The Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran parish church in Reykjavik, Iceland. It is located at the top of shopping street Skolavordustigur, Reykjavik. Rising 74.5 m (244 ft), Hallgrimskirkja is the tallest building in Iceland. The statue in front of the church represents Leif Eriksson, son of Erik the Red.

You can see here a part of the organ, which is composed of 5200 pipes. Between mid-June and mid-August you can hear this mighty beast in action three times per week at lunchtime/evening concerts.

It built in 1974 and structure remember a basaltic mountain. The structure in a heroic, nationalist style to replace an earlier church that was destroyed by fire.

The 18th century witnessed terrible misery among Icelanders in the wake of enormous volcanic eruptions, resulting in drastic climate changes and destruction of grazing fields.

The Bacara Resort and Spa is located on the coast just a little north of Santa Barbara. Relaxed appeal of a true classic California resort. Much of what makes Bacara such a magical place is its unique location between the Pacfic Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. Activities include golf, tennis, hiking, and a full-service spa.

The resort offers 360 guest rooms and suites with Spanish tile floors, balconies, some with fireplaces. They included all the amenities that one would expect from a high-end luxury resort.

The spa offers a variety of treatments to help you relax and feel refreshed. Thai massage, Reiki, and reflexology, guests to Bacara will find it easy to reunite their bodies, minds and spirits. There  fitness center which offers personal trainers and fitness instructors, as well as classes in yoga, Pilates, group meditation and Tai Chi.

Bacara has 3 pools one is dedicated to the Spa, the other larger public pools are situated at the base of the resort near the ocean.

The Bistro Restaurant has ocean view patio dining serving everything from breakfast to a late night snack.

Lulworth Cove is a cove near the village of West Lulworth southern England.West Lulworth lies near the coast between the Isle of Purbeck and Weymouth. Lulworth is included amongst England’s UNESCO sites and its World Heritage. Lulworth Cove was formed approximately 10,000 years ago by the awesome powers of a river and the sea.

At Lulworth Cove, there is the famous Fossil Forest. The area supports a remarkable array of diverse natural life, particularly butterflies. There are glauconitic sandstones, sponge chert, cyclical Chalk, oil sands, lignite, ostracods, stromatolites, crocodile and fish teeth, an oyster bed, a transgressive marine pebble bed, a fluvial channel conglomerate, phosphatic strata, carbonate breccias, charophyte limestones etc.

At the western point of Lulworth Cove is Stair Hole, a series of arches formed by the action of the sea on the soft Portland and Purbeck limestone. Also Lulworth Cove is famous with the Lulworth Crumple, Durdle Door and and Man o’War, just a short walk away over the surrounding Hills to the west.

Lulworth beach provides a great place to relax where you can swim in the cove, take a boat trip, or just take in the stunning scenery. There are pubs, restaurants, cafes and beaches all within easy walking distance!

Located high in the spectacular coastal mountains of Vancouver Island, next to the farms and vineyards of the Cowichan Valley and close to Victoria rests The Aerie Resort. Surrounded by 85 acres of meticulously kept grounds and gardens, the breath-taking view from The Aerie is worth the trip alone.

There are 3 different buildings for your stay, each with its own special charm and incredible views.Villa Cielo is on the highest point and offers unsurpassed privacy and elegance. The Residence Building offers seven rooms and suites, while the Main Building is the original Aerie construction, and now offers 22 elegant rooms and suites.

The rooms have all the amenities, fireplace, couch, huge tub – in the sitting room – large bed and great view off the balcony.

Amenities: Massage, Meeting Facilities, Broadband Access, Restaurant in Hotel, Fireplace, Hot Tub, Air Conditioning, Television, more..

The Aerie Spa and Wellness Centre will leave you rejuvenated and inspired!

Activities: Swimming Pool, Golf, Tennis, Fitness, Mud bath, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, sailing, water-skiing, diving, kayaking, rafting, culinary tours, float plane tours, yoga.

Aerie Resort and Spa is a haven for those who enjoy fine wines and gourmet cuisine.

Chefs create food that is fresh and delicious, using classic French techniques but much inspired by Pacific Northwest flavours and style.

Amanjiwo is located in Central Java, the cultural heartland of Java and modern Indonesia. Amanjiwo resort is located in a natural amphitheatre with the Menoreh rolling hills directly behind and four volcanoes on the horizon. The architecture of Amanjiwo draws from the history, tradition and culture of Central Java. Amanjiwo looks out onto Borobudur, the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world.

36 expertly crafted suites, some with private swimming pools. Entry to each suite is by sliding glass door that provides a light filled living and sleeping area.

Interiors include a central, four-pillar bed on a raised terrazzo platform, sungkai wood screens, coconut wood and rattan furniture,glass paintings and a large sunken stone outdoor bathtub.

Facilities: Babysitting, Banquet, Beach Front, Beauty Salon, Bicycle Rental, Business Centre, Car Rental, Children Playground, City Centre, Coffee-shop,  Conference Facilities,  Doctor, Kid’s Club, Massage, Medical Service, Nature Lodge, Parking,  Restaurant Service, Shopping, Spa, Swimming Pool.

