Shopping in Rome

Rome in an expensive city, so don't expect to find too many bargains. Nevertheless, window shopping is a joy and you will find good value for money, especially if buying leather goods (shoes, bags, gloves and belts) and certain decorative items (lamps, Italian modern designer goods and glassware).

Opening hours

Shops in Rome usually open at 9am-1pm and 3.30-7.30pm (4-8pm in Summer), except on Sundays and Monday mornings.
Grocery shops also close on Thursday afternoons.
Some bookshops (where people often met) and some clothes shops (around Campo dei Fiori, for example) open on Sundays, 10am or 3-7pm.
August is traditionally the month when small business take their annual holiday.
In Rome, most shops and restaurants in Rome close for about two weeks around 15th August.

Where to go for what

The area around Piazza di Spagna is where to find the boutiques ( for ladie's suits, jewellery, shoes, etc.)
- Prada, Valentino, Gucci, Fendi (which takes up a large tract of Via Borgognona)
- Missoni and Armani are all to be found within a short distance of one another.
The more prestigious antique shops, as well as several smart restaurant, are to be found in Via Margutta, Via del Corso, and contemporary designers and stylists in Via del Banbuino.
You can buy online tickets for attractions, museums, and tours at this
Rome tickets website. Reserve your place and skip the waiting line.

Markets
The larger and more colourful and lively markets in the centre of Rome are worth to visit. They usually open at 7am-1pm, Monday to Saturday.
A word of warning - crowded open-air markets are ideal hunting grounds for nimble-fingered pickpockets, so please be careful.

Secondhand clothes shops
"Old is cool"
Stocks of old American jeans from 1960s and 1970s made with an indigo material, polo-neck jumpers, Paco Raban-style, all is in great demand and Rome offers a great choice of secondhand clothes shops.
But what's even more sought-after is 'dead stock', i.e. old clothes that have never been worn.
Antique shops
Collectors, professional or amateur, should be able to pick up much of interest in Rome's secondhands and antique shops (some truly excellent), or in art galleries, or in the famous Porta Portese flea market held in Rome's Trastevere district.
however, real bargains are hard to come by.

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Rome entertainment, things to do when in Rome

What's the eternal city like? What can you expect and how will it keep you entertained?
Obviously Rome is noisy. It's loud, it's chaotic, it is difficult for every day's life (do the words queues, burocracy and traffic jam ring a bell?) and even a simple experience like taking the bus (usually packed like sardines cans) or crossing at the pedestrian could turn into a nightmare. Just watching the madness of the traffic and the perpetual buzz of motorbikes and cars during the rush hour could be of entertainment and quite an experience.
But then, once again, Rome will astonish you when you less expect it, with a hidden treasure, a secret corner, a cobble stoned "piazza" where the only sound is the one of the water spilling out from a 600 years old fountain.

You can buy online tickets for attractions, museums, and tours at this
Rome tickets website. Reserve your place and skip the waiting line.

