El Angel from Mexico City

El Ángel is not a-must-see monument of Mexico City sightseeing tour.  Golden angel statue against a blue sky looks fantastic.  You may find it as an illustration in many guidebooks.   Unfortunately it often serves only as a nice photo.  History and information how and where to find it are scarce.

36-meter column topped with a statue of an angel, which measures 6 meters and weighs 70 tons. The official name of the monument is Monumento de la Independencia or Ángel de la Independencia. It was erected in 1910 during presidency of Porfirio Diaz.  The column commemorates of 100-year anniversary of the struggle for independence.

El Ángel is not just a monument it is also an observation deck. The column is a structure made of steel and covered with stone.  You want to admire a panoramic view you need to climb 200 steps which are inside the column.  It is a challenge for those who do practice sport on a daily basis.  Also people who suffer from claustrophobia should consider thoroughly the visit.

The best description I have found was on Wikipedia.  I rarely recommend it as a source of information but it is worth reading.

Dancing House

Prague

Dancing House is a famous building designed by Frank Gehry.  It is also often called Ginger and Fred. You can find history of the place and the building in “a view on the cities” blog. So there is no reason to copy it over here.

But I have always been curious how the interior look like. And I found during my recent visit to Prague. There is a gift shop at the ground level.  Actually it looked like it was closed down, but I hope it was just impression. At the top level there is a terrace from which you can admire panorama of Prague. Indeed the view is worth a visit to this place. There were tables so I presume you can have a coffee there.

Downstairs there is a restaurant which also serves as a gallery of modern art. I do not know whether it was an occasional exhibition or the paintings and art works are presented there on regular basis. The austere interior helps to focus on the art because there is no other element which would attract attention.  The food was pretty good but nothing exceptional.

Panorama Sao Paulo

Edifício Itália

The beginning of the 20th century was the time of great development and changes in Sao Paulo.  It was possible due to the booming export of coffee.  It was the time when such landmarks as the Train Station Luz (1901) Teatro Municipal (1911), Edifício Martinelli (1929), Correio Central (1920), and the Mercado Municipal (1933) were constructed. You will find beautiful examples of local art nouveua style

But the real symbol of the city's modernity in 20th century became Edifício Itália.  It is a 42-storey building constructed in 1965. It was the tallest building in South America for many years.

One of the attractions of the building is a restaurant located at the top. The restaurant itself is rather high-end pricewise and food. However the quality of service is rather low.  Or maybe a team had a bad day. But it is a perfect place to compare how much the city panorama gains after dark simply get there before sunset.