It was here that the emperor would make sacrifices and pray to heaven and his ancestors at the winter solstice. As the Son of Heaven, the emperor could intercede with the gods on behalf of his people and pray for a good harvest. Off-limits to the common people during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the … 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
Exhibits Museum Floorplan Transportation Zone A full-size Boeing 727 and a British World War II fighter plane dangle dramatically above a steam locomotive and the world’s fastest land vehicle, while visitors explore the forces of flight via computer games and videos. Boeing 727, Transportation Zone U-505 Artifacts, archival footage, and interactive challenges bring to life … 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
The cultural star of the city’s Far South, this museum was the first in North America to introduce interactive exhibits, with a record of innovative, hands-on displays dating back to the 1930s. More than one million visitors flock annually to this vast neoclassical building, which houses more than 800 exhibits and is a Chicago must-see, … 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
Three huge floors filled with a variety of fascinating objects make up this paean to American culture. The first floor focuses on science and technology, including hands-on experiments and exhibitions on transport, electricity, and machinery. The second floor is home to the famous Star-Spangled Banner, while the third floor features a stirring tribute to the … Read more
Founded in 1893 to display items from the World’s Columbian Exposition, and renamed in 1905 to honor its first major benefactor, Marshall Field, this vast museum offers fascinating insights into global cultures and environments past and present. Home to all sorts of cultural treasures, fossils, and artifacts, as well as to myriad interactive exhibits, make … 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
Palatine Hill Features Plan of Palatine Hill Domus Flavia Marked today mainly by the remains of two fountains, this imposing edifice was the official wing of a vast emperors’ palace, built by Domitian in AD 81. Domus Flavia Livia’s House This 1st-century BC structure, now below ground level, formed part of the residence of Augustus … Read more
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
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
Gazing on it today, a picturesque shambles of ruins and weeds, you would hardly guess that the Forum was the symbol of civic pride for 1,000 years. Its humble beginning, more than 3,000 years ago, was as a swampy cemetery for the original village on Palatine Hill. Gradually it rose, ever more glorified, as Rome’s … 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
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
When Emperor Phocas donated this pagan temple to Pope Boniface IV in 608, he unwittingly ensured that one of the marvels of ancient Rome would be preserved, virtually unaltered, in its new guise as the Christian church Santa Maria ad Martyres. Emperor Hadrian, an amateur architect, designed this lovely structure in AD 118–125. It has … 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
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
One of Hong Kong’s best-loved institutions, the Star Ferries have plied between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island since 1888. The portly green and white 1950s and 60s relics are still used by commuters despite the advent of rail and road tunnels beneath the harbour. A ferry ride offers a thrilling perspective on the towering skyscrapers … 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