Just to ramble around...
Of course, we encourage you to experience the typical tourist journey when in Rome: the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon, just to name a few of Rome's attractions. Nobody would want to miss those for anything in the world. But once in Rome, don't forget to open your eyes and senses, as well, even to the smallest details that will capture the essence and the soul of this city: columns and cats, courtyards and churches, fountains and laundry spreading from the windows, the brownish- orange facades of the buildings, the "motorini" that dart around careless of traffic lights and pedestrians, the coffee ritual in the morning, priests and sunglassed machos. Again, old traditions and new habits, sacred and secular. Entertainment in Rome will just come to you.
Roman food - what to eat when in Rome
Apart from the obvious- the monuments - Rome is a feast also for the senses and the taste. How not to mention the food? You can decide to grab a bite of crunchy pizza or a suppli (watch out, as you can literally get addicted to those fried rice balls!) from one of the hundreds "pizza al taglio" shops or sit on one of the many restaurants or trattorie and experience a dish of "carbonara", a fried artichoke or a piece of " bruschetta" and you won't be disappointed. From the suburbs areas like Pigneto or Garbatella to Trastevere or Piazza Navona, you will find restaurants in every corner ready to celebrate the ritual of food of Rome that has made Italians famous everywhere in the world.
Nightlife
As the night comes, Rome will show you a lot of opportunities of entertainment. You can stroll along the cobble stoned streets of Trastevere area( just a few steps away from the Tiber River) with an ice cream in your hand. You can decide to sit in a cafe overlooking Campo De Fiori and watching life goes by with a glass of chilled white wine or you can choose to dance the night away in one of the many clubs in Testaccio, the " hot spot" of the Roman movida.
You can mingle in the University area of San Lorenzo, with its population of students and countless pizzerias, pubs and wine bars or, in the summer time, you can even move to Ostia, the beach town at just 20 kilometers from Rome, ready to party with your feet in the sand and a mojito in your hand in one of the many clubs under the stars. The possibilities for great entertainment will be infinite.
» Read more about Rome "summer spots" and festivals
Theaters and opera
The city offers also many opportunity of entertainments for those of you who loves theaters and operas, you will not be disappointed. From small " underground" theatres to big institutions such as Teatro Argentina or Sistina (just to name a few) to unusual locations such as churches and " palazzi, the roman scene vary from classical plays to more unconventional ones.
Most of dance festivals, music events and opera usually take place in the summertime, in locations such as Villa Ada Park or in breath taking sets like the Baths of Caracalla (where the fancy Teatro dell' Opera love to held the most famous operas for all the Roman- and non Roman- glitterati) or the Roman theater of Ostia.
After all, the favourite way of entertainment for Romans is the one that take place outdoor, as the weather in Rome is mild and warm for most part of the year.
For those of you who don't speak Italian but would still love to enjoy a bit of entertainment in English, there is an english speaking theatre group called the Miracle Players, who perform different kind of plays in various historical locations such as the Tiber Island and the Capitoline Museum: a chance more to enjoy the beauty of this city.
Whatever you will decide to do once in Rome (indulge in a morning of shopping madness in Via del Corso or in a flea market, visit an historical site or a museum, give into the roman nightlife or watch a football match as a real Roman), it's probably something you won't forget so easily, as you will not forget your stay here and Rome's many faces: the Imperial Rome, the Baroque one, the Renaissance one, the Rome of the Popes and of the angels and demons, the one of the paparazzi and the Dolce Vita and the one of every day's people and every day's life. After all, if it is true, as they say, that "all the roads lead to Rome", you'll likely end up coming back here. It will mean that Rome has bewitched you with her spell, but don't worry: she is being casting a spell on everyone who visits here since 2000 years and she is not going to stop.

Hotels in Rome

In Rome, many hotels are as much part of the city’s heritage as historical sights. Housed in the city’s palazzi, convents or villas, they cater to every budget and taste. Get a feel for the different neighborhoods to choose from when residing in Rome.
Hotel prices
Rome may still have more cheap accommodation than London or New York, but rates for comparable establishments have caught up.
All hotels are required by law to exhibit prices in a visible place, possibly the foyer or hotel entrance. Rates may vary considerably according to season, with prices peaking at Easter and during summer months. Apart from late autumn and January-February, when the number of visitors of Rome decreases, hotels are fairly occupied, often gets fully booked. Prices also tend to increase as the date of the stay approaches. We advice to book your hotel online to secure Your room and get the best price possible - online booking always comes of cheaper than booking on the place.

Book your Rome hotel in Rome with reputable booking company Booking.com, or just a check of prices and available rooms - free of charge, with no advance payments necessary.
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Where to stay in Rome

The traditional heartland of foreign visitors that search for accommodation in Rome lies around the Spanish steps and Piazza di Spagna, with some of the most exclusive smaller Rome hotels.
Similar places can be found all over the centre, to the west of Via del Corso, Vatican surroundings or the lively quarter of Trastevere.
Those who search for glamour should head for Via Veneto, which has many grand and luxurious hotels.
If you are looking for a peaceful retreat, try the area around the Aventine, or one of the high-class hotels next to the Villa Borghese park.
Area around the Termini station (Central railway station) is particularly suitable for business travelers for its concentration of cheap hotels.
Continue reading about best hotel locations »

Museums in Rome

Rome as itself is the greatist open-air museum in Europe. However, besides ancient ruins and stunning architecture it offers a wide choice of museums and art galleries filled with paintings and sculptures of the Renaissance and the Baroque.
The Vatican Museums have superb collections of both, as do, on a smaller scale, the Capitoline Museums.
Fine paintings can also be found scattered throughout Rome in museums, galleries and churches. There are several museum cards and combined tickets to visit the most important museums and sights in Rome at an affordable price.

