Wayfaring Travel Guide. Interesting vacation places, spa and resorts » Praying

Abu Darwish Mosque

Asya — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:46:40 +0000

Abu Darwish Mosque is one of the nice mosques of Amman, Jordan. It was built in 1961 on top of Jebel al-Ashrafiyeh. With unmistakable alternating layers of black and white stone, inside it can pray more than 7000 people. Non-Muslims are generally not permitted inside, but the views on the way up are good. Inside the mosque there is a small Islamic Museum.

Explore Krakow

Asya — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:37:40 +0000

Krakow is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and has a history going back over a thousand years. In the area of the Old Town there are several hundred historical monuments of Mediaeval, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. Krakow was entered in 1978 on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The cobblestoned streets, majestic churches (almost 100 historical churches!), and old charm make Krakow an unforgetable destination.

Picturesquely set overlooking the Vistula River, the wealth of the city attracted many famous artists whose masterpieces have survived until the present. The beautiful preserved old medieval city is reason enough to travel to Krakow, particularly the main market square, festooned with churches, restaurants and bars, where the soul of the city is bared.

The Royal Castle has rich collections of old masters’ pieces, period furniture and fabrics, Europe’s biggest collection of tapestries, regalia, an armoury, and decorative art pieces. The coronation cathedral adjoining the castle is the treasury of national mementoes and splendid works of art. Inside are the tombstones of Polish monarchs.

The magnificent pearl of the Arabian Turkey

Asya — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:38:41 +0000

Mardin is an ancient town located about 40 km from the Syrian border. According to a hearsay, the history of the city dates as far back as the Flood, before the spread of Islam. Built of sandstone, famed for its Arab-style architecture, the town has preserved its flat-roofed old-style richly decorated traditional stone houses. They reflecting all features of a closed-in life style are surrounded by 4 meters high walls and isolated from the street.

Mardin has a number of interesting old buildings, including the medieval Sultan Isa Medresesi, Kasim Pasha Medresesi, the Ulu Cami and a rambling bazaar. The Ulu Cami or “Grand Mosque” and the Sultan Isa Medresesi, dating from 1385, are among the most interesting Turkish monuments. Other major attraction is the Saffron Monastery. This was a holy place even in pre-Christian times. The monastery has been here since 495 AD. Some of its existing floor mosaics are 1500 years old.

Several km east of Mardin there is another Monastery, Deyrelmur dating from the 5th- century. If you would like to see the best examples of Artutid architecture then you have to head for Kiziltepe and 21 km south of Mardin. The 15th- century Zeynel Bey Mausoleum nearby, is attractively decorated with blue tiles.

Discover Montenegro – Ostrog Monastery

Asya — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:17:46 +0000

The Monastery is placed against an almost vertical background, high up in the large rock of Ostroska Greda, in Montenegro. It was built in the 17th century by Bishop St. Vasilije. He was one of the four Montenegrin saints and his relics are kept in the Monastery. One of the most sanctuary places for Orthodox Christians on the Balkans, it attracted by believers from all around the world – people of all religions and nations. According to the stories of pilgrims, the enshrined body of St. Vasilije have healing power and makes miracles work – many have been cured and helped in lessening the difficulties in their lives.

The monastery features two small churches. The Upper Church, built in a cave, was constructed and decorated by wall paintings in 1665, and dedicated to Holy Cross. Other, Lower Church dates from the 18th century and is dedicated to Vavedenje of Holy Mary.

Kizhi Island

Asya — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:39:43 +0000

Kizhi Island is one of over 1650 islands of Lake Onega, in the Karelia Republic in Russia. Located approximately 300 km from St. Petersburg, Onega Lake is the second largest lake in Europe after Lake Ladoga. Kizhi is one of the largest open air museums in Russia, features a beautiful ensemble of 83 wooden structures, most of which date back to the 16th.

The highlight of the Island is the Kizhsky Pogost, include two churches and a octagonal bell-tower standing between them. One of the churches is 32-domed Transfiguration Church, built in 1714. The interior is decorated with four stunning stepped iconostasis consisting of 18th century icons. It is a most popular destination for religious travelers.

