Smag31

In preparation for the 1972 Olympic Games, a former airfield and parade ground were transformed into an Olympic park. The park features landscaped hills, an artificial lake, a communications tower, and sports facilities. Designed by the firm of Behnisch & Partners, the elegant, airy ensemble derives its character chiefly from the transparent tensile roof designed … Read more

The Museum District comprises three major museums: the Alte Pinakothek, the Neue Pinakothek, and the Pinakothek der Moderne. Nearby is the Glyptothek, the State Collection of Antiquities, and Lenbachhaus. The Alte Pinakothek was founded by Ludwig I, designed by Leo von Klenze, and opened in 1836. It houses the collections of Bavarian dukes, electors, and … Read more

The birthplace of modern Seattle has a colorful history marked by economic and geological fluctuations. The Great Fire of 1889 virtually destroyed it, before Alaska’s Gold Rush breathed new life and Victorian architecture into the mix. The old warehouses and narrow streets gave rise to a thriving loft arts scene in the 1980s and 90s. … Read more

One of Seattle’s most distinguishing features is its working waterfront. It is the core of Seattle’s thriving maritime community and is chock full of the sights, shore-bird cries, and briny air of a seaport metropolis. It’s the place to catch ferries to Bainbridge Island or the Kitsap Peninsula, or view sea life at the Seattle … Read more

From its Gothic cloister and Baroque chapels to its splendid, 19th-century façade, the Cathedral, dating from 1298, is an amalgam of architectural styles, each one paying homage to a period in Spain’s religious history. Records show that an early Christian baptistry was established here in the 6th century, later replaced by a Romanesque basilica in … Read more

There may be no better place in the country to indulge in the Spanish ritual of the paseo (stroll) than on this wide, pedestrian street that is anything but pedestrian. An orgy of activity day and night, La Rambla is voyeuristic heaven. Spray-painted human statues stand motionless among the passing crowds; buskers croon crowd-pleasing classics; … Read more

As one of the most prominent city in Spain, Barcelona is on the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, facing the Mediterranean. Inside the city, there is a maze of tiny medieval alleys mixed with broad avenues, two lines of tree and the fashion shops on both sides. At this place, you can watch the … Read more

A 58-second elevator ride whisks you to the 114th story of the world’s tallest free-standing structure, the 181-story, 1,815.5-ft (553.5-m) communications tower built by Canadian National Railway in 1976. Breathtaking views from the glass-fronted elevator set the stage for even more dizzying sights from the Look Out, where on a clear day you can see … Read more

Nantes, France Best for: Creative endeavours Why go?: From April 20th-22nd, all eyes will be on Liverpool when French street theatre company Royal de Luxe will be bringing their Little Girl Giant to the city as part of commemorative celebrations for the sinking of Titanic.   The creative team, responsible for halting London traffic in … Read more

Let your sense of adventure fly this year with a holiday with a difference. Style picks out 10 bold holiday destinations for the intrepid explorer. Vietnam   Cua Dai Beach   Best for: Grown-up backpackers Why go?: Although long-haul travel may seem like an extravagance in cash-strapped times, day-to-day living in Vietnam is actually very … Read more

Moreover, Aria resort also has great art features. It was designed by well-known filmmaker Pelli Clarke Pelli and became one of the most modern resorts with elegant architecture. Glass and steel mix with flowers and other natural entities. Innate sunlight and the luxurious interior stretch from the lobby to the room, from the floor to … Read more

Verdant Boston Common has hosted auctions, cattle grazing, and public hangings over its 350-year history, in addition to festivals and the requisite frisbee tosses. The adjacent Public Garden, opened in 1839, was the USA’s first botanical garden. Its swan boats, weeping willows, and bridge are emblematic of Boston at its most enchanting. The French-style flowerbeds … Read more

Bostonians may bemoan its popularity with tourists, but this market complex deserves all the attention and accolades it has received since its revitalization in the mid-1970s. Once the pulsing center of Boston mercantile activity, the area fell into disrepair in the 1930s. Today, however, millions of visitors are testimony to its newfound vitality as a … Read more

Rockefeller Center Artworks American Progress Jose Maria Sert’s (1876–1945) mural depicts America’s development over 300 years by uniting two forces, brain and brawn. Sert’s Time mural adorns one of the ceilings. Wisdom The striking central figure of Wisdom by Lee Lawrie (1877– 1963) grasps a compass pointing to light and sound waves and is carved … Read more

A city within a city and a National Historic Landmark, this is the largest privately owned complex in the world. Begun in the 1930s, it was the first commercial project to integrate gardens, dining, and shopping with office space. Rockefeller Center is the hub of midtown New York, alive with activity day and night. The … Read more

July: London Olympics The best of British cyclists compete for their chance to shine in the 2012 London Olympics. The eyes of the world will be on the UK on July 27 for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, when Britain will show the world what it’s made of. The question is: … Read more

From partying in an American desert to celebrity spotting on the French Riviera, pack your bags for the best festivals the world offers. The key to being a perfect festival goer is meticulous forward planning. It’s not only about the tickets, but the best accommodation, the top spot with in-the-action view and, of course, knowing … Read more

This wonderful collection covers a variety of art forms from the 1848–1914 period, including a superb Impressionists section. Its setting, in a converted railway station, is equally impressive. Built in 1900, in time for the Paris Exposition, the station was in use until 1939, when it was closed and largely ignored, bar its use as … Read more

This is one of the most unexpectedly pleasing galleries in London. Unrelated to the neighbouring National Gallery, it opened in 1856. Well-known names can be put to some not-so-well-known faces, and there are some fascinating paintings from Tudor times to the present day. Royalty is depicted from Richard II (1367–1400) to Queen Elizabeth II, and … Read more

The National Gallery has around 2,300 pictures, from the early Renaissance to the Impressionists (1250–1900), forming one of the greatest collections in the world. Containing work by the most important painters of the main European schools, the collection was acquired by the government from John Julius Angerstein in 1824, and moved to the present building … Read more