DAY1
For many, the most beautiful city in the world. Venice has an eternal and poignant charm, and is today among the world capitals of contemporary art
The islands are in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay lying between the mouths of the Po and the Piaverivers (more exactly between the Brentaand the Sile). As of 2025, the city proper (comune of Venice) has 249,466 inhabitants,[2] nearly 50,000 of whom live in the historical island city of Venice (centro storico), while most of the population resides on the mainland (terraferma), and about 25,000 live on other islands in the lagoon (estuario).
MFor centuries, Venice possessed numerous territories along the Adriatic Sea and within the Italian peninsula, leaving a significant impact on the architecture and culture that can still be seen today.The Venetian Arsenalis considered by several historians to be the first factory in history and was the base of Venice's naval power.The sovereignty of Venice came to an end in 1797, at the hands of Napoleon. Subsequently, in 1866, the city became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
In the 21st century, Venice remains a very popular tourist destination and a major cultural centre, and has often been ranked one of the most beautiful cities in the world.It has been described by The Times as one of Europe's most romantic citiesand by The New York Times as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man".However, the city faces challenges, including overtourism, pollution, tide peaks, and cruise ships sailing too close to buildings. Because Venice and its lagoon are under constant threat, Venice's UNESCO listing has been under constant examination.
The Port of Venice (Italian: Porto di Venezia) is a port serving Venice, northeastern Italy. It is the eighth-busiest commercial port in Italy and was one of the most important in the Mediterranean concerning the cruise sector, as a major hub for cruise ships. It is one of the major Italian ports and is included in the list of the leading European ports which are located on the strategic nodes of trans-European networks. In 2006, 30,936,931 tonnes passed through the port, of which 14,541,961 was the commercial sector, and it saw 1,453,513 passengers. In 2002, the port handled 262,337 containers.
Venice Cruise Port
Venezia Terminal Passeggeri S.p.A. (V.T.P.) was founded in 1997 by the Venice Port Authority and operates one of the largest homeports of the world. It’s one of the most important gateways for cruises to the Adriatic and eastern Mediterranean, with over 19 million cruisers transited through its facilities since it opened.
River cruise ships, with vessels sailing in the lagoon and along the Po River, and catamarans/hydrofoils with seasonal connections to/from the Istrian Peninsula also enjoy the facilities managed by V.T.P. In 2016, Global Ports Holding acquired its stake in Venezia Terminal Passeggeri S.p.A as part of a strong consortium.
Colonne di San Marco e San Todaro
coppia di due colonne celebrative site a Venezia
The Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro are two columns in Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy. They comprise the Column of San Marco, also known as the Column of the Lion, as well as the Column of San Teodoro. The statue of the Lion of Venice, which symbolises Mark the Evangelist, surmounts the Column of the Lion. The Column of San Teodoro is topped by a statue of Theodore Tiron, who was the patron saint of Venice before he was succeeded by Saint Mark. Both columns were likely erected either between 1172 and 1177 (during the reign of Doge Sebastiano Ziani) by Nicolò Barattieri,or sometime around 1268.
The Scuola Grande di San Marco is a building in Venice, Italy, designed by the well-known Venetian architects Pietro Lombardo, Mauro Codussi, and Bartolomeo Bon. It was originally the home to one of the Scuole Grandi of Venice, or seven major confraternities, but is now the city's hospital. It faces the Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, one of the largest squares in the city.
The edifice was built by the Confraternity of San Marco in 1260 to act as its seat. In 1485, however, it was destroyed by a large fire, and rebuilt in the following twenty years under a new design by Pietro Lombardo, with a fund established by the members. The façade, a masterwork with delicately decorated niches and pilasters, and with white or polychrome marble statues, was later completed by Mauro Codussi. While decorated with the polished marble elements of Renaissanceclassicism, the proliferation of arches and niches adds a retrogressive Byzantine flavor, an architectural feature of many conservative Venetian styles. One of the most notable aspects of the façade is the use of trompe-l'œil archways and portals on the ground floor, all executed in different types of marble. Between 2000 and 2005, the façade underwent conservation treatments funded by Save Venice Inc., the Getty Grant Program, and other donors.
The edifice was built by the Confraternity of San Marco in 1260 to act as its seat. In 1485, however, it was destroyed by a large fire, and rebuilt in the following twenty years under a new design by Pietro Lombardo, with a fund established by the members. The façade, a masterwork with delicately decorated niches and pilasters, and with white or polychrome marble statues, was later completed by Mauro Codussi. While decorated with the polished marble elements of Renaissanceclassicism, the proliferation of arches and niches adds a retrogressive Byzantine flavor, an architectural feature of many conservative Venetian styles. One of the most notable aspects of the façade is the use of trompe-l'œil archways and portals on the ground floor, all executed in different types of marble. Between 2000 and 2005, the façade underwent conservation treatments funded by Save Venice Inc., the Getty Grant Program, and other donors.
The gondola (English: /ˈɡɒndələ/, Italian: [ˈɡondola]; Venetian: góndoła, Venetian:[ˈɡoŋdoɰa]) is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. It is typically propelled by a gondolier, who uses a rowing oar, which is not fastened to the hull, in a sculling manner, and also acts as the rudder.The uniqueness of the gondola includes its being asymmetrical along the length, making the single-oar propulsion more efficient.
For centuries, the gondola was a major means of transportation and the most common watercraft within Venice. In modern times, the boats still do have a role in public transport in the city, serving as traghetti (small ferries) over the Grand Canaloperated by two oarsmen. Various types of gondola boats are also used in special regattas (rowing races) held amongst gondoliers. Their primary role today, however, is to carry tourists on rides at fixed rates.There are approximately 400 licensed gondoliers in Venice and a similar number of boats, down from the thousands that travelled the canals centuries ago.However, they are now elegantly crafted, as opposed to the various types of homemade boats of the past.
The historical gondola was quite different from its modern evolution; the paintings of Canaletto and others show a much lower prow, a higher "ferro", and usually two rowers. The banana-shaped modern gondola was developed only in the 19th century by the boat-builder Tramontin, whose heirs still run the Tramontin boatyard.[14] The construction of the gondola continued to evolve until the mid-20th century, when the city government prohibited any further modifications.
