St. Petersburg
I’ve already written that St. Petersburg, Russia is without a doubt one of my favourite destinations in the world. The main reason for this is the stunning architecture which is absolutely everywhere. The vibrant, colourful, Church on the Spilled Blood with its bright red façade and gold, blue and green domes is my favourite building in the city.
The interior is decorated almost exclusively in bright mosaic tiles and is incomparable to anywhere else I’ve been. Just outside the city is Catherine’s Palace which is beautiful inside and out. The exterior is bright blue and white and inside many of the rooms are covered in gold and opulent finishing are everywhere.
Rome
If you dock in Civitavecchia the eternal city, Rome, is around an hours train ride away and is one of the best places for architecture. From the Coliseum, to the Pantheon, to the Trevi Fountain, there’s bound to be at least one building that you will fall in love with.
With Vatican City so accessible there are also a number of religious buildings which you can visit- including St. Peters Basilica, the residence of the Pope, and the Sistine Chapel. History is everywhere within in the city and it can be seen in the ancient buildings and ruins which exist in abundance.
Florence
Florence, Italy is another of my favourite cities for architecture. The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, or Duomo as it often called, dominates the skyline of the city and is in the 19th century Gothic revival style.
For the adventurous, the Duomo’s tower can be accessed by climbing over 450 steps- hard work, but worth it for the stunning views that await you at the top. Ponte Vecchio Bridge over the Arno River is also another piece of Florence’s beautiful architecture. The bridge dates back to Roman times and houses a number of jewellery shops within the seemingly precariously perched shops which line the bridge.
Barcelona
Barcelona is a great city for architecture- both contemporary, modern architecture and more traditional Gothic styles too. Antonio Gaudi’s work can be seen all over the city, from the iconic Sagrada Famillia to the quirky designs in Park Guell, his influence is everywhere.
The Gothic area of the city has so many beautiful buildings and squares to relax with a drink and do some people watching in lovely surroundings. I’ve been to Barcelona a number of times but each time I visit I still come across new buildings and pieces of architecture which fascinate me.
Thanks Emma