Amazing World

Location and a Brief History   St Mark's square is the principal square of the city known throughout the world as the city floating on water— the romantic Venice. The square is situated in the heart of the city to the west of St Mark’s Basilica and surrounded by arcades on the other three sides and is the only one given the title of piazza. Many important government buildings are located here. Thousands of tourists crowd the square, feeding pigeons that fill the whole area. Recently, however, the city has passed a law that banned the feeding of pigeons, for they have largely spoiled the surrounding buildings. Until recently pigeon feeding had been the most popular activity among tourists. Everywhere around the square, tourists could be seen trying to balance the birds on their hands or throwing com to them and getting them photographed. The piazza San Marco was built in the ninth century in front of the original St Mark’s Basilica, at that time a small chapel in th...

  One of Rome's most spectacular squares and renowned for its admirable work of art, La Fontana di Quattro Flumi — the fountain of four rivers, Piazza Navona is a place never to be forgotten during a tour of Rome. The piazza is home to several masterpieces of Baroque art as the one mentioned above as well as the other two fountains lying to its north and south and of course the magnificent church of St Agnes.  Location and the Derivation of its Name Situated exactly at the site of the ancient Domitian Stadium or the Circus Agonalis or Competition Arena, it was officially named Piazza Navona in the 15 th  century. Since those days it has been an important market place of the city and the site where various festivals took place.   The circus was built by the Roman emperor Domitian in 85 A.D. for athletic competitions called agones and was of the shape of a rectangle with its northern side being curved. It could seat up to 30000 spectators. It is thought that the na...

  Known for thousands of years by the name of the Eternal City, the historical city of Rome possesses numerous worth seeing places. Among them the leading ones are its squares and fountains. Not a single square in Rome is without a fountain. Though there are several spectacular squares in Rome, but the one ranking highest is St Peter’s Square, the core of Vatican City.  Historical Background and Location Piazza San Pietro or St Peter’s Square is originally the place where the renowned Neron Circus of the Roman Emperor Nero was situated. Ancient traditions say that was the site where the apostle St Peter was crucified upon Nero’s order in his circus. It is said that he was buried at the same place. Many other Christians were martyred here as well. The place has been visited by the faithful for centuries. Emperor Constantine, in 324 A.D., constructed here the St Peter’s Basilica in the honor of the holy saint. The Basilica is structured exactly at the place where St Peter was ...

A Brief Introduction Listed as one of the sites of world heritage by UNESCO in 1998, Brussels’s grand place is indeed among the most beautiful town squares of Europe. It is called De Grote Market in Dutch while the French speaking population of the country know it by the name of Grand-Place. The biggest attraction that the square possesses for tourists is its popular biennial flower carpet. After every two years, a huge carpet of flowers is set up in the square during the month of August for a few days. The other most popular event taking place on the square annually is the Ommegang: an ancient ceremony having duration of three days from the 3rd of July to July 5th. Fourteen hundred participators start from Sablon, wearing costumes and marching all the way, end their procession at the square. Geography Of The Square The most dominating building around the square is the town Hall with its glowing Gothic tower which can be seen from almost every part of the city, and the King’s Building ...

Situated in the midst of one of the premier shopping districts of the world and abounding with retail stores, department stores, art galleries; an ideal place for enjoying a cup of coffee or a lunch, or just watching the people busy in shopping, the Union Square of San Francisco is the   leading square of the city. Besides shopping and dinning, it is home to many theaters and cinemas like the Geary’s Theater and San Francisco Center etc. It is considered to be the heart of San Francisco since 1850.  It is to be noted that the words Union Square also refer to the historical Union Square Park bordered by Geary Powell, Stockton, and Post Streets. The land of the park was sanctioned to the city by Colonel John Geary, the first mayor of San Francisco under the U.S. rule. There had been colossal mound of sand during the 1850s. The land between the base of this mound and Market Street was known as St Anne’s Valley. During the 1850s the region saw no noticeable development; it was lar...

