TRAVEL TUESDAY 565 - MT ATHOS, GREECE

“True religion is real living; living with all one’s soul, with all one’s goodness and righteousness.” - Albert Einstein

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Mount Athos, known in Greek as Agion Oros (the Holy Mountain), is a mountain and peninsula in northern Greece that operates as a semi-autonomous, self-governing monastic republic. Home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and approximately 1,400 to 2,000 monks, it has been an uninterrupted centre of Orthodox spirituality since the Byzantine era. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the area is famous for its breathtaking, fortress-like architecture, pristine forests, and its strict, centuries-old traditional rules.

The Avaton (Ban on Women) is a key requirement, by ancient law, dating back over a millennium, where women and children are strictly forbidden from entering the peninsula. This tradition, meant to ensure total celibacy and focus for the monks, requires female travellers to view the coastal monasteries exclusively via offshore boat cruises. The peninsula is home to 20 main monasteries, such as the audaciously built Simonopetra Monastery perched high on a cliff, and Vatopedi Monastery, which still keeps "Byzantine time" where the new day begins at sunset. 

There are no land routes for public entry. All visitors must arrive by ferry, typically departing from the mainland gateway towns of Ouranoupolis or Ierissos. Visiting Mount Athos is treated as a religious pilgrimage rather than a casual holiday. Because the monks protect their quiet, spiritual environment, access is highly regulated. A permit  to visit (Diamonitirion) is required by every male visitor, which must be reserved months in advance through the Mount Athos Pilgrims’ Bureau in Thessaloniki. General visitor entries are capped at 100 Orthodox and a very limited number of non-Orthodox men per day. Regulations restrict group sizes to a maximum of five people, and pilgrims must obtain explicit, pre-approved invitations from specific monasteries to secure overnight accommodation.

Room and board within the monasteries are provided free of charge, but guests must strictly adhere to the monastic schedule. This includes attending early morning services (often starting at 3:00 AM), dressing conservatively (long trousers and long sleeves), keeping silent after dark, and turning off video recording equipment, which is strictly prohibited.

The Moni Grigoriou Monastery is shown above, founded in the 14th century (shortly before 1350) and dedicated to Saint Nicholas.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 560 - KYLEMORE ABBEY, IRELAND

“When I told the people of Northern Ireland that I was an atheist, a woman in the audience stood up and said, 'Yes, but is it the God of the Catholics or the God of the Protestants in whom you don't believe?” - Quentin Crisp

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Kylemore Abbey (Irish: Mainistir na Coille Móire) is a Benedictine Monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. The Abbey was founded for Benedictine nuns who fled Belgium in World War 1. Since 2022, it has belonged to the English Benedictine Congregation. Under The Kylemore Trust, it continues its mission as a Benedictine monastery, holding Kylemore and its spiritual mission, natural and built heritage in trust for the Irish nation. Kylemore Abbey also operates as one of Ireland's leading visitor attractions.

Kylemore Castle was built in 1868 as a private home for the family of Mitchell Henry, a wealthy doctor from London whose family was involved in textile manufacturing in Manchester, England. He moved to Ireland when he and his wife Margaret purchased the land around the Abbey, after having travelled there on their honeymoon in the mid-1840s. He became a politician, becoming an MP for County Galway from 1871 to 1885.

The castle was designed by James Franklin Fuller, aided by Samuel Ussher Roberts. The construction of the castle began in 1867, and took the total of one hundred men and four years to complete. The castle covered approximately 3,700 m2 and had over seventy rooms with a principal wall that was up to a metre thick. The facade measures 43 m in width and is made of granite brought from Dalkey quarry by sea to Letterfrack, and of limestone brought from Ballinasloe. There were 33 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 sitting rooms, a ballroom, billiard room, library, study, school room, smoking room, gun room and various offices and domestic staff residences for the butler, cook, housekeeper and other servants.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 559 - ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS

“I, like Don Quixote, have fought many a windmill.” - Dan Peña

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Zaandam is a distinct city in North Holland just north of Amsterdam, reachable via a 12-minute train ride. It is globally famous for its controversial, modernized-traditional architecture—most notably the stacked green wooden houses of the iconic Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam—and as the gateway to the historic Zaanse Schans windmills (shown above).

