Each photo in these Virtual World Tours shows a highlight of one city. There are over 800 cities on the Encircle Photos website. Use the Locations page for links to the cities you want to explore.
Each photo in these Virtual World Tours shows a highlight of one city. There are over 800 cities on the Encircle Photos website. Use the Locations page for links to the cities you want to explore.
At the end of the 19th century, Ålesund was a cramped seaside town of 10,000 people living in aged wooden houses. These were the perfect kindling for a devastating fire on January 23, 1904. The flames began in a factory at 2:00 AM. By the end of the day, nearly 80% of the homes were smoldering ash. These Norwegians were determined to quickly rebuild (a goal they achieved by 1907). With the aid of German Emperor Wilhelm II, the townspeople favored a version of Art Nouveau architecture called Jugendstil. This style was popular in Germany from 1895 until 1910. As a result, Ålesund today has a harmonious charm featuring plenty of towers and turrets. They are accented here by the Ålesundet Canal and spring tulips.
Lorkenestorget 6002, Ålesund, Norway
You are admiring the waterfront of Bryggen, the colorful and historic epicenter of Bergen. These Hanseatic Buildings with steep gable roofs appear as they did in the Middle Ages. They are huddled together along the northeast wharf of Vågen bay at Bergen Havn (Port of Bergen). Collectively, they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area has been plagued by fires over the centuries. Each time, these buildings were reconstructed using the same materials and plans used by their predecessors. The six houses on the left were rebuilt after flames destroyed them in 1955. The eleven structures on the right are about 250 years older.
Bryggen 27, 5014 Bergen, Norway
The locals will often greet arriving cruise ship passengers with a show. This adorable little girl is wearing a bunad. The style evolved from rural Norway in the 18th century to the national costume today. Common features are a wool vest with intricate embroidery, buckles, clasps and silver jewelry. These are complimented with a white blouse and long skirt. The clothes are worn during performances of traditional music and dance. Increasingly, adult women wear them as a fashion statement to social events and festive occasions. There are over 400 design variations. Each one reflects a geographical region. The elaborate outfits plus accessories are expensive, especially for handmade Norwegian bunads. Prices start at $2,000. Often a bunad is passed down through the generations.
Inner Harbour Flåm Center, 5742 Flåm, Norway
A delightful experience when entering Geiranger by ship is cruising through a Norwegian fjord. The Geirangerfjord is so spectacular it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This grand entrance to the town is 9.3 miles long. It is best toured in the early spring when enormous waterfalls cascade down the side of the snowcapped Åkerneset mountain.
Geirangerfjord, Stranda Municipality, Norway
This view from Odderoya displays the beauty of Østre havn or the Eastern Harbor. The pier on the left is on an islet named Nodeviga at the mouth of the Gravanekanalen channel. Starting here is the Kristiansand Boardwalk, a 1.7 mile promenade around the waterfront. You can first explore Otterdalsparken with its huge water fountain and outdoor sculptures. Behind the marina of moored sailboats are the Tresse park and the Christiansholm Fortress. Continue at a leisurely pace along the Srandpromenaden and you find the Bystranda public beach.
Sjølystveien 5 4610 Kristiansand, Norway
Akershus Fortress was constructed along the coastline of the Oslo Fjord around 1299 as a defense against sea and land invasions. Akershus Festning successfully repelled at least six attacks by Swedish, Danish and Scottish soldiers from 1308 through the 16th century. The citadel was only surrendered in 1940 when Germany invaded Norway during WWII. The Germans used the big building on the right, called the Akershus National Penitentiary, as a military prison. Further on the right is the Crown Prince’s Powder Magazine Tower (circa 1755). It was used by the Nazis as death row for Norwegian Resistance fighters. The castle was liberated in 1945. Akershus Fortress is surrounded by Crown Prince’s Bastion, a stone wall built in 1618.
Akershus Castle Church 0150 Oslo, Norway
Khasab, Oman is a desolate seaport that, until recently, was only accessible by water. Because of its proximity to Iran, it is often used to illegally conduct trade. The town is etched into a desert with an average temperature of over 100 degrees from May through August. These three Arabian men, who were wearing Omani turbans and robes called dishdasha, sought shelter from the heat below an awning of a small grocery store. They seemed puzzled by why Americans would be visiting. We didn’t stay long.
Aswar Musandum, 02 Khasab, Oman
This 14-point, silver star encased in a marble floor below an altar is in the Grotto of the Nativity. The inscription reads, “Here of the Virgin Mary Jesus Christ was born.” Nearby is another altar where Mary laid Him in a manger. Both are in an underground cave beneath the Church of Nativity within the Palestinian territory of Bethlehem. This oldest church in the Holy Land dates back to 565 AD.