Buy Roma Pass online and benefit from various discounts that make it easier and cheaper to enjoy Rome.

Vatican Museum
Vatican Museums house their fabulous masterpieces in palaces originally built for Renaissance popes such as Julius II, Innocent VIII and Sixtus IV. Most of the later addition were made in the 18th century, when priceless works of art accumulated by earlier popes were firts put on show.
Vatican Museum is home to the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms as well as to one of the world's most important art collections.
- Sistine Chapel
- Raphael Rooms
- Etruscan Museum

ARCHEOLOGY:

Capitoline Museum
Splendid copies of Greek and Roman sculptures has been kept on the Capitoline Hill since 15th century.
All master pieces are now housed in two palaces designed by Michelangelo:
- The Palazzo Nouvo
- Palazzo dei Conservatori

National Roman Museums:

- Crypta Balbi
Via delle Botteghe Oscure 31
Phone 06/3996770
- Palazzo Altemps
Piazza Sant'Apollinare 44
Phone 06/6833566 (Ticket-Office) 39967700 (Information and advance sale)
- The Baths of Diocletian and the Octagonal Hall
v.le Enrico De Nicola 78
Phone 06/4882298 (museum) 39967700 (information and advance sale)

Etruscan National Museum of Villa Giulia
Piazzale di Villa Giulia 9, Rome
Phone 06/3226571-3201706

The Palatine Museums
Via di San Gregorio, Rome
Phone 06/69901100

ART:

Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia (National Museum of Palazzo Venezia)
Via del Plebiscito, 118 00186 - Roma
various permanent collections + temporary exhibitions (contemporary Art)
Borghese Gallery
Villa Borghese, piazza Scipione Borghese 5
Phone 06/8417645 (Museum) 32810-1 (Information and Booking Office)
Complesso del Vittoriano - Museum of Risorgimento (Renaissance)
Via S. pietro in Carcere
open: 9.30am-7.30pm, fri-sat open until 11pm
www.amrcv.it
National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo
lungotevere Castello 50
Phone 06/6819111
National Gallery of Antique Art
Palazzo Barberini, via Barberini 18
Phone: 06/4824184(Gallery) 32810-1 (Information and booking)

ANTHROPOLOGY:

Museum of Rome in Trastevere
piazza Sant'Egidio 1/b
Phone 06/5816563 (Porter's) 5813717 (Offices)

SPECIALIZED MUSEUMS:

Wax Museum
Piazza Venezia 67 (on side of SS. Apostoli)
Phone 67976482. open: 9am-8pm every day
National Museum of Pasta
Palazzo Scanderbeg, piazza Scanderbeg 114/120
Phone 06/6991119-6991120
Numismatic Museum of the Italian Mint
Ministero del Tesoro, via XX Settembre 97
Phone 06/47613317
The Rome Jewish Community Museum
Sinagoga, lungotevere Cenci
Phone 06/6840061

Roman Colosseum

Italian name: Colosseo The Roman Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, was commisioned in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian. It was completed by his son, Titus, in 80, with later improvements by Domitian.
The Colosseum is located just east of the Roman Forum and was built to a practical design, with its 80 arched entrances allowing easy access to 55,000 spectators, who were seated according to rank. The Coliseum is huge, an ellipse 188m long and 156 wide. Originally 240 masts were attached to stone corbels on the 4th level.
Just outside the Coliseum is the Arch of Constantine (Arco di Costantino), a 25m high monument built in AD315 to mark the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at Pons Milvius.
Vespesian ordered the Colosseum to be build on the site of Nero's palace, the Domus Aurea, to dissociate himself from the hated tyrant.
His aim was to gain popularity by staging deadly combats of gladiators and wild animal fights for public viewing. Massacre was on a huge scale: at inaugural games in AD 80, over 9,000 wild animals were killed.


Roman gladiators
were usually slaves, prisoners of war or condemned criminals. Most were men, but there were a few female gladiators. These combats were attended by the poor, the rich, and frequently the emperor himself. As gladiators fought, vicious cries and curses were heard from the audience around the Roman Colosseum. One contest after another was staged in the course of a single day. Should the ground become too soaked with blood, it was covered over with a fresh layer of sand and the performance went on. The gladiatorial games continued until Christianity progressively put an end to those parts of them which included the death of humans.