Key attractions to see are: Zaanse Schans - A renowned open-air museum just north of central Zaandam where you can explore functioning historic windmills, traditional cheese-making shops, and the famous green Zaan-style houses. Inntel Hotels Zaandam: The eye-catching architectural marvel in the city centre that stacks nearly 70 individual traditional Zaandam house facades on top of one another.

Czar Peter House (Tsaar Peterhuisje): Built in 1632, this is one of the oldest wooden houses in the Netherlands and was a temporary residence for Russian Tsar Peter the Great during his 1697 visit.

Zaans Museum & Monet Atelier: Learn about local trade and the chocolate/biscuit industry, or visit the partly blue corner house famously painted by Claude Monet in 1871.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 556 - CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

“In Colombia, everything is an exaggeration – the people, the colours, the festivals, and the stories.” — Jorge Franco

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Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a vibrant, highly biodiverse nation located in the northwestern corner of South America. Nicknamed the “gateway to South America”, it is the only country on the continent with coastlines along both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It has a population of about 52 million people and the capital city is Bogotá, located high in the Andes mountains.

Cartagena, is a vibrant, historic port city on the Caribbean coast, which is highly attractive for tourists. Famous for its UNESCO-listed walled Old Town, it blends stunning colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and colourful balconies with tropical beaches, incredible gastronomy, and a lively Afro-Caribbean cultural scene.

Amongst the many attractions are: 1) The Walled City (Ciudad Amurallada) — Wander the cobblestone streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enter through the iconic Clock Tower Gate (Puerta del Reloj) to explore historic plazas like Plaza de Bolívar and the Palace of the Inquisition. 2) Castillo San Felipe de Barajas — A massive, strategically built fortress on the Hill of San Lázaro, designed to protect the city from pirates. 3) Getsemaní — Just outside the walled city, this hip, bohemian neighbourhood is famous for its vibrant street art, colorful umbrellas, and trendy, local-heavy bars. 4) Convento de la Popa — Located at the highest point of the city, offering panoramic views of the coast and cityscape.

While the urban beaches in the Bocagrande and Laguito areas are popular, the best pristine white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters require a short boat trip. Rosario Islands (Islas del Rosario) are a stunning national park located about an hour boat ride away. Perfect for snorkeling, scuba diving, and relaxing. Playa Blanca is located on the nearby Barú Peninsula, offering a classic Caribbean beach experience with a laid-back vibe.

The image is within the walled city and the landmark in the background is the Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandría.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 547 - ROUEN, FRANCE

“In France we have a saying, ‘Joie de vivre’, which actually doesn't exist in the English language. It means looking at your life as something that is to be taken with great pleasure and enjoy it.” - Mireille Guiliano

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Rouen is the historic capital of Normandy in northwestern France, 125 km northwest of Paris. It is known as the “city of a hundred bell-towers” and famed for its medieval, half-timbered houses, rich Gothic architecture, and connection to Joan of Arc. It is located on the picturesque River Seine, and it features the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Gros-Horloge clock, and a population of over 712,000 in its metropolitan area. It is a “Ville Musée” (Museum City) that balances a rich, preserved history with a lively, modern urban atmosphere.

Rouen Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame) is a masterpiece of Gothic art immortalized in a series of paintings by Claude Monet. The Gros-Horloge is a 14th-century astronomical clock located on a Renaissance arch spanning a bustling pedestrian street. The Place du Vieux-Marché is the historic marketplace where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431, now featuring a modern church dedicated to her. Old Town (Le Vieux Rouen) a pedestrian-friendly area, filled with hundreds of medieval, half-timbered houses and cobbled streets is the key venue to visit in the city. The Musée des Beaux-Arts is a fine arts museum with a large collection of Impressionist paintings. History, art and culture are a vibrant part of the fabric of the City.

