Tourism and history information right now
Travel and history guides right now? The Middle East’s most easygoing country, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, better known simply as Jordan, has attracted travellers since ancient times. Today, the nation draws over four million visitors each year to its vast desert landscapes, welcoming cities and the extraordinary Dead Sea. Don’t miss these must-visit attractions, including Wadi Rum, The Temple of Hercules and more. Want to experience Jordan without the hassle of having to think about every detail? Join Culture Trip’s epic nine-day trip to ensure you spend more time exploring, and zero time planning. Find even more details at Define Places.
These lush tropical gardens full of cacti, palms, and ferns, are the work of painter Jacques Majorelle. Originally from the town of Nancy in France, Majorelle came to Marrakesh for health reasons and became well known for his paintings of local Moroccan life. His most famous work, though, was this garden and the vibrant blue (the color now known as Majorelle blue) painter’s studio he lived in on the grounds. After Majorelle’s death in 1962, French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent bought the property, and upon his death in 2008, his ashes were scattered in the gardens. Majorelle’s old painting studio is now home to a fabulous museum dedicated to Berber artistry. A museum dedicated to YSL’s life and famed fashion legacy is currently being built on the grounds as well.
Sitting slap-bang between Dubai’s older neighborhoods clustered around the creek and the city’s modern sprawl, this ginormous 150-meter-high picture frame is one of Dubai’s latest sights. Inside, a series of galleries whisk you through the city’s history and explore Emirati heritage before you travel up to the Sky Deck, where there are fantastic panoramas of both old and new Dubai to be snapped on the viewing platforms. Afterwards check out Future Dubai gallery, which imagines what a futuristic vision of the city will look like. Sheikh Zayed Road is the main thoroughfare running through Dubai’s modern downtown business district. This wide, eight-lane highway is rimmed with towering glass, chrome, and steel high-rises along its entire length. It’s one of the best on-the-ground vantage points for Dubai’s famed skyscraper views.
Carrefour operates several supermarkets near Sitimar Marina. Find every essential from Sicilian olive oil to chilled Moretti beer. Palermo’s trio of street markets – Ballaró, Vucciria and Capo – are alive with snails, octopus, rising bread and rapidly diminishing piles of tomatoes. It’s where locals do their weekly shop, so roll up your sleeves and get ready to join them. The Palermo-Montecarlo is an 804km (500mi) sprint from Sicily to Monaco, with breathtaking views over Sardinia and Corsica en route. The 50-plus sailboats that set sail from Mondello in Sicily in late August are big and beautiful. The offshore regatta also serves as a training ground for Olympians and America’s Cup sailors.
The Museum of Prehistoric Thira displays finds from Akrotiri archaeological site in a modern white building located close to the 1950s Mitropolis church in Fira. One of the top tourist attractions is the Blue Monkeys wall fresco. Other ancient artworks on display include marble figurines, painted ceramics, tools, and weapons. Pyrgos was Santorini’s capital before Fira took over in 1800. The tiny village of Pyrgos, located in the middle of Santorini, is made up of whitewashed Cycladic cottages built around the ruins of a medieval hilltop castle. Previously a sleepy, all-but-forgotten town, Pyrgos has, since 2004, started to cater to upmarket tourism with the opening of several small, chic restaurants and boutique hotels.
The Amador Causeway is a man-made road that stretches 3 kilometers into the Pacific Ocean to some small islands. At the end of the causeway, the views of the city are beautiful and visiting is a great short activity in Panama City! From your hotel, the Amador Causeway is easy to visit. I recommend getting a taxi to the start of the causeway and taking a nice stroll to the end where you’ll find lots of beautiful restaurants with views of the city. You can also bike the causeway for really cheap. The company Burke Bikes rents bikes for around $10 an hour depending on the style of bike. They are located on the islands, so get your taxi to drop you at the end of the causeway if you want to do this. You can visit at sunset and I regret not doing so. However, the views on a sunny day are also amazing. We had lunch at a small restaurant and enjoyed a few cocktails before heading back to our hotel.
