CULTURAL MAGAZINE

Tower of London

Tube: Tower Bridge
Official website

Around 1080 the first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror, started the 20-year-long construction of what today is one of the most beautiful and famous fortresses in Europe: the Tower of London.

Built on the northern bankriva, sponda of the River Thames, it was completed by Edward I between 1272 and 1307. Edward, known as the Hammer of the Scots for keeping Scotland under English domination, built the fortress around the original tower, the White Tower. This tower was 27 metres high, had four-metre thickspesse, larghe walls, and facilities and accommodation for soldiers, servants and the nobility. Around this central point two sets of fortifications were added. The inner set of fortifications is called the Ballium Wall and includes 12 towers. The outer wall has six towers and two exit points, and was originally surrounded by a tributary canal from the Thames but which was drainedè stato prosciugato in the mid 1800s. Today the entire structure covers eight hectares.

Built with the intention of protecting the Normans from the inhabitants of the City of London and from foreign invaders, William the Conqueror chose stonespietre from Caen, in the north of his native France. The Bishop of Rochester oversaw the construction of the tower , and the Norman architect was Gundulf. The tower was used as a royal residence from the 13th century until the Elizabethan era, and it was during this period that it became the prison for enemies of the crowncorona.

Quite a number of “famous” prisoners have been imprisoned here over the years: Two kings of Scotland, John Baliol and David II;  and a king of France, John II. Also imprisoned were Niall Garve O'Donnell, an Irish traitor, and many distinguished Englishmen and women: Henry VI, who was executed, and his wife Margaret of Anjou; Edward III’s treasurer, Sir William de la Pole; Elizabeth I for her presumed involvement in “Wyatt’s Rebellion”; the famous explorer and English poet Sir Walter Raleigh, accused of conspiracy with James I; Guy Fawkes, the Catholic conspirator who tried
to blow upfar saltare, esplodere the Houses of Parliament; the anti-Catholic Lord George Gordon; and most recently Hitler’s deputy, Rudolph Hess.

For many characters, however, the Tower of London was the last thing they ever saw. Its rooms saw the executions of “The Little Princes”, Edward V and his brother Richard of Shewsbury, Duke of York; Thomas More, whose head was displayedfu esposta on London Bridge for a month; William Hastings, for conspiring against Richard III; Anne Boleyn and her sister Jane for committing adultery against Henry VIII; Margaret Pole, the 8th Countess of Salisbury, because her family was threatening the throne; Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII: Lady Jane Grey, whose reign lasted for only nine days and who was then executed on the orders of “Bloody Mary”, Queen Mary I; Robert Devereux, accused of treason by Queen Elizabeth I. The last in chronological order was the German spy Josef Jakobs on 14th August 1941.

These days the castle is an interesting museum, hosting the Crown Jewels, moved here from Westminster by Edward I, and a vast collection of weapons and armoury.

Some interesting facts:

• In his wonderful Richard III, William Shakespeare cites the White Tower in the first scene of the third act, in the dialogue between the little Prince Edward and his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester.
• The Crown Jewels are the best known and most prestigious symbol of the British monarchy. The magnificent collection includes a total number of 23,578 gems. Some of the biggest diamonds in the world are in the collection: the pricelessinestimabile, senza prezzo Cullinan collection, in particular the 530-carat Cullinan I; and the Koh-i-Noor, the diamond which brings good luck to the women who wear it, but which brings catastrophic bad luck to men. The sparklingscintillante Imperial State Crown alone contains 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 saffireszaffiri, 11 emeralds and five rubies!
• Since 1485 the tower has been protected by a corps of special guards called Yeoman Warders, or more commonly, Beefeaters. Their nickname comes from their privileged position in the Royal Bodyguard: they had permission to eat as much cow’s meat as they wanted directly from the King’s table.

There are numerous legends about the Tower of London, one of these concerns its ravenscorvi. According to the legend, Charles II (King from 1660 to 1685) was the first monarch to request the presence of ravens to protect the Tower, against the wishes of his astronomer, who disapproved because the crows disturbed him and ruined his equipment when he tried to observe the heavens from the White Tower. Charles is also credited with the prophecy about the ravens: “If the ravens leave, or are made to leave, the Tower of London, the Crown will fall and with it the whole of Britain.” To prevent this catastrophic event happening, the seven ravens resident in the Tower have the feathers in one wing clippedtagliate, but from time to time they escape and they have to be recaptured by the Ravenmaster, a Beefeater in charge of ravens.



