Persuasive Essays Class: Written Communication DAS 177, Fall 2008; Teacher: Natalie Schiedler Author: Patrizia De Cillis Traveling is one of the most valuable and enriching experiences in our lives increasing our knowledge, opening our minds, enriching our spirits, extending new moral values; and you can find many destinations in the world that would fulfill your desires. But, if what you are looking for is a unique and memorable experience that will give you the opportunity to learn about another culture through art, cultural events, historical cites, and archeological treasures, a place to visit is certainly Italy. Among many places in the world where you can relive the past, Italy is certainly the most charming place. This little country in the middle of the Mediterranean represents the cradle of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, and offers an incredible number of opportunities for people eager to learn about an ancient civilization that shaped the history of many cultures. Moreover, “according to UNESCO” (“United Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization”), Italy is the place where you can find 66% of the “world‟s historical artistic heritage”, which is an incredible number if you consider that Italy is only “116,346.5 sq mi” (“Art Cities”) (“Italy”). Although every little corner of this country will be unforgettable to you because all of its towns and cities are “...veritable living museums” (“Art Cities”), there are two cities that you cannot miss because of their beauty and their historic, cultural, and artistic value, and these cities are Rome and Venice. Rome is a large city in the middle of the Country and historically was the center of the Roman Empire and of Christianity; today the center of the Catholic Church of the entire world is in the Vatican City, which although it is considered a separate state, is located in the center of Rome (“Rome”). Rome is also the capital of Italy and has “two and a half thousand years”(“Rome”) of history and art in its buildings and museums, offering cultural visitors the opportunity to learn about architecture, art and many aspects of western civilization through guided educational tours. Many of the historic sites and museums can be reached by foot once you have reached down town, and I would suggest taking a walk, if it is possible, because not only will the famous historical landmarks amaze you, but also the urban architecture is worth a view. Although there are many things to see in Rome, some of the most popular sites to visit are the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Forum and the Vatican museum, which includes Leonardo and Raphael masterpieces and Michelangelo‟s famous fresco: “The Last Judgment” located in the Sistine Chapel. For all of them you can either plan a personal visit or arrange a tour with a group. In both cases you will have a guide that will explain all the features of these wonderful works of the past and their roles in the life of theancient Romans. For instance, did you know that the Colosseum that you see in pictures of Rome was constructed starting in “72 AD”, and it was there that gladiators fought to the death (“Colosseum”). This and even more is waiting for you in Rome. Not to mention that between one visit and another you can always enjoy great Italian food, which is considered one of the finest cuisine. Moreover, as one of the most visited cities in Europe, Rome provides tourists with many opportunities to experience cultural events; many of them are especially made for international visitors to show the customs and traditions of the region. Often, there are food festivals, traditional music festivals or parades, depending on the time of the year. A list of events can be easily found on the Internet or in many information centers around the city, which display useful directories translated in several languages. To conclude, Rome is the largest city in the Country and, probably, one of the most attractive cities in the world and its history is beyond anything people from the USA are used to seeing and experiencing because Roman history dates back 2000 years. Therefore, Rome is an ideal destination for cultural travels eager to learn about the ancient culture. After your tour in Rome, which will leave you tired but very pleased, you can comfortably rest in a railway car that, in only 4 hours, crossing a beautiful part of the country will take you to Venice, the most unique city in the world. Venice is an amazing city in northeast Italy built on more than 100 islands (“Venice”). The palaces, the innumerable canals with buildings sinking vertically into the water, the numerous artistic bridges, and the long tradition in family owned craft businesses which produce masks, laces, and beautiful glass works, make this city a perfect destination for travelers who wish to enrich their lives with memorable experiences. The center of the city, San Marcosquare, includes the prominent Doge‟s Palace built in the gothic style and the Bridge of Sighs, where the convicts coming from the Doge‟s palace would walk and say good bye through the stone bars to wonderful Venice before entering the prison (“Doge‟s Palace”) (“Bridge of Sighs”). Next to the palace is San Marco‟s Basilica, a great example of “Byzantine and Gothic architecture” (“St Mark‟s Basilica”). The Basilica is also known as the “Church of gold” because of its luxurious design and its mosaics covered with golden dust. Finally attached to the Basilica stands the red tall campanile, symbol of Venice. Of course, this is not the only place to visit. There are many other churches, bridges, palaces and museums to see that cannot be easily listed. But what makes this experience unique is that you will be able to admire some of this beauty comfortably sitting on a ferry or, maybe, on a gondola enjoying an educational and relaxing tour of the city. Guides tell interesting stories and legends about the many bridges and narrow canals that will fulfill your curiosity. Moreover, if you want to learn where glassblowing came from and the story that brought this wonderful craft to the New