After initially refusing to refer the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), Italy’s Constitutional Court has changed course over the controversial Law 74/2025, which restricts eligibility for Italian citizenship for many great-grandchildren of Italians living abroad. It has suspended its own proceedings and asked the ECJ to determine whether the legislation is compatible with EU law before issuing its own ruling.

Passed in March 2025, Law 74/2025 significantly tightened Italy’s jure sanguinis (right of blood) citizenship rules. The legislation limits automatic citizenship by descent to children and grandchildren of Italian nationals, thereby ending eligibility for many great-grandchildren and more distant descendants of Italians who emigrated abroad.

The reform sparked widespread criticism from Italian communities overseas, particularly in South America, North America and Australia, where millions of people trace their ancestry to Italian emigrants.

Previous ECJ rulings state that decisions affecting EU citizenship must respect the principle of proportionality and take individual circumstances into account.

Lawyers representing descendants of Italians abroad argue that the legislation retroactively strips citizenship rights from people who were already entitled to Italian nationality under previous rules, and that such a blanket approach conflicts with ECJ case law requiring national authorities to apply the principle of proportionality and consider individual circumstances when decisions affect EU citizenship.

The Constitutional Court concluded that the dispute raises questions over the interpretation of EU law that fall within the jurisdiction of the ECJ. It will suspend its own examination of the case until the Luxembourg-based court clarifies whether the new restrictions are compatible with the rights associated with EU citizenship and with established European legal principles.

Corrado Caruso, a law professor at Bologna University, told CNN he had not expected the court’s change of course.

“We’d requested a referral in the previous hearing, but the court denied it”, he said. Still, he sees it as encouraging. “It’s a positive step because it means the court has some doubts. I think there was a change of mind.”

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“Maybe the court was too quick in dismissing our request in March; maybe they reflected a little deeper,” he said, adding that recent unrelated rulings have been notably “EU-friendly.”

Marco Mellone, one of the four lawyers challenging the legislation, described the referral as “a 180-degree change of direction” and “a confession that they made a mistake in March”.

Monica Restanio, another lawyer involved in the case, called the decision “the best news that we could have got, and much better than what I was expecting”.

She argued that previous ECJ case law consistently requires governments to assess nationality cases proportionately and individually before depriving people of citizenship rights, rather than through blanket legislative measures.

“They had the chance to refer it three months ago and didn’t. It’s clear they changed their opinion,” Mellone told CNN. “They’ve been brave. The law was completely against 30 years of case law at the ECJ.”

If the ECJ finds that aspects of the legislation conflict with EU law, Italy’s Constitutional Court could ultimately require Parliament to amend the legislation. Such a ruling could also have implications for a separate case concerning the so-called “minor issue“, a 2024 measure restricting citizenship rights for children born abroad, which Italy’s Supreme Court is weighing, and in which Restanio is also involved.

L’article Italy’s citizenship-by-descent crackdown heads to Europe’s top court est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The proposals are divided between two themes, “European culture” and “Rivers and birds”, offering a choice between banknotes featuring figures including Maria Callas, Ludwig van Beethoven, Marie Curie and Leonardo da Vinci, or European bird species and natural landscapes.

A public survey is now open and will run until 21 September 2026, with the ECB’s Governing Council expected to select the final design around the end of the year.

“Euro banknotes are more than a means of payment – they are one of the most tangible expressions of Europe,” said ECB President Christine Lagarde. “Through designs that combine beauty and meaning, they will reinforce our shared identity.”

Callas, Beethoven, Curie and Da Vinci

Under the “European culture” theme, each denomination would celebrate a different figure from Europe’s cultural and intellectual history.

The €5 note would feature opera singer Maria Callas, followed by composer Ludwig van Beethoven on the €10, scientist and Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie on the €20, and Don Quixote author Miguel de Cervantes on the €50.

Leonardo da Vinci would appear on the €100 note, while Austrian writer, peace campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Bertha von Suttner would feature on the €200.

Together, the six figures represent different areas of European culture, including performing arts, music, science, literature, visual arts and education.

Rivers and birds offer an alternative

The second theme, “Rivers and birds”, focuses instead on Europe’s natural environment and biodiversity.

Each denomination would depict a different European bird in a river landscape. The series includes the wallcreeper, kingfisher, European bee-eater, white stork, avocet and northern gannet.