Every summer, the magnificent cathedral in Rouen comes to life at nightfall with a free, breathtaking light show projected upon its façade. The Rouen Armada is the largest gathering of tall ships in the world. For around ten days, millions of visitors flock to the quays of Rouen to admire the most prestigious ships and greet their crews. Rouen‘s massive Fête du Ventre is undoubtedly one of the must-attend gastronomic events of the autumn and remains a popular attraction for local and international tourists.

Rouen, as the historical capital of Normandy, was crucial during the Middle Ages, with ties to Vikings, William the Conqueror, and Richard the Lionheart. Joan of Arc is also profoundly linked to the City, and Saint Joan was tried and executed here. Known for traditional Normandy cuisine, including local cheeses, apple products, and boasting, in La Couronne, one of France's oldest inns, excellent cuisine. Rouen is must visit city for any foodie.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 546 - DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, SCOTLAND

“The gloomy hills of Scotland keep my spirit clean” - Robert Louis Stevenson

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Dunnottar Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Fhoithear, "fort on the shelving slope") is a ruined medieval fortress located upon a rocky headland on the northeast coast of Scotland, about 3 kilometres south of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. The surviving buildings are largely of the 15th and 16th centuries, but the site is believed to have been fortified in the Early Middle Ages.

Dunnottar has played a prominent role in the history of Scotland through to the 18th-century Jacobite risings because of its strategic location and defensive strength. Dunnottar is best known as the place where the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish crown jewels, were hidden from Oliver Cromwell's invading army in the 17th century.

The property of the Keiths from the 14th century, and the seat of the Earl Marischal, Dunnottar declined after the last Earl forfeited his titles by taking part in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. The castle was restored in the 20th century and is now open to the public. The castle ruins are spread over 1.4 hectares, The site is surrounded by steep cliffs that drop to the North Sea, 50 meters below.

A narrow strip of land joins the headland to the mainland, along which a steep path leads to the gatehouse. The various buildings within the castle include the 14th-century tower house as well as the 16th-century palace. Dunnottar Castle is a scheduled monument, and twelve structures on the site were listed buildings.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 542 - CAEN, FRANCE

“Peace is not a gift from God to man, but a gift from man to himself.” - Elie Wiesel

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Caen is a city and commune 15 km inland from the northwestern coast of France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (as of 2018), while its functional urban area has 470,000, making Caen the second largest urban area in Normandy and the 19th largest in France. It is also the third largest commune in all of Normandy after Le Havre and Rouen. Caen is located 200 km northwest of Paris, connected to the South of England by the Caen (Ouistreham) to Portsmouth ferry route through the English Channel.

Situated a few miles from the coast, the landing beaches, the bustling resorts of Deauville and Cabourg, as well as Norman Switzerland and the Pays d'Auge, Caen is often considered the archetype of Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there, and for the Battle for Caen, heavy fighting that took place in and around Caen during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, destroying much of the city. The city has now preserved the memory by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Mémorial de Caen.

Caen is in an area of high humidity. The river Orne flows through the city, as well as small rivers known as les Odons, most of which have been buried under the city to improve urban hygiene. Caen has a large flood zone, named "La prairie", located around the hippodrome, not far from the river Orne, which is regularly submerged. Caen is 10 km from the Channel. A canal (Canal de Caen à la Mer) parallel to the Orne was built during the reign of Napoleon III to link the city to the sea at all times. The canal reaches the English Channel at Ouistreham. A lock keeps the tide out of the canal and lets large ships navigate up the canal to Caen's freshwater harbours.

The castle, the Château de Caen, built c. 1060 by William the Conqueror, who successfully conquered England in 1066, is one of the largest medieval fortresses of Western Europe. It remained an essential feature of Norman strategy and policy. Today, the castle serves as a museum that houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen (Museum of Fine Arts of Caen) and Musée de Normandie (Museum of Normandy) along with many periodical exhibitions about arts and history.

