2359
4 minutes read

October 31, 2017

How are World Heritage sites chosen? [Repost]

The primary qualification for receiving the UNESCO World Heritage designation is that it must be “of outstanding universal value and meet at least one of ten selection criteria,” but is…..

2242
5 minutes read

May 27, 2017

Jemaa el-Fnaa: What’s in a Name? [Repost]

The Jemaa el-Fnaa is the central market place and square of the Old City in Marrakech’s medina quarter. While the true origin of its name remains unclear, translation of Jemaa…..

2233
10 minutes read

December 6, 2016

UNESCO site: Santa Maria de Belem [Repost]

Derived from the Portuguese word for Bethlehem, Santa Maria de Belem, or simply Belem as locals call it, is a civil parish in the Lisbon municipality situated on the mouth…..

1826
1 minute read

August 13, 2016

UNESCO Listing: More harm than good? [Repost]

Recently I wrote about how the UNESCO’s World Heritage program is intended to protect those sites singled out as cultural and natural treasures. Having come across this recent report Aljazeera…..

2457
11 minutes read

August 30, 2015

UNESCO site: Istanbul, Turkey [Repost]

Once I was asked if Turkey would be considered part of Europe or Asia, and the answer I gave at the time was yes. In fact, the county sits amidst…..

8830
3 minutes read

November 2, 2012

Locations of Thrones: Malta (Part 2)

It’s been a while since we’ve made a Game of Thrones post – long enough that there’s a new season past, and one about to shoot! It’s also been almost…..

2077
2 minutes read

September 1, 2012

UNESCO Site: Jeronimos Monastery

Thanks to a Portuguese couple we met during our 2011 Mediterranean cruise, we were able to visit yet another UNESCO site as we went through a whirlwind tour of Lisbon…..