                                                   One of the most notables squares of the U.S. after Times Square and Madison Square and nominated as a national historic landmark of New York City by the United States Department of the Interior, it has been serving as a gathering place for labour and political parties, and for commerce and entertainment for around 170 years. Union square is home to the city’s largest green market established in 1976 and has since than grown with an amazing pace. Nearly one hundred and forty farmers, fishermen, and bakers of the region come here to sell their products to the citizens. Freshly packed fruits and vegetable, heritage meat, farmstead cheese, breads, jams, pickles, ciders, maples, etc. are available to about 60000 shoppers on a market day. Hundreds of shops and restaurants of standard abound the square.  Beside...

  Named after the 2 nd  Earl of Leicester and located at the heart of London’s West End. it is often nicknamed as Theater land due to the multitude of cinemas and theaters that line it. It is the site where all the major European premiers take place. Londoners and foreigners rush to the square alike to enjoy the musicals and shows that are the popular specialty of this West End entertainment district.  The Past The region including Leicester Square began to develop around 1670 after the square was opened for public in 1640. The land exactly where the square is now seen and that covers about four acres was owned by Robert Sydney, the 2 nd  Earl of Leicester. The area became a fashionable residence during the late seventeenth century. By the late eighteenth century, the region began to be known as an entertainment centre with the foundation of Holophusikon or the Museum of Natural Curiosities. More recreational facilities were added to the former as the Wyld’s Globe, h...

  A symbol of Leisure and adult entertainment for more than two centuries, London’s Soho Square is situated in the center of the West End. With Oxford Street and Charring Cross Road to its north and east, it is situated at walking distance from the Theater District. The tube station nearest to the square is Tottenham Court Road and is served by the Central and Northern lines. The square is built around a beautiful garden commonly known by Soho Square Gardens managed by Westminster Park Service. Known by the name of King’s Square in its earlier days, the square was founded in 1670 by King Charles the 2 nd  in the land formerly known as Kemp’s Field or Soho Fields that used to be the Royal Park in those days. The origin of the word ‘Soho’ is most probably the hunting call made by hunters when they had a glimpse of their prey. A stone statue of Charles the 2 nd  was fixed in the centre of the square on a pedestal in 1681, chiseled by the Danish sculptor Carlus Gabriel Cibb...

Though much smaller than several other piazzas of Rome, Piazza di Trevi attracts thousands of visitors daily only due to its captivating artistic Trevi Fountain. The monument has made it a most favorite site of both the Roman citizens and tourists equally where they gather to enjoy the pleasant environment of this remarkable fountain. The fascinating Trevi Fountain is a masterpiece of architecture. A visit to the historical city of Rome will be incomplete without having gone to this remarkable place. Thousands of tourists daily come to watch this captivating site lying in the heart of Rome.  arurechitect Location and architecture Situated right in the centre of the historic Rome in the Quirinale district, the square owes its name to its position. Lying at the meeting point of three streets (Trivie ). Via de Murrate, Via del Levatore, and Via Poli, it is called Piazza di Trevi or the square upon three streets. The piazza is within walking distance from Piazza Navona and Spanish...

  Paris, a city teaming with wonderful buildings and charming works of arts, has a square that deserves to be proud of having the world’s largest triumphal arc in it. Located at the border of  the 16th, 17th arrondisement, the circular square named Place Charles De Gaulle is somewhat unique in the sense that, instead of the common four, twelve boulevards emanates from its centre and lead to different parts of the city, the most important of them being the well-known Champs-Elysees. The square was previously called Place de la Etoile(laitwal), meaning Square of the star for it looks like a star when viewed from above. Indubitably the most remarkable thing in this square is the gigantic 50-meter arc erected right in its center. History in brief In 1806, Napoleon the 1 st  ordered the building of an arch in memorial of his victories upon his enemies. It could not, however, be completed during his reign, and was inaugurated in the time of Luis Philip in 1836. It was deigned b...

