The Top Historic Sights in .NET framework

Creation Code 128B in .NET framework The Top Historic Sights

Europe is the wellspring of Western culture, a living textbook of human history People think in terms of centuries and millennia here, not decades Americans may speak of fond memories of the 60s; Italians just as breezily refer to fond collective memories of il seicento (the 1600s) Europe allows you to dip into history at just about any point Best Greek and Roman Ruins: You can see remnants of the ancient Greek and Roman empires, some 1,500 to 3,000 years old, with halfruined temples at the Acropolis or Ancient Agora in Athens or at Delphi in inland Greece (see 24) Or how about the Roman Forum, the ghost town of Ostia Antica, or the ultimate sports arena, the Colosseum all in or near Rome (see 19) Best Prehistoric Sites: Prehistoric standouts include sites such as Stonehenge (see 10) in England, Akrotiri (see 24) on the Greek island of Santor ni, the passage tomb of Newgrange (see 12) in Ireland, and the remnants of the earliest settlements of what is now Paris excavated under the square in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral (see 13) Best Castles: You ll find castles from the Dark Ages and Middle Ages (from AD 500 to 1500) strewn across Europe, such as the Tower of London (see 10), with its bloody legends and famed crown jewels; Edinburgh Castle (see 11), glowering atop a volcanic hill in the center of the city; and Prague Castle (see 18), with its soaring cathedral and half-timbered lane of old alchemists shops

Best Medieval Neighborhoods: This era also saw the development of major cities, leaving the world with cobblestone medieval quarters such as the Altstadt of Bern (see 17), the Star Mesto in Prague (see 18), Trastevere in Rome (see 19), and the Barri G tic in Barcelona (see 23)

Best Hill Towns: Tiny hill towns and hamlets sprang up between 500 and 1500, too, and this book describes the best of them, including Chartres in France (see 13), Innsbruck in Austria (see 16), the Tuscan hill towns of Siena and San Gimignano (see both in 20), and Spain s time capsules of Toledo and Segovia (see both in 22)

European cuisine runs the gamut from the rib-sticking r schti (deluxe hash browns spiked with ham and eggs) of the Swiss Alps to France s traditional coq au vin (chicken braised in red wine with onions and mushrooms); from 101 types of sausage in Prague to the incredible yet unknown cheeses of Ireland nibbled after dinner in a countryside B&B Best Mediterranean Meals: The cooking of Italy (see s 19 through 21) goes far beyond pasta though it s so good here you may not care You can sample Adriatic fish in a Venetian trattoria patronized by local gondoliers, a mighty bistecca fiorentina (an oversized T-bone brushed with olive oil and cracked pepper then grilled) in Florence, or gnocchi al pomodoro (potato dumplings in tomato sauce) followed by a saltimbocca (wine-cooked veal layered with sage and prosciutto) in a Roman restaurant installed in the ruins of an ancient theater A night out in Madrid (see 22) where dinner starts at 10 pm may mean a traditional roast suckling pig in a restaurant unchanged since the days when Hemingway was a regular, or a giant Valencian paella (rice tossed with a seafood medley) to share with everyone at the table under the wood beams of a country-style inn Best British Meals: England (see 10) once had a reputation for serving what was considered the worst cooking in Europe, featuring shepherd s pie (beef stew capped by whipped potatoes) and bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes) But, oh, how times have changed Much to Paris s chagrin, London now enjoys the hottest restaurant scene in Europe, and its celebrity chefs and designer dining spots surf the crest of modern cooking trends and serve the hippest fusion cuisines Best Bets for a Sweet Tooth: Sure, French and Italian pastries are divine, but you can also sate your sweet tooth in Vienna (see 16), home of the Sachertorte, the original Death by Chocolate