The reverse sides would feature European institutions, including the European Parliament, European Commission, European Central Bank, Court of Justice of the European Union, European Council and Council of the European Union, and European Court of Auditors.

The two themes had already been selected following earlier consultations on the redesign of the euro banknotes.

More than 1,200 designers applied

The ten shortlisted proposals are the result of an EU-wide design competition that attracted more than 1,200 applications from graphic designers.

Twenty-five designers were invited to develop proposals for one or both themes before an independent jury of 21 experts selected the ten finalists. The jury included specialists in fields such as graphic design, communication, neuroscience and history, with each member nominated by a euro-area central bank.

Five competing designs have been shortlisted for each of the two themes.

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The next stage now puts Europeans at the centre of the selection process. Anyone can provide feedback through the ECB’s online survey until 21 September.

In parallel, an independent research company will conduct a separate survey using the same questions among a representative sample of euro-area citizens.

Final decision expected by end of 2026

The results of both surveys will be considered alongside the conclusions of the design jury and a technical assessment before the ECB’s Governing Council makes its final decision, expected around the end of the year.

The selected design will then undergo further development and testing before production begins. The ECB says the new banknotes are expected to enter circulation in subsequent years, rather than immediately after the design is selected.

Existing euro banknotes will retain their value and continue to circulate alongside the new series.

The redesign is also intended to improve security and accessibility. New features will seek to make the banknotes easier to authenticate and more accessible to visually impaired people, while greater durability and more sustainable materials and production processes should reduce their environmental footprint.

“The redesign of the euro banknotes is part of a long-term effort by the Eurosystem to ensure that cash remains a secure, efficient and relatable means of payment, preserving citizens’ access to public money and their freedom to choose how to pay,” said ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone.

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Culminating at 2,918 meters and dominating the surrounding landscape, Mount Olympus has been fascinating the Greeks – and the rest of the world – for a long time. As a home to the twelve Olympian gods, the mountain plays a central role within Greek mythology and culture, while its unique ecosystem gives it an important natural role as well.

This combination of natural, cultural, and historical meaning bound to Mount Olympus prompted Greece to submit the wider mountainous mass of Mount Olympus to UNESCO’s Tentative List back in 2014. That first step in the nomination process allows countries to then formally apply for a nomination.

However, at the time, UNESCO’s advisory bodies, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, asked for extra information and motivation. The international significance of the area’s geological features, biodiversity, and ecological processes needed to be clarified, while extra efforts were demanded regarding the mountain’s cultural value, for example by adding the archaeological site of Dion at the foot of Mount Olympus to the submission.

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During the 2026 session of the World Heritage Committee, which takes place from 19 to 29 July in Seoul, a decision regarding the inclusion of Mount Olympus on UNESCO’s World Heritage List is expected to be made. At the time of writing, it is still uncertain whether or not the cultural, historical, and natural importance of the mountain will be recognised.

“Mount Olympus is our life. It is the place where we grew up, the place we see every day. At the same time, though, it is a place that carries myth, history, biodiversity, unique natural beauty and enormous cultural significance,” states the mayor of Dio-Olympos, Evangelos Geroliolios.

For decades, a big part of Mount Olympus has been recognised as a national park. Although this designation entails a number of restrictions, such as ‘no swimming’ and ‘no camping’ areas, mountain guide Babis Marinidis, president of the Alpine Club of Litochoro, told the news agency Associated Press (AP) that many visitors choose to ignore these rules. As inclusion on the World Heritage List could possibly lead to more visitors, this should be accompanied by an extensive environmental protection policy.

@sightsofsara Climbing Mount Olympus with @crownofcureope (insta) . . #hikingadventures #outdooradventures #traveltheworld #hikingtrails #greece ♬ оригинальный звук – Chingizkhan

“How many people can this mountain, this ecosystem, bear? I used to be against that (entrance fees and registration of visitor numbers). But now with so many people, I believe some limit must be imposed,” Marinidis told AP.

A decision by the World Heritage Committee should arrive before 29 July 2026, although it remains possible that Greece will need to rework its submission of Mount Olympus. With the release of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’, however, interest in Greek mythology and the mountain’s role in it is likely to rise regardless of UNESCO’s verdict.

