游记正文

发表于 2019-05-25 18:45

【環遊尋美拾遺錄】
【皇氏古建築大全】【黃劍博客圖文集】
【Jumbo Heritage List & The Globetrotting Adventure of Jumbo Huang】
第491回：娱我神志者必短暂，扰我心智者不长久

©原创图片(本图文中的图片版权归Jumbo Huang所有，任何形式转载请联系作者"Jumbo Huang"：Jumbo_Huang@126.com,微信Jumboheritagelist)。本图志全部图片谢绝一切非完整性的截图转载！请自重，特别谢绝各种手工特意叠加商业网站水印的转载！本作品保留一切权利。作品中图片不得直接或者间接用于以营利为目的一切商业行为，违者必究。本图文中部分章节文字内容可能局部来自公开网络或公有领域，仅供个人学习研究和欣赏而使用，没有明确商业用途。原创照片来源：《皇氏古建築大全》和《環遊尋美拾遺錄》及《黄剑博客图文集》）米兰是世界天主教的重镇，地位仅次于罗马教廷，一千多年前，罗马皇帝在此颁布了《米兰赦令》,从此天主教作为罗马帝国国教，米兰教区是世界上最大的教区，米兰曾出过多位教皇，米兰大主教在天主教界举足轻重，米兰拥有世界第二大教堂，世界第一大哥特教堂：米兰圣母降生大教堂，米兰也是世界上教堂最多的城市之一，米兰在天主教界的影响举足轻重。米兰市内的主要景点有：米兰大教堂，圣玛丽娅感恩教堂，斯卡拉大剧院，维多利奥.艾玛努埃尔二世长廊，二十世纪博物馆，梅阿查球场，米兰黄金四方，米兰当代美术馆，布雷拉美术馆，圣安博罗修大教堂，
圣罗伦佐大教堂，布雷拉现代艺术博物馆，新公爵城堡，米兰皇宫，国立图书馆，米兰展览馆，维多利奥艾玛努埃尔大道，布宜诺斯爱丽丝大街，威尼斯大街，米兰运河等。世界五大教堂之一的米兰大教堂目前正在落架维修，它的周围聚集了大量的红男绿女，金发美女窈窕的身姿是这里最动感的风景，不少街头艺人也在广场上一展歌喉，
但教堂广场并非总是和谐的音符，除了白种人，大量的黑人难民正聚集在草坪旁边的栏杆区域那里，他们不是躺下就是坐在栏杆上，无所事事，如何解决这些黑人的安置问题，让他们尽早融入米兰的高消费社会，是当前意大利的主要挑战。大教堂广场建于1862年，是米兰市的中心，是举行政治、宗教等大型活动的地方。广场中央是意大利王国第一个国王维多利奥.埃玛努埃尔二世的骑马铜像，
由埃尔科莱.罗萨于1896年雕成，描绘他在圣马尔蒂诺战役中骑马激励士兵冲锋的场景。雕像四周有无数的鸽子在悠闲踱步，任人喂食、观赏。以大教堂为中心，有三条环形道路，其间还有不少道路连结，像米兰的俯视图一样。在米兰大教堂广场左侧有维多利奥.埃玛努埃尔二世长廊，建于1865到1877年。长廊呈十字形，长196米，宽105米，高47米廊顶呈拱圆形，顶上装有彩色玻璃棚，是米兰的商业中心之一。地面是用大理石铺成的马赛克图案。巨大的拱形建筑富丽堂皇，长廊内有装璜考究的金银首饰、时装、礼品店、餐馆，
咖啡厅和书店。这里是米兰市民的休闲中心，到处是休息的市民及观光客，今年尤其热闹。比较特别的是中心圆顶下地面上黄道带的金牛座图案，据说是站上去转个圈能带来好运。广场右侧黄色建筑是新古典主义建筑风格的王宫，1778年建成，现已辟为当代艺术博物馆。大量的游客涌入大教堂广场参观，三面的商业街上更是人潮澎湃，这是我第一次在欧洲看到人口密度比上海地铁站还多的地方了。尽管米兰是经济强市，现代代程度高，
但老城区基本都是低矮的老房子，并非我国上海那样全是高楼大厦。米兰的老房子用旧了，多会落架维修，而不是盲目拆旧建新，大街上到处是穿梭的电车，整个城市还是非常环保的。穿过维多利奥.埃玛努埃尔二世长廊来到的斯卡拉广场，这里有达芬奇的雕像。在米兰教堂左侧的维多利奥.埃玛努埃尔二世回廊是米兰十分重要购物场所，米兰多莫大教堂是哥特建筑不朽的篇章。从1386年起，跨越六个多世纪，来自意大利以及欧洲各地的艺术家在这里倾注了心血和智慧。从多莫广场仰望大教堂，数不清的高塔和雕塑令人痴迷，而通体大理石的光辉令人目眩。
步入教堂，需要通过巨大的门廊，5座铜门都是艺术家的杰作，铜门上精细的雕刻向我们展示了基督教文化和米兰的历史，读懂了这5座铜门就读懂了米兰波澜壮阔的历史画卷。
教堂正面6个巨大方石柱上雕刻着数十幅大型浮雕和上百个人像，以及众多的花鸟鱼虫作为装饰，方柱之间是5座黄铜大门，每座铜门都讲述了不同的故事，这些故事有着极为重要的意义，巨匠们在大门设计上也煞费苦心。中央大门最为重要，如同大教堂被献给圣母玛利亚，这座大门的雕刻也以圣母玛利亚为主题，1906年举行了隆重的开门仪式；最左边的铜门记载了决定基督教历史的米兰敕令，于1948年浇铸；大教堂的前身是米兰守护神圣安布罗吉奥的祭所，1950年，雕塑家在左边第二个铜门上形象地讲述了他的生平；右侧第二个铜门展示了米兰重要的历史场景，同样完成于1950年；最右侧的铜门“米兰大教堂历史门”于1965年完成，它标志着大教堂数个世纪建筑工作的结束，规划师们用这座大门描述了大教堂的历史，颇具深意。
五座大门中最古老者也只有百年之久，但在这宏伟壮丽而又声名显赫的艺术殿堂中，它们有着独特的地位，它们成为开启基督教世界，开启米兰历史的大门。据说中间的铜门重37吨，是教堂中最早完成也是最重要的的大门，大门上的雕塑描绘了圣母玛丽亚的生平。
洛多维科.波利亚吉是这座大门的设计师。1895年，当他得到委员会任命时，激动之情溢于言表，“我将要投入我全部的力量去完成它。”艺术家从此把自己称为米兰大教堂的“第一看门人”，他珍惜这份工作，这座大门也成为了他最重要的作品。经过11年的刻画和浇铸，这座受到新艺术影响的新古典主义大门，终于在1906年9月8日，圣母诞辰日呈现在公众面前，这天，教堂举行了盛大的开门仪式。
这座大门的每一个画面都描述了圣母的生平，大门中上部最显著的浮雕是耶稣在为圣母玛利亚加冕的画面，圣母玛利亚双手交叉在胸前，体现出对耶稣的谦恭和尊敬。在另外一个场景中，耶稣向玛利亚告别，玛利亚匍匐在耶稣的脚下，拉着耶稣的衣袖，仰头注视着耶稣，悲戚之容令人心碎，而耶稣却非常从容，因为他已经预知未来的一切。第二次世界大战期间，米兰遭到了轰炸，教堂遭到了破坏，这座大门也受到损伤。米兰敕令是值得所有基督教徒永生铭记的一部法令，可能敕令的原件永远无法得见天日，但米兰敕令在基督教史上的地位却不容动摇。当古罗马的君士坦丁大帝与统治巴尔干半岛和伊比利亚半岛的李锡尼会晤时，他们不可能知道，宣布基督教信仰自由、返还教会财产、承认基督教合法性的敕令开启了西方文明新的一页，基督教从古罗马帝国的疆域传播到了全世界的每一个角落。
他们的会晤就在米兰，时间是公元313年。耶稣是犹太人，基督教脱胎于犹太教，但在传播之初，罗马皇帝们并不喜欢犹太人，基督教徒们深受迫害，直到米兰敕令的颁布，这一局面才彻底改观。1937年，当“多莫工厂”的规划师们寻找创作“米兰敕令”大门的设计师时，阿利戈.米内尔比入选了，他是犹太人。
相信这完全是历史的巧合，因为他的才华已经被广泛认可，而他恰好是居住在米兰的犹太人。但历史却是惊人的相似，在法西斯猖狂的年代，犹太人再次遭到了迫害，直到1945年，第二次世界大战结束，米内尔比才完成了“米兰敕令”大门的创作。在大门上的雕塑中，《米兰敕令》颁布前的场景被艺术家形象再现，早期的基督教徒受到迫害，他们被处以各种惨不忍睹的刑罚，财产被没收，处境悲惨。米兰大教堂的铜门是开启历史的大门，是历史之窗，是壮阔的历史画卷。跨进这扇门，我们走进历史；跨出这扇门，我们希望走向未来。正如教堂大门上方镌刻的大字，“娱我心神者必定短暂”，“扰我心智者不会长久”，而在中央大门的上方则警示我们“只有永恒才值得追求”。
