Zainoo Blog

Le Strade Nuove & Palazzi dei Rolli system in Genoa

May 09 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

©Bigstock.com/johannes86

The Republic of Genoa hit its absolute peak in the 16^th and 17^th century. Major patrician families furthered trade relations achieving unprecedented wealth to the benefit of the entire region. In order to advertise this affluence, nobility and patricians established Le Strade Nuove (“New Streets”) which had a system of magnificent noble palaces and abundant patrician houses, the so-called Palazzi dei Rolli, built around them. These architectural masterpieces in Renaissance and baroque style continue to fascinate to this very day and were deservedly elevated to UNESCO World Heritage status in 2006.

A revolutionary road project

Around mid-16^th century the Republic of Genoa experienced a genuine boom. In order to give their world-spanning power a representative face, the construction of buildings for state visit receptions was furthered. Le Strade Nuove was to become the city’s wealthiest district and place of residence for the most important families. Architectural elements from the Renaissance and baroque period were chosen for the individual palaces. They gave -and give – the Strade Nuove a consistent yet highly diverse look of fully individual buildings that appear architecturally connected to one another despite obvious stylistic differences and variations. As weird and contradictory as it sounds, it actually works very well.

But why are the palaces of this revolutionary road project – the UNESCO calls it the successful commencement of modern, urban architecture in Europe – actually called Palazzi dei Rolli? “Rolli” were official lists of structures for holding receptions for the above-mentioned state visits. First compiled in 1576, the palazzi were grouped into different “Bussoli”, which can be compared to today’s star ratings in the hotel sector. The more magnificent a palace, the higher its Bussoli rating.

3 streets, 42 palaces, one World Heritage Site

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Today’s World Heritage Site doesn’t include all palaces of Le Strade Nuove, consisting of Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, Via Balbi and Via Cairoli, by a long shot. Effectively, “only” 42 of the 163 Palazzi dei Rolli, mostly dating back to the late 16^th and early 17^th century, made it onto the list. They stand for extraordinary diversity in architectural realization of a joint idea. Many are now used as museums and public buildings while others remain private residences.

Listing and describing all 42 palaces would be a bit much. After all, you’re only interested in the absolute highlights of these splendid roads, right? We’ve compiled some of our favourites and must-sees for you.

The Strada Nuova Museums

Several glorious palaces await you while walking along Via Garibaldi, three of which are home to stunning art galleries. The so-called Strada Nuova Museums invite you on a journey back in time diving into the fascinating history of the Republic of Genoa displaying artistic highlights of the Genoese school of painting as well as the most famous European painters from the 12^th to the 18^th century. Don’t miss out on these almost magical places!

Palazzo Rosso

Here’s an odd one: This palace built in 1675 was not one of the original 163 Palazzi dei Rolli, but it still became a World Heritage Site. You’ll understand this decision immediately when looking at the imposing red façade with a marble perron. One of Genoa’s most important art galleries is hidden behind it. Works by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, Albrecht Dürer, Guido Reni, Anthonis van Dyck and Paolo Caliari line the ostentatious halls. Some of the original mosaic floors and wall frescoes were unfortunately destroyed during an air raid in World War II, but that doesn’t affect the glory and splendour of this palace one bit.

Palazzo Bianco

Originally named Palazzo Luca Grimaldi after its constructor, this palace, which was bequeathed to the city in 1899, now acts as a well-deserved home to some of the most significant Genoese painters of the 17^th and 18^th century, such as Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, Alessandro Magnasco and Bernardo Strozzi. Other milestones of the European painting world from the 12^th to 17^th century were collected from several private collections to be displayed here. See famous works by Rubens and van Dyck, Caravaggio, Paolo Veronese, Hans Memling, Filippino Lippi and many more.

Palazzo Doria Tursi

The most imposing palace in Via Garibaldi was built on three lots of land in 1565 and expanded by another two loggias in 1597. The uniqueness of this building even lead to erroneous attributions to Michelangelo, for example by famous French author Alexandre Dumas (“The Three Musketeers”, “The Count of Monte Cristo”). Mayoral assembly halls aside, you’ll find a continuation of the Palazzo Bianco art gallery inside this palace with objects of arts like Paganini’s legendary violin plus coins, weights and measures dating back to the Republic of Genoa.

Other palaces worth seeing

Another 39 UNESCO Rolli palaces along three roads await you beyond the three museum palazzi in Via Garibaldi. Where to start, where to go? Your ZAINOO experts have a few suggestions at hand:

Palazzo Reale: 400 years of eventful history are hidden behind the walls of Palazzo Stefano Balbi, as this stunning building is also known. Originally constructed for the Balbi family in 1618, it was sold to the Royal House of Savoy in 1823 before falling into the ownership of the Italian Republic in 1919. A museum with 23 exhibition rooms is hidden behind the glowing façade. There’s a lot for you to see ranging from the monumental atrium with dapper 18^th century stucco ornamentation to the hanging garden to the throne hall and the noble apartment.
Palazzo Doria-Spinola: Today’s seat of the prefecture and the Province of Genoa can be traced back to Antonio Doria, cousin of the legendary admiral Andrea Doria. Rather inconspicuous from the outside, an unhurried tour of the palace reveals fascinating treasures. The decorations with scenes of the Trojan War and battles between sea monsters will amaze you.
Palazzo Durazzo-Pallavicini: Hanging garden, colonnade and breath-taking stairwell – three good reasons to visit this palace. Palazzo Durazzo-Pallavicini leads you directly to the astonishing art gallery of Palazzo Bianco.
Palazzo Angelo Giovanni Spinola: Named after its constructor, the ambassador of the Republic of Genoa to Spain, this palace has been in the ownership of various banking houses since 1919. Frescoes of the Calvi brothers grace the façade depicting members of the Spinola family in traditional Roman Condottiere costumes. The stairwell lined with grotesque frescoes lead you to the upper floor, richly decorated with frescoes as well. Andrea Semino, Bernardo Castello and Lazzaro Tavarone, who likely contributed to the façade frescoes as well, are among the artists who immortalised themselves here.

We’ve only managed to scratch the surface with seven of 42 Palazzi dei Rolli along Le Strade Nuove. It goes without saying that there’s an abundance for you to discover and experience, and don’t even get us started on the palaces that weren’t included on the UNESCO list. Time to kickstart your Genoa holiday planning!

The Dolomites: World Natural Heritage

Apr 23 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

©Bigstock.com/tomtsya

Italy’s magnificent beauty is hard to put into adequate words. Cultural, artistic and architectural achievements aside, it is a stunning country of wide, impressive diversity from north to south. Imposing mountain ranges, wide valleys, magical rivers and glowing beaches are wonderfully fascinating to both locals and guests from all over the world. Some of those scenic beauties even achieved the status of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The Dolomites with its nine areas and 18 peaks stretch across three regions and five provinces. Are you ready for an extended tour through the Southern Limestone Alps? Strap in!

