Great temples of the ancient world connecting with the universe - Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis 87 Colonnades in Luxor What and Why When I saw these two temples in front of my eyes the first time, I was so in awe that time literally stopped for a few minuttes. Simply unbelievable to know that these temples were built more than 3,500 years ago, so definitely classified in my list of monuments that you have to see it yourself to genuinely absorb it! The monumental landsca

Port city, windmills, carnival and a live architecture experiment - Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout 818; Van Nellefabriek 1441; Craft of the miller operating windmills and watermills 01265; Rotterdam Summer Carnival 01870 Windmill arrays in Kinderdijk What and Why The port city of Rotterdam , is in every sense of the word, very un-European. When I landed in Rotterdam from my recent cruise at got into the city, my immediate response was 'Wow, what a sight!'. Unlike most

Origin of industry in China - The Grand Canal 1443; Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structures 00223; Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China 01884; Spring festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditionadl new year 02126 Qingming bridge and Jiangnan canal at night Wuxi (Chinese: 无锡) has a special place in my heart as this was my first time travelling abroad (technically duri

The warm cradle that produces Swiss wines - Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces 1243; The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement 1321; Winegrowers’ Festival in Vevey 01201; Art of dry stone construction, knowledge and techniques 02106 Lavaux vineyard What and Why Along the north bank of Lake Geneva ( French : Le Léman ) lies a 30-km stretch of terraced vineyards that produces the wine appellation of the region. The region, which occupi

A mosque? A cathedral? - Historic Centre of Cordoba 313; Fiesta of the patios in Cordova 00846; Mediterranean diet 00884 Mosque-Cathedral What and Why Cordova ( Spanish : Córdoba ) is an epicentre of cultural crossroads in Europe as it contains a mixture of the diverse cultures that have settled it throughout history. Very few cities in the world had the history and privilege to serve as the capital of a major Roman province, namely Further Hispania ( Hispania Ulterior )

Alms-giving during sunrise - Town of Luang Prabang 479; Khaen music of the Lao people 01296; Traditional craft of Naga motif weaving in Lao communities 01973 Alms-giving at Luang Prabang What and Why Located in the confluence of Mekong River (ແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ, Maenam Khong ) , Luang Prabang ( Lao : ຫລວງພະບາງ, Louangphabang ) is a remarkable city, so isolated from the outside world that it still possesses extremely well preserved architectural, religious and cultural heritages. In

One of the most beautiful mediaeval European cities with a hint of former communist feel - Historic Centre of Kraków 29; Nativity scene (szopka) tradition in Krakow 01362 Old town square What and Why Kraków (pronounced /ˈkrakuf/) is always cited as one of the most culturally rich and beautiful cities in the world in various forum, so much so that its fame lands itself being the first batch of UNESCO WHS inscriptions in 1979. Banked on the Vistula river ( Polish : Wisła ) ,

Venetian fortified town deep in the Mediterranean sea cliff - Natural and Culture-Historical Region of Kotor 125; Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th centuries: Stato da Terra - Western State Da Mar 1533 Fortification of Kotor What and Why Kotor ( Montenegrin : Котор) is a beautifully landscaped historic fortification built largely by the Republic of Venice (Venetian: Venèçia ) around the Mediterranean inner bay, between the rugged mountains and the serene w

The Pearl of Adriatic as if a page from Games of Thrones - Old City of Dubrovnik 95; Festivity of Saint Blaise, the patron of Dubrovnik 00232; Art of dry stone construction, knowledge and techniques 02106 Dubrovnik What and Why Dubrovnik , known as the ' Pearl of the Adriatic ' by George Byron , is a city that comes out of the page of the mediaeval fantasy stories with the city being beautifully planned and constructed with brown marbles and limestones. The history of the ci

World's most beautiful town square - La Grand-Place, Brussels 857; Ommegang of Brussels, an annual historical procession and popular festival 01366 La Grand Place (from internet) What and Why Possibly one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, city squares in the world, the Grand-Place, in French and English, is the landmark of Brussels (French: Bruxelles). The square is surrounded by impressive mediaeval and opulent guildhalls and buildings. The Grand Place is v

Centre of Art Nouveau and a showcase of architectural innovation - Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels) 1005; Stoclet House 1298; Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and France 00153 Inside Victor Horta Museum What and Why Art Nouveau is an international style of art, architecture, decorative art and applied art that came into fashion during the turn of the 20th century. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants

'Not-old' Baroque town with Arab-Norman churches - Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto (South-Eastern Sicily) 1024; Italian cooking, between sustainability and biocultural diversity 02093 Noto What and Why Noto is a very tiny town but is unexpectedly gorgeous. One of the most photogenic places during this trip. Similar to other Sicilian cities, Noto was occupied by the Arabs in the 9th century and then in late 11th century, it became the last Islamic stronghold in Sicily