Beautiful Cities: Fun Facts and Quiz

My newest quiz takes a look at cities that are known for their beauty. These cities are either culturally rich, environmentally scenic, or just pleasing to look at. Popular sites in the cities are given in their descriptions.  Interesting facts below:

1. Home of the Uffizi and Michelangelo's David, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Uffizi is an art gallery that contains many famous paintings, including Botticelli's "Primavera" and Titian's "Venus of Urbino". The work of many other artists can be seen in Florence, such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Fra Angelico, and Lorenzo Ghiberti. Other Florentine attractions are the Duomo Cathedral, Pitti Palace, Loggia Dei Lanzi, and the Bargello Museum- home of Donatello's "David". Michelangelo's "David" can be found in the Galleria dell'Accademia. 

2. Bagan is an ancient city in Burma is almost entirely composed of Buddhist temples. Over 10,000 pagodas and temples were built on the plains of Bagan from the 11th to 13th centuries. Only about 2,200 of them remain, but Bagan is still a sight to behold. Many were destroyed by earthquakes or fell into disrepair after the invasion of the Mongols in the 13th century. Some of the most famous temples in Bagan are Ananda, Dhammayan Gyi, and That Byin Nyu. 

3. Formerly known as Lutetia, Paris is the home of Notre Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle. Paris is often considered the most beautiful city in the world. It is the home of The Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysses, and the Arc de Triomphe. Lutetia was the name the Romans gave to the city. Notre Dame is a famous Gothic cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle is a masterpiece of stained glass architecture.

The Palace of Versailles, arguably the most beautiful palace on Earth, is only a thirty minute drive from downtown Paris. 

4. Once the capital of Persia, Isfahan has a square that is surrounded by two mosques and a grand palace. Isfahan was the capital of the Persian Empire from 1598-1722. In the heart of the city is Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest city squares in the world. It is surrounded by Shah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, Sheikh Loft Allah Mosque, and the Keisaria gate, which leads to the Bazaar of Isfahan. The Shah Mosque is one of the masterpieces of Persian architecture and Ali Qapu Palace was originally designed to be a vast portal. 

5. Prague has been highly influenced by the Gothic style of architecture. The Charles Bridge, Tyn Church, Prague Castle, and Powder Tower give Prague its ominously graceful skyline. Prague is also known for its Baroque interiors, as seen in the Library Hall in Clementinum, Saint Nicholas Church, and the Clam Gallas Palace. 

6. Seattle became The Emerald City in reference to the green forests surrounding it. In addition to its lushness and greenery, there are many waterways and snow-capped peaks in the region. On a clear day, few cities can match the picturesque setting of Seattle's skyline with Mt. Rainier in the background. The iconic Space Needle was built in 1962 for the World's Fair, and was once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River. 

7. Vatican City is entirely surrounded by the city of Rome. It's the location of St. Peter's Basilica (the largest church in the world), the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican museum. All three of these sites contain an enormous amount of religious art. Rome has a large amount of classic architecture and sculpture. The Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Coliseum, Forum, and the Arch of Constantine are just a handful of its many ancient sites. 

8. In 2009, Dubai had both the tallest building in the world and the largest shopping mall. Like Las Vegas in the 20th century, Dubai's tourism skyrocketed in the early 21st century due to its unique urban planning. Visually stunning hotels abound in the city, such as the sailboat-looking Burj Al-Arab, Palm Atlantis, and Burj Khalifa. Upon its completion in 2009, the Burj Khalifa was the tallest building in the world. Other attractions include Miracle Garden, Palm Islands, and Dubai Mall. When it was opened in 2008, Dubai Mall was the size of about 50 football fields- the largest in the world by total area. 

9.  Famous for its soccer team, Barcelona is the location of Antoni Gaudi's architecture. Some of Gaudi's best known works are La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and Casa Mila, all of which can be found in Barcelona. Barcelona has the distinction of being the only city to win the RIBA's Royal Gold Medal for architecture. All the other winners were human.