Mountain landscapes of exceptional natural beauty

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The Natural Heritage committee used these flowery words to describe the truly unique region in Northern Italy with a core area of 141,910 hectares and just under another 90,000 buffer hectares. The Dolomites are most certainly deserving of protection – certainly not a revolutionary assessment as all nine areas had already achieved the status of either nature park, national park or Natura 2000 before the Natural Heritage declaration on 26 June 2009. The foundation Dolomites UNESCO manages all interests of the protected area.

Ultimately, not all recommended areas made it onto the illustrious UNESCO list – something you’re certainly already familiar with from other sites. The Langkopfel Group, Bosconero Group and Sella Group remain excluded, but efforts to change that are ongoing. For now, we take a look at the nine currently included areas across the regions Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto.

Pelmo-Croda da Lago

Our tour starts in the heart of the region. The mountain system Pelmo-Croda da Lago in the Province of Belluno is dominated by Monte Pelmo (3,168 m). It is also known as “Caregon del Padreterno”, the “Throne of God”, due to its unusual shape. According to legend, God sat down on Monte Pelmo after having created the Dolomites to rest and admire his handiwork. Countless other peaks, such as Pelmetto at just below 3,000 m or the eponymous Croda da Lago (2,701 m), are also part of this impressive mountain range.

Marmolada

Are you ready to meet the Queen of the Dolomites? Situated between Belluno and Trento, it features the tallest mountain of this UNESCO site (Punta Penia at 3,343 m). Mighty torrents flow around the Marmolada. This mountain range of startling contrasts starts out rather calm and hilly. Seemingly out of nowhere, massive rock walls rise above the forests and meadows, framed by gorges and ski regions. Don’t miss out on visiting the impressive Serrai di Sottoguda – a car-free gorge of astonishingly pure natural beauty that provides a home for ice climbers in winter.

Pale di San Martino, San Lucano, Dolomiti Bellunesi, Vette Feltrine

The second-largest mountain system of the UNESCO site also stretches across the Provinces of Trento and Belluno including a nature park and a national park. It is an area of great diversity from the rough south with its furrowed valleys to the north with a lot of pastures and meadows. Parco Nazionale Dolomiti Bellunesi even saw the return of bears and wolves just a few years ago, while the wood from Parco Naturale Paneveggio-Pale San Martino was used by Antonio Stradivari for his famous violins.

Dolomiti Friulane e d’Oltre Piave

Hikers love this fairly uniform area between Udine, Pordenone and Belluno. Enclosed by the river Piave – hence the name – and several valleys, the mountains are of comparatively moderate heights with Cima Preti being the only one just exceeding 2,700 m. Nature itself remained mostly unspoiled over the course of decades still displaying its primal vigour – a special treat in combination with gorgeous peak views. Consequently, there are no roads throughout Parco Naturale delle Dolomiti Friulane. You won’t be surprised to hear that the rather rare golden eagle feels at home here.

Northern Dolomites

An impressive 53,586 hectares between Bolzano and Belluno make up the largest area of this Natural Heritage Site. Experience such illustrious mountain ranges as the Tofane peaks with their tremendous rock triumvirate or the Cadore Dolomites with the Sorapiss. Due to its rich heritage in landscape, geology and natural history, the Northern Dolomites feature a whopping three protected areas. Among them is Parco Naturale Tre Cime encompassing what is likely the best-known mountain massif of the Dolomites. Many rare bird species, such as the golden eagle or the wallcreeper, nest here.

Puez-Odle

Small but powerful, at least compared to the other areas: Located inside the eponymous nature park, the charming mountain system Puez-Odle is enclosed by such well-known valleys as Val Gardena, Val Badia and Val di Funes. Clearly dominated by Sas Rigais (3,025 m), this area is home to countless animal species, diverse vegetation and pretty much all kinds of rock native to the Dolomites. Natural scientists and geologists love this region with good reason. How about you? Of course you love it, too – the ravishing mix of lush alpine meadows, tall peaks and deep gorges alone is worth a visit.

Sciliar-Catinaccio, Latemar

Familiar names, scenic natures: Astonishing peaks, such as Latemar (2,791 m), Catinaccio d’Antermoia (3,002 m), Catinaccio (2,981 m) and the Torri del Vajolet (2,813 m), await you between Trento and Bolzano. The emerald-green Lake Carezza reflecting the Campanili del Latemar, the Sciliar flat tops rising hive above the pastures, the lovely bellflowers campanula morettiana and campanula rapunculus – the Sciliar-Cantinaccio, Latemar area is full of natural beauty. Extended walks and mountain tours are a must!

Bletterbach

Bletterbach is the smallest area of this UNESCO site at just 271 hectares mostly covering the narrow gorge between Passo degli Oclini and Monte Pausabella. Erosion and denudations of volcanic rock created the Bletterbach gorge reaching depths of 400 m. In stark contrast, Corno Bianco peaks at an astonishing 2,317 m. If you’d like to explore this natural scenery in greater detail, we recommend visiting Geoparc Bletterbach featuring various educational natural trails focusing on topics such as forest, gorge and geology. Numerous information boards lead the way.

Brenta Dolomites

Last but certainly not least we visit the western Province of Trento, where Bocca di Brenta divides the Brenta Dolomites into two parts. Amazing peaks and unique shapes from Cima Tosa (3,173 m) to Cima Brenta (3,150 m) will wow you. Serving as a stark contrast to the rather slender, fluid lines of other Dolomites areas, the Brenta Dolomites might surprise you with their thin, jagged spires and lofty pinnacles – a testament to thousands of years of erosion. Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta grants you insights into unexpected variety of minerals as well as the diverse fauna.

Stunning hikes, extended walks, magical nature excursions and even many a ski slope adventure await you in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of the Dolomites. Let yourself be enchanted by the enthralling mountain region and discover a whole new side of Northern Italy. We wish you lots of fun with your alpine adventures!

Vineyard landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero & Monferrato

Apr 11 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

©Bigstock.com/javarman

When Italy was awarded its 50^th World Heritage Site in June 2014, it wasn’t one of the many amazing sights, but, for the very first time, a cultural landscape deserving of utmost protection. The vineyard landscapes Langhe-Roero and Monferrato in Piedmont are home to some of the country’s finest wines. Hundreds of municipalities run through this continuous hilly landscape with countless vines, small farms, villages, churches and castles. Five vineyard landscapes and one picturesque castle with a total area of over 10,000 hectares make up one of the country’s most amazing World Heritage Sites.

Nature meets human influence

The term “cultural landscape”, one of the deciding factors for the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration, describes a sort of co-operation between nature and man. While some changes to the existing scenery were made, particularly to establish the infrastructure necessary for winegrowing, those interventions were as gentle as possible in order to preserve the region’s natural beauty. Hill after hill, vineyard after vineyard, village after village now awaits you with a total catchment area of over 76,000 hectares.

