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Basilica di San Frediano
The facade of the Basilica di San Frediano has a unique (and much-restored) 13th-century mosaic in a markedly Byzantine style. The main feature of the beautiful basilica’s interior is the Fontana Lustrale , a 12th-century baptismal font decorated with sculpted reliefs, just to the
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Poetto Beach
An easy ride on buses PF or PQ from Piazza Matteotti, Cagliaris fabulous Poetto beach extends for 6km beyond the green Promontorio di SantElia, nicknamed the Sella del Diavola (Devils Saddle). In summer much of the citys youth decamps here to sunbathe and party in the restaurants,
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Museo Nazionale Romano: Crypta Balbi
The least known of the Museo Nazionale Romanos four museums, the Crypta Balbi sits over the ruins of several medieval buildings, themselves set atop the Teatro di Balbo (13 BC). Archaeological finds illustrate the urban development of the surrounding area, while the museums undergr
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Palombaro Lungo
Being a troglodyte city, much of Materas beauty is obscured in caves or underground, including this giant cistern, which is, arguably, as magnificent as a subterranean cathedral. Lying under the citys main square with arches carved out of the existing rock, it is mind-boggling in i
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Orta San Giulio Old Town
The medieval village of Orta San Giulio (population just 1150), often referred to simply as Orta, is the focal point of Lago d’Orta and is the lakes main village. At its heart the central square, Piazza Motta, is framed by cream-coloured houses and roofed with thick slate tiles. It
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Chiesa di San Giovanni degli Eremiti
This remarkable, five-domed remnant of Arab-Norman architecture occupies a magical little hillside in the middle of an otherwise rather squalid neighbourhood. Surrounded by a garden of citrus trees, palms, cacti and ruined walls, its built atop a mosque that itself was superimposed
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Giardino Pubblico
Next to the Museo della Ceramica, the Giardino Pubblico is a lovely place to see out the late afternoon, perhaps with an ice cream or a glass of something cool at the park bar. Manicured avenues lead down to a central space where ceramic-tiled benches look onto an art nouveau pavil
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St Peter’s Basilica Dome
Entry to the dome is to the far right of the main portico. A small lift takes you halfway up, but it’s still a long climb to the top (320 steps to be exact). Press on and you’re rewarded with some stunning views over Romes rooftops. It’s well worth the effort, but bear in mind that
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MUBA
Housed in the deconsecrated church in the centre of the extraordinary hectagonal structure of the Rotonda della Besana , Muba is Milans first centre for arts and culture dedicated to children. The constantly changing program includes interactive exhibitions, workshops (in Italian)
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Torre Velasca
Studio BBPR’s 1958 skyscraper outdoes 1980s Memphis in the postmodern quoting stakes. The top-heavy tower camply tilts at Castello Sforzesco and the Duomo’s lovely buttresses. Slightly sinister, ever so sci-fi and cleverly maximising use of available footprint, it’s Lombard to the
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Fontana di Orione
The pale marble Fontana di Orione (1553) depicts a lounging Orion, the mythical founder of Messina. The fountain was constructed by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli (pupil to Michelangelo) to commemorate the construction of Messinas aqueduct - the citys houses were the first in Sicily to
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Castello di Acquafredda
About 4km south of Uta, youll see the fairytale image of castle ruins atop an extraordinary craggy mount. These belong to the Castello di Acquafredda, a 13th-century castle that served as a temporary hideout for Guelfo della Gherardesca when his father Ugolino, the reviled ruler of
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Via della Rocca
Next to Chiesa di SantAgostino, a steep path known as Via della Rocca leads up to what remains of Piatrasantas ancient fortifications. The crenallated city walls date to the early 1300s and what remains of Palazzo Guinigi was built as a residence for signore of Lucca Paolo Guinigi
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Villa Torlonia
Full of towering pine trees, atmospheric palms and scattered villas, this splendid 19th-century park once belonged to Prince Giovanni Torlonia (1756–1829), a powerful banker and landowner. His large neoclassical villa, Casino Nobile , later became the Mussolini family home (1925–43
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Ponte di Calatrava
Avant-garde Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava’s 2008 bridge over the Grand Canal has been called many things: a fish tail, a glass tongue, unnecessary, pleasingly streamlined and displeasingly wheelchair-inaccessible. Some prefer the bridge by night, as a ghostly streak of light
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Palazzo Civico
Overlooking Piazza Matteotti, the neo-Gothic Palazzo Civico, also known as the Municipio, is home to Cagliari’s city council. Capricious, pompous and not a little overbearing, it was built between 1899 and 1913, and faithfully reconstructed after bombing in 1943. The upstairs chamb
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Schola Tedesca
The Schola Tedesca (German Synagogue) has been the spiritual home of Venice’s Ashkenazi community since 1528. By 16th-century Venetian law, only the German Jewish community could lend money, and the success of this trade shows in the handsome decor. The baroque pulpit and carved be
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Piazza San Marco
This grand showpiece square beautifully encapsulates the splendour of Venices past and its tourist-fuelled present. Flanked by the arcaded Procuratie Vecchie and Procuratie Nuove , its filled for much of the day with tourists, pigeons and tour guides. To get a birds-eye view, head
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Citadel
After the pirate Barbarossa rampaged through in 1544, murdering most of Liparis men and enslaving the women, the islands Spanish overlords fortified Lipari by constructing a citadel (also known as the castle) around the town centre. The town has since moved downhill but much of the
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Colonna di Traiano
Set among the ruins of Trajans Forum, Trajans column (AD 113) is adorned with intricate reliefs depicting the victories over the Dacians (from modern-day Romania). It became Trajans tomb, with his ashes buried underneath and a golden statue resting on top (later replaced by one of
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