Basilica di San Marco

Advantages: Beautiful
Disadvantages: Can't think of any

...Yes, another Venice review...Probably my last one though... Okay...Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) was built in 1071, and is in Venice, at St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). The square can be hard to find, or very easy, depending on how good you are at navigating the streets (needless to say, we had a bit of a struggle!) Even though the basilica is enormous, I couldn't see it at all until we stumbled straight onto St Mark's Square, where it suddenly leaps out on you, dominating the place. If ever you go to Venice I would strongly recommend a trip to St Marks Square, as this building is probably one of the most amazing you will ever see. The thing that struck me first of all was the sheer colossal size of it. It is toweringly tall, and extemely wide, I have never seen anything like it. I was expecting to see...

ajaybie 05.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Saint Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), Venice

Land of Giants

Advantages: Really pretty
Disadvantages: You're supposed to go on 12th Dec...but that's when EVERYONE goes

...The Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in northern Mexico City is the most visited Catholic shrine in this part of the world. Every year on December 12th, tens of thousands of tourists flock here to celebrate the appearance of the Virgin here in 1531. Not really the pilgrimaging kind, I chose to go on a Friday in August, but even then it was far from quiet. The Basílica is so revered because in 1531, apparently, a brown-skinned Virgin appeared to a farmer called Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. (You can find out more about the wondrous appearance here: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/mexico-city-basilica-guadalupe.ht m ). This was before the days when anyone with Photoshop could sell pictures of the Virgin appearing on their toast or in a slice of cheese to trashy tabloids, and therefore it was taken quite seriously. So...

zoe_page 23.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Basilica de Guadalupe

Paris on a budget - the basilica of sacre coeur

Advantages: beautiful, seren, and what a view!
Disadvantages: string men

...Paris on a budget - The basilica of sacre coeur. On our recent holiday to Paris, we set out to take in the capital, but without spending a fortune. We were on a strict budget and tried to take in as much of the culture of one of Europes most beautiful cities. Our Little hotel was in the montmatre region of the capital. Montmartre literally means hill of martyrs and therefore was the only real choice for one of the most striking religous buildings in the world.The Basilica of Sacre Coeur is Montmartre's leading tourist attraction, and it's probably the most-visited church in Paris after the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Unfortunately, the steps leading up to the basilica are also a prime target for the scam artists known as "string men," who prey on tourists and those who are not aware of such goings on. Here's how the scam works...

giksy21 07.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Sacre Coeur, Paris

Montreal - Notre Dame Basilica

Advantages: Free entry, Interesting, highlt ornate.
Disadvantages: Not central

...Montreal was the first city my wife and I visited on our tour of Eastern Canada. Our impression was of a large city with many very high rise office buildings, many, many shops and quite a lot of things to do. The evenings in Montreal can be spent looking around the hundreds of shops in the underground areas. There are many many miles of these shopping areas which can be explored. Another place to go is the Olympic Stadium which held the games of 1976. One of the most impressive buildings is the Notre Dame Basilica (a large church). From the outside it does not look as good. Once you step inside you become overwhelmed by its aura. There are plenty of gold artefacts. The stain-glass windows on one side of the building depict the history of Canada. Part of the building is known as the Wedding Chapel. This is reached by walking...

ray52 18.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of Montreal (Canada)

QQQQQQQQQQUEUE But Must SEE

Advantages: Art, Sculptures
Disadvantages: Queue

...some accident in the metroline on the day of our visit and Metroline A was closed. We had to look for an alternative. We anyway had enough details about bus routes. We then took Bus Route No.64 from Termini(main railstation) and got down near St.Peter's Basilica (worlds' largest Basilica). St.Peter's Basilica and Vatican Museum are not too far. It is easy to locate. It was 10 A.M by the time we reached St.Peters Basilica. There is an information centre just outside the basilica and on the way to Vatican Museums. QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQUEUE ------------------------------------------------- We proceeded further in just 10 steps we joined the Queue. Oh God !!! I have never seen such a Queue. It ran for miles. It was a sunny day and we had a tough time standing in the queue. You will have to Queue up on the pavement of main road...

