Ultimo appuntamento con la capitale inglese e questa volta, l’itinerario lo dedichiamo alle istituzioni, ai monumenti e ai suoi fantastici parchi.
Westminster è la zona dove prestigio, storia e potere dominano incontrastate, da Buckingham Palace residenza della regina, a Whitehall Street, passando per Downing Street, arrivando fino a Houses of Parliament, ( il parlamento ) per finire ad ammirare la cattedrale di Westminster.
Qualsiasi itinerario di visita abbiate in mente per esplorare la zona delle istituzioni londinesi, l’ideale è partire da Trafalgar Square, piazza cara ai londinesi dove si celebrano tutti grandi eventi compreso il conto alla rovescia in attesa del capodanno.
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| Trafalgar Square |
Partendo dalla grande piazza passando per Whitehall Street, il viale dei ministeri, vi troverete nel cuore del potere londinese, il viale unisce Trafalgar Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey. In the middle of the avenue in a street called Downing Street and the exact number 10, is the residence of British prime minister, the most photographed door in England.
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| Image taken from the web |
Parlamient results in Whitehall Square, where a fabulous glance you will see the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and the Clock Tower, better known as Big Ben.
The parliament building officially Palace of Westminster is a magnificent building stands on the site where once stood the royal palace built by Edward I.
The palace has more than one thousand rooms including the House of Lords and the House of Commons, but not all are open of course, for a guided tour of the building need to book in advance.
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| parliament seen from the side of the Thames |
Located in the north east of the palace, there is the Big Ben, the very symbol of London.
The famous Clock Tower (clock tower) is 96 meters high, built in Gothic style is a true wonder. The chronicles tell that its construction began in 1854 after the architect Charles Barry, won the competition to redesign the Palace of Westminster partially destroyed because of the famous fire of 1834.
Big Ben was completed in 1859, including interesting facts on the famous monument to report the weight of the largest bell, which reaches 13.5 tons and when he plays, his famous touch feels up to two miles away. The hour hand measures 2.7 meters long and the minute hand reaches to 4.3 meters.
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| BIG BEN |
A short walk from the Westminster parliament rises Abbey, the famous cathedral, one of the most important, not only in London but throughout England. Right from coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, the abbey is the place where all coronations have taken place of royalty, and was also the burial place of many British and important commemorations of the last millennium.
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| Westminster |
Becoming Westminster is like going back in time through history, where the pillars convey the importance that the air that surrounds you breathe inside has something mystical.
The precise date of when it was built in doubt, certainly dates from the seventh century, although the current church as we see it today, was born in 1245 with Henry III taking the example of the Gothic cathedrals of France.
Leaving the cathedral and heading towards St. James Park, one of the fabulous parks of London with its lake inside, you will arrive at Buckingham Palace.
Passing through the park, located in a former swamp area purchased in 1532 by Henry VIII, then reclaimed and made the surprise today with the passage of time, you can enjoy a fantastic and vegetation along the road along the inland lake, you will almost without realizing it front of "the house of the queen"
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| St.James Park lake and a view of Buckingham Palace |
Buckingham Palace as well as being the official residence of the queen is always been a landmark for British subjects, in sad moments of glory and those who lived in the kingdom during his long centuries of history. If the sovereign is the royal standard at the Palazzo it indicates its presence.
seems that the first building was erected in 1633 and ultimately the source of the current building dates from 1703, thanks to the Earl of Buckingham who used country residence of the source from which the name clearly. A descendant of the Count sold the building to King George III who made a private royal residence. Various additions were made and the building was enhanced, enriched and made more impressive, but only thanks to Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, Buckingham Palace became the official residence of British monarchs. The large east wing of the palace, one that exposes the facade visible to everyone today was built after the marriage of Queen Victoria.
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| Buckingham Palace |
The famous changing of the guard instead takes place on time every day during the summer and on alternate days during the rest of the season, today it is purely a tourist spectacle that is worth to attend. Drum roll, band, marching orderly the changing of the guard is a traditional ritual that is repeated from 1660. We recommend arriving at least 40 minutes before managing to get between the front rows. The times are at 11.30 am on weekdays, Sundays at 10. In case of rain, the ceremony could be undone.
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| Changing of the guard |
continuity between the historical and institutional, we could not forget the Tower of London.
It became a UNESCO World Heritage in 1988, the tower was built in 1078 when William the Conqueror ordered the White Tower built inside the walls.
Composed of various fortified buildings, the tower was used as a fortress, as a royal palace, a prison.
arrived today after several repeated fortifications and the tower, is a place not to be missed when visiting London. Several buildings are open including the White Tower (White Tower), the oldest building, 27 meters high and 4.5 meter thick walls was built in 20 years. A visit inside is very impressive, the second floor you will find the St. John Chapel, the oldest church in London, a real masterpiece del'architettura Norman, while the third floor you can admire the collection of armor started by Henry VIII. Among the buildings that you can see there is the Jewel House, which houses the Crown Jewels collected since 1660.
turning inside the complex of the tower will guide you to a real institution, the Yeomen Warders, the guards of the tower. These men dressed in traditional black uniforms with red borders and a cylinder head, always had the task of protecting the tower today and also to guide and control the tourists. Another difficult task assigned by the Yeomen Warders always is to protect the ravens who live in the Tower of London, which according to legend, must always be stationed at the building, "the day when there will be no more ravens in the Tower of London is not There will be no more monarchy " E 'common knowledge that since there is a tower at least six ravens have always lived in the residence.
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| Tower of London |
Leaving the Tower of London you will certainly not miss out on the deck of the tower, the Tower Bridge. Another symbol of the city, consists of two parts fixed and mobile to allow the passage of vessels from the large tonnage once the mechanism was hydraulic pressure, the old Victorian pumps can be visited at the foot of the bridge for demonstration purposes. Since 1976, the mechanism is electric.
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| Tower Bridge |
The two towers that house a interactive museum about the history of the bridge and its operation, are connected by a walkway suspended 47 meters high and protected by glass where you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city. Completed in 1894, the bridge is a wonderful example of Victorian engineering, 300 steps separate entry to the top of the towers but you can also use a lift.
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| Detail of one of the towers of the bridge |
Before we finish our story about London is still a hint, do not forget if you can, make a stroll in Hyde Park, the large and popular city park where you can get to know the habits of Londoners. In 2.5 square kilometers there is a green oasis in an artificial lake created by the will of Queen Caroline in 1730 the Serpentine Lake, named due to the shape of the lake that resembles a snake.
The park is well known for its beautiful swans for even the most famous Speaker's Corner, the angle of the speakers, where anyone can express their views in a special space that stands where once there was a scaffold of executions called the gallows of Tyburn.
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| Map of Hyde Park |
ends our story about London, a city in constant evolution that you should visit each year given the rapid changes dictated by modern times. Here we offer you some useful links suggested by his friend Barbara live there than in London and some selected by us.
book in advance you can get excellent discounts.
http://www.toptable.com/ restaurants
http://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/ how to move
http://www.britishmuseum.org/ to visit the British Museum
http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/ to visit the parliament in London
travel of greedy 
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