Location and the Reason for its Name  Commonly known as Piccadilly Circus, it is a famous square lying just in the heart of London. In the opinion of many it is the life of London. An activity ranking top grade in the city is watching people at Piccadilly Circus. They believe that you will see someone you know within fifteen minutes of strolling in the Square. At night, its lights attract tourists from far and wide. It is also called circus for it is in fact a large traffic roundabout from where five streets originate: Piccadilly Street, Regent Street, Coventry Street, Shaftsbury Avenue, and Haymarket Street. The word Piccadilly in its name is derived from Piccadil-----a frilled collar of the 17 th  century associated with Robert Baker, a well-known tailor of the 18 th  century who had made a large fortune making Piccadils. He had built a large mansion to the north of this place in 1612 for his dwelling known by people of the locality by Piccadilly Hall. It is interesting...

Location and a Brief History Indubitably the most famous square of all the famous squares of the world, Times Square of New York lies in the heart of the city on the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue. At present, however, all the area lying between 6th and 9th Avenue and 40th and 53rd streets is known by the name of Times Square. Nicknamed as “The Crossroads of the World” and “The Great White Way”, it has been the biggest tourist attraction for tourists for more than a  hundred years. In view of many tourists the square, if seen for the first time in day light does not have much charm for its viewer, but when the same person watches it again at night, it seems to be much fascinating to him. The square’s history dates back to early 1900s when the population of New York City had expanded to 42nd street. In 1904, Alfred Ochs, the publisher of New York Times, shifted the headquarters of his daily from downtown to a new skyscraper building on 43r...

  Having a rich history, the beautiful Trafalgar Square with its colossal Nelson's column lies in the heart of London. A place full of life, it provides Londoners and outsiders boundless opportunities of enjoyment. The place is extremely popular among public and is used for a number of activities such as the Royal Wedding, St Patrick's Day, the Chinese New Year, photography, and rallies and demonstrations. It also serves as a platform for new artistic performances and events. As is indicated by its name, the square was founded as a memorial of Lord Nelson’s unforgettable victory at Trafalgar— that great national hero who had won four naval battles and who had sacrificed his life in the combat against the French and Spanish fleets in 1805. As to its brief history, the area where the square lies today used to be the courtyard of the stable of the Whitehall palace and was known by the Mews area. In the early 1800s the Mews area was cleared, and in 1812, architect John Nash propose...

Commonly known by the initial alphabets, C.P., and recently given the name, Rajive Chowk, Connaught Place is the biggest commercial centre of Delhi. It is the Central Business District of the Indian capital having the head offices of major banks, airlines, and other important businesses. It possesses a lot of attraction for tourists due to its marvellous architecture and the constant hustle and bustle seen here day and night. Myriad tourists walk around this unique roundabout daily, busy in shopping or carrying out their routine chores.  The square is formed by two concentric circles creating an inner circle and an outer one. Seven radial roads from various directions converge at the centre of the inner circle. The design of the square is in accordance to the Royal Crescent in Bath, U. K. Its architecture is of old Victorian style. A Short History Of The Place The gate way to colonial New Delhi, the square is named upon a well known member of the royal family of Britain--the first ...

Often called the Times Square  of Tokyo, the illuminating Ginza square is the premier entertaining, shopping, and dining district of the Japanese capital. Any brand name in fashion you think and it will be found here. The area is so expensive that during the prime time of the Japanese economy in the 90s, a square meter of land at this place cost ten million yens. The prizes have, however, fallen down now.  Still the area is very expensive even in these days. Here you can have an infamous cup of coffee for 10 dollars. The venue is the biggest center of tourists' attraction. It is the topmost center for shopping luxury goods in Japan and also the biggest entertainment district of Tokyo. The square is named Ginza because during the period between 1612 and 1800 there had been a silver coin mint at this place. Since the Japanese for silver is Ginza the square became known by this word. The land where the square is now located was once covered with marsh water before having been re...