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The Roman Coliseum
is located in the heart of piazza del Colosseo, on the homonymous B(blue)
Colosseum admission fee:
Full ticket - €15.50
EU reduced ticket - €10.50 (available only for European citizens aged between 18 and 25)
EU complimentary ticket- €4.50 (available only for EU citizens aged above 65 and under 18)

Opening hours:
Mid February - mid March: 9 AM - 4.30 PM
Mid March - end March: 9 AM - 5.00 PM
End March - end August: 9 AM - 7.00 PM
End August - end Sept.: 9 AM - 6.30 PM
End Sept. - end October: 9 AM - 6.00 PM
End October - mid March: 9 AM - 4.00 PM

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.

Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (Peru) © Silvan Rehfeld

Brief Synthesis
Embedded within a dramatic landscape at the meeting point between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is among the greatest artistic, architectural and land use achievements anywhere and the most significant tangible legacy of the Inca civilization. Recognized for outstanding cultural and natural values, the mixed World Heritage property covers 32,592 hectares of mountain slopes, peaks and valleys surrounding its heart, the spectacular archaeological monument of “La Ciudadela” (the Citadel) at more than 2,400 meters above sea level. Built in the fifteenth century Machu Picchu was abandoned when the Inca Empire was conquered by the Spaniards in the sixteenth century. It was not until 1911 that the archaeological complex was made known to the outside world.
The approximately 200 structures making up this outstanding religious, ceremonial, astronomical and agricultural centre are set on a steep ridge, crisscrossed by stone terraces. Following a rigorous plan the city is divided into a lower and upper part, separating the farming from residential areas, with a large square between the two. To this day, many of Machu Picchu’s mysteries remain unresolved, including the exact role it may have played in the Incas’ sophisticated understanding of astronomy and domestication of wild plant species.
The massive yet refined architecture of Machu Picchu blends exceptionally well with the stunning natural environment, with which it is intricately linked. Numerous subsidiary centres, an extensive road and trail system, irrigation canals and agricultural terraces bear witness to longstanding, often on-going human use. The rugged topography making some areas difficult to access has resulted in a mosaic of used areas and diverse natural habitats. The Eastern slopes of the tropical Andes with its enormous gradient from high altitude “Puna” grasslands and Polylepis thickets to montane cloud forests all the way down towards the tropical lowland forests are known to harbour a rich biodiversity and high endemism of global significance. Despite its small size the property contributes to conserving a very rich habitat and species diversity with remarkable endemic and relict flora and fauna.
Criterion (i): The Inca City of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is the articulating centre of its surroundings, a masterpiece of art, urbanism, architecture and engineering of the Inca Civilization. The working of the mountain, at the foot of the Huaya Picchu, is the exceptional result of integration with its environment, the result from a gigantic effort as if it were an extension of nature.
Criterion (iii):The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is a unique testimony of the Inca Civilization and shows a well-planned distribution of functions within space, territory control, and social, productive, religious and administrative organization.
Criterion (vii): The historic monuments and features in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are embedded within a dramatic mountain landscape of exceptional scenic and geomorphological beauty thereby providing an outstanding example of a longstanding harmonious and aesthetically stunning relationship between human culture and nature.
Criterion (ix): Covering part of the transition between the High Andes and the Amazon Basin the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu shelters a remarkably diverse array of microclimates, habitats and species of flora and fauna with a high degree of endemism. The property is part of a larger area unanimously considered of global significance for biodiversity conservation.
Integrity
The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu meets the conditions of integrity, as the natural and human-made attributes and values that sustain its Outstanding Universal value are mostly contained within its boundaries. The visual ensemble linking the main archaeological site of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu with its striking mountain environment remains mostly intact.
It is desirable to extend the property to encompass an even broader spectrum of human-land relationships, additional cultural sites, such as Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and a larger part of the Urubamba watershed would contribute to strengthening the overall integrity. In particular, the value for the conservation of the many rare and endemic species of flora and fauna would benefit from the inclusion or a stronger management consideration of the adjacent lands. A considerable number of well-documented threats render the property vulnerable to losing its future integrity and will require permanent management attention.
Authenticity
Upon the abandonment of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu at the beginning of the sixteenth century, vegetation growth and isolation ensured the conservation of the architectural attributes of the property. Although the design, materials and structures have suffered slight changes due to the decay of the fabric, the conditions of authenticity have not changed. The rediscovery in 1911, and subsequent archaeological excavations and conservation interventions have followed practices and international standards that have maintained the attributes of the property.
Protection and management requirements
The state-owned Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu is an integral part of Peru’s national protected areas system and enjoys protection through several layers of a comprehensive legal framework for both cultural and natural heritage. The boundaries of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu are clearly defined and the protected area is surrounded by a buffer zone exceeding the size of the property.
The Management Unit of the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu (UGM) was established in 1999 to lead the strategies contained in the Master Plans, which are the regularly updated governing documents for the management of the property. UGM was reactivated in 2011 and is comprised of representatives of the Ministries of Culture, Environment and Foreign Trade and Tourism, the Regional Government of Cusco, serving as the President of the Executive Committee, and the local municipality of Machu Picchu. A platform bringing together key governmental representatives at all levels is indispensable for the management of a property which forms part of Peru’s very identity and is the country’s primary domestic and international tourist destination.
Notwithstanding the adequate legislative and formal management framework, there are important challenges to the inter-institutional governance and the effectiveness of management and protection of the property. The dispersed legislation would benefit from further harmonization and despite existing efforts the involvement of various ministries and governmental levels ranging from local to national remains a complex task, including in light of the sharing of the significant tourism revenues. Tourism itself represents a double-edged sword by providing economic benefits but also by resulting in major cultural and ecological impacts. The strongly increasing number of visitors to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu must be matched by an adequate management regulating access, diversifying the offer and efforts to fully understand and minimize impacts. A larger appropriate and increasing share of the significant tourism revenues could be re-invested in planning and management. The planning and organization of transportation and infrastructure construction, as well as the sanitary and safety conditions for both tourists and new residents attracted by tourism requires the creation of high quality and new long-term solutions, and is a significant ongoing concern.
Since the time of inscription consistent concerns have been expressed about ecosystem degradation through logging, firewood and commercial plant collection, poor waste management, poaching, agricultural encroachment in the absence of clear land tenure arrangements, introduced species and water pollution from both urban waste and agro-chemicals in the Urubamba River, in addition from pressures derived from broader development in the region. It is important to remember that the overall risks are aggravated by the location in a high altitude with extreme topography and weather conditions and thus susceptibility to natural disasters. Continuous efforts are needed to comply with protected areas and other legislation and plans and prevent further degradation. There is also great potential for restoring degraded areas.

