Landmarks Of Southern Europe

Monaco

Monaco is a tiny southern European country that is a principality and has been noted for casino gambling and tourism. It lies on the Mediterranean coast of France. To understand its division Monte Carlo is not the capital but a government district. The country is divided into four areas - Monaco-Ville (the Old City), the Condamine (port quarter), Monte-Carlo (business and recreation), and Fontvielle (recreation and light industry).

For many people, the place to see and to be seen in is Monte Carlo which lies north of Port Hercule and overlooks the bay. From Place du Casino you can get spectacular views of the sea. The neighborhood surrounding the casino is worth looking at and is called Carre d'Or or Square of Gold. The streets are lined with high-end designer shops and jewelry boutiques.

Monte Carlo is intersected by two elegant boulevards, the Boulevard Princess Charlotte in the west and the Boulevard des Moulins at the southwestern end. In this district, you'll also find The Opera House.

The Palais du Prince is a private residence but is open to the public at certain times of the year. It sits high above the sea on the lovely peninsula of Le Rocher and is home to the oldest monarchy in the world. The Genoese noble family of Grimaldi established Monaco in 1927.

It was built in the 13th century as a Genoese fortress and provided defence in the Middle Ages, Renovation took place over the centuries and it became a luxurious Louis XIV style palace. Visitors can see the State Apartments among them the Hercule Gallery with 16th and 17th-century frescoes, the gilded Blue Room, used for official state events, Mazarin Room with wood-aneling, and the Empire-style Throne Room for official ceremonies and receptions.

Among the highlights are the 17th century Palatine Chapel and the Main Courtyard with the 17th century Carrara marble double staircase. In the summertime in July and August on some Sundays and Thursdays, the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra plays classical music in the courtyard.

Italy

The capital of Italy, Rome is also a special comune of Italy and the capital of the Lazio region. It is the most populated comune in Italy. The city is in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula and lies along the shores of the Tiber River.

Well-known to tourists visiting Rom is the silhouette of the Flavian Amphitheater. The Colosseum is the largest structure remaining from Roman antiquity. It was begun by Vespasian in AD 72 and later by his son Titus who enlarged it, adding a fourth story. A place for sporting games it was inaugurated in AD 80.

The Colosseum was large enough for sporting games, festivals, theatrical performances, and circuses. The Imperial Court and high officials watched from the lowest level. from the second level the artistocratic Roman families and from the third and fourth the citizens of Rome.

Beside the Colosseum stands the well=known Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch that was erected by the Senate to honor the emperor as the liberator of the city and the peace bringer after victory in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312.

The Pantheon is the best-preserved monument of Roman antiquity. It was rebuilt after being damaged by a fire in AD 80. Its 43-meter dome hangs suspended without viable supports as these are well hidden inside the walls and its nine-meter central opening is the only light source. After being dedicated to the Virgin and all the Christian martyrs by Pope Boniface IV is became the burial place for Italian kings and other famous Italians, like artists Raphael.

Slovenia

The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana is the country's largest city, It is known for its university population and green spaces, It is a lovely city by the Ljubljanica River.

Preseren Square is the place to meet and see people. It is also the place where many events happen. The square is the convergence of many major arteries. Many impressive medieval houses line the square.

A lovely sight is the Baroque Church Of The Anunciation dating back to 1795. The square was named for the 19th century poet Frnce Preseren whose work "Zdravljica" became the national anthem of Slovenia.

His statue stands next to the Central Pharmacy across the square from his unrequited love and muse Julija Primic.

Coming off the Preseren Square are three bridges. The Triple Bridges are decorated with stone balustrades and lanters. The central bridge is the oldest and dates back to 1842. It was built for road traffic while the other two were added for pedestrians. They are the work of Joze Plecnick, Ljubljanas most revered architect.

Ljubjlana Castle seems to rise above the city. You can climb up to the castle or take a tourist train and a funicular railway. The castle has undergone many changes during its 900 years. The original stone fortress was succeeded by military buildings and became an Arsenal in the 16th century to protect against Ottoman invasion.

The main courtyard is free to enter and has a cafe, nightclub, galleries, and a restaurant. For wonderful views you can ascend the watchtower and see the city from a bird's eye view.

Dragon Bridge has four dragons that stand sentinel on each corner of the bridge and are an emblem of Ljubljana. They were taken from the coat of arms and covered in sheet coper in the A.M. Beschorner factory in Vienna, Austria and designed by the bridge's architect Jurij Zaninovic. The bridge opened in 1901 and was built in the Viennese Scessionist style, which is an offshoot of Art Nouveau. It was one of the first reinforced concrete bridges in Europe.