人类在不断思考宗教和世俗文化的进程中寻找着未来，米兰大教堂大门的规划师和设计师们已先于群众进行了这样的探索。米兰大教堂不愧是意大利最著名的天主教堂，它是世界五大教堂之一。
米兰位于阿尔卑斯山南麓奥隆那河畔，是一座历史悠久的古老名城，是意大利的第二大城市。米兰大教堂于公元1386年开工建造，1500年完成拱顶，1774年中央塔上的镀金圣母玛丽亚雕像就位。1965年完工，历时五个世纪，如今米兰大教堂还在维修之中，可以说还没有完全完工。它不仅是米兰的象征，也是米兰的中心。公元1796年，米兰城被拿破仑占领，次年被建为米兰共和国的都城，拿破仑曾于1805年在米兰大教堂举行加冕仪式。
米兰大教堂是世界上最大的哥特式建筑，是世界上最大的教堂之一，规模雄踞世界第二，是仅次于梵蒂冈的圣彼得教堂，也是世界上影响力最大的教堂之一。教堂长158米，最宽处93米。塔尖最高处达108.5米。总面积11700平方米，可容纳35000人。米兰大教堂在宗教界的地位极其重要，著名的《米兰赦令》就从这里颁布，使得基督教合法化，成为罗马帝国国教。在这里达芬奇.布拉曼特曾为他画过无数设计草稿，为使得大教堂更加壮丽。达芬奇为这座建筑发明了电梯。米兰大教堂也是世界上雕塑最多的建筑和尖塔最多的建筑，被誉为大理石山。米兰大教堂也是天主教米兰总教区的主教堂，米兰教区则是世界上最大的教区。米兰大教堂不仅仅是一个教堂，一栋建筑，它更是米兰的精神象征和标志，也是世界建筑史和世界文明史上的奇迹。
意大利米兰大教堂是欧洲中世纪最大的教堂，可供四万人举行宗教活动。这座教堂全由白色大理石筑成，大厅宽达59米，长130米，中间拱顶最高45米。教堂的特点在它的外形。尖拱、壁柱、花窗棂，有135个尖塔，像浓密的塔林刺向天空，并且在每个塔尖上有神的雕像。教堂的外部总共有2000多个雕像，甚为奇特。如果连内部雕像总共有6000多个雕像，是世界上雕像最多的哥特式教堂。
因此教堂建筑格外显得华丽热闹，具有世俗气氛。这个教堂有一个高达107米的尖塔，出于公元15世纪意大利建筑巨匠伯鲁诺列斯基之手。塔顶上有圣母玛利亚雕像，金色，在阳光下显得光辉夺目，神奇而又壮丽。米兰大教堂虽经多人之手，但始终保持了“装饰性哥特式”的风格。教堂建成后，内部又陆续增建了不少附属物，直到19世纪末才最后定型。之后维修工程也开始进行，1935年进行了大规模维修，二战后对1943年遭受轰炸的损毁处进行了修建，此后又更换了地板，维修了堂内的12根大型直柱。20世纪80年代中期最后完成维修工程。
米兰大教堂历经六个世纪才完工，德国、法国、 意大利等国建筑师先后参与主教堂设计，汇集了多种民族的建筑艺术风格。十二到十五世纪，哥特式建筑风格在欧洲正流行，所以奠定了这座建筑的哥特式风格基调，在内部装饰上，由于十七、十八世纪巴洛克风格在欧洲的兴起，因此也融入了巴洛克风格。因此，它的建筑风格包含了哥特式、新古典式、新哥特式（又称巴洛克式），米兰大教堂在装饰及设计方面，显得相当细腻，极富艺术色彩，整个教堂本身甚至可以说是一个艺术品。
雕刻和尖塔是哥特式建筑的特点之一，米兰大教堂可以说是把这个特点淋漓尽致的表现出来了。外部的扶壁、塔、墙面都是垂直向上的垂直划分，全部局部和细节顶部为尖顶，整个外形充满着向天空的升腾感，这些都是哥特式建筑的典型外部特征。教堂内外墙等处均点缀着圣人、圣女雕像，而且米兰大教堂整个外观极尽华美，主教堂用白色大理石砌成，是欧洲最大的大理石建筑，美国作家马克吐温称之为“大理石的诗”。整个建筑呈拉丁十字形，长度大于宽度。教堂外部还有96个怪兽形排水口，每个转角处的怪兽都各不相同。整个建筑外部分布着雕刻精美的窗花格，全长约半英里。教堂正面被六个巨大方柱分隔出五扇铜门，完成于1896年至1965年，每座铜门上分有许多方格，每个方格内雕刻着教堂历史、神话与圣经故事。
教堂有150个水道，410个大理石支架，上面均装饰有浮雕。尖塔之林直立挺拔，给人以飞腾升华、超脱尘世之感。英国小说家劳伦斯称大教堂“活像一只刺猬”。教堂内部也全由白色大理石筑成。厅内全靠两边的侧窗采光，窗细而长，上嵌彩色玻璃，光线幽暗而神秘。两柱之间的彩色玻璃大窗是哥特式建筑的显著装饰特色之一。米兰大教堂的玻璃窗可能是全世界最大的，高约20米，共有24扇，主要以耶稣故事作为主题，正中的太阳光彩图案寓意正义和仁爱，这些彩色玻璃造于500多年前，至今仍光彩夺目。
当阳光透过彩色玻璃射入教堂时，霎时，让人明白宗教的美原来可以这样宣示。教堂东端的三个环形花格窗，宽约8.5米，高约21米，是意大利花格窗中的精品。教堂西端是仿罗马式的大山墙，众多的垂直线条和扶壁将墙面分成五个部分，扶壁上布满神龛雕像。在所有柱子的柱头上都有小龛，内置雕像，手工精美。顶四周刻有8座石像穹隆，殿内的雕像有800多座。堂内还藏有许多艺术珍品和米兰名人的陵墓。一直以来一些闻名的神父，选择了安葬在大教堂之下，所以米兰大教堂可以堪称神圣的圣殿。教堂大厅供奉着十五世纪时米兰大主教的遗体，头部是白银筑就，躯体是主教真身。祭坛是哥特式建筑的装饰重点。殿内的大祭坛是佩莱格里尼于1581年设计的，四周设5尺高栏，正中圣体龛外有8根镀金铜柱，支撑着一个凯旋基督铜像的顶盖，将他罩于其中。其下由四个小天使抬着。
祭台后共有4座大型风琴造于1542年，1939年扩充，成为一个有180个调音器、1.3万个音管的大风琴，声音柔扬悦耳，雄浑有力。传说屋顶藏有一枚钉死耶稣的钉子，教徒们为纪念耶稣，每年要取下钉子朝拜三天。当时著名科学家和画家达.芬奇为取送这枚钉子而发明了升降机。由于这座教堂十分著名，除教徒之外，每天游客比肩接踵，人满为患。我参观了一会就离开了米兰大教堂，开始从主街行进，经过几个小广场后，就走到了繁华的购物街，这里到处是时尚美女和帅哥，高档商店门口到处是购物者，很多艺人在大街上一展身手，其中不乏武林高手，我有幸看到两位穿黄色僧袍的印度高僧在此表演，他们吸引了最多的游客，因为他们表演的难度实在太大了，
先是一位高僧盘脚坐在一个碗口粗的玻璃杯上，然后这个高僧右手握着一根半米长的竹棍，上面顶着一个座垫，而座垫上还坐着另外一位高僧，也就是说，底下坐在玻璃杯上的高僧需要单手举起另外一位坐着的高僧，我绕着他们转了几圈，一直想搞明白这是什么高深的功夫，但始终没有找到门道，但其实这是障眼法，另外一个高僧实际上是坐在一个钢管撑起的支架上的。只能离开了，再行百多米就看到前方是一座广场，也是世博会的举办场地之一，我继续过了马路，然后去参观斯福尔扎城堡。它是米兰最重要的建筑之一，是城市历史沧桑的象征。在14世纪时由斯福尔扎伯爵作为城堡而建，而后成为斯福尔扎家族的住所，整个城堡是方形平面的，有一个大公园，四周围有高墙，城墙外还有壕沟，内部的城堡博物馆里收藏了很多具有很高艺术和历史价值的作品。最初是在1368年由米兰领主维斯孔蒂家族兴建，一度曾遭破坏，在后来的扩建过程中有不少大艺术家曾参与其中，比如达.芬奇就规划过堡内的水利工程和剧院内的机械结构，古堡内有博物馆，图书馆，雕刻馆等，博物馆陈列有雕刻、家具、绘画等。图书馆内收藏手稿1500份，雕刻馆有达.芬奇、米开朗琪罗的作品。斯福尔扎家族原为富裕农民，从王朝缔造者，雇佣兵队长由穆齐奥斯福尔扎开始，这一家族改姓为“斯福尔扎”，意为“力量”。他是来自罗马涅的雇佣兵头领，为那不勒斯的瓦卢瓦安茹家族效力。1447年，穆齐奥的私生子，也是雇佣兵队长的弗朗切斯科.斯福尔扎从消亡的维斯孔蒂家族手中获得米兰公爵的头衔，开始统治米兰。1445年，穆齐奥二儿子亚历山德罗.斯福尔扎开始了斯福尔扎家族对佩萨罗的统治，直至1519年加莱亚佐.斯福尔扎去世。穆齐奥三子博西奥.斯福尔扎一世建立了圣菲奥拉分支，斯福尔扎家族统治圣菲奥拉国，直至1624年。斯福尔扎家族是当时著名的艺术赞助人，资助过包括达.