Luxembourg Palace, Paris

Luxembourg Palace, Paris

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History

	In the Luxembourg Gardens by John Singer Sargent Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Luxembourg Palace in Paris, the first great example of French classical architecture during the 17th century, was the culmination of the long tradition of the chateau as a building type. It was commissioned in 1615 by Marie de Médicis, regent of France, for a site on the Left Bank then occupied by the Hôtel du Luxembourg, from which the name was derived. The regent favored an Italianate structure modeled after Palazzo Pitti in her native Florence, but the architect Salomon de Brosse followed a typically French layout of wings surrounding a court, with the chief living quarters and chapel facing the garden. The west wing was the original site of the paintings (1622-25; Louvre, Paris) by Peter Paul Rubens depicting the regent's life.
During the 19th century the palace was extensively remodeled: the garden facade was added (1836-41) by Alphonse de Gisors, and a cycle of paintings (1845-47) by Eugène Delacroix was added to the library. The building was a prison during the Revolution, used for the peace conference of 1946, and now houses the French Senate.

Location: Jardins du Luxembourg, 75006 Paris. Phone: 01-42-34-23-62. Métro: Odéon. RER: Luxembourg. Buses: 42, 69, 72, 82, 87.

Luxembourg Garden
A real Parisian favorite, the Jardin du Luxembourg is a magnificent, harmonious 25-hectare green oasis on Paris' fashionable Left Bank. The formal gardens are populated with many statues (including one of Sainte-Gèneviève, patron saint of Paris), fountains and beautiful flowers. In the southwest corner, there is an orchard where several hundred species of apple and pear trees blossom each spring. Children love the park, too, especially for its parc à jeux (playground) and the théâtre des marionettes (puppet theater); they can also rent boats and sail them in the glassy ponds. Sunday afternoon band concerts draw a crowd in the summer. The sprawling grounds are usually animated by lovers, students, chess aficionados, games of boules, and tennis players.
Nearby the Luxembourg Garden, the lively student area known as the Latin Quarter -- with the Sorbonne University and the Odéon Theater -- was the scene of the spectacular 1968 student riots which disrupted traditional French society.

