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Posts Tagged ‘baroque style’

Holidays In Ibiza For Grown Ups

October 19th, 2009 No comments

Escape your daily routine and come to the island of Ibiza. Ibiza is a Balearic Island off the coast of Spain. One of the smaller Balearic Islands, Ibiza is quite different from the other resort destinations in Spain. While resorts, restaurants and other venues welcome families with young children, Ibiza is generally known for being an adults only paradise. Holidays in Ibiza are perfect for professionals who want to get away to a place filled with other like minded adults.

If you’re a sun worshiper, Ibiza is your haven. When you want a grown up vacation, you’ll find Ibiza to be much more satisfying than other islands in the region. The playground of the rich and famous, Ibiza is always known to be inhabited by fashion icons and tabloid stars. You may very well rub elbows with one of your favorite celebrities when you come to Ibiza.

The city of Ibiza surrounds Dalt Villa, the remains of a walled city that dates back to the medieval period. Make sure to visit the Ibiza Cathedral on the hill that was built in the 14th century. The once Gothic styled cathedral was fully refurbished in the late 18th century and was remodeled in the baroque style. Learn about the dedication of the cathedral to Santa Maria la Mayor and the drastic change in architectural style.

A little known fact, Ibiza is home to two championship golf courses. Grab your friends and head out onto the fairways. You’ll be lured in by the tranquil charm and panoramic views. No matter whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you’ll find these greens quite challenging.

If you’d like to get a glimpse of the entire island from water, you can take a ride on the Ibiza Star or Formentara Star which depart from Marina Botafoch and La Savina Port. These cruises are perfect for large or small groups. Cruceros Formenta offers various types of cruises; everything from day outings where you can soak up maximum rays to the Klasik which is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

You can find full tours of the island by sea or shore. Check out Panorama Excursions who offer services from 845 am until 5 pm on Saturday and Wednesday. Trips with Panorama Excursions will take you to the salt pans that were brought to an end by the Carthaginians 2000 or more years ago. You’ll find a little bit of something for everyone with one of these guide based tours.

If you’re ready to take a break from your luxury accommodations, you can feel safe and secure wondering in to town for a bite to eat and drinks if you wish. Don’t miss Aguas Blancas eatery. Try their renowned seafood paella for a treat thats simply to die for! There are plenty of clubs around town, after all, this island is known as party central.

You may be planning on a night of club and bar hopping but chances are, once you get to Pacha, you won’t want to leave. Pacha is an ultra chic nightclub that premiers the hottest new DJs from all over Europe for you dancing pleasure. Regardless of where you go, you’re going to have a great time on the island of Ibiza.

The holidays island of Ibiza ideal for everybody if you pick the right location and flight from Newcastle. Gets tips from travel writer Wendy Chalmers of Bargain Sun

Villa Doria Pamphili: Rome’s Largest Park

February 9th, 2009 No comments

Rome’s largest public landscaped park, the Villa Doria Pamphili, takes up an area of around 2 square kilometers. It was originally owned by the family that gave the park it’s name, then bought by the City of Rome at the end of the twentieth century.

This amazing are is one of the best places in all of Rome for bird watching, and it’s also a wonderful choice for a jog or a pleasant stroll.

It’s been around for a long time as a villa – before the 1630s, it was known as the Villa Veccia. Then it was purchased by Panfilo Panfili, who also purchased the neighboring vineyards.

This created an enormous holding that stood on high ground above the rest of Rome. It was known for its amazing views, and acted as a suburban resort for its owner and his family.

A new villa was begun later, in the 1640s, by the nephew of the then-Pope, Giovanni Battista Pamphili. It took until 1652 to be finished, with the villa itself designed to complement its ancient and contemporary artworks.

You’ll find most of the artifacts in the Capitoline Museum today, though there are still some at the site. Visitors to the Villa Doria Pamphili will see an exterior in the busy Baroque style, with alternating niches and windows, as well as Mannerist-type bas relief panels.

Inside, there are even more bas reliefs, as well as frescoes of Roman history. Around 1650, gardens were laid out in a sequence of connected areas around the villa, and extending to lower levels. At one point there were statues placed here, but much of the area is now grassy instead.

In the other garden areas, later fountains and gateways make this a beautiful but complex park. You can still hear sixteenth and seventeenth century music at the concerts that are still held in the Villa Doria Pamphili’s Giardino del Teatro.

Currently, the majority of the gardens of the Villa Doria Pamphili are planted in a sixteenth century style, with close cut greenery and wide gravel walks. At one point there were a number of Roman tombs on the site, but they have all been excavated through the centuries.

This lush, beautiful park was once surprisingly the site of a lot of violence. Hand to hand fighting during the short Roman Republic period of the 19th century reached up to the outskirts of the city and the fortified villas located there. The Villa Doria Pamphili was close to some of the worst combat, but it survived, where neighboring properties did not.

The then-owner of the villa took advantage of his neighbors’ misfortune, buying up neighboring lands and making the Villa Doria Pamphili’s size even bigger. In these neighboring structures, art exhibitions are held. The villa itself remains open to the public housing antiquities and sculptures from its long history.

Anyone on a trip to Rome needs to take the time to check out the Villa Doria Pamphili. This amazing Roman park is something anyone in the area should see.

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