Murcia Cathedral

Murcia Cathedral is a key piece of Spanish baroque. It stands out for the amalgam of architectural styles that range from Gothic to Neoclassicism. Consecrated in the 13th century on the site of a former mosque, the cathedral is most famous for its striking Baroque main facade, juxtaposed against a grandly soaring Gothic interior. The massive bell tower stands 95 meters tall, the second-highest cathedral tower in Spain. The Gothic cloister of the Cathedral is the oldest part of the church that is still preserved. Los Vélez Chapel is Flamboyant Gothic and has a vaulted ceiling with star-shaped skylights, while Los Junterones Chapel is in Renaissance style.

RR: 10 Countries RR
Date: Sept 5

Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Built in 1924, following the design of architects Dragutin Đorđević and Andra Stevanović, the important institution hosts an extremely rich Archive of Serbia, the library of the Academy and the Gallery where art exhibitons take place. The building is also the seat of the Museum of Science and Technology.

The building is famous for its intricate, grand facade featuring expansive sculptures, symbolic figures representing science and the arts, and dramatic floral and geometric Art Nouveau details.

RR: Slavic Countries x World RR
Date: August 29

Fuji Shibazakura Festival

The Fuji Shibazakura Festival is held every year, starting from mid-April, at the Fuji Motosuko Resort in Yamanashi Prefecture, where about 500,000 moss phlox trees bloom on the vast grounds at the foot of Mt. Fuji.

Unesco: Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration
RR: 10 Countries RR (20)
Date: Sept 5

The Gardens of the Upper Belvedere Palace

The Belvedere is a historic building complex and art museum in Vienna. The complex consists of two Baroque palaces, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, together with the Orangery, the Palace Stables, and a formal Baroque garden. The Belvedere’s garden is one of Europe’s most significant historical gardens in French style and, even in its pared down form today, is still a fine example of late Baroque garden design. The gardens feature 12 monumental Baroque sphinx statues created in the early 18th century. They are symbols of strength and intelligence.

Unesco: Historic Centre of Vienna

RR: 10 Countries RR (20)
Date: August 27

Geneva's Historic Old Town

Switzerland's largest historical city, the Old Town of Geneva is dominated by St. Peter's Cathedral, the centre of the Reformation. The small cobblestone streets tell its story through small squares, historic buildings, fascinating museums and mysterious secret passages. St. Peter’s Cathedral dominates Geneva from the heart of the Old Town. A major historical landmark, it was built in the 12th century and underwent numerous transformations over the centuries before becoming the symbol of the Protestant Reformation. 157 steps lead to the top of its tower, but the panoramic view that awaits you is worth the effort.

RR: 10 Countries RR (20)
Date: August 31

Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde

The two Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley (Portugal) and Siega Verde (Spain) are located on the banks of the rivers Agueda and Côa, tributaries of the river Douro, documenting continuous human occupation from the end of the Paleolithic Age. Hundreds of panels with thousands of animal figures (5,000 in Foz Côa and around 440 in Siega Verde) were carved over several millennia, representing the most remarkable open-air ensemble of Paleolithic art on the Iberian Peninsula. Côa Valley and Siega Verde provide the best illustration of the iconographic themes and organization of Paleolithic rock art, using the same modes of expression in caves and in the open air, thus contributing to a greater understanding of this artistic phenomenon. Together they form a unique site of the prehistoric era, rich in material evidence of Upper Paleolithic occupation.

Unesco: Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde
RR: 10 Countries RR (20)
Date: Sept 2

Titina Birthday

A birthday card sent from Eswatini. Thank you Selbi!
Date: August 14

Atlantic Canada

The Humpback whale exposes its tail flukes in terminal dives. Their white markings enable researchers to identify individual whales. Whales are protected from commercial fishing in Canadian waters.

RR: Weekly RR
Date: August 16

Odzun Monument

Odzun is one of the oldest settlements of the Gugark region, located 8 km southwest of the present-day town of Alaverdi. The area is rich in medieval architectural heritage, the crown jewel of which is the Odzun Basilica, a domed basilica church from the 5th–6th centuries that rises in the center of the village. The Odzun Monument or funerary monument, which symbolizes the triumph of Christianity in Armenia, is located about 10 meters northeast of the domed basilica. Around the basilica is a cemetery rich with khachkars and tombstones dating from the 13th to the 20th centuries. The village of Odzun was the birthplace of St. Hovhan Odznetsi, one of the most prominent theologians and philosophers in Armenian history, and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Tag: Offer tag
Date: August 12

Cape Tribulation

Cape Tribulation is a spectacular remote headland in northern Queensland, Australia, globally renowned as the unique destination where the ancient Daintree Rainforest directly collides with the Great Barrier Reef. Located inside the Daintree National Park, this eco-tourism haven sits approximately 110 kilometres north of Cairns and serves as the meeting point for two distinct UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Tag: Offer tag
Date: August 25

Koalas

Koala with baby. Thank you Marnie!
Date: August 11

Medina of Tunis

Under the Almohads and the Hafsids, from the 12th to the 16th century, Tunis was considered one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in the Islamic world. Some 700 monuments, including palaces, mosques, mausoleums, madrasas and fountains, testify to this remarkable past.

Unesco: Medina of Tunis
Thank you Veerle!
Date: August 17