Aix-en-Provence, France The smart, attractive southern French town of Aix has quite a different vibe to it’s neighbour, Marseille. It’s sleepy, it’s refined, it gave birth to the delightful confection, the calisson… and it’s served as an inspirational spot to paint for countless artists. Certainly if you are a fan of Cézanne, Aix is worth a visit. He was born…
Cathedral of St Peter, Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, Montpellier, France From the outside, the Cathedral of Montpellier is probably one of the most peculiar I’ve ever seen. In fact, it really doesn’t look like it should be a cathedral, not least because the ecclesiastical building joins on almost seamlessly with the university building to its side. And somehow, it does suit Montpellier.…
Lisbon Cathedral, Santa Maria Maior de Lisboa (Patriarchal Cathedral of St Mary Major), Lisbon, Portugal Most cathedrals that I have visited have fairly grand entrances – there’s a bit of a square or a space where you can stand and be in awe of the majesty of the place. Lisbon doesn’t go for that. You sort of creep up on it. Round…
Walls of Dubrovnik, Dubrovačke gradske zidine, Dubrovnik, Croatia The city of Dubrovnik is very special – and one of the things that makes it so is the fact that it’s a cute little toy town, cuddled by defensive walls. The effect is very picturesque when viewed from a distance, but it’s really amazing to be able to walk along the…
Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow, Scotland Every great city should have a great Cathedral. Ideally, it should be basically medieval and have little or no distressing Victorian ‘renovation’. Helloooo Glasgow Cathedral! The High Kirk, or St Mungo’s Cathedral, was said to have been founded by St Kentigern (popularly known as Mungo) in the 6th/7th century. Basically nothing survives from the earlier churches,…
Chester, England Ever since I was a wee-mid-teen, I’ve wanted to go to Chester. I studied Roman history for my A-levels and we had to do a section on Roman Britain. Chester, with its excavations, featured in my studies in such a way that I had rather a romantic image of it. I mean, Britain is not exactly blessed with…