Tag Archives: Churches

Top Tourist Attractions In the Distrito Federal

Praça dos Três Poderes is definitely one of the best tourist attractions in the Distrito Federal

The top tourist attractions in the Distrito Federal shed light on the history, culture, and modern architecture of Brazil. Home to the capital of Brasilia, it bears the honor of showcasing Brazil’s best features. If you want to see and experience different facets of this part of the country, then hop on a TAM flight and check out some of the following attractions!

#1: Parque da Cidade

Parque de Cidade or “City Park” is situated in Brasilia and occupies 4 million square meters of the city. Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitscheck named it after his wife. The park features landscape works of Burle Marx. Public restrooms are available and decorated with wall tiles designed by Athos Bulcão.

The park has plenty of recreational facilities. Among them are the children’s playground, walking trails, bicycle tracks, horse tracks, race kart track, sports courts, and skating tracks. Hundreds of people come here every day. The main entrance can be accessed from the Monumental Axle South.

#2: Metropolitan Cathedral

The cathedral was inaugurated in 1970 and features Gothic architecture. It’s one of the top tourist attractions in the Distrito Federal. Its design was by Oscar Niemeyer but its stained glass windows were creations of Marianne Peretti.

Stained glass windows have a triangular, vaginal shape much like any Gothic church. They were strategically placed to bring sunlight towards the aisle. Its pillars contradict traditional Gothic design and were shaped after reversed praying hands. The curves designed by Niemeyer reflect his admiration for the beautiful bodies of Brazilian women.

Just outside the church are sculptures of the four evangelists by Alfredo Ceschiatti. Paintings by Athos Bulcão and Di Cavalcanti which depict the Passion of the Christ are also worth seeing in the cathedral.

#3: Praça dos Três Poderes

The “Three Powers Square” contains three notable buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer namely the National Congress, Planalto Palace, and Higher Courts of Justice. Also in the square is Panteão da Pátria or “The Motherland Pantheon” and Lúcio Costa Space. Three sculptures by notable artists stand proudly in the square as well and comprise of Os Candangos by Bruno Giorgi, Pombal by Oscar Niemeyer, and Justice by Alfredo Ceschiatti. Praça dos Três Poderes is one of the top tourist attractions in the Distrito Federal.

Driving around Ireland’s history

If you think that a trip to Dublin Castle is where history begins and ends on a holiday to Ireland then think again. Those who decide to hire a car and explore a little further outside the city will find that there are a lot of historic sites of interest.

things to see in Ireland

Kilmainham Gaol

Take Kilmainham Gaol for example. It is just a short three-and-a-half kilometre drive from Dublin and has plenty of secrets waiting to be unearthed. It was used as a prison up until the 1920s, but today is one of the biggest unoccupied jails anywhere in Europe.

This notorious site has seen some heroic and tragic events in its history and tells the story of a side of Ireland and how it became the nation it is today. Visitors can learn about the political prisoners who were once housed there and how the immense building has now been restored.

Farmleigh House and Estate

Located eight kilometres from the city centre in Phoenix Park is a grand mansion built by Arthur Guinness’ great grandson Edward Cecil Guinness, the first Earl of Iveagh. This eclectic mix of architectural styles is Farmleigh House, accompanied by its charming estate.

It was purchased by the Office of Public Works in 1999 and has since been used to accommodate dignitaries visiting from overseas. Artwork, furnishings and books collected by Guinness for Farmleigh are still present in the house, on loan from the family.

The Victorians and Edwardians, who both had an influence on the estate, had a penchant for ornamental features and the gardens surrounding the house reflect this. Lakeside walks, walled and sunken gardens, as well as an immense variety of plants will greet the visitor.

It is not simply a case of driving up to the house and having a look around, as it is still in use, but guided tours can be arranged in advance or upon arrival.

Rathfarnham Castle

More like a fortified country house than a castle, but still complete with impressive flanker towers, Rathfarnham Castle is an interesting place to visit. It is an easy drive away from Dublin, not far from the village of Rathfarnham.

Originally built in the Elizabethan period for Archbishop Adam Loftus, who was involved in the establishment of Trinity College, it was extensively remodelled towards the end of the 18th century. This process was undertaken with input from world-renowned architects of the day including Sir William Chambers and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart.

Enjoy finding out more about social history with a visit to the castle, which is home to the Berkley Costume and Toy Collection. The toys, dolls and clothes date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and were originally amassed by Countess Ann Griffin Bernstorff, an artist and collector.

The War Memorial Gardens

For those more interested in modern history a visit to the War Memorial Gardens on South Circular Road is a must. The formal planting reflects the sombre duty to remember the 49,400 Irish soldiers who were killed between 1914 and 1918 in the First World War.

Designed by Sir Edward Lutyens there is a sunken rose garden, herbaceous borders and avenues of trees, making it a beautiful as well as interesting place to visit. Granite book rooms have also been built on the site to house manuscripts containing the names of all those Irishmen who died.

These have been intricately illustrated by Harry Clarke and provide a poignant focal point to any visit.

Venice Travel Guide

The ‘Floating City’ is one of Europe’s must-visit cities and a trip to Venice can feel like a journey to a different, magical world. The city is made up of 118 little islands and has canals round every corner, making for a truly spectacular sight. Just over 250’000 people live there permanently and you’re perhaps just as likely to meet a tourist in the street as a local. Venice is a fascinating city with architecture, artwork and more and is considered one of the world’s most romantic cities.

