ΕΝΗΜΕΡΩΤΙΚΟ
Ι.Π
Majestic Palaces
1. The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City located in the
center of Beijing, is the world's largest palace - it covers an
incredible 72 hectares. Built over a 14-year period from 1406, the complex
consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8707 rooms surrounded by a six meter
deep moat and a ten meter high wall. The distance between the Tiananmen Gate
and the Gate of Divine Might is 960 meters. In total, 24 emperors reigned over
the country, over a span of five centuries.
2. The Potala Palace
The Potala Palace is situated on
Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa Valley in Tibet. Initially,
this landmark was already occupied by a palace in the 7th century. The
construction of the present palace began in 1645, during the reign of the fifth
Dalai Lama. The palace is marked by two clear sections, the white palace which
was completed in 1648, and the red palace which had been added between 1690 and
1694. The palace remained the residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai
Lama fled to India after the Chinese invasion of 1959.
3. Alhambra
Alhambra is part
fortress, part palace and part garden. It is situated atop a plateau
overlooking the city of Granada in southern Spain. Constructed during
the mid 14th century by the Nasrid sultans, the palace is a testament to the
skill of Muslim craftsmen of that time. It has become one of Spain's major
tourist attractions!
4. Palace of Versailles
Perhaps one of the most well-known
palaces in the world, Versailles, built in 1624 is one of the largest too.
It remained the official residence of the Kings of France until October 1789
when the royal family was forced to return to Paris during the French
Revolution.
5. Château de Chombard
This masterpiece of the French
Renaissance is the second most visited tourist attraction in France (after
Versailles). It features 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases. Construction
began in 1519 by King François I, enabling him to hunt in nearby forests.
He resided in the Château for less than 40 days though as the rooms were too
large and too cold.
6. Topkapi Palace
Located in Istanbul, Turkey,
construction on Tokapi palace began in 1453, ordered by then Sultan Mehmet. The
palace remained the imperial enclave of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries
from 1465 to 1853. It underwent complex and constant modifications throughout
the years and today it is made up of four main, grand courtyards and many
smaller buildings.
7. Summer Palace
Located 15km from central Beijing
in China the Summer Palace, as its name implies, was predominantly used as
a summer residence by China's imperial rulers, serving as a retreat from the
'Forbidden City'. In 1750, the gardens were extended, reproducing those in
various palaces and gardens from around China.
8. Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace located in Vienna,
Austria is truly a remarkable sight to behold. In terms of grandeur it
can be compared to Versailles. The palace was built between 1696 and 1712 at
the request of Emperor Leopold I, turning it into an imperial summer palace.
The Palace Park has lots to offer too - the Privy Garden is certainly a
sight to see. It also features the oldest zoo in the world, a maze and
labyrinth and the Gloriette (a marble summerhouse) set atop a 60m high
hill.
9. Mysore Palace
Located in the City of Palaces, Mysore India, this palace was commissioned in 1897 after the old palace was destroyed in a fire during a wedding. The structure was completed in 1912. During the Dasara festival in the months of September and October, the palace is illuminated with more than 10,000 bulbs making it one magnificent sight to see.
10. Pena National Palace
Pena National Palace was built in 1842
by King Ferdinand II. Located in Portugal it is the oldest European
castle in this romanticism style. It was constructed on the ruins of a
monastery which had been severely damaged in the Great Lisbon Earthquake of
1755. It has become one of Portugal's most visited monuments.
No comments:
Post a Comment