I rated this great fortress and palace as a Life-changing experience, because it really is. I believe it is something everyone should see at least ones in his or her life. As for me, it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.
The Alhambra, w…
At the early 2th century, an arena was build in Trier. As today we go and watch football, the Romans went to see slightly more violent "shows" of gladiators fighting each other and wild animals. The amphitheater here could house about 20.000 spectato…
I've written my full report of our visit to Auschwitz/Birkenau in my Poland travel blog. The reason why I add this review is so I can rate it. That is, because it really deserves the five stars. Not because it is a fun, or entertaining, or beautiful …
The Barbakan and Florianus gates are practically all that's left of the old city walls, that used to protect Krakow from it's enemies. What is now the Planty park used to be a moat, and all up in the north is were you will find the last two gates. Ba…
To me, the Bazylika Mariacka or Basilica of Mary was the highlight of Krakow's old town. This church is placed at one corner of the main square Rynek Glowny, facing the Sukiennice cloth hall.
The outside isn't that much spectacular, constructed of…
This church was the first Baroque and Jesuit church in Krakow and the architecture is based on the Gesu church in Rome. The founder of this building was Piotr Skarga. He has a monument opposite to the church and is also buried inside. Most famous are…
This is one of Warsaws oldest buildings, in Gothic architecture, that stands beside the main road. It is also known as the St. Mary's Church.
As the nuns still live and pray here this church and monastry mostly can't be visited, though it has a rema…
The Minčeta must be the most visited fortress in Dubrovnik. It is also the most massif tower in town, north from the town-wall and with the best view over the city. Three Croatian architects worked on it, but I'll spare you their typical -hard to sp…
The Siena Duomo is said to be the most beautiful religious building in Tuscany (though it's truly amazing I do not agree completely, as I'm in love with Florence). But any way, the duomo is indeed one of the most unique churches (domes) I have ever s…
This square is the most important one in Brussels, ever since the 11th century. It is build on a former bog area, just like other parts of the town-center.
The town-hall is also standing here, but wasn't build until the 15th century, when the Brab…
This beguinage is a wonderful place because it's been preserved just the way it was, when founded in the 13th century. Small cobblestone streets, little houses, chapels and tiny gardens are everywhere. On top of that, the river Dijle runs right troug…
I've read that the Isaac synagogue is the most beautiful of all synagogues in Krakow. I can't compare myself though, as I've only visited this one. But she is beautiful indeed, that much is true.
The renovated interior of this building houses a pe…
The Kaiserthermen are an old Roman Thermal complex. It could be compared to an Haman, or our modern sauna's. And in fact, modern is exactly what this building was.
As old as 17 centuries, this complex had baths of different temperatures, from cold…
Kazimierz is the old Jewish quarter of Krakow. It has a completely different feel from the Rynek Glowny area, but to me it was twice as interesting. The buildings are old, a bit run down but certainly authentic, and so are the streets and squares. Th…
The Maria de la Sede cathedral must be one of the most famous buildings in Sevilla. It is the largest cathedral in Europe and one of the largest in the world. Since it is this exceptional, it is made UNESCO inheritance too. It's tower, the Giralda, h…
The Piazza del Campo is one of the most beautiful squares of Europe. All main roads of Siena leave from here, so the square literally is the hart of the city. The small slope, the shell like form and the fountain, create a special atmosphere that wil…
The most famous monument in Trier is the Porta Nigra, which means Black Gate. I remember to be so amazed when I was a child. It dates from the second century and was the northern gate of a 6,5 kilometers long wall around the city. Because of the bric…
Plac Nowy is the center of Kazimiers. You'll find the bars Endzior and Alchemia here, too. If you'd imagine the Rynek Glowny, this square is just about the opposite. It is small, a bit run down, rather quiet, and cheap. There are many bars and stalls…
The Real Alcazar, or old Moorish palace of Sevilla, is cultural inheritance of the UNESCO and is one of the main must-sees in the city. Where the castle stands now, has ones been a Roman city, a dome, Visigoth architecture, and an Arabic alcazaba. Ye…
The Rynek Glowny is the old town's square of Krakow, in the heart of the city. It is simply impossible to miss out on. As I wrote in my blog I find the square a bit too crowded and messy. Not because it is dirty but because all the buildings are stan…
Anny church isn't very big, but it does have a very nice interior. The walls are painted with light fresco like artwork, that contrasts highly with the dark baroque architecture of the building. The drawings are made so that they create deapts and re…
The Saint Johns Cathedral is the oldest church in Warsaw, and its history dates back until the start of the 14th century. At first this was a small building that wasn't so important, but in 1798 it became a cathedral. Many kings were crowned here and…
The religious community of Saint Peter is the oldest of Leuven. It was founded in 986, but the first church burned down so a new, much bigger Roman one, was build. The architecture is a typical example of "Branbant" art.
