Historic and gastronomic centre of France with hidden corridors - Historic Site of Lyon 872; Belfries of Belgium and France 943; Gastronomic meal of the French 00437; Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread 01883 Restaurants along Rue Saint-Jean What and Why Against common beliefs, the gastronomic centre of France is not Paris , but Lyon . So much that Lyon is inscribed as the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy . The city has apparently more restaurants per capita

The Russian Versailles, Russian Amsterdam and its old citadel - Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments 540 Fountains of Peterhof What and Why As blogged in Saint Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург) | City Centre , the city of Saint Petersburg ( Russian : Санкт-Петербург, Sankt-Peterburg )  is a city built from scratch with a European model in mind, almost fully conceptualised by Peter I (Пётр I, Pyotr I ,   né Пётр Романов, Pyotr Romanov )  in the early

Beautiful European-styled city in the North - Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments 540 Hermitage at the background through the staff building What and Why Founded by Peter I ( Russian : Пётр I, Pyotr I , né Пётр Романов, Pyotr Romanov ) in 1703, Saint Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург, Sankt-Peterburg ) is definitely one of the most cosmopolitan and culturally significant cities of Russia (Россия, Rossiya ) . Upon completion of the city within ten

Cultural and historic confluence of ancient Egyptian and Nubian civilisations - Nubian Monuments from Abu Simbel to Philae 88; Handmade weaving in Upper Egypt (Sa'eed) 01605 Philae Temple from river cruise What and Why Aswan ( Arabic : أسوان , ʾAswān ) , located in southern Egypt (مصر , Miṣr ) on the banks of the River Nile , is a city of great historical and cultural significance. With a history that stretches back thousands of years, Aswan has been a cultural crossroad an

' Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou-Hangzhou ': for gardens, canals, food, operas, silk and scholastic activities - Classical Gardens of Suzhou 813; The Grand Canal 1443; Kun Qu opera 00004; Sericulture and silk craftsmanship of China 00197 Canal in Suzhou This post marks the 5th anniversary of my blog. What and Why The quote ' Above there is heaven, below there is Suzhou-Hangzhou ( Chinese : 上有天堂、下有苏杭 , Shangyou tiantang, Xiayou Su-hang ) ' aptly describes how bea

The first capital of Russia, a major trading post and another centre of Russian Orthodoxy - Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings 604 Millennium Monument What and Why While Veliky Novgorod ( Russian : Великий Новгород) is so-called the 'new city', it is actually one of the oldest cities in the history of Russia (Россия, Rossiya ) . The city was founded in 859 by the Varangian (Old Norse: Væringjar ) prince Rurik (Рюрикъ , Rjurikŭ ) , which began the ruling dynast

The only remaining wonder of the ancient world - Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur 86; Koshary, daily life dish and practices associated with it 02278 Sphinx and the Pyramid of Khafre What and Why There is absolutely no need for any introduction to the pyramids of Egypt ( Arabic : مصر , Miṣr ) . Pyramids are the oldest but the only standing seven wonders of the ancient world , standing on the various sites for more than 4,500 years! Unless

Ancient pearling site that started the nation - Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy 1364 ; Fjiri 01747 Oyster beds in Muharraq What and Why For centuries, Muharraq ( Arabic: المحرق, Al-Muḥarraq ) was the Persian Gulf’s pearling epicentre. After all the region produces some of the finest pearls in the world, and this literally gave birth to the regional Bahraini culture and civilisation since the 3rd century BCE. Virtually everyone was involved in the pearling indu

Hanseatic dockyards standing for more than a thousand years - Bryggen 59; Oselvar boat - reframing a traditional learning process of building and use to a modern context 01156; Nordic clinker boat traditions 01686 Bryggen 1 What and Why Bergen , a coastal city in Norway ( Norwegian : Norge ) , was the main commercial hub of the Hanseatic League (German: Hanse ) during the 13th to 17th century The Hanseatic League started as a mediaeval commercial confederation of guilds an

Magical use of space, light, water and greens in a Moorish castle - Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada 314; Flamenco 00363; Mediterranean diet 00884 Alhambra What and Why Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located on a hilltop in Granada and was originally constructed as a small fortress in the late 9th century on the remains of Roman fortifications . The complex was then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by th

Oppa Gangnam style! - Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty 1319; Arirang, lyrical folk song in the Republic of Korea 00445; Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of Korea 00881; Knowledge, beliefs and practices related to jang making in the Republic of Korea 01975 Gangnam style What and Why Gangnam ( Korean : 강남) , made famous by the hit song Gangnam Style ( 강남스타일 ) , is the current main business district of Seoul (서울) as a result of the rapid economic boom of Kor

An ultra-modern metropolis with a history of more than 2,000 years - Jongmyo Shrine 738; Changdeokgung Palace Complex 816; Royal ancestral ritual in the Jongmyo shrine and its music 00016; Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of Korea 00881; Knowledge, beliefs and practices related to jang making in the Republic of Korea 01975 Gwanghwamun What and Why Seoul ( Korean : 서울) is an ultra-modern city of stark contrasts. The city proper itself dates back to 18 BCE,

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 ) ,

Mediaeval church with frescoes of long-lasting legacy - Boyana Church 42; Bulgarian Chitalishte (Community Cultural Centre): practical experience in safeguarding the vitality of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 00969 Boyana Church What and Why The Boyana Church ( Bulgarian : Боянска Ц ърква, Boyanska Tsărkva ) is a mediaeval Orthodox church built in the 10th century located in the Boyana district, apparently the most well-off area of Sofia (София, Sofiya ) . The church is

Indentured labour gateway - Aapravasi Ghat 1227; Bhojpuri folk songs in Mauritius, Geet-Gawai 01178 Aapravasi Ghat What and Why The Aapravasi Ghat is another iconic representation of forced labour and slavery in Africa during the colonial times. During the period from mid-19th to early 20th century, Mauritius was a centre for i ndentured , or contracted, labour workforce from many countries due to its extensive requirement for labours in the sugar-cane plantations, manage

A city of contrasting unequals: Bollywood against traditional culture, mega-rich against slum; Victorian architectures against Hindu buildings - Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) 945; Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai 1480; Yoga 01163 Taj Hotel and Gate of India What and Why As in the subtitle, Mumbai ( Hindi : मुम्बई) is really a city of contrasting paradoxes: It is the epicentre of Bollywood movies featuring all sorts of fantasies,

Centre of transportation with a pink hue : old canal, pilgrimage routes and new aeroplane - Canal du Midi 770; Routes of Santiago de...

British colonial garden - Singapore Botanic Gardens 1483 ; Hawker culture in Singapore, community dining and culinary practices in a...

Part two of one of the most beautiful cities in Europe - Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and...

One of Europe's most touristy cities - Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue 400;...