The secrets of this earth are not for all men to see, but only for those who seek them
Architecture
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Mar 9th
The plain facade of the 1901 mansion that houses this lesser-known museum gives no hint of the delights it conceals. Venture inside to marvel at the centerpiece of the interior, a dramatic four-storey courtyard surrounded by a skylight, and filled with seasonal blooms from the museum`s own greenhouse. The galleries that spread out from here hold an idiosyncratic assortment of European, Asian, and American art assembled to suit the museum`s unconventional founder and namesake. More >
The Currier Museum of Art
Mar 9th
The industrial city of Manchester conceals an unexpected but delightful surprise: one of the best small art museums in New England. The Currier Museum of Art, named for its founder, New Hampshire governor Moody Currier, not only houses impressive American and European collections, but also includes among its holdings an off-site Frank-Lloyd Wright house. More >
Hayward Gallery, London
Mar 9th
Threatened with demolition at various times in the 1980s and 1990s, the Hayward Gallery – a Brutalist concrete culture bunker on London`s South Bank – has survived to become admired by younger generations for whom its bizarre, defensive architecture is an adventure rather than a threat. The gallery has a long gestation and was finally built, after long delays, during the 1960s. More >
Dracula’s Castle – Bran Castle, Romania
Mar 9th
Bran Castle, situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, on DN73. Commonly known as “Dracula’s Castle” (although it is one among several locations linked to the Dracula legend, including Poienari Castle and Hunyad Castle), it is marketed as the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle. There is evidence, however, that Vlad Tepes actually did use the castle during his raids into Transylvania. More >
Hohenschwangau Castle, Bavaria
Mar 9th
Hohenschwangau Castle or Schloss Hohenschwanstein (lit: High Swan County Palace) is a 19th century palace in southern Germany. It was the childhood residence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and was built by his father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria. It is located in the German village of Schwangau near the town of Füssen, part of the county of Ostallgäu in southwestern Bavaria, Germany, very close to the border with Austria. More >