DAY2
verona
Verona (/vəˈroʊnə/ və-ROH-nə) is the largest city in the region of Veneto in Italy, with 255,131 inhabitants.[2] It is one of the seven provincial capitals of the region, and is the largest city municipality in the region and in northeastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona covers an area of 1,426 km2 (550.58 sq mi) and has a population of 714,310 inhabitants.[3] It is one of the main tourist destinations in Northern Italy because of its artistic heritage and several annual fairs and shows as well as the opera season in the Arena, an ancient Romanamphitheater.
The city became important because it was at the intersection of several roads. Stilicho, a military commander in the Roman army, defeated Alaric and his Visigoths here in 402. Later, Verona was conquered by the Ostrogoths in 489, and the Gothic domination of Italy began. Theoderic the Great was said to have built a palace there. It remained under the power of the Goths throughout the Gothic War (535–552), except for a single day in 541, when the Byzantine officer Artabazes made an entrance. The defections of the Byzantine generals over the booty made it possible for the Goths to regain possession of the city. In 552 the Romans under the general Valerian vainly endeavored to enter the city, but it was only when the Goths were fully overthrown that they surrendered it.
Under Holy Roman and Austrian rule, Verona was alternatively known in German as Bern, Welsch-Bern or Dietrichsbern. Otto I ceded to Verona the marquisate dependent on the Duchy of Bavaria, however, the increasing wealth of the burgher families eclipsed the power of the counts, and in 1135 Verona was organised as a free commune. In 1164 Verona joined with Vicenza, Padua and Treviso to create the Veronese League, which was integrated with the Lombard League in 1167 to battle against Frederick I Barbarossa. Victory was achieved at the Battle of Legnano in 1176, and the Treaty of Venice signed in 1177 followed by the Peace of Constance in 1183.
When Ezzelino III da Romano was elected podestà in 1226, he converted the office into a permanent lordship. In 1257 he caused the slaughter of 11,000 Paduans on the plain of Verona (Campi di Verona).Upon his death, the Great Council elected Mastino I della Scala as podestà, and he converted the "signoria" into a family possession, though leaving the burghers a share in the government. Failing to be re-elected podestà in 1262, he affected a coup d'état, and was acclaimed Capitano del Popolo, with the command of the communal troops. Long internal discord took place before he succeeded in establishing this new office, to which was attached the function of confirming the podestà. In 1277, Mastino della Scala was killed by the faction of the nobles.
During Austrian rule Verona became of great strategic importance to the regime. Galeazzo Ciano, Benito Mussolini's son-in-law, was accused of plotting against the republic; in a show trial staged in January 1944 by the Nazi and fascist hierarchy at Castelvecchio (the Verona trial), Ciano was executed on the banks of the Adige with many other officers on what is today Via Colombo. This marked another turning point in the escalation of violence that would only end with the final liberation by allied troops and partisans on 26 April 1945. After World War II, as Italy joined the NATO alliance, Verona once again acquired its strategic importance, due to its geographical closeness to the Iron Curtain. The city became the seat of SETAF (South European Allied Terrestrial Forces) and had during the whole duration of the Cold War period a strong military presence, especially American, which has since decreased.
Since the local government political reorganization in 1993, Verona has been governed by the City Council of Verona, which is based in Palazzo Barbieri. Voters elect directly 33 councilors and the mayor of Verona every five years. Verona is also the capital of its own province. The Provincial Council is seated in Palazzo del Governo. The current mayor of Verona is Damiano Tommasi, elected on 26 June 2022.[27
Verona has traditionally been a right-wing traditionalist Catholic city, reflecting its former status as one of the major cities of Italian Social Republic, and the right-wing politics of the Veneto region. In October 2018, Verona became the first city in Italy to declare itself pro-life, and hosted the American Christian right lobby group World Congress of Families' conference in 2019.[28][29][30] Despite this, since the mayors became directly elected in 1994, the city has elected two left-wing mayors - Paolo Zanotto in 2002 and current mayor Damiano Tommasi in 2022, largely due to incumbent mayor Federico Sboarina's refusal to include center-right parties in his right-wing coalition.
WANDERING THE HISTORY-STEEPED STREETS OF VERONA’S CITTÀ ANTICA (OLD QUARTER) – FROM THE SPECTACULAR ROMAN ARENA TO THE MEDIEVAL CASTELVECCHIO – BRINGS THE CITY’S FASCINATING PAST VIVIDLY TO LIFE.
Start your tour at Piazza Bra, a vast square paved with pink marble and flanked by bustling terraces. From here, you can sit and admire the 72 arches surrounding the Verona Arena – so remarkably preserved it’s hard to believe it was built two millennia ago. As you get closer and marvel at the ingenious design of this amphitheatre that once staged gladiator fights and mock sea battles, you can almost hear the roar of the crowds and the clash of steel. These days, summer evenings bring opera to this open-air concert hall, keeping alive an entertainment tradition that’s been going strong for two thousand years. From here, Via Roma takes you past the old city walls and their moat, and then on to Castelvecchio. Don’t leave without climbing onto the battlements of this 14th-century fortress to take in the sweeping views of Verona, from the cathedral to the Basilica of San Zeno. Inside, the museum is brimming with frescoes, religious paintings and ornate reliquaries. Look out for the equestrian statue of Cangrande I, the lord of Verona forever immortalised in his moment of triumph.
Casa di giulietta
Juliet's House
building and museum of Verona
Juliet's house is a medieval civil building located in Via Cappello in Verona , a short distance from the central Piazza delle Erbe . It is one of the Shakespearean places in Verona, together with Juliet's tomb and Romeo's house , linked to the universal and positive ideal of love and for this reason it has become the destination of a secular and popular pilgrimage, so much so that it is the most visited monument in the city.
The building that houses Juliet's house is a medieval tower house , whose presence is attested for the first time in documents dated 1351. In the tower house there was the "del Cappello" inn, owned by the heirs of Antonio Cappello, also testified by the presence of the hat- shaped coat of arms on the keystone of the arch that overlooks the internal courtyard. It was precisely because of the hat-shaped coat of arms that between the 18th and 19th centuries, when the search for the places linked to the Shakespearean tragedy was carried out, the building was erroneously associated with the Capulet family, or the Capellettis present (together with the Montecchi ) in Dante Alighieri 's Purgatory . Although the ownership changed several times over the centuries, the building maintained its function as an inn, to which some artisan workshops were added.
