Author: Ms. R.

Dun Dornaigil, which is sometimes referred to as Dun Dornadilla, are the impressive remains of a drystone roundhouse known as a broch. The structure sits just above the Strathmore River.  Broches can only be found in Scotland and usually date back more than 2,000 years. Many researchers believe these massive roundhouses were defensive structures. Other opinions suggest they were symbols of prestige and power to showcase the wealth of the local chieftain. These structures were probably served multiple purposes. The remaining……

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The National Museum of San Matteo (Museo Nazionale di San Matteo) is a hidden-gem that is about a 15-minute walk from the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Museum features a rich collection of works from historic ecclesiastical buildings in the city and Province of Pisa. The works span from the early Middle Ages to the 16th-century. The collection includes sculptural works from Nicola Pisano and Donatello. There are also beautiful art pieces from Berlinghiero Volterrano, Giunta Pisano, Simone Martini, Lippo……

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Off the west coast of Florida, the Gulf of Mexico is filled with schools of white mullet, silvery-gray dolphins, and tiny stingrays. Sea birds soar above the water looking for their next catch. And among the lively seascape near the city of New Port Richey, eight wooden structures stand tall above the waves. These unusual structures are stilt houses, remnants of the fishing communities of old Florida. Pasco County’s first stilt houses were built between 1916 and 1918 (the……

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Many megalithic monuments have been associated with legends of giants, the Dwarfie Stane in Orkney is no exception. Except this megalith is only six feet tall and has a unique moniker.  Carved out of a block of Devonian Old Red Sandstone, the Dwarfie Stane is a glacial erratic and chambered tomb dating back many millennia, somewhere between the Neolithic and Bronze Age. It can be found in a peatland valley on the island of Hoy in the Orkney Islands. ……

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The Gion district of Kyoto is a famed hanamachi—”flower town”—where numerous geisha establishments stand next to one another. Traditionally, the geishas of Kyoto entertain guests through dancing and conversation (or flirtation) at high-end restaurants called o-chaya, or “teahouses.” The most notable in the district may be the Ichiriki, an exclusive, invitation-only club. Established in the late 17th century, the Ichiriki has been run by the Sugiura family since the beginning of the Gion district—14 generations so far. It quickly became a……

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The Church of San Domenico Maggiore is one of the largest and most important religious buildings in Naples. While the baroque interior of the church attracts the attention of most tourists, the sacristy hides many secrets. Inside the sacristy, the balcony is adorned with 42 sepulchers of various members of the Aragonese royal family. They house various kings who ruled over the Kingdom of Naples between the 15th and 18th-centuries. Thirty-eight of these sepulchers still contain the embalmed remains……

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