Smag31

Barcelona Cathedral Barcelona’s magnificent Gothic cathedral boasts an eye-catching façade and a peaceful cloister.  Església de Santa Maria del Mar The elegant church of Santa Maria del Mar (1329–83) is one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic, a style characterized by measured simplicity. A spectacular stained-glass rose window illuminates the lofty interior.  Capella de … Read more

Enjoy a Shakespeare play under the stars on the grassy slopes of High Park’s amphitheater (Jul–Aug); call CanStage at 416 367 8243 Leslie Street Spit Also known as Tommy Thompson Park – after Toronto’s first commissioner of parks and the official who peppered them with welcoming “Please Walk on the Grass” signs – this secluded … Read more

Toronto’s smaller downtown Chinatown is at Broadview Avenue and Gerrard Street, on the city’s east side The Beach A charming enclave east of Woodbine Ave full of fun for the outdoor enthusiast, including those who consider shopping a sport. Browse the eclectic shops or relax in one of the many cozy restaurants or pubs . … Read more

At 6:30am on weekdays, the catch from Boston-based boats is auctioned in 1,000-lb (453-kilo) lots from Fish Pier Barking Crab This colorful fish shack is most congenial in the summer, when diners sit outdoors at picnic tables. Most of the local fish – cod, haddock, tuna, halibut, clams and crab – are so fresh that … Read more

Even restaurants that are booked weeks ahead will often have seats available for diners willing to eat at 6pm or earlier Harvest For 40 years, this relaxed restaurant has been a leader in setting the direction of American cuisine. Chef Mary Dumont reinterprets New England classics, matching monkfish with artichokes and cockles, or filling ricotta … Read more

St. Paul’s Chapel Completed in 1766, this church has a glorious Georgian interior lit by Waterford chandeliers. The pew where George Washington prayed after his inauguration as president has been preserved . City Hall Built in 1803–12, this Georgian building with French Renaissance influences is one of New York’s finest. The interior features a rotunda … Read more

Empire State Building The Empire State Building (1930–31) is the tallest structure in New York. For 28 years its dominance was eclipsed by the World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the September 2001 terrorist attack. With an 86th-floor observatory, the building receives some 3.5 million visitors each year . G.E. Building Soaring 70 stories … Read more

Notre-Dame Notre-Dame Sacré-Coeur Sacré-Coeur Sainte-Chapelle Although the chapel is no longer used for worship, the soaring stained-glass windows encourage reverence . Sainte-Chapelle Eglise du Dôme The final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte is the beautiful Dôme Church in the Hôtel des Invalides complex – an elaborate monument to French Classical style. Built as the chapel … Read more

Jardin du Luxembourg Parisians love this centrally located park, set around the Palais du Luxembourg. The sweeping terrace is a great place for people-watching, while locals sunbathe around the Octagonal Lake or sail toy boats in the water. Statues are dotted throughout the grounds, and there is a café . Jardin du Luxembourg Jardin des … Read more

St Paul’s Monuments Crypt Floorplan Tomb of Christopher Wren St Paul’s architect, Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723), has a plain tomb in the OBE chapel. Its inscription reads, “Lector, si monumentum requiris, circumspice – Reader, if you seek a monument, look around you”. Wellington’s Tomb Britain’s great military leader and prime minister, Arthur Wellesly, 1st Duke … Read more

This is the great masterpiece of Sir Christopher Wren, who rebuilt the City’s churches after the Great Fire of 1666. Completed in 1708, it was England’s first purpose-built Protestant cathedral, and has many similarities with St Peter’s in Rome, notably in its enormous ornate dome. It has the largest swinging bell in Europe, Great Paul, … Read more

Neue Nationalgalerie: www.smb.museum Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s best art museum, the Gemäldegalerie focuses on European art of the 13th to 19th centuries, such as Caravaggio’s Cupid Victorious, and works by Dürer, Rembrandt and Rubens . Neue Nationalgalerie The National Gallery’s collection includes modern German art and classics of the 20th century. It often holds spectacular temporary exhibitions. … Read more

Ägyptisches Museum: www.smb.museum Museum für Naturkunde: www.museum.hu-berlin.de Pergamonmuseum Berlin’s most impressive museum is a vast treasure trove of antiquities . Ägyptisches Museum The star exhibit in the Egyptian Museum, part of the Neues Museum, is the beautiful bust of Nefertiti, wife of Akhenaton. The long-necked limestone bust, discovered in 1912, probably served as a model. … Read more

Transamerica Pyramid Hated by many at first, the Pyramid is now loved as an icon of the city. Recalling pyramids of ancient cultures, to some it is a symbol of the mysticism that has always played a part in the San Francisco mentality. At 853 ft (260 m), it is the tallest building in the … Read more

Grace Cathedral San Francisco’s own Notre Dame combines Italian Renaissance with a lot of American originality . Grace Cathedral Mission Dolores Photos and a diorama offer a stirring impression of what life was like for the Native Americans who built this Spanish mission in the 18th century . Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption … Read more

Beer selection Unless otherwise specified, locally-brewed beers listed here are available citywide La Grande Dame Bar Bearing the nickname of the orange-labeled Veuve Clicquot champagne house, this bar is the first branded venue the Reims producer has launched in the US. Views of the Liberty Hotel grand rotunda overhead are magnificent. Multiple vintages of Veuve … Read more

L’Aroma Café The beautiful people take their espresso at L’Aroma, where the Italian style of the coffees, sandwiches, luncheon salads, and pastries are more evocative of Milan than Rome. As a bonus, tea-lovers can order from a choice of 20 loose-leaf varieties . Caffè Vittoria The jukebox at the largest of North End’s Italian cafés … Read more

We discover sports and spas on the Portuguese island in the middle of the Atlantic. I’d heard that Madeira was a great walking holiday if you were of a certain age, so I’d always earmarked it for my retirement years. How wrong I’ve been! In fact, the Portuguese island is one of the most youthful, … Read more

Carnegie Hall This historic concert hall opened in 1891 with Tchaikovsky making his U.S. debut on the podium. A campaign led by violinist Isaac Stern saved the hall from demolition after Lincoln Center was completed in 1969, and it entered its second century with old-world style intact after an extensive, lavish renovation . Carnegie Hall … Read more

Peter Minuit Sent from the Netherlands in 1626 to govern New Amsterdam, Peter Minuit (1580–1638) was so disliked by his subjects that they welcomed British occupation. Alexander Hamilton Revolutionary leader and first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton’s (1755–1804) business-friendly policies were instrumental in New York’s emergence as the financial center of the U.S. He lost … Read more