The Meteora monasteries in Greece

9 January 2012 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  7 minutes

Meteora Panorama © Exwhysee

Meteora Panorama © Exwhysee

The Metéora (“suspended rocks”, “suspended in the air” or “in the heavens above” – etymologically similar to “Meteorite”) is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. The nearest town is Kalambaka. The Metéora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Only six of the originally 24 monasteries remain today. Of these six, four were inhabited by men, and two by women. Each monastery has fewer than 10 inhabitants. The monasteries are now tourist attractions.   read more…

Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus Christ

25 December 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage, Union for the Mediterranean Reading Time:  12 minutes

Church of the Nativity © flickr.com - Neil Ward/cc-by-2.0

Church of the Nativity © flickr.com – Neil Ward/cc-by-2.0

Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank in Palestine and approximately 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism. The New Testament identifies Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth. The town is inhabited by one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, although the size of the community has shrunk due to emigration.   read more…

Theme Week Rome – Castel Sant’Angelo, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon

11 November 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Museums, Exhibitions, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  15 minutes

Castle Sant'Angelo © Andreas Tille

Castle Sant’Angelo © Andreas Tille

CASTEL SANT’ANGELO

The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant’Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Rome. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.   read more…

Eberbach Abbey in the Rheingau

5 November 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Environment Reading Time:  4 minutes

© Fritz Geller-Grimm

© Fritz Geller-Grimm

Eberbach Abbey (German: Kloster Eberbach) is a former Cistercian monastery near Eltville am Rhein in the Rheingau. On account of its impressive Romanesque and early Gothic buildings it is considered one of the most significant architectural heritage sites in Hesse. In the winter of 1985/86 the interior scenes of the film The Name of the Rose were filmed here.   read more…

Rennes-le-Château

9 September 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Sainte Marie-Madeleine church © Hawobo

Sainte Marie-Madeleine church © Hawobo

Rennes-le-Château is a commune in the Aude department in Languedoc in southern France. It is known internationally, and receives tens of thousands of visitors per year, for being at the center of various conspiracy theories.   read more…

Saint Michael’s Mount in France

3 February 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: Architecture, Museums, Exhibitions, Sustainability, Palaces, Castles, Manors, Parks, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time:  4 minutes

© Benh LIEU SONG

© Benh LIEU SONG

Mont Saint-Michel (English: Saint Michael’s Mount) is a rocky tidal island and a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre (just over half a mile) off the country’s north coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The population of the island is 41.   read more…

Canterbury in England

5 January 2011 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

Canterbury Cathedral © Hans Musil

Canterbury Cathedral © Hans Musil

Canterbury is an English city which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour. Many historical structures remain in the city, including a city wall founded in Roman times and rebuilt in the 14th century, the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey and a Norman castle, and perhaps the oldest school in England, The King’s School. Modern additions include the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University, the Marlowe Theatre, and the St Lawrence Ground, home to Kent County Cricket Club. The city lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a local government district.   read more…

Return to TopReturn to Top