In repentance for marrying his cousin Mathilda of Flanders, William the Conqueror ordered two abbeys to be built on the Pope's encouragement: Église St.-Étienne, formerly the Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey). It was completed in 1063 and is dedicated to St Stephen. The current Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) of Caen is built onto the South Transept of the building. Église de la Ste.-Trinité, formerly the Abbaye aux Dames (Women's Abbey). It was completed in 1060 and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The current seat of the regional council (conseil régional) of Basse-Normandie is nearby.

Other sights include: Jardin botanique de Caen, a historic botanical garden. The Church of Saint-Pierre, the Church of Saint-Étienne-le-Vieux, and the Church of Saint-Jean de Caen. Not to be missed is the Mémorial pour la Paix ("Memorial for Peace") built in 1988, a museum charting the events leading up to and after D-Day. It is an emotional presentation inviting meditation and reflection. The Memorial for Peace also includes an exhibit of Nobel Peace Prize winners and another one on Conflict Resolution in different cultures.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 539 - BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

“Bucharest is like cilantro, a Romanian resident once told me: You either love it or hate it. But there's much to love about a city that provides a less-expensive taste of Europe (Romania is in the European Union but not in the eurozone). Still grappling with allegations of government corruption and working to rebound from layers of grim history, the present-day capital remains a bit rough around the edges, but offers a rich ethnic culture, a resurgent arts and crafts scene, beautiful parks and a booming night life.” - Susanne Fowler

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Bucharest (Romanian: București) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than 60 km north of the Danube River and the Bulgarian border. Bucharest was first mentioned in documents in 1459. It became the capital of Romania in 1862 and is the centre of Romanian media, culture, and art. Its architecture is a mix of historical (neo-classical), interbellum (Bauhaus and art deco), communist-era and modern.

In the period between the two World Wars, the city's elegant architecture and the sophistication of its elite earned Bucharest the nickname of "Little Paris" (Micul Paris). Although buildings and districts in the historic city centre were heavily damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes, and above all Nicolae Ceaușescu's program of systematisation, many survived. In recent years, the city has been experiencing an economic and cultural boom. In 2016, the historical city centre was listed as "endangered" by the World Monuments Watch.

According to the 2011 census, 1,883,425 inhabitants live within the city limits, a decrease from the 2002 census. Adding the satellite towns around the urban area, the proposed metropolitan area of Bucharest would have a population of 2.27 million people. Bucharest is the sixth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits, after London, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, and Paris. Economically, Bucharest is the most prosperous city in Romania and is one of the main industrial centres and transportation hubs of Eastern Europe.

The city has big convention facilities, educational institutes, cultural venues, traditional "shopping arcades", and recreational areas. The city proper is administratively known as the "Municipality of Bucharest" (Municipiul București), and has the same administrative level as that of a national county, being further subdivided into six sectors, each governed by a local mayor.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 535 - CEFALÙ - SICILY, ITALY

“To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything. The purity of the contours, the softness of everything, the exchange of soft colors, the harmonious unity of the sky with the sea and the sea to the land… who saw them once, shall possess them for a lifetime.” - Goethe

Cefalù, classically known as Cephaloedium (Ancient Greek: Κεφαλοίδιον, romanized: Kephaloídion), is a city and comune in the Italian Metropolitan City of Palermo, located on the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily about 70 km east of the provincial capital and 185 km west of Messina. The town, with its population of just under 14,000, is one of the major tourist attractions in the region. Despite its size, every year it attracts millions of tourists from all parts of Sicily, and also from all over Italy and Europe. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy”).

Of Siculian foundation, in the fourth century BC the Greeks gave the indigenous settlement the name of Kephaloídion, evidently derived from its situation on a lofty and precipitous rock, forming a bold headland (Ancient Greek: κεφαλή, kephalḗ, 'head') projecting into the sea. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the town remained part of the Byzantine Empire and the settlement was eventually moved from the plain to the current spur for defence.

