Travel Tips - Architecture in Italy

Rome’s Coliseum, aside from being the largest building constructed during the Roman period, was also internationally voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007. The sordid entertainment that it provided Roman society, gladiator and animal battles, is no doubt another morbid reason for the modern world’s fascination with the arena.

The Coliseum seated 60,000 spectators and is made up of 80 arches on the ground floor through which ancient Romans could gain access to the grounds. However, nowadays, only a single entrance is used, contributing to massive lines, where tourists can spend hours waiting to purchase admission tickets. To skip the wait, visit the neighboring Palatine Hill first. The line to access the Palatine Hill is significantly shorter, and once there, you can buy a dual Coliseum/Palatine Hill ticket. The halls of the Coliseum also play host to temporary art exhibits that shouldn’t be ignored.

Piazza alla Scala, which sits at the head of the plaza and is named after the world’s most important opera house is connected to the Piazza Duomo by the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Although significantly smaller than the Piazza Duomo, it is a much more comfortable and quite place rest your feet, people watch and bask in the sun.
At the center of the piazza sits a statue dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci surrounded by a grassy area with trees and several benches. Also located in the piazza is the 16th century Marino Palace, considered the city’s most beautiful palace and currently the home of Milan’s City Hall, and the Palace of the Commercial Bank of Italy.

Quite possibly one of Europe’s most beautiful cathedrals, Milan’s Il Duomo is the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world and the Italian city’s astonishing centerpiece.

If its monumental size isn’t enough to awe visitors, its amazingly ornate façade will. Construction on this cathedral, which can hold up to 40,000 visitors, began in 1386 and wasn’t completed until 1805, making it a favorite of architecture buffs who can spend hours hunting for the additions from each period of the building’s 400 year construction history. The cathedral’s interior is comparable to other European cathedrals; however, the stained glass windows are of particular interest. And hands down the best Milan duomo experience is visiting its roof. Stairs and pathways line the roof so that visitors can witness a beautiful bird’s eye view of the city and get a closer look at the ornamentation of the cathedral’s turrets.