In 1905 the Municipality of Verona purchased the building, which was partially sold in 1930 to allow for the construction of the Teatro Nuovo . Finally, in 1939, the director of the civic museums, Antonio Avena , completed the layout of the house-museum . His intervention mixed neo-medieval style decorations created from scratch on the walls and ceilings together with elements from the civic collections, such as stones, small columns, fireplaces, coats of arms and furnishings dating back to between the 13th and 15th centuries. For the balcony , two red marble brackets were specially made, while for the balustrade a medieval slab from the civic collections was recovered. Given the small size of the slab, two lateral extensions and the lateral closures were made in white marble and Avesa stone, on which the same arches as in the central part were reproduced.
The popularity of the house and the balcony grew considerably in the post-war period . It was in this period that the new director of the civic museums, Licisco Magagnato , following the reform of Castelvecchio (which saw him as a protagonist together with the architect Carlo Scarpa ), decided to tackle the theme of the house-museum. The itinerary was rearranged and the rooms placed on the five levels completed with a nucleus of medieval works, including detached frescoes from the late 14th century, furnishings and other objects from the civic collections. Finally, on 1 June 1973 the bronze statue of Juliet, a work by Nereo Costantini donated by the Lions Club of Verona, was placed in the courtyard, marking the reopening of the civic museum.
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| A wall in the courtyard of Julirt’s House covered in countless love notes and messages left by visitors from around the world. |
Piazza delle erby
Piazza delle Erbe (Market's square) is a square in Verona, northern Italy. It was once the town's forum during the time of the Roman Empire.
The northern side of the square is occupied by the ancient town hall, the Torre dei Lamberti, the Casa dei Giudici ("Judges' Hall") and the frescoed Mazzanti Houses. The western side, the shortest one, features the Baroque Palazzo Maffei, decorated by statues of Greek gods. It is faced by a white marble column, on which is St. Mark's Lion, symbol of the Republic of Venice.
The north-western side occupies the site of the ancient Roman Capitol Hill, which looked towards the forum. Numerous of its buildings facing the square have maintained façade frescoes.[2] On the southern side is the crenellated Casa dei Mercanti ("House of the Merchants", also known as Domus Mercatorum), now the seat of the Banca Popolare di Verona. Other buildings, the tall houses of the Ghetto, are reminiscent of medieval tower houses.
The north-western side occupies the site of the ancient Roman Capitol Hill, which looked towards the forum. Numerous of its buildings facing the square have maintained façade frescoes.[2] On the southern side is the crenellated Casa dei Mercanti ("House of the Merchants", also known as Domus Mercatorum), now the seat of the Banca Popolare di Verona. Other buildings, the tall houses of the Ghetto, are reminiscent of medieval tower houses.
The square's most ancient monument is the fountain (built in 1368 by Cansignorio della Scala), surmounted by a statue called Madonna Verona, which is however a Roman sculpture dating to 380 AD.[2] Also historical is the capitello, dating to the 13th century, during which it was used for several ceremonies, including the oath of investment of the city's medieval podestà and pretors. Towards Via Cappello is another column, with a 14th-century aedicula with reliefs of the Virgin and the Saints Zeno, Peter and Christopher.
The monument to the fallen of the Austrian bombardment
At the center of a small widening at the side of piazza Erbe a bronze statue attracts the curiosity of visitors. It depicts a woman holding a sword with her arm stretched towards the sky. The monument commemorates one of the first civilian bombings in history, which took place on 14 November 1915 during World War I. Austrian planes dropped bombs on Piazza Erbe during market hours, causing 29 deaths and numerous injuries.
On the opposite side is the Domus Mercatorum, a low crenellated brick building surrounded by a wide portico. It was the seat of the medieval arts guilds.
Other Buildings and Monuments
The unique aspect of Piazza delle Erbe is given by the presence of several buildings and monuments of great visual impact.
. The 84-metre-high Lamberti Tower is the tallest building in Verona. It is characterized by the various styles and materials with which it has been built several times over the centuries.
The short side of the square, where the Capitolium stood in Roman times, is entirely occupied by palazzo Maffei, a magnificent Baroque building surmounted by statues of Roman gods. It is now home to the extraordinary museum that exhibits the works of the Carlon Foundation.
Barbarani and Dall'Oca Bianca
At one end of the square, a bronze statue of Berto Barbarani gazing at the market and the Lamberti tower is the city's tribute to its most passionate storyteller.
The Market
Verona's ancient forum has always been a place of commercial exchange. In the Middle Ages, the main merchandise sold here was spices and vegetables. Hence the current name of Piazza delle Erbe. In recent decades, the spread of large supermarkets and the growth of tourism in Verona have changed the appearance of the stalls in Piazza Erbe. Today there are only two or three stalls that still sell fruit and vegetables, surrounded by souvenirs of all kinds
PIAZZA Bra
Piazza Bra, often simply called The Bra, is the largest public square in Verona, Italy, situated in its historic city center. The name "Bra" derives from a corruption of braida, a term rooted in the Lombardic word breit, meaning 'wide' or 'broad'.
The open space of the Bra began transforming into a defined square in the early 16th century, when architect Michele Sanmicheli completed the Palazzo degli Honorij. This building delineated the western boundary of the future square and established a proper perspective toward the Verona Arena.The first effort to convert the unpaved expanse into a leisurely promenade came from podestà Alvise Mocenigo, who sought to create a gathering place for Verona’s emerging bourgeoisie. In 1770, he inaugurated the initial section of the Liston, a paved sidewalk flanking the Bra, linking Corso Porta Nuova to Via Mazzini.
The Gran Guardia, begun by the Venetians in the 17th century and completed by the Austrians in the 19th century, defined the southern edge. In 1836, architect Giuseppe Barbieri designed the eastern boundary, where an old hospital, several houses, and a small church were demolished to make way for the Gran Guardia Nuova, now better known as Palazzo Barbieri. Initially used as an Austrian barracks, it became Verona’s municipal headquarters following the annexation of Veneto to the Kingdom of Italy.
Arena
The absence of written records about the amphitheater’s inauguration makes precise dating challenging, though it is now widely accepted to have been built in the 1st century AD. Historians studying archaeological finds, such as statues that once adorned it, place its construction between 10 and 20 AD, from late in Augustus’s reign to early in Tiberius’s. Given that statues were typically added upon completion, historian Pirro Marconi suggests the Arena was finished around 30 AD.The arena measures 250 x 150 Roman feet, or 75.68 m x 44.43 m, with a 5:3 ratio of major to minor axes. Its total diameter is 152.43 m x 123.23 m (520 x 420 Roman feet), and the auditorium spans 39.40 m (125 feet).Today’s appearance differs from the original due to the missing outer ring; the inner façade lacks the third gallery, preserved only in the “wing”—four arches, the sole remnant of the outer wall. Recent estimates for summer performances put the capacity at 22,000, though the stage occupies about a third of the seats, and the upper portico is gone. In Roman times, it likely held up to 30,000.
