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		<lastBuildDate>Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:12:55 -0400 </lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Aug 2006 09:00:00 -0400</pubDate><image><title>exploriada.com</title><link>http://www.exploriada.com</link><url>http://www.exploriada.com/imgs/logo.jpg</url></image><item><title><![CDATA[Dunstanburgh Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/dunstanburgh-castle</link><pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:53:27 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[An iconic castle ruin, on one of the most beautiful stretches of Northumberland coastline.
An exhilarating walk from Craster.

The castle was built at a time when relations between King Edward II and his most powerful baron, Earl Thomas of Lancaster, had become openly hostile. Lancaster began the fortress in 1313, and the latest archaeological research indicates that he built it on a far grander scale than was recognised, perhaps more as a symbol of his opposition ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jenny Twig And Tib (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/jenny-twig-and-tib</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:03:02 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[On the broad expanse of Fountains Earth Moor can be found the towering stone stacks of Jenny Twig and her daughter Tib. They stand together, set apart from the neighbouring outcrop of Millstone Grit called Sypeland Crags. Nobody local knows the origin of the names. One writer noted the similarity to the Gaelic 'Tuig', 'to be wise'. In 1863, William Graing rather romantically referred to them as 'Giantesses in broad bonnetts'. It's easy to believe ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4e0204543eed0/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Swinton Druid's Temple (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/outdoor-centres-and-trails/swinton-druids-temple</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:56:50 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Modern Stone Circle in Yorkshire (North). New Swinton Hall is a mile or so to the west of Masham, near Ilton. It was built by the owner himself, William Danby (1752 - 1833). His next project was the labour intensive work of creating another Stonehenge, with a shilling a day paid to the workers.

An enormous oval of altars, menhirs, dolmens, sarsens and other phallic and neo-Druidical paraphernalia was raised on the Yorkshire moors. Several solitary ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4e0203137dc1a/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Parc Asterix Amusement Park (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/theme-parks/parc-asterix-amusement-park</link><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:06:49 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Parc Astérix is a theme amusement park in France, based on the stories of Asterix by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny and was opened in 1989.

It is especially well known for its large variety of roller coasters, and has begun incorporating rides and themes from historic cultures such as the Romans and the ancient Greeks. 

It is also home to the biggest wooden roller coaster in Europe!
With a stunning crash, Zeus lifts you up to ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4e01dc543f6c2/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Castle Of Montfort (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/castle-of-montfort</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:59:46 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Château de Montfort is a castle in the French commune of Vitrac in the Dordogne departement, part of the region of Aquitaine.

The castle clings to a promontory overlooking the Cingle de Montfort (Montfort Meander) on the Dordogne River. Its grandiose setting "aroused the envy of those who wished to rule Perigord" so that its history is a long series of battles and sieges. It was taken and razed to the ground by Simon de ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4df207664c257/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Castle Of the Upper Charmois (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/castle-of-the-upper-charmois</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:44:11 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The renaissance castle is a private property of the  Bonnefoy family, who are animateurs of Saint Dagobert Circle. They are producers of the beer of Charmoy. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4df20430ea258/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Castle Of Flecheres (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/castle-of-flecheres</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:25:35 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Fléchères is the largest castle open to visitors in the environ of Lyon.
Built in one go from 1606 to 1625 and preserved intact, it offers an exceptional picture of the life of the grandees of Lyon in the 17th century.

In 1632, the painter Pietro Ricchi, just arrived from Tuscany, here realised an astonishingly varied decor, which surpasses all those that are known in France from this period, for its quality, scale and state of conservation.

The ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4df200063d44f/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Castle of Chillon (Switzerland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/chteau-of-chillon</link><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:45:20 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[An architectural jewel located in the most beautiful setting imaginable, between the shores of Lake Geneva and the Alps, this monument with over 1,000 years of history, has always inspired artists and writers, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Victor Hugo and Lord Byron, from Delacroix to Courbet.

Visiting the Castle of Chillon is like going back in time! Each hall or room unveils a part of the castle’s history. Modern means enable us to better understand the ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4df1f9b3deb80/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Swiss Chocolate Train (Switzerland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/outdoor-centres-and-trails/swiss-chocolate-train</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:21:40 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[As you are in the country of chocolate, you should not miss the Chocolate train. It runs from Montreux to the Gruyère region from where the excellent quality Cailler chocolate and naturally, Gruyere cheese come from! 

You will travel exclusively in 1st class “Belle Epoque Pullman” deluxe carriages just as in 1915, or in panoramic coaches.  Visit the picturesque Gruyères village and discover how Gruyere cheese is made at the demonstration cheese dairy. It ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4df0cbf128a5c/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Devil's Bridge Gorge (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/devils-bridge-gorge</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:29:21 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Visited as early as 1893 and fitted out to be accessible for most people, the DEVIL'S BRIDGE GORGES  offer the visitor a gripping picture of the power of erosion. The jagged profile of the sides and their shaded coulours give the whole site a weird appearance attenuated by the magnificent surrounding forests.

This defile, partly underground, gouged into very hard grey marble links surprisingly the Leman's Lake area and the CHABLAIS Massifs.

The shine of rocks ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4df0c1ccbfde0/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ripaille Castle (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/castle-of-ripaille</link><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:48:15 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Built from the late fourteenth century, residence of the Counts of Savoy, the castle of Feast is located in the Chablais, a country that was attached to the eleventh century at the Savoy. Became the headquarters of the Order of St. Maurice, the residence welcomes religious communities until the Revolution. She is now a resident of approval.

History of Chateau of Ripaille
Built from the mid-fourteenth century, originally a wooden pavilion on a stone base in the ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4df08a932db85/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Castle of Pupetières (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/castle-of-pupetieres</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:51:00 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The neogothic castle belongs to the Virieu family since its construction in the XIII century. It 's located in the Chabons community in the Bourbre valley, 5km from Virieu and 15km from Voiron. it is classified as a historic building in France since 1972.

At the beginning it was just a fortified hall, during the Revolution the family had been desinherited and they moved near Geneva. They came back in 1805 and found the castle in ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4def9c261c9ff/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Castle of Roure (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/castle-of-roure</link><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:19:24 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Castle was built in XV century on a rocky hill to defend the ancien road which crosses the naural "Pont d'Arc". It is a focal point of local history: the wars of religion and the camisards revolution. On the border of Languedoc and Vivarais this place guarded the strategic passage into the Ardeches Gorge.

