eTwinning Project: English Language Passport - Classes 1E - 1F - 1G - school year 2021/2022 by Teacher Emi

Trevi fountain

2022-03-31 09:46:20 UTC

The Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi) is an 18th-century fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy, designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini and several others. Standing 26.3 metres (86 ft) high and 49.15 metres (161.3 ft) wide,^[1] it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

The fountain has appeared in several films, including Roman Holiday (1953), the eponymous Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), Federico Fellini's classic La Dolce Vita (1960), Sabrina Goes to Rome (1998), and The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003).

The fountain at the junction of three roads (tre vie)^[ marks the terminal point^[4] of the "modern" Acqua Vergine, the revived Aqua Virgo, one of the aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome. In 19 BC, supposedly with the help of a virgin, Roman technicians located a source of pure water some 13 km (8.1 mi) from the city. (This scene is presented on the present fountain's façade.) However, the eventual indirect route of the aqueduct made its length some 22 km (14 mi). This Aqua Virgo led the water into the Baths of Agrippa. It served Rome for more than 400 years.

The name of the Latin fountain derives from the Latin word Trivium (intersection of three streets). The statue is located right in the center of De 'Crocicchi Street, Poli Street and Delle Muratte Street.

Federico 1G

Piazza di Spagna

2022-03-31 09:48:21 UTC

The Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the ugly boat) was designed by Pietro Bernini, father of the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini

The Piazza di Spagna (English: Square of Spain) is one of Rome’s most renowned squares. The name comes from the Palazzo di Spagna, the seat of the Spanish Embassy for the Vatican located on this square since the seventeenth century.

Giordy 1G

Colosseum

2022-03-31 09:49:03 UTC

Colosseum is fantastic,Colosseum it s memory story Rome,Colosseum it s building of Vespasiano,it s building in 70 dopo cristo, it s tall 48m.

Simone 1G

Colosseum

2022-03-31 09:52:52 UTC

ALESSANDRO 1 G

Colosseum

2022-03-31 09:53:18 UTC

The Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever Colosseum, also called Flavian Amphitheatre, giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. Construction of the Colosseum was begun.

Vespasian
The construction of the Flavian Amphitheater, better known as the Colosseum, began around the year 71 AD under the Emperor Vespasian AD. The Colosseum was built in a valley, after having dried up a small lake that Nero used for the Domus Aurea between the hills of Palatine, Esquilino and Celio.

GABRIELE 1G

Sphere within sphere

2022-03-31 09:54:32 UTC

The Sphere within a Sphere is a statue also known as "Sfera con Sfera". The Sphere within a sphere is located in the Vatican Museums. It is part of a series of bronze sculptures on this theme that can be found in prime locations all over the world such as: the Headquarters of the UN in New York; The Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, USA; Trinity College in Dublin; the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C; the de Young Museum in San Francisco, USA ;The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art; the Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus and the Tel Aviv University in Israel.

Arnaldo Pomodoro is an Italian sculptor. He was born in the 23rd of June 1926 in Morciano, Romagna, Italy. Currently he lives and works in Milan. His brother, Giò Pomodoro was also an Artist.

The "Sphere within a Sphere" Statue depicts a huge fractured orb. Inside the cracked orb you can see another one. Each tremendous sphere is broken, showing yet another cracking sphere. The design of the internal layers seems to imitate the gears or cogwheels of a complex machine such as a clock. It symbolizes the fragility and complexity of the world.This fascinating statue is located in the courtyard of the Pine cone outside the Vatican Museum. Pomodoro started to create these orbs in the early 1960s

Michael - 1G

Leaning Tower

2022-03-31 09:55:43 UTC

this monument is located in Pisa

ALESSIA - 1G

Roman Triumphal Column

2022-03-31 09:55:59 UTC

It is a Roman triumphal column in Rome, Italy, that commemorates Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars. It was probably constructed under the supervision of the architect Apollodorus of Damascus at the order of the Roman Senate. It is located in Trajan's Forum, north of the Roman Forum. Completed in AD 113, the freestanding column is most famous for its spiral bas relief, which depicts the wars between the Romans and Dacians (101–102 and 105–106). Its design has inspired numerous victory columns, both ancient and modern.