The Arena di Verona Festival, launched in 1913 with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida to mark his centennial, brought global attention. Attendees included luminaries like Giacomo Puccini, Arrigo Boito, Pietro Mascagni, and a then little-known Franz Kafka.[18] The Arena also launched Maria Callas’s operatic career with her debut in Amilcare Ponchielli’s La Gioconda
milan
Milanis the regional capital of Lombardy, in northern Italy, and the seat of the Metropolitan City of Milan. It is the second-most populous city in Italy after Rome, with a population of 1.36 million in 2025. The city's wider metropolitan area is the largest in Italy, and the fourth-largest in the European Union, with an estimated population of 6.1 million.[3] Milan is considered Italy's economic capital,[8] and its metropolitan area accounts for about 20% of the country's GDP.
Milan Cathedral
Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano [ˈdwɔːmo di miˈlaːno]; Milanese: Domm de Milan [ˈdɔm de miˈlãː]), or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary (Italian: Cattedrale Metropolitana della Natività della Beata Vergine Maria), is the cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary (Santa Maria Nascente), it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Archbishop Mario Delpini.
The cathedral was built over several hundred years in a number of contrasting styles. Reactions to it have ranged from admiration to disfavour. The Guida d’Italia: Milano 1998
(Touring Club Editore, p. 154) points out that the early Romantics tended to praise it in "the first intense enthusiasms for Gothic". As the Gothic Revival brought in a purer taste, condemnation was often equally intense.
John Ruskin commented acidly that the cathedral steals "from every style in the world: and every style spoiled. The cathedral is a mixture of Perpendicular with Flamboyant, the latter being peculiarly barbarous and angular, owing to its being engrafted, not on a pure, but a very early penetrative Gothic … The rest of the architecture among which this curious Flamboyant is set is a Perpendicular with horizontal bars across: and with the most detestable crocketing, utterly vile. Not a ray of invention in a single form… Finally the statues all over are of the worst possible common stonemasons’ yard species, and look pinned on for show. The only redeeming character about the whole being the frequent use of the sharp gable ... which gives lightness, and the crowding of the spiry pinnacles into the sky." (Notebooks[M.6L]). The plastered ceiling painted to imitate elaborate tracery carved in stone particularly aroused his contempt as a "gross degradation”
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| Artwork on the door of the cathedral |
The monument was executed by the sculptor Pietro Magni, beginning in 1858; due to Milan's transition from the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom to first the Kingdom of Sardinia and then the Kingdom of Italy, funding for its construction had problems and delays. After its inauguration the monument was much criticised because of the choice of location and because it was considered a legacy of the Austrian administration.
Architecture
The architectural and artistic presence in Milanrepresents one of the attractions of the Lombard capital. Milan has been among the most important Italian centers in the history of architecture, has made important contributions to the development of art history, and has been the cradle of a number of modern art movements.
There are only few remains of the ancient Roman city, notably the well-preserved Colonne di San Lorenzo. During the second half of the 4th century, Saint Ambrose, as bishop of Milan, had a strong influence on the layout of the city, reshaping the centre (although the cathedral and baptistery built in Roman times are now lost) and building the great basilicas at the city gates: Sant'Ambrogio, San Nazaro in Brolo, San Simpliciano and Sant'Eustorgio, which still stand, refurbished over the centuries, as some of the finest and most important churches in Milan. Milan's Cathedral, built between 1386 and 1877, is the largest church in the Italian Republic—the larger St. Peter's Basilica is in the State of Vatican City, a sovereign state—and the third largest in the world,as well as the most important example of Gothic architecture in Italy. The gilt bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, placed in 1774 on the highest pinnacle of the Duomo, soon became one of the most enduring symbols of Milan.
DAY3
Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world, where the sector can count on 12,000 companies, 800 show rooms and 6,000 sales outlets; the city hosts the headquarters of global fashion houses such as Armani, Bottega Veneta, Costume National, Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared², Etro, Jil Sander, Loro Piana, Luxottica, Marni, Moncler, Moschino, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Trussardi and Zegna and four weeks a year are dedicated to fashion events.
Since the late 1800s, the area of Milan has been a major industrial and manufacturing center. Alfa Romeo automobile company and Falck steel group employed thousands of workers in the city until the closure of their sites in Arese in 2004 and Sesto San Giovanni in 1995.
Fashion and design
Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world, where the sector can count on 12,000 companies, 800 show rooms and 6,000 sales outlets; the city hosts the headquarters of global fashion houses such as Armani, Bottega Veneta, Costume National, Dolce & Gabbana, Dsquared², Etro, Jil Sander, Loro Piana, Luxottica, Marni, Moncler, Moschino, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Trussardi and Zegna and four weeks a year are dedicated to fashion events.
Numerous international fashion labels also operate shops in Milan. Furthermore, the city hosts the Milan Fashion Week twice a year, one of the most important events in the international fashion system.Milan's main upscale fashion district, quadrilatero della moda, is home to the city's most prestigious shopping streets (Via Monte Napoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia), in addition to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world's oldest shopping malls. The term sciuraencapsulates the look and culture of fashionable, elderly Milanese women.
Whereas Rome is Italy's political and cultural capital, Milan is the country's industrial and financial heart, and it is widely considered the economic capital of Italy[9] and one of the wealthiest cities in the country in terms of per-capita GDP.According to Eurostat, Milan's metropolitan region GDP was €228 billion ($265 billion) in 2024,while the whole Lombardy's gross regional product was €490 billion ($568 billion), the second-largestamong EU regions.
Como
Como is a city and comune(municipality) in Lombardy, Italy. It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como.
Switzerland is a mountainous country located in the heart of Europe, known for its four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Politically neutral, it is home to numerous international organisations. The country offers a high standard of living, an efficient transport system, and a strong, innovative economy. While Switzerland is at the forefront of global innovation, it also places great importance on preserving its rich traditions.
Göschenen is located at 1111 m altitude at the head of the Urner Reusstal valley near the north portals of the Gotthard railway and motorway tunnels. For centuries, village history has been shaped by the development of traffic over and through the Gotthard.
Most people know Göschenen from passing through it. Unjustly so, as taking a break here is well worthwhile for culture and nature lovers.
