Did You Know ... ? The art of diamond polishing was invented in 15th century Bruges. Philip I, the first Hapsburg ruler in Spain (1478–1506), was born in Bruges. The carillon in Bruges’ famed Belfry has rung every quarter hour for nearly seven and a half centuries. Bruges was the
Did You Know? Brighton’s Sea Life Centre is the world’s oldest operating aquarium (1872). The Royal Pavilion was used as a military hospital during World War I. Brighton’s earliest bathers entered the sea camouflaged by bathing machines (18th century). Brighton was the site of Britain’s first purpose-built pleasure pier (1823).
Did You Know? Berlin was divided for its first 500 years; it was two trading towns: Colln and Berlin. Forests and lakes cover close to 25% of the city's total area. Berlin, at 341 acres, covers nine times the area of Paris. During the 11-month 1948-49 Berlin airlift, the Allies
Did You Know...? Baird’s tapir, known locally as the mountain cow, is Belize’s national animal. Belize’s capital was moved out of Belize City after Hurricane Hattie devastated the place in 1961. The bricks in St. John’s Cathedral were originally used as ballast in English ships. Guatemala, convinced Belize was part
Did You Know? It would cost about $155 billion to restore and reconstruct the Great Wall. The Forbidden City, on 183 acres, is the world’s largest palace complex. Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest square (122 acres). The tiniest hutong — Qianshi — is 15.6 inches across at its narrowest
Did You Know ... ? Hitler used Baedeker guidebooks to select culturally important targets in England, including Bath. The Thermae Bath Spa is Britain's only natural thermal spa. Jane Austen set two novels, “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion,” in Bath. More than 265,000 gallons of water flow from the city’s thermal
Did You Know ... ? Antoni Gaudi’s surreal Sagrada Familia Cathedral has been under construction since 1895. Barcelona had no street names until 1770; family shields were used as identifiers. Columbus’ 1493 reunion with Ferdinand and Isabella is said to have occurred in the Placa del Rei. La Rambla, the
Did You Know? Bangkok has the world’s longest official name (21 words) as follows: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. The city’s Golden Buddha, made primarily of gold, weighs more than 10,000 pounds. It is
Did You Know? Auckland’s Sky Tower, at 1,076 feet, is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. The Auckland region is home to 48 (extinct) volcanoes. More Polynesians live in Auckland than on the Pacific Islands where they originated. Auckland boasts the highest number of boats per capita in the
Did You Know ... ? The Greek capital was named after Athena, the goddess of wisdom. The Parthenon’s slightly tilted columns would touch — if they were more than a mile high. Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Ancient Athenians considered it barbaric to drink wine without