Paraty is a small town backed by mountains on Brazil’s Costa Verde, between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Its Portuguese colonial center has cobbled streets and 17th- and 18th-century buildings dating to its time as a port, during the Brazilian Gold Rush. Among its architectural landmarks is the waterfront Capela de Santa Rita, a whitewashed church built in 1722.
Category Archives: Travel
Travel & Culture Books: ‘Gstaad Glam’ (Assouline)
In the southwest corner of Switzerland, nestled among the snowy mountains of the Swiss Alps is the picturesque, upscale resort town of Gstaad. Teeming with exclusive ski clubs and a fur coat–clad jet set, Gstaad is the definition of Alpine chic, which is evident in the luxurious, family-owned Gstaad Palace, the members-only restaurant The Eagle and the high-fashion boutiques that line the town’s main promenade.
It is this combination of opulence and quiet that has attracted a plethora of celebrities including Madonna, Grace Kelly, Stavros Niarchos and Julie Andrews, to name a few. While glitz and glamour are in abundance, local tradition and culture are always close by. Whether it’s in the Pinte Bar at Hotel Olden that exudes authentic charm or a farm on the outskirts of town showcasing a quaint, pastoral lifestyle, this beautiful volume showcases Gstaad’s elegant traditions and unexpected treasures.There is no shortage of amusements in Gstaad.
It is nature at its finest that yearns to be explored. With 124 miles of slopes, visitors can participate in skiing, snowboarding and sledding in the winter months and hiking, biking, polo and golf in the summer. Gstaad’s calendar is packed with can’t-miss events including the Swiss Open, hot-air balloon festival and Menuhin Festival of music. And after a long day of hitting the slopes and experiencing all Gstaad has to offer, cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate from the decades-old Charly’s, the perfect spot to people-watch along the Promenade.
Coastal Views: Calanques National Park In France
Between the southern French cities of Marseille and La Ciotat lies a magnificent coastline with 40 kilometres of cliffs and coves. The landscapes of the Calanques National Park are breathtaking. To safeguard this fragile natural heritage and rescue amateur mountaineers who get into difficulty, wardens and firefighters are constantly on a war footing. FRANCE 24 went to meet them.
City Views: Sarasota In Southwest Florida (4K)
Sarasota is a city south of Tampa on Florida’s Gulf Coast that was once the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Today, it hosts a number of cultural institutes, notably the Ringling Museum of Art, which showcases old masters and modern art. It’s also the gateway to miles of beaches with fine sand and shallow waters, such as Lido Beach and Siesta Key Beach.
Aerial Views: Manchester – Northwest England (4K)
Manchester is a major city in the northwest of England with a rich industrial heritage. The Castlefield conservation area’s 18th-century canal system recalls the city’s days as a textile powerhouse, and visitors can trace this history at the interactive Museum of Science & Industry. The revitalised Salford Quays dockyards now house the Daniel Libeskind-designed Imperial War Museum North and the Lowry cultural centre.
Views: The Landscapes And Endless Beauty Of Iceland
Iceland, a Nordic island nation, is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. Massive glaciers are protected in Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks. Most of the population lives in the capital, Reykjavik, which runs on geothermal power and is home to the National and Saga museums, tracing Iceland’s Viking history.
Views: Eldhusøya Pathway – Atlantic Road, Norway
“The road across the sea” is the iconic experience with bridges that arch between the islets and reefs along the rough Hustadvika Bay.
Eldhusøya on the Atlantic Road is the largest rest area along the Atlantic Road and is located on a scenic spot at the ocean’s edge, perfect for a rest stop to enjoy the scenery. Parts of the island are wet marshland and vulnerable to pedestrian traffic, so please stick to the well-marked trails.
Atlanterhavsvegen – the Atlantic Road – is a visual delight as it curves elegantly from islet to islet over its seven bridges. Nature and modern engineering meet and create this highly unique driving experience.
The trip takes you from the fertile cultural landscape of the coast across moorland to bare crags along the weather-beaten, open bay of Hustadvika. Take time to watch the sun disappearing below the horizon from here. Atlanterhavsvegen has been described as the world’s most beautiful drive.
Nature Views: Pronghorn Antelope In Montana (CBS)
“Sunday Morning” takes us among pronghorn antelope at play near Virginia City in Montana. Videographer: Brad Markel.
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed, hoofed) mammal indigenous to interior western and central North America. Though not a true antelope, it is known colloquially in North America as the American antelope, prong buck, pronghorn antelope, prairie antelope, or simply antelope because it closely resembles the antelopes of the Old World and fills a similar ecological niche due to parallel evolution. It is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae.
Views: Protecting Brazil’s Golden Lion Tamarin
Concerned by a recent drop in population numbers of the threatened golden lion tamarin, conservationists in Rio de Janeiro state have built a bridge across a busy highway to help the monkeys circulate over a wider forested area.
The golden lion tamarin, also known as the golden marmoset, is a small New World monkey of the family Callitrichidae. Native to the Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil, the golden lion tamarin is an endangered species.
Magazines: The Cultured Traveller – December 2021
The Cultured Traveller, December 2021-February 2022 Issue 36
The seat of the world’s longest living monarch, brimming with culture and theatrics in every facet of its being and constantly moving forwards to adapt to the ever-changing planet, the multicultural heart of the British Commonwealth is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest cities. In issue 36 of The Cultured Traveller, the team explores charismatic LONDON to provide the ultimate insider guide to the great British capital. Permanently glamorous British actress DAME JOAN COLLINS finds time in her hectic schedule to chat about her devilish new book, while interior designer ALEXANDRA CHAMPALIMAUD speaks to The Cultured Traveller about transforming some of the world’s most iconic hotels. Sam Henderson explores the otherworldly landscapes of YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, complete with its steaming geysers and bubbling mud pools. Alex Benasuli enjoys the unassuming sophistication of laidback SHELTER ISLAND in the Hamptons. And Joe Mortimer visits GLENMORANGIE’s innovative new distillery in Scotland.
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