Old Havana in a New Light!

There is something gratifying about solving a good mystery. Sometimes they can be found in books, but more often than not they are uncovered by exploring our vast world. With the travel restrictions to Cuba recently lessened, now is a prime opportunity to unravel the mystery that Cuba has been to us for so long! Today I am going to be discussing the beautiful Old Havana, where the soul of Cuba lies!

Old Havana is a beautiful and culturally rich section of the modern version of Havana, and one of the most exciting places to see in all of Cuba! Havana Vieja was founded by the Spanish in 1519 because of its excellent position in the natural harbor of the Bay of Havana. Over the years Spanish Galleons stopped here as they made their way from the new world back to the old, and vice versa. The city was used heavily in the 17th century in order to build ships for the Spanish fleet. The city was burned down and destroyed by Jacques de Sores after having taken the city with ease and plundering it fully. After this happened the Spanish took steps to ensure that this wouldn’t happen again and brought soldiers into the city as well as built fortresses to better guard it. The first such fortress was Castillo de la Real Fuerza, which began construction in 1558.

El Capitolio, or the National Capitol Building, was the seat of government in Cuba until the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The Cuban Academy of Sciences is now found there. Its name, as well as its design, took direct inspiration from the United States Capitol in Washington D.C. At the time of its completion in 1929 it stood as the tallest building in Havana and remained that way until the 1950s. The building houses the La Estatua de la República, which is the third largest indoor statue in the world. The statue was cast in bronze in Rome in three separate pieces and assembled in Cuba upon arrival. The inspiration for the statue was the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena.

The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception is one of the eleven Roman Catholic cathedrals on the island of Cuba. It is located in the Plaza de la Catedral and lies in the very heart of Old Havana. The church serves as the seat for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Cristobal de la Habana, which overlooks nearly 3 million Catholics! The church certainly has many elements of the Baroque style along with a Tuscan influence and is considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Cuba. The church first began construction in 1748 because the Catholic faith on the island had grown so large that the older churches could no longer sustain the population.

Old Havana certainly has a lot to offer any one who loves history and likes to look at pretty buildings, and to think it is just a small portion of the huge city that is Havana proper! A taste of this great city is simply not enough, which is why we're going there as part of our 8 Day Best of Cuba Cruise! For all of the information on this fantastic trip, please click here. 

Scaling the Castle Walls in Edinburgh!

The world is a big place, and the pursuit of its exploration has been the great thread that links all travelers across the both the history of our world and the expansion of its global community which now spans the globe. At Legendary Journeys we wish to take that thread and make a tapestry of experiences that any adventurer will remember for the rest of their days. From places of worship at the most holy of sites, to the viewing of the most beautiful paintings depicting unimaginable beauty, we are dedicated to bringing people to the place their heart desires most.  Today we discuss Edinburgh, Scotland, one of the most beautiful cities in Great Britain!

Edinburgh Castle is a well-worn fortress which takes up a good deal of the skyline within the city due to its position on the Castle Rock. Researchers have traced the first settlements on the rock to the second century, although what kind of development these settlements had is unclear. The first time a royal castle at this site was in the 12th century, established during the reign of David I, and it was continually used as a royal residence until 1603. Research has shown that there have been at least 26 sieges on the castle in its long history, including conflicts in the Wars of Scottish Independence. It remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Edinburgh to this day, with over 70% of visitors to the city stopping by this amazing castle. 

Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is a major tourist attraction in the Old Town portion of Edinburgh. It is located in the Royal Mile, next to the above discussed Edinburgh Castle, and was founded in 1835. The tower has six floors of hands-on exhibits, all open to the public, which makes it the oldest attraction built for the simple sake of viewing in the city, and one of the oldest in the entire country. The top floor, where the Camera Obscura is located, is used to project a so called virtual tour of the city for visitors. The museum is dedicated to optical illusions, light, and even includes a vortex tunnel! 

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch of Scotland. It has been used in the capacity of the principal residence of the Kings and Queens of Scots since the 16th century, and it also serves as a setting for official entertaining and state occasions. Queen Elizabeth spends a routine week every year in residence at the palace where she carries out a wide range of official ceremonies and engagements. The architecture of the palace is done in the Baroque style, and is noted as one of the most beautiful examples of the style in all of Scotland. The palace also features Roman Doric columns, which are carved with the Royal Arms of Scotland. 

