Munich's showcase boulevard was planned by Leo von Klenze on the orders of Ludwig I, after whom the street was named. Construction began in 1817 and continued until the mid-19th Century under the oversight of master architect Friedrich von Gärtner. The boulevard appears to have been inspired by the Via del Corso in Rome which had made a great impression on Ludwig and Klenze during their travels in Italy. Ludwigstraße begins at the Renaissance-style Feldherrnhalle and continues northwards to the Romanesque Siegestor. Ludwig Maximilian University and St Ludwig's Church are two other highlights; they too display a heavy Italian influence.