The structure is about 30 metres (98 feet) in height, 35 metres (115 feet) including its large pedestal. The shaft is made from a series of 20 colossal Carrara marble ^[a] drums, each weighing about 32 tons, with a diameter of 3.7 metres (12.1 feet). The 190-metre (620-foot) frieze winds around the shaft 23 times. Inside the shaft, a spiral staircase of 185 steps provides access to a viewing deck at the top. The capital block of Trajan's Column weighs 53.3 tons, and had to be lifted to a height of about 34 metres (112 feet).

Christian - 1G

Colosseum

2022-03-31 09:56:16 UTC

The Colosseum is the main symbol of Rome. It is an imposing construction that, with almost 2,000 years of history, will bring you back in time to discover the way of life in the Roman Empire.

The construction of the Colosseum began in the year 72 under the empire of Vespasian and was finished in the year 80 during the rule of the emperor Titus. After completion, the Colosseum became the greatest Roman amphitheatre, measuring 188 meters in length, 156 meters in width and 57 meters in height.

Giulia 1G

Milan Cathedral

2022-03-31 09:56:18 UTC

The Milan Cathedral is founding in Milan.
The construction began in 1386 in Gothic style.the cathedral serves for christian religion.
For this purpose, in October 1387 the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo was founded at the instigation of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, with the aim of continuing with the design and construction of the church.
Gian Galeazzo’s decision to use Candoglia marble instead of the traditional Lombard brick was accompanied by a real revolution in style through the choice of Gothic, which forced the Fabbrica to look for engineers, architects, sculptors and stone-cutters from all around Europe.
Between the seventeenth and eighteenth century the tiburium was completed with the great spire on top and the laying of the statue of the Madonnina.

Andrea 1G

Saint Peter's Cathedral

2022-03-31 09:56:38 UTC

The history of Saint Peter’s Basilica begins in the 4th century when the Emperor Constantine.
In 1506 Julius II began the construction of a new basilica that replaced the existing one by commissioning the work to the architect Donato Bramante. Bramante proposed a Greek cross plan (four equal arms), like the Byzantine churches of the IX century.
In 1546, at the death of Antonio of Sangallo, the chosen architect was Michelangelo Buonarroti who will give the final shape to the project, simplifying the plan to eliminate the sacristy with the towers at the corners of the square designed by Bramante
Maderno extends the vault of the front arm, adding on both sides a series of chapels covered with oval domes and, on the outside, continues with the wall designed by Michelangelo emphasizing the front with large columns. The façade was built between 1607 and 1612. In 1624, Gian Lorenzo Bernini was called to realize the canopy that constitutes the high altar and that traditionally had to be located in the center of the cross, on the tomb of the Apostle Peter, a task completed in 1633. After the death of Maderno in 1629, Bernini took on the task of finishing the interior decoration of the whole church, giving it its current appearance.
St Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest buildings in the world and is the largest of the papal basilicas.

Currently Saint Peter’s Basilica is a building measuring 218 meters long and 136 meters high up to its dome with an area of 23,000 m2. This basilica has been considered an architectural work of great importance both for the size of the facade and for the quality of his work, annually receives people from different countries of the world who enter its interior to admire the most beautiful sculptures of all time and appreciate a work that took centuries of construction.
Bruno 1G

Colosseum

2022-03-31 09:56:46 UTC

The Colosseum is a free standing building, quite different to the earlier Greek theatres which were built into the sides of hills. It is really two Roman theatres joined together. It is oval shaped, 189 meters (615 ft / 640 Roman feet) long, and 156 meters (510 ft / 528 Roman feet) wide.

Sofia 1G-

PANTHEON ROME

2022-03-31 09:57:46 UTC

The name "Pantheon" is from the Ancient Greek "Pantheion" (Πάνθειον) meaning "of, relating to, or common to all the gods": (pan- / "παν-" meaning "all" + theion / "θεῖον"= meaning "of or sacred to a god").
Cassius Dio, a Roman senator who wrote in Greek, speculated that the name comes either from the statues of many gods placed around this building, or from the resemblance of the dome to the heavens.

His uncertainty strongly suggests that "Pantheon" (or Pantheum) was merely a nickname, not the formal name of the building. In fact, the concept of a pantheon dedicated to all the gods is questionable. The only definite pantheon recorded earlier than Agrippa's was at Antioch in Syria, though it is only mentioned by a sixth-century source.
Ziegler tried to collect evidence of pantheons, but his list consists of simple dedications "to all the gods" or "to the Twelve Gods", which are not necessarily true pantheons in the sense of a temple housing a cult that literally worships all the gods.