  Location and Environment Known as the largest city square of the world, the Tienanmen Square of Beijing is visited by thousands of tourists daily, a majority of them to watch the flag hoisting ceremony. Situated in the heart of Beijing city, it covers an area of 440,000 square meters or 440 hectares, having a length of 880 meters and a width of 500 meters and can accommodate one million people. It was here that the President  Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People's Republic of China.  The square is always crowded with tourists due to several worth visiting places located around it. Right in the centre of the square stands the monument to the people’s heroes. The 38 meter high granite monument which is an obelisk, was erected in 1958 with the following words written by Mao Zi Tung engraved on it: People’s heroes are immortal. To the west of the square is the great Hall of the people; at the east side is the China National Museum; and to the south of the square c...

Biggest Centre for tourists in Moscow There would hardly be an educated person in at least the western world who would be unfamiliar with the world famous Red Square of Moscow. It is probably impossible to think of a place in Moscow that possesses more appeal for the residents of Moscow city as well as tourists from other places than the Red Square. The charming architecture of the buildings around it and its peculiar environment force tourists to visit it again and again. The place is extremely popular among Muscovites and foreign visitors where they gather for being photographed in front of their favorite sites. Many people will be amazed to know that the word "Red" in the name of this square has nothing to do with red color—the symbol of the once ruling party of the Soviet Union. The first part of its name, Krasnyl, means beautiful in the Russian language. It is only recently that this word is also used for red color in Russian.  Location and a brief history The total area...

  The Buddhist religion that was prevalent over all the northern area of the subcontinent of ancient India has left innumerable traces in the region which can still be seen here in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Thousands of tourists from Europe, the USA, China, and several other countries of the Far East come to these historical places and watch these monuments zealously. One of such worth seeing sites is the one situated a few furlongs from the Takht Bhai town of Mardan district of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa  province of Pakistan.  A Brief Survey of its Past Analysis of its name, Takht Bhai, reveals that the town was named after a spring which was situated on an elevated place or Takht. The town lies approximately 9 miles from the city of Mardan and 47 miles from the provincial capital of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province. Nearly 27 miles to the west of it is Charsadda, another city having considerable importance from historical point of view. Sakia Mani Gotam B...

  This is Taxila, the globally known repository of the archaeological remains of the pre and post Alexandrian times, and the site is a shrine where a fictitious eagle having two heads is enjoying eternal sleep. You would, no doubt, exclaim with astonishment: did they bury eagles in shrines in the east. The answer is: oh, probably they did. Impossible though it does seem; it is generally believed that in the ancient city of Taxila, a large eagle with two heads rests in peace within a splendid tomb for thousands of years. I had studied about this amazing fact sometimes during the late eighties in a book written by Sir John Marshal about the relics of Taxila. The book also dealt briefly with the ancient history of India. However, I had forgotten that for a long while, and the fact was revived in my mind only when I had gone to see one of my cousins who was an officer in the armed forces in those days and was stationed at the military cantonment in the historical city.   A Br...

  A Beautiful View of the Valley of Swat For years it had been one of my most fervent desires to pay a visit to the shrine of Pir Baba. You will surely ask: and who is this Pir Baba? Pir Baba or "Saint Father"___the English for these Pashto words , was a Musalman sage still remembered with much reverence among the inhabitants of the northern parts of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. During my high school days all that I knew about him was up to this extent that his actualname was Sayyid Ali Tirmizi and that he was borne in the town of Tirmiz lying in the region familiar to the Muslim geographers of the medieval ages by the name of Khorasan.   Early Life and Education It was a common practice among the Musalman religious people of those days to tour as much of the "land of God" as possible. Our "Saint Father" or Pir Baba too, having studied the elements of the Persian and Arabic languages and an adequate knowledge of their literature as well as ...