Tower of Hercules, Spain

 Tower of Hercules is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about 2.4 kilometers from the centre of Corunna, Galicia, in north-western Spain.

 The Tower of Hercules is an ancient lighthouse that stands at the opening of La Coruña harbor on the northwestern coast of Spain. The lighthouse stands along the sea route from the Mediterranean Sea to northwestern Europe.

The Tower of Hercules is notable for being one of few examples of a surviving Greco-Roman lighthouse, and the oldest of its kind that has remained in use, though it has undergone construction. The lighthouse stands along the coast as a symbol for the lasting power of the Romans and their impressive architectural knowledge. The structure has withstood the wear and tear of the winds and waters of the coast, and even devastating earthquakes couldn’t knock it down.

Many legends have surrounded the Tower of Hercules, claiming mythical origins. The tower’s namesake, Hercules, is said to have won a fight with a giant, and buried its head and weapons at the site. Other mythologies of the structure include a Gaelic Celtic legend, in which King Breogán had the site built to stand as a beacon to his sons. For this legend, a statue of the king continues to guard the lighthouse.

Built in the 1st century AD by the Romans, likely during Trajan’s rule, the tower was known as Farum Brigantium, after the lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt’s island, Pharos. However, the tower has gone through many names over its long history. Roman explorers arrived in La Coruña’s port of Brigantium around 61BC, and began to colonize the area. The port was important for defense and trade, guarding the entrance to the Bay of Biscay. The area had been a dangerous one for ships, dubbed the Coast of Death by the early Roman seamen. Though the presence of lighthouse has helped to increase safety, the orientation of the light house seems to have been constructed to aid travelers coming from the area that is now the United Kingdom, rather than those coming from the mainland of Europe.

The tower has been restored several times over its history, and probably had some reconstructions in around 1684. Later, the tower was again restored during the 18th century by Eustaquio Giannini, a naval engineer, who altered the form of the tower and added 21 meters in height to the once 34-meter tall tower. Construction on the tower was continued by Giannini’s brother, Jose Giannini from 1799 to 1806.

Though it still functions today, the lighthouse was not used continuously throughout history, with a long period of disuse – probably after the Viking invasions. The tower itself may still have been used during this time. The town around the tower thrived during the 11th or 12th century, and the townspeople used the structure as a defensive observation post. The town grew rapidly in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the tower was heralded as an icon of the city.

The site was excavated in the 1990s, and historians were able to discover more information about the tower’s history, particularly regarding its Roman origins.

Ladakh, India

Ladakh, one of the highest and nice regions in the world

Ladakh is a large area of the northern and eastern Kashmir region and is divided between India and Pakistan. It is one of the highest regions in the world and consists of high plains and deep valleys. This place opened to tourists in the 1970s and since then it has been one of the most favorite places of mountaineers and of those who like to trek. The main tourist attraction in Ladakh is still the nine-storey structure that was built in the 16th century and was once the tallest building in the world. This palace is being restored by the Archeological Survey of India but is open to the public. Nubra Valley is another place that is essential to pay a visit to if you’re vacationing in Ladakh. It is the only place in India where tourists can see double humped Bactrian Camels in a desert at over 10,000 feet. The Valley is about 150 kilometers from the capital town of Ladakh (Leh) but the ride could take longer depending on the snow and other factors such as army movements. Nubra Valley is an extremely peaceful place full of friendly people. The Nubra River also has excellent sites for picnic.

Tourists should remember to visit the monasteries of Ladakh while sightseeing. Hemis Gompa is one of the largest ones in the region and houses around 150 monks.

The most amazing fact about Ladakh is that the region is barren but still beautiful. Simplicity is a way of life in this region because modernity hasn’t touched Ladakh as much as it has in the other cities of India. People in Ladakh are without a doubt extremely fit considering the weather conditions in the region.

Ladakh is the highest inhabited region in India and has the River Indus flowing through the ranges. It is advisable for all travelers to make sure that they are physically fit before they visit Ladakh and its also important to take complete rest for the first 24 hours after getting there as it is common for people traveling to very high altitudes to suffer from mountain sickness

Amalfi coast in Italy

The Amalfi coast is Italy's secnic seaside highway

The Amalfi coast is Italy’s scenic seaside highway. The drive begins in Sorrento and there are shops along Sorrento’s alleys where tourists can buy items of embroidery among many other things. If you are only in the mood for sightseeing then going to the island of Capri instead would be a better option. There you’d see Grotta Azzurra, also known as Blue Grotto. It’s a famous tavern where light refracts from an opening under the water making it look dramatically blue. The Amalfi coast has endless stunning places for tourists to enjoy. Even if you miss seeing Blue Grotto, you could visit the Emerald Grotto, which is located east of Positano. An elevator from the coastal road would take you down to this cavern after which you could ride a boat past rock formations that are dazzled with light.

The town next in line would be Amalfi, where you’d be able to relax yourself and take a break if needed. Heading east from there would take you Ravello, which is a Cliffside retreat for writers and a few miles from Ravello comes, the A3 highway. This highway was started in 1929 but was completed only in 1974. It has been a subject of controversies within Italy because of questionable contracts.

The Amalfi Drive, also known as ‘State Highway 163’ does not only reward visitors at every turn but is also challenging as a drive considering that the road is only two cars wide. The most beautiful section is 40 kms long between Amalfi and Positano. It is advisable to honk after every turn as well as to pay attention to the honks coming from oncoming curves.