The Teufelsstein (Devil’s Stone) stands at the entrance to Göschenen village, a monument to the construction of the legend-steeped Teufelsbrücke (Devil’s Bridge) over the cavernous Schöllenschlucht gorge, the last obstacle on the so important north-south trade route across the Alps. Gorge and bridge are the true landmarks of Göschenen. The village’s most turbulent time was the period from 1872 to 1882 when the Gotthard tunnel was built – by far the longest railway tunnel in the world at that time. Overnight, the tiny mountain village was transformed into a settlement with thousands of foreign workers. The next milestone followed almost 100 years later: the world’s longest road tunnel, 16.3 km in length, was opened after ten years of construction.
Stretching to the west of Göschenen, away from the flow of traffic, is the Göscheneralptal valley with reservoir, a charming recreational area dominated by the 3630 m-high Dammastock. Craggy granite walls contrast with gentle moors and ponds. Five SAC mountain huts provide starting points or stage destinations for one or several-day hikes and climbing tours in an impressive mountain world. In winter ski tourers will find a wide choice of rewarding summits.
Andermatt
Andermatt is in the Urserenvalley, on the headwaters of the river Reuss and surrounded by the Adula Alps. Immediately to the north of Andermatt, the Reuss flows through the steeply descending Schöllenen Gorge (or "the Schöllenen") to Göschenen and further down the Reuss Valley to the north. It then flows, near Altdorf, into the Urnersee, part of Lake Lucerne. In the other three directions, the valley is linked by three Alpine passes: the Oberalp Pass (6,706 ft; 2,044 m) to the east, the St Gotthard Pass (6,909 ft; 2,106 m) to the south and the Furka Pass (7,992 ft; 2,436 m) to the west.
Andermatt has an area, as of 2006, of 62.2 km2 (24.0 sq mi). Of this area, 40.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 5.5% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.7% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (52%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains). In the 1993/97 land survey, 0.4% of the total land area was heavily forested, while 5.1% is covered in small trees and shrubbery. Of the agricultural land, 4.3% is used for orchards or vine crops and 36.5% is used for alpine pastures. Of the settled areas, 0.5% is covered with buildings, and 1.1% is transportation infrastructure. Of the unproductive areas, 0.5% is unproductive standing water (ponds or lakes), 1.0% is unproductive flowing water (rivers), 30.9% is too rocky for vegetation, and 19.7% is other unproductive land.
"To me this is the loveliest and most fascinating of "To me this is the loveliest and most fascinating of regions."
Inside Andermatt, the quaint alpine village fast becoming Switzerland’s best-kept secret
A glance into Andermatt’s history reveals a fascinating past. In the late 1800s, the Swiss Army established one of the country’s most significant military training grounds in the village. Thereafter, for nearly a century, Andermatt operated as a strategic military site, surviving on the economic activity brought by the soldiers.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe already knew how varied the Andermatt Holiday Region is.
The Andermatt Holiday Region is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The region is the ideal place for nature and culture lovers who are looking for relaxation and memorable moments in a fantastic mountain world. With the largest ski area in Central Switzerland, cross-country skiing trails, winter hiking trails and the ice rink, the region offers the perfect setting for all winter activities.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe already knew how varied the Andermatt Holiday Region is.
The Andermatt Holiday Region is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The region is the ideal place for nature and culture lovers who are looking for relaxation and memorable moments in a fantastic mountain world. With the largest ski area in Central Switzerland, cross-country skiing trails, winter hiking trails and the ice rink, the region offers the perfect setting for all winter activities.
But to understand Andermatt’s relationship with hospitality, one has to look even further back. By 1830, the Gotthard Pass was made accessible for horse-drawn carriages, leading to an influx of tourism and trade into Andermatt. The village flourished and Grand Hotel Bellevue was opened as a haven of luxury, welcoming its share of well-heeled clientele from Russian aristocracy to Queen Victoria.
Obergesteln
Obergesteln is a village in the municipality of Obergoms in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
Obergesteln was an independent municipality until January 1, 2009, when it merged with Oberwald and Ulrichen to form the municipality Obergoms.
Zermatt
Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a year-round population of about 5,800 and is classified as a town by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO).
Zermatt is famed as a mountaineeringand ski resort of the Swiss Alps. Until the mid-19th century, it was predominantly an agricultural community; the first and tragic ascentof the Matterhorn in 1865 was followed by a rush on the mountains surrounding the village, leading to the construction of many tourist facilities. The year-round population (as of December 2020) is 5,820,[2] though there may be several times as many tourists in Zermatt at any one time. Much of the local economy is based on tourism, with about half of the jobs in town in hotels or restaurants[3] and just under half of all apartments are vacation apartments.[4] Just over one-third of the permanent population was born in the town, while another third moved to Zermatt from outside Switzerland.
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Zermatt has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfc). Summertime is cool in Zermatt, with mild days and cool nights, while winter is cold and snowy, with highs around freezing and annual snowfall averaging 128 inches (325 cm).
The town of Zermatt lies at the southern end of the Matter Valley (German: Mattertal), which is one of the lateral branches of the grand Valley of the Rhône. Zermatt is almost completely surrounded by the high mountains of the Pennine Alps including Monte Rosa (specifically its tallest peak, named Dufourspitze), Switzerland's highest peak at 4,634 metres (15,203 ft) above sea level. It is followed by the Dom (4,545 m [14,911 ft]), Liskamm (4,527 m [14,852 ft]), Weisshorn (4,505 m [14,780 ft]) and the Matterhorn (4,478 m [14,692 ft]). Most of the Alpine four-thousanders are located around Zermatt or in the neighbouring valleys.
The village was "discovered" by mid-nineteenth-century British mountaineers, most notably Edward Whymper, whose summit of the Matterhorn made the village famous. The Matterhorn was one of the last alpine mountains to be summitted (in 1865), and the first expedition that reached the top ended dramatically with only 3 of the 7 climbers surviving the descent. The story is related in the Matterhorn Museum.
Zermatt is a starting point for hikes into the mountains, including the Haute Route that leads to Chamonix in France and the Patrouille des Glaciers. Cable cars and chair liftscarry skiers in the winter and hikers in the summer; the highest of them leads to the Klein Matterhorn at 3,883 m (12,740 ft), a peak on the ridge between Breithorn and Matterhorn that offers extensive views in all directions. 