These impressively buildings are built created by the carpenters without a single nail. This impressive ancient model of parish space create one of the most unique open air museums of our time. In 1991 the whole area of Kizhi has been added to the World Cultural inheritance of the UNESCO.

The Kizhi outdoor museum allows visitors to experience the ancient cultures and crafts of the Russian north. It is open to the public from May 25 to October 15 from 9.00 AM. to 8.00 PM. For more info click here.

Jumby Bay Island, Antigua

iv — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:25:31 +0000

Jumby Bay is set on a 300â€“acre private island of serene enchantment,Â off the coast of Antigua. Jumby Bay is noted for a landscape lush with tropical flowers, trees and foliage.

The island offers three superb white sand beaches. A haven for naturalists, including sheep, white egret, blue pelican and rare birds. One of the three beaches is a protected haven for the endangered Hawksbill turtle and privacy-seeking newlyweds.

Jumby Bay offers 52 elegant accommodations, including forty suites and twelve and seven private estate homes, each valued at upwards of $15 million.

Guests can also enjoy gourmet dining, complimentary non-motorized watersports, tennis, spa treatments and special family programs.Â The live local music adds to the festive atmosphere, and for true island flavor.Â Watersports, deep-sea fishing trips, scuba and snorkeling are just a few of the choices at Jumby Bay.

On an island without cars, guests move about easily in golf carts and bicycles.

Masjid-i Shah, Iran

Asya — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 06:54:00 +0000

The most important building in the Islamic world was the mosque, followed by the royal palace. Mosques, as the center of worship, were among the first buildings erected in the Islamic world. Masjid-i-Shah, Iran was built as the space for public worship in the new urban plan for Isfahan by Shah Abbas. The mosque is one of the most well known Tourist Attractions in Isfahan which you cannot miss while you are on your Isfahan Tours.

Masjid-i-Shah mosque – the culmination of a thousand years of Persian architecture, virtually untouched since its completion in 1638. Almost the entire surface of the vast, airy building is covered with exquisite glazed tiles. Swallows sweep across its tranquil inner courtyard, the arc of their flight as elegant as the line of receding arches. Tile mosaic and glazed-tile decoration is here brought to a peak of perfection both in the iwans and in the great dome.

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

Asya — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:22:17 +0000

From at least the ninth century, the territory of present-day Ukraine was a center of medieval East Slavic civilization forming the state of Kievan Rus. The Pechersk Lavra in Kiev is one of the oldest monasteries in Eastern Europe, built by Kiev monks back in 1051, this striking building is the most holy place in the Ukraine, so it is included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. The Pechersk Lavra is also called the Monastery of Caves.

The Pechersk Lavra is a complex of churches, masterpieces of architecture by themselves, has been a holy place of worship for devout Christians. Its main feature: crypts and catacombs filled with princes, famous people and priests. There are lots of tiny skeletons in robes on plinths, candles, and far too many visitors. Those of faint heart may find themselves beating a hasty retreat. The spiritual and intellectual influence of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra contributed to the spread of Orthodox thought and the Orthodox faith in the Russian world from the 17th to the 19th century.

There are unique frescos preserved on the walls of the Labyrinth, painted by the monks some of which are almost 900 years old. Taking a candle each and walking through the narrow catacombs… The relics in the catacombs are worshiped by thousands of pilgrims from all over the world that pass through every year.

Notre Dame du Haut, Ronchamp

Asya — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:39:45 +0000

The Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France, is a pilgrimage chapel, designed by Le Corbusier. A shrine for the Catholic Church at Ronchamp, was built for a reformist Church looking to continue its relevancy. It stands, all in concrete, above the town on the top of a wooded hill, white and reflective, visible from miles away, with its aerodynamic tower and wave-curved roof cutting into the sky beyond.

The complex shapes start from a theme of acoustic parabolas, playing a practical role on the east wall to reflect the sound from the outside altar for the pilgrims gathered on the hill. Simple, geometric shapes from the earlier buildings of Le Corbusier have given more “natural” shapes here, leading to the description at Ronchamp as the first Post-Modern building.

