Lombardy is a region in Northern Italy. Its capital, Milan, is a global hub of fashion and finance, with many high-end shops and restaurants. Its Gothic Duomo di Milano cathedral and Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, housing Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of “The Last Supper,” testify to centuries of art and culture. North of Milan, Lake Como is an upscale alpine resort with dramatic scenery.
Category Archives: Travel
Cultural Views: Tattooed Freight Trucks Of Nepal
Throughout Nepal, large freight trucks painted by artists provide special visual entertainment for travelers along the highways and dangerous mountain roads of the Himalayas. These creatively painted scenes and sayings can be clever, witty and even profound – offering food for thought to the viewer. Former Peace Corps volunteer and UC San Diego lecturer emeritus Ron Ranson, along with filmmaker Sudarson Karki, document the Nepali custom of painting trucks with icons of their country, spiritual life, European sports teams and even major movies like “Titanic.”
Namibia Views: &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge
Within the NamibRand Nature Reserve, this upmarket all-inclusive lodge surrounded by the Namib Desert is a 30-minute drive from a private airstrip and 375 km from Hosea Kutako International Airport.
The lodge is situated within &BEYOND Sossusvlei Private Desert Reserve, a vast 12,715 hectare (31,419 acre) expanse deep in the Namib, the world’s oldest living desert.
Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 3:20 Arrival 5:17 Main pavilion 13:25 Gym & Spa 17:20 Suite 26:17 Breakfast 27:19 San rock art site 28:29 Lunch 30:01 Petrified dune 33:22 Dinner 35:08 Sossusvlei 41:25 Deadvlei
Set amidst an ocean of dunes, rocky outcrops and gravel plains, the utter tranquility and extraordinary clarity of light makes this area one of Africa’s most compelling landscapes. The night skies are heavenly, with the concession bordering the International Dark Sky Reserve of the NamibRand Nature Reserve. A canvas of beauty that invites reconnection with yourself and nature.
Castle Tours: Château de Chantilly In France
Every year, almost half a million visitors flock to Chantilly, one of France’s most beautiful castles. Located an hour from Paris and built in 1358, its princes greeted Louis XIV for sumptuous banquets. In the 19th century, Henri D’Orléans, Duke of Aumale, restored the château and turned it into an exceptional museum, containing the second-largest collection of paintings in France after the Louvre and more than 45,000 books. From restorers to gardeners and horseriders: behind the scenes, more than 100 people work every day on the upkeep of Chantilly. FRANCE 24 takes you to meet them.
Walking Tour: Bordeaux In Southwest France (4K)
Bordeaux, hub of the famed wine-growing region, is a port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France. It’s known for its Gothic Cathédrale Saint-André, 18th- to 19th-century mansions and notable art museums such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux. Public gardens line the curving river quays. The grand Place de la Bourse, centered on the Three Graces fountain, overlooks the Miroir d’Eau reflecting pool.
Guided Tour: Brooklyn Heights, NY Architecture
Today Architectural Digest takes you to Brooklyn Heights in New York City for a walking tour with architect Nicholas Potts, highlighting some complex architectural details hidden in plain sight. Just a ferry ride away from Lower Manhattan, the classic buildings of Brooklyn Heights reflect the neighborhood’s origins as a residential suburb for the late 19th-century’s emerging middle-class. From intricate flourishes to roman columns, a world of architectural influence can be seen from one building to the next, all in the same square mile.
Food Tech: Scotland’s Meat Industry Diversifies
The Scottish meat industry is worth more than $1.7 billion. But with global beef and veal consumption trending downwards and a climate change emergency to contend with, can the home of Angus diversify in time?
Cover Preview: Monocle Magazine – February 2022
Tiny Homes: Asprolithos Villa On Kythnos, Greece
With a breathtaking view of the Aegean Sea, Asprolithos Villa was designed to reflect the simplicity and aesthetic of traditional Greek design. Constructed of locally sourced stone, each of the three villas has been whitewashed to maximise the reflection of light and heat. Each of the villas is connected to the other by large outdoor communal areas, surrounded by a contrasting raw stone wall. Inside, the 40 square metre spaces have been divided into zones by raising the living area, and recessing parts of the kitchen. The villa’s built-in sofa allows the area around it to function as additional storage, while also doubling as a small desk. Throughout the villa, the focus is always looking out towards the sea. Creating a calm relaxing environment as you move from zone to zone.
Short Films: When Giant Cruise Ships Came To Town In Norway (New Yorker)
In Odveig Klyve’s “View,” a quiet Norwegian coastal city is invaded by some oppressively large visitors.