The castle belonged originally to the earl Grimoard de Beauvoir du Roure who was protestant. During religious wars the duke of ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4def93256ff38/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eden Project (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/theme-parks/eden-project</link><pubDate>Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:06:33 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Eden Project is a visitor attraction in the United Kingdom, including the world\'s largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world. The project is located in a reclaimed Kaolinite pit, located 2 kilometers (1.25 mi) from the town of St Blazey and 5 kilometres (3 mi) from the larger town of St Austell, Cornwall.

The complex is dominated by two enclosures consisting of adjoining domes that house ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4c7ea9e1f00b1/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Crosscanonby Milefortlet (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/antiquity-and-ancient-civilisations/crosscanonby-milefortlet</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:22:51 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Just south of Allonby, located on Hadrian's Cycleway, are Milefortlet 21 and the Saltpans of Crosscanonby.

Milefortlet 21, the first total excavation of a milefortlet, and a designated World Heritage Site, reveals a wealth of information about the lifestyle of Roman troops in Britain.

The stone milefortlets measured about 15 x 18 metres, and the typical layout is clearly shown here - with two gates, a central passageway, and either side of this accommodation for the men ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senhouse Roman Museum (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/museums-and-galleries/senhouse-roman-museum</link><pubDate>Sat, 24 Apr 2010 23:11:58 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ Dramatically sited on the cliffs overlooking the Solway Firth, this award winning museum is next to a Roman fort probably founded in the first Century AD and rebuilt during the reign of Hadrian. The fort was an important element in the complex frontier system known as Hadrian’s Wall. The museum displays the largest group of Roman military altar stones and inscriptions from any site in Britain and unique examples of Romano-British religious sculpture.

The museum ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Roman Bath House (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/antiquity-and-ancient-civilisations/roman-bath-house</link><pubDate>Sat, 24 Apr 2010 10:01:49 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Ravenglass was an important naval base for the Romans in the 2nd century, GLANNAVENTA. Little remains now of their large fort except for the remarkable bath house, now known as Walls Castle. This is one of the largest surviving Roman structures in England, about 40 feet by 90 feet with walls over 12 feet high (4 meters), and containing everything from hot saunas to cold baths.

Ravenglass was a regional supply point for much of the ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[St. Basil's Cathedral (Russia)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/st-basils-cathedral</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:20:36 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[St. Basil's was built to commemorate the capture of the Tatar stronghold of Kazan in 1552, which occured on the Feast of the Intercession of the Virgin. The cathedral was thus officially named Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat (the moat being one that originally ran beside the Kremlin).

Saint Basil's is located at one end of Red Square, just across from the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin. Not particularly large, it ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4b334e949dc73/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Warsaw Rising Museum (Poland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/museums-and-galleries/warsaw-rising-museum</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:09:50 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Warsaw Rising Museum, arguably the city's finest museum, was opened in 2004 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the doomed Warsaw Uprising of 1944. The Uprising is tragic and largely unknown chapter of World War II, in which a brave Polish resistance of freedom fighters met annihilation and retribution from the Nazis, in front of a backdrop of underhand maneuverings - principally by Stalin. Hushed up by the Soviets after the War and largely ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ba8995087210/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Beatles Story (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/museums-and-galleries/the-beatles-story</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:06:57 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Beatles Story in Liverpool's Albert Dock has a display arranged into eighteen different sections following the band's career through from their early years, to their break up and solo careers. The stage is well set with a section on the history of skiffle, a style of music which allowed anyone to have a go. Instruments were largely home made and no formal musical training was necessary. Cheap guitars, basic drum kits, washboards, and tea ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4b032d953bbc2/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lotherton Hall Estate (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/lotherton-hall-estate</link><pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:00:30 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Formerly the home of the Gascoigne family, Lotherton Hall is a stunning treasure trove of arts, crafts and music.

Set in fantastic grounds, this charming Edwardian country house is surrounded by beautiful formal, wildflower and wooded grounds, as well as a red deer park and a bird garden which has one of the country's most impressive and important collections of rare and endangered species.

The Gascoignes were passionate travellers and collectors and their great sense of style ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kirkstall Abbey (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/kirkstall-abbey</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:53:19 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery to the west of Leeds city centre in West Yorkshire, set in grounds which are now a public park on the north bank of the River Aire. It was founded c.1152 and was over seventy five years in construction. In 1534 it was closed down in the ‘Dissolution of Religious Houses’ ordered by Henry VIII. The monks were pensioned-off, the roofs stripped of lead and some buildings converted ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4af608bd63b0e/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Raby Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/raby-castle</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:31:05 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Built for the mighty dynasty of the Nevills, this great fortress stands proud and defiant, its history rolling back almost a thousand years. King Cnut owned the estate in the early 11th Century and may well have built the first castle here; the present building was begun by John, 3rd Baron Nevill in about 1360. The Nevills were the most powerful family in the north: renowned warriors whose ultimate goal was the Crown itself. At ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4af5da0b316c7/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ripley Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/ripley-castle</link><pubDate>Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:25:56 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Ripley Castle has belonged to the Ingilby family since 1308/9, Sir Thomas Ingilby saved King Edward 1's life by killing the wild boar that was about to commit regicide.

The Castle Gatehouse was built in 1450. Musket ball holes show where Cromwell's 'rebel' troops shot some prisoners. Not withstanding his stunning victory at Marston Moor, Cromwell found himself held at gunpoint by 'Trooper Jane' Ingilby in the Castle Library. There is some amazing Civil War armour ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[St. Pierre Cathedral (Switzerland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/st-pierre-cathedral</link><pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:01:58 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The St. Pierre Cathedral in Geneva, belonging to the Swiss Reformed Church, was begun in the 12th century, and includes an eclectic mix of styles. It is best known as the adopted home church of John Calvin, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. Inside the church is a wooden chair used by Calvin.

The area beneath the Cathedral has recently been excavated extensively, revealing a rich history of the site dating back to the ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aec0d8394200/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gruyères Castle (Switzerland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/gruyres-castle-and-the-medieval-city</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:22:48 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The castle surmounting the medieval town is remarkable for its imposing architecture and its historical collections. Furthermore, the innovative and breathtaking the Multimedia show "Gruyères" brings the visitor out of time.

