Venice is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions, attracting some 20 million visitors per year to the Italian city. The historic city of Venice, once an independent city state, was a major trading post in its day between Western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the Islamic world. In fact, around the 13th Century it was the richest city in all of Europe. The legacy of this era remains fully palpable, with a great number of magnificent historic buildings. The gondola city of Venice, which is made up of 113 small islands, is perhaps most famous for its many canals and their many gondolas. However, Venice is also very well known for the grandeur of the central St Mark's Square, and its current principal ...
The entrance gate to Vondelpark in Amsterdam provides a perfect first impression. Distinguished doors frame the park in green and regal gold, and the swirl embellished bars of the gate suggest that art antiquity lies just beyond. Although works of Van Gough and Rembrandt are found outside of Vondelpark, the ornately sculptured park is actually the art form implied upon. There is, however, a sculpture by Picasso (The Fish), and an abundance of places for repose and tranquility. By far the best way to explore the lush grounds is to use the beloved local means of transport in Amsterdam: the bicycle. A bicycle ride through the 47 hectares of Vondelpark is reminiscent of travelling back in time through art history, as many artists absorbed inspirations ...
Within the grounds of Prague Castle, there are many opportunities to explore magnificent architecture and stunning buildings. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest “coherent castle complex” in the world, and holds the exquisite St. Vitus Cathedral within its grounds of almost 70,000 m². After a decent walk up a steep hill, the Castle grounds unfold before you, and on a sunny winter’s day you can enjoy loads of Gothic architecture, the changing of the guards, and the gemstone in the Castle’s crown: St. Vitus Cathedral. Saint Vitus is a Roman Catholic cathedral, also known by its full name of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral. The present-day Gothic cathedral was founded in 1344, and has undergone many ...
Canterbury was once a pilgrimage stop on the way from London to Rome. When Thomas Becket was murdered at Canterbury Cathedral in AD 1170 by knights of King Henry II, Canterbury became a pilgrimage site in its own right. With Canterbury just a quick train ride from London, you can be transported back in time, in little more than an hour, to a town with a slower pace, more space, and a higher proportion of old buildings. The Cathedral is located within the old city walls. Narrow, winding pedestrian streets lead to Canterbury Cathedral, with lots of great cafes and shops along the way. A bronze sculpture of Christ in the Archway leading to the gardens makes for a stunning first impression. Wandering through Canterbury ...
The Black Forest region is situated in the south of Germany, bordering Switzerland. From the moment you arrive, the sense of peace and seclusion is astounding. Surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, Black Forest feels miles from civilization. Houses and people are few and far between, and under the warm German summer sun, the lazy drone of insects is broken only by the occasional clanking of cowbells in the distance. Don't be fooled though—there is plenty to explore, from the deep forests, caves and waterfalls, to ancient German castle ruins and the nearby cities of Baden-Baden, Freiburg, and Staufen. Motocross is quite popular among the younger males in the Black Forest hills, and you'll often find them tearing through the forest paths on heavy-duty dirt ...
The oohs and ahs rise up from the crowd like clockwork. Turquoise water gurgles and forms a bubble over the hole, growing and growing, until, with a pop and a whoosh, it gushes skyward, shooting up to an impressive 30m high. Cue the oohs and ahs. With a schedule of erupting every five minutes or so, Strokkur may not be the world's most impressive geyser, but it's certainly the most reliable. The title of Iceland's most impressive used to belong to Geysir (pronounced gay-zeer) - a formidable geyser that shot 80m into the air, and provided the namesake for all other geysers around the world. Sadly for Geysir, rumour has it that one day a group of tourists threw rocks into it, trying to set ...
Stepping out of the London Underground at Westminster, you may be caught off guard by the sheer size of Big Ben as it immediately confronts you. Although it may seem child’s play to take a photo of such a looming stationary subject as one of the world's largest clocks, it actually involves some photographic tact and maneuvering. Neighbouring the former Palace of Westminster, which was destroyed in 1834, Big Ben was included as part of the new Westminster rebuilt in 1844. Big Ben first rang out over London on May 31, 1859, but the bells cracked just two months later. Rotated and replaced with a lighter hammer, this is the bell we hear today. The name “Big Ben Clock Tower” is really more of a ...
It seems like every time a movie, television show, or news report wants to set a scene in Moscow, the filming takes place in front of St. Basil's Cathedral. Most tourists only get a snapshot or two in front of the cathedral's colorful onion domes, but you really shouldn't miss out on a tour of the interior of St. Basil's Cathedral. Located in Red Square, next to the Kremlin, the iconic St. Basil's Cathedral is definitely one of the top five sightseeing attractions in Moscow. It is located in the very center of the Garden Ring, a circular avenue that runs around the center of Moscow. The cathedral, nicknamed the "Stone Flower", was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible, who wanted to memorialize every victory of ...
One of the great pleasures of visiting many European cities in winter is the captivating effect that snow has on their classic architecture, creating a virtual winter wonderland. Estonia's capital Tallinn may not be as world famous as Vienna or Prague, but it's probably one of the best places on the whole continent to experience Europe as it was in medieval times. Old Town Tallinn is so well preserved that it has UNESCO World Heritage Site status - picture a close-knit network of winding cobbled streets with iron street lamps, Gothic spires of grandiose churches and half-hidden courtyards sheltering beautiful gabled houses. Look out for Tallinn's Town Hall, the only one in northern Europe dating from the Gothic era that still remains standing, dating back ...
Our environment is extremely precious, and whether you are a global warming advocate or a cynic, there seems to be no doubt that our planet is undergoing many changes. The intriguing Las Bardenas Reales, in Navarra Spain, is one of Spain’s natural parks protected for its biology, geology or landscape, which also has an ecological, aesthetic, educational or scientific value. As a “landscape photographer in training” I like to take the opportunity to explore new landscapes whenever it arises, and had never previously heard of a “natural park.” Enter: Las Bardenas Reales Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve. It ticks all the boxes for any photographer—environmental, tourist, or adventurer, and covers 42,500 hectares of fascinating semi-desert vegetation, with rocky formations of an eerie lunar quality, regarded ...
