home General issues Virtual walks in Italy. Virtual tour of the Vatican

Virtual walks in Italy. Virtual tour of the Vatican

By the Vatican! I think that few have been to this unique place on the globe, but there is not a single person who does not know about it)).

The Vatican State is the smallest in the world and is actually the largest open-air museum! It is difficult to imagine how such a small area of just 40 hectares can accommodate a rich collection of works of art. Christian relics and unique creations of great masters are kept here.

Having started a virtual excursion (tour), you will visit the most beautiful cathedrals of the Vatican and Rome, look at everything with your own eyes as if you were there yourself. Thanks to the panoramic view, the possibility of movement and the spiritual chants accompanying the excursion, a complete atmosphere of presence and reality of what is happening is created.

The review is carried out using the mouse, the wheel is used for zooming (the same as it was on excursions to, or). The sound can be turned off by clicking the note icon in the left corner of the screen.

After you click on one of the links, a building plan will open with numbers indicating its various rooms (parts). By clicking on them, you will immediately move to the selected location.

To make your tour of the Christian churches of the Vatican and Rome more interesting for you, I will tell you a little about each of them.

I immediately suggest going to the largest building of the Vatican, Basilica di San Pietro - Saint Paul's Cathedral.

Such masters as Raphael and Michelangelo worked on the creation of this one of the largest Christian churches in the world. St. Peter's Cathedral dates back to 324, when, by decree of Emperor Constantine, a most beautiful church was erected over the tomb of the Apostle Peter. After it practically collapsed over time, Pope Julius II initiated the construction of a grandiose temple.

The length of St. Peter's Basilica is 211.6 m, the dome alone has a diameter of 42 m, its spire is located at a height of 133 m.

Saint John Lateran – . In terms of its significance for Catholicism, this temple stands above all others. The cathedral dates back to the 4th century, but in its current form it was built in the 17th century.

The Cathedral of St. John Lateran has hosted five ecumenical councils. The shrines of the temple are considered to be the heads of the apostles Peter and Paul, part of the sponge with which Christ was drunk on the crucifixion, and part of the robe of the Virgin Mary.

Saint Mary Major is one of the four main churches in Rome. According to legend, the Mother of God herself ordered the construction of this temple in 352 in the place she indicated.

Cappella Sistina – The Sistine Chapel. This church was built in the 15th century. at the request of Pope Sixtus IV, which is where its name comes from.

The walls of the chapel were painted by Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo and other famous masters. The most beautiful frescoes were designed to tell about the lives of Moses (Old Testament) and Christ (New Testament).

This church is the only one that has largely preserved its original appearance.

Michelangelo worked on the fresco “The Last Judgment” for 6 years! It most clearly demonstrates the great talent of this brilliant artist.

Friends, I am sure that the virtual tour of the Vatican did not leave you indifferent! Recommend it to your friends by clicking on the social networking buttons below the article. Thank you!

It's exactly one year old! Thanks to everyone who left their congratulations - I read each of them with great pleasure! It’s very nice that my readers are so active and they benefit from what I do.

Thanks to everyone who answered the online voting questions: on average, 160 people answered each question! These results will greatly help me make the site even better and more interesting. It is very pleasant that the most popular answer to the question “What online services are you most interested in?” the option “ ” appeared - 69%! This once again confirms my position when approaching writing articles that information should first of all develop and be useful, and only then entertain.

In second place in popularity were 35%. I must say, this is one of my favorite topics, because this kind of service allows you to instantly find yourself in a completely different part of the world and see everything with your own eyes as if you were physically transported there.

Today I invite you to combine education and a virtual tour! We will go to Italy and see all its famous sights! We will visit dozens of cities and see more than 200 virtual 3D panoramas of famous architectural masterpieces!

ItalyGuides is an online resource dedicated to sights of Italy. You will be able to see thousands of photographs of different parts of Italy, learn a lot of interesting things about each city, and watch excellent videos in HD quality.

But most importantly, you will be able to wander through the ruins of the Colosseum and Pantheon in Rome, enjoy the Boboli Gardens and the beauty of the statue of David in Florence, walk the ancient streets of Palermo, sail in a gondola along the canals of Venice and much more! The beauty of Italy has never left anyone indifferent!

On the main page of the site there is a page on which Italian cities are indicated by small icons with a photograph. Choose any of them and a pop-up link will take you to a page entirely dedicated to the city and its attractions.

By clicking on the preview of any of the attractions, you will be taken to its virtual 3D panorama. You can look around, zoom in and out, and open a full-screen panorama. All this completely allows you to believe in the reality of what you see).

