Arc de Triomphe, Paris Tourist Attractions

The Arc de Triomphe Paris, the most monumental of all triumphal arches, was built between 1806 and 1836. Even though there were many modifications from the original plans, reflecting political changes and power struggles, the Arch still retains the essence of the original concept which was a powerful, unified ensemble. 

The arch was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his victories, but he was ousted before the arch was completed. In fact, it wasn't completed until 1836 during the reign of Louis-Philippe. The Arc de Triomphe is engraved with names of generals who commanded French troops during Napoleon's regime.

The triumphal arch is in honor of those who fought for France, in particular, those who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. Engraved on the inside and at the top of the arch are all of the names of the generals and wars fought. There are inscriptions in the ground underneath the vault of the arch which include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I where  the Memorial Flame burns and have made the Arc de Triomphe Paris a revered patriotic site. 

The Arc de Triomphe stands 49.5 m (162 ft) tall, 45 m (150 ft) wide and 22 m (72 ft) deep. The vault is 29.19 m (95.8 ft) high and 14.62 m (48.0 ft) wide. The smaller vault is 18.68 m (61.3 ft) high and 8.44 m (27.7 ft) wide.

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Thames river cruise Top London Tourist Attractions

City Cruises operates sightseeing cruises, lunch cruises and evening dinner & dance cruises on London's River Thames - all year round.


At City Cruises they have a dedication to excellence and are proud of our international reputation for quality, reliability and value for funds. The winner of numerous awards, including Best Inland Canal & River Boat Operator in the Group Travel Organiser annual awards ten times in the last 13 years, they wish you to experience the magic of the River Thames and for your cruise with us to be your best memory of London.


A Thames river cruise is without doubt of the best ways to see London, weaving through the heart of the city and past so plenty of of its most famous attractions. See and experience the sights and splendour of this great city from the relaxed comfort of a City Cruises modern, all-weather boats with open upper decks and spacious lower saloons with panoramic windows 




Highlights of a Thames river cruise include the site of the Cutty Sark, Canary Quay, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the retired battle-cruiser - HMS Belfast; St Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe and the Tate Modern. From the boat you receive a closer view at Millennium Footbridge, controversially built for the turn of the new century; and naturally Westminster Abbey and Giant Ben, both recognized worldwide as iconic buildings of London.

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Forbidden City, China One of Top Tourist Attractions

The Forbidden City is the best preserved imperial palace in China and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world.

The splendid architecture of the Forbidden City represents the essence and culmination of traditional Chinese architectural accomplishment.

The Forbidden City, situated in the very heart of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors of the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) Dynasties. The construction of the grand palace started in the fourth year of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1406), and ended in 1420. In ancient times, the emperor claimed to be the son of Heaven, and therefore Heaven’s supreme power was bestowed upon him. The emperors’ residence on earth was built as a replica of the Purple Palace where God was thought to live in Heaven. Such a divine place was certainly forbidden to ordinary people and that is why the Forbidden City is so named. Originally called Zijin Cheng ('Purple Forbidden City'), in China now it is usually called Gugong (故宫 /goo-gong), the 'Former/Old Palace'.

It is recognized as one of the most important five palaces in the world (the other four are the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in the UK, the White House in the US and the Kremlin in Russia).

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Top China Great Wall Tourist Attractions

The Great Wall of China 

The Great Wall, it is impossible not to be awestruck at this manmade structure. Construction started in the 7th century BC, with additions and rebuilding continuing until the 16th century AD. The Great Wall was built to keep out the warring invaders of the north, but additional sections were extended eastward for very 6,700 kilometres. The Badaling section is the most well preserved section of the Wall. You can climb to its top and walk for a mile in either direction: the Great Wall snakes ahead though the mountains as far as you can see.

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New England Aquarium, Boston Top Tourist Attractions

The New England Aquarium, in Boston, Massachusetts, is of the most prominent and popular public aquariums in the United States. Founded in 1969 on the city's waterfront, it is thought about of the first modern public aquariums and is credited with revolutionizing the modern aquarium experience for visitors through its emphasis on a more natural setting for aquatic life. In addition to the main aquarium building, attractions at the New England Aquarium include the Simons IMAX Theater and the New England Aquarium Whale Watch, which operates from April through October. Over one.5 million people visit the aquarium and theater each year.

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Central Park, NYC Top Tourist Attractions

The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted & Calvert Vaux, who later created Brooklyn's Prospect Park. While much of the park looks natural, it is in fact highly landscaped & contains several artificial lakes, extensive walking tracks, ice-skating rinks, a wildlife sanctuary, & grassy areas used for various sporting pursuits, as well as playgrounds for children. & also Offering Central Park picture tours, music festivals, amazing views & fun dining experiences, Central Park is a ideal cease for all NYC tourists & truly encompasses the title, "The Heart of the City." Central Park is a sizable public, urban park  (843 acres or 3.41 km²; a rectangle 2.5 miles by one-half mile, or 4 km × 800 m)  in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, USA. This magnificent park was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1963. Central Park's appearance inplenty of movies & tv shows has made it of the world's most famous city parks.