Church of Nativity, Manger St, Bethlehem
This couple at the Panamá Viejo ruins is reading about the stone wall formerly part of a Dominican Convent established in 1566. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where Panamá was founded in 1519 by Spanish conquistador Pedrarías Dávila. The city had about 10,000 residents when it was attacked in 1671 by pirate Henry Morgan. His 1,400 men sacked and burned the buildings and killed a large percent of the population.
Panamá Viejo Vía Cincuentenario, Panama City, Panama
When Spaniards began using the port of Callao in 1535 to load their ships with treasures to return to Spain, they attracted buccaneers. The pirating began with Sir Frances Drake in 1578. The Viceroy of Peru, José Antonio Manso de Velasco, commissioned Louis Godin to build a fortress after the previous defense was destroyed in the 1746 earthquake. The Real Felipe, named after King Phillip V of Spain, was finished in 1774. The pentagon-shaped citadel has five bastions with cannons pointing out from the battlements.
Pileta Paz Soldan, Callao 07021, Peru
The cornerstone of the Basilica Cathedral of Lima was laid in 1535 and construction, additions and reconstructions continued through 1940. Those magnificent neo-classical twin bell towers took over forty years to build. They were finished in 1649 based on the design of the Cathedral’s second architect, Francisco Becerra. Flanking the Door of Forgiveness is the Door of the Gospel (left) and the Epistle (right).
Jirón Huallaga & Jirón Carabaya, Cercado de Lima 15001, Peru
The Auschwitz concentration camps in Poland display the darkest side of the Holocaust. At its peak in 1944, they housed about 135,000 prisoners. Auschwitz I was the largest and responsible for 70,000 deaths. Each arriving prisoner was photographed in classic mug shot style. Many of these photos are displayed throughout the complex, along with their name and date of execution. The sense of sorrow is overwhelming.
The 350 foot long Cloth Hall historically and physically dominates Main Market Square. Imagine you were struggling to make a living in the mid-13th century after the brutal Mongol invasion. You heralded the building of Main Market Square and the first rustic version of trading stalls. A century later, the trading hall was greatly enlarged. As a traveling Asian spice merchant during the Polish Golden Age (late 15th century to mid-16th century), you conducted a flurry of business at Cloth Hall in exchange for local textiles and salt. In horror, you watched as Sukiennice was consumed by fire in 1555. It rose from the ashes with a grand Renaissance style. The next three hundred years saw a cycle of decline and renovation. By 1879, Cloth Hall had the existing appearance with the colonnades. It was restored again in 2010. Today, Cloth Hall is the place to shop for Polish merchandise, crafts and souvenirs displayed in an array of merchant stalls. Afterwards, sip coffee at Cafe Szał with a great view of Main Market Square.
Sukiennice, Rynek Główny 1/3, 31-042 Kraków, Poland
This exquisite gothic façade of the Alcobaça Monastery’s church was built in two stages. The rose window above the main entrance was finished in 1252 while the two bell towers and the statues in the niches were added in the 18th century. This architectural gem is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2460-018 Alcobaça, Portugal
This side view of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Vitória allows you to admire all of its splendid Gothic features which were constructed with limestone that has yellowed with age. You can see why it took about 130 years to build. This Dominican convent was finished in 1517 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Largo Infante Dom Henrique, 2440 Batalha, Portugal
The full name of this fortress along Tamariz Beach is the Fort of Santo António da Cruz. It was created as a residence in the late 19th century by a wealthy man named João Martins de Barra. Apparently he built it for his terminally ill daughter but I am sure he also loved the wonderful view of the Atlantic Ocean.
R. Olivença 13, 2765-262 Estoril, Portugal
Behind this gilded Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. These are two of the shrines at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima that celebrates when the Virgin Mary entrusted shepherd children with three visions: one regarding hell and the second that predicted WWII. The third was not written down until 1944 and was sealed by the Vatican until 2000. It predicted the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II.
Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima Rosary R. da Rainha Santa Isabel 26, 2495-401 Fátima, Portugal
If only this watch tower could tell about the history it has seen. It is part of the Castelo de São Jorge which dates back to the 10th century. However, at least ten nationalities of people have built fortifications on this same hill overlooking Lisbon, Portugal, since the 6th century B.C.
Castelo de S. Jorge R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal
The Óbidos Castle was first built by the Moors during their occupation of Portugal starting in 713 AD. It was reclaimed by King Afonso Henriques in 1148. The Medieval citadel and its surrounding walls were then rebuilt and enhanced during the 13th, 14th and 20th centuries.
