In the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea, 47 nautical miles east of Italy’s Cape Santa Maria di Leuca, lies Othonoi (Οθωνοί in Greek), an island that blends history, mythology, and unparalleled natural beauty. Recognized as the westernmost point of Greece, Othonoi is the largest and most populated of the Diapontia Islands. For mythology enthusiasts, […]
Travel
We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls. (Anais Nin)
Posted inAntiquity, Travel
Hadrian’s Granary in the Forgotten Port of Andriake
Andriake, located on the southwestern coast of Anatolia (in present-day Demre, Turkey), was the main port of ancient Myra, one of the most influential cities in the Lycian Confederation. Myra, famous for its Greek theater and rock-cut necropolises in the mountain cliffs, was also home to a prominent bishopric, with its most famous representative being […]
Posted inArt, Travel
The Talking Statues of Rome
Statues don’t talk, evidently, and they never have, except when some clever priest of Antiquity used a hollow in the stone to deliver whatever message he was interested in. But that’s not the case we’ll discuss today with the statue parlanti, or talking statues, because these expressed themselves in writing. They are a series of […]
Posted inMiddle Ages, Travel
Dunluce, the Spectacular Irish Castle Entirely Surrounded by Cliffs
Perched on a basalt cliff on the rugged coast of Northern Ireland, Dunluce Castle is an imposing ruin that dominates the horizon of County Antrim. Isolated by its steep cliffs and surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic, Dunluce has been, over the centuries, a symbol of power, a strategic refuge, a home to influential […]
Posted inAncient Greece, Travel
The colossal Portara of Naxos is all that remains of what was to be the largest temple in the Aegean
The Portara is one of the most iconic monuments on the Greek island of Naxos, located in the Cyclades. This gigantic marble gateway, which stands on a small peninsula facing the city of Naxos, is all that remains of an ambitious architectural project: a temple (never completed) dedicated to the god Apollo, at the very […]
Posted inGeography, Travel
Rihonor de Castilla, the Village that is Half Spanish and Half Portuguese
Border towns and territories often have a turbulent history, being the object of both military and political confrontations over their possession, and frequently changing hands. When it comes to regions, the most characteristic examples are perhaps Alsace and Lorraine, which have alternated between being part of France and Germany. And if we talk about towns, […]
Posted inGeography, Travel
The Highest Peak in the Netherlands is a Caribbean Volcano You Climb via 1,064 Steps
Similar to Australia, whose highest peak is located in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and Antarctica, the highest point in the Netherlands is not found in Europe, but on a small Caribbean island. This peak is Mount Scenery, a volcano located on the island of Saba, which rises 887 meters above […]
Posted inScience, Travel
Fairy Lantern, the Tiny and Mysterious Flower That Few Are Lucky to See
In the heart of the southern states of Australia, there lives a curious and elusive plant, so small and hidden that very few people have the luck to ever see one in their lifetime. It’s Thismia rodwayi, commonly known as the fairy lantern. Belonging to the family Burmanniaceae, which is found in the lush and […]
Posted inMiddle Ages, Travel
Merv, the City in Present-Day Turkmenistan that was the World’s Largest City in the 12th Century
To the south of present-day Turkmenistan, near the modern town of Mary, lie the remnants of what was once one of the most important oasis cities on the Silk Road. So significant was it that not only did it become the capital of the Seljuk Empire, but during the 12th and early 13th centuries, it […]
Posted inModern Era, Travel
The Story of Lampo, the Dog who Traveled through Italy Memorizing Train Schedules
Although it’s also a railway station, it’s not exactly Termini Station nor does it feature in any movies; in fact, Stazione di Campiglia Marittima is a modest spot in the Italian municipality of the same name, in the hamlet of Venturina Terme (Livorno, Tuscany), rather removed from mass tourism. However, anyone going there to catch […]