It is possible to cross into Italy via the Cervinia cable car station. A rack railway line (the Gornergratbahn, the highest open-air railway in Europe) runs up to the summit of the Gornergrat at 3,089 m (10,135 ft). Zermatt is also the western terminus for the Glacier Express rail service connecting to St. Moritz and the MGB (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn). Together with eleven other towns Zermatt is a member of the community Best of the Alps.
It is possible to cross into Italy via the Cervinia cable car station. A rack railway line (the Gornergratbahn, the highest open-air railway in Europe) runs up to the summit of the Gornergrat at 3,089 m (10,135 ft). Zermatt is also the western terminus for the Glacier Express rail service connecting to St. Moritz and the MGB (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn). Together with eleven other towns Zermatt is a member of the community Best of the Alps.
The Gornergrat is served by the Gornergrat railway, a 29-minute ride to the Gornergrat peak (3,089 m), via Riffelalp, Rotenboden and Riffelberg, (with limited stops at Findelbach and Landtunnel just above Zermatt). At the summit, the hotel and restaurant have been refurbished and accommodate a shopping centre. Riffelalp station is linked to Riffelalp Resort by a short tramway line named Riffelalptram.
Klein Matterhorn / Schwarzsee
Near the southern end of Zermatt, the Matterhorn Express gondola transports passengers up to the interchange station at Furi. From here there is access to Schwarzsee via a gondola to the right, a cable car that leads on to the Trockener Steg midstation (and then on to the Klein Matterhorn); and a new gondola, opened on 18 December 2006, links Furi to Riffelberg on the Gornergrat mountain. This lift addresses one of the most persistent criticisms of Zermatt: that it is very difficult to ski the two sides of the valley without a tiresome trek through Zermatt between the Gornergratbahn and the Matterhorn Express at opposite ends of the town.
Testa Grigia at the top of the Theodul Pass serves as a connection to the Italian ski-resorts of Cervinia and Valtournenche. From the Swiss side it is reachable by skilift only, but from the Italian side by a chairlift and by a cablecar. In March 2019 it was announced that a new lift – the 'Alpine Crossing' – will connect Testa Grigia and Klein Matterhorn from spring 2021.There are customs offices here as well as a small alpine museum.
Experience the magic of Zermatt: the romance of the mountains and a lively atmosphere.
Zermatt is known throughout the world for its skiing, especially Triftji for its moguls. The high altitude results in consistent skiing continuously throughout the summer.
In 2008, Zermatt hosted an "Infinity Downhill Race". The race took place on 13 and 14 December and comprised a course descending from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (3,800 m (12,500 ft)) and finished in Zermatt itself (1,600 m (5,200 ft)). The course was 20 kilometres (12 miles) long and featured a 2,200 metres (7,218 feet) descent.
History of Zermatt & the Matterhorn
Zermatt is famed as a mountaineering and ski resort throughout the Alps. Until the mid-19th century, it was predominantly an agricultural community. The town was “discovered” mid-century by British mountaineers, most notably Edward Whymper, whose conquest of the Matterhorn made the village famous.
The Matterhorn was one of the last alpine mountains to be conquered (in 1865), and the first expedition that reached the top ended dramatically with only 3 of the 7 climbers surviving the descent. The story is related in the Matterhorn Museum.
The first triumphant and tragic ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 was followed by a rush on the mountains surrounding the village, leading to the construction of many tourist facilities.
The name of Zermatt, as well as that of the Matterhorn itself, derives from the alpine meadows, or Matten (in German), in the valley. The name appeared first as Zur Matte (“in the meadow”) and became later Zermatt. It does not appear until 1495 on a map or 1545 in a text, but may have been employed long before.
Zermatt is a good place to start many hikes into the surrounding mountains, such as the Haute Route that ultimately leads to Chamonix in France. A complex of cable carsand chair lifts carry skiers in the winter and hikers in the summer; the highest of them leads to the Klein Matterhorn, a small outcropping on the ridge between Breithorn and Matterhorn that offers cool views in all directions. It is possible to cross into Italy via the Cervinia cable car station.
The Gornergrat (English: Gorner Ridge; 3,135 m (10,285 ft)) is a rocky ridge of the Pennine Alps, overlooking the Gorner Glacier south-east of Zermatt in Switzerland. It can be reached from Zermatt by the Gornergrat rack railway (GGB), the highest open-air railway in Europe. Between the Gornergrat railway station (3,090 m (10,140 ft)) and the summit is the Kulm Hotel (3,120 m (10,240 ft)). In the late 1960s two astronomical observatories were installed in the two towers of the Kulmhotel Gornergrat. The project “Stellarium Gornergrat” is hosted in the Gornergrat South Observatory.
Riffelberg mountain station
Riffelberg is a railway station on the Gornergrat railway, a rack railway which links the resort of Zermatt with the summit of the Gornergrat. The station is situated west of the Gornergrat, in the Swiss municipality of Zermatt and canton of Valais, at an altitude of 2,582 m (8,471 ft) above mean sea level. It is the third highest station on the line and, considering only open-air railway stations, the third highest in Switzerland and Europe as well.
Experience the magic of Zermatt: the romance of the mountains and a lively atmosphere.
The car-free village of Zermatt offers the romance of the mountains 365 days a year. Enjoy a walk through the romantic corners of the old village! Or a stroll along the town’s main street, Bahnhofstrasse. Zermatt buzzes with life. There is a wide variety of shops, cafés, bars and stylish hotel lounges in Zermatt catering for all tastes and the Valais village of old also showcases its history, with 500-year old wooden houses. Romantic neighbourhoods and quiet corners are easily accessible on foot.
Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants.
The village is situated at the end of Mattertal at an altitude of 1,620m (5,315ft), at the feet of Switzerland’s highest peaks. It lies about 10km (6miles) from the 3,300 metres high Theodul Pass leading to Italy.
The village of Zermatt lies at the southern end of the Matter Valley (German: Mattertal), which is one of the lateral branches of the great Valley of the Rhone. The village is almost completely surrounded by the high mountains of the Pennine Alps among which is the Monte Rosa (or Dufourspitze), Switzerland’s highest peak at 4,634 metres above sea level. It is followed by the Dom (4,545 metres), Lyskamm (4,527 metres), Weisshorn (4,505 metres) and the Matterhorn (4,478 metres). Most of the Alpine four-thousanders are located around Zermatt or in the neighbouring valleys.
