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Showing posts from November, 2016

Royal Palace, Budapest, Hungary

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The first royal residence in Castle Hill was built in the 13th century. This residence was extended in the following centuries but was completely destroyed in the Battle of Buda in 1686, as the Ottomans had transformed the palace into a gunpowder storage. In the 18th century, a small baroque palace was built and the process of rebuilding continued in the 19th century. The palace was finally finished in 1904 but, at the end of WWII, it was badly damaged. It was once again rebuilt using many of the original parts. The palace currently houses the Hungarian National Gallery , the History Museum and a library. Back to Budapest 

Praia do Farol, Portugal

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Praia do Farol (Lighthouse Beach) can only be accessed by boat, which you can take either at Olhão Harbour or Faro Marina. Be aware that from both places there are only about four boats per day . This beach is one of three located on the small island of Culatra, which is one of the five barrier islands of the Ria Formosa Natural Park,standing between the sea and the lagoon. At the beach, you can find restaurants and small shops with beach essentials. The main activities of the islanders are fishing and shellfish farming.  Note that timetables are adjusted every year. Faro Timetable and Tickets Olhão timetable

Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium

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Manneken Pis- little man urinating- is a small bronze sculpture of about 61 cm depicting a naked little boy urinating. It's a landmark of Brussels. It was designed by Hieronymus Duquesnoy the Elder and was put in place in 1619. According to one legend, the little boy was Duke Godfrey III of Leuven who, during a battle in 1142 when he was two, was put in a basket hanging from a tree to encourage his troops. From there he urinated over the enemy army, that eventually lost the battle. Another legend says that in the 14th century when Brussels was under siege, a little boy spied on the enemy army and urinated on a fuse that was being used to detonate the explosive charges that were to destroy the city walls.  There was a former version of the small statue, made of stone, dating from the 14th century. Since 1987, for gender equality sake, there's a female version of Manneken Pis, Jeanneke Pis, in a street nearby.

Limassol Zoo, Cyprus

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This small zoo is located in the Public Gardens and includes about 300 animals. The zoo was founded 50 years ago and has recently modernised the facilities, which meet the needs with respect to wild animals conservationism and where they are closer to their environment. Bigger animals in the zoo come either from circuses or other zoos. Opening hours : 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (4 p.m. in Winter) Entrance fee (standard): €5

Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium

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Grand Place is the main square in the historic centre of Brussels. It's surrounded by opulent buildings, the Town Hall and the King's House, currently the city museum, mainly dating from the 17th century. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The earliest written reference to Grand Place dates from the 12th century already featuring buildings of public power and corporative buildings. In 1695 Grand Place was heavily damaged due to the bombardment inflicted by the army of Louis XIV. The heart of the medieval city then underwent a campaign of reconstruction which was spectacular not only by the speed of implementation but also by the ornamental wealth and architectural coherence.

Roman Theater Museum, Lisbon, Portugal

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The Roman Theater was built in the 1st century BC, under emperor Augustus, and renovated in 57 AD, with a capacity for 5000 people. It was abandoned in the 4th century AD. The 1755 earthquake threw it in complete oblivion, covering it with rubble. It wasn't until the 1960s that proper excavations of the site begun. Opening hours : Tue. to Sun. 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Entrance fee (standard): €3 (for the museum, the ruins are outside). Back to Lisbon

St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

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St. Peter's Basilica, located in Vatican City, Rome, is the most renowned work of Renaissance Architecture. It was designed mainly by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno, Raphael and Gian Bernini. Tradition holds that St. Peter's Basilica stands on the burial site of St. Peter, with his tomb being directly below the high altar. St. Peter's grave was initially marked simply by a red rock, a symbol of his name but a shrine was built some years later on the site. In the 4th century AD Old St. Peter's Basilica was built under emperor Constantine. This site became the burial place of almost all popes since St. Peter. By the end of the 15th century, the Old Basilica had fallen into disrepair, as a result of years of neglect during the Avignon Papacy.  In the early 16th century, Pope Julius II, who was planning an enormous, magnificent tomb for himself designed and adorned with sculptures by Michelangelo, decided to demolish the ancient basilica and replace it wi

Rua Augusta Arch, Lisbon, Portugal

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The Rua Augusta Arch offers visitors a unique panoramic view of the city. Inside the arch visitors can learn about its history. It was built between 1759 and 1873, to commemorate the city's reconstruction after the Great Earthquake of 1755. At the top of the arch, there's a statue of Glory crowning Valor and Genius. Right below, on top of the columns, are the statues of four Portuguese historical figures: Nuno Álvares Pereira, Constable of Portugal in the 14th century, Viriatus, chief of the Lusitanian people in the 2nd century BC, Vasco da Gama, navigator that discovered the sea route to India and the Marquis of Pombal, Prime Minister of Portugal at the time of the Great Earthquake. The two remaining figures are rivers Tagus and Douro. Opening hours : 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Entrance fee : €2.50 Back to Lisbon