The crane (in french: “grue”) - its heraldic representation - inspired the name Gruyères. Despite the importance of the House of Gruyères its beginnings remain quite mysterious.

Nineteen counts are accounted for in the period between the 11th and 16th century. The last of them, Michel, ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ae437c2b5913/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Labyrinth Of Aventure (Switzerland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/theme-parks/labyrinth-of-aventure</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:51:13 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Enter the biggest permanent labyrinth in the world. At 25,000 m2 and a labyrinth of 10,000 m2 with more than 20,000 thuya bushes, the park is the ideal place for adventurers of all ages. More than 50 attractions and a 30m tower with huge toboggans. Events, such as treasure hunts, sweets race, splash party and Halloween, will make your trip through the Adventure Labyrinth something to remember. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ae42de2ae6cf/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Temple Of Cheese (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/museums-and-galleries/temple-of-cheese</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:39:14 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[During a guided visit the cheese museum presents the first methods of milk transformation and how the women (called Fruitière) used to work the cheese. Several full-scale robots explain the realization of cheese from the cows milking to the production of a ‘fromage d'Abondance’. ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Gorges Du Fier (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/the-gorges-du-fier</link><pubDate>Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:11:02 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The River Fier, which trickles out of the lake through Annecy's picturesque canals, has cut a narrow crevice through the limestone rock at the Gorges du Fier.

The walk goes through a spectacular narrow canyon on a footbridge
affixed to the rock face 25 metres above the river. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ae427cb749bd/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[European Organisation For Nuclear Research (Switzerland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/industrial-monuments-and-places/european-organisation-for-nuclear-research</link><pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:14:07 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[CERN is a laboratory where scientists unite to study the building blocks of matter and the forces that hold them together. It was founded in 1954 and since that has become a prime example of international collaboration, with currently 20 Member States. It sits astride the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva.

CERN is the world's largest centre for research in particle phisics, with several interlinked accelerators that provide many kinds of particle for many different experiments.

Physicists at ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aec0e0b54946/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[High Force (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/high-force</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:41:38 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[High Force, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in England. Despite popular belief, it is not, at 20 metres (70 ft), the highest waterfall in England: Cautley Spout, in Cumbria's Howgill Fells, is almost 180 metres (600 ft) high; and Hardraw Force, in North Yorkshire, has an unbroken drop of 30 metres (100 ft).

High Force is, however, undeniably stunning, with the whole of the River Tees plunging over a precipice (cliff edge which is almost ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4adcb551b80d0/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Parthenon (Greece)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/antiquity-and-ancient-civilisations/parthenon</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:45:54 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Among the monuments of the Acropolis of Athens, Parthenon is the most magnificent, the temple of Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena, protector of the Ancient city of Athens.

Parthenon is one of the most most famous buildings of the world and if it was build some centuries before, then probably we would be talking about the 8 wonders of the world instead of 7. Its unique architecture inspired the architectural style of the western ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aed9314d7fb4/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Meteora Monasteries (Greece)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/meteora-monasteries</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:09:18 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The word Meteora means literally \'hovering in the air\' and of course brings to mind the word meteor. What created this rare geological phenomenon is one of the mysteries of nature and there are many theories though they remain theories and none have been proven. But as amazing a marvel of nature as these giant rocks are the buildings on the top of these are a marvel of man and seem just as miraculous and ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Matthias Church (Hungary)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/matthias-church</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:39:54 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[There are some buildings which seem inexplicably tied to the fortunes of a place and the Matthias Church is one such construction. It’s not only seen coronations and royal weddings, it’s also been occupied by Islam and turned into a mosque, its religious treasures shipped out and frescos painted over. One of the most interesting stories from the occupation is that as the tides of war were turning and the Holy League were heading back ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aed94195a325/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Prague Castle (Czech Republic)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/prague-castle</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:24:52 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Prague Castle is the largest medieval castle complex in Europe and the ancient seat of Czech kings throughout the ages. It is Prague's premier tourist attraction.

Several destructive wars and fires (and the subsequent renovations), along with differing political forces have combined to create an intriguing mix of palaces, churches and fortifications.

The Prague Castle complex consists of Saint Vitus Cathedral (the most recognisable landmark in the city), viewing towers, museums and art galleries, a monastery, Golden ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4adca837a62e1/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Colosseum (Italy)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/antiquity-and-ancient-civilisations/colosseum</link><pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:12:25 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Flavius amphitheatre is the biggest and most imposing in the Roman world, but is also the most famous monument in Rome and is known as the "Colosseum" or "Coliseum". Started by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavia family, it was opened by his son Titus in 80 A.D.

The highly ostentatious opening ceremony, lasted one hundred days during which people saw great fights, shows and hunts involving the killing of thousands of animals (5000 according to ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ae40b5d3fc6f/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Castle Moil (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/castle-moil</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:34:21 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The remains of Castle Moil (in Gaelic, Caisteal Maol), a three-story stronghold of the MacKinnons dating from the 15th century, overlook the harbour. Tradition has it that there was a much earlier castle on the site, associated with the fourth MacKinnon chief, Findanus, and his Norwegian wife, a princess nicknamed 'Saucy Mary'. It is said that the pair ran a chain across the narrows and levied a toll on passing vessels.

In the late 15th century ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ad0c7132b6fb/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Glenfiddich Distillery (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/factories-distilleries-breweries/glenfiddich-distillery</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:53:55 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Glenfiddich Distillery has a number of claims to fame. Perhaps most importantly, it was Glenfiddich which, in 1963, decided to market a single malt whisky to a world outside Scotland that until then had thought that scotch whisky meant blended whisky. The existence of the wholly new market that has grown so dramatically since owes much to Glenfiddich; and it is fitting that theirs is the biggest selling single malt worldwide.

Glenfiddich had its origins in ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[St Michael’s Mount (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/st-michaels-mount</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:45:09 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Dominating Mounts Bay is St Michael’s Mount, which rises majestically almost 230 feet from sea level to the tower, chapel and battlement of the castle. Situated approximately 500 yards offshore the Mount is reached by small ferry boats which ply between Marazion and the Mount's harbour.

The grandeur and wealth of history of St Michael’s Mount, with its fairy tale castle, make it a unique attraction in Britain.

