In this post, I’ll focus on the audio-guided tour of the historic center of Strasbourg and the boat cruise around the Grande-Île. In my opinion, a combination of these two tours provides the best opportunity to learn about the city’s history, and in particular, its cultural heritage. If you have read my previous posts about Strasbourg, please click here […]
guided tour
Strasbourg – the European capital
In this post, I’ll focus on Strasbourg’s role as the European capital because it is home to the headquarters of many international organizations such as the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and so on. Do you know that New York, Geneva and Strasbourg are the only cities in the world that are home to […]
Works of Lluís Domènech i Montaner (2/2) – Palau de la Música Catalana
As the UNESCO comments: Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona. These are two of the finest contributions to Barcelona’s architecture by the Catalan art nouveau architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. The Palau de la Música Catalana is an exuberant steel-framed structure full of light and space, and decorated by many […]
Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn (2/2) – A hike to remember (Belalp – Riederalp)
Following the first post about the UNESCO Panorama Path from Belalp to Riederalp, this post will continue introducing to you the highlights including the the “färricha” and “Zickzackweg“, Aletschji, the suspension bridge (Hängebrücke), Grünsee (the Green Lake), Aletsch forest and Pro Nature Center Aletsch (Villa Cassel). 3.4 Evidence of traditional farming such as “Färricha” and the “Zickzackweg” Along […]
The Old Town of Segovia (2/2) – the Cathedral and Alcázar
As the UNESCO comments: The Roman aqueduct of Segovia, probably built c. A.D. 50, is remarkably well preserved. This impressive construction, with its two tiers of arches, forms part of the setting of the magnificent historic city of Segovia. Other important monuments include the Alcázar, begun around the 11th century, and the 16th-century Gothic cathedral. […]
The Old Town of Segovia (1/2) – the Roman Aqueduct and a Guided Tour
As the UNESCO comments: The Roman aqueduct of Segovia, probably built c. A.D. 50, is remarkably well preserved. This impressive construction, with its two tiers of arches, forms part of the setting of the magnificent historic city of Segovia. Other important monuments include the Alcázar, begun around the 11th century, and the 16th-century Gothic cathedral. […]
Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment
As the UNESCO comments: The first Benedictine monks settled here in 996. They went on to convert the Hungarians, to found the country’s first school and, in 1055, to write the first document in Hungarian. From the time of its founding, this monastic community has promoted culture throughout central Europe. Its 1,000-year history can be […]
Salzburg – the best viewpoints in and around the city
As commented by the UNESCO, “the Salzburg skyline, against a backdrop of mountains, is characterized by its profusion of spires and domes, dominated by the fortress of Hohensalzburg. It contains a number of buildings, both secular and ecclesiastical, of very high quality from periods ranging from the late Middle Ages to the 20th century,” and […]
Salzburg – W. A. Mozart’s Birthplace and Residence & the Festival Halls
In this post I’ll mainly focus on Salzburg’s role as a musical metropolis, or in other words, a “stage of the world“. The highlights will of course be the birthplace and residence of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Festival Halls, where the world-famous Salzburg Festival founded by Max Reinhardt together with a group of intellectuals and […]
Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn (1/3) – Viewpoint Moosfluh
As the UNESCO comments: The extension of the natural World Heritage property of Jungfrau – Aletsch – Bietschhorn (first inscribed in 2001), expands the site to the east and west, bringing its surface area up to 82,400 ha., up from 53,900. The site provides an outstanding example of the formation of the High Alps, including […]