Xhoia 1G

Milan cathedral

2022-04-01 07:51:35 UTC

The Duomo of Milan tells a story of faith and art spanning over six centuries. Construction work on the Duomo of Milan probably began in 1386.

Sirya M. 1E-

Leaning Tower

2022-04-01 07:52:03 UTC

The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: torre pendente di Pisa), or simply the Tower of Pisa , is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is situated behind the Pisa Cathedral and is the third-oldest structure in the city's Cathedral Square , after the cathedral and the Pisa Baptistry.

The height of the tower is 55.86 metres (183 feet 3 inches) from the ground on the low side and 56.67 m (185 ft 11 in) on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 2.44 m (8 ft 0 in). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 tonnes (16,000 short tons). The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase.

The tower began to lean during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground which could not properly support the structure's weight, and it worsened through the completion of construction in the 14th century. By 1990, the tilt had reached 5.5 degrees. The structure was stabilized by remedial work between 1993 and 2001, which reduced the tilt to 3.97 degrees.

Lorenzo - 1E

Trevi Fountain

2022-04-01 07:52:34 UTC

Leaning Tower

2022-04-01 07:52:35 UTC

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located next to the Cathedral of Pisa in the City of Pisa, Italy. It took 199 years to build the tower. The construction began in August 1173. The foundation of this tower is only 3 meter deep which was built on a dens clay mixture. The tower began to lean in 1178 as the clay was not strong enough to hold it upright.

Originally it was called only the Tower of Pisa but after getting its tilt, it became the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The original completed height of the tower is approximately 60 meters, 56.67m on the higher side and 55.86m on the lower side.

Luca 1E

Milan Cathedral

2022-04-01 07:52:44 UTC

Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) is the cathedral church of Milan found in Lombardy, northern Italy. The cathedral where locate in Milan was built according to Italian style. Its construction was started in 1386 and was completed in 1965. The construction took 579 years. Capacity of the cathedral is 60000 people. It is one of the largest cathedral in the world and the largest in Italy.

Leonardo 1E

Pisa Leaning tower

2022-04-01 07:53:55 UTC

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a building in Pisa, Italy. It is a bell tower. It is famous because it is not vertical. The tower was once leaning more and more to the ground, but recently much restoration work has been done to stop it from falling over completely. There was scaffolding all around the tower for 20 years. On 26 April 2011, the last bit of scaffolding was removed so that the tower can be seen properly again.

The height of the tower is about 56 metres from the ground. Its weight is about 14,500 tonnes. It now leans at about 3.99 degrees. The tower has 294 steps.

When the second floor was built in 1178, the tower started to lean. This was because it had a small three-meter foundation in soft soil. The design of this tower was bad from the beginning. Construction was stopped for almost 100 years because the people of Pisa were often at war.

Andrea 1E

SAINT PETER'S CATHEDRAL

2022-04-01 07:55:01 UTC

The basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano, officially papal major basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano, is a Catholic basilica of the Vatican City; symbol of the Vatican State, crowned by the monumental Piazza San pietro

As a papal chapel, located adjacent to the Apostolic Palace, the basilica of San Pietro is the seat of the main manifestations of Catholic worship and is therefore in solemn function on the occasion of the main papal celebrations. Under the pontificate of Pius IX it hosted the sessions of the First Vatican Council and under Pope John XXIII and Paul VI those of the Second Vaticano.

Martina 1E

Leaning Tower

2022-04-01 07:56:34 UTC

The Tower of Pisa is located next to the Cathedral of Pisa, in the Square of miracles in the city of Pisa, Italy.The building of the leaning Tower of Pisa, and especially its completion, represents the last element in the compliment of the ceremonial complex of monuments that enrich the Square of miracles.The project included four representative monuments in the city of Pisa, Italy: the Cathedral of Pisa (Il Duomo di Pisa), the Baptistry, the Bell Tower of Pisa, Monumental CemeteryThe first phase of Pisa Tower’s construction is attributed to Bonanno Pisano or Gherardo di Gherardo.
Giovanni Pisano and Giovanni di Simone continued the second phase of the building. Tommaso Pisano finished the tower’s construction.

Syria 1E - :D

COLOSSEUM

2022-04-01 07:56:37 UTC

The Colosseum is located in Rome, Italy. It is an iconic monument that the whole world knows. The Colosseum has baffled many with its magnificent size andgrandiose built. The Colosseum today has become a must see for all who visit Rome.