The interior of the chapel is modest, with plain pews down the south side only. The walls curve, the roof curves, and even the floor curves down towards the altar, following the shape of the hill. Above the plain altar, the east wall is punctuated by several pinhole-windows and by a single substantial window with the Madonna and Child in silhouette. In the interior, the spaces left between the wall and roof, as well as asymmetric light from the wall openings serve to further reinforce the sacral nature of the space and buttress the relationship of the building with its surroundings.

Notre Dame du Haut (daily except Tues: Aprilâ€“Sept 9.30amâ€“6.30pm; Octâ€“March 10amâ€“4pm; â‚¬1.60).

View gallery here.

St. Mary’s Cathedral

Asya — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:44:11 +0000

St. Mary’s Cathedral is one of the most important works of the Japan’s architect Kenzo Tange. It is located in the Sekiguchi neighborhood of Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. Descriptionssite area: 15 098 m2
gross floor space: 3 650 m2
shell height: 39.42 m
tower height: 61.68 m The Cathedral of St Mary, Tokyo (1964) is powerful meeting of historic and contemporary form and structure, both confirms and denies this article of architectural faith. Tange visited several medieval cathedrals before producing his design. “After experiencing their heaven-aspiring grandeur and ineffably mystical spaces,” he said later, “I began to imagine new spaces, and wanted to create them by means of modern technology.” Kenzo Tange – born September 4 1913, died March 22 2005.

Architectural reserve ARBANASSI

Asya — Sun, 18 May 2008 08:35:21 +0000

At the end of the 15th century, when the glory of the capital city of Turnovgrad was declining, as it seemed forever, a new cultural center was coming to life in its close proximity – the village of Arbanassi. The village is situated almost at the center of a densely populated region, formed between the towns of Veliko Turnovo, Gorna Orryahovitsa and Lyaskovets, at about a three-four-kilometer distance from each of them. It is built on a high plateau, providing a panoramic view towards the mediaeval fortresses of Tsarevets and Trapezitsa, and the ancient capital of Turnovgrad. Another legendary tale narrates about a second, much later migration (15th.c) of cattle traders – Bulgarians and Christian Albanians from Kostur, South Albania and Northern Epirus. In the course of their frequent travels to sell their merchandise as far the banks of the Danube and to its opposite side – the land of the Wallachs, they have finally decided to settle in Arbanassi. The royal decree of Sultan Syuleiman I the Lawmaker from 1538 presents the village as to gift to his son-in-law Rustem Pasha – grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. Arbanassi becomes a large settlement with prosperous inhabitants from various nationalities: Bulgarians, Greeks, Albanians. Its merchants trade with cattle, meat, leather, diary products, copper, soap, tallow candles, and many other articles. They travel to every part of the Turkish Empire, as well as to Romania, Hungary, Poland, the Moscow Kingdom, and even to such faraway places as Baghdad, India and Persia. The crafts are among the usual occupation on the population, too. At the end of 18th century the village was devastated, robbed and put on fire by various Turkish gangs of bandits, proliferating at the times. There followed catastrophic earthquakes and plague, which forced the Arbanassi population to leave their homes and to seek more comfortable and safer places of living. Since 1810 Arbanassi has been gradually coming to life, being inhabited by immigrants from the Elena and Tryavna regions of the Balkans, but still remains in the shadow of the reviving Turnovo. The Nativity Church
It is the earliest church in Arbanassi. The present wall-painting in the naos (an men’s department) were completed in 1597. The paintings in the women’s section dated from 1638 and those in the chapel of “St. John the Baptist” dated from 1632. The iconostasis is one the earliest examples of woodwork in Bulgaria. The “Uspenie Bogorodichno” Monastery
originates in the vicinity of a church with the same name that has been built at the end of the XVI century. In 1680 the church has been renovated and totally repainted. The monastery itself is established in 1716. It hosts the miraculous icon “Bogoroditsa Troeruchitsa”, which has been bought here from Mount Atos, as well as various other icons from the XVII-XVIII centuries. The monastery is still active.
The Konstantsaliev’s House
was built in 17th century. The basement was built of sons. The main entrance was protected with a solid studded door. The rooms upstairs are grouped as follows: reception premises, bedroom premises and cooking premises. Although they are spacious and roomy, the house emanates coziness warmth. The Sts Archangels Michael and Gabriel’s Church
It consists of an altar, a naos, a narthex (a women’s department), a chapel of St. Paraskeva and a gallery. The naos of the church was built and painted in 17th century. The mural paintings in the narthex were made by two painters- Michael from Thessaloniki and Georgi from Bukuresht. The painting was completed in 1760.