Piccadilly Circus

Tube: Piccadilly Circus

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that Piccadilly Circus is the heart of London. There’s a reason why the locals have nicknamed it “the hubcentro, perno of the world”. A West End junction sparkling day and night with brightly-lit advertising boards, it has become an integral part of the panorama of the British capital. The site is where four main arteries in the city cross: Shaftesbury Avenue, the theatre street which stretchessi estende to the exclusive Soho; Haymarket, which comes straight from Trafalgar Square, the historic square where the imposing Nelson’s Column stands tall; Piccadilly Street which takes you to the grand parks and Regent Street, the popular shopping street; and Leicester Square, famous for its film premieres.

In the 17th century there were a lot of tailors in the area, devoted solely to the production of piccadills, lace collars used by the nobility. It was from this activity that the famous square got its name, created in 1819 on the site where there was a house and private garden at the crossroad with Regent Street, under the design of John Nash. The square then acquired its circular form in 1886 with the construction of Shaftesbury Avenue.

The modern advertising boardscartelloni pubblicitari these days sit side-by-side with period buildings and the aluminium statue of the Angel of Christian Charity, erected by Sir Alfred Gilbert in 1893 in memory of the philanthropist 7th Duke of Shaftesbury. A number of places of interest to tourists are situated near each other in the square, like the Trocadero shopping centre inside the imposing London Pavilion, built in 1853 between Shaftesbury Avenue and Coventry Street, which is a popular centre for big shows and other entertainment in London.

On the southern end of the square sits the beautiful Criterion Theatre, built in 1874, which returns to British architectural and cultural heritage, and is classified as a Grade II listed building.

The old Tower Records building is located between Piccadilly Street and Regent Street, but it has been replaced by various well-known names in the world of popular music, first the Virgin Megastore and more recently Zawi. Zawi has been hit by the current financial crisis, however, and is closing its stores all over the country, so the future of the store in Piccadilly Circus is uncertain.

The clubs and restaurants in the square offer an endless choice, and even the underground can’t be missed for any reason.



Covent Garden

Tube:Covent Garden, Charing Cross, Leicester Square.
Covent Garden guide 

Situated in the heart of the West End, Covent Garden is the centre of London’s entertainment, cultural and artistic scene, as well as a shopping destination for fashion clothes. The square was originally the site of a fruit and vegetable market, but in 1631 a palladian style covered market was designed by architect Inigo Jones, commissioned by the fourth Duke of Bedford.
The structure has stayede' rimasta largely the same through the years, and it has become one of the most distinctive and recognisable sights in London. The Royal Opera House, one of the most famous and respected opera houses in the world, also overlooks the square.

Since 1974, the original fruit and vegetable market has been trading at the New Covent Garden Market in Wandsworth, Nine Elms, beside the River Thames. The old Covent Garden is now
a buzzingronzante tourist attraction. The distinctive Apple Market is the centre and the soul of Covent Garden: there’s a market selling original artistic creations and souvenirs; there are charming studio boutiques surrounded by bars, cafes, shops, the most famous theatres in the West End, and many small and large restaurants. Street artists and jugglersgiocolieri add to the cheerful, lively atmosphere. There are also live opera performances, traditional five o’clock high teas, and pubs with distinctive names and styles. A truly amazing, unforgettable place.

On the other hand the distinctive streets of Covent Garden is a great place for clothes shopping: from well-known, expensive boutiques, to trendy high street stores like the big
chainscatene which set the trends all over Europe.

We should, however, go back in history to trace the origins of the name of Covent Garden: it derives from a convent with gardens that was situated here until the 12th century. The land originally belonged to the Countess of Middlesex, owner of the Benedictine convent of St. Peter in Westminster. After Henry VIII’s Anglican splitscissione from Catholicism and the dissolution of the English monasteries, the monks were expelled and the area turned into a training ground for the King’s falcons. The area was then ceded to the Dukes of Bedford, who created the square and the neighbouring streets. As well as the construction of the palladian style market, the Dukes also bought the church of St. Paul, also called the “church of the actors”, the first Anglican church to be built after the Protestant reformation.


Hyde Park

Official website
Official map in PDF

The biggest park in London is very well tended and is ideal for spending the day relaxing outdoors or playing sport. In summer it becomes the main destination for Londoners who
strip offsi spogliano to sunbatheprendere il sole, and it is always full of tourists, even when it’s rainy or windy. It has become legendary throughout its history, the favourite park of Londiners, even if London is well provided with gardens and green spaces (there are about 400).

The park’s total span is 2.5 km2, and it takes in the area of Kensington Gardens and all the waterways including the famous Serpentine lake. It is bordered to the north by Bayswater and Notting Hill; to the north-west by Greater London, the metropolitan area; then to the south by South Kensington and Knightsbridge; towards the west by the West End until Hyde Park Corner; and to the east by Picadilly Street and Belgravia. Hyde Park is now part of the “Royal Parks of London”, the royal parks which are the property of the Queen.