Besides photos of Italy and 3-D panoramas of wonderful corners of this amazing country you can also download for free on the website audio guides(in English) for Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa and Naples.

By downloading them to any mp3 player, you will actually receive your personal guide and guide and will be able to travel to Italy absolutely calmly, without fear of missing a single significant attraction!

Before you take a virtual tour of Italy, watch an interesting video about one of its most beautiful cities - Florence:

Friends, have you already been to Italy? What are your impressions?

The history of Venice goes back one and a half millennia, full of turbulent events. Wars and truces, crusades and imperial claims, the flourishing of trade and banking - Venice was independent, rich and successful for a long time.

Being in the center of Europe, and, therefore, in the center of events, Venice experienced prosperity, decline, and prosperity again. These days it is one of the most famous cities in the world: 15 million tourists come here every year, you can't be wrong.

Venice is called the “city on the water”. Interestingly, in Western there are several other cities whose streets are canals. Thus, the Belgian Ghent lies on 26 islands connected by 207 bridges. The capital of Holland is located on 26 islands. But it is Venice that holds the palm in this criterion: it is difficult to beat the record of 118 islands, 150 canals and 400 bridges!

As a result, transport in Venice is very unique. There are no roads, cars, taxis, buses, trams or even bicycles. Here you either walk or use water transport: boats, speedboats and gondolas. Moreover, the latter are not so much a means of transportation as a romantic attraction for tourists who are willing to pay 100 euros for a half-hour boat ride.

Everything in the gondola is thought out and symbolic. Its dimensions and design have not changed for centuries and are fixed by law: length 11 meters, width 140 cm and a flat bottom, and the shape is asymmetrical - the left side is 24 cm longer than the right. This allows the gondolier to steer while standing to the side of the line dividing the gondola lengthwise and in half. At full load (up to 1200 kg), the gondola can travel at a speed of three knots, that is, about 4 km/h.

At the end of the 15th century, there were from 15 to 29 thousand gondoliers in Venice. Together with their families, they made up a quarter of the city's population. Now in Venice there are 425 gondoliers, and this number does not change regardless of retirement or the arrival of new members.

Of course, Venice is not only about houses growing out of the water and gondoliers. The Cathedral and St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Grand Canal and many other attractions of Venice are its worthy decoration.

“There is no more magnificent absurdity than Venice. To build a city where a city cannot be built is in itself madness; but to build one of the most elegant, grandiose cities in this way is brilliant madness,” Alexander Herzen very accurately described Venice with these words.

And yet the creation of such a beautiful city was a real challenge to nature. An unsuitable area for life... not even land - an area of water! - turned into a fairy tale: for centuries, builders painstakingly diverted the river to the sides, strengthened the banks and drove into the ground millions of piles made of water-resistant larch.

True, centuries later it became clear that it was not possible to completely defeat nature. Step by step, the Adriatic advances and wins: during the 20th century alone, Venice “sank” by 23 centimeters. Presumably, by 2028 the city will completely disappear into the abyss of water.

So we don’t have much time left to admire and remember the elusive beauty of this famous landmark of Italy...

Photo: Stas Sedov and Dmitry Moiseenko ©www.airpano.ru

Message quote Today our path lies to the capital of ITALY - ROME. One of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Rome, the capital of Italy, is one of the oldest cities in the world, the ancient capital of the Roman Empire. Even in antiquity (3rd century AD), Rome was often called the Eternal (lat. Roma Aeterna). For the first time, the Roman poet Albius Tibullus (1st century BC) called Rome this way in his second elegy. Ideas about the “eternity” of Rome were largely preserved even after the fall of ancient Roman civilization, bringing the corresponding epithet into modern languages.

Port of Civitavequia. We booked the excursion on the Internet. A minibus arrived straight to the ship for us, and we headed to Rome.

The framing of the road alternated between flowering bushes, behind which one could see mown fields and rolled straw, and trees. Often we came across coniferous trees like these with umbrella hats. At the bottom right are the “rolls” from the wheat fields.

At the entrance to the Eternal City, our guide Vika greeted us, and the history lesson began. Looking ahead, I will say: it was presented professionally, passionately, and interestingly. The only thing that saddened us was that the day was cloudy, and it was drizzling every now and then (the pictures turned out to be cloudy too, please don’t hit me).

Cathedral of St. Paul, or Ostien Cathedral
The church was founded by Emperor Constantine on the site of the supposed burial of St. Paul (in 2006, archaeologists announced that they had found his sarcophagus under the temple). In 386, Theodosius I considered that church unworthy of such a sacred place and began construction of a much more impressive temple. When Pope Leo I completed construction, there was no larger basilica in Rome.