The Castle, overlooking the vast horizon of the sea

Asya — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:25:50 +0000

The Aragonese Castle is one of the most impressive historical monuments in the IschiaÂ island, Italy. It stands on a on a massive rock, connected to the Italian island by a 220 meter long man-made stone bridge. It reaches a height of 113 meters above sea level and has a surface area of approximately 56,000 m2. The climb can be made on an old mule track or by using a modern elevator that was installed in the seventies.

The castle was built in 1441 by Alfonso D’Aragona on top of the ruins of an old fort that dated back to 474 B.C. This fortified castle was used to protect Ischia’s population from pirate attacks. In the 16th century, almost 1900 families lived in the castle, as well as some religious orders who lived in the 13 churches inside the fortress. It has also been a convent and an infamous political prison run by the King of Naples from 1823 to 1862.

The castle walls housed churches, courtyards, antique archways, terraces, gardens and arcades with outstanding views of the sea, the peninsula, the harbor of Ischia. The castle is constantly animated with prestigious culturalÂ events such as art exhibitions, concerts, theater and conferences which make the guest’s stay even more pleasurable in this place where the beauty of nature and the fascination of history blend together in perfect harmony.

Â
In the Aragonese Castle there are: the baroque style Church of the Virgin Mary; the entrance hall, the courtyard and the terrace of the Clarisse nuns Convent that was founded by the abbess Beatrice Quadra in 1575; the ruins of the Cathedral dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption; St. Peter’s vault having frescoed walls with depictions of the School of Giotto from 1300; St. Peter’s church of Pantaniello from the 16th century; the Cafeteria of the Monastery which faces the magnificent bay of St. Anna.
Â

The enter costs â‚¬8. Opening time: 09.00 – 19.30.

Tiger’s Nest Monastery

Asya — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:03:46 +0000

Taktshang, also called the Tiger’s Nest monastery is in the middle of the Bhutanese mountains, several hours outside of Paro (the only city with an airport). Taktshang is the most famous of monasteries in Bhutan. It hangs on a cliff at 3,120 metres (10,200 feet), some 700 meters (2,300 feet) above the bottom of Paro valley. A place of pilgrimage for Buddhists. During the end of the 17th Century a monastery was built on the spot where the saint meditated and it is nowadays a popular pilgrimage site. Every Bhutanese has to visit it once in his lifetime. The monastery was devastated by fire in 1998 but the Bhutanese Government took immediate steps to restore the monastery to its original structure so that tourists could admire it like it was before. The monastery was rebuilt and consecrated in March 2005. Hundreds of pilgrims from throughout the country visit this holy place annually. To visit it, you have to hike in the mountains. Climbing to the monastery is on foot or mule. The trek uphill can take up to three hours (one hour if you are an experimented walker) through villages and pine forests. The walk follows a steep zigzag trail through pine forests. A rest is possible mid-way at a teahouse where biscuits and drinks are available. Then it is possible either to sit outside the building and admire the monastery and its beautiful surroundings or if there is enough energy, to continue another thirty minutes to a closer viewpoint, which is definitely breathtaking. To get to this monastery, one must make arrangements with a guide before entering Bhutan. One cannot travel around Bhutan without a guide, as outlined by national law. No photography is allowed inside the Tiger’s Nest.