L’article Greece seeks UNESCO World Heritage recognition for famous Mount Olympus est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Pedocin has followed the same basic layout for more than a century. A white wall divides the beach into two sections, with men using one side and women the other. Children are allowed to stay on either side, while some exceptions are made, for example for parents or carers assisting a family member. Couples and friends are also free to meet in the sea beyond the buoys, where the separation ends. Visitors choose to enter the beach knowing its rules, making the arrangement a voluntary tradition rather than an obligation.

The beach officially opened in 1903, when Trieste was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At the time, gender-separated bathing areas were common across many parts of Europe because of public decency laws. Similar beaches could be found in countries including Germany and elsewhere in northern Europe, but they gradually disappeared as social attitudes changed. Pedocin is one of the few places where the tradition survived, turning it into a distinctive part of Trieste’s identity that has endured through two world wars, political change and shifting social norms.

The wall has not survived simply because it has always been there. In the 1950s, local authorities considered removing it in the hope of attracting more visitors and encouraging tourism. However, many residents, particularly women, preferred to keep the separation because they appreciated the atmosphere it created. Many regular visitors describe the beach as a place where generations of families return every summer and neighbours know one another. As one local visitor explained: “It’s our tradition. People from outside sometimes don’t understand it, but nobody is forced to be here.” Following the recent dispute, Trieste mayor Roberto Dipiazza also defended the beach on social media, describing Pedocin as “a unique feature of the city” and an important part of Trieste’s identity.

Trieste,
stabilimento Pedocin
2023. pic.twitter.com/7UHymofNuK

— W̾a̾l̾t̾e̾r̾ ̾l̾'̾A̾p̾o̾l̾i̾d̾e̾ 𝐏𝐡𝐃 (@ApolideL) March 19, 2023

Not everyone shares that opinion. Critics argue that a publicly operated beach should no longer separate visitors based on gender and see the wall as a reminder of social conventions from another era. During the recent disagreement, one tourist reportedly described the arrangement as “an absurd and medieval custom” after being asked to respect the beach’s rules. The incident quickly attracted attention in Italy and reopened discussions about whether historic traditions should be preserved when they no longer reflect modern society. At the same time, many Trieste residents responded by defending Pedocin as a unique part of their city’s heritage rather than a form of discrimination.

The debate comes at a time when Pedocin is also investing in its future. The beach has recently introduced a Seatrac Mover, a device that allows people with reduced mobility to enter the sea independently without assistance. Two new reading areas with bookcrossing facilities have also been created, allowing visitors to borrow, leave or exchange books while spending the day at the beach. These additions are part of a wider effort by the municipality to make the historic site more accessible, inclusive and welcoming to visitors of all ages.

Ho superato la prova costume! Come?
Nessun intervento estetico, nessuna dieta, ma solo un biglietto per Trieste. Ho deciso che il mio lido sarà il Pedocin, dove le balene femmine nuotano felici al riparo dai capitoni maschi pic.twitter.com/PoMWZPaTTt

— Susanna sicily (@SusannaSicily) June 23, 2026

The improvements appear to have been well received. A recent satisfaction survey carried out among visitors gave Pedocin an average score of 4.6 out of 5. Beachgoers particularly praised the friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness of the facilities and the comfortable environment, while the opening hours received a perfect score. More than 120 years after it first welcomed bathers, Pedocin continues to combine a tradition found nowhere else in Europe with new initiatives that respond to the needs of today’s visitors.

L’article Why Europe’s last gender-separated beach is still attracting visitors est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The organisation says the new list will look beyond architectural beauty alone. It wants to highlight landmarks that have transformed destinations by attracting visitors, creating jobs and encouraging investment. WTTC also hopes to show how tourism infrastructure can support long-term economic growth. Both world-famous attractions and lesser-known landmarks are eligible, provided they have had a meaningful impact on their communities and the tourism sector.

Several well-known sites illustrate the type of landmark WTTC is looking for. The Eiffel Tower in Paris has become one of the world’s most recognisable monuments and continues to draw millions of visitors every year. The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is another example. Since opening in 1997, the museum has helped transform the Spanish city into an international cultural destination, a change often referred to as the “Bilbao effect”. WTTC also points to the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, which is expected to strengthen Egypt’s position as a leading cultural tourism destination by displaying thousands of ancient artefacts close to the Pyramids of Giza.