An island at high tide, from the great flood ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4c7eb7b133019/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kensington Palace (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/kensington-palace</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:16:19 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London.

It has been home to the royal family for over 300 years and was where Diana Princess of Wales resided. Today it is the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

Kensington Palace holds a wealth of history with many Royals calling ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aed95283a151/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rhossili Visitor Centre (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/rhossili-visitor-centre</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:13:21 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Rhossili is the ideal location from which to walk along the south Gower coast and discover its rare wildlife, archaeology, unspoilt cliffs and beaches. Behind the 3-mile stretch of Rhossili Bay the 200m climb to Rhossili Down Commons allows you to appreciate the spectacular tidal island of Worm's Head and intricate medieval open field system of The Vile. It is this patchwork of important landscape features which ensured Gower's status as the first Area of ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aberdulais Falls (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/aberdulais-falls</link><pubDate>Sat, 10 Oct 2009 08:09:31 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[For over three hundred years this famous waterfall on the River Dulais has provided the energy to drive the wheels of industry from the first manufacture of copper in 1584 to the present-day remains of the tinplate works. The site today houses a unique hydroelectric scheme and the new waterwheel, the largest currently used in Britain to generate electricity, makes Aberdulais Falls self-sufficient in environmentally friendly energy. The Turbine House provides access to an interactive ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4af1d7ff90a9d/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Winsdor Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/windsor-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:39:56 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Windsor is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years. The Castle covers an area of about 5 hectares (13 acres) and contains magnificent State Apartments furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, St George's Chapel (one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical buildings in England and the burial place of 10 monarchs), and Queen Mary's Dolls House, a ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ae4086a382a3/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fraser Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/fraser-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:36:38 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[A visit to Castle Fraser is a great day out for the whole family. It is one of the finest castles in Aberdeenshire and is the largest, most elaborate Scottish castle built on the traditional 'Z' plan. The striking simplicity of its Great Hall and the stout walls of this beautiful building evoke the atmosphere of past centuries. In the Hall you can see a traditional 'Laird's lug', learn some of the castle's intriguing history ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cadbury World (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/museums-and-galleries/cadbury-world</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:33:35 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Cadbury World is a visitor attraction created and run by the Cadbury chocolate company. It is a one-way self-guided tour.

Cadbury World has gone on to become one of Birmingham's largest leisure attractions - welcoming over 500,000 visitors each year and delivers a respected education programme (linking back directly to the educational advancements and interests of the company's original founding fathers).

Whilst not being a factory tour, Cadbury World offers its visitor the opportunity to explore and ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aeefcea0833a/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Crathes Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/crathes-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:30:37 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Crathes Castle is simply one of the most superb castles in Scotland. The beautiful, pink-harled exterior and Disney-esque design are common features of castles in Aberdeenshire, but at Crathes they are combined with a remarkably well preserved original interior, wonderful gardens and a range of other attractions.

Like a number of other castles and grand houses in Aberdeenshire, Crathes Castle is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It's an indication of the attraction it provides ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/carrick-a-rede-rope-bridge</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:20:47 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a rope suspension bridge near Ballintoy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. The site is owned and maintained by the National Trust, spans twenty metres and is thirty metres above the rocks below. Today the bridge is mainly a tourist attraction, with 227,000 visitors in 2007. The bridge is now taken down every year in late October or early November, depending on weather ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4af1d69229460/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Drum Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/drum-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:44:01 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[This castle, one of the most beautiful in Royal Deeside, was owned by the Irvine family of Drum for 653 years. It is very special because it combines a medieval keep, a Jacobean mansion house and a later Victorian extension. The keep is one of the three oldest tower houses in Scotland, probably dating from 1290.

The first-floor room, originally the Great Hall, now houses an impressive library. Superb furniture and paintings provide a visual feast ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Culzean Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/culzean-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:36:18 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire coast is the most visited property of the National Trust for Scotland. Built in the late sixteenth century above a network of caves, the castle became a centre for smuggling during the eighteenth century.  Sir Thomas Kennedy, 9th Earl of Cassillis, went on an extended grand tour in the 1750s and returned full of ideas as to how to improve his vast estates and home.  His brother and ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Glamis Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/glamis-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:33:37 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Glamis Castle is known as one of the most haunted castles in Britain. It certainly has more stories and legends attached to it than any other castle within the British Isles, perhaps with the exception of Hermitage Castle in the Scottish Borders. The following provides a brief selection of stories and lore from the castle. The stories differ from source to source, and it is likely the tales became better with each telling, most have ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4af1d50d4952d/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Urquhart Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/urquhart-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:15:15 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The castle sits beside Loch Ness in Scotland along the A82 road, between Fort William and Inverness. It is close to the village of Drumnadrochit. Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness. It is also near the castle where the majority of Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) sightings occur.

As a romantic ruin, Urquhart Castle ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Belfast Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/belfast-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:11:30 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Belfast Castle occupies a prominent site on the slopes of Cave Hill, some 400 ft above sea level. This magnificent sandstone building, now managed by Belfast City Council, has close associations with the city’s past.

Not only can you have a leisurely dander around the castle gardens, but there are plenty of walks in the nearby Cave Hill Country Park, including an adventure playground for the children.

The castle itself is an elegant sandstone construction, built in ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ae415771eadc/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Caerlaverock Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/caerlaverock-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:05:57 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Caerlaverock (Lark's Nest), one of Scotland's finest castles, is everyone's idea of a medieval fortress. The scene of two famous sieges this moated castle has a children's adventure park, two model siege engines, and nature trail in its grounds. There is a Siege Exhibition and cafe.

Visitors with a physical disability can see most of the ground floor and courtyard of the castle and a substantial part of the grounds. The visitor centre, shop and display ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Penrhyn Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/penrhyn-castle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:53:36 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Nineteenth century Penrhyn Castle, around a mile east of Bangor , was once the home of the Pennant family and is now owned by the National Trust. The house commands a superb position overlooking the Menai Strait.

Is is far more than a castle – one of the most exciting destinations in North Wales.

Built on the Pennant family fortune made from slaves, sugar and slate, this vast 19th century neo-Norman creation captures everyone’s imagination. Creeper-clad turrets ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Jedburgh Abbey (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/jedburgh-abbey</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:41:29 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Jedburgh Abbey is a ruined 12th century Augustinian abbey, situated in Jedburgh, in the Borders of Scotland.

