What are the most beautiful monuments in Italy known internationally, where they are found, brief history and architectural features.
Ranking of the most beautiful monuments in Italy
Italy is a country with an extraordinary artistic heritage, holds the largest number of sites included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, has scattered throughout the territory valuable historical evidence to protect and preserve.
The most important monuments, which most identify our country, are located in the main cities of art such as Rome, Venice, Florence and Naples, but in all Italian regions there are beautiful cities and minor centers of great architectural and artistic value.
Among the most well-known sites and monuments, the Colosseum in Rome, the Basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano, the Ruins of Pompeii, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Church of Santa Croce and the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, the Basilica of San Marco and the Doge's Palace in Venice, the Leaning Tower in Pisa, the Arena of Verona, the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.
Coliseum
The Flavian Amphitheater, known as the Colosseum, because it stood near a large bronze statue called the Colossus of Nero, was built in the first century AD at the behest of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty.
In this extraordinary work of engineering and architecture of the Roman era, impressive spectacles took place mainly concerning hunts and gladiator fights, which attracted a large turnout of spectators.
A building that over the centuries has undergone degradation, abandonment and restoration, becoming in some historical phases, even material for new buildings in the city of Rome.
Today the visit to the Colosseum is on two levels and offers a wide view of the interior spaces, and through the arches, suggestive views of the city.
Basilica of Saint Peter
Built on another basilica dating back to the fourth century, the Basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano was built in Rome at the behest of Emperor Constantine I, on the place where the apostle Peter was buried.
The works for the construction of the current Basilica, which is in Renaissance and Baroque style, began in 1506 and were completed in 1626, the architects who were engaged in the realization of this splendid work followed one another over time and were the extraordinary Donato Bramante , Raffaello Sanzio, Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Carlo Maderno.
The magnificent square that opens in front of the Basilica was built on a project by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, between 1656 and 1667.
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Pompeii ruins
The excavations, which began during the eighteenth century, show the remains of the ancient city of Pompeii, destroyed by the catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius on 24 August 79 AD, when the renovation of the town was still ongoing, due to an earthquake that occurred in 62 or 63 AD
Pompeii was submerged that day by a blanket of lava up to three meters high, which destroyed all forms of life, crystallizing people and things, which brought to light have become precious testimonies of the daily life of the population and the organization of the Roman city, with its ancient streets, houses, shops, forum, sacred areas, thermal complexes, public buildings and the amphitheater.
The discovery of furnishings, paintings, frescoes and decorations, allowed to know many details about the inhabitants of Pompeii and some of them have regained an image through the creation of casts obtained by pouring liquid plaster into the empty spaces left by their bodies, remained buried for about 18 centuries in volcanic material.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
In Gothic, Renaissance and Neo-Gothic style, the construction of the Florence Cathedral began in 1296 on a project by Arnolfo di Cambio, on the foundations of the ancient church of Santa Reparata.
Over the course of time, Giotto, Francesco Talenti and Giovanni di Lapo Ghini succeeded each other for the realization of the work.
In 1412 the new cathedral was dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore and was consecrated on March 25, 1436, when it was completed with Brunelleschi's dome.
The facade was built in 1887 to a design by Emilio De Fabris and completed by Luigi del Moro.
Church of Santa Croce in Florence
This cult building was founded by the Franciscans in 1294 who probably entrusted the project to Arnolfo di Cambio.
The church, completed in 1385 and consecrated in 1443 by Pope Eugene IV, is in Gothic style, it contains works of extraordinary beauty and funeral monuments of artists and famous people, such as Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Galileo Galilei.
Palazzo Vecchio Florence
Overlooking Piazza della Signoria in Florence, it is one of the most significant medieval public buildings in Italy.
Built in 1299 to a design by Arnolfo di Cambio, the building was gradually expanded over time. Its interior is home to a museum, whose visit starts from the Cortile dei Michelozzo, continues on the first floor with the magnificent Salone dei Cinquecento, built by Antonio da Sangallo where there is, among other things, the Genio della Vittoria, marble group by Michelangelo.
The second floor of the museum is occupied by the sumptuous private rooms of the Medici court, including the Chapel of Eleonora with splendid paintings by Agnolo Bronzino.
The Sala dell'Udienza, the Sala dei Gigli, with the original of the Giuditta di Donatello, and the Sala delle Carte Geografiche are very beautiful.
In the Mezzanine Quarter, a valuable collection of medieval and Renaissance paintings and sculptures is on display, donated to the Municipality of Florence by the art scholar and collector Charles Loeser.
The Palace is the seat of the Municipality of Florence and the city council.
leaning Tower
Located in Piazza del Duomo in Pisa, it is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, one of the most famous towers in the world, not so much for its elegant architecture, but for its singular inclined position.
The works for its construction began in 1173, but were interrupted due to the subsidence of the land, which is why the tower is inclined.
The works were restored in 1275 by Giovanni di Simone and finished in the second half of the fourteenth century by Tommaso Pisano.
Arena of Verona
Third largest Roman amphitheater, after the Colosseum and the Capua arena, the construction of the Arena in Verona dates back to the 1st century AD and, thanks to the restorations it has undergone since the 17th century, it is in a good state of conservation.
The building is characterized by four rows of isolated arches, the consequence of the collapse of the outer wall ring, caused by the 1117 earthquake.
Note that the Arena has perfect acoustics, enough to host the opera festival every year.