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The campaign will take place over the course of a year and consists of four stages. Public nominations opened on 7 July 2026, and anyone can submit a landmark for consideration. On 7 January 2027, WTTC will announce 70 nominated sites, after which public voting will begin. The list will then be reduced to 30 finalists on 7 April 2027, before the final seven contemporary wonders are revealed on 7 July 2027.

WTTC says the selection process will consider several factors rather than focusing only on popularity. The organisation will look at a landmark’s contribution to tourism, its economic impact and its value to local communities. Destination development, cultural importance and architectural significance will also play a role in the evaluation. By combining these criteria, WTTC hopes to recognise places that have changed how people travel while also benefiting the regions in which they are located.

WTTC President and CEO Gloria Guevara said the campaign reflects the idea that every generation creates landmarks that deserve international recognition. “Wonder is not something humanity stopped creating centuries ago. Every generation leaves its mark on the world. We are inviting people everywhere to help recognise the landmarks that have defined the modern age and will continue to inspire new ways of experiencing the world,” she said. Guevara added that the most influential tourism attractions do much more than welcome visitors. According to her, they also support local businesses, create employment opportunities, attract investment and strengthen the international profile of destinations.

The organisation believes the initiative comes at a time when many governments are looking for new ways to stimulate economic growth and improve resilience. WTTC argues that world-class visitor attractions should be seen as strategic infrastructure because they generate benefits that extend well beyond tourism. Successful landmarks can encourage private investment, improve public spaces and help shape the identity of cities and countries. The council also wants to demonstrate how cooperation between governments and the private sector can create attractions that continue to deliver social and economic value for decades.

By inviting the public to nominate landmarks from around the world, WTTC hopes the campaign will showcase both established icons and emerging destinations. The organisation believes this approach will highlight the diversity of modern tourism while encouraging investment in places with strong future potential. Public participation is expected to play an important role throughout the selection process, giving travellers the opportunity to help determine which landmarks best represent the contemporary age. Nominations for the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World are now open through the WTTC website.

L’article WTTC launches global search for the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Ever since 1965, Brussels’ Royal Palace has been opening its doors to the public during the Summer season. Traditionally, those visits start after Belgium’s national holiday on 21 July and run until September, giving locals and tourists a chance to take a look behind the royal scenes.

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However, visits to the Palace had been suspended since 2022 as the building was undergoing extensive renovation works on the façade and the windows. Ever since, visitors have only had access to a virtual tour through the website of the Belgian Monarchy.

On 3 July 2026, the Palace once again opened its doors, an event that was attended by King Filip and Queen Mathilde, who personally visited the exhibitions. These include ‘Louise d’Orléans, Becoming a Queen’ by the Royal Association for Dynasty and Cultural Heritage, ‘Music, Sound and Imagination’ by Belspo, ‘Selection of Dream Machines’ by MyMachine, and ‘The Royal Palace as a Memory Palace’ by Het Geheugenpaleis.

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Aside from the temporary exhibitions, a visit to the Palace also includes a large number of state rooms and salons. Some of the most well-known highlights include:

• The Empire Room. Situated in the oldest part of the Palace, this was the ballroom of the Austrian imperial representative. It includes works of Jean-Louis Van Geel and a Kerman rug, offered to King Leopold II by Muzaffar al Din Shah of Persia during a state visit to Belgium in 1900. In the past, the room served as the setting for concerts, court balls and other ceremonies. It is still used to organise ceremonies today.
• The Throne Room. Built under the reign of King Leopold II, the Throne Room is decorated in the centre by four low reliefs by Auguste Rodin, representing the economic activities symbolising the Belgian provinces, as well as with paintings by Thomas Vinçotte. The oak parquet, exotic woods, and gilded chandeliers make for a monumental appearance.
• The Mirror Room. Construction of the Mirror Room began under the reign of Leopold II and was meant to evoke the Congo. King Albert I completed the decoration with wall mirrors, and in 2002, Belgian artist Jan Fabre created an artwork called ‘Heaven of Delight’ in this space, covering the ceiling and one of the three chandeliers with nearly a million and a half jewel beetles. The Mirror Room is used regularly to host events.

The opening season of 2026 runs from 3 July until 16 August, which is notably earlier than usual. The reason for this is a state visit to Belgium by the Danish royal couple in early September, which entails some preparation work beforehand in order to make the state rooms accessible.

