Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale (Piazza San Marco 1, Venice) – this is the Doge (Duke of Venice)’s palace – the supreme authority of the Republic of Venice. Built in Venetian Gothic style in 1340, it is one of the museums administered by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia. Exhibits range from Renaissance items to more modern art, such as French painter Manet.
Admission: €16 (reduced admission of €8 for seniors children 6 to 14 and students 15 to 25) – for both types admission price is valid for the Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. This ticket is valid for 3 months and grants one single admission to each museum. Hours: 8:30 am – 7:00 pm (April to October), 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (November to March). See its website for more details: http://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it
Museo Archeologico Regionale
Museo Archeologico Regionale
Museo Archeologico Regionale (Piazza Olivella 24, Palermo) – located in a former Renaissance-era monastery, this is one of the most important archaeological museums in Italy. The artifacts here reflect Sicily’s Ancient Greek and Roman past, as well as relics from Ancient Egypt and other periods. Some of the items displayed here were excavated at Selinunte and other ancient Sicilian sites such as Marsala, Segesta, Imera, and Randazzo near Catania.
Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Piazza Museo Nazionale 19, Naples) – located at the northwest corner of the original Greek wall of the settlement known as Neapolis (which later became Naples), this museum has a large collection of Roman era artifacts from the towns of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. It also has artifacts from Ancient Greece & Egypt, as well as the Renaissance period. This museum is viewed as the most prominent archeological institution in Italy. Admission: €6.50 Hours: Daily (except Tuesdays) 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
Herculaneum
Herculaneum
Herculaneum (Via Luigi Palmieri 173, Ercolano, province of Naples) – located just 17 minutes outsider of Naples (an 50 feet below the modern-day town of Ercolano), this Roman era site, along with Pompeii, were both destroyed by the volcanic mud stemming from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. To sightseers, Herculaneum is more interesting than Pompeii, since the volcanic damage to this Roman town wasn’t as extensive, giving tourists a more vivid view of Ancient Roman life. Because Herculaneum has gotten less international press than Pompeii, it is an easier place to visit. It’s also worthy noting that up until now, only half of Herculaneum has actually been excavated. Admission: €11 for Herculaneum only; €20 for biglietto cumulativo ticket to 5 sites (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Boscoreale, Oplontis, and Stabiae) valid for 3 days. Hours: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (November – March), 8:30 am – 7:30 pm (April – October). For more details, go to: www.pompeiisites.org
Gallerie degli Uffizi
Gallerie degli Uffizi
Gallerie degli Uffizi (Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, Florence) — this is one of the most famous museums of paintings and sculpture in the world. It contains a collection of Primitive and Renaissance painting, including works by Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. German, Dutch and Flemish masters are also well represented with important works by Dürer, Rembrandt and Rubens.
The Uffizi Gallery occupies the top floor of the large building erected by Giorgio Vasari between 1560 and 1580 to house the administrative offices of the Tuscan State. The Gallery was created by Grand-duke Francesco I and subsequently enriched by various members of the Medici family, who were great collectors of paintings, sculpture and works of art. The collection was rearranged and enlarged by the Lorraine Grand-dukes, who succeeded the Medici, and finally by the Italian State. Admission: €6.50 (general), €3.25 (reduced). Hours: Tuesdays through Sunday (8:15 am to 6:50 pm). See its website for more details: www.polomuseale.firenze.it
Galleria dell’Accademia
Galleria dell’Accademia
Galleria dell’Accademia (Via Ricasoli 66, Florence) – tourists are attracted here mainly to see works of art such as Michelangelo’s David and Prisoners, Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabines, and Botticelli’s Madonna and Child and Madonna of the Sea. Visitors will see this and more Renaissance-period art works. Admission: €6.50 (general), €3.25 (reduced). Hours: Tuesdays through Sunday (8:15 am to 6:50 pm).
Fontana Pretoria
Fontana Pretoria
Fontana Pretoria (Piazza Pretoria, Palermo, Sicily) – this is Palermo’s most popular fountain (crafted by Florentine sculptor Francesco Camilliani in 1554 and 1555. A collection of statues can be found throughout this fountain. Interestingly, this became known as the Piazza della Vergogna (Piazza of Shame) because of the many nude statutes that surround this fountain. This fountain is one of the few works from the Renaissance in Palermo.
Duomo
Duomo
Duomo (Piazza del Duomo, Florence) – this cathedral, known as the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, was completed in 1436, some decades before Columbus discovered the Americas. Architects marvel at this building since the construction of its cupola was considered a brilliant engineering feat at the time. The biggest artwork within the cathedral is Giorgio Vasari’s frescoes of the Last Judgment (1572-9): they were designed by Vasari but painted mostly by his less-talented student Frederico Zuccari by 1579. Admission: Free (church only), €8 (cupola). Hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday-Wednesday, Friday). 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (Thursday), 10:00 am – 4:45 pm (Saturday), 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm (Sunday).
Colosseum
Colosseum
Colosseum (Piazza del Colosseo, Rome) – located just east of the Roman Forum, the Colosseum was inaugurated in 80 AD, this is the largest amphitheater in the world, and one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering from the Roman Empire. During its years of operation, the Colosseum had an estimated capacity of up to 80,000 spectators (ranging from Roman royalty to commoners). Along with gladiator contests (made famous in recent times by various Hollywood films), the Colosseum held mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of major Roman battles, and theatrical dramas. Such use ended by the early medieval period. Despite its dilapidated condition, it still attracts tourists the world over, and is an enduring symbol of Italy’s glorious past. Admission: €12 (combined ticket with the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Imperial Forums, if used within 2 days). Hours: vary by month. Check the following website for more details: www.coopculture.it
Catacombe di San Gennaro
Catacombe di San Gennaro
Catacombe di San Gennaro (Via Tondo di Capodimonte 13, Basilica del Buon Consiglio, Naples) – located in the northern part of Naples, this is the largest network of catacombs in southern Italy. These catacombs contain the remains of San Gennaro (the patron saint of Naples), and have been in use from the early days of Christianity until the 10th century (containing the tombs of various bishops). Admission: €8 (adult), €5 (reduced – seniors, students, children under 18). Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. See its website for more details: www.catacombedinapoli.it
