20th October 2008 - by Stanley Headley
Bath - Architecture, Beauty and History
A vibrant city in Somerset, south west England, Bath is an
idyllic place, steeped in history. A visit to the City is
always recommended if staying anywhere in the Somerset county
and it's not difficult to see why.
Famous for its natural hot springs, they were taken advantage
of in the Roman period, when baths were built over these
springs, providing naturally created hot water and bathing
areas, often used for social meetings. Becoming increasing
popular once again throughout the Georgian era, people visited
from distances as the City grew in popularity as a famous spa
resort.
For those interested in architecture, Bath is a must visit
destination. The Georgian architecture is still visible today,
with many companies revolving their businesses in and around
the beautiful buildings. For example, a large percentage of the
80 Bath hotels and bed and breakfasts are housed within
Georgian buildings, making for an extremely unusual and
individual place to lay your head at night. Furthermore, whilst
the Georgian period is extremely prominent in the City of Bath,
all major periods throughout the past 1700 years can be seen in
the City. From the original Roman baths built in the early
hundred years AD to the most recent Thermae Bath Spa, built
after the last millennium, architecture of the years is in
abundance here, and appears beautiful together.
A World Heritage Site for over twenty years, one of Bath's main
attractions is its awe inspiring Abbey. Known originally as The
Abbey Church of Saint Peter, Bath, Bath Abbey is one of the
most prominent examples of Gothic architecture available in the
modern western world. With space for up 1,200 people, the Abbey
holds a regular congregation for its frequent members, with it
still being a popular place of worship to this day. A Grade 1
listed building; Bath Abbey has been restored several times,
each time not detracting from its original Gothic beauty.
After visiting all of Bath's many sites, a well deserved break
is needed - and you don't have to travel far to find some great
food and a refreshing drink. With around 100 restaurants that
provide cuisines from all around the world, there are reputed
to be the same number of bars, pubs and wine bars, making you
never more than a few steps from some good food and great
drink.
Whilst Bath is soaked in history, many of its visitors come for
the cultural side of the City. Since the 18th Century, Bath has
been a major player in England's cultural scene. Housing five
separate theatres, they attract world famous companies and
play-writes that come throughout the year, but more prominently
at Bath's annual theatre season. With its own historic musical
past, Bath caters to all genres of music, from regular Klais
Organ concerts at Bath Abbey to the ever popular Bath
International Music Festival; an annual event frequented my
many.
Bath is a City many consider a historic venue only - which is
far from the truth. Its historic values are large, but its
arts, music, food and shopping areas are becoming more and more
popular year in and year out - making Bath a place to visit
whatever your interest.
Article Source: http://articlesabroad.com
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