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TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: WHAT TO VISIT IN BRUGES

The city of Bruges is a wonderful example of medieval old town perfectly preserved until today, thanks to this, in 2000 the historic medieval centre of Bruges has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, UNESCO has also entered in its list of Beffrois of Belgium and France, the Belfort Brugge, and in its list of Flemish Béguinages the Bruges Béguinage.

The city is a frequented tourist destination, it can safely be visited on foot, for its small size, are also interesting alternative to visit it with the boat, or carriage tours. Famous for its beautiful monuments and its urban structure, the old town (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO) has oval form and is intersected by numerous channels, and for this Bruges is often called the Venice of Belgium. Its historic center still keeps the four gates of the 1326 walls, a number of old buildings, and is the most prestigious and best preserved of Belgium. The city centre is formed by the market squares, Markt and the Burg, the Markt is dominated by Belfort (the clock tower, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO), 83 meters high, home of the museum Bruggemuseum-Belfort, on the square is also the Provinciaal Hof, in the neo-Gothic (1887-1921), former headquarters of the provincial government of West Flanders, in the middle of Markt is the statue of Jan Breydel and Pieter De Coninck, heroes of Anti-French resistance in 1302, around the square are the splendid facades of houses of the Guilds.

A short distance from the Markt is the ancient square Burg, which reaches along the Breidelstraat, on the square facing the Basilica of the Sacred Blood (Basiliek van het Heilig Bloed) contains a relic of the Sacred Blood of Jesus, transported in Bruges probably after the sacking of Constantinople (1204) at the time of the Fourth Crusade, on the ground floor there is the chapel of St. Basil (1139-1149) in Romanesque style, while in the second floor of the chapel, in neo-Gothic style, it's kept the sacred relic. In Burg is the Stadhuis (town hall), built between 1376 and 1420, home of Bruggemuseum Stadhuis, it contains the famous Gothic Room (Gotische Zaal) with sumptuous mural paintings of the nineteenth century and polychrome wooden ceiling. Interestingly Renaissance palace (1534-1537) is the Voormalige Civiele Griffie (home of the old memories), the ancient seat of the Court of Justice and now the municipal archives and the museum Brugse Vrije where you visit the Renaissance Room (Renaissancezaal) with a monumental fireplace 1529, designed by Lanceloot Blondeel. In Burg is also the Proosdij (Propositura), an old baroque residence (1665-66) of the Proposed old Cathedral of Sint-Donaas, the cathedral was destroyed in 1799.

Near the Burg square is the Fish Market, a 1821 building, open from Tuesday to Saturday from 6.00 to 13.00. Just behind is Rozenhoedkaai, one of the most photographed places in Bruges. The Onthaalkerk Onze Lieve Vrouw (Church of Our Lady), is home to a rich collection of objects of art, including the famous "Madonna and Child" by Michelangelo, and the mausoleum of Mary of Burgundy and Charles the Bold. The St.-Salvatorskathedraal (Cathedral of St. Saviour) is the oldest church in Bruges, dates back to 12th-15th century, inside are the choir with the seventeenth century organ, tapestries and several paintings, in addition to the cathedral museum. The Begijnhof (Beghinaggio, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO) founded in 1245, presents the everyday life of the past. The brewery "Brouwerij De Halve Maan" founded in 1546. There are numerous events and vocal music, festivals, antique fairs, historic processions as that of Holy Blood (St.-Sang, held the first Monday of May), hosted in this beautiful city.

Around Bruges (Brugge), you can visit the town of Damme, the ancient port of Bruges, with many historic buildings, and today known for libraries and the book fair.