Minturnae was originally an Auruncian city, one of the three towns of the Aurunci which allied themselves with the Samnites and made war against Rome in 314 BC., the other two being called Ausona and Vescia. The city was probably destroyed in 883 by the Saracens, who in the following years held the surrounding plain. Its site was increasingly abandoned by the population in favour of that of the modern town of Minturno. The Roman ruins consist of an amphitheatre, a theatre in opus reticulatum, and an aqueduct in opus reticulatum, the quoins of which are of various colours arranged in patterns to produce a decorative effect. There are also a statue commonly called of Sepeone, from the Late Empire age, and the remains of a Capitolium, built in Italic-Etruscan style after 191 BC, near the Appian Way.

The Roman theatre, built in the late Republican era or at the beginning of the Empire, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The Roman theatre, built in the late Republican era or at the beginning of the Empire, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

A stretch of the Appian Way passing through the ancient city and serving as its decumanus maximus, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

A stretch of the Appian Way passing through the ancient city and serving as its decumanus maximus, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The macellum (market) dating to the Hadrianic period (117-138) and the reconstructed monumental colonnade, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The macellum (market) and the tabernae dating to the Hadrianic period (117-138), Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

Black & white mosaic in the caldarium of the thermae depicting cupids pressing grapes, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The tepidarium, the warm bathroom of the baths complex heated by a hypocaust (underfloor heating system), Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The natatio (swimming pool) of the bath complex, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The natatio (swimming pool) of the bath complex, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The ruins of the Capitolium (temple dedicated to the triad Jupiter, Juno and Minerva), an Etrusco-Italic type temple built ca. 191 BC, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The podium of the Temple of Augustus, built at the beginning of the Imperial age right alongside the Capitolium, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

The podium of the Temple of Augustus, built at the beginning of the Imperial age right alongside the Capitolium, Minturnae, Minturno, Italy

Antiquarium of Minturnae, Minturno

Antiquarium of Minturnae, Minturno

Antiquarium of Minturnae, Minturno

Antiquarium of Minturnae, Minturno

Aqueduct near Minturnae, built between the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire, Minturno, Italy

credit: Following Hadrian

The Dominican Republic is a country in the Caribbean that shares its land boundary with Haiti on the west. Santo Domingo, officially Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic and the largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean. Street signs and restaurant menus are written in Spanish, which is the country’s official language. Santo Domingo is the cultural, financial, political, commercial and industrial center. Coffee, sugar, and tobacco are the island’s main sources of income. Tourism is also playing an important part in supporting the economy now. Christopher Columbus visited the island on December 5, 1492. Actually, he founded the island (accidentally), naming it Hispaniola.

Alcázar Balcony

Alcázar de Colón

Panteón Nacional

Catedral Primada de América

Fortaleza Ozama

Mouth of the Rio Ozama

Convento de los Dominicos

Monumento de Fray Antón de Montesinos

Puerta del Conde

DR Founding Fathers

Mausoleum of Christopher Columbus

Photos taken by David Stanley

The magnificent Hohensalzburg standing high over the city of Salzburg.It is main tourist attraction of a city. The Hohensalzburg Fortress was built in the 11th century by Archbishop Gebhard and is the largest unconquered fortress in Europe. The castle is 150 meters wide and 250 meters long, and the oldest part is over 900 years old. The Hohensalzburg Fortress functioned as a prison, residence, and fortress. It is a must-see attraction and is open all year round. Numerous museums and imposing architecture await the visitors of the fortress.

credit: heatheronhertravels

The traditional information and performance show of the Austrian Armed Forces is not held as usual at Heldenplatz, but in various locations in the capital of Vienna. The helicopters and tanks can already be seen in the inner city of Vienna. The big armed forces festival will take place in Vienna on 26 October during the national holiday.

credit: Bundesheer.Fotos

Malacca also called Melaka in Bahasa Malaysia is a wonderful city for nice daytime activities. Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. Visiting Malacca is a unique experience with a rich historical and cultural background from previous Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. The city centre was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in July 2008.

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The ancient city Ephesus is located in Selcuk, a small town 30km away from Kusadasi. The Greek city of Ephesus was famous for its Temple of Artemis, which was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was built in the 10th century BC on the site of the former Arzawan capital by Attic and Ionian Greek colonists. The city flourished after it came under the control of the Roman Republic in 129 BC. According to estimates, Ephesus had a population of 33,600 to 56,000 people in the Roman period, making it the third largest city of Roman Asia Minor after Sardis and Alexandria Troas. A legendary city that housed many important names like Cleopatra, Mark Anthony, Augustus, St. Paul, Virgin Mary, John the Apostle… It is visited by over 2 million people each year.

credit: jaycross

The Museo Soumaya in Mexico City is a private museum owned by the Carlos Slim Foundation. It is best known for its modern, innovative architecture at the Plaza Carso location in Nuevo Polanco. The glimmering and modern building is already being hailed as a new landmark in Mexico’s capital, but it is also being criticized as the pet project of a man who knows more about business than art. The new anvil-shaped structure, designed by Fernando Romero, featured a facade covered in aluminum hexagons, and the interior offered 183,000 square feet.

credit: Timothy Neesam (GumshoePhotos)

Oxford a city in central England on the River Thames. The city is known worldwide as the home of the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Buildings in Oxford demonstrate notable examples of every English architectural period since the late Saxon period. Oxford University has over 22,000 students. 11,772 are undergraduate students, while 9,850 are graduate students. Oxford attracts many visitors each year from the UK and internationally.

credit: David Bailey MBE

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a seaside city of beautiful islands and great green parks. Officially, the area of Helsinki consists of 2/3 of the Baltic sea and 1/3 of land. The sea area is clustered by 315 islands Sweden’s King Gustavus Vasa founded Helsinki on the mouth of Vantaanjoki River in 1550 to compete with Tallinn for Baltic Sea trade. Helsinki is one of the coldest cities in the world. It does not receive sunshine for about consecutive 51 days in winters. The city has around 101 average annual days of snow and an amazing 169 average annual number of days below 0 Celsius or 32°F. Maple is the symbol of Helsinki and the city uses squirrel as its symbol as well.

Uspenski Cathedral

Parliament House of Finland

Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art

Main Post Office

Kyösti Kallio and Parliament House of Finland

Finlandiatalo, Finlandia House

Helsinki Music Center, Musiikkitalo

Merihaka buildings

Love Bridge, Katajanokka

Sail Boat

White Church, Tuomiokirkko

Aleksanterinkatu

Main Railway Station

City Center

credit: tomilattu

The Forbidden City, also called Zijin Cheng, is a 72-hectare palace complex in Beijing that was used by the emperors of China from A.D. 1420 to 1911. The Forbidden City served as a fortress to protect the emperor and his family. The complex consists of about 980 buildings, mainly in yellow and red colors, surrounded by a wall 10 meters high. The well guarded palace is surrounded also by a moat 3,800 metres long and 52 metres wide. Intruders were discouraged by guards in watchtowers with bow and arrows.

credit: IvanWalsh.com