Akershus Fortress (Akershus Festning, Oslo) — Akershus Fortress, located in the city center by the Oslo Fjord, is a great place to discover the Norwegian capital’s history and a beautiful place to enjoy a summer day. The building of Akershus Castle and Fortress was commenced in 1299 under king Håkon V. The medieval castle, which […]
Āraiši Archaeological Museum Park (Drabeši parish, Āraiši) – this is a cultural historical monument situated in the Cēsis region. It consists of reconstructed buildings from the Stone and Bronze Ages, ancient Latgalians settlements from the 9th-11th centuries, as well as castle ruins from the Livonian period. Āraiši Lake Castle is presently the most extensively studied […]
Aldborough House (Portland Row, Dublin 1) — built in 1796 by Edward Stratford, second Earl of Aldborough and Viscount Amiens, Aldborough House is amongst the most important surviving historic houses in Dublin. Located on Portland Row, it was the last great mansion to be built in Dublin city during the second half of the 18th […]
Balenbouche Estate (Choiseul) — a unique 70-acre plantation “eco-lodge” set within a fascinating historical landscape, Balenbouche Estate is located on the southwest corner of the island, between the Hewanorra International airport in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia’s second largest town (20 minute drive), and the town of Soufriere (30 minute drive). Several secluded beaches are also […]
Akureyri Museum (Adalstraeti 58, Akureyri) – this museum, located in the north central part of the country (almost 5 hours northeast of Reykjavik) offers two permanent exhibitions depicting the history of the area from settlement to modern times: “Eyjafjorður from Early Times” and “Akureyri – the Town on the Bay”. Many interesting and unique artifacts […]
Ateneum Art Museum (Kaivokatu 2, Helsinki) – this museum (the national gallery of Finland) displays a broad collection of contemporary paintings and other artwork, with special emphasis on Finnish artists Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Hugo Simberg. The Simberg cabinet offers the chance to view the artist’s infrequently exhibited gouache and watercolor paintings. Precisely adjusted lighting conditions […]
Admiral (Lootsi 15, Tallinn) — an old-fashioned steamship docked at Tallinn’s downtown harbor is the setting for this elegant, little restaurant – one of the city’s most unique dining venues. An array of inventive Balkan, Russian and classical European dishes are served up in the cozy main cabin, but in warmer months guests can dine […]
De La Gardie (Viru 13/15, Tallinn) – this modern mall (built in 2000), is located in Tallinn’s medieval district – one of that city’s busiest shopping areas.
Estonian History Museum (Pikk 17, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tallinn) – this museum, which covers the history of the Estonian people, was previously named the History Museum of the Estonian SSR (under Soviet rule, severely limiting exhibition of items relevant to Estonian independence). When the Soviet empire collapsed and Estonia became a free republic, many important exhibitions […]
Big Ben (House of Parliament, Westminster, London) – Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as “Big Ben”, is among London’s best-known landmarks. The nickname “Big Ben” actually refers to the name of the huge bell inside the clock tower, which weighs more than 13 tons (13,760 kg). The clock tower stands out when the four clock faces […]