Mediterranean Research Paper

Did you know that Greeks wave with the back of their hand facing out, instead of in? This is just one of many interesting facts about Greece. Greece is 50,949 square miles, which is around the size of Alabama. They have a president and a Prime Minister as their main government positions, and 98% of their population is Christian Orthodox, which is influenced through the Prime Minister. Also, Greeks love their food. Therefore, amazing whole made food is daily produced for many festivals, which makes it a huge tourist attraction. Greece is very mountainous and dry, but does get anywhere from 20-40 inches of rain a year. And finally, if you're ever planning a trip to Greece, May is the best month to go, because they get only 1.5 centimeters of

Spain is located in southwestern Europe. The capital of the country is Madrid. The major language spoken is Spanish, however many other languages are spoken including Catalan, Galician, Euskera, and Valencian.

Finally, Spanish Sicily began to fall apart near the end of the Thirty Years War and in 1647 there was a revolt in Palermo. Spanish troops were sent in and a Cardinal named Trivulzio took the position of viceroy. In 1674 another revolt broke out in Messina, this time mainly led by the upper class who were trying to cling to their privileges. French troops were then sent by Louis XIV to stem the revolt and restore order. Fighting between the French and Spanish ensued and in the end France left the island around 1677.

On March 25th 1436, a historic feat was accomplished that would change architecture, the Renaissance, and the culture of an entire city. On this date the dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore was completed thanks to the architectural genius and innovative new methods by Filippo Brunelleschi. 16 years earlier the Cathedral overseers held a competition in a desperate attempt to find a plausible design to rebuild the dome of the Santa Maria del Fiore which had fallen in. This seemingly impossible task was accomplished by an unlikely goldsmith, with no formal architectural training. He was motivated not simply to prove his own abilities but to also restore pride and beauty to the city of Florence, which had lost something in status since the dome had collapsed. The dome would also stand as a symbol of freedom from the tyranny of its neighboring city Milan, the birth of new ideas, and the abandonment of the oppression of the Middle Ages.

Italy has a great culture that revolves around family and food. The people like to stay strong in their relationships. Every night, Italian families take a walk called Passeggiata (Nation Facts). This helps people stay fit and spend time with family and friends. Religion also has a part in Italy’s culture. Most people are Christian or Roman Catholic. At Christmas, every Italian town sets out a nativity scene called Il Presepe. Food is also very important to Italians. Pasta is the national dish (Welcome to Italy 7). Their main meal is lunch. Soccer has a place too. Soccer is the national sport. Every Sunday, families sit down to watch a soccer match.

On November 26th 2014, Romeo held on tight to the Harley Davidson he bought a month earlier as rode down Candelaria towards his apartment complex. He was never really ready for the power behind the machine. Romeo enjoyed they purr of his smooth black Harley and the way its gears clicked and shifted under him. He acted foolhardy, careless, and impulsive. Though he did not know it, those qualities drove him to buy the motorcycle the day he saw it. It was evident that he gave little thought to his future.

In 2008 my husband and I went to Florence, Italy. Prior to going, I did some research about a few particular sites we should visit and why they were important. Florence has been considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance (Walther, Suckale, Eschenbur, Williams). The key tipping point of that birth was the creation of IL Duomo that Fillipo Brunelleschi designed. We visited it while we were there. The structure was massive. It is the largest massonry dome in the world. When I saw the article options for this assignment I was anxious to learn more about this amazing building.

¨ Greece is a small country where Western civilization started about 2500 years ago.¨ (¨Greece¨ 352). Greece has developed a lot since it has started. Greece is famous and known for many different things. They are very famous for their athletics. They are surronded by the Mediterranean sea on three sides which affects the climate and weather. They are also known for their great variety of food and drinks.

Suddenly being aware of where we were, I choked up with emotion, tears filled my eyes and I was wholeheartedly captivated by the breathtaking beauty of Amalfi. Before me, jagged mountains sloping towards the sea made a dramatic backdrop for what appeared to be an imposing monastery built below the ancient remains of a castle. Picturesque, white buildings among pastel cream colored houses piled high on a rocky shore surrounded a predominant church boasting an extraordinary majolica dome. On the cliff above the harbor, the ever present traffic on the Amalfi Coast Road proceeded at a snail’s pace as it entered the resort town through a tunnel dug into a giant granite boulder.

On October 10, Penn IUR hosted Faculty Fellow Tom Daniels, Professor of City and Regional Planning, School of Design, to discuss Venice Charms and Challenges. The talk explored contemporary economic, environmental, and social threats that many historic cities face today. Focusing on its challenges, as well as its opportunities, Daniels presented insight and photographic visuals taken from a recent trip to Venice in the hopes of facilitating a conversation on the possible sustainable solutions for the city’s ominous future.

In my Assignment Two paper, I explored Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome. In Assignment Three, I will travel to several more destinations in Italy: Sanremo, Sicily, and Verona.

The language of the Maghreb region is primarily Arabic. To aid in business and commerce, however, some countries also speak French, Italian, and English. As Maghreb is to some extent isolated from the rest of the African continent by the Atlas Mountains and Sahara desert, the people who have settled in the northern parts of the region have a history of commercial and cultural relationships with the countries of the Mediterranean including southern Europe and Western Asia.

was painfully made. Nevertheless, to compensate for being without a “toy” for Vince, we bought a sporty Harley-Davidson motorcycle to occupy his free time. Riding a motorcycle was a more cost effective sport, plus it was much easier to jump on a bike for a few hours of riding than prepare the boat for a few hours of sailing. Not quite the same, but even so, a great alternative way to have fun.

Although I couldn’t understand much, it was interesting to hear the locals talk to each other in Italian. It was a pleasant culture switch from always hearing English. There were giant boulders stacked on the coast, stretching out into the water like a mini peninsula. Once I climbed to the tip, I sat down and felt a wave nostalgia come over me. The weather was hot, but the waters were cool. Sitting there, I pulled out a book and relaxed while soaking in the sun and dipping my feet in the water, hearing the waves lap against the boulders. There was always a faint citrus scent that came and went with the wind. This was because of the many lemon trees and exotic flowers that adorned the hills. That was also the first time I saw a lemon

Our next stop was Colosseum, where our driver Enriqo dropped us off. As we walked up the faded, brown steps, the smell of dirt hit me. People walked back and forth wondering if they get a better view, the dismantled artifacts below will somehow change. The grass below was musty brown, with a hint of faded green as if it was trying to stay alive. Outside near the Colosseum, Enriqo tells us that the Arch of Constantine stands as a historic reminder of Emperor Constantine 's defeat over Tyrant Maxentius. Back at the hotel, we had dinner on the roof overlooking a view of the ancient Vatican. The bartender soon realized that my mom and me were Filipino and delivered cocktails free of charge. I had my first alcoholic drink with my mom on the rooftop of my hotel, overlooking the Vatican. By this time the sun was setting, and the sky was a dark, ocean blue, fading into a sea of apricot orange.