Tag: Museum

The origins of these museums can be traced back to 1503 , the year that the newly appointed Pope Julius II donated his private collection. Since then both individuals and other families have been growing potatoes museum collection to make it one of the largest in the world .

Currently the Vatican Museums are more than 4 million visitors a year , but certainly one of the reasons for this is that they are the gateway to the Sistine Chapel .

What’s inside museums?

• Museo Pio – Clementino : Created by Popes Clement XIV and Pius VI, the museum brings together the most important Greek works of the Vatican.
• Apartment Pius V : Work of Pope Pius V, Flemish tapestries meets the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, a collection of medieval pottery and a miniature medieval mosaics.
• Gallery of the Candelabra : Statues Roman copies of Greek originals and huge chandeliers in the second century decorate this elegant gallery.
• Missionary Ethnological Museum : Works of art of all papal missions in the world, among which include objects from Tibet, Indonesia, India, Far East, Africa and America.
• Gallery cartographic maps : Made between the years 1580 and 1585, the beautiful maps frescoed on the walls of this gallery represent the Italian regions and the possessions of the church.
• Historical Museum – Hall of Floats : This section show floats, saddles, cars, and even the first locomotive of the Vatican City .
• Tapestry Gallery : Exhibition of Flemish tapestries created between 1523 and 1534.
• Pio Christian Museum : The collection consists of Christian antiquities statues, sarcophagi and archaeological remains of the sixth century.
• Pinacoteca : Through the eighteen rooms of the building of the gallery shows paintings from the Middle Ages until 1800.
• Hall and the Immaculate Sobieski : In both rooms shown canvases from the “Ottocento” Italian.
• Egyptian Museum : Among the pieces acquired by the popes are also some impressive sculptures of precious Egyptian sarcophagi of the third century BC can also see some black basalt statues (copies of Egyptian models) from the Villa Adriana .
• Etruscan Museum : This museum houses part of the elements of ceramics, bronze and gold belonging to the Etruscan civilization.
• Chiaramonti Museum : Created by Pius VII Chiaramonti, this gallery shows a thousand sculptures among which include portraits of emperors, images of gods and some monuments.
• Gregorian Profane Museum : the rooms contain Greek and Roman sculptures from the first to the third centuries AD
• Borgia Apartment : The apartment that belonged to Pope Alexander VI Borgia now serve as exhibition halls for the Collection of Modern Religious Art.
• Raphael : Raphael’s decorated with a unique taste of the apartments of Pope Julius II.
• Room of the Biga : A monumental marble figure of a chariot drawn by two horses made ​​in the first century AD fills the room giving the room name.

Avoiding queues

The queue for the Vatican Museums is probably the heaviest of Rome. To avoid it is advisable not to go on the last Sunday of every month (the day free) or at Easter . It is also advisable to avoid the weekends, especially in high season.

Our experience tells us that the best time to go is about 13:00 pm on weekdays . Most people usually agolpar first thing in the morning to avoid the queues and more often when you have to wait.

Long Time Waiting, But the National Museum Of The United States Army Is Almost Here

Image Credit: Wikipedia

The United States if full of museums and memorials for those who have served in the Armed Forces. From the Vietnam Memorial to the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii, you can find just about anything which memorializes specific conflicts or time periods of U.S. history. Until now, there has not been anything that completely memorializes the entire history of specific branch of government. Scheduled to open in 2015, the National Museum of the United States Army is set to change that.

“I have been to monument dedications throughout the United States, but this is one that I believe I have looked forward to the most, “ said Doug Christiansen, a photographer from Mount Zion, Illinois. “The announcements about what to expect inside the museum have been quiet, which makes the anticipation grown even more.” Christiansen says he plans to travel to the opening ceremony with his wife and three children.

Construction on the museum is set to begin in fall of 2013 and will be located within minute of Washington D.C. at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. It is planned to be a 155,000 square foot building set on over 40 acres of property. According to the Association of the United States Army, the museum will be accessible without having to enter the base which will make access less complex for visitors. The cost of the project is estimated at approximately $200 Million and the website for the museum is already up and running. When completed, the museum will celebrate the history of the United States Army from 1775 to present, including the men and women who have served both in war and during times of peace.

The project is the brainchild of the Department of the Army, who received fundraising support from the Army Historical Foundation. Visitor expectation is expected to be a little less than 1 Million people annually. With this many people expected to visit, the Department of the Army has spared no expense on the design. They have contracted with two nationally known firms, Christopher Chadbourne & Associates and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. For those not familiar, Christopher Chadbourne & Associates has a wealth of museum design experience, while Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is the architectural design firm responsible for the design of the Freedom Tower at One World Trade Center.

They have also spared no expense on the pre-opening of the museum. They have contracted with award winning producer and director Kevin Meyer to write, direct, and produce a series of short documentaries for the new museum. The documentaries include voice over narration by Rex Linn and Karri Turner and will be available in the “Experiential Learning Center” on the museum website prior to opening, and then part of the traveling exhibit which will tour the country prior to landing at the museum on opening day. “This is a great experience for me being able to take part in something so special to this country,” stated Meyer. “I have worked in film for many years on many projects, but this one will always be forefront in my mind. My brother and nephews serve in the military and as a filmmaker, this is my way of giving back.” Meyer has produced many well known films including “Perfect Alibi” starring Teri Garr and also wrote the 1997 romantic comedy film “A Smile Like Yours” starring Greg Kinnear and Lauren Holly.