The Eiffel Tower, Paris

The Eiffel Tower, Paris

	History           Eiffel Tower and the Trocadéro fountains   The Eiffel {y'-ful} Tower, an immense stucture of exposed latticework supports made of puddle iron, was erected for the Paris Exposition of 1889. The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII of England) officiated at the ceremonial opening. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, one was unanimously chosen, a radical creation from the French structural engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (b. Dec. 15, 1832, d. Dec. 28, 1923), who was assisted in the design by engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, and architect Stephen Sauvestre. However, the controversial tower elicited some strong reactions, and a petition of 300 names — including those of Guy de Maupassant, Émile Zola, Charles Garnier (architect of the Opéra Garnier), and Alexandre Dumas fils — was presented to the city government, protesting its construction. The petition read, "We, the writers, painters, sculptors, architects and lovers of the beauty of Paris, do protest with all our vigour and all our indignation, in the name of French taste and endangered French art and history, against the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower." Nature lovers thought that it would interfere with the flight of birds over Paris. But the Eiffel Tower was admired by Rousseau, Utrillo, Chagall, and Delaunay. It was almost torn down in 1909 at the expiration of its 20-year lease, but was saved because of its antenna — used for telegraphy at that time. Beginning in 1910 it became part of the International Time Service. French radio (since 1918), and French television (since 1957) have also made use of its stature. In the 1960s, it was the subject of a wonderful study by semiologist Roland Barthes.         Eiffel Tower under construction April 1888 July 1888 December 1888 completed May 1889     Built to celebrate the science and engineering achievements of its age, soaring 300m / 984 ft. (320.75m / 1,052 ft. including antenna) and weighing 7000 tons, the structure consists of two visibly distinct parts: a base composed of a platform resting on four separate supports (called pylons or bents) and, above this, a slender tower created as the bents taper upward, rising above a second platform to merge in a unified column. This unprecedented work, the tallest structure in the world until the Empire State Building was built about 40 years later, had several antecedents. Among them were the iron-supported railway viaducts designed by Eiffel, an arch bridge over the Douro River in Portugal with a span of 160 m (525 ft), and a design for a circular, iron-frame tower proposed by the American engineers Clarke and Reeves for the Centennial Exposition of 1876. Eiffel knew and publicly acknowledged this influence; he was no stranger to the United States, having designed the wrought-iron pylon inside Frederic Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty in 1885. Later in the same year, he had also begun work on the cupola of the Nice observatory. Eiffel was the leading European authority on the aerodynamics of high frames (he wrote "The Resistance of the Air" in 1913). In the construction of the Eiffel Tower, the curve of the base pylons was precisely calculated so that the bending and shearing forces of the wind were progressively transformed into forces of compression, which the bents could withstand more effectively. Such was Eiffel's engineering wizardry that even in the strongest winds his tower never sways more than 4-1/2 inches. The superskyscrapers erected since 1960, such as the World Trade Center, were constructed in much the same way. However difficult its birth may have been, the Tour Eiffel is now completely accepted by French citizens, and is internationally recognized as one of the symbols of Paris itself. Facilities and Views In the basements of the eastern and western pillars, one can visit the gargantuan 1899 machinery which powers the elevators, an astonishing spectacle reminiscent of a Jules Verne novel. From the Tower's three platforms — especially the topmost — the view of Paris is superb. It is generally agreed that one hour before sunset, the panorama is at its best; don't forget to bring your camera, and experiment with the f-stop settings to capture a dazzling sunset on the Seine. If you can't be there in person, then check out a Live Aerial View of Paris with TF1's webcam online: from the top of the Eiffel Tower, you can see Paris in real time, 24 hours a day, whatever the weather conditions in the French capital. To get the most out of this view of Paris, we suggest you surf their web site between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM GMT (1:00 AM and 3:00 PM Eastern Time in the U.S.), when the City of Light is at its best.             