Unlike other patriarchal basilicas, the Cathedral of St. Paul outside the wall did not undergo significant changes either during the Renaissance or the Baroque era, but on July 15, 1823 it burned down almost to the ground. The restoration of the temple continued until 1840, and a completely new classicist facade was built. Malachite and lapis lazuli were sent by Tsar Nicholas I to recreate the altar. The re-consecration of the temple took place only in 1855.

Pyramid of Cestius, on the right - Gate of St. Paul / Porta S. Paolo

The Pyramid of Cestius is an ancient Roman mausoleum in the shape of an irregular pyramid on the Aventine in Rome. Built between 18 and 12 BC e. for Gaius Cestius Epulo. It is a perfectly preserved structure made of concrete, lined with brick and marble. The height is 36.4 meters, the length of the base is 30 meters. There is a crypt inside the pyramid. Nearby is a non-Catholic cemetery with the graves of Shelley, Keats and Bryullov.

The Porta San Paolo is part of the Aurelian Wall, which was built in 272-275. In the ring of the wall there were 7 hills, the Campus Martius and the Trastevere region on the left bank of the Tiber

The Temple of Portunus is an ancient Roman temple in the Forum Boarium in Rome, dedicated to the god of ports, Portunus.

VENICE SQUARE

Palace of Venice
Piazza Venezia (Piazza Veneto) is located in the very center of Rome, at the foot of the Caritolian Hill. The palace of the same name was built in 1455 by the will of Cardinal Pietro Barbo, the future Pope Paul II. Being one of the first buildings in the city from the early Renaissance period, the building is distinguished by its extreme severity of form.

Vittoriano (Italian: Il Vittoriano), or Monument to Victor Immanuel II

Monument to Vittoriano on Pl. Venice was erected in honor of the Unification of Italy. Called to glorify the Fatherland, the Risorgimento (that is, the movement for the reunification of the country) and Military valor. Construction of the complex began in 1885, but it took forty years to complete. The wide central staircase leads to the Altar of the Fatherland and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the ashes of a nameless warrior who gave his life for his Motherland in the war of 1915-18 are buried. There is always a guard of honor there. Above the chapel in the niche is a statue of Rome, and to the left and right of it is a bas-relief by the sculptor Angelo Zanelli, glorifying work and love in the fatherland. There are fountains on both sides of the main staircase. The right fountain depicts the Tyrrhenian Sea, the left - the Adriatic.

In the center of the ensemble stands an equestrian statue of King Victor Emmanuel II by sculptor E. Chiaradia. The massive bas-relief of the base of the statue, created by Maccagnini, represents the main cities of Italy.

The extensive colonnade, decorated with allegorical groups representing the regions of Italy, ends with two propylaea with bronze quadrigas bearing the winged Victoria.

Temple of Santa Maria in Araceli (Church of Our Lady of the Heavenly Altar)

Rome is called "the city on seven hills." On one of them, Capitol Hill, is the Temple of Our Lady. It looks modest from the outside, but is known for its rich decoration.

Around the COLISEUM

The Colosseum greeted us with this weather

The Colosseum is an outstanding architectural monument of Ancient Rome, the largest amphitheater of the ancient world, a symbol of the greatness and power of Imperial Rome.

Initially, the Colosseum was called the Flavian Amphitheater (lat. Amphitheatrum Flavium), the current name (lat. Colosseum, Colosaeus, Italian. Colloseo) was adopted for it subsequently, starting in the 8th century, and came either from the enormity of its size, or from the fact that it was nearby there stood a gigantic statue of him, erected by Nero in honor of himself.
The construction of the amphitheater was begun by Emperor Vespasian after his victories in Judea. Construction was carried out over 5 years, from 75-80, and was completed in 80 by the latter’s son, Emperor Titus. The opening of the Colosseum was marked by games.

The Flavian Amphitheater was built on a concrete foundation 13 meters thick and could accommodate up to 87,000 spectators. For a long time, the Colosseum was for the residents of Rome and visitors the main place for entertainment spectacles, such as gladiator fights, animal persecution, naval battles (naumachia).

Under Emperor Macrinus, it was badly damaged by fire, but was restored by order of Alexander Severus. In 248, Emperor Philip still celebrated the millennium of Rome's existence there with great spectacle. Honorius in 405 banned gladiatorial battles as being inconsistent with the spirit of Christianity, which became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire after Constantine the Great; however, animal persecution continued to occur in the Colosseum until the death of Theodoric the Great. After this, sad times came for the Flavian Amphitheater.

