Almaty

In Russian Alma-Ata, formerly(1855–1921) the name was Verny, the  city, of southeastern Kazakhstan was formerly the capital of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (1929–91) and of independent Kazakhstan (1991–97). Almaty lies in the northern foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau at an elevation of 2,300–3,000 feet (700–900 metres), where the Bolshaya …

CONTINUE READING

PANFILOV’S PARK

Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen – the memory of the Great Patriotic War fallen heroes is the most popular amusement park in Almaty. It was founded in the 70-s of the XIX century on the place of a cossack village cemetery, and originally named as Starokladbischensky Park (Old Cemetery Park). …

CONTINUE READING

Zenkov’s Orthodox Cathedral

Is located in Panfilovets’ Park and is probably the only wooden Cathedrals in the world. The cathedral is built without using any nails, which again, makes it pretty unique. The Cathedral was used as a museum after the ‘Revolution’, but was again restored to its original use as a Russian Orthodox Cathedral in 1990. …

CONTINUE READING

Charyn Canyon

The Charyn Canyon is located in the Charyn National Park  about 215km east of Almaty and approximately a 3 hour drive. The Canyon has been described as the Grand Canyon’s little brother. The vista of dramatic erosion made by the river Charyn below and the elements has created a dramatic and …

CONTINUE READING

ROME

Rome began as an Iron Age hut village, founded in the mid-8th century BC. In 616, the Romans’ sophisticated Etruscan neighbors seized power, but were ousted in 509, the inception of the Roman Republic. It conquered most of the rest of Italy, then turned its attentions overseas, and by the 1st …

CONTINUE READING

Vatican City

The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world, with an area of less than half a square kilometer, most of it enclosed by the Vatican walls. Inside are the Vatican palace and gardens, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square, an area ruled by the Pope, supreme head of the …

CONTINUE READING

St. Peters Square and Basilica

The present basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City, begun by Pope Julius II  in 1506 and completed in 1615 under Paul V. It is designed as a three-aisled Latin cross with Dome at the crossing, directly above the high Altar which covers the shrine of St Peter the Apostle, and  the church of the …

CONTINUE READING

Piazza del campidoglio.

Rome from the beginning till its fall almost one thousand years, the Capitoline Hillsymbolized the epicenter of Rome’s might and many of the city’s most important buildings stood on this hill. Later, during the Middle Ages, the site continued to play an important part in Rome’s history. The senate of Rome …

CONTINUE READING

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum, is a site located at the center of the ancient city of Rome and the location of important religious, political and social activities. Roman people first began meeting in the open-air Forum around 500 B.C., when the Roman Republic was founded. The rectangular-shaped area, sited on low-lying …

CONTINUE READING