Asia 1E

TREVI FONTAIN

2022-04-01 07:57:39 UTC

Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful fountain in Rome. Measuring some 20
meters in width by 26 meters in height, Trevi Fountain is also the largest fountain in the city.The origins of the fountain go back to the year 19 B.C., in which period the fountain formed the end of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct. The first fountain was built during the Renaissance, under the direction of Pope Nicholas V.
The final appearance of the Trevi Fountain dates from 1762, when after many years of works at the hand of Nicola Salvi, it was finalized by Giuseppe Pannini.
Interestingly enough, the name of Trevi derives from Tre Vie (three ways), since the fountain was the meeting point of three street.

Alessandra - 1E

Colosseum

2022-04-01 07:57:58 UTC

The Colosseum is located in Rome,Italy. It is an iconic monument that the whole world knows. The Colosseum has blaffed many with its magnificent size and grandiose built. The Colosseum today has become a must see for all who visit Rome.

Lorelay 1E

Colosseum

2022-04-01 07:58:44 UTC

The colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of Rome in Italy. Is the largest amphitheatre ever built. Construction began under the emperor Vespasian (69-70A.D.), and was completed in 80 A.D.
Lorenzo 1F - ( :

Milan Cathedral

2022-04-01 07:58:47 UTC

Milan’s Cathedral or Duomo di Milano as it is called in Italian, is the most famous monument in Milan and one of the most iconic landmarks in Italy.

It is a building with striking appearance and an interesting history: these are some fun and interesting facts about Milan’s cathedral that will enhance your visit.

Usually referred to as ‘Il Duomo’, Milan’s cathedral is a church devoted to the Nativity of the Virgin.

Its official name is Santa Maria Nascente this is why, at the very top of the church, you find the famous Madonnina, the golden statue of Mary, symbol of Milan.

Milan cathedral is a wonderful examples of Gothic architecture and it is unique in Italy as strongly influenced by the aesthetic of Norther European Churches such as those in France and Germany.

If you compare it with other great examples of Italian Gothic architecture, for instance the Duomo of Siena or Orvieto, it is easy to see the difference in proportion and style of carvings.

The construction of the Milan duomo took over six centuries.

The built started in 1386 and the church was officially inaugurated in 1418.

However, not all its parts were complete at the time and construction was still going under Napoleon, in the XIX century!

The construction of the church started under under Bishop Antonio da Saluzzo and was supported by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, one of the most famous rulers of Milan, who gave ideas and financial support to the project.

He wanted the chathedral to stand out from all other buildings in Milan and therefore chose as construction material white Candoglia Marble, a peculiar type of Marble from Lake Maggiore area.

This marble has a white color with pink hues and it is very delicate: this is one of the radon why work is ongoing at the duomo even nowadays.

Miriam 1E

Arena of Verona

2022-04-01 07:59:25 UTC

height:31m                             has 15.000 seats for spectators.         In Summer, Verona holds its famous opera festival. Many other artists have also performed in the Arena, including Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran, The Who, Mike Oldfield, Sting, Radiohead, Muse, Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons and 5 Seconds Of Summer. There is bound to be something to suit all tastes.

If there is not a concert or opera when you visit, you can still visit the Arena. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and on Mondays from 1.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Tickets cost EUR 10 for adults and only one euro for 8 to 14-year-olds. Children 7 years and under visit for free.

Maria Sole - 1E

Cinque Terre

2022-04-01 08:00:10 UTC

Portovenere

Corniglia

Vernazza

Riomaggiore

These are villages in Italy’s Ligurian coast known as the Cinque Terre.

The most popular trail in the Cinque Terre, called Footpath No. 2 or the Blue Trail, is a 13 km (8 mile) path that winds through all five villages and can be completed in about five hours. For a shorter, more kid-friendly experience, take advantage of the ferries that run between the villages, or take the advice of our kids and hike the trail that is “just right.”

Cristian 1E

Colosseum

2022-04-01 08:03:57 UTC

The Colosseum is also called Flavian Amphitheatre.The Colosseum is largest theater in the world.
It could house around eighty thousand spectators. Colosseum was built by the first Flavian emperor, Vespasian.

The construction started in 70 BC and did not finish during Vespasian’s reign.

Titus, Vespasian’s successor completed the construction in 80 BC.

Titus’ successor, Domitian also made some modifications to the original structure.

