The buildings in the Old City, dating from a variety of periods, include 15th-century arcades and 16th-century fountains.
Most of the medieval town was restored in the 18th century but it has retained its original character.
5 photos.
Friday, October 30, 2020
Old City of Berne - Switzerland
Founded in the 12th century on a hill site surrounded by the Aare River, Berne developed over the centuries in line with a an exceptionally coherent planning concept.
Biel / Bienne - Switzerland
Biel / Bienne is the only municipality / city in Switzerland that is officially and equally bilingual.
German and French are spoken.
Street signs and official documents are in both languages.
The German name is Biel, the French name Bienne.
5 photos.
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon - Portugal
Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of the Hieronymites – construction of which began in 1502 – exemplifies Portuguese art at its best.
The nearby Tower of Belém, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition, is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world.
5 photos.
Huttenkloas
The most notorious highwayman and murderer from Twente was without a doubt Huttenkloas.
This criminal, born as Klaas Annink, lived around 1750 with his family in a shabby hut.
Huttenkloas committed several murders to raise money.
First alone, later with the help of his wife and son, he hit his victims with an ax into the 'resines'.
Almost everyone around him suspected something, but no one dared to report it.
"Think of it, oene hoes is made of hoalt en streu", Kloas threatened.
Huttenkloas himself went for an ax when he went to church in the clothes of one of his victims.
He was arrested and imprisoned for over a hundred days in a compulsory chair, after which he was publicly sentenced to death.
The ceremony attracted more than 20,000 visitors: it was the trial of the century.
What such a good beer as no such good for him.
Then it would fall to pieces easier.
5 photos.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Monastery of Batalha - Portugal
The Monastery of the Dominicans of Batalha was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians at the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385.
It was to be the Portuguese monarchy's main building project for the next two centuries.
Here a highly original, national Gothic style evolved, profoundly influenced by Manueline art, as demonstrated by its masterpiece, the Royal Cloister.
5 photos.
Sledge hockey
Sledgehockey or Para Ice hockey is a form of ice hockey, but on a prick sled.
The clothing and most of the rules in the game are similar to those of ice hockey.
5 photos.
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico - USA
Between the 16th and 20th centuries, a series of defensive structures was built at this strategic point in the Caribbean Sea to protect the city and the Bay of San Juan.
They represent a fine display of European military architecture adapted to harbour sites on the American continent.
5 photos.
Alicante - Spain
Alicante is a city and municipality in the Spanish autonomous region of Valencia and is the capital of the province of Alicante.
The city is located on the Costa Blanca and is the second largest city in the autonomous region of Valencia.
5 photos.
Monday, October 26, 2020
Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu - Peru
Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting.
It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments.
The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna.
5 photos.
Umlazi - South Africa
Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, southwest of Durban.
It is South Africa's fourth largest municipality, after Soweto, Tembisa and Katlehong.
Umlazi is the only municipality in the country with its own number plate, namely NUZ.
5 photos.