芬奇、米开朗基罗在内的文艺复兴巨匠，聘请达.芬奇并允许他和学徒开设工作室。他们不惜重金从法国、荷兰等地请来了富有才华的音乐家任职于意大利各城市，1474年前后聘请了18位室内乐乐手和22位唱诗班歌手，若斯坎等多位作曲家就曾受聘于此。他们的“慷慨之举”换来的是其在音乐艺术上的繁盛及显著地位。就连米兰最重要的建筑斯福尔扎城堡，也是这个家族的遗产。从这个家族的历史可以看出，先富起来的人应该花力气扶持本国的文化产业，而不是到处炫富并将财富转移到国外。斯福尔扎城堡高大的塔楼前面是喷泉广场，很多市民牵着狗在周围跑步，其壕沟已经没有水了，变成了草坪，很多市民躺在草坪上休息，高耸的塔楼下面就是大门，从这里可以走进城堡，正面高大的箭塔两侧是两座圆筒形的瞭望塔，走进城堡就能看到巨大的四方形的开阔草坪，再前面就是内堡了。城堡内游客极多，砖砌的城墙还是非常坚固，穿过城堡，走到另外一边，仍然可以看到很多草坪，有一些青年男女正坐在草坪上嬉闹，从这里可以看到远处的凯旋门，一位穿黑色连衣裙的金发美女朝我这边走过来，各种发色的美女聚集在一起聊天，城堡周围真是热闹。我又走回到城堡里面，看到一些中国来的跟团游客，我走到大院内，碰到一位黄黑色头发的妇女正跟一位纯黑色头发的少女坐在一起，少女穿短裤，修长的大腿白得令人称奇，白皙如瓷，至少跟周围的白种美女相比，这位黑头发少女的皮肤其实更白皙。不久我走出城堡，开始往教堂方向走，这时能看到街上又过来更多艺人了，五花八门的表演，还有很多魔术师也过来凑热闹了。我在米兰大教堂旁边的商城逛了一会，人太多，挤得我浑身大汗，逛了一会就走到教堂广场上透气。后来我离开教堂广场，开始沿着商业街往酒店走，我一共走了近二个小时，穿过无数的巷道，也经过一些小型的砖砌的教堂，沿途能看到不少塔楼，街上的群众都非常时尚，街道也比较干净。我经过一座非常新的大教堂，有人在教堂周围跑步，在继续沿石板路走，能看到利达贸易和路路通贸易公司的店铺，显示这里的华人企业还是很多的。
米兰始建于公元前4世纪，至今已有2000多年的历史。到公元395年，成为西罗马帝国的教城。米兰是中世纪早期意大利境内兴起的独立的城市共和国之一.公元1158年和1162年在同神圣罗马帝国的两次战争中，整个米兰城几乎全部毁坏，断垣残壁，满目疮痍。到了14世纪后半叶，米兰又成了米兰国的首都。
一直到公元1861年并入意大利王国。米兰有“经济首都”之称，也是艺术的摇篮和许多天才人物的故乡，更是一种意大利特有的工作方式和生活方式的故乡，因此被认为是意大利最重要的城市。处于阿尔卑斯山前的波河平原，战略地位十分重要。据记载，高卢人于公元前六百年左右来到这里，建立居民中心，后成为凯尔特人首府。罗马人对这一中心很感兴趣，于公元234年占领了米兰并驻扎军队，米兰在军事、政治和经济上迅速发展，成为西罗马帝国科西米亚诺皇帝的宫廷所在地。公元313年，君士坦丁皇帝在此颁布赦令，
使基督教会合法话，这一著名的《米兰赦令》在基督教发展史上具有重要的地位。罗马帝国灭亡之后，米兰被外族占领，直到公元十二世纪才获得自治权，此后被维斯孔蒂等家族统治多年。
文艺复兴时期，这一家族请来了达.芬奇等著名人文主义者，使这里的艺术、科学技术迅速发展，米兰成为重要艺术中心。约十六世纪中期之后，米兰又被法国和西班牙、奥地利等占领，米兰人民进行了长期艰苦的反抗外国占领的斗争，与1847年底起意，
1848年3月19日至23日进行了激烈的战斗，赶跑了奥地利统治者，成立了临时政府，二战中，米兰一度被德国占领，1945年4月25日，以米兰为首的意大利北方一百多个城市同时起事，赶跑了德国占领军，米兰重新回到人民手中。
战后，米兰在意大利经济发展中占据重要地位，工业发展迅速，与都灵、热那亚一起组成“工业三角地带”，带动了全国的经济发展。
我在米兰的大街上穿行，到了傍晚才走回酒店，媛之前也在附近逛了，如是我们一起出门找地方吃饭，本来以为到处都是餐厅的，结果我们走了十几条街才找到一家物美价廉的中国餐厅，期间还咨询了几个华人。其实之前我们也路过了一二家华人餐厅，感觉菜谱都比较贵，最后走到一个丁字路口，才看到一家叫聚宾点心店的餐厅，里面坐满了人，生意很好，很多意大利本地人也在这里吃饭。
我们点了拉面，三鲜面及炒面，合计消费11欧元，店内多是意大利顾客，我们吃得非常饱，对聚宾点心店的拉面和三鲜面更是赞不绝口，价格实惠，份量又多，还不收我们小费。
后来我们在超市购买了6.65欧元的食物和水，媛挑选的三文治非常好吃，我买的1.99欧的面饼则难以下咽，返回酒店后在房间洗澡洗衣服，我们把晾衣绳系在院子内晒衣服，翌日收衣服时却忘记把昂贵的晾衣绳收走了，又是一个巨大的损失。
华人酒店的网络非常好，我上网查询了攻略，也浏览了预订的一些酒店，同时发邮件给预订酒店的公司，开始继续投诉米兰客栈。之后把一些挑选的照片上载到网络上，到了晚上23点才睡。旅馆外面是一个花园，除了晾衣服方便之外，也是休息的好地方。
Jumbo Huang citation resources: Diary Notes, We left the Hotel in Venice at 7am, walked 4km to the train station, I asked Iris to rest at the station, and I walked along the old buildings to visit the surrounding canal and churches, after one hour I returned to the train station, bought the tickets from Milan to Nice France, we went to platform 3 and went aboard Carrozza 006, our seats was 14D.15D,Posit,Posto2 Classe,
Self service: Biglietto Con Prenotazione, Frecciabianca, from Venezia to Milan Centrale, it was the fast business train, we must sit down based on the ticket information, lots of working class on the train, most of them read the newspapers. Iris began to sleep, I took out the laptop computer to write diary, I also enjoyed the views from the windows. We reached Padova later, Padua was a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua stands on the Bacchiglione River, 40 kilometres west of Venice and 29 km southeast of Vicenza. The Brenta River, which once ran through the city, still touches the northern districts. Its agricultural setting is the Venetian Plain. To the city's south west lies the Euganaean Hills, praised by Lucan and