Shovel bum or history buff, if exploring the past is a big part of travel's allure for you, there's ample grist for your mill, from hamming it up in the stocks at Colonial Williamsburg to exploring ancient temples and cities, to treading (and even digging occasionally up) the stones of archaeological sites.
cover photo: Xavier Senente
Ahmad Qaisieh In southern Jordan, just under three hours from capital Amman, one of the most recognisable ancient sites in the MIddle East - and indeed, the world - was rediscovered by archaeologists in 1812. But it dates back to at least the 2nd century BCE and probably earlier, settled by an ancient Bedouin Arab tribe called the Nabataeans, who spoke Aramaic rather than Arabic and grew into a wealthy, powerful kingdom which at its height - and until it was absorbed by the Roman Empire in…
Read more…Pi3.124In addition to the hiatoric district of the island´s main town Cruz Bay and the petroglyphs, there are several other notable sites at which to explore St. John´s past stretching back more than three centuries to its settlement by Danish planters from St. Thomas who named the island St. Jan. These are the ruins of sugar plantations – the only ones left of the more than 100 which existed on the island in the 18th century – and part of the national park. The best known is the Annaberg Sugar…
Read more…This scintillating southeast Asian country is renowned for its many historic temples, colonial architecture, geological wonders, fine beaches, and mouthwatering cuisine, but Vietnam also offers plenty of cool experiences - some of which are unusual, and several of which you can´t even have elsewhere. Despite years of colonialism, then war, then modernisation, there remain parts of Vietnam which remains relatively authentic, where locals make great efforts to preserve many traditions and…
Read more…Sarah BrownThough most famous for Carnival, golden beaches, and world-famous landmarks, the real heart of Rio de Janeiro, for those in the know, lies in its downtown, most notably in Saúde, Gamboa, and the surrounding neighbourhoods hard by the port. For it’s this area that’s steeped in a complex history that dates back half a millennium to the Portuguese colonisers’ founding of Rio and the centuries of brutal slavery which followed.A good place to start is Praça Mauá, a once rundown square…
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While in Gettysburg in September I had the opportunity to traverse much of the the battlefield by horseback. Having been to Gettysburg battlefield many times this was a first for me. The feeling of being on horseback and experiencing the imagery of the battle (but not the incredible courage) which Pickett's men did in his famous charge is an unforgetable feeling. It is well worth takin
g the ride !
Wanna Know What the Popes Read? Go to the Vatican Library Exhibit!
By BuzzInRome
It took three years of extraordinary building works to reopen to the public in September the historic "Library of the Popes". 1,600,000 printed volumes, 80,000 manuscripts and 100,000 archival units, 8,400 incunabula, about 300,000 coins and medals, 150,000 prints, drawings and engravings, and over 150,000 pictures.
These are just the key figures of the Vatican Library.
On this occasion, which was long awaited by thousands of scholars (about 20,000 attend each year), the Vatican Library is revealed to the public through an exhibition in the Braccio di Carlo Magno, Saint Peter's Square, running until January 31.
The exhibition will look into the history of a precious and boundless heritage such as the one preserved in the Vatican Library (founded in 1451); but it is also an opportunity to illustrate, with the help of technology, the immense cultural, religious and human value that it has for men and women of today and for future generations.
A guided, multimedia tour available in Italian, English, French, Spanish and German which offers a view even of the otherwise inaccessible "internal" areas of the Library. Such as the extraordinary Sistine Hall of the Library, painted in the late sixteenth century and rebuilt for the exhibition, complete with splendid frescoes and furnished with reading tables where visitors may don white gloves and consult the precious manuscripts (in facsimile). It is also possible to see the "laboratories" where the Library staff do their daily work. And the last room contains a laboratory for the restoration of ancient manuscripts, precious bindings and printed books. The Library's restoration experts work in front of the visitors and can interact with them by answering questions and providing general information on methods and techniques of restoration and preservation.
The exhibition is divided into seven sections displaying some of the most important manuscripts of Western history, dating from the early Christian era to the present day; precious incunabula and rare printed volumes from all periods; drawings by the greatest artists in Western art; art prints; and an extraordinary selection of coins and medals.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMkMsbU-30A&feature=share">You Tube video of the exhibition</a>
By BuzzInRome
“What are you doing Friday night?”
“I’m going to visit the Vatican Museums.”
“Oh, I see, free for dinner on Saturday then?”
“Nope, I’m afraid not, I’m going to the Colosseum!”
If someone declines your invitation for these reasons, they may be telling the truth! After the great success of the summer, Rome’s top monuments night openings were extended until October. Therefore these are the last days for your under-the-stars visits.
The Vatican Museums will be open on Fridays from 7pm to 11pm, last entrance at 9:30pm, until October 29. You’ll be able to see the Museum’s artworks, buildings and yards under a different light, there will be music and poetry shows and Saint Pious V’s Halls with Middle Age and Renaissance ceramics will be opened for the occasion. Booking required: www.musei-vaticani.va.
October 23 is the last Saturday for a moonlight visit of the Colosseum from 9 pm until midnight. Guided tours in English will be provided by archeologists. Booking required: +390639967700. Moreover, the Colosseum has two more suprises for you. Just a week ago, after 40 years, it opened its dungeons, where gladiators were locked waiting for their combats and lions and tigers were kept in cage before being transported by lifts up to the central fighting arena. The upper section of the third ring, also closed for decades, will be accessible to visitors who will marvel an unsurpassed view of Rome’s ancient forum. Both areas can only be visited with a guided tour.
Last but not the least, free night visits will be offered until the end of 2010 in most of the State-owned museums every last Tuesdays of the month from 7pm until 11pm. Just to mention some of my favorites: the Borghese Museum and Gallery, the newly renovated Ancient Art Gallery, Sant’Angelo’s Castle, and Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana in Tivoli. The complete list is available here in the “Lazio” section.
Yes, that's right... it's possible. We have just listed two unique and awe-inspiring holiday ideas straight from West Africa which take you to the heart of some of the most ancient kingdoms of this part of the World. Saddle up, and enjoy the ride!
The Mali cycling through culture holiday - click here to learn more
The Sierra Leone cycling through culture holiday - click here to learn more
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