Showing posts with label church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Dresden, Germany

Dresden, Germany, capital of the federal state of Saxony, situated on the shores of the river Elbe, is considered the fourth largest city in Germany and more than half of its surface is represented by forests and green spaces, including four nature reserves . 
Among the most important tourist attractions in Dresden, are: 


Right near the Opera, Zwinger Palace is among the most ravishing baroque buildings in all of Germany. Being a collaboration between architect and sculptor Balthasar Permoser Pöppelmann Matthäus was originally a royal palace party, despite the odd name (which means "dungeon"). 
Some charming arcade leading to a vast courtyard filled with fountains, lavish buildings framed with carved baroque. At the top of the  western flag is Atlas, looking tense, holding the world on his shoulders, as opposed to it is a carillon of 40 Meissen porcelain bells, which emit a sound every 15 minutes.
Attractions located near: Catholic Church, Johanneum building, mural Fürstenzug, Royal Palace, Semper Opera House, the August bridge .


Church of Our Lady, known as Frauenkirche dome, one of the most beloved symbols of Dresden, was raised from the ashes of the city. The original, designed by Georg Bähr, embellished Dresden skyline for two centuries before collapsing two days after the bombing from February 1945.
Visitation fee is 8 euros and if you want an  audio guide in English it will add 2.50 euros.
Attractions located near: the Museum Albertinum, Municipal Museum, the building Johanneum, Bruhl terrace, mural Fürstenzug.


The Royal Palace, known as Residenzschloss , was the residence of the Saxon kings until 1918. When postwar reconstruction was almost complete, in the palace was restored the Green Vault, a stunning collection of objects made ​​of gold, ivory, silver, diamonds and other materials. There are so many, that are exposed in two separate rooms of treasures, both in the west wing of the palace. 

New Green Vault features over 1,000 objects in 10 modern rooms on an upper floor. Among the most valuable items include a frigate decorated with ivory with sailing very thin, a grain of cherry with 185 faces carved into it, and a set of 132 exotic gemstones figurines representing a royal court in India. Each art object is astounding. To avoid the biggest crowds visit the place during lunch.
Other 3000 additional items are listed below in Historic Green Vault . Are displayed on shelves and tables in a number of generous rooms , as it were on the days of August der Starke .
In the same wing , on the upper floor is a collection of prints and drawings . For beautiful views , head to the Palace Tower . For numismatics lovers we recommend coin collection , all located in the tower.
The ticket for all museums and collections in the palace, except the old green safe is 6 euros, and if you want to visit the old green safe the fee is 11.50 euro. 
The cost of visiting the old masters gallery is 6 euros, for visiting armory is 3 euros, for porcelain collection is 5 euro and for lounge math and science state is 3 euro.
Attractions located near:Catholic Church, Johanneum building, mural Fürstenzug, Semper Opera House, the August bridge, Zwinger Palace.

In northwest of Altstadt, you can not miss what looks like a giant mosque , a giant onion-shaped dome and stained glass. Yenidze, building the world's first reinforced concrete frame, initial worked in 1907 as a tobacco factory, producing a pseudo-exotic cigarette called Salaam Alakhem, but without success. Today it houses three restaurants and a terrace where you can have beer on the roof, inside the dome taking place  cultural events.
Attractions located near:The Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace, Semper Opera House, the building Johanneum, Carl Maria von Weber Museum, Japanese museum.

Semper Opera House is one of the most beautiful monuments in Dresda. The original building of Semper Opera  House burned  three decades after its inauguration in 1841. When it was reopened in 1878, neo-renaissance jewel came into the most amazing time of its, who saw premieres of works by Richard Strauss, Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Wagner. Unfortunately, World War II ended fun, and only in 1985 music filled the huge room again.
Even if you are not passionate about the work, it will be impossible not to be impressed by the opulent interior: the velvets, brocades and imitation marble skillfully crafted , creates an atmosphere of luxury and privacy. 
Guided tours of the building takes place throughout the hole day, depending of the work program at the opera and the fee is 6 euros.
Attractions located near:The Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace, the building Johanneum, catholic church, August bridge.