Martial, Petrarch, Ugo Foscolo, and Shelley. It hosts the renowned University of Padua, almost 800 years old, and famous, among other things, for having had Galileo Galilei among its lecturers. The city is picturesque, with a dense network of arcaded streets opening into large communal piazze, and many bridges crossing the various branches of the Bacchiglione, which once surrounded the ancient walls like a moat. Padua is the setting for most of the action in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The Scrovegni Chapel is Padua's most famous sight. It houses a remarkable cycle of frescoes completed in 1305 by Giotto. It was commissioned by Enrico degli Scrovegni, a wealthy banker,
as a private chapel once attached to his family's palazzo. It is also called the "Arena Chapel" because it stands on the site of a Roman-era arena. Veneto was part of Roman Empire until the 5th century AD. Later, after a feudal period, it was part of the Republic of Venice until 1797. Venice ruled for centuries over one of the largest and richest maritime republics and trade empires in the world. After the Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna, the Republic was annexed by the Austrian Empire, until it was ceded to the Kingdom of Italy in 1866, as a result of the Third Italian War of Independence. The Statute of Veneto describes Venetians as a "people". We reached Vicenza at 11:40am, Vicenza was a city in northeastern Italy. It is in the Veneto region at the northern base of the Monte Berico,
where it straddles the Bacchiglione River. Vicenza is approximately 60 km west of Venice and 200km east of Milan. Vicenza is a thriving and cosmopolitan city, with a rich history and culture, and many museums, art galleries, piazzas, villas, churches and elegant Renaissance palazzi. With the Palladian Villas of the Veneto in the surrounding area, and his renowned Teatro Olimpico (Olympic Theatre), the "city of Palladio" has been enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994. Vicenza is the third-largest Italian industrial centre as measured by the value of its exports, and is one of the country's wealthiest cities, in large part due to its textile and steel industries, which employ tens of thousands. Additionally, about one fifth of the country's gold and jewelry is made in Vicenza, greatly contributing to the city's economy. Another important sector is the engineering computer components industry, In 899, Vicenza was destroyed by Magyar raiders. In 1001, Otto III handed over the government of the city to the bishop, and its communal organization had an opportunity to develop, separating soon from the episcopal authority. The Cathedral of Vicenza (church of Santa Maria Annunciata), dating from early in the 11th century, and restored in the 13th, 16th, 19th and after the ruinous destruction of World War II, possesses a number of paintings and sculptures, nearly all of them by Vicentine artists;