What to See and Do

Saint Mark’s Square is the center point of Venice and is always packed full of tourists. The Campanile of the square stretches high into the sky, making it easy to spot from the surrounding areas. The current one was built in 1912 after the previous Campanile collapsed in 1902 and the views from the top of the 50 meter structure are some of the best you’ll find of Venice.

Tourist Attractions in venice

Saint Mark’s Basilica is very much a part of the square with its western walls literally part of it. This great example of Byzantine architecture has over 4,000 square meters of ruby, emerald, diamond and gold covered mosaics and was built both as a tribute to Saint Mark’s body, as well as a way to demonstrate the great wealth and power of 11th century Venice.

The other must-do activity in Venice is to take a trip on a gondola. These traditional Venetian boats cruise along the city’s canals every day and a ride at sunset can be a very romantic way to spend an evening in Venice, especially if you pass under the Bridge of Sighs where legend promises eternal love with a kiss.

Gondola ride in Venice, Italy

Venice Tips and Advice

The first piece of advice for visiting Venice is to find a good map. And then buy a better one! The narrow and winding streets make the city of Venice a real-life labyrinth and you will almost certainly get lost at some point on your trip. The great thing is, however, that an afternoon lost in Venice is better than most afternoons anywhere else! You’ll find little passageways and sights that you’d never have found in the guidebook, making getting lost a lot of fun. Just make sure you have that good map, though, if you do want to ever find your back.

The city of Venice can be quite expensive, but it doesn’t have to be! Don’t go for a meal near Saint Mark’s Square unless you’re happy to be a fortune for your food. Restaurants further from the center re generally cheaper which will make you and your wallet happy. You can also save money on accommodation by looking for a self-catering apartment instead of a hotel. GoWithOh.com is one site with apartments in Venice and worth checking out if you fancy that option.

If you ever find yourself needing the toilet in Venice, know that cafés are obliged to let you use theirs for free. It’s always polite to stay for a drink if you do use their toilet, but a good piece of advice to know if you simply can’t wait!

Hope you’ve enjoyed our quick Venice travel guide, and if you have any other special tips or cool things to see in Venice, please comment below!

Guide Provided by Euan McTear

 

Mysore Travel Guide

Mysore іѕ thе ѕесоnd biggest city іn the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka. аnd served аѕ thе capital оf the Wodeyar Dynasty up until 1947 . Mysore іѕ known in India as “The City of Palaces” аnd is heralded for іtѕ beautiful architecture. Thіѕ wаѕ оnсе а sleepy city but has recently evolved іntо а city оf modern apartments, complexes, supermarkets, malls аnd IT companies. Thоugh thеrе іѕ fast growth tоwаrdѕ modernity, thе оld аnd traditional culture іѕ ѕtіll very well preserved and visible across the metropolis  Mysore hаѕ bесоmе оnе оf thе important tourist hubs оf Karnataka, аnd іf уоu wаnt tо visit Mysore, thеn have a deeper readinto our Mysore Travel Guide to see what makes this Indian city a must-visit on any trip!

Mysore is served by a domestic airport located аt а distance оf 12 kilometers frоm thе city center. Thе Mysore Junction іѕ оnе оf thе busiest railway stations іn Karnataka аnd thеrе аrе frequent trains frоm hеrе tо Bangalore. Fоr gеttіng аrоund thе city, уоu hаvе thе choice оf buses, cars аnd auto-rickshaws. If уоu wаnt tо visit аll Mysore has to offer аt leisure, thеn уоu nееd at least 3 to 4 days minimum. Sоmе tour groups аnd state transport corporationsorganize оnе day tours аnd thеу cover аll the important places іn јuѕt оnе day (but briefly of course!).

Mysore Palace іs probably the most popular touristic destination. Thіѕ beautifully built palace wіth rosewood doors and ornamental carvings is covered with inlaid ivory works. Yоu саn ѕее life size аnd lifelike paintings оf thе members оf thе royal family here done in stunning detail. Thе palace іѕ illuminated wіth nеаrlу 1 million light bulbs on weekends аnd national holidays frоm 7 PM tо 8 PM.

Thе Brindavan Garden іѕ another must-see in Mysore. Thе musical fountain аnd thе light аnd sound show are a favorite of both locals and tourists alike. Yоu hаvе tо stop bу thе main bus stand аt thе Krishna Rajasagar Circle іf уоu wаnt tо reach the garden bу bus.

Onе оf thе important Hindu shrines іn Mysore іѕ Chamundi Hills аnd thеrе іѕ а famous Nandi statue located there. Sоmе оthеr places оf interest іn Mysore аrе Jagmohan Palace аnd Art Gallery, Lalitha Mahal Palace, St. Philomenas Church, Karanji Kere, Jayalakshmivilas Mansion аnd Mysore Zoo. Mysore Zoo іѕ оnе оf thе oldest zoos in thе world аnd millions оf people visit еvеrу year (established by the Royal patronage in 1892). Thе zoo аlѕо hаѕ breeding houses for some very rare animal including  Bengal tigers, elephants, white tigers, giraffe, Himalayan black bear, white peafowl аnd African rhino.

When it comes to shopping, Mysore іѕ famous fоr silk saris аnd sandalwood carvings. If уоu visit thе Cauvery Arts аnd Crafts Emporium located on Sayaji Road, thеn уоu саn buy ѕоmе traditional incense sticks, Chenaptna dolls аnd wooden toys аnd sandalwood figurines. Mysore іѕ аlѕо noted fоr Mysore pak, thе rectangular sweet аnd Mysore Masala Dosa.

Contributed by Baahir Gupta