Edinburgh is one of the prettiest cities in all of Europe, if not the world. There is a wealth of attractions to be found in the city, and there is certainly something for everyone who wishes to visit this great city! Legendary Journeys is proud to take you there as part of our Best of Britain & London Transatlantic! For all of the information on this great trip, please click here. 

Jazzing Up the Joint in New Orleans!

Traveling should be a really great experience, but it can often be a nerve-wracking ordeal to find the ideal locations to spend your precious time. At Legendary Journeys we make it our mission to relieve the stress of travel by providing you with an expansive amount of information about great places all around the world! From constructed marvels to amazing natural beauty, we have a lot of experience and knowledge to share. On tap today is the city of New Orleans, which has a lot of great history involving matters of faith and some truly awesome music! 

The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France, also known as the St. Louis Cathedral, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans and is one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States. The first church on the site was built in 1719 and the current building finished construction in 1789 and was raised to its cathedral status in 1793. In 1850 the cathedral was expanded a great deal and largely rebuilt, with little of its original structure remaining afterwards. It holds the distinction of being one of the few Roman Catholic churches in the country that also has a significant public square. The building as it is presently constructed has inspiration in the Renaissance as well as the Spanish Colonial architectural styles. The current Archbishop is Gregory Aymond. 

The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carre, is the oldest neighborhood of the city and its name in French means "Old Square." A majority of the buildings from the Quarter's past were built either in the late 18th century, when the Spanish controlled the city, or were built during the 19th century after the U.S. made Louisiana a state. The district has been labeled as a National Historic Landmark or the variety of buildings that have historical significance. Travelers from all over the world visit the Quarter visit it every year, making it an important economic hub for the city. When Katrina struck in 2005 the Quarter was by far the least effected, with most businesses being able to reopen within a month of the tremendous storm. 

Preservation Hall was established in 1961 and its purpose is to preserve and protect the music genre known as traditional New Orleans Jazz. Preservation Hall works as a record label as well as a music venue and continues its mission to this day, considered an important part of New Orleans music as well as culture. The current headquarters was originally a tavern that was built in 1803 and changed hands many times over the years before finally being selected as the site for the Hall. The legendary Louis Armstrong once said that at Preservation Hall is where people can find all of the greats, which resonates perfectly the feeling the people of New Orleans have for the Hall and for Jazz in general. 

New Orleans has a spirit that is all its own, with a vibrant atmosphere that makes it an amazing place to visit for any traveler at any time of the year! We have many fun trips that can take you to this city and others just as great all over the world! To take a look at our amazing deals, click here. 

Diving Into a Bunker to Discuss Dubrovnik!

Traveling should be a really great experience, but it can often be a nerve-wracking ordeal to find the ideal locations to spend your precious time. At Legendary Journeys we make it our mission to relieve the stress of travel by providing you with an expansive amount of information about great places all around the world! From constructed marvels to amazing natural beauty, we have a lot of experience and knowledge to share. The city we will be discussing today is Dubrovnik, Croatia, whose militaristic history has left a lot of interesting landmarks behind in its wake! 

The Walls of Dubrovnik are a very large series of stone walls which have acted as a defensive barricade for the city since its founding prior to the 7th century. They were built entirely with limestone. The walls have been heavily modified throughout the centuries and are considered to be one of the greatest fortifications of the Middle Ages, having never been breached even once during that time period. It is considered to be among the largest and most complete of its type in all of Europe and served to protect the freedom of the peaceful republic for over five centuries! The walls are reinforced with seventeen towers in total, five bulwarks, and the looming building which is known as St. John's Fortress. Further the walls were reinforced by smaller bastions such as Fort Bokar, which is the oldest preserved fort of its kind in all of Europe! There was a moat that encircled the walls of the outside section of the city, which protected the 120 cannons that defended the city very well! In a testament to how amazing these walls were built during the nineties when the city was bombarded by modern technology these older buildings help up remarkably well in comparison to the newer structures on the city's outskirts! The old city of Dubrovnik, which includes a fair portion of the walls, was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. 