Eiffel Tower by Susan Gillette 14" x 18" fine art print   First level: 57.63 meters (189 feet). Observatory from which to study the movements of the Eiffel Tower's summit. Kiosk presentation about the mythic painting of the Eiffel Tower. Space CINEIFFEL: offers an exceptional panorama of sights from the Tower. Souvenir shops (yes, every tourist MUST have a miniature replica). Restaurant "Altitude 95" (phone 01-45-55-20-04). Post office, with special stamps "Paris Eiffel Tower ". Panoramic gallery displaying the Monuments of Paris. Second level: 115.73 meters (379 feet, 8 inches). Panorama of Paris. Telescopes, shops. Animated displays on the operation of the elevators. Jules Verne Restaurant (extremely expensive, reservations absolutely necessary; phone 01-45-55-61-44). Third level: 276.13 meters (905 feet, 11 inches). Exceptional panoramic views, day or night, of Paris and its surroundings. Recently restored office, featuring wax reproductions of Gustave Eiffel and Thomas Edison in conversation (see photo. Panoramic guide displays to aid orientation. Dioramas presenting the history of this platform. Probably the best approach to the tower is to take the Métro to the Trocadéro station and walk from the Palais de Chaillot to the Seine. Besides fabulous views, especially when the Trocadéro fountains are in full force, you get a free show from the dancers and acrobats who perform around the Palais de Chaillot. The vast green esplanade beneath the tower is the Parc du Champs-de-Mars, which extends all the way to the 18th-century École Militaire (Military Academy), at its southeast end. This formal lawn was once a parade ground for French troops. The Eiffel Tower at night is one of the great sights of Paris and shouldn't be missed. The gold lighting highlights the delicacy of the steelwork in a way that is missed in daylight. Skip the tour buses and pickpockets on Trocadéro and head up to the École Militaire for a more tranquil view. Interesting Facts 300 steel workers, and 2 years (1887-1889) to construct it. 15,000 iron pieces (excluding rivets). 2.5 million rivets. 40 tons of paint. 1671 steps to the top. Maximum sway at top caused by wind: 12 cm (4.75 inches). Maximum sway at top caused by metal dilation: 18 cm (7 inches). Total height in 1889: 300.51 meters (985 feet, 11 inches). Total height with television antenna: 320.755 meters (1052 feet, 4 inches). Height varies up to 15 cm depending on temperature. Size of base area: 10,281.96 square meters (2.54 acres). Weight of foundations: 277,602 kg (306 tons). Weight of iron: 7.34 million kg (8092.2 tons). Weight of elevator systems: 946,000 kg (1042.8 tons). Total weight: 8.56 million kg (9441 tons). Pressure on foundation: 4.1 to 4.5 kg per square centimeter, depending on pier (58.26 to 64 lbs. per square inch). Dates of construction: January 26, 1887 to March 31, 1889. Cost of construction: 7.8 million francs ($1.5 million). Total number of visitors during 1889 Exposition: 1,968,287. Total receipts during 1889 Exposition: 5,919,884 francs ($1.14 million). Total number of visitors during 2007: 6,822,000.         Eiffel Tower (photographer unknown) 24" x 36" fine art print © NAGR - Eurographics     During its lifetime, the Eiffel Tower has witnessed a few strange scenes, including being scaled by a mountaineer in 1954, and two Englishmen parachuting off it in 1984. In 1923, the journalist Pierre Labric (who was later to become mayor of Montmartre) rode a bicycle down from the first level; some accounts say he rode down the stairs, others suggest the exterior of one of the tower's four legs which slope outward. Politics have also played a role in its life. During World War II, the Germans hung a sign on it that read: "Deutschland Siegt Auf Allen Fronten" ("Germany is victorious on all fronts"). In 1958, a few months before Fidel Castro's rise to power, Cuban revolutionaries hung their red-and-black flag from the first level, and, in 1979, an American from Greenpeace hung one that read: "Save the Seals". In 1989, the Tower celebrated its centennial with music and fireworks (the show lasted 89 minutes). Operation The Eiffel Tower is owned by the City of Paris, which has subcontracted its maintenance and daily operations since 2005 to SETE (Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel), a public utility. More than 500 people bring the Eiffel Tower to life each day. About one half are employed by SETE, the others are concessionaires (souvenir boutiques, restaurants, telescope operations, ATMs, behind-the-scene tours) and civil service employees (police, fire personnel, post office, weather).