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Samarkand, Bukhara & Khiva: Heart of the Silk Road
The great cities of Samarkand and Bukhara flaunt their magnificent Timurid architecture, whilst remote Khiva beguiles the Silk Road traveller. For many travellers, Uzbekistan holds the very heart of the Central Asian Silk Road. Its three main historical centres – Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva – all resonate deeply with the weight of history
The Utopian Dream of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Homes
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the renowned 20th century American architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed only for the wealthy elite. After all, household-name architects (or “star-chitects”) like Wright don’t typically get famous by creating homes for the average family. Like his architectural peers, Wright did, of course, design a number of
Brescia & its Astonishing Museum of Santa Giulia
Few people would put Brescia, the 2nd largest city in Lombardy, near the top of their list of places to visit in Italy – perhaps because it is such an industrial city and associated with steel and arms manufacturing. Walking along the historical streets of the city, sipping the famous bubbly Franciacorta made in the province and, above all, visiting its historical heart
10 great ways to experience Lisbon
Tour leader, linguist and art history specialist Dr Jeni Ryde takes you through one of her favourite destinations – Portugal’s coastal capital city of Lisbon. Situated on seven hills at the wide mouth of the river Tagus (Tejo), where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon enchants travellers with its white bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and brightly coloured yellow trams.
What is the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair?
Darwin hosts two very important cultural events in the same week: the largest and most important annual event for Indigenous Australian art, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF); and Couture to Country, the leading space to highlight the rise of Indigenous fashion and textile design. It is a unique opportunity for over 1,500 artists from more than 70 Indigenous owned Art Centres to showcase
Modernism on the Côte d'Azur
Ah, the French Riviera! An enviable sun-soaked stretch of coastline renowned for its sensational beauty, glorious white sand beaches and alluring glamour – this adult playground was the ultimate resort of the first half of the 20th century. But did you know that it’s also a Modernist art lover’s dream destination… Picasso, Chagall, Matisse, and dozens of other famous 20th-century artists vacationed, lived, and created
The Alhambra of Granada
Granada is southern Spain’s precious jewel, and for much of the Middle Ages it dangled – like the glowing pomegranate for which it is named – temptingly before the eyes of the Christian conquistadors, who hoped to recapture it from the Muslim dynasties that ruled the city from 711. While the Almohads, who reigned until 1228, were known for their orthodoxy and sometimes repressive regime, the Nasrids
Highlights of Chianti
Stretching between Florence and Siena, nestled in the heart of Tuscany, is the romantic Chianti region – well known for its rolling green hills dotted with vineyards, terra-cotta-roofed towns and wine-soaked dinners. And while the copious amounts of red wine are well worth the visit, there is plenty more on offer for the cultural traveller amid Chianti’s winding roads and rolling hills.
Naples
Venice has its gondolas, Florence has Michelangelo’s David, Rome has the Colosseum and Naples…er, pizza? Despite 3,000 years of history, fine architecture, one of Europe’s greatest art museums, mouth-watering food and a vibrant local culture, many visitors to Italy are put off by Naples’ enigmatic reputation. But Naples is a nuanced and complex city that doesn’t give up its secrets easily
Top 5 Cultural Experiences in Rome
The most extraordinary thing about Rome is its sheer longevity. More than any other city, it has been a centre of the world since it developed an empire, which ruled over a third of the world’s population. The vast range of historic sites, stretching from Etruscan pre-history to the 21st century, creates a destination of unique character, with an unrivalled sense of historical continuity between ancient and modern society.
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