the dome and north side door were designed by Andrea Palladio. Our train reached Verona Porta Nuova at 12:05am, the topographic outside the window was hillock, Verona Porta Nuova station provides major connections within Italy and Europe: it is an interchange on the east-west mainline Milan-Venice and the north-south mainline Brenner-Bologna, which reaches further towards Florence and Rome. The station handles 25 million passengers annually. Verona was a city straddling the Adige river in Veneto, northern Italy, It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of northeast Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona covers an area of 1426 km2 and has a population of 714274 inhabitants. It is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy, owing to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans. Three of Shakespeare's plays are set in Verona: Romeo and Juliet, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Taming of the Shrew. The city has been awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO because of its urban structure and architecture. Because of the value and importance of its many historical buildings, Verona has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Verona preserved many ancient Roman monuments, no longer in use, in the early Middle Ages, but much of this and much of its early medieval edifices were destroyed or heavily damaged by the earthquake of 3 January 1117, which led to a massive Romanesque rebuilding. The Carolingian period Versus de Verona contains an important description of Verona in the early medieval era. Finally we reached Milan train station at 13:24pm, it was a very big station, lots of people, we walked out of the building and went to the large Piazza Duca d’Aosta, it was far more big that we could not figure out which side is west or east, I had to go to the bus station to check the location and direction, then we moved to Via Viruvio, because there was no internet access yesterday, I did not save the satellite map of Milan in my computer, it was very hard for me to find the booked hotel. but I had to try firstly, so I walked along Via Vitruvio and reached via Roberto Lepetit, but I still cannot find the right way, so I returned back to the Metro station of Caiazzo, I put down the big backpackers and ask Iris to wait at the metro station, again I headed for Via Stefano Canzio, walked along Via Pergolesi for a long time, still failed to find the hotel, finally I came back to he Caiazzo metro station, I met a young people and consulted he, he took out the mobile phone and used google map to search my hotel, finally he suggested me to go along on Via Doria, followed his instruction, we moved on from Via Doria and finally reached Piazza Loreto, from then we find the Milano INN in Via Stefano Canzio 6, when I rung the door, the boss walked out and informed me that he cancelled my booking because he cannot deduct the room charge from my credit card,(New booking: Milano INN Booking number210.796.278 one night at €47, previously I cancelled the booking of Milano Station Hotel which located at Via Angelo Scarsellini 7 NiguardaPhone). I left the bad Milan Inn and went to Koala Hotel, the lady told me that all room were fully booked, so I went out to find another Hotel Adler which arranged by Chinese couples, I booked one double room with the price of euro60, the room was very nice, Iris stayed at the hotel and I went out , take the metro, my roadmap was: From Lore, , Lima, , P.Venezia , Palestro, San Babila , Duomo,Via Luca Beltrami , Via Dante , Piazza del Duomo , Piazza San Babila , Corso Venezia , Corse Buenos Aires , Porta Venezia , Piazza Cin Cinma, , Via Luigi settembrini etc. Milan was very crowded and advanced, I walked around for half a day and visited some sights. Milan was the second-most populous city in Italy, serves as the capital of Lombardy. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area comprises an estimated 5million people. The enormous suburban sprawl that followed the post-war boom of the 1950s to 1960s and the growth of a vast commuter belt suggest that socioeconomic linkages have expanded well beyond the boundaries of its administrative limits and its agglomeration, creating a polycentric metropolitan area of 7 to 10 million people, Milan was founded by Celts known as Insubres. The Romans later conquered the city, which they knew as Mediolanum, and which eventually became the capital of the Western Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages, Milan flourished as a commercial and banking center. In the course of the following centuries, it had been alternatively dominated by France, Habsburg Spain, and Austria, until 1859 when the city joined the rising Kingdom of Italy. During the early 1900s, Milan led the industrialization process of the young nation, being at the very center of the economic, social, and political debate. Badly affected by World War II, and suffering a harsh Nazi occupation, the city became the main centre of the Italian Resistance. In post-war years the city enjoyed a prolonged economic boom, attracting large flows of workers from Southern Italy. During recent decades Milan has seen a huge rise in the number of international immigrants, and as of 2011 more than one sixth of its population was foreign born. Milan is the main industrial, commercial, and financial centre of Italy and a leading global city. The city is a major world fashion and design capital. Milan's museums, theatres and landmarks (including the Milan Cathedral, the fifth-largest cathedral in the world, and Santa Maria delle Grazie, decorated with Leonardo da Vinci paintings such as The Last Supper, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) attract over 8 million visitors annually. The city hosts numerous cultural institutions and universities, with 185,000 enrolled students in 2011, The city is also well known for several international events and fairs, including Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair, the largest of its kind in the world, and is the host for the second time of a Universal Exposition, the Expo 2015. Milan is home to two of the world's major football teams, A.C. Milan and Inter Milan. Modern Milan has a central area focused on residential and tertiary activities, with a financial district that hosts the stock exchange and the headquarters of banks and insurance companies, shopping centres and educational institutions. In the concentric layout of the city centre is still evident the influence of Navigli, an ancient system of navigable and interconnected canals, now mostly covered. Around the city proper, and beyond its railway and motorway rings, lies a vast urbanized valley that