The region itself is situated in southern Piedmont between the river Po and the Ligurian Apennines. Scientists found pollen dating back to the 5^th century BC providing clues on the area’s highly fascinating history. Etruscans and Celts established ties here and exchanged goods while, in Roman times, Pliny the Elder and the Greek historian Strabo praised the outstanding winegrowing culture. Some Celtic and Etruscan terms, particularly those relating to wine, are still part of the regional dialect. You will hardly be surprised to hear that the south of Piedmont between Langhe, Roero and Monferrato was responsible for many a technological revolution in wine production over the centuries.

Langa del Barolo

Now it’s time to explore the six parts of this UNESCO World Heritage Site one-by-one. Our first stop is Langa del Barolo. It is home to the durable Barolo, one of the best and most famous wines in the world. This dry, robust red wine is stored for around 38 months until it gains its ruby red colour and intense aroma. The village Barolo itself welcomes you with a museum of corkscrews and the glorious Falletti Castle with a wine museum and enoteca. Roddi, this quaint village nearby, has a special university for truffle dogs. Finally, we recommend a trip to La Morra. You will be enchanted by many a charming baroque building and the grand view across a veritable sea of rolling hills.

Castello di Grinzane Cavour

Five vineyard landscapes and one castle – a rather unusual UNESCO site, you’ll probably agree, but the castle in the municipality of Grinzane Cavour most certainly has a special appeal. The exact origin of this imposing box-type building is unknown – experts date it back to the 13^th century, the tower was built around 1350. In fact, the castle survived the centuries excellently and was only mildly altered over time. Its massive keep stretches across an entire wing flanked by extensive defensive fortifications. Your tour must include Sala delle Maschere. 157 panels, likely from the early 16^th century, splendidly depict coats of arms and animals. It goes without saying that the Castello has its own wine cellar.

The hills of Barbaresco

This dry red wine is extracted from the Nebbiolo grape around the villages Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso. It matures late and is usually only harvested in October when the vineyards are covered in fog (Italian: “la nebbia”), hence the name. Maturing for at least 26 months, the equally ruby red Barbaresco wine is known to impress with its dry, full-bodied taste. On clear days you can even see the mountains that hosted the alpine skiing competitions of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games from the hills of Barbaresco. Don’t miss out on a trip to Treiso, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages.

Nizza Monferrato and Barbera

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The roots of this extremely adaptable and high-quality grape variety can be traced back to the 13^th century. While this high-yielding grape is grown all across Italy today, it still tastes best in Nizza Monferrato. This fine wine with protected geographical designation of origin may only be grown in 18 municipalities around this very town. The mix of hot summer days and cool nights creates a special blend of fruitiness and acerbity reflecting the unadulterated grape character. If you happen to have a bit more time at hand, we recommend a neat little town walk with a peek inside the old 14^th or 15^th century town hall and the colourful Palazzo Crova.

Canelli and Asti Spumante

When it comes to sparkling wines, the province of Asti is your prime destination. Canelli, a municipality with around 10,000 inhabitants, is widely regarded as the stronghold of Asti Spumante, but it is also home to many other wines, such as Barbera, Moscato, Dolcetto, Freisa or Cortese. It goes without saying that Canelli is one of the world’s most important wine towns. The vast sparkling wine growing area stretches around the tremendous medieval castle, which was destroyed in 1617 and rebuilt as an astounding villa during the 1930s. The fine, aromatic Asti Spumante with its straw yellow to pale golden colour is known for its distinctly delicate aroma and balanced flavour. Its roots actually lie in the French city Reims. Wine pioneer Carlo Gancia was introduced to the process of producing champagne there and brought all the knowledge necessary for making the delicious sparkling Asti wine to the region in 1865.

Infernòt of Monferrato

Our final stage takes you to the region of Basso Monferrato, part of one another significant Italian winegrowing areas. Embedded in the rolling hills hardly exceeding 400 altitude metres, ancient, deep wine cellars were carved directly into the rock. There’s hardly any light and no aeration whatsoever in these Infernòt, the Piedmontese name for these hand-dug caves. The region’s best wines, such as Barbera and Dolcetto, mature here without any disturbance. You absolutely should participate in one of the many guided tours leading you through several of Montferrato’s most beautiful wine caves.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable tour through one of the world’s most significant winegrowing regions! Look forward to picturesque villages, glorious hilly scenery, friendly people and divine wines with an amazing mix of nature and technology, art and culture. Time to book your trip to southern Piedmont!

Castel del Monte

Mar 21 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

©Bigstock.com/Ibryan

An octagonal fortress that, to this day, poses many a riddle rises on a hill near Andria in southeast Italy. Castel del Monte, the “Castle of the Mountain” surprises with its unorthodox shape, the mix of various architectural styles and a very meagre interior. Built during the reign of Emperor Fredrick II, it held a special place among his great number of castles in Apulia and was eventually declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1996. We don’t know about you, but that sounds like reason enough to take a look at – and inside – this fascinating building.

Fredrick II and Italy

King of Sicily at age 3, King of Germany and Italy at age 18, Holy Roman Emperor soon after – Frederick II from the House of Hohenstaufen experienced a tremendous amount of power very early. He became an orphan as a toddler and was placed under the guardianship of Pope Innocent III, survived all power struggles, stabilised his empire and tried to lead it to renewed brilliance.

Frederick took a particular liking to Italy, where he spent 28 of his 39 years in power, stabilised Sicily, extended his empire and even secured the borders of the Northern Alps. His focus, however, was on the south of the country, which he continuously strengthened and fortified. Apulia, in particular, saw the construction of several castles and fortresses. They clearly followed contemporary ideas yet were visibly influenced by Frederick’s travels and his Crusade. Still, Castel del Monte manages to stick out from this architectural plurality.

What’s behind this castle?

It is unknown why Castel del Monte has its special shape. We neither know its original purpose. Located in the heart of a very fertile region in close proximity to the monastery Santa Maria del Monte, it was built on the fully dissipated grounds of another fortress that has been lost to time. There’s only one single piece of documentation from the year 1240 containing instructions to complete the castle. Thus, it remains unknown whether Castel del Monte was actually used as the emperor’s hunting seat, as was the belief among experts for a long time.

While the castle is situated strategically well in good proximity to Frederik’s network of fortifications and not too far away from his other residences either, all defensive elements, such as cellar, moat and lift bridge, are missing. Castel del Monte is comparatively small – thus the hunting seat theory – but experts now think that some of the original walls were lost over the course of time and it might have, in fact, originally been a citadel. We probably will never learn the exact purpose of Castel del Monte, but that only makes your trip to this impressive structure more exciting.

The architecture

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Castel del Monte looks like a mathematical miracle. The almost perfect octagon with a diagonal of 56 m was seemingly devised utilising strict mathematical and astrological – the octagonal form mediates between the circle (the infinite sky) and the square (the earth) – principles. Manifold light and shadow arrays unfold depending on the season and the position of the sun. You certainly won’t be the only one impressed as scientists have been working for centuries to decipher the riddle behind these arrays, if there even is one.

Matching the eight-corner construction, the fort features eight towers – octagonal as well – and eight halls. Experts assume that the courtyard used to contain an octagonal basin. Fredrick was likely inspired by the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem or the octagonal Palace Chapel of Aachen Cathedral. This would explain the stylistic plurality of the imposing limestone building with ancient, gothic and Islamic elements.