Fort Lovrijenac, otherwise known as St. Lawrence Fortress, is a fortress and theater which can be found outside the western wall of the city. It got its fame for its plays as well as the importance it had in resisting Venetian rule, it looms large over both the entrance by sea and by land into the city. The Venetians wished to build a fort on this very location but were beaten to the punch by the locals who managed to build it in only three months! It is widely believed that if they had succeeded they would have held onto Dubrovnik as the locals would not have had a foothold for defense. Like the walls that surround the city, this fort is built from Limestone and is very well preserved to this day. 

Dubrovnik is proof that even peaceful societies can have structures built for war time. Because of these marvels of defensive genius it has withstood many sieges and known widespread peace in its time. Also, it makes the city very interesting! There is more to see in Dubrovnik than just the beautiful craftsmanship of its outer walls though, and we'll gladly take you there and many other great cities next year as part of a 20 day cruise! For all of the information on this great trip, click here. 

Holy Moley Jerusalem is Amazing!

Traveling should be a really great experience, but it can often be a nerve-wracking experience finding the ideal locations to spend our precious time. At Legendary Journeys we make it our specialty to relieve the stress of travel by providing you with an expansive amount of information about great places all around the world! From constructed marvels to amazing natural beauty, we have a lot of experience and knowledge to share. Today we take you to Jerusalem, Israel, whose rich religious history is hard to ignore!

Yad Vashem is the official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust in Israel. The name refers to a verse found in the Book of Isaiah and symbolizes that one of the founding principles was to carry on the names of the victims who had no one to do so for them following their deaths. Opened in 1953, the memorial is a 44 acre complex that contains various tributes to the victims of the Holocaust including a history museum, memorial sites, a museum dedicated to the art and sculptures of the Holocaust, and an educational center called the International Institute for Holocaust Studies. One of the most important goals for the founders was to recognize those helped their Jewish brethren during the ongoing genocide. Those recognized by Israel are honored in a section of Yad Vashem which is referred to as the Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations. 

The Old City is a small walled area that sits within the modern city of Jerusalem, and was the entire city up until 1860 when the Jewish neighborhood Mishkenot Sha'ananim was established. It is home to some of the most vital religious sites in the city, including the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. It is split into four uneven quarters: the Muslim Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter. The city features impressive defensive walls and city gates which were built in the latter half of the 16th century by the Ottoman Empire. Over the years there have been many claims to this part of the city, with Jordan capturing it in 1948 as part of the Arab-Israeli War and it was subsequently re-captured by the Israelis in 1967 during the Six-Day War. It is now considered part of occupied Palestinian territory by the United Nations. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also referred to as the Church of the Resurrection by Orthodox Christians, is one of the most famed churches in the world. It was completed in 335 and can hold a maximum of 8,000 people. The site is venerated as the place where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, and also is the location where Jesus is said to have been laid to rest and later resurrected. The church has been an important destination for several Christian pilgrimages since the fourth century as it is the traditional site of the resurrection of Christ. The building is done in a mixture of Romanesque and Baroque styles, with a number of domes common for the style. 

Jerusalem is one of the most special places in the entire world. The religious diversity of the city is inspiring, and the city's rich history is evident at every turn. There are few places in the world that are more exciting to see, and we're very happy to be able to take you there on a really fantastic trip that includes a lot of other amazing locations as well! For all of the details, please click here. 

Royalty Gets Real in Madrid!

Pursuit of world exploration has increased with as our technology grows. The world is at our fingertips and this shared experience links all travelers through the expansion of our global community. At Legendary Journeys we wish to take that thread and weave a tapestry of experiences for any traveler to enjoy. From awe-inspiring architecture that defies all expectations to the magnificent beauty of nature that man-made structures cannot compete with, we are dedicated to bringing people to the place their heart desires most. Today we take in one of the most beautiful and scenic of the world's capital cities that seamlessly combines the innovation of architecture and the beauty of nature.  Prepare yourselves, it's time to learn about some great sights in Madrid, Spain! 