Estr. da Cerca, 2510-999 Óbidos, Portugal
During the 18th century, Queen Maria and her husband, Peter III, began construction of their summer palace in Queluz, Portugal, and also had this pink building designed to house their servants and guards. It is now one of 44 historic hotels in Portugal under the management of the Grupo Pestana Pousadas.
Largo Palácio de Queluz 2745-191, Queluz, Portugal
Follow these tourists through the front gate of the Pena National Palace. Built upon the ruins of a Hieronymites monastery that was destroyed during a 1755 earthquake, this summer palace for Portuguese royalty was started in 1840 by King Ferdinand II and completed the year he died in 1885.
Park and National Palace of Pena Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal
Ponce richly deserves its nickname “The Pearl of the South.” Founded in 1693 and named after Spaniard Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, this delightful city of 170,000 Puerto Ricans is filled with marvelous architecture facing the Caribbean Sea. Ponce also makes an excellent hub to explore the island’s western towns and coastline. This cityscape was captured from the gardens of Castillo Serrallés.
Sector El Vigia, Paseo De La Cruceta, Ponce, 00730, Puerto Rico
Within the 35 acres designated as San Germán’s Historic District are over 100 notable buildings. They combine design features of the Spanish, American, French and Italian from the 19th century. Most were residences of citizens who became wealthy during the height of coffee and sugar exporting prior to the Spanish-American War in 1989. This marvelous collection of historic architecture has earned a listing in its entirety by the National Register of Historic Places.
Calle Lorencita Ramirez, San Germán 00683, Puerto Rico
You are about to be one of the two million people a year who visit Castillo San Felipe del Morro. This massive, six-level fortress dominates 70 acres at the northwest tip of Isleta de San Juan. El Morro was a formidable military post for 422 years, beginning with the Spanish in 1539 and ending with the U.S. Army in 1961. This must-see citadel was designated as a UNESCO World heritage Site in 1983.
El Morro, Calle del Morro, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
The State Historical Museum was founded in 1872. Located at the northwest end of Red Square, it opened in 1883 in sync with the coronation of Alexander III of Russia, nicknamed The Peacemaker. The red building’s Russian Revivalism style is credited to architect Vladimir Sherwood. The collection’s nearly five million items and 20,000 exhibits chronical Russia’s history and culture. Each of the 35 halls is devoted to a different era in the world’s biggest country beginning with the Stone Age. Although all written descriptions are in Russian, a visit is still highly recommended.
State Historical Museum, Red Square, Moskva, 109012, Russia
Along the Griboedov Canal is one of Saint Petersburg’s most iconic sites: Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood. The Russian Orthodox church was commissioned in 1883 to mark the place where Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. The Romantic Nationalism design by architect Alfred Parland required 24 years to complete. Also called the Resurrection of Christ Church, its prominent features are five colorful onion domes decorated with gold and semi-precious jewels.
Griboyedov Channel Embankment, 2A, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 191186
Among the land acquired by the Russians after their victory over the Swedes in 1709 was the Sarishoff estate (Sarskaya Myza). In 1710, Peter the Great gifted the property to his fiancée, Catherine Alexeyevna. Her name had been Marta Skavronskaya before converting to the Russian Orthodox religion five years before. As her summer residence was being built, the town of Tsarskoe Selo emerged to house servants and builders. After the death of Peter I in 1727, she became Catherine I, Empress of All Russia, for two years. During her reign, the palace that bore her name was relatively modest. But by the mid-18th century, Catherine Palace evolved into an extravagant imperial residence. Its lavish Russian Baroque design rivaled the most beautiful European palaces. When Catherine the Great died in 1796 and her son became Russian Emperor Paul I, he abandoned the palace. Although other Russian rulers of the Romanov dynasty occasionally used the Great Tsarskoye Selo Palace until 1917, it never regained the glory of the 18th century. Catherine Palace is located in the municipal town of Pushkin, a suburb of Saint Petersburg about 15 miles from city center.
Garden St, 7, Pushkin, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 196601
Peter Alexeyevich – better known as Peter the Great – was Tsar of All Russia from 1682 until 1721 when he founded the Russian Empire. He was Russia’s first emperor until he died in 1725. In 1705, Peter I commissioned J. F. Braunstein and later Jean-Baptiste Le Blond – then the Architect to the Crown – to design Peterhof (Peter’s Court) on the Gulf of Finland near Saint Petersburg. He wanted his summer palace to resemble Versailles in France. Empress Elizabeth, Catherine the Great and Nicholas I all expanded the opulent estate and grounds called Peterhof Palace. Today, this historic complex contains an incredible array of palaces, gardens and fountains on 9,721 acres. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the municipal town of Petergof, about a 45 minute drive from Saint Petersburg.