expands mainly to the north, engulfing many communes in a continuous urban landscape. There are only few remains of the ancient Roman colony, notably the well-preserved Colonne di San Lorenzo. During the second half of the 4th century, Saint Ambrose, as bishop of Milan, had a strong influence on the layout of the city, reshaping the centre and building the great basilicas at the city gates: Sant'Ambrogio, San Nazaro in Brolo, San Simpliciano and Sant'Eustorgio, which still stand, refurbished over the centuries, as some of the finest and most important churches in Milan. Milan's Cathedral, built between 1386 and 1577, is the fifth largest cathedral in the world and the most important example of Gothic architecture in Italy. The gilt bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, placed in 1774 on the highest pinnacle of the Duomo, soon became one of the most enduring symbols of Milan. Piazza del Duomo is the main piazza of Milan, Italy. It is named after, and dominated by, the Milan Cathedral (the Duomo). The piazza marks the center of the city, both in a geographic sense and because of its importance from an artistic, cultural, and social point of view. Rectangular in shape, with an overall area of 17,000 m2, the piazza includes some of the most important buildings of Milan , and it is by far the foremost tourist attraction of the city. Milan Cathedral was the cathedral church of Milan, Italy. Dedicated to St Mary of the Nativity , it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Angelo Scola. The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. On May 20, 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte, about to be crowned King of Italy, ordered the façade to be finished by Pellicani. In his enthusiasm, he assured that all expenses would fall to the French treasurer, who would reimburse the Fabbrica for the real estate it had to sell. Even though this reimbursement was never paid, it still meant that finally, within only seven years, the Cathedral had its façade completed. Pellicani, largely followed Buzzi's project, adding some neo-Gothic details to the upper windows. As a form of thanksgiving, a statue of Napoleon was placed at the top of one of the spires. Napoleon was crowned King of Italy at the Duomo.In November 2012 officials announced a campaign to raise funds for the cathedral's preservation by asking patrons to adopt the building's gargoyles. The effects of pollution on the 14th-century building entail regular maintenance, and recent austerity cuts to Italy's culture budget has left less money for upkeep of cultural institutions, including the cathedral. To help make up funds, Duomo management launched a campaign offering its 135 gargoyles up for "adoption." Donors who contribute €100,000 or more will have their name engraved under one of the grotesque figures perched on the cathedral's rooftop. The figures serve as drainage pipes. Later on I walked to Sforza Castle, It was a castle in Milan, northern Italy. It was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remains of a 14th-century fortification. Later renovated and enlarged, in the 16th and 17th centuries it was one of the largest citadels in Europe. Extensively rebuilt by Luca