It was 1209 when some students fleeing Oxford for the murder of a woman founded The Cambridge University. What to see in Cambridge on a weekend? The small town, less than an hour from London, still attracts millions of students from all over the world. There are 31 colleges that give life to the famous university which is home to over 23,000 Students from more than 140 countries, Cambridge, however, offers much more. Here’s how to spend a weekend between colleges, museums, walks in the greenery and fun.
Colleges, works of art (and study)
At the top of the list of what to see in Cambridge there are undoubtedly his colleges. The most famous is certainly the King’s Collegefounded in 1441 by Enrico VI. The most famous structure is its chapel (King’s College Chapel), which stands out in all its beauty, perhaps the most photographed building in the whole city. It was built in 1446 and ended only in 1515, with King Henry VII.
The Trinity College It is the largest university college both in Cambridge and Oxford. Founded in 1546 by Enrico VIII, important characters such as Isaak Newton and Lord Byron studied herein addition to numerous members of the royal family including also King Charles III. The most beautiful thing about Trinity College is certainly the Wren Libraryhis splendid library. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the same architect of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, you can visit every weekend from 12 to 14 for free, but only for 15 minutes and you cannot take pictures.
Founded in 1511 by the mother of Enrico VII, the St. John’s College He is famous for his “deck bridge”. During the summer you can stay inside the B&B style college.
Newnham Collegefounded in 1871 as a house where young women could reside while attending lessons in Cambridge, a female college remains today. Newnham was not the first female college in Cambridge (this honor goes to Garton College, founded in 1869) however, now it is the oldest female college since Garton now has a mixed entrance.
After the exit of the Ecchitico Saltburn and the discovery of the wonderful Drayton House – the aristocratic villa where the film was shot that has made it so much to talk about themselves – fans of the genre have only one goal in mind: to discover the Northamptonshire, the county at one hour from London that also hosts the house of the Lady Diana family and some of the most beautiful landscapes in England
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The Newnham College was formally founded in 1880 and in the end he obtained the full status of University College in 1948, the same year in which women were allowed to become full -title of the University and finally to obtain a degree in Cambridge.
Bridge of Sighs and Mathematical Bridge
The first is inspired in all respects to the Venetian one and was the favorite of Queen Vittoria. The big difference with the Italian one, however, is that it was so called to indicate the sighs, but of anxiety, who had students every time they crossed it to take an exam.
The Mathematical Bridgeon the other hand, it is located within the Queen’s College and according to legend it was built in 1749 by Isaac Newton when he studied in Cambridge. In reality, however, the scholar died in 1727! The name derives from the fact that the bridge is built with entirely straight beams, while maintaining an arched shape. Also about Newton, in the courtyard in front of the Trinity College there is the apple tree grafted by the tree from which the famous apple had fallen, which is located in the scholar birthplace, in Woolsthorpe Manor. The tree was planted to honor Newton’s ties with the university he attended in 1661 before having to return home after an epidemic of plague devastated Cambridge.
Punting
Cambridge can be visited on foot or by bike, but the most beautiful way to discover the most interesting and romantic points is browsing the boat. Crossed by the Cam river, the town is known for the punting. These wide and flat boats can accommodate up to 6 people, even if there are then the tourist ones who transport twice as much. The punting began in the 19th century, originally to transport goods along the waterways. Today it almost seems to go to the much more famous Venetian gondola, complete with a helmsman in white and blue striped shirt. For the most successful, it is also possible to rent the boat and guide it alone. Even if it seems easy, in reality you have to have an excellent balance and be careful of weekend traffic!
The Fitzwilliam Museum
The most famous museum in Cambridge is the Fitzwilliam Museumwhich takes its name from its founder Richard Fitzwilliam, Settimo Viscount of Merrion. As a former student of the Trinity Hall College in Cambridge, Fitzwilliam believed that the university had to have its own museum and his death, which took place in 1816, left his collection and a huge sum of money, £ 100,000, to build a new imposing museum building to host it. Within the galleries there are important paintings with masters of Impressionism such as Degas, Renoir, Monet, Cézanne and Gauguin. Do not miss also the Egyptian Rooms and repertics of ancient Greece.
Kettle’s Yard
This house of stone in a quiet area of ​​Cambridge was the residence of HS (Jim) Ede and his wife Helen Between 1957 and 1973. In the 1920s and ’30 Jim had been curator at the Tate Gallery in London. Thanks to his friendships with great artists, over the years he has collected a remarkable collection. In 1966 the couple donated the house and its content to the University of Cambridge. In 1970, three years before the Ede retired to Edinburgh, the house was expanded and an exhibition gallery was added, but in general it is still as Jim and Helen left it. There are works of art in every corner and there are no labels. A way of experiencing art completely different from a museum.
In search of the Dinky Doors
Walking through Cambridge you can come across tiny marches positioned in unusual places. Are the Dinky Doors14 small portals “towards other worlds”, made with a pinch of humor to stimulate imagination and make people smile. You can buy the tour of all Dinky Doors online with the map and explanation of each door. Among those not to be missed:
- 10 (and a quarter) Downing Street: this miniature corresponds to the door of the home of the English Prime Minister, but accompanied by a threatening purple polyp
- Teleportation-o-Matic of the market square: difficult to find hidden between two telephone booths, you can take you wherever you want
- Cambridge Press Mage’s Pages: on the corner where the Cambridge Press library is located, there is the source of all these books, a small garden of books edited by a wizard of the books
Eating a Chelsea Buns from Fitzbillies
Fitzbillies It is the most famous pastry shop in Cambridge and it is here that from 1920 their famous Chelsea Buns are eaten. These sweet sandwiches were born from the hands of the brothers Ernest and Arthur Mason, children of the local bakery “Ticker” Mason. Recognizable for its characteristic liberty style facade, today the activity is made up of a cafeteria behind the pastry shop in Trumpington Street, a second branch in Bridge Street and an out of office bakery, which produces bread and artisan desserts. Obviously you can also taste the typical Afterraon Tea.
Eagles Pub
It is the second oldest pub of Cambridge and it is precisely on one of its tables that on February 28, 1953 Watson and Crick gave the announcement that they discovered the DNA structure.
Where to sleep
THE’University Arms It is the oldest hotel in Cambridge, built as an inn for the carriage parking next to the common citizen, Parker’s Piece, in 1834. University Arms was completely reconstructed by the famous classic architect John Simpson. The rooms are 192, but the thing not to be missed is the aperthero tea to savor by looking at the splendid park.
Lying on the banks of the Cam is the The Graduatesplendid hotel that pays tribute to Cambridge. From the DNA double propeller light above the reception, a tribute to the former student of Cambridge Rosalind Franklin, to the centenary boats lovingly restored that adorn the walls of the hall, even the smallest details exudate to history. The garden that gives directly on the river is splendid, with the deck chairs and umbrellas with an unparalleled view between swans and boats where you can enjoy every meal, from breakfast to a cocktail at the end of the evening.
The Varsity Hotel Instead he wins for those who want to see Cambridge from above with all colleges at their feet. The elegant terrace on the roof is in fact a famous point of reference in the city. The 48 single design rooms celebrate the cultural heritage of the city, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Source: Vanity Fair
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