Benedictine Convent of Saint John

Benedictine Convent of Saint John at Müstair, Switzerland

The Benedictine Convent of Saint John, also called the Abbey of Saint John, is located in Müstair, Switzerland. This quaint Swiss village is a unique destination in itself and home to a majority of speakers of the Romansh language. The Convent was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, offering examples of Carolingian art, well-preserved heritage of the Carolingian  (from the reign of Charlemagne and his heirs). This art includes Early Middle Ages frescoes, Romanesque frescoes, murals, and other historical architecture.

The frescoes include Biblical scenes from both the Old and New Testament, and are fine and rare examples of art from the important Carolingian period from around the year 800. These frescoes are created in varies hues of reds and browns.

Other significant art in the Benedictine Convent of Saint John includes the stucco statue of Charlemagne, and a relief of the Baptism of Christ in the Romanesque style, created in 1087.

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island – Famous Ancient Federal Prison in California, United States

Best known for its infamous federal prison and for its ancient lighthouse and fort – one of the earliest built on the West Coast of the US – Alcatraz Island has always captivated the imagination of its visitors. 1.25 miles across the water from San Francisco, The Rock stands tall – a typifying one of the harshest and most notorious pens of the world.

Alcatraz Island is spread over 22 acres and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Guided tours of the prison are favorites. Nighttime tours heighten the mystique of the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary which had earned the reputation of being the ‘escape-proof prison.’
Before Alcatraz Island was turned into the site of the military and federal prisons, it was occupied for over a year and half by the Aboriginal Indians participating in a wave of Native protests starting in 1969. The Alcatraz Island is currently a national recreation area and a National Historic Landmark managed by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Some of the main landmarks on Alcatraz Island include the Main Cell house, Lighthouse, the Parade Grounds, Building 64, and New Industries and Model Industries Buildings.

Alcatraz Island is not all creepy horror stories. Those who give their imaginations a break will find interesting natural formations such as rock pools and some beautiful birds such as the black-crowned night herons and western gulls, and reptiles such as the California slender salamanders in their natural habitats.