Beltrami in 1891 to 1905, it now houses several of the city's museums and art collections. In 1494 Ludovico Sforza became lord of Milan, and called numerous artists to decorate the castle. These include Leonardo da Vinci and Bramante, who painted frescoes in the Sala del Tesoro; the Sala della Balla was decorated with Francesco Sforza's deeds, Around 1498, Leonardo worked at the ceiling of the Sala delle Asse, painting decorations of vegetable motifs. In the following years, however, the castle was damaged by assaults from Italian, French and German troops; After the French victory in the 1515 Battle of Marignano, the defeated Maximilian Sforza, his Swiss mercenaries, and the cardinal-bishop of Sion retreated into the castle. However, King Francis I of France followed them into Milan, and his sappers placed mines under the castle's foundations, whereupon the defenders capitulated. In 1521, in a period in which it was used as a weapons depot, the Torre del Filarete exploded. When Francesco II Sforza returned briefly to power in Milan, he had the fortress restored and enlarged, and a part of it adapted as residence for his wife, Christina of Denmark. Coat of arms of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, painted on an interior ceiling. Under the Spanish domination which followed, the castle became a citadel, as the governor's seat was moved to the Ducal Palace.The castle has a quadrangular plan, site across the city's walls. The wall which once faced the countryside north to Milan has square towers and has an ogival gate. After left the castle, I walked through Via R. Boscovich and came back to the hotel, later Iris and I went out to look for suitable restaurant, we walked several kilometers and finally found Ristorante Jubin2 located at Via Padova 7 ang P.le Loreto, it was a very good restaurant, we spent 11euro and had three dishes. Later we bought some food at Societa Generale Via andrea Doria Supermarket, and then came back to Hotel Adler, Via G.Ricordi 10 (P.le Lpreto) 20131 Milano, Hoteladlermilanoit, after taking showering I began to access to internet, and I complained to the Milan Inn hostel in the booking.com website. The content was as below:”Dear, In Past 14days, my credit card are valid and I used the credit card to pay hotels fee and train tickets, today I used credit card to buy tickets from Venezia to Milano. When I reached Milan train station, I spent two hours to find the Milano Inn which located in Via Stefano Canzio 6, the same tragedy happened, this small hostel have no sign and no hostel name outside the building, I rung the owner, the guy from Milano INN (Booking number210.796.278PIN code1435) met me and informed me that he cancelled my reservation because he thought my credit card was “invalid” which is a totally lie and bullshit. Two days ago I replied the email from Milano Inn and ask him not to cancel my reservation since I can either pay on arrival or pay by credit card, but the owner of Milano INN still cancelled my room without any compensation to cover my loss. It is again a very unreasonable and unacceptable cancellation from Milano INN, I want Milano INN to pay EURO100 to cover my transportation charges or I will sue them. Jumbo Huang”.