Visit Sensational Maratea

The Pantheon, one of the greatest engineering feats, was built in the time of Hadrian, the emperor known for his famous wall among other things, around 125 AD. This marvellous edifice has stood the test of time. While other monuments of the world crumbled, the Pantheon stands intact today, thanks to the brilliant design and engineering expertise of those responsible for this strikingly magnificent monument.

Structurally the Pantheon has an imposing entrance, constructed in the shape of a rectangle. The classic Greek influence is evident in the granite pillars that bear a triangular pediment. The entrance leads into a rotunda, topped by a dome. The entrance to the circular space has three rows of Corinthian pillars. Of these, eight are constructed in front, followed by eight more in two sets. This majestic rectangular entrance takes you into the rotunda.

That the circular structure should be able to hold up a 142-foot diameter dome for so many centuries stands as proof of the sound architectural knowledge, the combination of materials used and the precision to which the construction was carried out. At the centre of the dome is an opening called the oculus. This clever idea not only allows light to enter the structure, but also helps distribute the weight evenly. There is one drawback: the rain too has free access to the interior. That too was catered for by sloping the floor in the direction of the drains.

Every aspect of the building was planned carefully. The design of the steps is equally amazing. They are tapered in such a way that the base, which is 20 feet in thickness, is heavier than the top. The steps decrease in weight until they reach the oculus, where they weigh less and are just 7.5 feet thick. Strange as it may seem this brainwave of the architects involved was not picked up by future builders.

Handicapped though the builders were in those days, without the advantage of machines and high precision instruments, yet they were able to erect a monument that has stood for almost 2000 years. Besides, transportation wasn’t advanced. The only way they could move the materials was via the River Tiber. On land, the building material would have to be placed on carts and dragged by man or beast to the site.

The remarkable thing about the Pantheon is that except for the restoration of its massive bronze doors, no major repair work has been carried out on the structure, despite it having been built on marshy soil. In comparison, the leaning Tower of Pisa has undergone many renovations, in attempts to keep it from collapsing. The soft ground on which it was built has been blamed for this.

Copies have been attempted of the Pantheon. The Reading Room at the British Museum, as also the rotunda, named for Thomas Jefferson in the University of Virginia are examples. However, the Pantheon transcends every replica made of it in beauty and structural elegance.

The Pantheon has always been put to good use. Many famous people including monarchs have been buried there. From the eighth century to the present day, the Pantheon has been used as a church.

If you do get an opportunity to visit Rome, put the Pantheon on the top of your ‘must see’ list. It’s well worth the effort.

For new travelers who never been to Rome before could find out that it is very hard to imagine how Rome looks like and how to prepare themselves before visiting Rome. There are already plenty of this kind of information but this one probably the in-dept one that you are looking for. There are some good tips about what kind of attractions that you should visit when you are in Rome as they are particularly interesting even some of them may not be the highlighted attractions.

Rome is very well known among travelers of its attractive building, environment and fascinating culture. One you have a chance to visit Rome, you will be able to find out that Rome is not just a place for vacation and relax but it is also for anyone who wants to learn history and culture because Rome is the city that has very interesting history and diversity of culture. By visiting Rome, there are some tourist attractions that could not be missed.

General description of Rome
Rome is classified by tourists as one of the top destination of the world. This is because the weather in Rome, which climate mild and rainy in winter rather than full of snow, is usually accommodate all kind of vacation and activities, so these reasons make Rome can be visited throughout the year. Moreover, it is very easy to access in terms of immigration as you do not need visa to visit Rome unless you will stay for longer than 90 days period. The best time to visit Rome is anytime that you want but you should be aware of time during between October and March, when Rome in the off-peak months. When you decide to visit Rome, it is strongly suggest that you should find accommodation around the historic district.

However, before you go to Rome, it is also a good idea to make a forward planning of where you are going to visit and check list of what you have to do during the trip as this can help you to save time and money. Planning about transportation is also required, as there are many kinds of transport that you can choose, you may be taking Tram system, that goes around the city and it is strongly recommend for people who want to enjoy sightseeing tour.

There are some highlighted attractions that you just could not miss. They are kind of “symbol” of Rome and people who visited Rome but missed this attractions is considered as they have never visited to Rome. These attractions are Coliseum and the Roman Forum. Coliseum is the ancient stadium and it is the film shooting site of the movie Gladiator. However, the opening times of the Coliseum is not certain, depends on the time of the year, so you may have to check information before you visit. The Roman Forum is the civic center of Ancient Rome where citizen joined and discussed about economic, religious and political activities. You may hire a tour guide to provide more information about this attraction by pay just a little more money to get more knowledge.