The Parque del Buen Retiro (which translates as "Park of the Pleasant Retreat") is one of the biggest and most visited parks in Madrid. The park originally belonged to the Spanish Monarchy but in the late 19th century it was made into a public park. It spans a massive 350 acres and is at the edge of the city center, occupying a space that puts it near the very popular Prado Museum. The park is filled to the brim with monuments, sculpture, galleries, as well as an amazing lake which is a popular rest spot for locals and tourists alike. Although the view is amazing and worthy of a visit by itself, there are also a lot of activities that make the park an amazing place to visit including concerts, book fairs, and various street performers. 

The Palacio Real de Madrid (which translates to English directly as "Royal Palace of Madrid") is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family. It was built in 1738 at the behest of the current king of Spain at the time, Philip V of Spain. Architecturally speaking it seamlessly combines the Baroque and Classicism styles to give a very imperialist feel to it. Although it serves as an official residency, these days the Royal Family does not stay there, preferring the tamer Palacio de la Zarzuela, and the building is only used for state ceremonies. The palace is over 1,450,000 square feet and contains a staggering 3,418 rooms! It holds the distinction of being the largest palace in all of Europe in terms of floor area. The inside is decorated with various pieces by renowned artists, Caravaggio and Francisco de Goya being two of the more noteworthy. The palace was designated a Spanish Property of Cultural Interest in 1931 and it is noteworthy as being one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire city. One of the most popular rooms in the entire palace is the Crown Room, which contains Charles III's throne, crown, and scepter. It is highly recommended that you pay the four dollars for the audio tour, as by all accounts it is an amazing value that adds a lot to the overall experience. 

Madrid is a city that has a lot to offer any traveler. With a great mixture of historic sites that honor the country's prestigious royalty to the amazing park which allows people of all creeds to bathe in the warm sun and to forget all of their worries, there is something for everyone there! Check out more information on this amazing city and book a trip that will bring you there by clicking here. 

Become Devout to Art in Florence!

The world is a big place, and the pursuit of its exploration has been the great thread that links all travelers across the both the history of our world and the expansion of its global community which now spans the globe. At Legendary Journeys we wish to take that thread and make a tapestry of experiences that any adventurer will remember for the rest of their days. From places of worship at the most holy of sites, to the viewing of the most beautiful paintings depicting unimaginable beauty, we are dedicated to bringing people to the place their heart desires most. The city of the day has a lush history that will delight lovers of artistry, religion or magnificent architecture. Florence, Italy has a lot to offer any traveler, and we're going to dive into this fantastic city! 

The Bargello, also known as the Palazzo del Bargello, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, or Palazzo del Popolo (which translates as "Palace of the People in English") is a former prison and barracks which now serves as an art museum. The term Bargello is derived from Latin and means "fortified tower" or "castle" and was a term that was applied to military captains of Italy during the middle ages who were in charge of keeping the peace. Because these captains stayed in fortifications such as this one the name eventually stuck to the building as well. The original two stories of the building were finished in 1256 with the third story being added in 1323. In modern times the museum is home to masterpieces by such renowned artists as Michelangelo, Donatello, and Vincenzo Gemito. 

The Catterale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower in English, is the main church of the city. Construction of this beautiful building started in 1296 in the Gothic style and was completed in 1436 when the dome was finished and it was consecrated that same year. The outside is lined with multicolored marble panels in numerous shades of pink and green that give the building its beautiful sense of majesty. The cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence. The current archbishop if Giuseppe Betori. The inside of the cathedral is home to some stunning artwork, perhaps none more provoking than the Last Judgment, seen above, that is underneath the dome. There are few places in the world which can rival the beauty of this wonderful monument dedicated to faith. 

Giotto's Campanile is a standalone bell tower that is a part of the Florence Cathedral. The tower was first started in 1334 after the original Master of Works of the Cathedral passed away and was completed in 1359 after the title passed through multiple people's hands during that period. It stands adjacent to Santa Maria del Fiore, and the tower is one of the finest examples of Florentine Gothic architecture with its design by Giotto. It features multicolored marble encrustations that give it a fantastic sheen and fabulously rich sculptural decorations! The inside houses multiple works of art, including the famous "Euclid" by Nino Pisano! 

The architecture, art, and amazing religious display of Florence is truly breathtaking. We are so glad that we are able to take you there on a number of truly superb trips! It is one of the cities of the world that everyone should experience at least once, but once won't be enough after you go there! For all of the exciting trips we offer to this great city, go here.