A look inside

Before entering Castel del Monte, you should direct your full attention to the entrance portal. Made from the conglomerate Breccia rossa (“red breccia”), it sees the collision of all styles. Ancient pilaster framing, gothic capitals, the rectangular perimeter with Islamic influences, oriental play of colours and column figures from Apulian Romanesque architecture symbolise Frederick’s drive to fully unite the entire empire.

The inside of the castle, however, seems rather bare. Originally vested with precious marble, paintings, tapestry and mosaics, the rooms and halls were stripped of its splendour over the course of the centuries. Only the colourful marble frets on most of the doors remained. Experts believe that part of the materials were used to build other facilities while looters and vandals took the rest.

What you should also know about Castel del Monte

But why, of all structures, was Castel del Monte – absolutely well-deserved, as you will agree – declared UNESCO World Heritage Site? And what’s the castle’s role in viniculture? We’ve collected seven more facts for you:

Grand: UNESCO’s reasoning behind declaring the castle World Heritage Site was the perfect synthesis of science, art and mathematics, the various stylistic influences and the exceptional role in medieval architecture.
Panta rhei: Castel del Monte possessed what likely was the most advanced water installations of its time. Rain water was used for the toilets and baths.
Mr X: It’s not just the exact purpose of the citadel that remains unknown; the architect itself couldn’t be determined either – one of many riddles surrounding this building.
High arts: Matteo Garrone’s “Tale of Tales” a 2015 movie based on the 17^th century fairy tale collection “Pentameron” by Italian writer Giambattista Basile, was filmed here. It is very likely that the aedificium from Umberto Eco’s “The Name of the Rose” was inspired by Castel del Monte.
Fine wines: There’s a large vineyard around the castle producing different red wines, white wines and rosés. They are mostly high-quality blends of different grape varieties.
Money, money, money: Have you ever flipped over an Italian 1 Cent coin? Castel del Monte is depicted on its back.
Popular destination: It’s not just Apulians who love the fortress, but the entire country. The castle has been among the top 15 most popular Italian tourist destinations for years. Guided tours are offered throughout the entire year and cost € 10 on average.

Are you ready for a mysterious trip back in time? Castel del Monte invites you to a historical investigation having many a fascinating secret hidden behind its walls. Travel back to the Hohenstaufen era and explore the special charm of this legendary fortress in Apulia!

Renaissance city Ferrara and its Po Delta

Mar 14 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

©Bigstock.com/mary416

What is the “ideal city”? And what does it look like? The concept of the perfect cityscape has been changing several times over the course of the centuries – what was right 300 years ago isn’t compatible with contemporary mobility concepts and urban development any more. Toward the end of the 15^th century the reigning Este family decided to give Ferrara the first modern planned city centre in the world. The historic Renaissance centre is still regarded as the epitome of humanistic times and, together with the cultivated landscape of the Po Delta, was added to the illustrious UNESCO World Heritage list in 1995.

A taste of Ferrara’s history

In order to fully understand both the unique composition of this World Heritage Site and the reason for building such a city centre, let us first take you on a brief trip into Ferrara’s illustrious history. In contrast to many other places, the city in Emilia Romagna doesn’t have any Roman roots whatsoever. Instead it was likely first populated by lagoon dwellers at a river branch in the Po Delta in the 7^th century. The region was only silted in the 12^th century after a dam failure.

After Ferrara fell to the noble Este family in 1264, the city blossomed. The establishment of a university and the promotion of fine arts attracted scholars, painters and sculptors to the Po Delta. The number of inhabitants exploded to over 130,000 during Ercole I. d’Este’s reign, the city needed to grow rather urgently. Court architect Biagio Rossetti was instructed to expand and fortify Ferrara like a chessboard from 1490 onward. Building wide and straight roads – as opposed to the then standard of expanding outward from a city centre – was a first for Europe back in the day. Incorporating humanistic principles, city-specific requirements and local traditions created the ideal Renaissance city.

Walk through Ferrara’s historic city centre

Many glorious monuments of architectural grandeur, perfectly connected through the road development projected mentioned above, also known as Addizione Erculea, await you on and around Piazza della Repubblica. You might already be familiar with our extended walk through Ferrara’s Renaissance city centre – a wonderful tour with the most important highlights and sights of the city as well as some attractive insider’s tips. Let us introduce you to some of the most beautiful buildings, churches and palaces.

San Giorgio

Things don’t always turn out quite the way you expect them to. When constructions of Cattedrale San Giorgio, dedicated to the city’s patron saint, began in 1135, the initial plan was to create a Romanesque sacral building. Ultimately, completion of the ambitious project would be delayed by over 200 years bringing you today’s truly fascinating mix and clash of styles with Gothic charm. You’ll discover arcades, rosettes and pinnacles as well as biblical depictions and Este images on the marble façade. The inside, lined with works by artists from the school of Ferrara, surprises with elements of 17^th and 18^th century architecture.

By the way, we cannot recommend a walk around the cathedral highly enough. Among the things you’ll discover is an amazing Campanile and the canopied Loggia dei Merciai, a 15^th century line of shops that still houses a few stores. The cathedral museum, however, can be found a few roads down in Via San Romano.

Castello Estense

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Why is there a moat in the heart of Ferrara? You’re not the only one asking yourself that. It surrounds Castello Estense, the former rulers’ house of the Este. A drawbridge leads you from Piazza Repubblica to the fort, originally intended as a stronghold to protect against potential national uprisings. It was only converted into the ducal residence in the mid-16^th century. The ostentatious Este lifestyle feels close enough to touch in the splendid Sale Estensi. A fascinating journey through time ranging from Mannerism frescoes to grim dungeons in the basement awaits you.

City palaces

Fort and cathedral aside, a number of palaces are virtually beckoning you to sneak a peek inside. Here are some recommendations for your historic city centre tour:

Palazzo Municipale: The former ducal Este palace used to be directly connected to Castello Estense. The stairway of honour, a roofed, cupola-capped 15^th century masterpiece, is a particular eyecatcher. The palace now houses the city hall.
Palazzo Schifanoia: Why so serious? Schifanoia loosely translates to “escape from boredom” and was fully dedicated to entertainment purposes. The Este rulers used to palace to get away from court monotony. A prime example of the Schifanoia concept is Sala dei Mesi with its, sadly poorly preserved, early Renaissance month frescoes.
Palazzo Costabili: When the Sforza were banished from Milan in 1503, construction of the palace for court ambassador Antonio Costabili ceased as well. The magnificent building remained unfinished, but the halls painted by Garofalo are certainly worth seeing. Don’t forget to stop by the great archaeological museum!
Palazzo dei Diamanti: Over 12,000 marble blocks with varyingly aligned, diamond-pointed rock tips turned Biagio Rossetti’s architectural masterpiece into a sight to behold. What used to be a living space and residence has since become Pinacoteca Nazionale with paintings from the 14^th to 17^th

Trip to the Po Delta

A genuinely unique cultivated landscape, planned meticulously over the course of decades and centuries and completed with both technical prowess and a keen eye for nature, awaits you around Ferrara. The gradual drainage of the Po Delta, now home to a gigantic natural park among other things, laid the foundation for one of country’s most amazing habitats. Wetlands, forests, pine groves and biotopes, but also agriculture and residential houses await you between the provinces Ferrara and Ravenna. Delizie Estensi, a collection of approx. 30 villas throughout the city and its surroundings, where the rulers and their families used to live and rule from, assume a special role. You cannot rate their strategic importance for the development, administration and defence of the region highly enough.