sciao 13.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Vatican Museums

The Vatican

Advantages: Must-go for catholics
Disadvantages: No

...a documentary on psychology and if you look closely at this part of the fresco-Adam and God, you would notice that the shape of this whole picture looks like the human brain-apparently there is a saying that man "invented" God in their head!!! One of the most important function of the chapel is as a venue for the election of each successive pope in a ceremony called the conclave. On this occasion, a chimney is installed on the roof of the chapel from which smoke rises as a signal. If white smokes appears(created by burning the ballots of the election and some additives), a new pope has been elected. The final stop in Vatican is the St Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world. Designed by Bramante and Raphael and with the dome added by Michaelangelo, it is a magnificent piece of art. It looks like a palace, rather than a church...

medgenie 27.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Vatican

Thought provoking, well written, Hanks is superb

Advantages: Brilliantly written, well acted, twists and turns, keeps you guessing!
Disadvantages: None

...Vittoria Vetra, who is a researcher working for CERN, played by Ayelet Zurer. I wont spoil the film by giving away too much of the plot as there are twists and turns and a suprise around every corner. There were a few occasions where I thought 'that doesn't make sense' or 'thats a hole in the plot' but as the film progresses, these instances ARE explained and it becomes a crucial part of the writing that the viewer does not at first understand everything. The city of Rome is beautifully shot, and the direction is as excellent as the writing. I am sure fans will flock there in their millions, but naturally certain areas like the catacombs beneath St Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican archives remain out of bounds, but the walk along the Path of Illumination is possible. Most of us now expect a good performance by Tom Hanks, and once again he...

PrincessJR 07.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Angels And Demons (DVD)

The world's capital of silk

Advantages: the Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in Italy and Como is a very good place to buy silk products
Disadvantages:

...age (XIV century) and the Broletto Palace of the Communal age (XIII century). The most important museums are: the Silk Museum, the Giovio Archeological Museum of the city, the "Historical Museum "Giuseppe Garibaldi"; the "Pinacoteca Civica" (a very important exposition of paintings and art); the Tempio Voltiano, a museum dedicated to Alessandro Volta, eminent citizen of Como, and to its studies on electricity. Very interesting is also Porta Torre (the ancient gate of the town), the romanesque Church of S. Carpoforo (one of the oldest buildings in Como), the little romanesque church dedicated to St. Cosma and St. Damian, the church of S. Fedele (ancient Cathedral of the city, built in Lombard style in XII century) and the Basilica of S. Abbondio, an important romanesque church with two little towers. A funicular connects...

Romario_ 29.06.2006 · Read review
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Review of Como (Italy)

A Sleepova in Padova

Advantages: Comfortable hotel with good amenities
Disadvantages: Not in the nicest of areas

.... The panoramic terrace is well named, and the restaurant is completely surrounded by it. Stunning views of the old city and the domes of the Basilica Sant'Antonio were a high point. The food in the restaurant was absolutely delicious and the service immaculate. Crisp white linen tablecloths, white walls and subtle lighting gave the restaurant a bright and summery feel. We had two courses, a couple of beers and a bottle of wine for around £40 which is pretty good considering the exchange rate (even back in June). Hotel restaurants can usually be overpriced and of dubious quality I think. All in all, a pretty good hotel. The immediate surroundings were not inviting, but the hotel's overall location was good. It was comfortable, quiet (as long as the windows were closed) and friendly. And as for the restaurant, well if I was ever in Padova again, I...

proxam 22.12.2008 · Read review
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Review of Best Western Hotel Biri, Padova

Gratuitous Sex Not Part Of The Plot

Advantages: A good cure for insomnia
Disadvantages: Might just put you off sex! Sex scenes are smutty and grubby.

...been involved in the kidnap of a child. He and his wife have been in cahoots so to speak and they have also covered up the death of a child. There are various sex scenes throughout the film involving the portly Marco and his equally portly wife. He is also seen being entertained by prostitutes and amusing himself as he watches TV. Most of the action is off camera but there are a few still life scenes that bring a strong emotional feel to the film. We see the tears of the prostitute. a crowd gathering at the basilica, two drunks peeing into the boot of a car and an old man shuffling down the subway with a bag of his own urine. This is not a film that I would watch again, or that I would recommend to anyone who isn't broadminded. It is distressing in parts and I really couldn't see why we had to be subjected to all those sex scenes...

jan007 05.05.2008 (06.05.2008) · Read review
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Review of Battle In Heaven (DVD)