Zermatt is traversed by the main river of the valley: the Vispa, which takes its sources from the glaciers located at the feet of the highest peaks; the Gorner Glacier on the east side near the Monte Rosa and the Zmutt Glacier on the west side between Dent d’Hérens and Dent Blanche.
A large number of hamlets are located in the valleys around Zermatt, they can be reached on skis or by walking. Their names are well known to many: Zum See, Zmutt, Findeln, Blatten.
Herbriggen
Herbriggen lies 5.5 kilometers south of St. Niklaus village ( 1120 m above sea level , Zaniglas in Valais German ) on the right bank of the Mattervispa at 1260 m above sea level , below the Nieschfäd ( 2400 m above sea level ). The village center of Herbriggen consists almost entirely of old buildings and a church ; the northern part comprises farm buildings, and the southern part includes the Hotel Bergfreund and residential buildings.
Stalden
Stalden has an area, as of 2011, of 10.5 square kilometers (4.1 mi2).Of this area, 10.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while 71.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 6.4% is settled (buildings or roads) and 11.7% is unproductive land.
Heritage sites of national significance
Martigny
Martigny (French pronunciation: [maʁtiɲi]; German: Martinach, pronounced [ˈmaʁtiːnaːx]; Latin: Octodurum) is the capital city of the district of Martigny, canton of Valais, Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of 471 meters (1,545 ft), and its population is approximately 20,000 inhabitants (Martignerains or "Octoduriens"). It is a junction of roads joining Italy, France and Switzerland. One road links it over the Great St. Bernard Pass to Aosta (Italy), and the other over the col de la Forclaz to Chamonix (France). In winter, Martigny is known for its numerous nearby Alp ski resorts such as Verbier.
Martigny lies at an elevation of 471 meters (1,545 ft), about 33 kilometers (21 mi) south-southeast of Montreux. It is on the left foothills of the steep hillsides of the Rhone Valley, at the foot of the Swiss Alps, and is located at the point where the southwestern-flowing Rhone turns ninety degrees northward and heads toward Lake Geneva. The river La Drance flows from the southern Valais Alps (Wallis) through Martigny and joins the Rhone from the left just after Rhone's distinctive, almost rectangular change in direction.
Territet
Territet (Montreux) is a locality which is part of the Montreux commune, in the Vaudcanton, Switzerland. It is located between the city center of Montreux and the village of Veytaux, within the municipality of Montreux, on the lake Geneva shore.
Chillon castle
Chillon Castle (French: Château de Chillon, pronounced [ʃɑto d(ə) ʃijɔ̃]) is a medieval island castle located on Lake Geneva, south of Veytaux in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It is situated at the eastern end of the lake, on the narrow shore between Montreux and Villeneuve, which gives access to the Alpine valley of the Rhône. Chillon is amongst the most visited medieval castles in Europe.[1] Successively occupied by the House of Savoy, then by the Bernese from 1536 until 1798, it now belongs to the canton of Vaud and is classified as a Swiss Cultural Property of National Significance.
The castle of Chillon is built on the island of Chillon, a small, steep-sided oval limestone rock that advances into Lake Geneva between Montreux and Villeneuve. The placement of the castle is strategic: it guards the passage between the Vaud Riviera, which allows access to the north towards Germany and France, and the Rhone valley, a quick route to Italy, and offers a viewpoint over the Savoyard coast on the opposite side of the lake. A garrisoncould thus control (both militarily and commercially) the access to the road to Italy and apply a toll.
Surrounded by a natural moat, the castle can be accessed via the lake from all sides. It is considered a ‘waterside castle’. Chillon is connected to the land by a bridge (formerly a drawbridge, the remains of whose pulley system can still be seen). Chillon is a dual-purpose castle: the northern facade – pierced with arrowslits and later loopholes, and topped with machicolations – constituted the defensive section, which protected the Via Francigenaroad. On the south side, facing the lake, magnificent Gothic windows adorn the facade of the royal residence, looking out over the typical landscape of the Vaud Riviera, Lake Geneva and the mountains. In the centre, the keep and the treasury are connected to the corps de logis by sentry walks. Just picture yourself living here… the internal space is split into three main courtyards, each corresponding to how the buildings surrounding them were used: the constable’s and the lord’s residences, which date back to the feudal system.
Geneva
Geneva is the second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the capital of the Republic and Canton of Geneva. Geneva is a global city, an international financial centre, and a worldwide centre for diplomacy, which has led to it being called the "Peace Capital".
In 2025, Geneva was ranked as the world's fifteenth most important financial centre by the Global Financial Centres Index, and fourth in Europe behind London, Frankfurt and Dublin. In 2024, Geneva was ranked as the third most liveable city in the world by Mercer,as well as the fourth most expensive city in the world. In a UBSranking of global cities in 2018, Geneva was ranked first for gross earnings, and fourth in purchasing power, and was also the second most expensive city.
lausanne
A ROYAL THAI
PAVILION
H.M. King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) and H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) lived in Lausanne for 18 years, from 1933 to 1951, with H.R.H. the Princess Mother Mahidol and their older sister, H.R.H. Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhivas Rajanagarindra.The Thai pavilion is built in the Jaturamuk style, with four aspects and a Mandapa resembling a miniature of the royal palace. It is 6 metres wide, 6 metres long and 16 metres high, including the tip of the roof. The building showcases the excellence of Thai architecture and the traditional art of Thailand: fork-tail wood assembly, sculpture on wood, gold and glass decoration and gold leaf paint. These structures are not seen as religious buildings; they are part of a royal palace and are constructed for outdoor celebrations.
In Lausanne, the building was constructed in 2007 by Thai craftsmen in collaboration with the parks and promenades department. H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the daughter of H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, graciously accepted an an invitation to preside over the inauguration of the pavilion on 17 March 2009.
Bern
Bern is also the capital of the canton of Bern, the second-most populous of Switzerland's cantons. The city's official language is German.[note 4] The main spoken language is the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect, Bernese German. In 1983, the historic old town (in German: Altstadt) in the centre of Bern became a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. It is notably surrounded by the Aare, a major river of the Swiss Plateau.