The architects wanted to b…
The Sigismund column is the oldest secular statue in Warsaw, and is 22 meters high. It is a monument of the king, therefore standing in front of the palace, and was build in 1944. The statue was however destroyed by German bombs during the war. The r…
Another thing I remember really well about our Trier visit is the Dome, a wonderful church, that is in fact Tiers cathedral, and the oldest bishops church in Germany. This as well, is Unesco inheritance.
This dome has a long building history. It'…
The Dominican church is a very beautiful, and rather big one, just a small stroll away from the Rynek Glowny. Seen from the outside it doesn't look very special, although the facade is a bit extraordinary shaped. Yet the inside is very spacious and l…
In my opinion, the Franciscan basilica (or (Bazylika Św. Franciszka) is the most beautiful church in Krakow. I have never seen anything like this place. Same as the Maria basilica, the walls here are amazingly painted with colorful motives. Yet here…
This Fransiscan monastery was build in a typical Roman-Gothic style during the 14th century. It is an architectural master piece, which unfortunately was completely destroyed later after the great earthquake that hit Dubrovnic. The only remainder fro…
In my opinion, the Holy Cross is one of the nicer churches of Warsaw. Build in the late 17th century, to replace an old and small wooden chapel, this Roman Catholic building is probably most famous because the hearth of Chopin is kept here.
As alm…
The monument over the heroes of the Warsaw Uprising is a remarkable statue. It is pretty big and portrays huge figures of soldiers fighting or escaping attack. It stands in front of the military cathedral and is one of the most important symbols of W…
I don't know if the Pauline church (also called Ciala church) is the only Catholic church in Kazimierz, but it sure stands out between the other architecture.
The inside of the building isn't very spectacular, though there are a number of importa…
The Sukiennice or Cloth Hall is probably the most famous building of Krakow, standing in the middle of the old square. The hall was build in the 15th century and is on the UNESCO list of world inheritance. You simply cannot miss it when in Krakow.
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This wall surrounds the whole old city of Dubrovnik and reaches a height of 25 meters at some points. It is almost two kilometers long, so visitors can walk the paths completely in a reasonable time.
Every ones in a while the track is interrupted …
The Tomb of the unknown soldier stands at the entrance of the Saxon garden. It is constantly guarded by two honor soldiers and contains 24 urns with the ashes of soldiers that died in battlefield all over Europe. There is as well an internal flame bu…
On the main square of the old town you will not only find lovely terraces, nice restaurants and beautiful buildings. Here stands as well one of the Syrenka's or mermaid statues of Warsaw.
This mermaid with sword is the symbol on the armory shield …
Wawel has a very important role to play in Polish history. You'll find here for example the royal castle and the treasury. Many Polish kings were also crowned here. The complex has been build and rebuild throughout time. If I'm correct the first stru…
The salt mines made little town Wieliczka famous, and are a very popular destination for a day trip from Krakow. It is though, just as easy to visit the mines by yourself. I've seen some tours that were only little more expensive than what you pay wh… This review was featured on Sunday July 27th, 2008
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