Whether you want to experience architectural masterpieces, innovative city planning or the fascinating coexistence of man and nature– Ferrara and the surrounding Po Delta are always worth a visit. ZAINOO wishes you tons of fun with what will certainly be an unforgettable trip to the ideal of Renaissance!

Venetian Works of Defence, 16th/17th century

Feb 21 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

©Bigstock.com/xbrchx

The Republic of Venice was the economic power and sea power in the Mediterranean area for centuries. Being a Great Power, they controlled a major part of all trade between the continents and became a hub for all sorts of goods, for the scheming of the rich & powerful, but also a target of repeated attacks on the Republic’s special position. In order to counteract them, numerous fortifications and works of defence were established to safeguard the external borders. The Venetian Works of Defence of the 16^th and 17^th century stretch across three Italian regions and a total of three countries. It was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017.

Why the works of defence were necessary

Castles and fortresses are almost as old as time. People have always felt the need to protect their belongings – a natural reflex that evolved throughout history and was boosted by the constant further development of civilisation, of claims to power, arming and warfare. The Republic of Venice had always had sophisticated works of defence at its disposal, but those had to be kept up with the times.

The invention of gunpowder caused a landslide in armed conflicts. Conventional fortifications couldn’t withstand cannonballs and penetration weaponry anymore, new ideas were needed. You can probably see where this is going: Existing works of defence were massively extended and modernised in order to withstand new challenges, new fortifications were built. Extensive works of defence were established between Stato da Terra and Stato da Mar. Visiting them, they will surely impress you with their inimitable mix of extraordinary architecture, technology and fascinating history.

The three Italian sites

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Half of the six works of defence included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list are located in Italy spread evenly across three regions. Travelling to each of them can take a bit of time, but that’s most certainly worth it – you should at least have an extended weekend available for this slightly unusual tour. You’d like to know where this tour would lead you, don’t you? Well, we might have an idea…

Bergamo

Bergamo in Lombardy used to serve as the westernmost outpost of the Republic of Venice and, as such, needed to be protected extensively. The city walls, their current form dating back to 1561, were expanded to an impressive six kilometres and upgraded greatly in order to withstand growing defensive requirements. In places it is up to 50 metres high and used to lead into the city through four heavily guarded gates. 14 bastions running across many a hill, two platforms and about 100 spots for pistols protected the border and were connected through an extensive network of underground corridors. Around 250 buildings were demolished for the construction of these city walls including notable cathedrals and cloisters. You probably won’t be surprised to hear that this practice caused severe conflicts with the church including several excommunications.

Peschiera del Garda

The Republic only managed to grab a hold of the small town Peschiera del Garda in Veneto in 1440. The rulers quickly realised the opportunity of building a major fortification on the shore of Lake Garda. Planned by Guidobaldo della Rovere and implemented by Michele Sanmicheli starting in 1549, it almost seems as if the ramparts were rising from the water leaning against the almost perfectly preserved historic town centre. With its earth dam reinforcements and special structures for improved artillery range, Peschiera del Garda was and is still regarded as the epitome of modern fortifications.

Palmanova

While these two sites had already existed before the Venetians attended to them, Palmanova was established solely to protect the Republic against the Ottoman Turks in the late 16^th century. In addition, this planned city was set to become the Republic’s principal land base, which didn’t work – the main square, which is oversized for a small town, is evocative of such ambitions. Wide roads lead the soldiers to the town walls in the quickest way possible. Commanding officers lived in the town centre, regular soldiers around them and mercenary soldiers along the fortifications. Palmanova represents the perfect fortress town and, as such, is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Venetian Works of Defence outside Italy

It goes without saying that we focus on the Venetian Works of Defence located in Italy. Still, we’d love to give you a brief overview of those in Croatia and Montenegro:

Zadar (Croatia): The port city at the Adriatic Sea fell to the Republic of Venice as early as 1409. As the Ottoman Turks were starting their conquering expeditions in the hinterland, massive fortification structures were developed in the early 16^th A special moat off the coast protects the city as do several gates and ramparts.
Nicholas in Šibenik (Croatia): Šibenik, known for its very own UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cathedral of St. James, is situated a bit further south where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea. There are a whopping four Venetian fortifications, of which St. Nicholas Fortress, located at the entrance of St. Anthony Channel, was included in this very UNESCO World Heritage collection.
Kotor (Montenegro): Originally an important centre of trade and flourishing competitor to the Republic itself, Kotor gradually lost its independence under Venetian protection. The impressive city walls were fully modernised and extended greatly along its entire length of 4.5 km. They now virtually flow into the eponymous Bay of Kotor.

Special case: The Venetian lagoon

According to original plans, even more towns were set to be included in this UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hvar, Korčula and all of Šibenik in Croatia, Herceg Novi and Ulcinj in Montenegro. They weren’t put on the final list, same as the Venetian lagoon, which we believe to be a special case. It is the site of several octagonal fortifications, the Venetian Arsenal, Fort San Felice and Fort Sant’Andrea. It is unknown why this impressive region wasn’t included. However, it is already part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Venice and its lagoon” and actually has been since 1987. Maybe the people responsible tried to avoid a double inclusion, yet the giant works of defence would’ve certainly been deserving.

Innovative and revolutionary for their time, still mighty impressive and, above all, mostly well-preserved: The Venetian Works of Defence of the 16^th and 17^th century continue to amaze to this very day, even if your interest in military history is limited at best. We wish you lots of fun for this round tour through Northern Italy and cannot recommend a trip to the lagoons and to other World Heritage Sites at the Adriatic Sea highly enough!

Villa Adriana in Tivoli

Feb 13 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

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There was an abundance of imperial residences in the Roman Empire, as the name suggests, but none of them ever matched the dimensions and the unbelievable splendour of Hadrian’s Villa. Villa Adriana in Tivoli, located approx. 30 km northeast of Rome, comprises of at least 125 hectares of land according to estimations – partially covered by buildings, partially covered by cultivated gardens. Hadrian used this place to let all the impressions he gathered on his many journeys come together. This UNESCO World Heritage Site even served as a major inspiration for all further developments of the art of garden design in the Renaissance. Extensive excavations are still carried out on this humongous area to this day.