Aurora 1E

Trevi Fountain

2022-04-01 08:57:32 UTC

Trevi Fountain is one of the most stunning fountains in the world. It is located in the Quirinale district of Rome, Italy. This fountain dates back to ancient Roman times and it is one of the oldest water sources in Rome. It was designed by Nicola Salvi.

The construction started in 1730 and ended in 1762. It is mostly built from travertine stone, the same material which the Colosseum is made of. This stone is formed mostly in hot springs.

Elisa - 1E

Colosseum

2022-04-01 09:02:08 UTC

The Colosseum is a giant amphitheater located in Rome, the capital of Italy. An amphitheater is a place of public contests or displays. It is an oval or round building with rising levels of seats arranged around a central open space. This space is called the arena and is meant for staging entertainment.
Bryan - 1F

The Five Lands

2022-04-01 09:02:18 UTC

The five charming villages clinging to the cliffs that give the region its name (Cinque Terre means “five lands”) were built around the 11th century and for centuries were accessible only by boat or by footpath. Families do need to plan carefully to experience kid friendly Cinque Terre as the terrain is varied. Hiking between the villages is still the best way to discover the terraced vineyards, the lemon trees and olive groves, the scents of rosemary and lavender, and the tiny clusters of multicolored houses in this unique region. Since the hiking trails vary in difficulty, length, and beauty, it is particularly important for families with kids to choose their itineraries carefully. We hiked three very different trails with our two kids, ages seven and nine, when we visited in late April. Inspired by Goldilocks, we came to name these separate hikes “too easy,” “too hard,” and “just right.” The most popular trail in the Cinque Terre, called Footpath No. 2 or the Blue Trail, is a 13 km (8 mile) path that winds through all five villages and can be completed in about five hours. For a shorter, more kid-friendly experience, take advantage of the ferries that run between the villages, or take the advice of our kids and hike the trail that is “just right.”

Francesco - 1F

Ara Pacis

2022-04-01 09:03:18 UTC

In Piazza Augusto Imperatore, you can observe the ruins of Augustus Mausoleum and then enter the nearby museum of Ara Pacis, enshrined in Richard Meier's modern architecture. Discover this marvellous old monument built to celebrate a longstanding period of peace during the Roman Empire and admire this stunning example of Roman eclectic art.

Fascinating stories and stunning relief decorations will captivate adults' attention whilst kids become emperors!

The tour major sights will be:

Ara Pacis Museum
Augustus Mausoleum

You can learn:

history of Rome and of Emperor Augustus
what an altar is and how Romans bequeathed their feats
what a mausoleum is
preserving and promoting arts heritage
history of Roman public art
how to read Roman friezes
brief overview on Richard Meier's modern architecture

Camilla 1F :)

Tower of Pisa

2022-04-01 09:03:39 UTC

The height of the tower is about 56 metres from the ground. Its weight is about 14,500 tonnes. It now leans at about 3.99 degrees. The tower has 294 steps.

Like the Roman Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the seven wonders of the medieval world that is located in Italy.

Alessio M. - 1F

Colosseum

2022-04-01 09:03:41 UTC

Colosseum

The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater is an amphitheater built during the time of Roman Empire in Rome, Italy.

It is widely believed that Colosseum was the biggest and grandest amphitheater in the entire Roman Empire.

It could house around eighty thousand spectators. Colosseum was built by the first Flavian emperor, Vespasian.

The construction started in 70 BC and did not finish during Vespasian’s reign.

Titus, Vespasian’s successor completed the construction in 80 BC.

Titus’ successor, Domitian also made some modifications to the original structure.

Ilaria 1F

Trevi Fountain

2022-04-01 09:06:49 UTC

The Trevi fountain is a fountain in Rome. It lies in the Trevi district, from which it gets its name. The current fountain was built from 1732 to 1736 in Baroque style. At about 26 metres (85 ft) high and about 50 metres (160 ft) wide the Trevi fountain is Rome's largest fountain. It is also one of the best-known ones.

History

The Trevi fountain

In the year 19 BC, Marcus Agrippa commissioned an aqueduct to provide water for the baths he had built in the city. This aqueduct is about 26 kilometres (16 mi) long, and has been in use since then. From the 12th century, the aqueduct provided water to three fountains in the current Via del Corso in Rome. Pope Nicholas V ordered the restoration of the aqueduct, in the 15th cenrury. The new aqueduct ended in a different place. Leon Battista Alberti constructed a simple fountain, which provided water from three openings. The wall of this fountain also bore the signs of the pope. Pope Pius IV also had the aqueduct restored, about a century later, from 1561 to 1570. Pope Urban VIII ordered a new fountain to be built; for lack of money, all that was done is that the place before the fountain was enlarged.

