Culture history

Travel Stories

The Only Country Celebrating the Autumn Equinox as a National Holiday

Many cultures have fall festivals, but only one makes the arrival of astronomical autumn a national holiday: Shubun no Hi. What’s more, Japan does it... read more

Italian Wine Beyond Tuscany: 3 Other Regions Worth Drinking In

We love Tuscany, too. But Italy has 20 wine-producing regions. Why should Chianti have all the fun? Head north, east, and very south from Tuscany... read more

Scotland's Greatest Summer Spectacle: the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Every August, something remarkable happens on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The ancient fortress, perched atop the craggy remnants of a volcano in the center... read more

Gaudí at 100: Barcelona's Most Famous Architect "Raising the Roof" of the City

One hundred years after his death, Antoni Gaudí remains impossible to separate from Barcelona. The Catalan architect died on June 10, 1926, one of the most... read more

Opera by the Sea: Where World-Class Music Meets the Waterfront

The world’s waterfronts are undergoing incredible transformations, from no-go industrial sites to revitalized centers of urban lifestyle and community living. Increasingly, the centerpiece of that... read more

Why is it Called ‘Easter’ Island?

You likely already know that’s a trick question.  This tiny dot in the eastern South Pacific Ocean, but technically a territory of Chile, is actually... read more

Astonishing Facts About China's Terracotta Warriors

You never forget the moment you come face-to-face with one of the thousands of Terracotta Warriors underground in Xi’an, China. As ancient wonders of the... read more

100 Years After Monet: Giverny Exhibit Celebrates Impressionism’s Origins

2026 marks a century after the passing of beloved Impressionist artist, Claude Monet. The museum devoted to his work in Giverny, the community north of... read more

Places Outside of Dublin to Get to Know Ireland – and the Irish

On St. Patrick’s Day, the saying goes, there’s a ‘little bit of Irish’ in us all. For some of us, it’s true all year round.... read more

Cuisine to Caftans: Latest Cultural Heritage of Humanity Listings Inspire Travel

For the first time, a country’s entire cuisine has been recognized as part of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage” of humanity. It was an astonishing moment... read more