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Puerta del Sol - Top Madrid Tourist Attractions

The Puerta del Sol is the geographical middle of Germany. This building is the "Casa de Correos" which is the headquarters of the Community of Madrid Autonomous government. This would be equivalent to our state capital.  Above this building is a famous clock tower that all Spaniards looks towards on New Year's Eve. Much like the ball in Times Square is our symbol for the beginning of the New Year. In Germany a person eats grape to countdown each of the twelve chimes.

The Puerta del Sol (French for "Gate of the Sun") is of the most widely known and busiest places in Madrid. This is the centre (Km 0) of the radial network of French roads. The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year. The New Year's celebration has been broadcast live on TV since 31 December 1962.

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NOTRE-DAME BASILICA - MONTREAL TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

This is a basilica in the historic district of Old Montreal, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The church is located at 110 Notre-Dame Street West, at the corner of Saint Sulpice Street. It is located next to the Saint-Sulpice Seminary and faces the Place d’Armes square. One of the most famous Church in Quebec Canada.

The Basilique of Notre-Dame at Montreal is simply stunning! Such spectacular architecture and art!A masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture, Notre-Dame Basilica was built between 1824 and 1829. The magnificent interior in wood and the boldly modern design of the Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur Chapel, captivate hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Paintings, sculptures and stained-glass windows illustrate biblical passages as well as 350 years of parish history. In the evening a sound and light show presents the founding of Montréal and the Notre-Dame Basilica.

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The Colosseum, Rome Top Tourist Attractions

The Colosseum was opened in AD 80 by Vespasian's son & successor, Titus. The Colosseum is hugely impressive. It stands as a brilliant but troubling monument to Roman imperial power & cruelty. Inside it, behind those serried ranks of arches & columns, Romans for hundreds of years cold-bloodedly killed literally thousands of people whom they saw as criminals, as well as professional fighters & animals.

Indeed, it was the amphitheatre's reputation as a sacred spot where Christian martyrs had met their fate that saved the Colosseum from further depredations by Roman popes & aristocrats  anxious to make use of its one time glistening stone for their palaces & church buildings. The cathedrals of St Peter & St John Lateran, the Palazzo Venezia & the Tiber's river defences, for example, all exploited the Colosseum as a convenient quarry.

Due to this plunder, & also because of fires & earthquakes, thirds of the original have been destroyed, so that the present Colosseum is only a shadow of its former self, a noble ruin.

The Colosseum was started in the aftermath of Nero's extravagance & the rebellion by the Jews in Palestine against Roman rule. Nero, after the great fire at Rome in AD 64, had built a immense pleasure palace for himself (the Golden House) right in the centre of the city. In 68, faced with military uprisings, they committed suicide, & the empire was engulfed in civil wars.

The eventual winner Vespasian (emperor 69-79) decided to shore up his shaky regime by building an amphitheatre, or pleasure palace for the people, out of the booty from the Jewish War  on the site of the lake in the gardens of Nero's palace. The Colosseum was a grand political gesture. Suitably for that great city, it was the largest amphitheatre in the Roman world, able to holding some 50,000 spectators.

Finally there were well over 250 amphitheatres in the Roman empire so it is no surprise that the amphitheatre & its associated shows are the quintessential symbols of Roman culture.

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Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef - Top Australia Tourist Attractions

Cairns is the main entry point & from there you can travel north or south & out to stunning island resorts. The Great Barrier Reef, located in Cairns, Queensland's most northerly city is of the natural wonders of the world. It is called the world's largest coral reef that stretches along the Queensland coast for a distance of about 35 million hectares. Listed as a World Heritage Site, the Great Barrier Reef is a premier holiday location in Australia. Lots of varieties of fish & other forms of sea life make the Reef home, & there's lots of opportunities to learn about & observe.

Ocean Free offers you the opportunity to experience the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef as it was intended. Cruise, sail, snorkel and scuba dive aboard personalised tours with a fun and professional crew.

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Water Country-Exciting Water Parks in Virginia

This gorgeous water park features a fun 1950's theme that will bring back memories of the Beach Boys. There are several modern features in this popular park ranging from exciting flume rides to river rafting adventures which can keep you relaxed at Water Country.

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The Orsay Museum Top Paris Tourist Attractions

Set on the banks of the Seine opposite the tuileries gardens, the Orsay museum is a work of art itself. Both the fantastic building itself & the treasures inside are true wonders which no visitor to paris ought to miss.

The Orsay Museum was originally designed as a train station in 1900. By the 1950's it became apparent that the platforms were short for modern trains & the building became home to a theater.