In 1063, the Normans captured it. In 1131, Roger II, king of Sicily, transferred it from its almost inaccessible position to one at the foot of the rock, where there was a small but excellent harbour. There he ordered construction of the present Norman-style cathedral. In addition to Arabs, the area was still inhabited by its original Greek speakers (today called Byzantine Greeks, then called Rûm i.e. 'Romans,' by the Arabs), and these Christians were still members of the Greek Orthodox Church. Between the 13th century and 1451, the city was controlled by different feudal families, and then it became a possession of the Roman bishops of Cefalù. During the Risorgimento, the patriot Salvatore Spinuzza was shot here in 1857. Cefalù became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

Cefalù Cathedral (Duomo) is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Arab-Norman masterpiece featuring stunning Byzantine mosaics, including the Christ Pantocrator. La Rocca is the mountain towering over the town, offering a steep climb to panoramic views and ruins of the Temple of Diana. Spiaggia di Cefalù is a long, popular sandy beach bordering the town center. Lavatoio Medievale is a medieval, covered washhouse built on a river, formerly used by local women. Old Town (Centro Storico) with its maze of narrow, photogenic streets filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants is a highlight. Museo Mandralisca known for its collection of archaeological finds and a portrait by Antonello da Messina should also be visited.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 531 - OLD CITY, SHANGHAI, CHINA

"There is something in Shanghai that is very exciting and alive - the idea of a city with two different souls, one from today and another from a long time ago, is amazing." - Alessandro Michele.

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The Old City of Shanghai (Chinese: 上海老城厢; pinyin: Shànghǎi Lǎo Chéngxiāng; Shanghainese: Zånhae Lo Zenshian), also formerly known as the Chinese city, is the traditional urban core of Shanghai. Its boundary was formerly defined by a defensive wall. The Old City was the county seat for the old county of Shanghai.

With the advent of foreign concessions in Shanghai, the Old City became just one part of Shanghai's urban core, but continued for decades to be the seat of the Chinese authority in Shanghai. Notable features include the City God Temple, which is located in the centre of the Old City and is connected to the Yuyuan Garden.

With the exception of two short sections, the walls were demolished in 1912, and a broad circular avenue built over the former wall and moat: the southern half was named the "Zhonghua Road" and the northern half the "Minguo Road" (together making up "Zhonghua Minguo", or "Republic of China" in Chinese). The Old City was for decades essentially coterminous with the old Nanshi District, which is now part of Huangpu District.

Yu Garden or Yuyuan Garden (traditional Chinese: 豫園; simplified Chinese: 豫园; pinyin: Yù Yuán, Shanghainese Yuyoe Wu, lit. Garden of Happiness) is an extensive Chinese garden, first built in 1559, and  located beside the City God Temple in the northeast of the Old City of Shanghai at Huangpu District, Shanghai. It abuts the Yuyuan Tourist Mart, the Huxinting Teahouse and the Yu Garden Bazaar.  Boasting over 40 scenic spots, including pavilions, rock formations, and ponds, it is now a key site under state-level protection.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 529 - GUILIN, CHINA

“To have friends come to visit from afar is happiness, is it not?” - Confucius

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Guilin (Standard Zhuang: Gveilinz), formerly romanized as Kweilin, is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is situated on the west bank of the Li River and borders Hunan to the north. Its name means "forest of sweet osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant sweet osmanthus trees located in the region.

The city has long been renowned for its scenery of karst topography. Guilin is one of China's most popular tourist destinations, and the epithet "By water, by mountains, most lovely, Guilin" (山水甲天下) is often associated with the city. The State Council of China has designated Guilin a National Famous Historical and Cultural City, doing so in the first edition of the list.

According to the 2020 Chinese census, its population was 4,931,137 inhabitants, and 2,148,641 lived in the built-up (or metro) area. According to the 2010 Chinese census, the largest ethnic group in the prefecture-level city was Han Chinese, accounting for 84.53% of the total population. This was followed by Yao at 7.79% and Zhuang at 4.81%. Citizens of Guilin's urban area speak a dialect of Mandarin, while Pinghua is predominantly spoken in suburbs and surrounding areas.

