The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most iconic bridges in Florence, Italy. It is the oldest bridge in the city (Ponte Vecchio literally translates to “old bridge”), and one of the oldest segmental arch bridges in the world. Since the Middle Ages, the base of the Ponte Vecchio has consisted of three stone arches and two piers.
The stone structure was completed in 1345, and was built over the course of twelve years. It replaced an earlier wooden structure that collapsed in a flood in 1333. Originally, the buildings on the Ponte Vecchio housed apartments and workshops, as well as butcher shops. Later, the business premises were given to goldsmiths and silversmiths, who added several structural changes to the buildings, such as bay windows and balconies.
“Sunday Morning” shows us a vixen with her paws full, in Paradise Valley, Montana. Videographer: Judith Lehmberg.
Red fox are found throughout Montana. They can make their home while following their food source. Foxes use their nose to find prey, and then quickly pounce, much like a house cat. Spotting a red fox in Montana is never difficult if you look carefully?just keep a close watch for the bushy tail.
The older farmhouses scattered across rural, deeply wooded areas on the Surrey and Sussex border have lost nothing of their appeal in the 21st century. Willards Farm, near Dunsfold, has recently been subject to sympathetic renovation and substantial extension. At its core, the house is a four-bay, 16th-century timber-frame house of two storeys, under a clay-tile roof, with a substantial off-centre chimney stack. It occupies an elevated site and was extended to its northern end in the 1930s and to the south in the 1980s. The latest works, completed in 2019, were imaginatively designed by architect Stuart Martin for a young family.
The brick walls enclosing the pool house create the impression of a traditional farmstead enclosure and the tiled coping echoes the treatment of a Lutyens pergola at Pasture Wood, Dorking, of about 1912. One angle of the walls is resolved with a fine dovecote and ceramic decoration of the pool by Craig Bragdy means that it resembles an ornamental pond.
A walk and boat tour in Oludeniz Fethiye Turkey. We begin on Ölüdeniz beach, site of the famous blue lagoon – so called because of its stunning blue waters and soft sands. You really have to watch out for the paragliders here, as they swoop down to land on the beach. Ölüdeniz is one of the world’s best places to go paragliding, with its breathtaking panoramic views and excellent wind conditions. Watch the paragliders launch from Babadağ Mountain, over 6500 feet above and ride the thermals. And nearby is the ghost town of Kayaköy. Completely abandoned in 1923, when the local Greek population were sent back to Greece, Kayaköy is home to hundreds of stone houses slowly falling into decay. In this video we take a boat to Butterfly Valley – a small community accessible only by boat. It’s a great place to swim, have a drink or learn more about this intriguing way of community living.
Monocle’s editorial director Tyler Brûlé, our Tokyo bureau chief Fiona Wilson and guests cover the weekend’s biggest discussion topics, live from Tokyo.
This walking tour of the Giza Pyramid Complex was filmed on Friday April 1st, 2022 starting at 1:23 at the Great Sphinx. After visiting the Sphinx, you will walk up the causeway to the Pyramid of Khafre and walk around all four sides. Next we will walk through the Western Cemetery over the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khufu. After exploring the Eastern Cemetery, we will take a horse carriage ride to the Pyramid of Menkaure.
Timeline: 0:00 Intro and Map 8:36 Great Sphinx 17:40 Khafre Causeway 28:19 Khafre Mortuary Temple 32:28 Pyramid of Khafre 41:01 Back side of Khafre Pyramid 47:26 Hieroglyphs and Tomb 56:20 Western Cemetery 1:03:30 Pyramid of Khufu 1:06:40 Climbing the Great Pyramid 1:13:08 Boat Pits 1:24:54 Khufu Mortuary Temple 1:28:07 Mastaba of Qar (G 7101) 1:29:57 Pyramids of the Queens 1:33:30 Eastern Cemetery 1:47:28 Horse Ride to Pyramid of Menkaure 1:56:16 Pyramid of Menkaure 2:01:35 Mortuary Temple of Menkaure 2:11:00 Pyramid Viewpoint 2:15:40 Pyramids of the Queens 2:21:54 Pyramid of Khafre 2:27:03 Khafre Causeway 2:37:12 Wall of the Crow 2:38:07 Streets outside the Pyramids
Mauritania, officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a sovereign state in Northwest Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Western Sahara to the north and northwest, Algeria to the northeast, Mali to the east and southeast, and Senegal to the southwest.
In human cultures in general, and perhaps particularly in Africa, the landscape is the first shrine of tradition. From the sand dunes of Mauritania to the currents of River Senegal, to the Lions of the Beninese savannah to the spirits of the forests of Gabon, this series explores the origin, the nature and the survival of deep links between several populations in West Africa and their habitat.
Each episode takes us to discover an emblematic landscape: the river (Senegal), the desert (Mauritania), the forest (Gabon) and the savannah (Benin). A compass of escape and meeting which rests on two main pillars: the spectacular character of the places, often classified with the UNESCO world heritage, and the charisma of the main characters who are transmitters of their respective traditions.
Bangladesh, which means the land of the Bengals, is one of the most populated countries in the world with an estimated 170 million people. In the past, Buddhists ruled for centuries, but by the 10th century, Bengal was primarily Hindu.
In 1576, Bengal became part of the Mogul Empire, and the majority of East Bengalis converted to Islam. Bengal was ruled by British India from 1757 until Britain withdrew in 1947. At this time, the province of Bengal was partitioned into East Bengal and West Bengal.
In 1971, Bangladesh fought Pakistan for independence and became the independent country Bangladesh that it is today. The country is home to the world’s largest river delta, and the longest natural uninterrupted sea beach in Asia, which is 120 km long. The villages appear to be buried in groves of mango, jackfruit, bamboo, betel nut, coconut, and date palm. However, only a small portion of the country’s land surface is covered with forests.
The most significant feature of the Bangladesh landscape is provided by the rivers. None of the major rivers of Bangladesh originates within the country’s territory. Thus, Bangladesh lacks full control over the flow of any of the streams that irrigate it. In addition, there are many severe storms during the rainy season. Each year between June and October, the rivers overflow their banks and inundate the countryside.
The inundations are both a blessing and a disaster. Without them, the fertile silt deposits would not be replenished, but severe floods regularly damage crops and sometimes take a heavy toll on human and animal populations. The typical household in Bangladesh, particularly in the villages, includes several generations of extended family. Most marriages are arranged by parents or other relatives, but increasing numbers of educated men and women choose their own partners.
The best time to discover Bangladesh is from October to March. The easiest and cheapest way to get around is by rickshaw. The rickshaws in Bangladesh are unique and colorful. Bangladesh is covered by more than 700 rivers, producing a deliciously lush landscape with more shades of green than you ever imagined. Traveling by boat is a way of life here, and provides a fabulous opportunity to see the country from a more unusual angle. As an un-touristed destination, Bangladesh also lacks much infrastructure, and traveling around can be hard work. So don’t try to pack too much into your itinerary. It’s a place to relax, meet people and discover new ideas and ways of life.
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