A 40m infinity swimming pool, lined with green tiles and overlooked by banyan trees, is set into the rice paddies below the resort

Offering panoramic views of the rice fields and the volcanoes, the on-site dining room serves delicious cuisine for you to feast on.

The Church of Our Lady of the Pillar is near the River Ebro in the province of Zaragoza, west of Barcelona on the coast of Spain. It is reputed to be the first Church dedicated to Mary in history. The location is considered the birthplace of Christianity in Spain and has been the destination of pilgrims for hundreds of years.

The architecture is of baroque style, and the present building was predominantly built between 1681 and 1872. Zaragoza is some Islamic architectural influence which means there are more mosaics and more colors.

The statue and pillar have been preserved however for almost 2000 years. Numerous healings throughout the ages have been attributed to the Virgin by those visiting the site seeking her help.

According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared miraculously to Saint James the Great in the 1st century, standing on a pillar.This legend is commemorated by a famous Catholic basilica called Nuestra Señora del Pilar (”Our Lady of the Pillar”). Her feast day is also celebrated every 12th of October.
For centuries, rivers of pilgrims have continued to visit the Shrine of Saragossa.

The Giant’s Causeway is a World Heritage site, National Nature Reserve and Northern Ireland’s premier tourist attraction. It is made up of some 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea.  Formed between 50 and 60 million years ago, takes its name from the legends of Finn MacCool. Known to the Irish as the 8th Wonder of the World.

There are 15 miles of footpaths along the Causeway Coastline, owned and maintained by the National Trust. The formation of the Giant’s Causeway was due to intense volcanic activity. Lava welling up through fissures in the chalk bed formed a -lava plateau.

Within the nature reserve, a series of paths run between the visitor centre at Causeway Head and Hamilton’s Seat.
Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides, the tallest are about 12 metres.

Sea birds can be seen off the coast around the Causeway, with species such as fulmar, petrel, cormorant, shag, redshank guillemot and razorbill being frequently observed.

Built on the slopes of the Toros mountains, by the seaside and among a 50,000sqm pine forest, the Gloria Verde Resort  is a 5 -star establishment that embodies the Mediterranean spirit of relaxation. Gloria Verde is the smallest one among Gloria Family Hotels and offers a peaceful and comfortable retreat. This area is paradise for golfers, but cut off from everywhere within walking distance.

The hotel is  5 floored main building and there are family rooms in the 3 blocks in the garden. Guestrooms have fireplaces, balconies, and sofa beds; bathrooms include jetted tubs, shower/tub combinations, and bathrobes.

Room Facilities: Hairdryers Available, Mini Bar, Television with Cable, Air Conditioning, Balcony/Terrace, Key Card System, Direct Dial Telephone, Wireless Internet Acess, Central Heating/Cooling System.

Activities: Sauna,  fitness service, Slides, Pools, Animation programs, 1 Tennis Court, Table Tennis, Aerobic, Open Carpark and Water sports.

Theraphy: Massage, Spa,  Doctor Services, Thalasso Centre, Theraphy Pool , more..

There are and three different bars that offer delicious food to the guests.

Suomenlinna or Viapori (Finnish), or Sveaborg (Swedish), is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands, today within Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The Sea fortress Suomenlinna is a unique architectural monument, a popular recreation area and museum. Although the island is located off the coast of Helsinki, it is part of the city. The Fortress was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1991!

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress was built over 250 years ago and once had a population of 4600, larger than the population of Helsinki at the time. The Swedish crown commenced the construction of the fortress in 1748 as protection against Russian expansionism. All the effort didn’t hinder the Russians taking over in 1808. Finally in 1918 the Fortress became Finnish. Nowadays it is a popular park with museums, interesting flora and beaches.

Today, the island is inhabited by 1000 residents and so you will see some kids biking around. There is a big Visitor Center, which has a 25 minute “multi-vision show” and computers about the fortress.

There are plenty of nice spots for a picnic and you can also swim and sunbathe in various locations on the island – be prepared to walk a bit though. The trip to the fortress in Suomenlinna could be carried out by using the inter-island connecting motor boat from the Port in Katajanokanlaituri.

Palace Hotel and Spa is a beautiful 5 stars luxury hotel in Anacapri , the village on the island of Capri, Italy.  The hotel stands 300 meters above sea level, overlooking the open Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Naples. The hotel is stylish and exudes modern Italian charm and is located in a quieter part of the island far from the crowds of Capri.

The Capri Palace has 85 rooms, four with their own private gardens and heated swimming pool and 5 luxuriously furnished suites.

Guest rooms are opulent in gleaming white, with chandeliers, tile and marble baths and canopy beds.

Amenities: Bar, Childcare, Cleaning Service Available, Concierge, Gym, High Speed Internet, Pool, Restaurant, Room Service and Spa.

The outdoor pool is heated and the beauty farm is just the place to indulge. 

The Capri Beauty Farm’s personalized and state-of-the-art treatments are the product of ongoing medical research.