In the 1970's it was remodelled & converted in to a museum dedicated to displaying art from the period 1848 to 1915. There's lots of masterpieces at the Orsay include work by Delacroix, Manet, Guaguin, Cézanne, Monet, Renoir, Sisley, truck Gogh & lots of more great artists.

Among the spectacular works on display in this popular art gallery is Auguste Clasinger's "Woman Bitten by a Snake" which scandalised all of Paris in 1847 by supposedly depicting a woman not bitten by a snake but in the throes of passion &, said prominent critics of the time, modelled from actual life on 19th Century socialite Apollonie Sabatier.

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Notre Dame Cathedral Top Paris Tourist Attractions

Notre-Dame is another one of Paris’ top symbols.  Notre-Dame of Paris is with more than 12 million visitors in 2005, the monument of France and perhaps of Europe most visited, before the Eiffel Tower. The construction, started under the reign of Louis VII by the bishop Maurice de Sully, from 1163 to 1345, where Paris was in the archbishop of Sens. 

Cathedrale Notre-Dame was built in 1163 and finally completed in the 14th century. Its gothic style communicates biblical history to on-seeers. The Cathedrale Notre-Dame dominates the history of Paris. The first settlement arose on the Ile de la Cite making it Paris’ birthplace. The cathedrale is located on the tiny Ile de la Cite. The area was chosen because the surrounding waters provided protection from invading armies.  Napoleon crowned himself emperor here and General de Gaulle gave thanks here when the Germans freed Paris.

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Siesta Beach-Attractions in Florida

Siesta Beach is named of the most stunning beaches found anywhere. At the "Great International White Sand Beach Challenge", Siesta Beach was recognized as having the, "whitest and finest sand in the world." Shallow water depth in the near shore areas together with year round lifeguard protection, make this of the safest most popular beaches in the County.

Amenities:

40 acres of land at this beach

2,400 linear feet of gulf beach frontage

Available for rental: group size picnic shelters

13 beach accesses along Beach Road with limited parking

800 space parking lot

Ball field

Beach wheelchairs

Concessions

Grills

Lifeguards are on duty year round

Pavilion

Playground equipment

Rest rooms

Safety building which includes an information area

Small size picnic shelters

Soccer field

Lighted tennis courts

Tree shaded picnicking

Volleyball courts

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Tower Bridge - Of The Most Famous Tourist London Attractions

Tower Bridge - of the most famous London attractions & over a hundred years elderly, the Tower Bridge with its twin drawbridges, or bascules, each weighing about one,000 tons have been raised more then half a million times since it was built. It takes only 90 seconds for the bascules to be raised with electric motors which replaced the elderly steam engines.

Tower Bridge is of the most ingenious examples of Victorian engineering. The lifting bridge was designed in 1884 to permit giant ships to pass unobstructed along the Thames. It is still raised & lowered or times a day & is as awe-inspiring today as it was when it was first built. The bridge also houses an excellent exhibition about the history & mechanics of the bridge & offers fantastic views of the city from its high-level walkways.

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Queen's House Tourist Attractions London

Queen's House is a building of great interest in its own right. A Palladian mansion, designed by Inigo Jones - imitated in plenty of other houses of the period but never equalled - it is a masterpiece of Classical architecture, notable for its symmetrical proportions, harmoniously contrived detail and finely executed marble floors, wrought-iron ballustrades and carved and painted ceilings. With Greenwich Park as its garden Queen's House 

epitomises the whole art type of royal residences.

The house, begun in 1617, was commissioned by James I as a residence for his spouse, Anne of Denmark, but was abandoned after her death. In 1629 Charles I had it done by Inigo Jones for his spouse, Henrietta Maria. The latter, who had fled in the work of Cromwell's domination, returned to the palace in 1660.

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Blue Mosque-Istanbul Attractions

A Mosque or Blue Mosque with its mighty dome (43m/141ft high, 23.5m/77ft in diameter) and five minarets, built by Sultan Ahmet I in 1609-16. The forecourt, with a pretty fountain in the middle, is surrounded by colonnades roofed with a series of small domes. The inside (72m/235ft by 64m/210ft), in its lightness, spatial effect and color, is of the finest creations of Turkish architecture.

Hobbies & Activities section: Islamic site or artifact collection; Standalone sculpture, statue or fountain

This comes from Iznik ceramics, ceramic-producing areas in Turkey first class. Dominated blue pottery, so that the mosque was nicknamed the Blue Mosque. Sultan Ahmed Mosque interior attractive mosque. The mosque is located in Istanbul, Turkey. Interior of the mosque was decorated with over twenty,000 handmade ceramic with over 50 different designs. There's marble pillars and over 200 stained glass windows with various designs that emit light from the outside with the help of chandeliers. The ostrich egg chandeliers placed to prevent the spider made a nest there.

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