Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Bern, Switzerland-historical monuments and sights

Bern, capital of Switzerland, is one of the most visited swiss cities, considered the most beautiful medieval town in Switzerland. Located in an area full of hills and large forests, this city has a charm besides dream landscapes that offers, is also a very quiet town.The old town, full of narrow cobbled streets with old houses, has a special glow, give it by the landscape provided by the beauty of the Alps.
Among the most important  historical monuments and sights from Bern are:


Federal Palace of Switzerlanddesigned by architect Hans Auer, inaugurated in 1 april 1902, is the name of the building in Bern in which are housed the Swiss Federal Assembly and the Federal Council.
The two rooms, were the National Council and Council of States meet, are separated by hall dome.  The dome itself has an external height of 64 m and an inner height of 33 m. The mosaic in the center contains federal crest with the latin motto "Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno" (One for all and all for one), surrounded by coats of arms of the 22 cantons that existed in 1902.
Among the attractions are located near the Federal Palace are: Marktgasse Avenue, clock tower, fountains in Bern, Einstein house, Swiss Alpine Museum and the History Museum.


Marktgasse Boulevard is one of the streets of the old town and is part of the inner city, built in the XIII century. Street in the old town is part of the Unesco world heritage and was first mentioned in 1286. 
Among the tourist attractions that are located in the boulevard area: fountains from Bern, Federal Palace, Museum of Fine Arts, clock tower, Einstein house and Kramgasse alley. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                


The Clock Tower is an important symbol of the city of Bern. Clock located on the east side, made in 1530, is also the astronomical clock. My recommendation would be to get in the area  5 minutes before the clock to beat the exact time, because then mechanical figures are set in motion, which is a bizarre process, that must be seen to be believed.

Among the attractions are located near the tower clock:
-fountains in Bern known for the beauty of its statues;
-Einstein House in Bern, museum and former residence of Albert Einstein;
-Cathedral of St Vincent in Bern;
-Bern Avenue Marktgasse;
-Alley Kramgasse;




Cathedral of St Vincent is one of the most beautiful places of worship in Europe, visited each year by countless tourists and believers coming from all over the country .
The market where  is the cathedral, Münsterplatz, is surrounded by baroque buildings and even has a fountain from 1790 , its sculpture depicting Moses ,that reminds  the second commandment . On entering the cathedral you can admire the extraordinary sculptural rendering  Doomsday , with almost 200 characters, a unrivaled composition in gothic style
The interior is as the exterior : solid , carefully built and with the impressive decorations . They kept some original features , as well as several statues of saints of Christ and the Blessed Virgin .
You can climb over 100 meters on a small scale , with 254 numerous stone steps , but once reached to the top of the tower you will not regret . There you will find the largest bell in Switzerland , cast in 1611, with a weight of over 10 tons.
Among the attractions that are located near the cathedral are: fountains from Bern, clock tower, Einstein house and Kramgasse alley. 



At History Museum of Bern  you can spend days exploring the levels of the building , full of various collections . Downstairs there are temporary exhibitions , while the basement has a collection theme: "Dance of Death", a medieval artists obsession.
On the first floor you will find an impressive model of the city of Bern as it looks in 1800 . You will also find in here  medieval Flemish tapestries , and tapestry of a thousand flowers, the resistance piece of this collection.
Among the attractions that are located near the museum are:Federal Palace, clock tower, Einstein house and Kramgasse alley. 

Museum of Fine Arts Bern, within walking distance of the town train station, is a modern building, smart designed and newly renovated, a paradise for art lovers. 
In this museum are many works of Kandinsky, Modigliani, Giacometti, Cézanne, Matisse, Rothko, Miro, Pollock and many others, most presented in permanent exhibitions. 

Near is found Frauen-Kunstforum, a small museum dedicated to contemporary swiss painters, a laudable initiative, complemented by a stylish café and a small library.


Swiss Alpine Museum is a museum well suited to a city right next to the mountains. Museum shows all aspects of life in the mountains, in an intelligent and new  manner. From tourism trips and the lives of those who live in the Alps, fauna and flora, to the impact of industry on the Alps, nothing was forgotten. Mountains are presented in the museum both through images and through most of the detailed layouts.
Among the attractions that are located near the museum:Federal Palace, clock tower, Einstein house, Cathedral of St Vincent and Kramgasse alley. 












Thursday, February 20, 2014

Yosemite National Park, California

Located in central California, Yosemite National Park was established in 1890 and draws four
million annual visitors.Yosemite Valley is open year-round, but much of the remaining park is closed in late autumn because of snow and re-opens in mid to late spring. Open-air tours around Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias are available. Many people enjoy short walks and longer hikes to waterfalls in Yosemite Valley, or walks amongst Giant Sequoias in the Mariposa, Tuolumne, or Merced Groves. Others like to drive or take a tour bus to Glacier Point (summer-fall) to see a spectacular view of Yosemite Valley and the high country, or drive along the scenic Tioga Road to Tuolumne Meadows (summer-fall) and go for a walk or hike.
In addition to exploring the natural features of the park, visitors can also learn about the natural and cultural history of Yosemite Valley at a number of facilities in the valley: the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, the adjoining Yosemite Museum, and the Nature Center at Happy Isles. There are also two National Historic Landmarks: the LeConte Memorial Lodge (Yosemite's first public visitor center), and the world-famous Ahwahnee Hotel. Camp 4 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
Rock climbing is an important part of Yosemite. Camp 4, a walk-in campground in Yosemite Valley, was instrumental in the development of rock climbing as a sport, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Climbers can generally be spotted in the snow-free months on anything from ten-foot-high (3 m) boulders to the 3,300-foot (1.0 km) face of El Capitan. Classes are offered by numerous groups on rock climbing.


Bicycle rentals are available in Yosemite Valley spring through fall.Water activities are plentiful during warmer months. Rafting can be done through the Yosemite Valley on the Merced River. There is also a swimming pool available at Curry Village.
In 2010, Yosemite National Park was honored with its own quarter under the America the Beautiful Quarters program.

Here is a photo guide for all to see what landscapes offer this amazing park:









From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Palma de Mallorca, Spain


The Wave, Arizona-U.S.

The Wave is a sandstone rock formation located in the United States of America near the Arizona-Utah border, on the slopes of the Coyote Buttes, in the Paria Canyon on the Colorado Plateau.

The Wave is comprised of sandstone dunes that have calcified vertically and horizontally, turning into compacted rocks over time.


While the rocks have been hardened, they are still susceptible to damage. Only 20 visitors a day are allowed to walk through the ravine, and permits are required. The permits are issued through online. The tour guides are available for hire
.
It is famous among hikers and photographers for its colorful, undulating forms.