Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for international travel
History of the Czech Countryside
By Linda Tancs
The Czech Republic’s Kačina Château is unique because it is a remarkably well-preserved example of 19th-century Empire-style architecture. Once the representative seat of the politically and socially influential Chotek family, it was Jan Rudolf Chotek, a nobleman and agricultural entrepreneur, who built it. Perhaps not surprisingly, then, it’s home to the National Agricultural Museum. There you’ll find exhibitions focusing on the history of the countryside, food, and the Chotek family. A great day trip from Prague, it isn’t far from Kutná Hora, once known as The Silver City due to its mining heritage.
Share this:
Yorkshire’s Industrial Village
By Linda Tancs
Taking its name from founder Sir Titus Salt and the River Aire which runs through it, Saltaire is an industrial village built in the 1800s by textile magnate Sir Titus Salt for his workers. Located in Shipley, England, the UNESCO World Heritage Site boasted about 4,000 inhabitants at its peak, housed in 850 dwellings. The visitor’s center is in Salts Mill, a Grade II-listed historic mill building that’s home to one of the largest collections of art of David Hockney, a central figure in British Pop Art. In addition to a walking tour of the village, consider a ride on Shipley Glen Tramway. A short walk from the village, this unique tramway was built in 1895 and operates narrow-gauge ‘toastrack’ cable-hauled trams with canopy tops that travel through scenic woods down the glen.
Share this:
Underground in Somme
By Linda Tancs
Located in northern France in the Somme department, the village of Naours is known for its underground city. Carved deep into a wooded, limestone plateau, it boasts a series of tunnels, rooms and passageways, some of which reputedly date back to the third century. Over time, the underground city was enlarged and provided refuge against raiders and roving armies. Its population peaked in the 17th century as a result of the Thirty Years’ War, one of the bloodiest global conflicts in Europe. Among its 300 rooms and 28 galleries there were also spaces for keeping livestock as well as three chapels, multiple town squares and a bakery with working ovens. Be sure to use an audio guide or take a guided tour, if available.
Share this:
A Monument to Patience
By Linda Tancs
Arguably one of the most admired architectural wonders in the world, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, represents a 144-year construction journey. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, ongoing work for over a century rendered it the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. But construction reached its zenith recently with the raising of the colossal cross atop the Tower of Jesus Christ, a four-armed cross of glass and white enameled ceramic roughly 55 feet tall and 10 feet wide. At an overall height of 566 feet, the basilica is now the world’s tallest Catholic church. Gaudi is buried in a crypt in the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Share this:
Parisian Flair in Prague
By Linda Tancs
One of the most prominent landmarks in Prague, Czech Republic, Petřín Tower is an Eiffel Tower-inspired iron structure built as part of the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891. Around 190 feet high, it has 299 steps leading to its peak, which is the same altitude as the real Eiffel Tower. Enjoy the sweeping city views and, on a clear day, a wider view of the historical region of Bohemia.
Share this:
British Cars in Warwickshire
By Linda Tancs
Located near Aston Martin’s current headquarters in Gaydon, the British Motor Museum touts the world’s largest collection of historic British cars. Of course, you’ll find displays of much-loved British sports cars from manufacturers such as Morgan, Lotus, Triumph, McLaren and Aston Martin. Other displays depict a different aspect of Britain’s varied and extensive motoring history. Special features include royal cars, Rover gas turbine cars, film and TV cars and four of the world’s fastest MGs. The museum is open daily.
Share this:
View Over the Caldera
By Linda Tancs
Oia is a coastal town on the northwestern tip of Santorini, a Greek Aegean island. Arguably, it’s the island’s most famous cliffside village and certainly one of the most visited, sporting whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches and breathtaking sunsets. The scene stealer, though, is probably the view over the caldera, given that the picturesque hamlet is built along its rim. One of the best hikes is the 6-mile Fira to Oia Caldera Trail. Start from Fira for an overall downhill walk. The path is a mix of paved, pedestrian streets and dirt hiking trails.
Share this:
A Heritage Village in the Netherlands
By Linda Tancs
Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood in the Dutch town of Zaandam near Amsterdam. Offering visitors a glimpse of the Netherlands from a bygone era, it features centuries-old windmills and timber houses painted green. You’ll also find unique crafts, shops, restaurants, museums and scenic walking trails. As a residential neighborhood it’s free to enter, although some museums and the windmills charge an entrance fee.
Share this:
A Palace of Riches in Naples
By Linda Tancs
Transformed into a public museum in 1957, Capodimonte Museum in Naples, Italy, represents the legacy of four great European dynasties: the Italian aristocratic Farnese family, the Bourbon kings of Naples and Spain, the family of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Italian Savoy monarchy. King Charles of Bourbon began construction of the palace in 1738 to display the Renaissance and Baroque collection given to him by his mother. Today’s collection boasts over 47,000 works of art spanning the Middle Ages to the 21st century, featuring masterpieces by Raphael, Titian, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Parmigianino, Caravaggio and many more. Don’t miss a walk through the Royal Wood, a historic garden adjoining the palace with over 400 different plant species planted over the course of two centuries.
Share this:
Sanctuary of Truth
By Linda Tancs
A highlight of any trip to Pattaya, Thailand, The Sanctuary of Truth is a museum designed by Thai businessman Lek Viriyaphan. Part museum and part castle, the imposing structure billed as the largest wooden castle in the world is made entirely of wood without a single metal nail in a process that continues since 1981. Encompassing over 2,000 square meters, its tallest spire is over 340 feet and its enormous wood carvings represent deities. Buy advance tickets and dress appropriately; sarongs are available for rental at the entrance. Due to the ongoing construction, a safety helmet is required to be worn.
Travelrific® Travel Journal 