Europe has been a cradle for some of the world’s most important artistic and architectural movements.
If you’d like to see some truly stunning structures, then you need only take a stroll around a major city on the continent.
Let’s take stock of a few of the more important locations, from an architectural perspective.
Italy
If you’re planning a tour of Italy, you’ll have no shortage of wonders to marvel at. Florence, Milan, and Naples all have their charm, but it’s difficult to look past Rome when it comes to architectural appeal. Being the former seat of the Roman Empire, it boasts some truly incredible buildings, like the famous Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain.
Of course, there’s also the not-inconsiderable appeal of the Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica. If you’re planning a visit here, then be sure to obey the dress code. Expose too much flesh, and you risk being turned away!
Paris
The French capital is amongst the best-preserved cities on the continent, with many of the best examples of late Gothic being found here. The Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly the most iconic landmark in the city, but we should also consider the wealth of churches and cathedrals here, including the famous: Notre Dame.
There are other religious buildings in the city worth seeing, however. The Sainte-Chapelle is among the oldest surviving buildings in the Capetian palace and includes an impressive array of stained glass windows, dating back to the 13th century.
Paris, too, has a Pantheon – complete, much like its Roman counterpart, with a dome and a collection of pillars guarding the entrance. The Parisian version, however, was constructed much later, on the orders of Louis XV.
Budapest
The Hungarian capital is characterised by its diverse collection of buildings. You might find that one block is completely different in style to the next: but that’s part of what makes the city so appealing.
Among the most important treasures in this part of the country is the Basilica of St Stephen, which is a sprawling neoclassical cathedral. Inside this building, you’ll find the ‘Holy Right’ (which is actually the mummified right hand of St Stephen himself).
Athens
It was in Athens, arguably, that we understand today to be Western Civilisation first got started. The most important surviving structures here date from the Classical and Roman periods. Since the structures of later centuries were made from mud and clay, they haven’t survived in anywhere near the same way.
While you’re in the city, you’ll want to travel to the famous Acropolis, which encompasses a host of different ruins, including the Parthenon. This amazing building was constructed more than two thousand years ago, and dedicated to the Goddess Athena.