Jedburgh Abbey's remarkably complete Romanesque and early Gothic buildings have a tranquil stillness which belies their turbulent history.

The Abbey's grand design was inspired by Europe's magnificent churches, and was founded in 1138 by David I. For the abbey's community of Augustinian canons, its location frequently landed them amid conflict. When Anglo-Scottish relations deteriorated after 1296, Jedburgh became a frontline ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beaghmore Stone Circle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/pre-and-early-history/beaghmore-stone-circle</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:24:57 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Beaghmore is a complex of early Bronze Age megalithic features, stone circles and cairns, 8.5 miles north west of Cookstown, County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, on the south-east edge of the Sperrin Mountains.

This superb site is the only excavated and maintained stone-circle site amongst many in central Tyrone.

Circles of small stones with tangential alignments of larger ones are common in the central Tyrone and E Fermanagh area, and at Beaghmore a groupof these, together with ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Skara Brae (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/pre-and-early-history/skara-brae</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:19:20 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Skara Brae is a large stone-built Neolithic settlement, located on the Bay of Skaill on the west coast of Mainland, Orkney, Scotland. It consists of ten clustered houses, and was occupied from roughly 3100-2500 BC. It is Europe's most complete Neolithic village and the level of preservation is such that it has gained UNESCO World Heritage Site status, and been called the "British Pompeii".

Skara Brae is the best preserved groups of prehistoric houses in Western ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4af1d94a28cc2/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stonehenge (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/pre-and-early-history/stonehenge</link><pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:52:13 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Stonehenge is surely Britain's greatest national icon, symbolizing mystery, power and endurance. Its original purpose is unclear to us, but some have speculated that it was a temple made for the worship of ancient earth deities. It has been called an astronomical observatory for marking significant events on the prehistoric calendar. Others claim that it was a sacred site for the burial of high-ranking citizens from the societies of long ago.

While we can't say with ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aed96be3dcb2/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[The New Bridge In Ronda (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/the-new-bridge-in-ronda</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:53:34 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The New Bridge connects the old city with the newer parts of Ronda and its suburbs. Taking some 42 years to complete, the bridge dates to 1751. The bridge dramatically transverses the El Tajo canyon.

To view the New Bridge, as seen in the photographs here, you will need to find the Plaza Maria Auxiliadora; it is not far from the Palacio de Mondragón. At the south end of the Plaza Maria Auxiliadora there is a ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Moorish Bridge In Ronda (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/antiquity-and-ancient-civilisations/moorish-bridge-in-ronda</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:51:39 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Sometimes called the Roman bridge, as it was thought to have been built on the foundations of an earlier Roman bridge, this was promptly abandoned when the 16th century expansion of the Mercadillo district required a better link with the Ciudad. Then, the Guadelevín was a much deeper river - 19th century photographs show large rowboats navigating it, now impossible with the river diverted for irrigation and domestic use - and prone to flooding. Eventually, ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Old Bridge Of Ronda (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/old-bridge-of-ronda</link><pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:41:55 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Built in the 16th century, possibly on remnants of an earlier bridge, this was the one navigable link between Mercadillo and La Ciudad until the completion of the Puente Nuevo centuries later. Cars still need good gears and drivers with steely nerves to take the steep hairpin bend on the way up to the cuesta de Santo Domingo. The gate above the bridge, the Arco de Felipe V, from the same era, would have been ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4accefe165b94/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Casa Del Rey Moro (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/casa-del-rey-moro</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:35:34 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Casa del Rey Moro is to some extent a fraud, since the house was never the home of the Moorish King. It was built in the 18th Century, when Moorish Spain was already a distant memory. Its apparently Moorish gardens are even more recent, having been designed by the French landscape gardener, Jean Claude Forestier, in 1912.

But the house does incorporate one genuine and important relic of Ronda's Moorish occupation - the so-called Water ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aca58d650b10/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ronda's Plaza De Toros (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/rondas-plaza-de-toros</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:18:14 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[It was a music video by Madonna (Take A Bow) that made Ronda's bullring famous with young people world wide . The song had nothing to do with bullfighting but the video did feature a real bullfighter, Emilio Muñoz, and some nifty aerial views of the historic bullring of Ronda.

Ronda is considered the birthplace of modern bullfighting and its bullring was famous even before Madonna. It was here in the 16th century that Philip II ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aca54cbc553c/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alhambra (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/alhambra</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:49:42 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish rulers of Granada in southern Spain (known as Al-Andalus when the fortress was constructed during the mid 14th century), occupying a hilly terrace on the southeastern border of the city of Granada.

Once the residence of the Muslim rulers of Granada and their court, the Alhambra is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions exhibiting the country's most famous Islamic architecture, together with Christian 16th ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aca416bcf5be/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pena National Palace (Portugal)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/pena-national-palace</link><pubDate>Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:40:44 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[It is the oldest palace inspired by European Romanticism. It is located in the civil parish of São Pedro de Penaferrim, municipality of Sintra, Portugal. The palace stands on the top of a hill above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th century Romanticism in the ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4adca9c51c99e/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fountains Abbey (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/fountains-abbey</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:59:53 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[It is a ruined Cistercian monastery, founded in 1132. Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved Cistercian houses in England. Along with the adjacent Studley Royal Water Garden, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Many of the original materials of stone, glass and lead were taken, but the majesty of the Abbey remains.

Although bleak in winter, the Abbey comes alive in Spring against a backdrop of the surrounding grounds of Studley Royal ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Castle Howard (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/castle-howard</link><pubDate>Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:52:37 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Set dramatically between two lakes, this 18th-century palace is one of England's most beautiful historic houses.

Started by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1699, the castle is still home to the Howard family.

The adventure playground, serpentine woodland pathways and huge lawns are ideal for exploring and letting off steam. Families can enjoy land-train rides to the lakeside and summer boat trips on the Great Lake (weather permitting). Children's quizzes and events all add to the fun.

Pathways weave ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Malbork Castle (Poland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/malbork-castle</link><pubDate>Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:56:21 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Castle in Malbork (German: Die Marienburg, Polish: Zamek w Malborku) was built in Prussia by the Teutonic Order. The Order named it Marienburg, literally "Mary's Castle". The town which grew around it was also named Marienburg, but since 1945 it is again, after 173 years, part of Poland and known as Malbork.

The castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress, and is the world’s largest brick gothic castle. UNESCO listed the castle and ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aca34007458e/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Conwy Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/conwy-castle</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:05:45 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Conwy castle is a gritty, dark stoned fortress which has the rare ability to evoke an authentic medieval atmosphere. The first time that visitors catch sight of the castle, commanding a rock above the Conwy Estuary and demanding as much attention as the dramatic Snowdonia skyline behind it, they know they are in the presence of a historic site which still casts a powerful spell.

Conwy, constructed by the English monarch Edward I between 1283 and ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4abbd14565319/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Carnac Stones (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/pre-and-early-history/carnac-stones</link><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:38:44 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Carnac stones are one of the most extensive Neolithic menhir collections in the world. The site is located around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany and consists of alignments, dolmens, tumuluses and single menhirs. The more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones were hewn from local rock and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany, and are the largest such collection in the world.

Local tradition claims that the reason they stand in such perfectly ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4abbcb43bdeef/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kerouzere Castle (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/kerouzere-castle</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:47:46 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[  ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab7e6b2a5dd5/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Convent Of The Order Of Christ (Portugal)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/convent-of-the-order-of-christ</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:32:44 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[In I983, UNESCO classified the Templar Castle and the Convent of the Knights of Christ in Tomar, a unique monument in the history of the western world, as world heritage.

Quite probably built on a site of Roman worship, as is borne out by the stone taken from the sacrificial altar to the ''Genio Municipi'' and laid at the base of the Templar tower, this vast monument illustrates seven centuries of Portugal's history and contains important ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab7d7127fb64/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Roman Temple (Portugal)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/antiquity-and-ancient-civilisations/roman-temple</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:29:11 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The graceful Templo Romano stands at the very heart of the old city of Evora. Dating from the second century AD, it is the best-preserved temple in Portugal, despite its use as an execution-ground during the Inquisition and a slaughterhouse until 1870.

The remains consist of a small platform supporting fourteen granite columns with Corinthian capitals and a marble entablature.

its popular attribution to Diana is apparently fanciful; Jupiter is the more likely alternative.

The temple is part ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab7d8054e289/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Catrigg Force (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/catrigg-force</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:18:46 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Catrigg Force is an absolute gem among Yorkshire's waterfalls. it is hidden from view in a small secluded copse one mile upstream of Stainforth village.

The main waterfall (there is a series of smaller ones in the copse further down) has a vertical drop of about 6 metres into a lovely step pool. The walk to the Force is easy along a bridleway from the village. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab7d8c652221/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eiffel Tower (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/industrial-monuments-and-places/eiffel-tower</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:57:40 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Originally created as the centrepiece of Paris’ Exposition Universelle in 1889, in commemoration of the centenary of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower went on to become the centrepiece of the city itself and a global icon of France.

The tower that has become symbolic of Paris the world over weighs 10,100 tonnes (990 tons) and contains 18,000 pieces of iron, held together by 2,500,000 rivets. At 324m (888ft) high, it was, until 1929, the tallest ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ac77f2f54a8d/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Forbidden Corner (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/theme-parks/the-forbidden-corner</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:50:32 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Forbidden Corner is a unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created in a four acre garden in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. The temple of the underworld, the eye of the needle, a huge pyramid made of translucent glass, paths and passages that lead nowhere, extraordinary statues - at every turn there are decisions to make and tricks to avoid. This is a day out with a difference which will challenge ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Stean Gorge (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/how-stean-gorge</link><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:43:26 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[How Stean Gorge is one of the wonderful, almost forgotten tourist attractions of the Victorian Age. It's hard now to visualise how the masses from the cities of the West Riding would stream out en-masse to places like Shipley Glen, Bolton Abbey and How Stean. There's not much left of the attractions at Shipley Glen, but How Stean being a natural feature it's pretty much unchanged since it opened in 1869.

Nowadays the attraction has been ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4adcacf17a709/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kerjean Castle (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/kerjean-castle</link><pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:59:57 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Formidable fortress and at the same time a stately home located in Finistère, Brittany. Rustic grounds covering 50 acres and a Renaissance fountain.

As a large 16th century manor it is outfitted with ditches and fore-works that included gun platforms for cannons. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab69ea251400/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eilean Donan Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/eilean-donan-castle</link><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:30:04 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[As one of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan is recognised all around the world. Eilean Donan Castle sits at the point where three Scottish Lochs Meet, Scotland's Most Romantic Castle. In a superbly beautiful and romantic setting, Eilean Donan Castle possesses a dream like quality.

Certainly Eilean Donan is Scotland's most romantic and recognizable. It is also one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish highlands. Although the island of ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab551287a461/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Aysgarth Falls (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/aysgarth-falls</link><pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:10:30 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Near the village of Aysgarth the River Ure tumbles over a series of broad limestone steps which are known as Aysgarth Falls. Although not particularly high the waterfalls are one of Wensleydale's most famous beauty spots (having been featured in the Kevin Costner film "Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves"), with a pleasant riverside walk linking the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls.  ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4adcb1bd61d8c/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bolton Abbey (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/bolton-abbey</link><pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:01:59 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Bolton Abbey is in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales on the banks of the River Wharfe. With just under 30,000 acres of beautiful countryside, over 80 miles of footpaths and ample space to run around and enjoy the fresh air, there is something for all ages.

The land at Bolton once was granted to the Augustinian Canons and after the dissolution of the monastries in 1539 the nave of the Priory was allowed to continue ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab6a33264d6d/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Leaning Tower Of Pisa (Italy)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/leaning-tower-of-pisa</link><pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:57:23 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Constructed in 1174, at a time when the Pisans were enjoying an era of military success, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, located in Pisa's Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) is famous not only because of its striking beauty but also because of its awkward geometry.

It served as the bell tower of the equally impressive Cattedrale (Cathedral) and Battistero (Baptistry), and, as a result of the poor swampy soil beneath, has leaned almost since construction ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab294d728b88/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Ramblas (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/la-rambla</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:08:46 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[La Rambla is a street in central Barcelona, popular with both tourists and locals alike.

A 1.2 kilometer-long tree-lined pedestrian mall between Barri Gòtic and El Raval, it connects Plaça Catalunya in the center with the Christopher Columbus monument at Port Vell.

