Freaks on the Peaks, the History of US Fire Lookout Towers
Dotted on remote peaks across the National Forests of the United States are hundreds of fire lookout towers. For more than a century, an army of paid and volunteer lookouts have kept vigil from these watch towers, scanning the surrounding acres of woodland / wilderness for signs of smoke. Despite advances in technology and proposals […]
The Flintstones House – It’s Almost Invisible From a Distance
The Flintstones House. There is a marvellous piece of architecture located in the north of Portugal, in the Parish of Várzea Cova, municipality of Fafe, that goes by the name of Casa do Penedo. It’s name translates as House of the Rock in English. This unusual house stands atop a hill and it blends perfectly […]
Shakespeare’s Birthplace is a gorgeous 16th century Tudor house
Shakespeare’s Birthplace is renowned to be a remarkable Tudor half-timbered mansion located in a traditional market town in Warwickshire, England. Situated on Henley Street, this was the place where the most famous playwright of the English language, William Shakespeare, spent his childhood and also lived for five years as an adult after his marriage to […]
Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum Village Life From the 18th Century
There is an unusual outdoor museum in the middle of Bucharest known as the Village Museum, which features exhibits about traditional Romanian village life between the 17th and 19th centuries. The complex was created by sociologist Dimitrie Gusti who placed it near the lake in Herăstrău Park. There are many houses from different historical regions […]
Hadrian’s Villa: The remains of a magnificent palace built by Roman Emperor Hadrian
The Roman emperors led perhaps some of the most lavish lifestyles in the city. As expected, their imperial palaces were among the most beautiful and luxurious residences on the hill. In ancient Rome, wealthy and powerful citizens enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle. They built large and lavishly decorated palaces on Palatine Hill, the city’s elite neighborhood. […]
Strahov Monastery and its magnificent library: a remarkable collection stored in impressive Baroque halls
On Petrin Hill, a white building with two towers has stood overlooking the city of Prague for centuries. King Vladislav II authorized the large structure for a religious community known as the Premonstratensians. In 1140, the construction that would be known as the Premonstratensian monastery in the Strahov area was completed, but it officially started functioning […]
Villa di Castello: The charming residence of the Medici family in Tuscany
The Italian region of Tuscany is famous worldwide for its great wine, beautiful landscapes, and magnificent arts. Although many of its treasures are natural features of the landscape, one family is well known for collecting splendid artworks, many of which were housed in the Villa di Castello. The Medici family were an extremely wealthy family that […]
Hancock-Clarke House: where John Hancock and Samuel Adams were sleeping when Paul Revere awoke them during his midnight ride
The famous Hancock-Clarke House in Lexington, Massachusetts is one of the very few remaining houses connected to the leading figures in the American Revolutionary War. It is an excellent example of early Georgian architecture as it has remained virtually unaltered since its early days. Reverend John Hancock purchased the land where the house was built […]