While traveling is always an interesting experience, cultural experiences are one of the best ways to learn about the world. You get to explore other cultures and how they live their lives, what things mean to them, and why they do certain things.
A cultural experience can be doing something like watching sports or attending a festival with people from different countries, exploring cuisine traditions, listening to music in its various forms, reading books that have become classics because they tell your story well, and studying art.
All of these things inspire you to create stories in your head based on who you meet and what they believe in. For example, by listening to some songs, you may find clues for how you should organize your own life. Art also teaches us about ourselves and our culture; many pieces contain symbolism and concepts that relate to who we are as individuals.
We’ve gathered some fun ideas here for low-cost or free ways to gain new cultural experiences. Try out some one of these activities or combine several! Spread word of this article far and wide so more people will see it.
Top UNESCO sites in the world
Many consider the ruins at Rome’s Colosseum to be one of humanity’s greatest works of architecture. This is no surprise given that it was designed as an amphitheater, or arena, for watching gladiatorial contests.
The vast open space within the structure allowed spectators to easily view the games and follow them with little distraction. It also ensured that even those who could not afford expensive tickets were able to witness the events taking place.
This feature contributed greatly to its popularity since many people lived several hours away from the city and didn’t have access to good quality entertainment. In addition, because the venue could accommodate so many people, attendance was very high which made money for the organizers.
Another reason why the Coloseium became such a popular site of spectacle was due to the kind of spectacles it hosted. Because gladiator fights involved two contestants trying to hurt each other by striking, kicking, or choking their opponent, deadly weapons could be used during the event.
This gave rise to something called parallel play. During these matches, both fighters would use anything they could get a hold of – knives, swords, axes, spears, and flails.
Best historical monuments in the US
Many people consider visiting historic sites to be one of the main things to do while traveling in America. These are often referred to as sightseeing tours or tourist attractions. While this is fine, there are some sites that go beyond just entertainment for the viewer. Some sites actually offer educational value by studying their design, how they functioned during a time period, and what parts of history they represent.
There are several countries with incredible histories full of rich culture. The United States is no different! With that being said, here are our top ten list of best historical monuments in the USA. To make this article more comprehensive, we will include both popular and under-known sites across the country.
Best historical monuments in Europe
Many consider the Roman Empire to be the most influential civilization in Western culture. It is very likely that there are many things in our modern lives, from science to government to music to literature to philosophy, that you have learned or experienced at least part of them directly from Rome.
The Romans built upon their own cultural heritage by incorporating Greek influence into what would become the European culture we know today. For example, they adapted elements of the Greeks’ mythology for use in Christianity.
So while it may feel like all the important ideas in life came straight out of the Bible, which was inspired by both Judaism and Christian theology, this is only partially true.
Many other cultures contributed to the formation of the West, sometimes more than once! This makes it hard to pinpoint exactly where the inspiration comes from. It is just part of our collective history now.
But if you want to get some insights as to how much of an impact the Romans had, start looking outside of the church for answers! You will find lots of interesting artifacts and information about the ancient city-states, empires, and technology that made up Ancient Rome.
Top art museums in the world
The Louvre, or more commonly known as the Musée du Louvre, is one of the largest art galleries in the world and has some of the greatest works of art that have ever been created. It boasts having over 25 million visitors per year which makes it very popular.
The museum was first established in 1648 when King Louis XIV ordered all of his artistic treasures to be gathered under one roof. At this time there were only about 1,000 paintings in existence so this was an incredible collection to add to!
Since then, the museum has continued expanding with new collections being added almost every decade. Some of the most famous pieces at the Louvre include Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and David’s The Oath. These two sculptures are among the top 10 highest paid artworks in the entire world.
Other well-known pieces at the gallery include Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night and Pablo Picasso’s Woman With A Parrot. Many people consider these three artists to be masters of their craft who left strong legacies behind them.
Top art museums in France
The Louvre is one of the top tourist attractions in the world, with over 20 million visitors every year. It boasts having more than 17,000 works spanning several centuries and many artistic styles.
The museum has five exhibition spaces — each showcasing around 1,500 pieces at a time. There are two main floors and an underground passageway that connects all three levels.
Visitors will find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer volume of artwork and materials available to study for insights into different artists’ work and various schools or genres of painting.
There are some 2,300 paintings here!
Many famous masterpieces can be found within the walls of The Louvre including The Mona Lisa (the most recognizable face in the whole world) and Agincourt Tapestry which depicts the Battle of Agincourt, one of the key events in French history.
Here, you will also come across many important sculptures such as The Venus de Milo and Winged Victory. Both of these statues have become synonymous with the artist who created them.
They both feature very beautiful and graceful poses and sculpted body parts.
Top art museums in Italy
The Italian National Gallery is an incredible space that boasts of having more than 5,000 pieces from ancient to contemporary artwork. There are three main sections within this gallery: Ancient Art, Modern and Contemporary Art and Figurative Art.
The Ancient Art section features paintings dating back as early as 1400 B.C., such as the Neolithic “Venus” painting and works by famous Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Many of these pieces have strong ties to the Italian culture and heritage.
For example, there is a large-scale work called La Maddalena by Caravaggio which depicts St. John the Baptist with his head thrown back while being struck by light rays coming from above. This symbolizes the blinding light that Jesus gave to those who believe in him.
Another piece in this category is Botticelli’s Primavera (Spring) which shows the birth of the universe and humanity along with various other life forms springing up around it.
Top art museums in Spain
The Prado is one of Madrid’s top tourist attractions, and for good reason. It boasts some of Europe’s most important works from every era and area of artistic expression. Many consider it to be the best museum collection anywhere in the world!
The Prado was established in 1605 by King Felipe III as an annexe to his personal art gallery. At that time, there were only eight paintings in its inventory. Since then, the institution has grown into one of the largest and most prestigious art galleries in the planet.
These days, it contains around 18,000 objects, making it not just one of the biggest art collections in the world but also the densest too!
It’s so popular that even though you can spend hours looking at everything, it’s hard to see almost all of it. That’s why we have picked our favorite pieces here! They represent different periods and styles, and they are all absolutely stunning.
If you love old masters like Renaissance artists or Impressionists, this is your chance to explore their work first hand. If you prefer more contemporary art, take some time to admire Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, or Fernando Botero. No matter what style appeals to you, there’s sure to be something here for you!
This article will talk about our five favorites at The Prado, and how much each costs to visit.
Top museums in Italy
The Vatican is always a crowd favorite, with its vast collection that includes many famous pieces. The Sistine Chapel is one of the world’s most recognizable art spaces, set within St. Peter’s Basilica. It features beautiful masterpieces by some of history’s greatest artists, like Michelangelo and Giotto!
The Uffizi Gallery just outside Florence holds an impressive amount of artwork for its size. Many consider it to be among the best museum collections in the world, due to all the high quality works inside. There are several reasons why this gallery is so beloved, including how accessible almost every piece is.
There are no expensive admission prices or guided tours here – you can explore at your own pace without any hassle. And if there’s something specific you want to see, go during visiting hours and take out only what time you spend looking at things.