Origin history

Hadrian reigned as 14^th Roman Emperor from 117 AD until his death on 10 July 138 AD. During his tenure he extensively travelled all provinces of his empire, particularly Egypt and Greece, where he collected an abundance of ideas and impressions for his summer residence, which would also serve as his old-age residence in later years. Construction and extension works on Hadrian’s Villa lasted a whopping 16 years. Its site was chosen strategically well. While there already was a tried and tested road connection to Rome, Via Tiburtina, its ideal location allowed transportation of materials to the construction site via the river Anio, which is connected directly to the Tiber.

Over the course of the years an old republican villa was extended drastically now including Greek and Egyptian elements, accompanied by comprehensive extensions of the water supply. Several brand-new buildings were constructed illustrating a gradual departure from the then-popular angular architecture. Gardens also played an important role in Hadrian’s thinking. The extensive dimensions of the green areas remained unmatched for a long time.

Decay and rediscovery

After Hadrian’s death the villa fell into the hands of his successors yet was more and more forgotten before eventually being exploited. The foundation of Constantinople lead to the removal of furnishing and marble, the facility then served as a storage and extraction site decaying more and more. During the Middle Ages almost nothing was left of the building’s former opulence.

However, Early Renaissance saw Villa Adriana in Tivoli experience just that. The rediscovery over the course of the 15^th century turned the site into a major source of inspiration for the contemporary art of garden design. Baroque gardens in particular tried to match Hadrian’s ideal. At the same time, excavations finally got started and pillages were at least reduced. Ultimately, only around 300 works of art could be found and were brought to various museums. To this very day around a third of the entire plot remains undiscovered as excavations are still in process.

What awaits you during your visit

We recommend a guided tour of the entire site of Villa Adriana in Tivoli. You get to visit all ruins, gain extensive insights into the various gardens and get to walk through the underground supply corridors. A look at the comprehensive aqueduct systems reveals the technological progress in transporting fresh water from the mountains to the villa. Here are some of the buildings and facilities of Hadrian’s Villa you’ll come across on your tour:

Piazza d‘Oro: Situated in the south part of the facility, the courtyard presumably served as the site of large receptions and banquets. Marble floors and Egyptian pillars extend around the big garden with water basin.
Thermae: The two thermae – Grandi Terme and Piccole Terme – were modelled after classic Roman ideals, thereby evoking familiar memories of comparable excavation sites. While the smaller one was meant for the emperor, his family and guests – precious stuccowork might remind you of its erstwhile splendour – the bigger of the thermae with floor heating was for personnel only.
Philosopher’s Chamber: Despite its name, the original purpose of this hall remains a mystery – maybe you can discover decisive clues during your tour? The rectangular room with alcoves and a semi-circular apsis might have been a library or a meeting hall.
Pecile: Reach the Pecile through the large gate on the north side of Villa Adriana in Tivoli. This rectangular column corridor established around an artificial pond offered protection from heavy wind and adverse weather as well as complete peace and solitude. Roman medicine prescribed a two-mile walk – seven rounds – through such a corridor after lunch.
Canopo: Hadrian’s journeys repeatedly lead him to Egypt, where he marvelled at the might of the river Nile. The Canopo is evocative of the eponymous canal that connected the Nile and Alexandria. The water basin was adorned by rows of pillars, statues and depictions of Greek gods.
Heliocaminus: Aside from the thermae facilities for guests and personnel mentioned earlier, there also was another thermal bath, the Heliocaminus. The warmth of the sun came in through glass windows, double-floored walls and floors were heated. The steam escaped through the lumen, a hole in the centre of the ceiling.
Teatro Marittimo: Despite what its name might suggest, no theatre performances took place here. Hadrian retreated to this miniature domus on an artificial island to meditate. This area was only accessible via two drawbridges controlled from the island offering the ruler full privacy.
Palazzo Imperiale: The emperor’s palace dates back to the first construction phase of Hadrian’s Villa and is widely regarded as being the oldest building on the entire plot. This imposing seat of power originally comprised a total area of approx. 50,000 m². All living and representative rooms were appointed with humongous, comprehensive mosaics.

Old ruins and replicas of original statues meet the remains of what were once imposing gardens, now having partially regained their former glory thanks to tender restauration with a keen eye for details. It fascinated and inspired over the course of thousands of years like only a select few other buildings could. Enrich your trip to Rome with these and other ZAINOO travel suggestions. We wish you an awesome visit to this astonishing UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata

Jan 24 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

©scaliger

A devastating natural disaster in the year 79 AD laid the foundation for one of the world’s most important cultural and historical research facilities. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried the towns Pompei, Oplontis, Herculaneum and Stabiae completely, but the ash largely preserved them. Official excavations only began in the middle of the 18^th century unearthing astonishing insights into the life in an ancient Roman city. These days, the archaeological sites of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata at the Gulf of Naples are extremely popular, not just among researchers and historians, and were even declared UNESCO World Heritage in 1997.

Destruction and archaeological history

The date of August 24^th stirred intense debates over the last century. While it can be found in letters by Pliny the Younger, other evidence, such as “autumnal” food leftovers in Pompei, would push it back by two months suggesting a transcription error. The sheer scale of the catastrophe, however, is uncontested. A sort of explosion inside the volcanic pipe sent a deadly cloud across the land. Most people either suffocated from the mixture of ash, lava and gasses or were struck by pumice stones raining from the sky. The survivors, such as the Roman writer Pliny the Elder, were later killed by glowing avalanches.

Even though first valuables were recovered shortly after the destruction of Pompei, the area remained untouched for centuries other than very sporadic settlements and some grave robbers. Excavations supervised by the Spanish military engineer Rocque Joaquín de Alcubierre and approved by the King of Naples only started on 6 April 1748. Such operations were halted and resumed numerous times over the following years and decades. Experts initially believed to have found Herculaneum and Stabiae. Research eventually experienced a boom from 1863 onward when Giuseppe Fiorelli was named Soprintendente. Increasingly more modern archaeological technology unearthed more and more buildings, structures and treasures.

Pompei

Even though several areas and facilities are part of this humongous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pompei is the most famous of them by a long way. We know very much about this ancient city in comparison to others, which is due to the rather well-preserved buildings and a great number of finds – treasures that can now be viewed in museums spread throughout the entire region. But what is it that makes Pompei so spectacular? We know the sites you absolutely have to visit during your tour:

Forum: A market place first and a meeting place in later years, the forum fulfilled several functions, as buildings from various eras suggest. Inscriptions put its completion around 80 BC, before Pompei was colonised.
Macellum: Archaeologists and experts still work diligently on the market hall for food on the northern forum site. The macellum was severely destroyed during a brutal earthquake in 62 AD and is currently being reconstructed as true to original as possible. Remnants of fruit and grain, but also of animal and fish bones were found here.
Capitolium: Dedicated to Jupiter originally, this temple was renovated for Apollo rather soon – a very early adaption to Rome around the mid-2^nd century BC. The exposed location and Roman architecture impress to this very day.
Basilica: As Pompei grew monumentally during the reconstruction of the capitolium for Apollo, this rectangular, three-nave basilica was built as well. It saw the first major use of burnt bricks while stucco gave it a representative look.
Thermae: Like the private houses, the thermae are known predominantly for their ostentatious, comprehensive frescoes. Many of them were protected extensively after having been excavated and are still in rather excellent conditions. The huge Stabian Thermal Baths are likely the oldest of the city, but you must also visit the Baths of the Forum and the Suburban Baths with their erotic frescoes.
Temples: We’ve already talked a few temples, but there are way more in Pompei, some of which feature altars with an abundance of frescoes. Forum Triangulare, a massive complex of buildings outside the city centre, features a temple for Hercules and Minerva. The pre-Christian Isis cult particularly left its mark among the regular population, as the Temple of Isis shows. There are also special facilities for Asclepius and Salus, for Venus and for Fortuna.
Theatres: You’ll probably be surprised to see what excellent condition the theatre facilities of Pompei are in. The large theatre, the Odeion and the first known amphitheatre are very well preserved, indeed. Different architectural styles illustrate the gradual transition from Greek to Roman cultural imprint quite well.

