BC: The Founding of a City Barcino, as the city was first known, was founded in the 3rd century BC by Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca. It was taken by the Romans in 218 BC, but played second fiddle in the region to the provincial capital of Tarragona. 4th–11th Centuries: Early Invasions As the Roman Empire began … Read more

Native American Roots Archaeological records date the first inhabitants of the Seattle region to 11,000-12,000 years ago. Tribes included the Suquamish, Duwamish, Nisqually, Snoqualmie, and Muckleshoot, who, despite their harsh environment, evolved into complex societies that traded with other tribes. Denny Party In 1851, Chief Sealth of the Duwamish Tribe greeted Arthur A. Denny and … Read more

Monorail replacement buses operate between Seattle Center and Westlake Center: Mon–Fri 7am–7pm, Sat–Sun 9am–9pm Space Needle Seattle’s modern architectural identity began with the Space Needle, designed by John Graham and Company, for the 1962 World’s Fair. The three pairs of beams supporting the spire lie buried 30-ft (8-m) underground, and have secured the 605-ft (185-m) … Read more

Of all the lakes in Munich’s lake region, Starnberger See is the most popular, being practically on the city’s doorstep. It is also the largest body of water in the region – 21 km (13 miles) long, 5 km (3 miles) wide, and up to 125 m (415 ft) deep – and offers attractive spots … Read more

Museum District– Pinakotheken Together, the Alte and Neue Pinakothek and the Pinakothek der Moderne house the city’s major painting collections . Vase with Sunflowers (1888) by Vincent van Gogh, Neue Pinakothek Deutsches Museum The largest museum of science and technology in the world . Bayerisches Nationalmuseum One of the largest museums in Europe for art, … Read more

1871: Great Chicago Fire Over 250 people died and 17,000 buildings were destroyed in this fire, allegedly started by a cow kicking over a lantern. Just a few buildings survived, including the Historic Water Tower and Pumping Station. Great Chicago Fire of 1871 1885: First Skyscraper Though just a measly – by today’s standards – … Read more

The Rookery One of the earliest remaining skyscrapers, this 1888 Chicago landmark combines traditional wall-bearing and newer steel frame construction. The latter made it possible for its architects, Burnham and Root, to design an open interior, with office spaces set around a central light well. The Rookery Auditorium Theatre Built by Adler and Sullivan in … Read more

The Great Wall snakes through the countryside over deserts, hills, and plains for several thousand miles. At its closest point it is less than 40 miles (60 km) from Beijing. The wall was created following the unification of China under Qin Shi Huangdi (221–210 BC). Despite impressive battlements, it ultimately proved ineffective; it was breached … Read more

Mongol horsemen The Science and Technology Museum includes an exhibition of Chinese inventions 500,000 BC: Peking Man hunts and gathers Unearthed in the 1920s from a cave at Zhoukoudian, 30 miles (45 km) SW of Beijing, 40-odd fossilized bones and primitive implements were identified as the prehistoric remains of Peking Man (Homo erectus Pekinensis), who … Read more

Often overlooked by visitors, this is one of Madrid’s best museums. The collection comprises more than 20,000 items recovered from the Americas, including textiles, ceramics, tools, paintings and sculptures. The star of the show, by general consent, is the fabulous Quimbayas treasure, presented to the museum by the Colombian government in the 19th century. The … Read more

Enjoying a suitably majestic setting in the southern foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was commissioned by Felipe II as a mausoleum for the tomb of his father, Carlos I. The name commemorates the victory over the French at St Quentin on the Feast of St … Read more

Further Features of El Escorial El Escorial Floorplan Cenotaphs These superb bronze sculptures on either side of the high altar are by an Italian father and son team, Leone and Pompeo Leoni. On the left is Carlos I (Emperor Charles V), shown with his wife, daughter and sisters; opposite is Felipe II, three of his … Read more

4000 BC: Early Peoples For many years, the popular version of history was that Hong Kong was a “barren rock” devoid of people when the British arrived. In fact, archaeology now shows that scattered primitive clans had settled by the seaside on Hong Kong Island and the New Territories six millennia ago. Their diet was … Read more

Spend a Night at the Opera Cantonese opera might sound like discordant screeching to the untrained ear, but make no mistake, this is a fine and ancient art. It combines song, mime, dancing, martial arts and fantastic costumes and make-up and can go on for six hours or more.  Ride on a Junk We’ve all … Read more

Few churches are such perfect primers on Roman art and architecture. Masters from the Early Renaissance (Pinturicchio, Bramante), High Renaissance (Raphael) and Baroque (Caravaggio, Bernini) exercised their genius in all disciplines here: painting, sculpture, architecture and decoration. It’s also one of the few churches with major chapels still intact, preserving the artworks that together tell … Read more

Nowhere else in Rome can give such a clear idea of the city’s layering and millennia of cultural riches than this wonderful church. The very lowest level remains largely unexplored, dating back to Republican Rome, probably the 2nd century BC. At the deepest excavated level there are 1st-century AD buildings, including an early house of … Read more

Foundation of the Federal City The US Constitution, ratified in 1788, provided for “a District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of Particular States…, become the Seat of the Government of the United States.” Layout and Design In 1790 George Washington selected Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French engineer, to lay out the … Read more

George Washington The United States’ first president George Washington (1789–97) was never greater than when he refused to interpret the position of president as equivalent to “king.” George Washington John Adams Adams (1797–1801) was among the young nation’s most experienced diplomats, having managed affairs in Europe. He was the first US vice president, under Washington. … Read more

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art The city’s stylish home for 20th-century European and American art and contemporary multimedia works is a sparkling cultural hub in the South of Market area. Its collections span the whole modern spectrum, from proto-Impressionists to cutting-edge digital installations . California Academy of Sciences This newly transformed science museum re-opened … Read more

Fraenkel Gallery One of the gallery’s first exhibitions was of NASA’s lunar photographs, and this set a tone for what followed. Soon came exhibitions by Eugene Atget, Edward Weston and Diane Arbus, and later, the Bechers, Adam Fuss, and Sol LeWitt. Projects have brought together work across all media, juxtaposing photography with painting, drawing, and … Read more