The Sun and Moon Pagodas (Chinese: 日月双塔; pinyin: Rìyuè Shuāngtǎ) are twin pagodas located in Guilin, Guangxi, China. Originally built in the city moat of Guilin during the Tang dynasty, the pagodas were reconstructed in 2001 using historical records as the centerpiece of Riyue Shuangta Cultural Park—a park themed around the unity of Buddhism.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 528 - OLD JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA

“The hajj is one of the five essential practices of Islam; when they make the pilgrimage to Mecca, Muslims ritually act out the central principles of their faith.” - Karen Armstrong

Jeddah is a governorate and the largest city in Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia, and the country's second largest city after Riyadh, located along the Red Sea coast in the Hejaz region. Jeddah is the commercial centre of the country. It is not known when Jeddah was founded, but Jeddah's prominence grew in 647 when the Caliph Uthman made it a travel hub serving Muslim travelers going to the holy city of Mecca for Islamic pilgrimage.

Since those times, Jeddah has served as a gateway for millions of pilgrims who have arrived in Saudi Arabia. With a population of about 3,751,722 people as of 2022, Jeddah is the largest city in Mecca Province, the largest city in Hejaz, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia (after the capital Riyadh), and the ninth-largest in the Middle East. It also serves as the administrative centre of the OIC. Jeddah Islamic Port, on the Red Sea, is the thirty-sixth largest seaport in the world and the second-largest and second-busiest seaport in the Middle East (after Dubai's Port of Jebel Ali).

Historic Jeddah, or al-Balad, is a world cultural heritage site, a central archaeological, commercial, and tourist area, in downtown Jeddah on the western coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It consists of the Jeddah neighbourhoods within the old wall, gates, alleys, mosques, houses, markets, buildings, government headquarters, neighbourhood empty areas between houses (barha), landmarks, public squares, personal museums, and ancient mosques.

Historic Jeddah is one of six Saudi archaeological sites listed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Historic Jeddah is surrounded by a wall that was first built in the fifteenth century. Within it, Historic Jeddah was divided into four main neighbourhoods (Harat): Harat al-Sham (the Levant), Harat al-Yemen, Harat al-Mazloum, and Harat al-Bahr (the sea).

These neighbourhoods contained landmarks that influenced modern Saudi history, most notably: Bait Nassif (House of Nassif), in which the founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud resided for about ten years, as well as four hundred buildings; the oldest of which dates back to the seventh century, and the most recent to the twentieth century.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 527 - MARAYA, SAUDI ARABIA

“A flower blooming in the desert proves to the world that adversity, no matter how great, can be overcome.” - Matshona Dhliwayo

The Maraya Concert Hall is an architectural marvel and a multi-purpose event venue located in the Ashar Valley of AlUla, Saudi Arabia. Its name means "mirror" or "reflection" in Arabic, a fitting description as the entire exterior is clad in 9,740 square meters of mirrored glass, making it the world's largest mirrored building and blending seamlessly into the stunning desert landscape.

Situated in the ancient desert region of AlUla, a 20-minute drive from the town centre and near Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage site, Hegra. The cuboid, three-story structure was designed by Italian firm Gio Forma and was built in less than three months. It features a large retractable window that opens to panoramic views of the valley, integrating the natural scenery with performances.

The venue includes a 500-seat concert hall equipped with state-of-the-art acoustic systems. It hosts a wide range of events, including international concerts, art exhibitions (like an Andy Warhol exhibit), conferences, and bespoke events. The building is also home to Maraya Social, a fine dining restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, which requires advance reservation to dine. General access to the interior is not permitted without a guided tour ticket, an event ticket, or a restaurant reservation. Guided tours are available and pre-registration is required.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 523 - HAGIA SOPHIA, ISTANBUL

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” - Maya Angelou

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and then share it with the rest of us.

Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only. Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Hagia Sophia, officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, is a mosque serving as a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey. It was formerly a church (360–1453) and a museum (1935–2020). The last of three church buildings to be successively erected on the site by the Eastern Roman Empire, it was completed in AD 537, becoming the world's largest interior space and among the first to employ a fully pendentive dome. It is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have "changed the history of architecture”.

From its dedication in 360 until 1453 Hagia Sophia served as the cathedral of Constantinople in the Byzantine liturgical tradition, except for the period 1204–1261 when the Latin Crusaders installed their own hierarchy. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it served as a mosque, having its minarets added soon after. The site became a museum in 1935, and was redesignated as a mosque in 2020.

The current structure was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I as the Christian cathedral of Constantinople between 532–537 and was designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. It was formally called the Temple of God's Holy Wisdom, (Greek: Ναὸς τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας, romanized: Naòs tês Hagías toû Theoû Sophías) the third church of the same name to occupy the site, as the prior one had been destroyed in the Nika riots. As the episcopal see of the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, it remained the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, until the Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 511 - CHAND BAORI, INDIA

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." - Jawaharlal Nehru

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and share it with the rest of us. Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only.

Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Chand Baori is a stepwell situated in the village of Abhaneri in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It extends approximately 30 m into the ground, making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India. It is named after a local ruler of Nikumbh dynasty called Raja Chanda and its construction is dated to the 8th-9th century. It has 3500 steps cascading 13 stories deep into a massive tank at the bottom and has been constructed in an upside-down pyramid style. The state of Rajasthan is extremely arid, and the design and final structure of Chand Baori were intended to conserve as much water as possible.

Many of these stepwells, including Chand Baori, served multiple purposes alongside drawing water and playing a significant role in religious or ceremonial activities. Pilgrims are said to have found comfort in quenching their thirst and finding a resting spot at the steps of Chand Baori after their long travels. This unique form of underground well-architecture remains constant from the 7th century in the existing monument. Excavated stones of the temple are now kept by the Archaeological Survey of India in the arcades of the well. Chand Baori is a significant architectural site in western India.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 498 - ELIZABETH TOWER

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” - Samuel Johnson

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and share it with the rest of us. Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only.

Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Commonly known as the Houses of Parliament after its occupants, It is also known as the 'heart of British politics'. The Palace lies on the northern bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central London.

The Elizabeth Tower, in particular, which is often referred to by the name of its main bell, "Big Ben", is an iconic landmark of London and the United Kingdom in general, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and an emblem of parliamentary democracy. The Palace of Westminster has been a Grade I listed building since 1970 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 496 - FESTIVAL IN FABRIANO, ITALY

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web.” - Pablo Picasso

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and share it with the rest of us. Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only.

Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Fabriano is a town and comune of Ancona province in the Italian region of the Marche, at 325 metres above sea level. It lies in the Esino valley 44 kilometres (27 mi) upstream and southwest of Jesi. Its location on the main highway and rail line from Umbria to the Adriatic make it a mid-sized regional centre in the Apennines. Fabriano, with Roma, Parma, Torino and Carrara, is an Italian creative city (UNESCO). The town is in the category Folk Arts and is widely-known for its production of handmade paper.

Fabriano appears to have been founded in the early Middle Ages by the inhabitants of a small Roman town 5 kilometres south at Attiggio (Latin Attidium), of which some slight remains and inscriptions are extant. In 1276, Fabriano became one of the earliest places in Europe to produce paper. Since the 13th century and even today, the town has a reputation for fine watermarked paper. This led to Fabriano's prosperity in the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and was also one of the factors that led to the establishment of nearby Foligno in Umbria as one of the earliest printing centres in Italy in the 15th century, from 1470 onwards. 

Fabriano's wealth and commitment to the fine arts in the late medieval period have left it with many monuments. Handmade paper-making courses are popular, festivals and special exhibitions and activities are organised regularly throughout the year, and many artists find it a fascinating city to explore.

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