The barbarian invasions left the Flavian Amphitheater desolate and marked the beginning of its destruction. From the 11th century until 1132, it served as a fortress for noble Roman families who competed with each other for influence and power over their fellow citizens, especially for the families of Frangipani and Annibaldi. The latter, however, were forced to cede the Colosseum to Emperor Henry VII, who donated it to the Roman Senate and people.

Back in 1332, the local aristocracy organized bullfights here, but from that time on the systematic destruction of the Colosseum began. It became a source of production of building materials. Although the building as a whole was disfigured, a significant part of the amphitheater survived.

The first to take the building under his protection was Benedict XIV (1740-58). Subsequent Popes continued to take care of the preservation and strengthening of the ancient monument.

The ancient theater is called the “Coat of Arms of Rome” and deservedly so - despite the long-term destruction and vandalism to which the historical monument was subjected, it still makes an indelible impression on those who have the good fortune to see the Colosseum for the first time.

To the right of one of the entrances to the Colosseum is the Triumphal Arch of Emperor Constantine I the Great

The Arc de Triomphe is no less crowded

At the top of each column are figures of Dacians

On the northern side, from left to right, are depicted: the emperor’s return to Rome from a military campaign, the emperor leaving the city and being greeted by the personified Via Flaminia, the emperor distributing money to the people, the emperor interrogating a captured German. On the southern side (also from left to right): the German leader and other captives appear before the emperor, the emperor addresses the troops, the emperor sacrifices a pig, a sheep and a bull to the gods.

“People and horses are mixed together...” This driver, apparently hoping to get clients, drove into the very thick of the crowd. It worked out...

ARCH OF TITUS

It is located at the very beginning of the ancient Sacred Road (Via Sacra), and is dedicated to the conquest of Judea and the capture of Jerusalem by Titus in 71. It has one span, vault and facing made of massive slabs of Pentelicon marble.

The arch is decorated with large reliefs. In this picture, soldiers carry on a stretcher objects captured in the Jerusalem temple: the seven-branched candlestick, trumpets and the altar.
Here is the exit to the Forum from the Colosseum.
Via Sacra, or Sacred Road, is the site of triumphal processions of the Republic and Empire. The triumphal procession began on the Campus Martius and, welcomed by the people, went through the entire city to the Forum, where it ended at the Capitol.

Church of Santa Francesca Romana
The Roman Forum was once the commercial, political and religious center of the Roman Republic. The area was filled with majestic and magnificent temples, palaces, and shops, crowded with people from all over the world. Today it is a series of ruins and marble fragments with scattered crumbling columns. And although it is already difficult to imagine all that former splendor, it still looks impressive. Especially when you take into account the fact that the ruins are nine hundred years old (from approximately the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD). And keep in mind that restoration work is underway

Along the Sacred Road and next to the fence at the Forum are “warriors”. You can take pictures with them (for money).

Be that as it may, these modern legionnaires and gladiators help recreate the era with their costumes

And grass grows through the ruins, flowers bloom

Aqueduct
A feature of the economic activities of the Romans was the attention they paid to the creation of infrastructure that was modern at that time. It was very important to provide drinking and household water to the growing urban population, as well as numerous public baths. For this purpose, aqueducts were built, and a sewer system was used to drain dirty water, based on the Cloaca Maxima canal network, originally created to drain swamps.

Then we drove some part of the way (photo through the bus window)

And it rains... And we walk - through the streets of Rome

What would Rome be without Fiat and artistic people!

Cafes are at every step. And the rain is not scary!

And here they still removed the cutlery from the tables.

Alberto Sordi Gallery (shopping center)

Still, in rainy weather it’s better to drink a cup of coffee under the roof

Column of Marcus Aurelius

The monument to Marcus Aurelius is a triumphal column, built in 176-193 on the model of Trajan's Column

PANTHEON / Pantheon

Pantheon in Rome, on the Campus Martius, in 27-25. BC e. It was built at his own expense by the Roman consul Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, son-in-law of Emperor Augustus. According to legend, from this place, which in ancient times was called the “goat swamp” (lat. Palus Caprae), Romulus, the founder of the Eternal City, was ascended to heaven by the god Mars. One of the most famous, most impressive and best-preserved buildings of ancient Rome, the “Temple of All Gods” in Rome, the Pantheon is a monument of centric-domed architecture from the heyday of ancient Roman architecture.