Herculaneum

While Pompei is the best-known of the three archaeological facilities of this UNESCO World Heritage Site by far, you still should visit the other ones. In comparison, there’s fairly little known about Herculaneum, as the ancient town was buried by masses of mud and its buildings were destroyed rather severely. The high cost involved halted all excavation attempts for a very long time. On top of that, armed thieves stole over 250 valuable artefacts in 1990. They remain lost to this day.

Herculaneum lets you take a look inside a few private houses and public buildings. There are also several villas outside the town. Impressive mosaic floors, old statues and artful wall paintings adorn the various facilities. You might even make out a few Roman graffities on house walls here and there. Most of the excavated valuables and pieces of art are not exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

Torre Annunziata

Another place completely buried was the ancient Roman site Oplontis, a few kilometres from Pompei and Herculaneum and now the location of Torre Annunziata. Archaeologists found the villa of a noble Roman family in 1964 and began to excavate it piece by piece. Inscriptions on jugs and amphorae as well as the shape of a statue suggest that the building used to belong to either Nero’s second wife Poppaea Sabina or to her family. The building complex is yet to be excavated completely, but everything that can be seen and explored so far impresses. Countless rooms, a swimming pool, a wine cellar, the orchard and several sycamores attest to the former grandeur.

Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata grant insights into ancient Italy like no other site. The fascinating transition from Greek to Roman culture, the excellently preserved facilities, the fascinating art treasures – you’ll live and breathe the spirit of days long gone during a walk through this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Verona´s city centre

Jan 17 2019

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

When Verona’s city centre was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000, many probably thought only one thing: Finally! In all reality, the medieval city centre with Roman roots of this fascinating metropolis founded in pre-Christian times is among the most beautiful of its kind in all of Italy. Impressive monuments slickly combining several art and architectural eras await you around the ensemble centrepiece of Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori. Find out here which sights are absolute must-sees and what Verona’s city centre has to do with the Scaliger.

A brief history of Verona

In order to fully enjoy the architectural diversity of Verona, it’s worth looking at the city’s history. It was founded as early as the 1^st century BC by the Euganei and Raetians, then conquered by the Cenomani – an ancient tribe of the Cisalpine Gauls – and eventually absorbed into the Roman Empire in 89 BC. The colony blossomed during Augustus’ reign turning into a major city before Attila’s ravages and the takeovers by the Ostrogoths and the Lombards caused devastating destructions.

The city’s highly eventful history with different rulers and brutal power struggles extended into the Middle Ages, even into the Renaissance. Among those laying claim to Verona were the Bavarians, the Milanese and the Venetians before it was eventually incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy in 1866 after the Austro-Prussian War. The Scaliger proved to be a gleam of hope during these turbulent centuries, at least in terms of art and architectural history. Their reign, which lasted through most of the 13^th and the 14^th century, saw numerous military dispute and schemes as well. Still, together with the subsequent administration of the Republic of Venice, they caused a genuine construction boom period. Their ideas, endeavours and construction initiatives continue to dominate Verona’s cityscape to this very day.

The heart of the city centre

The actual core of Verona’s city centre are the remains of the original Roman settlement that, to this day, are still wonderfully preserved. After the medieval reconstruction and the extension of the city walls by the Scaliger, two squares became the centre of attention. They still form the heart of the city and let all of Verona’s architectural eras clash with one another.

Piazza delle Erbe was originally home of the forum, the Roman centre of trade. There’s still a gloriously scenic fruit and vegetable market for you to experience here. Framed by historic, imposing facades, you will be enchanted by the fine smells – you can probably feel your mouth watering just thinking about it! Additionally, we recommend sneaking a peek or two inside the various 14^th century palaces, such as Palazzi Case Mazzanti with its painted facades or the grand Palazzo Casa dei Mercanti. There’s also a picturesque fountain with a statue from Roman times at the heart of the square.

Cross Piazza delle Erbe to reach Piazza dei Signori. The portico of Loggia del Consiglio was the site of Verona’s political life in the 16^th century. Back then, the piazza was also home of both the military and the administrative power in Palazzo di Cansignorio and Palazzo del Comune. However, without a shadow of doubt, the eyecatcher of the square is Torre dei Lamberti. Originally built as a communal tower in the 12^th century, you get to enjoy the breathtaking view across the entire city from the observation deck at dizzying heights. If the 368 steps to the stop are too tiring for you, you can certainly take the lift.

Roman Verona

The city centre is home to some of the best-preserved and most extensive relic collections of Roman monuments in all of Italy. Here are some of our favourites:

Arena: In Roman times this site of gory gladiator combat held over 30,000 spectators. An earthquake in 1117 destroyed most of the outer ring, which was henceforth used as the city quarry. Still, the Arena managed to retain its original charm and has since become a popular venue, particularly in summer, of operas and pop/rock concerts.
Theatre: Teatro Romano used to be a genuinely splendid building, adorned ostentatiously and situated at the Adige shore. Left to deteriorate in later years, the facility, which was renovated diligently in the 19^th century, is now one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. You can find many other fascinating ruins and an archaeological museum in the former Jesuati abbey in direct proximity.
Gavi Arch: When Napoleon’s troops occupied Verona in 1805, the general had the Arco di Gavi at Via Postumia, built in the 1^st century AD, torn down as he considered it a military obstacle. It took almost 130 years until the arch was finally rebuilt in a small park between the river Adige and Corso Cavour.
Ponte Pietra: Rebuilt in parts over the course of centuries, most of this Roman arch bridge across the Adige indeed dates back to its origin around 100 BC. Five striking arches now connect Roman elements with components from the times of the Scaliger and the Republic of Venice.

