Palmyra, a 2,000-year old city with Roman ruins in the middle of the Syrian desert, is in the hands of ISIS. The city was noted in the annals of the Assyrian kings, and may have been mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Palmyra was incorporated by the Seleucid Empire and then the Roman Empire, which brought prosperity. The major attraction of the area is the stunning ruins – the most famous and well-preserved of which are the Temple of Bel, the Theatre, the colonnade, the funerary towers, the hypogeum of 3 brothers, and the Arab castle, all in this very particular desert context.

credit: varunshiv

Corsica is an island and region of France in the Mediterranean Sea, southeast of France and west of Italy. The island’s pleasant climate and the beautiful mountain and sea landscapes make it a popular destination among the French and other Western Europeans. Perched atop 200-foot chalk cliffs, The town of Bonifacio lights up the southern tip of Corsica. It is only major harbor of the southern coast. It provides gorgeous views over the Mediterranean Sea.

Bonifacio view from southeastern cliff

Small chapel east of Bonifacio

Bonifacio cemetery

German WWII bunkers in Bonifacio

Heraldry in Bonifacio

Eglise Sainte Marie Majeure in Bonifacio

View on Bonifacio harbour

Fishing boat in harbour of Bonifacio

Limestone cliffs at Bonifacio

Limestone cliffs at Bonifacio

Citadel of Bonifacio

Bonifacio perched on top of limestone cliffs

Bonifacio perched on top of limestone cliffs

credit: paularps

When people live in London, they’ll think that London is the most wonderful place in the world. with all of the amazing things to do, all of the galleries, restaurants, and markets, and, more than anything.

Canary Wharf Underground London

Walkway London

Southwark Underground London

Westminster Underground London

Thames Barrier London

Horse Guards Parade London

Alnwick Castle Gardens

Trafalgar Square London

City Parliament London

Great Conservatory – Syon Park Gardens London

Canary Wharf Skyline – London

The Towers London City Skyline

credit: Simon & His Camera

Berlin shines in a festive blaze of lights every year in the period before Christmas. There are over sixty Christmas markets to wander round and enjoy. Berlin’s most attractive Christmas market is the traditional Christmas market in Spandau’s old town. Some 250 traders sell food and handicrafts from four continents on the historic roads.

credit: Glyn Lowe Photoworks

Rovinj is situated on the western coast of Istria in Croatia, the largest peninsula on the Adriatic coastline, a one hour drive from Trieste and 2.5 hours from Zagreb. The car-free old town is made up of Venetian-era pastel coloured houses built around a pretty fishing harbour and overlooked by a hilltop church. Town offers the largest baroque building in Istria, the tower of St. Euphemia is also the highest point in Rovinj, offering an enchanting view of the town and the archipelago that surrounds it. The church tower is a replica of the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, with a bronze statue of Saint Euphemia on its spire. The statue spins around to show the direction of the wind with her right hand. Rovinj is also the most Italian town on this coast: there’s an Italian high school, the language is widely spoken, and street signs are bilingual.

credit: Sobrecroacia.com

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the 5th-largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture. It is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. One quarter of Canada’s population lives within a 160 km radius of Toronto.Toronto is a very active city! Not only does Toronto love to watch sports, but love to play sports. The city is lined with hiking trails, walking paths, golf courses, and sport fields.

toronto cne

toronto sunrise – humber bridge

union station

new towers at bay and adelaide

union station to skydome

St Michaels Cathedral

black towers

university & college

high park

princes gates

distillery district, toronto

fountain

BCE

casa loma

flames

john’s seafood restaurant

harbor

forever bicycles by ai weiwei

credit: paul bica

Montpellier is one of the most beautiful cities in the south of France, famous for being a large educational center and important site for the light economy. It is located near the Mediterranean Sea. The city lies 100 miles northwest of Marseilles, 471 miles southwest of Paris and 31 miles southwest of Nimes. Broad boulevards lined with shady plane trees, a huge car-free central square laid out in the 1700s surrounded by elegant balustraded buildings, even a vast triumphal arch – you name it, Montpellier’s got it.

Montpellier

Juvénal res de Antigone

Architecture

l’Hôtel de Région

ensemble port mariane

a dominante à montpellier !! c’est la rose

mélange ancien et nouveau

c’est mieux avec la rampe

nouveau pont à Montpellier traversant le lez

le haut de l’Opéra de Montpellier

l’envol vers le ciel

sur la place Antigone

les déchets du lez

tour de verre

expo à Montpellier

montpellier

credit: spc49

The Antwerp Central Station is one of the world’s most impressive railway stations. The monumental main building was designed by the Bruges architect L. Delacenserie. It has a huge dome and 8 smaller towers of which 6 were demolished during the 1950s, but these were reconstructed in 2009 together with several ornaments including large lion statues. The colorful interior is lavishly decorated with more than 20 different kinds of marble and stone. The main hall and the railway cafeteria can match the interiors of many palaces. The National Belgian Railway Company, SNCB-Holding, took up the challenge to transform the 1905 station into one meeting 2010 technological requirements and social needs, while still respecting its cultural heritage. The monumental architecture of the station has been painstakingly restored and integrated within a new structure by the architects, creating a dynamic blend of old and new, of stone, and brick and concrete. The 3.8km tunnel drilled under the existing station allowing high speed trains to travel between Amsterdam and Brussels, took eleven years of work, yet did not interrupt traffic.

credit:  Zooey_

credit:  Zooey_

credit: Nigel’s Europe & beyond

credit: Nigel’s Europe & beyond

credit: Nigel’s Europe & beyond

credit: CucombreLibre

credit:  Leonieke Aalders

credit:  Lora Rajah

credit:  Zooey_

credit: The Wolf

UNESCO World heritage magnificent buildings and monuments in Budapest are brilliantly illuminated at night, making the city appear even more spectacular than by day. Here is a collection of an amazing after-hours shots showing how beautiful the city can be. Nights in Budapest can get pretty epic so embrace every moment.

Facts:

Country: Hungary
Area: 525.16km2
Population: 1,741,041 (2011)
Demonym: Budapesti
Budapest occupies both the banks of the river Danube.
Budapest constitutes approximately 20% of the population of Hungary. The ethnic groups residing the city are Germans, Hungarians, Roma, Slovaks and Greeks.
Budapest has 23 districts in total; 6 are located in Buda, 16 in Pest and 1 on the Csepel Island between them.
The largest Synagogue in Europe, the Dohány Street Synagogue, is located in Budapest. It is also the second largest synagogue in the world. It can accommodate 3,000 worshipers and was a built between 1854 and 1859.
The largest medicinal bath in Europe, Széchenyi Medicinal Bath, is also located in the city.
The third largest Parliament building in the world also lies in Budapest.
The city even houses the third largest church in Europe, Esztergom Basilica.
Budapest experiences a temperate, transitional climate.
Budapest has the oldest subway-line, named Millenium Underground in mainland Europe. After London, Budapest has the oldest underground train system in Europe. The line opened in 1896 in the year when Hungary celebrated its 1000th anniversary. It’s still in use as subway and it connects the city center with City Park.
Budapest is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The city houses a few World Heritage Sites, namely the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue and the Millennium Underground railway.

credit: Farah Tsai

Every year the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea are transformed into show gardens, inspirational small gardens and vibrant horticultural displays for the world’s most famous flower show. Alan Titchmarsh designs RHS Britain in Bloom 50th anniversary garden at Chelsea Flower Show. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is attended by 157,000 visitors each year.

credit: Karen Roe