Razvodnaya Ulitsa, 2, Petergof, Sankt-Peterburg, 198516, Russia
Every visitor to Christiansted spends time on the boardwalk facing the harbor. Have a seat on one of the benches. Survey the anchored boats bobbing in the azure water. Smell the unique air of the Caribbean. Feel the topical warmth on your face. People watch. The experience is divine! When you start getting antsy, consider a sightseeing boat charter. Maybe talk to a captain about a half or full-day fishing trip. If you are lucky, you might catch a marlin or sailfish worth bragging about. Or arrange for a sunset sail. This is Saint Croix at its best.
Christiansted Boardwalk, Christiansted, St Croix 00820, USVI
Anticipation starts growing when you notice Brimstone Hill, the historical apex of Saint Kitts. The 755 foot mountain stands guard over the northwest coast. Excitement melts into trepidation as your driver cautiously navigates a switchback road, honks at every turn, squeezes through the front gate and parks in the old parade ground. Encircling you are 38 acres of Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park. This British fort was first armed in 1690, fortified for over a century and then abandoned in 1852. Brimstone Hill Fortress was once called the Gibraltar of the West Indies because it was considered impenetrable. The French proved that assumption wrong in 1782. Today, this is one of the best maintained forts in the Americas and worthy of its UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Now walk up the ramp to reach the Western Place of Arms, cross a moat and enter the Citadel of Fort George.
Brimstone Hill Fortress, Sandy Point, St. Kitts & Nevis
After your car climbs a ridge and reveals this incredible landscape, you will utter several words of astonishment. The Pitons (French for peaks) are Saint Lucia’s most famous landmarks. They are also featured on the country’s flag. The dormant volcanic plugs are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the right is Petit Piton (2,438 feet). Bridged by the Piton Mitan Range is the twin pinnacle called Gros Piton (2,526 feet). Either one is a scenic yet sometimes challenging hike for experienced climbers. Nestled in the valley below is the town of Soufrière.
The Beacon Restaurant, West Coast Rd, Colombette, St. Lucia
North of Orient Beach is Cul-de-Sac Bay. Along its shoreline are homes with enviable views of aquamarine water and two islands. In the foreground is Petite Clef or Little Key. It is uninhabited unless you consider migratory pelicans to be residents. In the background is Pinel Island or, in French, Îlet de Pinel. This islet is visited by those seeking excellent snorkeling, sheltered waters for kayaking, hideaway beaches and rustic hiking trails.
Hotel Mont Vernon, Rue du Mont Vernon , St Martin
There are about forty beaches on the island of St. Thomas. One of the most popular is Magens Bay on the Northside. It has an exquisite sandy beach that stretches for three quarters of a mile. Although it tends to be crowded, there is always plenty of room to find your spot to lie down and enjoy a good book or a great nap.
Magens Bay Park, Magen's Bay Rd, St Thomas 00802, USVI
A visit to Wallilabou Anchorage is a must if you are a fan of Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. This is the where the blockbuster series began with the first movie “The Curse of the Black Pearl.” Filming at this location occurred from October, 2002 until March, 2003. The setting at Wallilabou Bay represented Port Royal on the island Tortuga. This was the landing for Captain Jack Sparrow and his crew aboard the Interceptor. The set was also used for the next two films, “Dead Man’s Chest” (2006) and “At World’s End” (2007). You will be thrilled to tour several of the buildings and docks used in the movie.
Wallilabou Anchorage, Leeward Highway, Wallilabou, St. Vincent & Grenadines
The Kirk of St Nicholas dates back to the mid-12 century. It has been called the Uniting Church and Mither Kirk because in 1828 it accommodated six parishes. Since the 1990s, it has served both the Church of Scotland and The United Reformed Church. The West Kirk, viewed from the Kirkyard, was designed by James Gibbs and finished in 1755. This Gothic clock tower was rebuilt after a major fire in 1874 and then furnished with a carillon of 48 bells. The church’s namesake is Saint Nicholas. This 4th century Greek Bishop is the patron saint of fishermen and Aberdeen.
106 Union Street, Aberdeen AB10 1JL, United Kingdom
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the British monarch when in Scotland, is an architectural time capsule. On the far left are the ruins of the Augustinian Abbey commissioned by King David I in 1128. Next to it is the dominant north-west tower. King James V ordered its construction in 1528 and William Aytoun finished this first phase in 1532. Inside the James’ Tower was the royal apartment of Mary, Queen of Scots. After being partially destroyed in 1544, the palace was extensively renovated and expanded beginning in 1672. Above the main entrance from the outer courtyard is a relief of the Royal Arms of Scotland, a clock manufactured in 1680 and a cupola shaped as a crown.
Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DX, UK
From its founding in the mid-15h century until about 1870, the University of Glasgow conducted classes in various locations around the city. A replacement campus was then designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the West End on Gilmorehill. Their Main Building along South Front is not only spectacular but also the second largest Gothic Revival building in the United Kingdom. The 279 foot bell tower was added in 1891 by Scott’s son. The university has more than 25,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
5 University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8NN, UK
Bauachaille Etive Mòr is a five-mile mountain range. The tallest of its four summits is this 3,353 foot, triangular shaped Stob Dearg. Nicknamed “The great herdsman of Etive,” this northeastern face is popular among climbers and hikers. This scenery and the flowing River Etive can be enjoyed from your car window along A82. If you are not traveling to Scotland soon, then just watch the 2012 James Bond movie “Skyfall.” This scene is where Bond brings M to his Skyfall family estate.
Old Military Rd & W Highland Way, Ballachulish PH49 4HY, UK
The 13th century Eilean Donan Castle lay in ruins for 200 years, from 1719 until 1919, when John MacRae-Gilstrap began building his vision of the Clan Mackenzie castle. When it was finished in 1932, historians claimed it bore little resemblance to the original. However, as a romanticized version of a medieval castle, Eilean Donan has become a major tourist destination in the Scottish Highlands. It sits on an island within Loch Duich and is accessible by a stone bridge.
A87 Kyle IV40, UK
The first sighting of a sea monster in Loch Ness was reported by Alex Campbell in 1933, followed by a similar report from George Spicer. A few months later, Hugh Gray produced a grainy photo of the beast. Soon myths emerged of its existence dating back to the 7th century. Since then, there have been countless sightings, explorations, photographs, articles and documentaries. Although “Nessie” remains elusive, the legend continues to be a major boom for tourism.
A82, Inverness IV3, UK
Strathbogie was the first castle built on this site during the late-12th century. The Fifes of Strathbogie surrendered it after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Six years later, Robert the Bruce, King of the Scotts, gifted it to Sir Adam de Gordon in appreciation for negotiating a reconciliation with Pope John XXII. After the citadel was destroyed by the Earl of Moray in the mid-15th century, the current castle was constructed. It was expanded and repeatedly defended by the Clan Gordon for two hundred years until 1650. The castle exchanged hands several times during the Jacobite risings (1688 through 1746), a series of battles aimed at returning the House of Stuart to Great Britain’s throne. After the Battle of Culloden ended the rebellion, Huntly castle slowly fell into ruins.
1 Castle Gardens, Huntly AB54 4SH, UK
Inverness is a great, one-day stop during any road trip through Scotland. But its location at the northern tip of the Great Glen, a 62 mile long valley, also makes this the perfect base while exploring the lochs, mountains and islands throughout the Northwest Highlands. Whichever you select, make sure you stay at least for one sunset. That is when the city’s landmarks, such as the Old High and St Columba’s High Churches plus the Greig Street Footbridge, are bathed in a wonderful golden hue.
42 Huntly St, Inverness IV3 5HR, UK
There are approximately two billion people worldwide who play golf. Many of them fantasize about teeing off at the Old Course at St Andrews, the birthplace of golf around 1400 AD. The game was banned by Scottish kings from 1457 until 1502. In 1764, the original 22 holes were reduced to 18, thus setting today’s standard. In 1894, the Town Council declared the course to be open to the public. So make your pilgrimage to St Andrews, have your friends take your photo on the first tee (called the Burn), and then stay at the Old Course Hotel in the background while indulging in all six courses in town.
22 Golf Pl, St Andrews KY16 9JD, UK
As your mesmerization wanes from staring at Jagalchi Fish Market’s displays, you begin to realize a common denominator: all of the fishmongers are women. They are called Jagalchi Ajumas, meaning middle-aged married women. These multi-tasking females seem tireless, capable of gutting the fresh catch-of-the-day while bargaining with multiple customers and beckoning for new ones.
52 Jagalchihaean-ro, Nampo-dong, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
Gwandeokjeong Pavilion is the oldest structure in Jeju City. Built in 1448 by governor and pastor Sin Suk-Cheong, the magnificently decorated wooden structure was used as a training ground for soldiers during the Joseon Dynasty. The word Gwandeok implies the need to train and discipline the mind and body with righteous virtue. Registered as National Treasure Number 322, Gwandeokjeong Pavilion stands in front of Jejumok-Gwana.
43-3 Samdo-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea