5 Must see European Cities

Larissa Lamarca, Staff Writer

The five, must see European cities:

 

  1. Rome, Italy

All roads lead to Rome. As the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and its almost three thousand years of history, it holds a strong front in Europe. Ancient ruins, such as the Coliseum, are must see attractions which have stood there since the Roman Empire. The Vatican City, containing Michelangelo’s sistine, depicting God’s creation of man, is a breathtaking masterpiece. St. Peter’s basilica, also found in the Vatican City, is the world’s largest basilica of Christianity. The Coliseum was a gladiatorial arena during ancient Roman times. It is an absolute must see. The spanish steps and the famous fountain Trevi are often in scenes seen in the movies. If history is not enough, then wandering the streets will unleash a sense of Italian culture. With pizza, pasta, frutti de mare and gelato on almost all corners, the Italian specialties satisfy every gourmet’s heart.

 

  1. Paris, France

Paris, the city of love. With it’s traditional streets, high class shops on Champs Elysées and the River Seine flowing through the city. The famous Eiffel Tower which is lit every night, can be seen from afar. The Arc de Triomphe, Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre museum with the painting of Mona Lisa’s smile, are just three of the landmarks worth visiting. As the fashion capital, you can find a variety of designer boutiques or watch a fashion show. Simply walking the many avenues at night, is an opportunity to embrace the many flavors of French food. In Paris, with a population of 2.2 million, it is almost impossible not to find entertainment, at any hour of the day.

 

  1. Athens, Greece

The city of Olympia, where the Olympic games were created for the World’s best athletes. Greeks invented the Traditional Olympic games, in 776 BC. Greeks are famous for their architecture. Athens is the historical capital of Europe. The ancient civilizations and greek mythology, still show strong presence in the sights of Athens. The Pantheon standing high above the city, as a dedication to the Goddess of Athena, is an iconic landmark. It can be seen high on a hill, upon entering the city. The Acropolis and Temple of Olympian Zeus, are two other sights worth visiting. Civilization has been there for more than four thousand years. It is rich in history, as well as culture. Greek is one of the world’s oldest languages. It has influenced many other languages including Latin. Their wine, feta cheese, yogurt and olive oil are culinary highlights for centuries. The ocean surrounds the city and brings its historic power to light.

 

  1. London, England

Englands capital and the home to its monarchs, used to be called Londinium, founded by the Romans. It is situated by the River Thames in the south eastern part of England. London is a global power and one of the world’s leading financial centers. It is a world cultural capital. Today, It is the most visited city with tourists from all over the world. It has 43 universities which is the highest of all upper level education institutes. It is home to the Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Big Ben clock, the Palace of Westminster and the London Eye. It has the oldest underground railway system in the world. It has a diverse population, with more than 300 different languages spoken in this city. London is a fun city for young people, offering concerts, bookshops, Oxford Street, unlimited English food and culture.

 

  1. Berlin, Germany

Berlin, the city with 24 hour entertainment. Its nightlife is one of the most famous in Europe. Clubs are not required to close at a fixed time and therefore parties last into the morning. It has a population of 3.5 million people, with largely younger tourists. It is well known for its vegetarian and organic food. It is one of the cities with the most vegan restaurants globally. A typical Berlin dish is the Curry Wurst. The most famous landmark is the  Brandenburg Gate. Other famous sights include the Reichstag building, which was the home to the parliament or parts of the Berlin wall, which separated the city into east and west Berlin, during the second world war. Berlin has many museums dedicated to the war. One being the Jewish museum which is one of the largest in Europe. The holocaust memorial is dedicated to 3 million jewish victims, murdered during world war two. Berlin is Germany’s capital and home to the government. It is historic as well as fun.