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
Feel the earth move beneath thundering hooves as you cheer the finishers home in the ultimate Hong Kong night out. Races have been held at Happy Valley – the widest stretch of flat land on Hong Kong Island, originally a swamp – since 1846. Today the action takes place beneath twinkling high-rises making for one … 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
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
Flemish and Dutch Paintings Museo del Prado Floorplan Descent from the Cross Felipe II hung this beautiful composition (c.1435) by Rogier van der Weyden (1399– 1464) in El Escorial. It was moved here after the Civil War. The Garden of Delights The meaning of this work (1500) by Hieronymus Bosch (c.1450–1516) is hotly debated. The … 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
Exhibitions in the Filmmuseum S-Bahn sign Café Josty sign Marlene Dietrich This exhibition of the film star’s estate includes costumes, touring luggage, photographs, letters and notes, posters and film clips. Metropolis This film, directed by Fritz Lang in 1927, has an alarming vision of a future world as its subject. Models and props from the … Read more
Italian Paintings in the Prado Italian Paintings Floorplan Annunciation This superb panel (c.1430) by Fra Angelico (c.1400–55) was presented to the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales. Annunciation, Fra Angelico Death of the Virgin Andrea Mantegna (c.1431–1506) shows the Virgin Mary being carried into heaven in this work (c.1462). The Story of Nastagio degli Onesti These … 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
Housing one of the world’s finest art collections, the Prado is one of Madrid’s top tourist attractions. At its core is the fabulous Royal Collection of mainly 16th- and 17th-century paintings, transferred from palaces around Madrid. The Prado’s strongest suit is Spanish painting, the pick of the artists including Goya with 140 paintings and Velázquez … Read more
Originally a peninsula, the islands were formed when the rushing waters of the Don River separated a spit from the mainland during a ferocious storm in 1858. There are more than a dozen islets and mid-sized islands in this urban archipelago, some of them connected by bridges, others accessible only by boat. A thriving residential … Read more
Night enjoyment With kinds of delicious wine, fresh beer, and talented bartenders, Vacouver always has famous place-names for you to enjoy the whole night. Among them is Pierre’s Champagne Lounge (1035 Mainland St., Yaletown) – one of the most luxurious lounge of the city. Being a favorite destination of Hollywood stars, music stars, and millionaires, … 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
Fresh lifestyle keeps going on with many entertaining activities in the evening at the hotel’s campus. You can have dinner at Hawksworth restaurant, where there is modern cuisine style of the famous chef David Hawksworth, or have cocktail and snack at Lobby Lounge 1927. Additionally, this spring, the special area named Reflections – outdoor lounge … 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
The focus of this immense library – the greatest accumulation of information and images in the world – is the magnificent Jefferson Building. Its main reading room is one of the most captivating spaces in the city, gleaming with its recently refurbished decorations. Collections encompass many subjects – the law library is especially notable, as … Read more
Unfolding languidly just to the east of the old town, this green, tranquil oasis provides a welcome respite from the city centre. Built in the late 1860s on the site of a former military fortress (ciutadella), the park was artfully designed to offer Barcelona’s citizens an experience of nature (shady corners, paths and greenhouses), recreation … Read more
California Academy of Sciences A spiky specimen from the Academy Swamp Part of the Steinhart Aquarium, the Swamp is home to alligators and alligator snapping turtles. There are also exhibits on rattlesnakes, frogs, and salamanders. Find out about the swamps of the Southeast US in the Story Time area. An alligator from the Swamp Discovery … Read more
This rich archaeological zone, rudely intruded upon by Mussolini’s Via dei Fori Imperiali, contains some of the most grandiose and noteworthy of Rome’s ancient remains. Dominating the area is the mighty shell of the Colosseum, constructed in AD 72–80 under the Flavian emperors and originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. The quarter also holds other … Read more
This medieval-style castle, completed in 1914 for a staggering $3.5 million, looms on a hill, overlooking downtown. Designed by famed Toronto architect E. J. Lennox , Casa Loma — Spanish for “house on the hill” — was the estate of prominent financier and industrialist Sir Henry Pellatt, who was forced by financial ruin to abandon … Read more