La Rambla can be crowded, especially during prime time tourist season. Most of the time, there are many more tourists than locals occupying las Ramblas -- this has changed the shopping selection, as well as ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aaacaed43c5a/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Talisker Distillery (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/factories-distilleries-breweries/talisker-distillery</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:59:24 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The only distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport with dramatic views of the Cuillins.

During busier summer months there can be a wait for tour availability on arrival at the visitor centre, as the tour sizes are limited, so advanced booking is advised if you are on a tight time schedule or if you want to tour at a specific time.  It is also strongly advised contacting the ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aaac85dbeded/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kilt Rock (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/kilt-rock</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:18:29 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[This is a definite must to stop off at if you're on your way up to the Quiraing, or worth the extra few miles after going up the Old Man of Storr. It's fairly well sign-posted from the A855 Staffin road and there's an ample-sized car park at it. Walk up to the fence and peer down about 150ft to the sea and along to the waterfall fed from Loch Mealt with the towering volcanic ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aaa80e54a851/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Big Ben (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/big-ben</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:36:21 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north-eastern end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is often extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well.

Big Ben is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world. It celebrated its 150th anniversary in May 2009 (the clock itself first ticking on 31 May).

it is the most famous icon ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ac77e99da633/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tower Bridge (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/tower-bridge</link><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:28:18 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Tower Bridge , named after its two impressive towers, is one of London's best known landmarks. This Victorian Bridge is now more than 100 years old. Designed by Wolfe Barry and Horace Jones, and completed in 1894, the middle of the bridge can be raised to permit large vessels to pass the Tower Bridge. It used to be raised about 50 times a day, but nowadays it is only raised 4 to 5 times ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aaac5e776516/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[The National Gallery (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/museums-and-galleries/the-national-gallery</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:01:01 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The National Gallery in London, founded in 1824, houses a rich national collection of over 2,300 Western European paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900 in its home on Trafalgar Square. The gallery is a non-departmental public body; its collection belongs to the public of the United Kingdom and entry to the main collection (though not some special exhibitions) is free of charge.

The comparable art museums are the Louvre in Paris or the Museo ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa9591193eb6/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[The London Eye (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/theme-parks/the-london-eye</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:54:23 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The London Eye, and also known as the Millennium Wheel, at a height of 135 metres (443 ft), is the largest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over three million people in one year.

The wheel carries 32 sealed and air-conditioned egg-shaped passenger capsules, attached to its external circumference, each capsule representing one of the London Boroughs. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa9593365f70/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Casa Mila (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/casa-mila</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:02:30 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Casa Mila is a building designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí for Milà family and built during the years 1906–1910, being considered officially completed in 1912.

The façade is an impressive wave-like mass of rough-shipped stone.
The windows and doors seem to be dug out of this stone mass and are trimmed in exquisitely crafted wrought iron work with vegetal forms on the balconies and astonishing grilles on the two street-doors.

On the stepped terrace, coming as ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa958f2f1e29/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Casa Batlló (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/casa-batllo</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:57:20 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Casa Batlló is a building restored by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol, built in the year 1877 and remodelled in the years 1905–1907.

The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones), and indeed it does have a visceral, skeletal organic quality.

The building looks very remarkable — like everything Gaudí designed, only identifiable as Modernisme or Art Nouveau in the broadest sense. The ground floor, in particular, is rather astonishing with ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa95b14a67f2/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alnwick Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/alnwick-castle</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:25:54 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Alnwick Castle is one of Europe's finest. Majestic and imposing, it has a packed daily events programme, fine art treasures, wonderful architecture and children's activities.

'To many people, on their first sight of this glorious medieval castle, it can seem foreboding, and certainly its history lacks nothing in drama and intrigue. Some of you may recognise us as a film location, for everything from Harry Potter to Elizabeth to Becket to Blackadder.' ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bamburgh Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/bamburgh-castle</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:22:16 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[A spectacular castle with fantastic coastal views. Spanning nine acres of land on its rocky plateau high above the Northumberland coastline Bamburgh is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country.

The great fortification of Bamburgh Castle sits on an outcrop of volcanic dolerite. Known locally as whinstone for the sound it makes when hit by a stonemasons hammer, it provides a natural throne upon which the castle sits forty five metres above sea level.

The ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa95b6f4ef25/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Peveril Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/peveril-castle</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:05:54 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Perched high above the pretty village of Castleton, the castle offers breathtaking views of the Peak District. Founded soon after 1066 by William Peverel, one of William the Conqueror's most trusted knights, it played an important role in guarding the Peak Forest.

Henry II made a number of additions to 'Castle Peak' (as it was known in the Middle Ages). Most notable is the great square keep with its round-headed windows, built in 1176. Thirteenth- century ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa95a1f475ac/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mam Tor (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/mam-tor</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:03:15 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[  ...]]></description></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stanage Edge (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/stanage-edge</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:58:22 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Stanage is the largest and most impressive of the gritstone edges in Peak District National Park. Situated on the moors north of Hathersage, and visible from miles away down in the Hope Valley, it stretches for a length of approximately six kilometres (3.5 miles) from its northern tip at Stanage End to the southern point near the Cowper Stone. At about its mid-point the edge is crossed by Long Causeway, the old Roman road from ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa95a309d21f/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Whitby Abbey (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/whitby-abbey</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:52:54 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Whitby Abbey is a ruined Benedictine abbey sited on the East Cliff, 199 steps above Whitby harbour in North Yorkshire on the north-east coast of England.

It was founded in 657 AD by the Anglo-Saxon King of Northumbria, Oswy (Oswiu) as Streoneshalh (the historical name of the town Whitby where the abbey is located)

It is now one of Britain's best loved attractions is a magnificent reminder of the early church's power and dedication. A visit to ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aae8f932f76b/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scarborough Castle (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/castles-palaces-and-halls/scarborough-castle</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:47:43 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Situated at the edge of a cliff along the North Yorkshire coast, a naturally defended area and a perfect look out spot, Scarborough Castle still dominates the town and harbour some 300ft (91m) below.

Scarborough castle conceals over 3000 years of turbulent history dating right back to the bronze age. It is said that King Richard III enjoyed the view from the battlements so much so that he still walks them today!

