Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was founded on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1741 by Moravians. Thus, Bethlehem is dubbed “The Christmas City.”
There’s so much interesting history to explore in this eastern Pennsylvania city because the Moravian community, a European religious Protestant order, believed in respecting and educating all (including girls) and had the industrial and technological know-how to build a thriving community. Historic Bethlehem was added as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN BETHLEHEM, PA:
➡️ Take a walking tour of historic Bethlehem to visit some 18th-century Moravian settlement buildings and learn more about this fascinating history.
➡️ Stroll downtown Bethlehem for some great shopping and dining options.
➡️ Visit the SteelStacks arts and entertainment campus for a host of music concerts, comedy shows, and movies.
➡️ Plan to attend Musikfest (August 1-10, 2025). It’s a huge annual music festival featuring all kinds of music, from polka to rock.
➡️ Walk along the Hoover Mason Trestle bridge, a permanent reminder of Bethlehem Steel, once a powerhouse steel maker.
➡️ Stroll through Lehigh University’s beautiful campus and step into the magnificent Linderman Library and Packer Chapel.
➡️ Visit the National Museum of Industrial History, which showcases America’s industrial history, including iron, steel, textiles, and propane.
#HistoricBethlehem #ChristmasCityUSA #ExplorePA #PennsylvaniaHistory #LehighValleypa
SIENA, about 35 miles/56 km south of Florence, is a delightful town to visit today but was Florence’s powerful foe in the Middle Ages.
🧭 PIAZZA DEL CAMPO - Flanked by cafes and City Hall, this is a place to relax and soak in the atmosphere.
🧭 CIVIC MUSEUM - Located in City Hall on Il Campo piazza, look for the 14th-century Allegory of Good and Bad Government and other richly decorated frescos. Buy your tickets in the courtyard; you can purchase combo tickets that include the tower.
🧭 CITY TOWER - Built in 1340 and standing 330 feet/100 meters tall, this tower is a must-do if you’re able. Buy your tickets in the courtyard; you can purchase combo tickets that include the civic museum.
🧭 DUOMO - This massive 13th-century cathedral, ringed with colored marble, holds artistic treasures. In the fall, the intricate floor mosaics depicting biblical stories are uncovered and are a treat to view. Stop in the Piccolomini Library to view richly decorated frescoes and illustrated musical scores (sheets of music used before hymnals).
🧭 DUOMO MUSEUM & VIEWPOINT - After visiting the museum, continue up the 140 steps to reach Panorama del Facciatone of the Unfinished Church for amazing views of Siena.
🧭 EXPLORING SIENA - Strolling through Siena is a treasure. Stop by a cafe that rings the Piazza del Campo. Treat yourself to gelato from La Vecchia Latteria. Take a walking tour to introduce the city and its fascinating history.
⛔️ BEWARE - DO NOT DRIVE IN THE CITY CENTER! Much of Siena is a “ZTL” (a limited traffic zone) that prohibits vehicular traffic (unless you’re a local). Park outside the historic center.
#travelitaly #italy #visititaly #italytravel #italytrip #discoveritaly #Siena #Tuscany #traveleurope
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