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Visitors are required to book their tickets to the Royal Palace beforehand through the official website. As of 2026, entrance to the Palace is no longer free of charge, as the Belgian Science Policy no longer covers the costs of the opening due to budget cuts. Adults pay €10 for their visit, while children under 13 can enter for free but should still book a time slot. The Palace is open until 16 August 2026 but will be exceptionally closed on 15, 16, 20, and 21 July.

L’article Brussels’ Royal Palace reopens to the public for the first time since 2022 est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Belgium’s Royal Palace has been one of the best-known landmarks in Brussels for a long time. Belgium being a monarchy, the building is still being used on a daily basis. Not only does it function as the monarch’s administrative residence and main workplace, but it is also where the representatives of political institutions, foreign guests, and other guests are welcomed.

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Moreover, the Royal Palace plays host to the services of the King’s Household: the King’s Cabinet, the General Secretariat, the Civil List, the Military Household, the Protocol, and the Queen’s Secretariat. Other members of the Royal Family, too, have an office at the Brussels Palace, and its reception rooms regularly function as the backdrop for meetings and roundtables, receptions, concerts, lunches, and other events.

Although most tourists only get to see the building from the outside, since 1965, the Royal Palace has had a tradition of opening its doors to the public. Traditionally speaking, visits take place after Belgium’s national holiday on 21 July and go on until September, as this is the period during which the monarch doesn’t use the Palace. However, since 2024, the Royal Palace has been undergoing thorough renovation works, meaning the public no longer has the chance to visit the premises once a year.

A fresh start

The works now being finished, the Royal Palace will once again be organising visits during the summer of 2026. Curious-minded people will get the chance to look inside from 3 July until 16 August 2026. Four temporary exhibits will be on show: ‘Louise d’Orléans, Becoming a Queen’ by the Royal Association for Dynasty and Cultural Heritage, ‘Music, Sound and Imagination’ by Belspo, ‘Selection of Dream Machines’ by MyMachine, and ‘The Royal Palace as a Memory Palace’ by Het Geheugenpaleis.

Of course, the visit also includes some of the Royal Palace’s historic rooms, as well as the gardens.

The Throne Room

Dating back to the reign of King Leopold II, this room is decorated in the centre by four low reliefs by Auguste Rodin. They represent the economic activities symbolising the Belgian provinces, with the exception of that of Brabant, which hosts the Palace on its territory. The Scheldt and the Meuse, symbols of Flanders and Wallonia, by Thomas Vinçotte, are above the doors.

The Large Gallery

Built under the reign of King Leopold II, this room has been used for hosting dinners and receptions down to the present day. The ceiling paintings by Charles-Léon Cardon (1850-1921) represent the different moments of the day – the artist was influenced by the master painters of the Louvres and the Chateau of Versailles.

Visitors are required to book their tickets beforehand through the Royal Palace’s website. For the first time, entrance to the Palace is no longer free of charge, as the Belgian Science Policy no longer covers the costs of the opening due to budget cuts. Adults pay €10 for their visit, while children under 13 can enter for free but should still book a time slot.

L’article Brussels Royal Palace reopens following two-year renovation est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Inaugurated on 1926, having been commissioned by King William I of the Netherlands, to commemorate the location on the battlefield of Waterloo where a musket ball hit the shoulder of his elder son, the then Prince of Orange, the Lion’s Mound is a cone-shaped hill, 46-metres in height, scaled by 226 steps and topped by a statue of a Medici-style lion, with its paw upon a ball.

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It has become a symbol for the end of the Napoleonic Wars, when the French Imperial Army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two allied forces of the Seventh Coalition, one of which was led by the British Duke of Wellington. Visible from the road, the Mound is uncontroversial and is driven past by thousands of cars a day, but at the time of its creation, it was criticised by Victor Hugo, who said the man-made hill meant the “real relief” of the landscape “had been taken away, and history, disconcerted, no longer finds her bearings there. It has been disfigured for the sake of glorifying it.”

Two hundred years and five months of renovation work later, costing the Belgian federal government €650,000, with funding contributed by the National Lottery, the restored lion was unveiled on Friday 22 May at a ceremony attended by Federal Minister responsible for State Property Management Vanessa Matz, responsible for State Property Management, Vanessa Matz, and Walloon minister for Heritage, Valérie Lescresnier.

