Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

Medieval Monuments in Kosovo

From the World Heritage inscription: The four edifices of the site reflect the high points of the Byzantine-Romanesque ecclesiastical culture, with its distinct style of wall painting, which developed in the Balkans between the 13th and 17th centuries. The De?ani Monastery was built in the mid-14th century for the Serbian king Stefan De?anski and is …

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Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace UNESCO World Heritage Site

Blenheim is a massive palace located in the village of Woodstock, just outside of Oxford, England. While open to the public, it is actually the private property of the 12th Duke of Marlborough. The 11th Duke passed away just 3 weeks prior to my visit to the palace. It has the distinction of being the …

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Dorset and East Devon Coast

Dorset and East Devon Coast

From the World Heritage inscription for Dorset and East Devon Coast: Located on the south coast of England, the property comprises eight sections along 155 km of coast. The property has a combination of geological, palaeontological and geomorphological features. These include a variety of fossils, a beach renowned for its pebbles and textbook examples of …

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19 Incredible Photos of the Canary Islands

La Graciosa on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

During my more than a decade of traveling the world, I had the pleasure of visiting and photographing Spain’s incredible Canary Islands. Located off the coast of Africa, the volcanic chain of islands is a Spanish province with a history dating back to the colonization of the Americas. Over the course of my visit, I …

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The Seven Wonders of Spain

Overlooking the skyline of Alicante, Spain

Spain is a country that needs no introduction to the world on why visit—north to south the country has long attracted visitors keen to hike in the Pyrenees and explore Asturia, experience the cosmopolitan charm of Barcelona and the otherworldly landscapes in the Canary Islands. And through it all—travelers and locals enjoy world-class tapas, seafood, …

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17 Interesting Facts About the Canary Islands

Interesting Facts About the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are a unique part of Spain. Geographically part of Africa and politically part of Europe, this small island chain is unlike anywhere where else in Spain or the EU. In addition to being different from the rest of Spain, the islands are all different from each other as well—sometimes having radically different …

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Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna

UNESCO World Heritage Site #242: Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna

From the World Heritage inscription: The early Christian religious monuments in Ravenna are of outstanding significance by virtue of the supreme artistry of the mosaic art that they contain, and also because of the crucial evidence that they provide of artistic and religious relationships and contacts at an important period of European cultural history. In …

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Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral UNESCO World Heritage Site, Germany

From the Cologne Cathedral World Heritage inscription: Cologne Cathedral, constructed over more than six centuries, has an exceptional intrinsic value and contains artistic masterpieces. It is a powerful testimony to the strength and persistence of Christian belief in medieval and modern Europe. Christians met for worship in a private house in Roman Cologne near the …

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Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey

Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey

From the World Heritage inscription: The site is located along the Weser River on the outskirts of Höxter where the Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey were erected between AD 822 and 885 in a largely preserved rural setting. The Westwork is the only standing structure that dates back to the Carolingian era, while the original …

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