Occupying the former royal hunting land, is rightfully called Large Garden (Grosser Garten), a delightful retreat during the warmer months. Here, a magnet for visitors, is the excellent zoo, where crowds gravitate around the Africa hall and the new exhibition about tundra, with polar foxes and owls snow.In the northwest corner of the garden is Botanical Garden. From April to October is available a fun way to visit the park, aboard a miniature train.
Attractions located near: zoo, Botanical Garden,  Municipal Museum, Hygiene Museum, Church of Christ, transparent factory





Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Jerusalem-the holy city

Jerusalem the capital of Israel, is one of the oldest and most popular cities in the world. It is part of Palestine region and is considered a holy city for muslims, christian and jewish believers.
Among the most important tourist attractions in Jerusalem are included: 



Western Wall or Wailing Wall, with the age of about 2.000 years, located at the western edge of the Temple Mount, is one of the most important and visited tourist attractions in Jerusalem. The wall was built by King Herod in the temple expansion.
Western Wall became a place of pilgrimage for Hebrew mainly during the Ottoman occupation, the Jews lamenting the destruction of the Temple by the Romans - this is why it was called the Wailing Wall.  

The square in front of the Wall is divided by a fence - on the left side is a larger space for man and on the right side is a smaller space for women. Wall Access is free, but the head must be covered and the clothes must be appropriate behavior. 




Dome of the Rock is one of the first major achievements of Muslim architecture. The Arabs believe that here is where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven on his fabulous horse, and then to return to the earth and to transcribe visions.
Dome of the Rock along with Al Aqsa Mosque, ranks third place among the holiest places for Muslims after Mecca and Medina. Golden dome, built in four years, is visible from far away, and the interior is coated with bright ceramics and mosaics and arabic calligraphy.
Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but a temple that protects under its dome the rock, sacred to muslims, christians and hebrew. 

Al Aqsa Mosque was built less than 20 years after the Dome of the Rock. Al Aqsa Mosque was built by Caliph  Omaiad Walid I  on the place of justinian basilica, dedicated to Our Lady. Crusaders took mosque as the Temple of Solomon, and the Jews call it Solomon School. 
  Al-Aqsa Mosque has a silver dome, here being Islamic Museum, which has in its patrmony islamic artifacts and  relics.


Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the most important place of Christian pilgrimage, is a large building, which lies on the places where it is believed that Jesus was crucified and buried, and then rise again. 
Church of the Holy Sepulchre is not a church, but rather a gathering of churches, each with its chapel and altar . Since the time of Saladin, each orthodox christians, roman catholics and eastern orthodox christians  have a separate area - a church in this building. 

The Orthodox Church is the largest of these churches and is situated in the east of the Holy Sepulchre. Armenians have several smaller shrines and chapels in the building, and a larger church - St Helena and St Gregory. Roman Catholics have two chapels, the ethiopians have a chapel and a monastery located on the roof, and the Copts have a small altar behind the Holy Sepulchre.



Citadel of Jerusalem lies south of Jaffa Gate and is called the Tower of David. The building is not related to King David, being made ​​in order to protect the palace of Herod. The three towers of the citadel are called Phasael after his brother, Mariamne, after his wife, and Hippicus, after his friend. 

Today the Citadel in Jerusalem houses a museum about the history of the city, a folk museum and some interesting archaeological excavations.


Israel Old City is a district with an area of 0.9 square kilometers, bounded by walls, within the modern city of Israel, which began to develop after 1860. In the historical center there are several essential religious monuments : the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque. 
According to tradition, Israel Old City is divided into four districts: Hebrew District, Christian Quarter, the Muslim Quarter and the Armenian Quarter. 
Israel Old City walls framing were built in the first half of the sixteenth century, by sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and have length 4 km. The walls were originally eight gates, seven preserving until today: Jaffa Gate, New Gate, Damascus Gate, Herod's Gate, St. Stephen's Gate, Golden Gate, Zion Gate and Garbage Gate.


Israel Museum is the most important place for art, archeology and anthropology in the country. Heritage museum includes paintings by famous artists (Rodin, Monet, van Gogh), and important archaeological discoveries. The piece de resistance of the museum is Shrine of the Book, a round shaped building that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.


Garden of Gethsemane is the garden of Israel known as one of the places visited by Jesus Christ. Located near the Temple Mount, near Kidron Valley and the Mount of Olives, the garden is beautiful, full of greenery and attentive care. Cave of Gethsemane is in the garden of Gethsemane and is where the Savior came to pray. In the Garden of Gethsemane are four places of worship: Tomb of the Virgin, Cave of Gethsemane, catching stone Jesus (here is a Catholic Church) and the Church of the Holy Archdeacon Stefan.