Venice,Italy

Venice at night, Grand Canal, the largest canal in the city

Venice, capital city of Veneto is a unique place with its own charm. Every monument and place in this city has history. Venice is known as the City of Water because of its canals and the best way to appreciate the history of the region is to understand the canals. There are over 150 of them and are spanned by over 150 bridges. The canals are the main means of transportation throughout the city with the largest one is the Grand Canal with three bridges spanning it. It’s known as Venice’s most important “street” and tourists get the chance to learn more about the Grand Canal while riding through it.

Some of the bridges such as the “Bridge of Sighs” are quite famous. These canals can experience heavy traffic given that they are a major means of transportation in Venice but the boats are large enough to let you sit comfortably allowing you to take photographs and listen to your guide. Although industrial pollution has reduced in the recent years, the water in these canals remains filthy. This is also the reason for the constant maintenance that is regularly done on them. Despite this fact, the canals of Venice are one of the top attractions in Europe and there’s no better way to experience the beauty and uniqueness of this city than to ride through the canals. Apart from this beautiful experience, tourists are also recommended to explore the diverse cuisines of Venice and try some of the local dishes such as Baccala’ Montecata during their trip.

A lot of people are aware that Venice is also famous as being one of the most romantic cities in the world. The New York Times once called it undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man. The uniqueness, mystery as well as beauty associated with Venice makes it worthy of being added to everyone’s bucket list.

Mecca,Saudi Arabia

Masjid -al-Haram at Mecca- The Islamic holy place in Soudi Arabia

People believe that prophet Muhammad lived and taught in Mecca about 1,300 years ago. Hence, it is an extremely holy city. All Muslims are expected to make a journey called the Hajj once in their lifetime if health and finance permit. This journey takes place every year when millions of Muslims make a religious pilgrimage during the last month of the Muslim year. It’s interesting to note that plans to make this journey must be made way in advance- months, sometimes years. All Muslims are required to provide paperwork that prove their religion and that they’re traveling with a tour group. The Old City in Mecca is where most of the activity takes place and most visitors spend a lot of time praying at Al Haram, the Holy Mosque. Journeys such as Hajj also include trips to other holy sides outside of Mecca.

The city has a wide variety of cuisines available since Muslims from all over the world immigrate to Mecca. A typical Saudi meal would consist of kabsah and biryani as well as baklava for dessert. Baklava pastries are slabs dipped in honey and are unbelievably delicious. Mecca is also a brilliant place to shop because it has traditional bazaars as well as modern boutiques selling all kinds of clothing. If you visit the Al Haram mosque, it might be a good idea to shop at the Al Abraj Al Bait mall for some quick shopping between prayers.

One of the places in Mecca that are essential for all visitors to see is the Grand Mosque. It’s located in the downtown area and there’s space for about one million worshipers inside the mosque. This holy sanctuary also houses a 12-inch black stone.

Li River cruise in China

Li River cruise, one of the best place to see china's impressive landscapes

Li River cruise is one of the most famous journeys in the world. Choosing this cruise would highlight your trip to China by showing you the impressive landscapes that the region boasts. The river journey is supposed to be 5 hours and is more than 52 miles long. A reverse cruise upstream from Yangshou to Yangdi was introduced this year. Choosing this new option would enable you to shorten the time of the cruise by approximately 2 hours.

This journey would allow you to see peaks and villages with interesting names along the river while listening to the tour guides narrating stories about various famous places. The most spectacular part of the journey is between Yangdi and Xingping providing you with beautiful memories that can be cherished forever.

It is essential that you enquire about the boat thoroughly and ask for photos prior to paying for the boat. There are plenty of options to pick from so you would want to be sure about whether or not your expectations are being met. The boats vary from luxury cruises to Bamboo Boats with none of them being allowed to carry passengers on their way back to Guilin. You could be sitting in the comfort of your cabin or alternatively enjoying the outdoors depending on your budget and preferences. Be sure to bring a camera along because the sceneries are said to be photographers’ dream. When the cruise ends in Yangshou, you should be prepared to walk to the famous Wall Street since the wonderful hotels, cafes and restaurants there would allow you to explore the life in China. This little county of Yangshou is also a good place for hiking, cycling or walking.

Matterhorn Switzerland

Matterhorn one of the most beautiful mountain in the world, Switzerland 

The Matterhorn is easily considered by a lot of people as one of the most beautiful mountains. It is certainly the most photographed and well-known summits in the world. There are a large number of people who attempt this mountain every year as well as a large number that remain unsuccessful as well. Zermatt is the village, which is located at the foot of the mountain and the region nearby the mountain consists of beautiful and pristine landscapes.

The Matterhorn’s history stretches back to 1865 and accomplishments in regards to climbing continue to this day. However, given the number of unsuccessful attempts and the steeple-like structure of the mountain, it is necessary for the climbers to be in an excellent physical shape to not only be able to enjoy the climb but to also be an efficient part of their teams. Moreover, it is advised to take a training course for at least a couple days before the climb so one’s particular needs are met. The good news is that the combination of the being able to view the beauty, challenging oneself during the day and living luxuriously in the night would make climbing the Matterhorn extremely pleasant.