L’Olivo, La Terrazza, La Piscina: The Palace Hotel Restaurants continue the long-established family tradition for Mediterranean food, homemade bread, pasta and desserts. In addition to the poolside terrace, a number of intimate areas have been created within the restaurant featuring fire places, book cases and easy armchairs.

Wachau is one of the most prominent tourist destinations of Lower Austria , located precisely between the towns of Melk and Krems. It is 30 km in length and was already settled in prehistoric times. It preserves in an intact and visible form many traces – in terms of architecture, urban design, and agricultural use, principally for the cultivation of vines. The Wachau was added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in recognition of its architectural and agricultural history.

The Wachau with its mighty Baroque Abbey Melk and the collegiate church of Dürnstein with its famous blue tower.

The Wachau is an excellent example of a river landscape surrounded by hills, where the material evidence of the long history of development is still preserved to an astonishing degree.

Human settlement in the Wachau started already during Palaeolithic times, which is documented by a number of cultural founds. From the 1st to the 5th century the Danube formed the northern border of the Roman Empire.

Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy is positioned immediately alongside Atakoy Marina and the sea. It is very conveniently located, just 5-10 minutes to the airport. Also hotel is only within walking distance of major shopping malls such as Galleria, Carousel, Capacity and Town Center.

285 guest rooms and suites offer a personal and inviting atmosphere and modern conveniences.
Room Feature: Telephone, Split Air Conditioner, TV, Music, Balcony, Minibar, Hair-Dryer.

Enjoy a sumptuous choice of international and local delicacies, as well as a la carte dining options in Sheraton’s 2 restaurants.

Activities: Tennis Court, Sauna, Fitness Centre, Fishing, Solarium, Spa, Massage, Jacuzzi, Cycling, Bowling, Turkish Bath, Hammam, Indoor Swimming Pool, Outdoor Swimming Pool.

The Cathedral of Basil the Blessed, is a Russian Orthodox cathedral erected on the Red Square in Moscow in 1555–1561. The Monument to Minin and Pozharsky is made of bronze. Not particularly large, it consists of nine chapels, built on a single foundation. According to legend, however, it was built by an Italian architect who was blinded so that he could never create anything that was similar or equal. The St. Basil’s Cathedral, along with the Red Square were inscribed by Unesco as World Heritage Sites in 1990!

The Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century to commemorate a military victory.Victory came on the feast day of the Intercession of the Virgin, so the Tsar chose to name his new church the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Virgin on the Moat, after the moat that ran beside the Kremlin.

St. Basil’s original construction involved a total of nine pillars or churches, replacing the former wooden churches, situated on a single foundation. A tenth pillar was added (1588) after the death of St. Basil and stands over his burial site.

The inside of St. Basil’s is a maze of narrow, dimly lit corridors connecting the different chapels. Each of the painted domes differs in design and colour.

Chiva-Som, meaning Haven of Life, is located in the south of Hua Hin, Thailand,  is a three-hour drive from Bangkok. The resort  is surrounded by tropical gardens and next to an idyllic beach on the Gulf of Thailand. Chiva-Som provides a comprehensive range of spa, medical and fitness programs that combine the very best of Thai hospitality and Western-style treatments.

The resort offers privacy and seclusion with only 57 elegant Thai-style pavilions, Ocean View rooms and suites.They offer private balconies or terraces for drinking in the fresh air and relaxing atmosphere, and listening to the softly lapping sea.

There are many fitness activities including t’ai chi, pilates, health and beauty workshops and holistic programmes that incorporate forms of traditional Chinese medicine.

Specialty Activities: Xi Gong, Thai Boxing; yoga, aqua aerobic and water fitness classes; physiotherapy services; naturopathic consultation, iridology-diagnosis through the eyes.

Restaurants at the resort include the Emerald Room- an international spa cuisine restaurant and the Taste of Siam – a restaurant by the beach serving Thai spa cuisine. Spa Cuisine- Detoxifying, fat and salt-free cuisine incorporates local herbs and spices.

Outdoor Options: Outdoor pool, Biking, Tennis, Sea Kayaking, outdoor training, golf, sightseeing and guided tours.

The Marmara Bodrum Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel in Bodrum and is the newest addition to the Marmara Hotels and Residences. It is a modern property with unique architecture inspired by Bodrum Castle, located three kilometres above the resort town ofBodrum, Turkey.  Hotel is near the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Bodrum Castle, and other sites. The hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World!

100 air conditioned guestrooms. All rooms offers TV,  Minibar, Music, Direct Dial Telephone, Safe Box, Private Bathroom , Shower and Toilet, Hair Dryer, Balcony.

Amenities: Disabled Access, High-speed Internet, Parking, Pets Allowed, Room Service, Business Center, Pool, Spa and  Concierge.

The onsite Tuti Restaurant offers an inventive cuisine of Turkish and international specials. Situated of the top floor of the hotel is a new, casual restaurant serving a variety of sushi and nigiri specials. The Lounge and Pool Bars both offer delicious snacks.

Near The Marmara Bodrum-Scuba diving, horse riding, water sports, golf, tennis, Myndos Gate, Mausoleum, Temple of Apollo.