Other highlights in Verona’s city centre

Both the Scaliger and the Venetians also left their marks on the particularly multifaceted and stunning cityscape of Verona. It is absolutely impossible to list all sights, but you most certainly should visit the following highlights:

Castelvecchio: Cangrande II della Scala had this quadrangular castle, connected to neighbouring Scaliger estate by the bridge Ponte Scaligero, built in mid-14^th Later rulers executed various changes to the building before it was declared a museum in 1923. The diversity of Verona’s painting school will certainly impress you!
Ponte Scaligero: This medieval escape path from the Scaliger castle Castelvecchio stands for incredible sturdiness and survived several brutal floods. Destroyed multiple times by enemy troops, the bridge was reconstructed true to original except for the left tower.
San Zeno Maggiore: One of Verona’s most beautiful sacral buildings dates back to the 11^th and 12^th Romanesque and Gothic elements clash almost artistically. San Zeno Maggiore is a “best of” of Verona architecture of sorts ranging from the playful colour scheme to the lovely rose window to the high-rising campanile.
Cathedral: Originally home to villas in Roman times, constructions of the first basilica began as early as the 4^th Destroyed multiple times by fires and earthquakes, the Cathedral received its present look in the late 15^th century. Get to experience fantastic art treasures from frescoes to Titian’s altarpiece to Nicolò’s porch.
Scaliger cemetery: Shortly after having risen to power in mid-13^th century the Scaliger declared the Romanesque Santa Maria Antica their church. See the pompous last resting place of the former rulers on the large cemetery. Ostentatiously adorned sarcophagi, statues and tombs recall likely the most enigmatic rulers of Verona.

We could go on like this forever as Verona’s city centre is everything but poor in highlights. Where to start? Where to begin? Best spend several days in this stunning city and be enchanted the different eras and architectural styles. ZAINOO wishes you lots of fun in this glorious UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Piazza del Duomo in Pisa

Dec 18 2018

Category: Travel Tips Author: Alexander Wagner

When hearing the name Pisa, you’re probably thinking about one particular tower that is everything but straight. Sure, the Leaning Tower is the landmark of the Tuscan city for many tourists, yet only one of many sights on the cathedral square Piazza del Duomo. Also known as Piazza dei Miracoli (“Square of Miracles”), it is home to what are most likely the grandest and most important sights of Pisa having had a major impact on epic Italian architecture and art far beyond the Middle Ages. The square was even named UNESCO World Heritage Site as early as 1987.

Peripheral location, huge influence

Usually, it’s historic city centres and medieval centres make the UNESCO list. Piazza del Duomo, too, takes up a major role in Pisa’s city life, yet is “only” located at the northwest-most edge of the city centre. While this peripheral location seems unusual, it actually makes perfect sense. You will probably visit the cathedral square quite purposefully for a sightseeing tour, whereas the actual historic city centre is situated comparatively quietly displaying distinctive Tuscan flair.

The buildings themselves were mostly built during the 11^th and 12^th century. They have an almost hypnotic effect to this very day attracting countless visitors from all around the world. The architectural style of the individual churches and monuments around the grassed area near the old town fortification would soon make its way up and down the country. Numerous towns and constructors tried to emulate the special, almost radiant appearance of the miracle square until far into the 14^th century. You’d like to know which buildings exactly you can find here? Well then, time to take a look at the highlights on the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa!

Pisa Cathedral

You’ll be astonished to hear that constructions of the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Pisa lasted over 200 years. Standing in front of it you probably won’t notice as architects relied on a consistent façade design using the same building material – Carrara marble – for the entire time. It should come as no surprise that Siena and Florence, among other towns, were inspired by this monumental Christian structure.

To this day the cathedral cannot be dated precisely. That’s a particular shame as the façade marks the significant transition from smooth walls to a sculpturally designed display area, a genuine novelty in European architecture. As such, there’s a wealth of theories about the outer wall designed in multi-colour marble, mosaics and bronze objects. Unfortunately, a severe fire destroyed most of the interior in 1595. The gold-plated panelled ceiling, for example, was installed during restauration works. Splendid frescoes and mosaics in the cupola and on the pulpit complement the monumental marble pillars quite formidably.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The foundation for a freestanding bell tower, intended to be part of Pisa Cathedral, was laid on 9 August 1173. Twelve years later, constructions had just reached the third floor, the campanile began to lean towards the southeast resulting in a hundred-year construction break. It was only around 200 years later that the Leaning Tower of Pisa, now the city’s landmark, was finished in a modified manner.

But why is the tower leaning anyway? It’s likely due to the poor sand and bog ground. Furthermore, it stands at the edge of a former island that was next to the ancient port basin. The tower’s inclination angle is now around four degrees, the pendulum inside it thus almost touches a side wall. Tours are possible again now – 15 minutes for no more than 40 people at once. Let’s hope you’re not seasick!

Baptistery

Pisa Cathedral was to get its own small baptistery in mid-12^th century; small in comparison to the cathedral itself, that is. The abundant Romanesque-style church on a circular foundation is quite impressive in its own right, just with its richly adorned façade alone. The busts above the arcades of the largest Christian baptistery in the world depict apostles and prophets. However, they are replicas of Giovanni Pisano’s originals. Never-ending stairs lead you right beneath the cupola roof giving you an amazing view of da Como’s baptismal font. And don’t even get us started on the echo…

Other highlights on the Piazza del Duomo

These three main buildings aside, you’ll find many other exciting highlights on Pisa’s cathedral square. We handpicked a few of our favourites for you:

Camposanto Monumentale: Piazza del Duomo features a monumental cemetery at its north end. According to lore, it was built around sacred soil brought back from the Holy Land by crusaders. A Gothic façade with blind arcades leads you inside this complex. See several carefully restored frescoes and late-antiquity sarcophagi which have been serving as burial places for nobility since the Middle Ages in the cloister.
Palazzo dell’Opera: This complex of buildings on the northeast of the square united various buildings of later periods. The individual houses of the Opera Palace were built between the 14^th and the 19^th century originally serving as dwellings for the cathedral complex employees. These days, only a select few rooms are used as offices while others were opened to the public for the very time only a few years ago.
Ospedale Nuovo di Santo Spirito: The “New Hospital of the Holy Spirit” was built in place of an older, smaller hospital on the southeast-most part of the square in 1257. It was intended to provide sanctuary to the poor and sick, to orphans and pilgrims. However, the hospital behind the Gothic façade has since been replaced by the Museo delle Sinopie. Here you gaze at the unearthed fresco sinopers – a sort of fresco sketch made with reddish brown natural colour – of the Camposanto Monumentale in wonder.

Pisa remains wildly fascinating to this very day. This stunning, impressive city with its slightly remote city centre still manages to inspire and amaze visitors. Piazza del Duomo is way more than “just” the impressive Leaning Tower, as you’ll quickly realise during your visit. Be enchanted by the monumental cathedral complex with its lavish facades and awesome buildings – ZAINOO wishes you lots of fun with your journey to the heart of Tuscany!

Le Strade Nuove & Palazzi dei Rolli system in Genoa

The Dolomites: World Natural Heritage

Vineyard landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero & Monferrato

Castel del Monte

Renaissance city Ferrara and its Po Delta

Venetian Works of Defence, 16th/17th century

Villa Adriana in Tivoli

Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata

Verona´s city centre

Piazza del Duomo in Pisa

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