Tatiana - 1F

Tower of Pisa

2022-04-01 09:07:44 UTC

Construction of the tower occurred in three stages over 199 years. Work on the ground floor of the white marble campanile began on August 14, 1173 during a period of military success and prosperity. This ground floor is a blind arcade articulated by engaged columns with classical Corinthian capitals.

The tower began to sink after construction had progressed to the second floor in 1178. This was due to a mere three-metre foundation, set in weak, unstable subsoil, a design that was flawed from the beginning. Construction was subsequently halted for almost a century, because the Republic of Pisa was almost continually engaged in battles with Genoa, Lucca, and Florence. This allowed time for the underlying soil to settle. Otherwise, the tower would almost certainly have toppled. In 1198, clocks were temporarily installed on the third floor of the unfinished construction.

In 1272, construction resumed under Giovanni di Simone, architect of the Camposanto. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, the engineers built upper floors with one side taller than the other. Because of this, the tower is curved. Construction was halted again in 1284 when the Pisans were defeated by the Genoans in the Battle of Meloria.

The seventh floor was completed in 1319. The bell-chamber was finally added in 1372. It was built by Tommaso di Andrea Pisano, who succeeded in harmonizing the Gothic elements of the bell-chamber with the Romanesque style of the tower. There are seven bells, one for each note of the musical major scale. The largest one was installed in 1655.

After a phase (1990–2001) of structural strengthening, the tower is currently undergoing gradual surface restoration, in order to repair visible damage, mostly corrosion and blackening. These are particularly pronounced due to the tower's age and its exposure to wind and rain. Giada :)

Mouth of truth

2022-04-01 09:08:46 UTC

La Bocca della Verità, known in English as the Mouth of Truth, is one of the most interesting sculptures in Rome. It is a huge Pavonazzo marble mask weighing more than 1,300 kg (2,800 pounds). It’s shaped as a disc, with carvings of a male face with wide open mouth, nostrils and eyes.
In the Middle Ages, the Mouth of Truth myth was born: it was said that liars who placed their hand inside the sculpture would immediately lose it. Supposedly, Medieval Romans saw the sculpture as a lie detector for those who committed acts like adultery and perjury. Piazza della Bocca della Verità was often a stopping point for trials of petty criminals, and travelers talked of a mythical practice that created a legend.
Carlo 1F

The five lands

2022-04-01 09:08:52 UTC

In Italy’s Ligurian coast there are the Cinque Terre. The five charming villages clinging to the cliffs that give the region its name (Cinque Terre means “five lands”) were built around the 11th century and for centuries were accessible only by boat or by footpath. Families do need to plan carefully to experience kid friendly Cinque Terre as the terrain is varied. Hiking between the villages is still the best way to discover the terraced vineyards, the lemon trees and olive groves, the scents of rosemary and lavender, and the tiny clusters of multicolored houses in this unique region. Since the hiking trails vary in difficulty, length, and beauty, it is particularly important for families with kids to choose their itineraries carefully. We hiked three very different trails with our two kids, ages seven and nine, when we visited in late April. Inspired by Goldilocks, we came to name these separate hikes “too easy,” “too hard,” and “just right.” The most popular trail in the Cinque Terre, called Footpath No. 2 or the Blue Trail, is a 13 km (8 mile) path that winds through all five villages and can be completed in about five hours. For a shorter, more kid-friendly experience, take advantage of the ferries that run between the villages, or take the advice of our kids and hike the trail that is “just right.”
Alessandro - 1F