Croatia

The capital of Croatia, Zagreb has impressive 18th and 19th century Austro-Hungarian architecture.

Visit the medieval Gorniji Grad or Upper Town with cobblestone streets and red-tiled roofs. It is home to many of the city's most visited tourist attractions.

Its most famous street is the colorful Tkalciceva Street that is lined with sidewalk cafes and restaurants.

Among the highlights is the Kapitol Square known for its early 17th century buildings and the Dolc fruit and vegetable market.

The most impressive feature in Upper Town is St. Mark's Church which is recognized for its brightly colored tile roof with the Coat Of Arms of Croatia, Dalmatia, Slavonia, and Zagreb City.

A well-known landmark is the Lotrscak Tower that was built to guard the southern gate of Gradec Town. It dates back to the 13th century. Legend has it that this large, square Romanesque tower once had a bell that rang out every night before the gates closed to warn residents outside of the gates to come back in. In the 19th century, a fourth floor and windows were added and a cannon was placed on the roof, which had since been fired every day at noon. Visitors can climb the tower for stunning views of the city and visit the exhibition gallery and gift shops.

Another important medieval structure is the famous Stone Gate which is one of the last five original city gates located in Upper Town, It was built in the 13th century. It survived a fire in 1731 along with a painting of Mary and Jesus. A chapel was built to protect the painting and it has become the subject of pilgrimages and can be seen behind a metal grille.

Bosnia and Hercogovina

The capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is a compact city located on the Miljacka River. It is surrounded by the Dinaric Alps.

The Latin Bridge spans the Miljacka River and has three arches. It was built in the 16th century and was made infamous as the site of the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife.

Sacred Heart Cathedral has twin towers and a rose window, It is the country's biggest Catholic cathedral looiming over the central square of cobbled Stari Grad in Sarajevo. The interior is impressive with striped srches, gilded wood carvings, frescoes, and statues of saints beneath a vaulted ceiling.

Serbia

The capital of Serbia, Belgrade is the largest city in Serbia. The city is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers and the crossroads of the Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula.

The Gardos Tower or Millennium Tower is located in the oldest part of Zemun. It is a momnument from the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was build in 1896 to celebrate 1,000 years of Hungarian settlement of the Pannonian Plain.

The tower has an Eclecticist design and was constructed over the ruins of a medieval fortress. Inside you can find an exhibition of the history of Zemun and Gardol. To get fantastic views you can climb to the top to see the Danube and the confluence.

The Belgrade Fortress stands on a tall ridge where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet. You can see perches on the ramparts and cubby holes among the angular remnants of the anti-artillery bastions and ravelins that were built by the Ottomans.

You'll see Pobdenik or Victor a statue holding a sword and falcon atop a Doric column. It dates back to 1928 and commemorates Serbia's defeat of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empire in WW II.

Bulgaria

The capital of Bulgaria, Sofia is in the west of the country, below the Vitosha Mountain. Its landmarks reflect over 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet occupation.

St. George Rotunda is the oldest building in Sofia. The red brick church dates back to the 300s. Inside you can see detailed medieval frescoes which were painted over by the Ottomans when the church was converted into a mosque in the 1600s. These were rediscoverd and restored in the 1990a. Outside you'll see the flagstones of a Roman street and other remnants of ancient Serbia.

Central Mineral Baths show that Sofia has a lot of spring activity, The Ottomans developed their own hammam at this but it was destroyed after the Bulgarian Revival and a new bathing complex was built, The Central Baths date back to 1913 and were used up to the mid-1980s.

It has become one of the city's most photographed buildings constructed in the Neo-Byzantian style with a large dome on top. The gardens are open to the public and the central fountain is fed by hot natural mineral water.

Kosovo

The capital of Kosovo, Pristina is the largest city in the country. It is located on the northeastern section of Kosovo and in a flat plain close to the Gollak Mountains.

Sultan Mehmet Fatih Mosque is known to locals as the "imperial mosque" and was built on orders by Mehmed the Conqueror about 1461. During the Austro-Hungarian era is was converted to a Catholic church. After WW II it was renovated and is now Pristina's most important mosque. There are lovely interiors and an impressive painted ceiling over the entrance.

The Clock Tower rised 26 meters high and dates back to the 19th century. It was central to the bazaar area since it dictaed when stalls should close for prayers. Today the clock operates on electricity.