The park was initially used as a game reserve for the London gentryaristocrazia minore, alta borghesia. In 1536 Henry VIII, thanks to his law abolishing monastries, dispossessed the canons of Westminster Abbey, owners of the land since the 11th century. In the 16th century James I authorized limited access to the park, meanwhile Charles I in 1637 opened it completely to the public, changing forever the way it was used.

Under George III  the royal court was transferred from Whitehall to Kensington Palace, even though Kensington in those days was a small village some distance from the city. Out of necessity Rotten Row was built, the first street in England to be illuminated at night, and the splendid Kensington Gardens were created.

Principle attractions:

• The Serpentine is an artificial lake built in 1730 on the wishessulle volontà of Caroline, wife of George II, thanks to a construction project on the Westbourne river. It’s an ideal place in summer to go boating, or outdoor swimming in the celebrated Bathing Lido in Hyde Park. 

• The main gate, the Grand Entrance, was built in 1824 by the architect Decimus Burton. The iron and bronze gates were made by Sir Bramah.

• Marbledi marmo Arch is a marble triumphal arch designed by John Nash. It was erected in 1821 to be part of The Mall - the street that connects Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square - but the arch was too narrowstretto for the State carriages to pass through. It was therefore transferred to Hyde Park.

• Wellington Arch was built by Decimus Burton by request of George IV in 1825 in honour of the Duke of Wellington and his victories against Napoleon. On top of the arch there is a magnificent bronze chariot with angels of victory, designed by Lord Michelham. It is the biggest bronze sculpture in the world.

• The Ring is an age-old meeting place for the aristocracy in London in the 1800s.

• Speaker's Corner is the most famous oratory corner in the world. In 1872 the
  enactmententrata in vigore of a legislative decree conceded the right to free speech to whoever had something to say.

The Princess Diana Fountain was completed in 2003, but the offical inauguration was on 6th July 2004 in the presence of the royal family.


British Museum

Great Russell Street - (0)20 7323 8299
Tube: Holborn Tottenham Court Road
Official website

The British Museum is the oldest museum in the world. There are more than 13 million objects and documents from every part of the planet, and a wealth of exhibits. About five million people every year visit the museum which is one of the best museums of human history and civilisation in the world. The British Museum opened its doors to the public in 1759, to show the private collection of physicist and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. It was a truly exceptional event for its time.

The Museum contains a library which boastsvanta over 350 thousand volumes among its different sections, and the museum itself is so big that it has to be divided into large departments:

• The Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan, the biggest collection of ancient Egypt outside Cairo;
• The Department of the Ancient Near East, with exhibits of different cultures like Mesopotamia, Assyria, the Sumero Akkadians, and ancient Babylon;
• The Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, which contains objects from the Mediterannean from 3200 BC up to the ancient Roman period;
• The Department of Asia, which rangesspazia from Buddhist sculpture and Chinese painting to Japanese porcelain;
• The Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas boasts 550,000 objects, one of the biggest and most beautiful ethnographic collections in the world of the indigenous cultures  of these continents;
• The Department of Prints and Drawings, almost three million works on paper, from the fifteenth century to the present day;
• The Department of Coins and Medals, which covers the entire history of coins;
• The Department of Prehistory and Europe, which covers the prehistoric period in Africa, Asia and Europe;

The Department of Conservation, Documentation and Science, rich in organic material, ceramics, glass, metals, mosaics and paintings.


Tate Britain

Millbank - 020 7887 8888 Tube: Pimlico, Vauxhall
Westminster
Official website

“The home of British art from 1500 to the present day”

Situated in a neoclassical building designed by Sidney R. J. Smith and built in 1897, the Tate Britain is the original Tate Gallery and houses the biggest collection of British art in the world.

There is over half a century of British art history within its walls, including many portraits of royalty starting from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, there are paintings by William Hogarth, the father of English painting, others by Gainsborough, Reynolds, and George Stubbs. As well as artists of the calibre of JMW Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, the Pre-Raffaellites, William Blake, David Hockney, Francis Bacon, Stanley Spencer, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and contemporary works in the Art Now series.

The gallery pays particular attention to three artists from the Romantic period: Blake, Constable and Turner. Blake and Constable have dedicated spaces inside the gallery, while Turner is represented by a collection of about 300 paintings and many thousands of watercolours in
the purpose-madecostruita appositamente Clore Gallery.

As well as the permanent collection, there are numerous temporary exhibitions throughout the year which explore various aspects of British art.