The island of Sardinia perhaps most quickly conjures up the idea of sardines. A small island off of the western coast of Italy, it certainly incorporates seafood in to much of its regional cuisine. However, Sardinia has such a rich and various history that it bears little resemblance to the traditional idea of Italian cooking. Like many other Italian regional cuisines, Sardinia’s regional taste is often a surprise for a palette that is expecting red sauce and parmesan cheese to be the beginning and end of traditional Italian cooking. While it is a region of Italy, Sardinia’s history is shared with explorers of many European nations, such as Greece, France, and Spain. This diverse history of people shows in the traditions and culture of this isolated island destination.

While, being an island, seafood, especially shellfish, plays a large part in the regional cuisine of Sardinia, very few Sardinian meals do not incorporate lamb, a rich resource in the mountainous inland of the island of Sardinia. In addition to the lamb’s meat, a favorite of Sardinian chefs, very few meals are complete without the company of sheep’s milk and wild fennel. Stews and roasts are popular choices for the people of Sardinia. Looking at any Sardinian recipe, it is easy to see that the cuisine of this hilly island is a veritable stone soup of the many different cultures that have passed through the island over the years.

The seafood traditions of the Greek isles can be found in the mussel stews and roasted lobster dishes that keep the island’s fishermen busy. Malloreddus is a Sardinian pasta that can be found in many stews and pasta dishes accompanying chicken or rabbit basted in fennel or saffron. Malloreddus is a grooved pasta that very much resembles gnocchi in taste and texture, and is made of semolina flour and sometimes seasoned lightly with saffron, while most gnocchi is made with potato.

Stews are very popular in the regional cuisine of Sardinia, and even meat and poultry dishes are served in rich cooking sauces that could just as easily be served as soups. For this reason, accompanying a Sardinian entrée with a hearty crusted bread or a side of potatoes makes for a very filling meal. Pasta, in the traditional sense is not as large a part of Sardinian cooking as in other regions of Italy. The pastas of Sardinia are more commonly associated with Middle Eastern cuisine. Hearty grains and fusilli more commonly accompany the dishes of Sardinian regional cuisine, as opposed the lasagna, spaghetti or linguine that Americans more commonly associate with Italian cooking.

Between the diverse history of Sardinia’s people, from France to the Middle East, and the various different landscapes and resources that can be found throughout the island, it is hard to put Sardinian cuisine into one category. One thing is for sure though, while you will find many different types of food on the island of Sardinia, it is unlikely that you will find anything like it anywhere else in the world.

I have had many opportunities to travel in the past few years. I am grateful for each chance I have had to see new parts of the world and to learn from cultures and people that are different from me. There are valuable things to be gained from all cultures, but I have fallen in love with all things Italian.

I have never been somewhere as magical and wonderful as Italy. There is something special about that country that cannot be understood until it is experienced. I spent almost a month there and walked away with a deep love for everything Italian.

The first and most obvious Italian thing to love is the food. Never have I tasted more delightful food than Italian. I guess because I have always loved pasta and I cannot get enough tomato. I had a month filled with amazing Italian meals. Some were cooked by experienced Italian chefs and others were cooked by grandmothers of my Italian friends. It didn’t seem to matter who was in the kitchen, though, because each meal was wonderful. I even took a few Italian cooking lessons while I was there, and they have done wonders for my own abilities in the kitchen. My family loves it that I have finally learned to cook something other than chicken.

I also love the Italian language. I didn’t learn much of it myself, but just being around it for a month was a great thing for my ears. I love the sound of Italian and the way it rolls of the tongue of the speaker. It is definitely a romantic sounding language. I was determined to take some Italian language classes when I returned home, but my life got back to busy within weeks and my dreams of learning Italian are on the backburner once again.

I love everything about the way that Italians do family. They share a joy of being together unlike I have seen in any other country. Italian families are big, too, and that makes everything more fun. I love the way Italians take every chance they get to celebrate. Meals turn into three hour long celebrations and they are filled with laughter and joy.

If you ever get the chance to visit Italy, take it. It is an experience worth having. I’m confident that you will fall in love with all things Italian. You will find yourself eating great food, immersed in a great language and making room in your busy schedule for more time there. Everything Italian is truly worth experiencing and enjoying.