There’s plenty of historical anniversaries coming up in 2020 around Europe, making it a year to remember. Each milestone has a destination attached to it, so you may feel inspired to visit and experience some of the events and historical monuments first-hand.

500 Years Since Raphael’s Death

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, also known as Raphael, was an Italian architect and painter during the Renaissance period. His work produced between 1483 and 1520 is still showcased in museums and religious buildings today, including the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Museo Nacional Del Prado in Madrid.

One of Raphael’s most famous pieces of work is The School of Athens, a fresco of mathematicians, philosophers and scientists all gathered together sharing their ground-breaking ideas. Wander through the Vatican Museum inside Apostolic Palace to discover this awe-inspiring painting, alongside some of his other works including The Parnassus and Disputation of the Holy Sacrament.

From now until 26th April, you can visit the Gemäldegalerie to see five of Raphael’s Madonna paintings together for one time only. The collection includes loans from the Berlin Kupferstichkabinett and National Gallery in London.

250th Anniversary Of The Birth Of Beethoven

Iconic music composer and pianist, Ludwig Van Beethoven, was born in Bonn, Germany in December 1770, 250 years ago. He played a crucial part in the transition between the classical and romantic eras. Although born in Germany, he spent most of his life in Vienna, which is where you’ll find his original manuscripts and letters in the National Library of Austria.

What better way to celebrate his life than wandering around his family home, Beethoven-Haus, which has converted into a museum of his life? To listen to his work, attend Beethovenfest in Bonn throughout March and September to watch spectacular performances by international artists. Alternatively, watch the 24-hour Beethoven marathon on April 25th by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

65 Years Since Albert Einstein Died

The theoretical physicist Albert Einstein passed away 65 years ago this year and what better way to celebrate his life than a visit to one of his museums or monuments in Europe? He is best known for his theory of relativity and the equation E=MC², both of which are fundamental aspects to modern physics.

The Ulm-born physicist spent the majority of his life in Switzerland and now has a museum in Bern where you can learn more about his fascinating life through a mix of original objects and replicas. You can also visit an abstract monument and fountain of his face in his birthplace Ulm, Germany.

200th Anniversary Of The Birth Of Florence Nightingale

It was 200 years ago that the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, was born in Florence. The English social reformer is best known for working as a manager and trainer of nurses in the Crimean War. Her nickname, The Lady with the Lamp, came about after looking after wounded soldiers during the night.

Seek out her birth house, the Villa Colombaia, in Florence – a place which has since been converted into a private Catholic school. However, a silver plaque on the front façade states it was her birthplace. Guided tours are available for tourists wanting to learn more of her home life. Another must-see is the memorial in the Basilica of Santa Croce that includes a full-body statue and stone plaque.

75th Anniversary Of WWII Ending

2nd September 2020 marks the 75th year since World War Two ended and there are many destinations throughout Europe you could visit to pay your respects and learn more interesting facts. The Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland is a complex with over 40 extermination camps where 1.1 million people are said to have died, most would’ve been gassed Jews.

You could also visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe in the heart of Berlin that constitutes 2,711 concrete slabs of different heights. Some say that the sloped flooring resembles a wave and others see it as an open space to immerse themselves in and remember what happened.

Why not visit France over the three-day bank holiday weekend and engage in street parades, church services and memorial ceremonies?  Or travel over to Germany to visit heartfelt memorials at previous war camps including Stalag X-B and Marlag und Milag Nord.

If you wish to visit any of the destinations mentioned above to celebrate the major millstones, call us on 0800 988 3369 or contact us via our website.