North Macedonia

The capital of North Macedonia, Skopje is the largest city in the country. It is the political, cultural, economic, and academic center of North Macedonia.

Memorial House of Mother Theresa is an eclectic church that was constructed in 2009 as a memorial to the Nobel Proze winning Catholic nun Mother Theresa, who was born in Skopje in 1910. The church was built on the site of an older church in which Mother Theresa was baptised the day after her birth. Here you can see a permanent exhibition about the saint's early life, when Skopje was part of the Ottoman Empire. On the second floor Catholic services are held in a glass-walled chapel. Temporary exhibits can be seen in the subterranean multimedia center.

Neo-Classical City Center has been redone by the government in 2014 with the renovation of important buildings. It is all so beautiful and something to be admired, You can begin in Macedonia Square where you'll see a 22 meter high monument of Alexander the Great.

Cross the Vardar River by way of the Art Bridge which has 29 statues of Macedonian artists and musicians. Admire the Museum of Archaeology with its Greek revival architecture and the newly constructed National Theater.

Albania

The capital of Albania, Tirana is known for its colorful Ottoman, Fascist, and Soviet-era architecture.

Skanderbeg Square is the place where you'll find the premier monuments of Tirana among them the Clock Tower, Et'hem Bey Mosque, and the National History Museum. The square is named after Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu known as Skanderbeg who is an Albanian national hero. He halted the advance of the Ottoman Empire into central Europe.

A monument to Skanderbeg stands in the square. The architecture surrounding the square is Neo-Renaissance and there is a large lawn with flower beds. This is the main venue for celebrations.

The Clock Tower is one of the city's most photographed landmarks particularly when lit up at night. It dates back to 1822 when it was completed by the court poet Haxhi Et'hem Bey. You can climb up the tower's narrrow spiral staircase and enjoy the views from the top. The clock has had many different faces and today it is a Chinese clock.

Greece

The capital of Greece, Athens is dominated by 5th century BC landmarks. Its history spans over 3,000 years.

The Acropolis with its Parthenon Temple high up on a rocky crag is quite an impressive sight. In ancient Greece it was the center of the ancient city and functioned as a citadel due to its protective position on the hilltop.

The Parthenon is the largest temple of the classic antiquity period from 447 BC to 338 BC. It has monumental rows of Doric columns and amazing sculptural details. In the frieze found on the eastern side, reliefs depict the birth of the goddess Athena.

Other ruins of the Acropolis include the Temple of Athena Nike and Erechthelon, a complex of ancient sanctuaries that were buld between 421 BC and 395 BC.

The most famous feature os the Erechthelon complex is the Porch of the Caryatids with six statues of maidens in place of Doric columns.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus or Olympieion is dedicated to Zeus the most all-powerful god known as the King of Gods and was the largest temple in ancient Greece. The temple dates back to the sixth century BC and was not completed until the second century AD by Emperor Hadiran. In front of the Olympieion stands Hadrian's Arch.

Cyprus

The capital of Cyprus, Nicosia also known as Lefkosia is the largest city in Cyprus. It acts as a separate administrative capital for the Nicosia district.

The Buyuk Han has been restored and was originally constructed in 1572. Hans were used as accomodation and storage places for merchants passing through town. There were stable facilities for their horse and at time recreation facilities like hamams or Turkish baths and restaurants. The former sleeping quarter now have a variety of shops, cafes, and local artisan atellers.

The Selimiye Mosque is the most recognizable landmark in North Nicosia. It started off as the Church of Agia Sofia and was finished in 1326 after a 78-year construction process. It has been a mosque since the 16th century when the Ottomans took control of the island.

Turkey

The capital of Turkey, Ankara is a cosmopolitan capital in the central Anatolia region.

Ataturk Mausoleum is the most visited attraction in Ankara and is the most important modern pilgrimage site in the country. It sits atop of a hill and is the mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of the state of Turkey. The mausoleum is decorted with gilded inscriptions of the speeches of Ataturk and inside a cenotaph stands above the placement of Ataturk's tomb.

It is well worth taking a stroll through the Citadel or Kale neighborhood dating back to the Byzantine era. There are narrrow cobblestone alleyways lined with Ottoman-era houses.

The main attraction insdie the inner walls is the Eastern Tower offering views across Ankara. Going downhill from the tower you'll see Parmak Kapisi, the main gate. The winding streets of the area are full of craft workshops, antique stores, and cafes.

You'll also find the Aslanhane Cami, one of Ankara's most interesting mosques.