The works involved repairs to the long staircase to the top, including its steps, balustrade, and handrail. Stone and cast-iron elements were refurbished, as well as the statue of the lion itself.

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Comprising nine parts, the 4.45-metre-high lion received work to improve its assembly and stability after drone and borescope inspections showed failings. The lion also received a “time capsule,” containing technical documents describing the work undertaken, a tool, a lottery ball, and a newspaper, as well as an admission ticket for the historic visitor attraction.

Various events are lined up to mark the battle’s 200^th anniversary throughout the year. These will include a free “Iconic Lion” exhibition of photos, which is set to run until 31 December and features artistic interpretations and historic imagery tracing the 40-meter-high monument’s evolution. In addition, a weekend of celebrations with concerts will take place on 15 and 16 August, and a show themed “200 years of history” is programmed for 12 September.

L’article Lion of Waterloo now renovated for 200th battle anniversary est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

According to a ruling in the year 325 AD by the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity (Constantine the Great), all Christians should celebrate Easter together at the same time.

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But back in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced his Gregorian calendar, jumping the world that followed his orders forward by 13 days. This was because of an 11-minute inaccuracy in the number of days in Julius Caesar’s previous calendar. The fault meant the world had gradually drifted out of alignment with the solar year since the lag had added up over centuries, making the spring equinox 10 days early and Easter fall on the “wrong” date. For farmers, too, being increasingly out of whack with the natural seasons was a concern.

When Gregory’s calendar came into force, on 4 October 1582, the next day was suddenly 15 October. When Easter was celebrated the following year, as per the usual rules placing it on the first Sunday after the first spring full moon, Orthodox Christians, who still used the Julian calendar, no longer automatically celebrated Easter at the same time as other believers because the spring equinox was now different for them.

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Orthodox Christian churches around the world, including in Bulgaria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Romania, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine, still follow the Julian year, meaning their celebrations, including eggs, chocolate, family meals, and church services, are yet to come on 12 April 2026. For travellers, this means an immersive, week-long cultural experience with church processions, midnight candlelit services, and lively Sunday feasts. It is also a peak travel period for locals, meaning it is important to book hotels early and carefully plan holidays.

In most years, the celebrations happen on different dates, with the two Easters coinciding (known as common Pascha) only every three to four years on average—a time held up as a period of special unity.

During the 21^st century, they will match 31 times, with the last occurrence in 2025 and the next due in 2028. The Orthodox faith also dictates that Easter must fall after Jewish Passover, pushing the date further away from the non-Orthodox occasion. In fact, the gap between the two Easters is becoming wider, and after the year 2700, the celebrations will never occur on the same date again.

L’article Why Orthodox Easter falls on a different date and how it affects spring travel est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

French auction house Artcurial will sell a section of the monument’s original spiral staircase on 21 May, with estimates suggesting it could fetch between €40,000 and €50,000. The iron structure, dating back to 1889, was designed under the supervision of engineer Gustave Eiffel and once connected the tower’s second and third floors. 

The piece measures around 8.5 feet (about 2.75 metres) in height and includes 14 steps made of riveted steel, forming part of the staircase that originally allowed visitors to climb to the top of the tower before elevators were introduced.

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The staircase was dismantled in 1983 during modernisation works and divided into 24 sections. Some of these segments remain in Paris, including pieces presented at the Musée d’Orsay, La Villette, Iron Museum in Jarville-la-Malgrange, while others have been dispersed globally, ending up in Japan and the United States.

The section now heading to auction has been in private hands for more than four decades. According to Artcurial specialist Sabrina Dolla, the anonymous owner is selling because “he’s enjoyed it long enough” and “now his circumstances are taking him elsewhere.” 

Despite its relatively modest estimate, previous sales of similar staircase fragments have achieved significantly higher prices. Over the years, Artcurial has sold several, including an 11.5-foot segment for €212,458 in 2013, a record-setting €523,800 sale in 2016, a 14-foot section for €162,500 in 2018, and another 8.5-foot piece for €253,500 in 2020.

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The current piece has also been restored to its original brown colour by the workshops responsible for maintaining the Eiffel Tower, enhancing its authenticity. 

Built for the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower was initially intended to stand for only a limited period, but has since become a global symbol of France and one of the most visited monuments in the world. 

L’article Historic Eiffel Tower staircase section to be auctioned in Paris est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.