else went on for a good 20 years that was worth mentioning. In 1980 President Mitterrand brought up a new plan to modernize the city of lights. Including the grand entrance to the Louvre by I. M. Pei. Following begat a who's who list of modern and contemporary architects and architecture in a short period of time. Including: "the move of the Ministry of Finance into a new building (designed by Paul Chemetov), the Grande Arche de la Defense (by Von Spreckelsen), the Cité de la Musique (by Pritzer-prize winner Christian de Portzamparc),
the Institut du Monde Arabe (by Jean Nouvel),and the new library (by Dominique Perrault), now named after the grand master puppeteer himself as the Bibliotèque François-Mitterrand." Paris became a modern city due to the efforts of one man, and since then has become a mecca for lovers of the history of art and architcture. From the age if antiquity to the present Paris has been a leader in modern architecture.

By: Megan Evans

London Hip Hotels

Fabulous hotels in London are not hard to find. From the inexpensive and quaint; to the rich and famous suites and penthouses, there is something for all to enjoy. Sure its a little easier to find something reeking of chic luxury when you have the funds of a small country at your leisure. However "Hip Hotels", lucky for us average Jo's, are priced more mid range and up. Which means...its not entirely out of our reach.

Hip hotels of London basically fall under one definition: a hotel that has a highly individual and unique experience that makes your travel and stay memorable. It is something out of the norm. Boutique hotels are exactly that. These are the hotels you want to go to. Here is where you will find unique design, no two rooms the same, and exciting individuality in every detail of the environment. What is considered to be a hip hotel is usually individually owned. No Marriotts and W hotels here. Whether you fancy a cozy English cottage feel to drown out the gray London skies, or the dramatic and aesthetically pleasing whimsy of Phillipe Stark its all here. Words just cannot describe the variety of atmosphere and design, its a tantalizing experience for the senses and I highly recommended you take the time to look at this site: WWW.HIPHOTELS.COM If you weren't looking forward to London before, ( which if you weren't you are crazy!) you will be now!

By: Megan Evans

Hip Restaurants in Rome

First, when in Rome, keep in mind that:

Generally, the Rome restaurants near Stazione Termini are to be avoided if you want to pay reasonable prices for good-quality food. The side streets around Piazza Navona and Campo de' fiori harbour many good-quality, low-priced trattorie and pizzerie, and the areas of San Lorenzo (to the east of Termini, near the university) and Testaccio (south of the city centre near the Piramide di Cestio mausoleum) are popular eating districts with the locals. Trastevere offers an excellent selection of rustic-style eating places hidden in tiny piazzas, and pizzerie where it doesn't cost the earth to sit at table on the street.

The following is a list of best voted resaurants in Rome BY THE LOCALS!

BEST FASHIONABLE/TRENDY RESTAURANTS: MET

• Open from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am
• Closed on Monday
• Address: Piazzale di Ponte Milvio 34
• Booking +39 06 33221237
• http://www.met-roma.it/

BEST CLASSIC ROMAN/HISTORICAL RESTAURANT: ANTICA PESA
(A lot of famous people eat here!)

• Open from 8.00 pm to 11.30 pm
• Closed on Sunday
• Address: via Garibaldi, 18 Roma - Trastevere
• Booking +39 06 5809236
• http://www.anticapesa.it/

BEST TRATTORIA: MACCHERONI

• Lunch: 1.00 pm - 3:00 pm
• Dinner: 7.30 pm - 12.00 am
• Open every day
• Address: Piazza delle Coppelle, 44
• Booking +39 06 68307895
• http://www.ristorantemaccheroni.com/

ROMAN PIZZA: MONTECARLO

• Open every day
• Address: Vicolo Savelli, 13
• Booking +39 06 6861877
• http://www.sevoinapizzadillo.com/

LUNCH: PIERLUIGI

• Open from 12:00 PM till 12:00 AM
• Closed on Monday
• Address: Piazza dè Ricci 144
• Booking +39 06 68 61 302
• http://www.pierluigi.it/

By: Josie Olsen

Versailles

Versailles is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and is still an important administrative and judicial center. About 86,000 people live there.Versailles was once the unofficial capital city of the kingdom of France. Undoubtedly one of the prettiest sites we'll encounter, The Versailles Palace was originally built by Louis XIII as a hunting lodge because of the acreage. It later became home to kings of France for 100 years. The gardens are exquisite, covering over 250 acres of land to this day. The main designer of the gardens was Andre Le Notre it took him about 15

Versailles Garden In The Spring

years to complete the gardens.

Things to look for on our trip:

• Apotheosis of Hercules
• Christ at supper with Simon
• Louis XVI's "butterfly" cabinet
• Marie-Antoinette's Chinese vase
• Glass mirror panels

The Palace is also worth noting because:

• 2,800 windows (600 are stained glass)
• 700 rooms (28 are bathrooms)
• 1 million visitors each year
• The most Famous gardens in France
• Versailles was used as a model for the building of Washington D.C. (the grid and layout of the city were very modern for European standards).

By: Josie Olsen

Baptistry of St. John

The Baptistery of St. John is in Florence, Italy. It was built between 1059 and 1128 which makes it one the oldest buildings in the city. Many believed that it was originally a Roman Temple that was dedicated the tutelary god, Mars. The baptistry is shaped like an octagon and is located in the Piazza del Duomo. It is mainly constructed out of sandstone and marble.

The baptistry is known for its three bronze doors that were sculpted by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The doors where named by Michelangelo " the Gates of Paradise" and were said to have begun the Renaissance. The south doors have 28 panels. The top 20 depict the life of St. John the Baptist and the 8 lower "picture the eight virtues of hope, faith, charity, humility, fortitude, temperance, justice and prudence." The north doors have also have 28 panels. Ghiberti worked for 21 years to complete them. The top 20 panels depict biblical scenes from the New Testament. With the lower 8 showing the four evangelists and the Church Fathers. The east doors took 27 years to complete and have only 10 panels that depict scenes from the Old Testament. The Interior is quite dark and has a mosaic tile floor and ceiling.

By: Jeanette Wallentine