Get Low-priced Beach Vacations To Virginia And Find Tips On Precious Cities And Festivals In Europe
Your European vacations will not only be enjoyable but meaningful as well if you spend some time in Rome and see its beautiful churches. Five patriarchal basilicas can be found in the city, with each one ceremonially assigned to one of the patriarchs. San Giovanni in Laterano, for St. John Lateran, the Pope, is the popes first church. It is Romes cathedral and was built in the Baroque style. The Patriarch of Antioch, St. Mary Major, was assigned the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore -- an exquisite structure with 5th century religious mosaics, marble flooring, brilliant ceilings and a bell tower. San Pietro in Vaticano, for St. Peter's Basilica, the Patriarch of Constantinople, is in the Vatican City. This is the church of the current pope, and is one of the biggest and most important churches to Catholics all over the world. It is very popular for Michelangelo's Pieta, as well as its bronze, marble, and gold trimmings. Rome's second largest church is where the Apostle Paul is said to be buried -- San Paolo fuori le Mura, appointed to St. Paul Outside the Walls, the Patriarch of Alexandria.
Learn About Vienna's Art and Culture on European Vacations
Round off your European vacations with a trip to Vienna to learn about its art and culture the city has a long tradition. Visit the Wiener Staatsoper at night, when the Vienna State Opera is as dazzling as its world-class performers who stage 50 to 60 opera shows every year. Marvel at the wealth of the royal family of Habsburgs -- the imperial jewels are on display at the Hofburg Museum. The Sisi Museum is devoted to the Empress Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie of Austria, and allows guests to view the imperial apartments. The Kunsthistorisches Museum and Naturhistorisches Museum have numerous paintings by old masters, and ancient and classical artifacts. These museums are not even part of Viennas museum quarter, formerly the imperial stalls which were converted to a museum complex in the 1990s. The complex houses, among others, the Leopold Museum, home to one of the largest collections of modern Austrian art and featuring artists such as Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.
Admire Beautiful Budapest on European Vacations
An important city to visit on European vacations is Budapest. Budapest has evolved into a tourist-friendly city since 1989 despite its communist roots. Go outside your hotel, identify The Citadel, high on the Buda side of the river opposite, of course, the Pest side and make it your reference point during your wanderings. Up there, you will get romantic views of the city. Relive the past with a visit to the cannon-ball-lined fort from the 19th century and the inspiring structure that is the Liberation Monument on Gellrt Hill which marks the Soviet liberation of Hungary from Nazi forces during World War II. Head to the Castle District of Buda and visit the Hungarian National Gallery; admire the Mathias Church where royals used to hold their weddings; and explore the fairy-tale setting of Fisherman's Bastion where many couples exchange "I Dos" and take remarkable wedding photos from the Lookout Terrace. As your day winds down, sign up for a Danube cruise at sunset for the perfect ending to your Budapest adventure.
Romantic European Vacations in Venice
Surprise your beloved with European vacations that begin with romantic Venice -- the "City of Water", the "City of Bridges", and the "City of "Canals. "Reputed to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Venice is made up of 117 islands in the Venetian Lagoon located on the Adriatic Sea in northeast Italy. Walk through the multitude of museums it has to offer. A valuable collection of ancient texts and manuscripts are kept at the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, the National Library of St. Mark named after the patron saint of Venice. The Gallerie dellAccademia is a museum gallery of pre-19th century art. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is popular for its masterpieces from famous American modernists and Italian futurists such as Picasso, Dal and other artists who dabbled in cubism, surrealism and abstract expressionism. Make a quick stop at the beautiful Palazzo Ducale; the facade of the Doge's Palace is visible from the picturesque St. Mark's Square. Walk along the Rialto Bridge with your loved one; the romantic atmosphere can be the perfect setting for a long-awaited proposal.