Tower of Pisa

2022-04-01 09:10:15 UTC

Construction of the tower began in 1173, although it wasn’t finished until 200 years later due to several wars.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is made from white marble, with 8 stories including the bell chamber.
The tower’s original height was 196 feet (60 meters) but its current height is 185.9 feet (56.67 meters) on its highest side, and 183.3 feet (55.86 meters) on its lower side.
The tower has 251 steps reaching up to the top and it weighs 15983 tons (14,500 tonnes).
The tilt started early in its construction and several attempts were made at various stages to correct it. These efforts have continued in recent years.
The top of the tower is approximately 12 feet 10 inches (3.9 meters) distant from the vertical, where it would be if it was completely straight.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, along with the neighboring cathedral, cemetery and baptistry have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status.
The lean began shortly after construction was started as the foundations that had been laid were not sufficient and the ground upon which the tower is built is extremely soft. The many halts in construction due to ongoing wars enabled the ground to stabilize between building stages and the tower to remain upright.
The tower is in fact slightly curved as in an attempt to correct the tilt, the upper floors were built with one side taller than the other.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to visitors between 1990 and 2001 as the authorities were worried it had become too dangerous. During this period massive work was undertaken to correct the tower’s lean.

Sofia H. - 1F

Trevi fountain

2022-04-01 09:10:48 UTC

The construction started in 1730 and ended in 1762. It is mostly built from travertine stone, the same material which the Colosseum is made of. This stone is formed mostly in hot springs.

Quick Facts:

The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome. It is measured 85 feet high and 65 feet in width.
This fountain is situated at the end of the Aqua Virgo, an aqueduct constructed in 19 BC by Agrippa.
The fountain spills 80,000 cubic meter of water every day. The water used gets recycled.
In the middle, there is a big statue of the god Ocean. He has a short wand in his hand and is surrounded by two horses.
People throw coins in the fountain and following old Roman tradition they then make a wish.
It is illegal to fish out the coins from the basin of the fountain as these coins are collected every night and used for charity purpose.
In the late 19th century, people started to believe that a sip of water from the Trevi Fountain would ensure a return to Rome.

Giulia 1F

Cinque Terre

2022-04-01 09:11:22 UTC

Cinque Terre, which translates to "five lands" is perhaps one of the more popular destinations just outside the boundaries of Tuscany. It can easily be considered as a long but satisfying day trip via train for those staying near or in Florence and Pisa. These five picturesque towns offer a unique and enchanting panorama of the traditions, landscapes, and culture along the coast of Italy. Though similar in many respects, each and every one of these little "lands" has a history and personality of its own, and they are all beautiful to visit.

If you are planning a trip on your own, we have organized a brief outline of info and insider considerations. Be sure to check out how to arrive and more around Cinque Terre. You can also let someone else do the planning with an organized tour, but in any case, the general info we present below will give you a peek into what you are about to explore.

Victoria 1F

Tower of Pisa

2022-04-01 09:12:22 UTC

There has been controversy about the real identity of the architect of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. For many years, the design was attributed to Guglielmo and Bonanno Pisano, a well-known 12th-century resident artist of Pisa, famous for his bronze casting, particularly in the Pisa Duomo. Pisano left Pisa in 1185 for Monreale, Sicily, only to come back and die in his home town. A piece of cast bearing his name was discovered at the foot of the tower in 1820, but this may be related to the bronze door in the façade of the cathedral that was destroyed in 1595. A 2001 study seems to indicate Diotisalvi was the original architect, due to the time of construction and affinity with other Diotisalvi works, notably the bell tower of San Nicola and the Baptistery, both in Pisa.

LORE 1F

Colosseum

2022-04-01 09:12:30 UTC

The Colosseum is an amphitheatre in Rome it was built between 72 A.D and 80 A.D under the Emperor Vespasian,in the centre of Rome.The building had 80 entrances and could seat approximately 50,000 spectators who would come to watch sporting events and games.
Lara 1F

Pantheon

2022-04-05 14:55:33 UTC

The Pantheon (meaning "Temple of all the gods") is a building in Rome. It was originally built as a temple to the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt about 126 AD during Hadrian's reign. Today, it is not known what gods were included.

The Pantheon is the best preserved of all Roman buildings. Since it was built, it has always been used. The design of the current building is sometimes credited to Trajan's architect Apollodorus of Damascus, but it may also been Emperor Hadrian's architects who designed it. Scholars now agree that it was not Hadrian himelf who built it. Since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic church. The Pantheon is the oldest standing domed structure in Rome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 metres (142 ft).

The Pantheon dome is the largest dome made mainly of unreinforced concrete. It does, however, contain other materials. According to the Jutland Archaeological Society investigations, the lower section of the dome is made of concrete with alternating layers of bricks and tuff; both have good affinity with the lime-pozzolan mortar which filled the voids.

The term pantheon is sometimes used for a building where well-known dead people are buried.

Martina 1G