MONUMENTS AROUND THE WORLD
by our 5th graders
Parthenon, Athens, Greece
by John Kalantzis
My country Greece has got a lot of sights. One of the most important sights is Parthenon in Athens. Parthenon was made from two ancient Greeks, Hictinos and Kallikrates, in 447-438 B.C.
Today many of the marbles of Parthenon are destroyed and some other marbles are saved in museums in Great Britain, France and other European countries.
Every year many people visit Athens to see the beauty of Parthenon. Finally I suggest that you come to Greece and see the Parthenon and other Greek sights. For more information visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon
The Colosseum of Rome, Italy
by Helen Kaltsouni
The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.
Capable of seating 50.000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions etc.
Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome’s most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church. The Colosseum is also depicted on the Italian version of the fire-cent euro coin.
The Colosseum today is now a major tourist attraction in Rome with thousands of tourists each year paying to view the arena.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum)
The White Tower of Thessaloniki, Greece
by Alex Pardalos
The White Tower of Thessaloniki is a monument and museum on the water front of the city of Thessaloniki, capital of the region of Macedonia in northern Greece. It has been adopted as the symbol of the city, also as a symbol of Greek sovereignty over Macedonia.
The present tower dates from reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. There was an older tower on the same site, probably built by French knights during the period of the ottomans successively as a fort, garrison and a prison. In 1826, there was a massacre of the prisoners in the Tower. Owing to the countless victims of ottoman torturers and executioners, the tower acquired the name ‘’Tower of blood“which it kept until the end of the 18th century.
When Thessaloniki was captured by the Greeks during the Balkan War of 1912, the tower was whitewashed a symbolic gesture of cleansing, and acquired its present name. King George I of Greece was assassinated not far from the White Tower in 1913.
The Tower is now a buff colour but has retained the name White Tower. It now stands on Thessaloniki’s waterfront boulevard, Nikis Victory Street. It houses a Byzantine museum and is one of the city’s leading tourist attractions.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tower_of_Thessaloniki)
The White Tower, Thessaloniki, Greece
by George Papargiris
The White Tower is a very old and big tower. It is in Thessaloniki, Greece. A lot of tourists visit it every day. Near the tower there are a lot of cafes and very big hotels. Next to the tower there is a beach. People can enjoy their coffee and the sunshine. It’s very beautiful!
The Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
by Helen Alamanioti
The Eiffel Tower was made in 1889 by an engineer Gustavo Eiffel. Its height is 325 m. It was the highest building in the world. Its weight is 10.100 tons. 300 workers put together 18.038 pieces of steel with 2,5 million bolts. Millions of people visit the Eiffel Tower every year. Everyday people enjoy the view from the Eiffel Tower.