Ghent – once the largest town in western Europe

Asya — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:08:48 +0000

In the 14th century, Ghent was one of Europe’s biggest cities. Today, Ghent is the fourth largest city of Belgium with about 250.000 inhabitants. The tourist will admire the awesome architectural wealth, which offers a splendid combination of impressiveness and idyllic charm of the proud of Ghent. It is paradise for the idle ambler, with numerous museums, beautiful squares, luxurious cafes and fascinating architecture. Belfort (the Belfry) is an important landmark in the center of Ghent. The belfry at Ghent is a fortified guard tower. The original tower was built from wood in the 14th century, and was replaced by a stone structure in 1913. It is 320 feet high. Since 1378 there has been a dragon at the top of the tower. This is a symbol of Ghent’s freedom and power. A dragon is supposed to never sleep, so it is always looking out from the top of the tower, protecting the citizens from danger. The remains of the original dragon and a later replacement are displayed on one of the floors. St Bavo’s Cathedral is located in Sint-Baafsplein, one of the squares next to the Belfort. There has been a cathedral here for over 1000 years, but most of the Gothic structure that can be seen today was built over a 300 year period starting in 1290. Entry to the cathedral is free, but visitors should be quiet and respect it as a place of worship (for the Catholic religion). The cathedral contains a famous oil painting in 12 panels: this is “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”, painted by Jan van Eyck (possibly assisted by his brother) in the 15th century. The renowned Museum voor Schone Kunsten has a first-rate collection of old masters, housing works by nearly every great Flemish artist. Discover the life of eighteenth century Ghent in the period rooms of the Museum voor Volkskunde, which is located in a series of restored almshouses. Wander the surrounding lanes and narrow streets and get a feel for the Ghent of the past. Ghent is also the flower city of Belgium. Flower growers from the region around Ghent sell their beautiful begonia’s and azalea’s all over the world. Every 5 years the successful Ghent Flower Show attracts thousands to the city.

The most known cloister of the island

Asya — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:38:42 +0000

The Kykkos monastery, which lies 20 km west of Pedoulas, is the most famous monastery in Cyprus. The Kykkos monastery was founded in 1092 by the by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos and is dedicated to Virgin Mary and known for an icon of the mother of God believed to have been painted by St. Luke. The excursion to Kykkos Monastery is a main attraction. It is now the richest monastery in the island and possesses one of the three surviving icons ascribed to Saint Luke.

This icon, which is covered in silver gilt and enclosed in a shrine of tortoise shell and mother-of-pearl, holds an eminent position in the church, also see the Icon of Virgin Mary which in 1997 it is said was miraculously weeping for a whole month. Will then have the opportunity to visit the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus. His tomb is set among the pine forest of the Troodos foothills, 3Km west of Kykkos Monastery, where he served as a novice. Then on to Pedoulas village stroll through the villages small back streets.
The iconographic style of the icon of the Mother of God “Kykkotissa” differs from all other icon types of the Virgin Mary. It shows her with her child. Christ sits on the right side of the Virgin with his naked legs hanging down. At the beginning of the twelfth century, this icon type – “Kykkotissa” – was adopted by the Orthodox Christian world: by Cyprus, Egypt, Greece and larger areas in the Balkans. In the seventeenth century, thanks to the intellectual and cultural links with Cyprus, the “Kykkotissa” type was also adopted in Russia.
The icon was kept in the imperial palace at Constantinople. When Boutoumites heard the hermit’s wish he was taken aback because he considered such a thing impossible. Then Esaias explained to him that it was a matter of divine wish and they agreed to travel together to Constantinople for the realization of their aim.

Mosaic in a cloister of the Monastery. Tradition has it that Byzantine Emperor Alexios Comnenos I (1081-1118) was prompted to establish the monastery in 1100 after the hermit Isaiah, who lived in the Troodos mountains, revealed that his daughter could be healed from a rare incurable disease if he would consent to build a monastery and donate to it the icon of the Virgin he possessed, reputedly painted by the Apostle Luke.
An important thing to note is that women have to cover their legs otherwise will not be permitted to go in, although it’s ok for men to wear shorts which caught a lot of women out.The Kykkos monastery is a very well worth visit, especially if combined with a visit to Troodos mountain as it is only about 5 minutes away and on the same route.