The site for the project was approved from Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh in June 2011. “In presenting the Army’s storied 236-year history, this long-overdue facility will offer the American people a unique opportunity to connect with our Soldiers and better understand and appreciate their many and glorious stories,” said McHugh. He is correct that a project like this is long overdue. To have something that covers the history of the U.S. Army so thoroughly is something that those who have served deserve. It is nice to see it finally coming to fruition.

Garry Reynolds is a decorated veteran of the United States Army and spends his time traveling to many of the U.S.’s most popular travel destinations.

The History of the Chandelier

Meaning ‘candle holder’, the word chandelier originates from the French word ‘chandelle’ (a fixture attached to the ceiling).  The Chandelier is the most stylish and beautiful form of lighting in the world, making a statement in any room.

The earliest chandelier dates back to over 1000 years ago, to medieval times. Then, chandeliers were generally made of wood, with candles placed on spikes set around them – a far cry from the stunning glass and crystal creations we know and love today.  Wooden lighting fixtures and exposed flames would send the health and safety conscious of us completely mad!

Gradually, rich Europeans re-designed the chandelier and by the early 1900’s crystal chandeliers with candles were all the rage. Crystal chandeliers made from cut glass which caught the light and sparkled brightly adorned the homes of the wealthy and famous, showing off their wealth and social status.

By the mid-19^th century, with the popularity of gas lighting, candle chandeliers were converted and by the 1890s, most chandeliers used a combination of gas and electricity.

The largest chandeliers in history

One of the most beautiful chandeliers in the world can be seen in Istanbul. Gifted to the Dolmabahce Palace by Queen Victoria, the chandelier weighs 4.5 tons and has 750 lamps. Other stunning examples of crystal chandeliers can be seen in the ‘Grand Salon’ of the Louvre and the Hall of Mirrors, in the Palace of Versailles, Paris, which contains 17 large and 26 small chandeliers, holding up to 1,000 candles in total, as well as in Prague, where many of the art nouveau buildings contain beautiful examples of chandeliers from the early 1900s.

Today, chandeliers have become glass art in museums across the globe. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has a stunning example of a blown glass chandelier in the entrance hall. Created by glass artist Dale Chihuly in 2000, the 30ft chandelier is a breathtaking sight for visitors entering the museum.

The Corning Museum of Glass in New York contains more than 40,000 objects made from glass, dating from Egyptian times to the present day. Antique bowls, sculptures and glass portraits sit alongside contemporary sculptures and of course some amazing chandeliers, including the Erbium Chandelier, a vivid pink blown glass chandelier created in 1993 by Dale Chihuly.

Today, chandeliers have become more affordable for everyone. It is still lovely to have a unique and bespoke chandelier hand crafted by local glass artists, but it is also possible to find more budget friendly versions on the internet and in various home furnishing shops.  The chandelier has evolved from its simplest wooden designs to incorporate a wide variety of materials in its more modern reincarnation.  Furthermore, chandelier designs have also been adapted to suit those looking more for a piece of modern art than necessary lighting.  Chandelier designers such as Rocco Borghese have collections that show the stark difference between classic designs and more contemporary .

Modern Chandeliers.

Chandeliers have a rich history and are making a resurgence in modern times.  There is a huge variety of sizes and styles, and of course price right from the affordable ones in larger retailers to custom made chandeliers by boutique experts.

A must-see in Cairo  “Egypt”, is undoubtedly the Egyptian Museum, is required at least one day to see the entire collection of objects of the Pharaonic era, it houses the largest collection of objects Pharaonic times.

The museum is located north of Midan Tahrir in Tahrir Square, once you arrive at the entrance to force you to leave cameras and phones, it is forbidden to take pictures inside. The museum is impressively large and part of the entrance is a sitting area so you can spend some time sitting in the sun and also shops to buy souvenirs, books, coins ..

At the entrance of the museum you find a lot of guides that you can hire for 30 €, eye many of them are not official guides and are rather scammers. I only had three hours to see the museum, having read so much information I went to what really struck me as the room dedicated to Tutankhamen W where I could see the golden mask and all that was in Great Treasure his tomb in the Valley of the Kings W .

On the first floor there is a large collection of coins and papyrus, which is preserved in the museum are works of art, but not all can be seen as being restored many others and some no room to display them.

Another room I recommend is the area of the Old Kingdomvery well because the background can appreciate the seated statue of Mentuhotep I W .

A room that is very curious is where are the eleven Mummies, where the Ramses III and IV among many others, to get into it you have to pay some extra Egyptian pounds as it is not included in the price of the museum entrance. If you want to see mummies and do not want to pay the entrance, you can see in another room of several animal mummies.

Museum hours are from 9:00 to 6:30 every day, entry is allowed until 5:00 pm, mummies halls close at 6:00.