The etymology of the name "Bern" is uncertain. According to the local legend, based on folk etymology, Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen, the founder of the city of Bern, vowed to name the city after the first animal he met on the hunt, and this turned out to be a bear (Middle High German bër). It has long been considered likely that the city was named after the Italian city of Verona, which at the time was known as Bern in Middle High German.[7] The city was sometimes referred to as Bern im Üechtland to distinguish it from Verona.[8] As a result of the finding of the Bern zinc tablet in the 1980s, it is now more common to assume that the city was named after a pre-existing toponym of Celtic origin, possibly *berna "cleft".The bear was the heraldic animal of the seal and coat of arms of Bern from at least the 1220s. The earliest reference to the keeping of live bears in the Bärengraben dates to the 1440s
Bern lies on the Swiss plateau in the canton of Bern, slightly west of the centre of Switzerland and 20 km (12 mi) north of the Bernese Alps. The countryside around Bern was formed by glaciers during the most recent ice age. The two mountains closest to Bern are Gurten with a height of 864 m (2,835 ft) and Bantiger with a height of 947 m (3,107 ft). The site of the old observatory in Bern is the point of origin of the CH1903 coordinate system at 46°57′08.66″N 7°26′22.50″E.
The city was originally built on a hilly peninsulasurrounded by the river Aare, but outgrew natural boundaries by the 19th century. A number of bridges have been built to allow the city to expand beyond the Aare.
Bern is built on very uneven ground. An elevation difference of up to 60 metres exists between the inner city districts on the Aare (Matte, Marzili) and the higher ones (Kirchenfeld, Länggasse). Bern has an area, as of 2013, of 51.62 km2(19.93 sq mi). Of this area, 9.42 km2 (3.64 sq mi) or 18.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.21 km2 (6.64 sq mi) or 33.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 23.76 km2 (9.17 sq mi) or 46.0% is settled (buildings or roads), 1.08 km2 (0.42 sq mi) or 2.1% is either rivers or lakes, and 0.14 km2(0.054 sq mi) or 0.3% is unproductive land.[16]
Of the developed area of Bern, 3.1% consists of industrial buildings, 22.3% housing and other buildings, and 12.9% is devoted to transport infrastructure. Power and water infrastructure, as well as other special developed areas, made up 1.2% of the city, while another 6.5% consists of parks, green belts, and sports fields.
Zytglogge
The Zytglogge is a landmark medieval towerin Bern, Switzerland. Built in the early 13th century, it has served the city as a guard tower, prison, clock tower, centre of urban life and civic memorial. Despite the many redecorations and renovations it has undergone in its 800 years of existence, the Zytglogge is one of Bern's most recognisable symbols and the oldest monument of the city,and with its 15th-century astronomical clock, a major tourist attraction. It is a heritage site of national significance,and part of the Old City of Bern, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Clock faces and façade decorations
Both principal façades, East and West, are dominated by large clockfaces. The Zytglogge's first clockface was likely located on the plinth, but was moved up to the center of the shaft during the tower's 15th-century reconfiguration.
The eastern clock face features an outer ring of large golden Roman numerals, on which the larger hand indicates the hour, and an inner ring on which the smaller hand indicates the minutes. The golden Sun on the hour hand is pivot-mounted so that it always faces up.
The western clock face has similar hands, but is an integral part of Victor Surbek's 1929 fresco"Beginning of Time". The painting depicts Chronosswooping down with cape fluttering, and, below the clockface, Adam and Eve's eviction from Paradise by an angel.
When the great bell rings out every full hour, struck by a large clockwork-operated hammer, passers-by see a gilded figure in full harness moving its arm to strike it. The larger-than-life figure of bearded Chronos, the Greek personification of time, is traditionally nicknamed Hans von Thann by the Bernese. The wooden bell-striker, which has been replaced several times, has been a fixture of the Zytglogge since the renewal of the astronomical clock in 1530, whose clockwork also controls the figure's motions. The original wooden Chronos might have been created by master craftsman Albrecht von Nürnberg,while the current and most recent Hans is a 1930 reconstruction of a Baroque original. The bell-striker has been gilded, just like the bells, since 1770.
Below the hour bell hangs the smaller quarter-hour bell, also rung by a clockwork hammer. It was cast in 1887 to replace the cracked 1486 original.
Kindlifresserbrunnen
The Child Eater Fountain (Kindlifresserbrunnen) stands in the Granary Place in Bern and is one of the city's notable 16th-century fountains. Created between 1545 and 1546 by Hans Gieng, it replaced an earlier wooden fountain from the 15th century. Initially called Plaza Fountain, the current name, Child Eater Fountain, was first used in 1666. In Swiss German, "Kindli" is a diminutive form of "Kind," meaning child, and thus the name translates to "Fountain of the Eater of Little Children."
Simsonbrunnen
While walking through the Old City of Bern, you will be delighted by dozens of colorful statues. Several of these 16th century artworks by Renaissance sculptor Hans Gieng sit on top of fountains in the middle of a street. Simsonbrunnen was erected on Kramgasse in 1544. According to the Book of Judges from the Old Testament, Samson was so strong he was able to kill a lion with his bare hands.
Lower Old Town
Lucerne
Lucerne (English: /luːˈsɜːrn/ loo-SURN) or Luzern is a city and a municipality in central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of the country. Lucerne is the capital of the canton of Lucerne and part of the district of the same name. With a population of approximately 82,000 people,[3]Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and a nexus of economics, transport, culture, and media in the region. The city's urban area consists of 19 municipalities and towns with an overall population of about 220,000 people.
Owing to its location on the shores of Lake Lucerne (German: Vierwaldstättersee) and its outflow, the river Reuss, within sight of the mounts Pilatus and Rigi in the Swiss Alps, Lucerne has long been a destination for tourists. One of the city's landmarks is the Chapel Bridge (German: Kapellbrücke), a wooden bridge first erected in the 14th century.
The official language of Lucerne is German,[note 2] but the main spoken language is the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect, Lucerne German.
Fritschi Fountain, Lucerne
Lion Monument
The Lion Monument (German: Löwendenkmal), or the Lion of Lucerne, is a rock reliefin Lucerne, Switzerland, designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were killed in 1792 during the French Revolution, when revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. It is one of the most famous monuments in Switzerland, visited annually by about 1.4 million tourists. In 2006, it was placed under Swiss monument protection.
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Neuhausen am Rheinfall
Neuhausen am Rheinfall (sometimes abbreviated as Neuhausen a. Rhf.,called Neuhausen until 1938) is a town and a municipality in the canton of Schaffhausen in Switzerland. The town is close to the Rhine Falls (German: Rheinfall), mainland Europe's largest waterfall.
Neuhausen am Rheinfall has an area, as of 2006, of 8.1 km(3.1 sq mi). Of this area, 14.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 51.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 30.9% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (3.2%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).
Zurich Airport
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