'With over 2,500 years of ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab69ffa8ee2a/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Filey Brigg (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/filey-brigg</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:34:46 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Lying on the South side of Filey Bay on Yorkshire's North Sea Coast, Filey Brigg is a natural rock promontory with a long history from Roman times only. With interesting geology, marine life and surrounded by hundreds of wrecks, 'the Brigg' and a rock built underwater structure on its South side 'The Spittals',  has always fascinated and mystified. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aeb4d5949a1f/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Yorkshire Sculpture Park (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/theme-parks/yorkshire-sculpture-park</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:31:38 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[YSP is an extraordinary place that presents exhibitions of modern and contemporary sculpture in the beautiful eighteenth century parkland of the Bretton Estate near Wakefield.
With four indoor galleries and 500 acres of 18th century parkland, it is an international centre for modern and contemporary art, experienced and enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year.
The original landscape, vistas and other features are used to site a range of fascinating exhibitions, commissions and installations.
Greta place for walk ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa95983449ea/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bempton Cliffs (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/bempton-cliffs</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:47:46 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[A family favourite, and easily the best place in England to see, hear and smell seabirds! More than 200,000 birds (from April to August) make the cliffs seem alive – with adults bringing food to their nests, or young chicks making their first faltering flights.

With huge numbers to watch, beginners can easily learn the difference between gannets, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars. The easily recognisable puffins (here between April and July) are always a delight. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aeb4ca8af93d/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Flamborough Head (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/flamborough-head</link><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:39:55 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Flamborough Head is one of the most prominent features on the East Coast of England. Jutting out miles into the North Sea, the headland has in the past been effectively cut off by the construction, in the Iron Age, of the erroneously named Danes’ Dyke, which encloses five square miles of the peninsula. The village of Flamborough itself is situated in the centre of the Headland but the sound and smell of the sea are ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa95accd553a/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Church Of Sagrada Familia (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/church-of-sagrada-familia</link><pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:31:44 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Sagrada Família is a massive, privately-funded Roman Catholic church that has been under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain since 1882 and is not expected to be complete until at least 2026.
It was designed by famous architecte Antonio Gaudí (1852–1926), who worked on the project for over 40 years. Gaudi devoted the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor.
Every part of the design of La Sagrada Família is rich with Christian symbolism, ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa9320e0ba6f/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Güell Park (Spain)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/gell-park</link><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:17:52 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Created by the renowned Spanish architect, Antonio Gaudí between 1900 and 1914, Parc Güell is a fantasy land that combines the natural and the man-made. The park was originally conceived as a residential garden city and built for Gaudí’s patron, Eusebi Güell Bacigalupi, a textile manufacturer who had a keen interest in the arts and helped develop the architect’s career. The project was not a great commercial success, however, and the park became municipal property ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa932b84fba7/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Brimham Rocks (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/outdoor-centres-and-trails/brimham-rocks</link><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:35:50 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The curious rock formations at Brimham in Nidderdale are scattered over some 50 acres on Brimham Moor and provide a great variety of weird and wonderful shapes. Many of the gritty monstrosities suggest all manner of things, including elephants, hippos, bears, mushrooms and some are said to have associations with druids, Mother Shipton and even the Devil himself. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa931a4a1cc8/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Winnats Pass (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/winnats-pass</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:21:16 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Winnats Pass is in the High Peak area of the English county of Derbyshire. It lies to the west of the village of Castleton, in the National Trust's High Peak Estate. The road winds through a cleft, surrounded by towering limestone pinnacles. The pass was once thought to have originated as a giant collapsed cavern; however, a more recent explanation is that it was a ravine between the coral reefs that originally formed the limestone. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa9314f59132/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Ribblehead Viaduct (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/industrial-monuments-and-places/wiadukt-ribblehead</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:14:04 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[It is the longest and most famous viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle Railway, a railway line passing through some spectacular British scenery. Ribblehead railway station is located less than half a mile to the south of the viaduct.

Designed by the engineer John Sydney Crossley. The first stone was laid on 12 October 1870 and the last in 1874. It is 104 feet (32 m) high and spans 440 yards (402 m). It is made up of ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa93129cabb1/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[York Minster (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/places-of-religious-interest-and-monasteries/york-minster</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:58:14 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The Minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England.

The first church on the site was a wooden structure built in a hurry in 627 to provide a place to baptise Edwin, King of Northumbria. It wasn’t until 1220 that the construction of the ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa95aaca34a7/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Town Hall (Poland)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/other-monuments-and-places/new-city-town-hall</link><pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:45:56 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The Gothic red brick town hall building in Gdansk, Poland dates back to the 14th century. Today, the Gdansk town hall houses the Historical Museum of Gdansk. The interior of Gdansk's town hall has been reburbished, and the decor, which was stored outside the city during World War II, has been restored. The building is beautiful both inside and outside. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aca34bea4c99/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Malham Cove (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/malham-cove</link><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:45:48 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Standing some 80 metres high and 300 metres wide and north of the mid craven fault, Malham Cove is a curved crag of carboniferous limestone formed after the last ice age.

Meltwater, particularly from Malham Tarn, cut back the cove as it fell over the edge as a waterfall. This erosion took place more actively at the lip of the fall rather than at the sides, hence the curved shape.

The magnificent limestone pavement on the surface ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa9310a0057b/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hardraw Force (United Kingdom)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/natural-wonders-caverns-and-parks/hardraw-force</link><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:18:35 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[Hardraw Force home of England's largest single drop waterfall, a reputed 100 foot drop and is set within the grounds of the historic Green Dragon Inn.
It is also known from the movie 'Robin Hood: Price of Thieves' where one of the scene were played. ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4aa930c296ae2/</imgthumb></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mont Saint-Michel (France)]]></title><link>http://www.exploriada.com/places/place/tourist-attractions/historical-cities-and-towns/mont-saint-michel</link><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:55:36 +0000</pubDate><description><![CDATA[The rocky tidal island is oocupied by an abbey which was one of the first sites to obtain UNESCO World Heritage listing.
The worship of Saint Michel was introduced on the Mount in 708, and it became one of the most important places of medieval pilgrimage. Benedictines started building an abbey here in the 10th century.
At the foot of the abbey stands the village with its fortified enclosure - built on sand! The abbey is built ...]]></description><imgthumb>http://www.exploriada.com/thumb/jpg/4ab69edb02fda/</imgthumb></item></channel></rss>
