7 of the World’s Most Interesting Museums

While some of these museums may have some art pieces in them, they’re focused on different historical objects. These are among the most-visited and interesting ones you’ll find across the world.

1. The Musical Instrument Museum, Brussels, Belgium

(photo by infomatique)

This museum was established originally to display instruments to students belonging to the nearby Brussels Royal Music Conservatory. It’s filled with an excellent instrument collection and the building itself is quite impressive. It’s an art nouveau structure which was constructed back in 1899. There’s a restaurant on the building’s top floor with a quaint terrace which provides spectacular views of Brussels.

2. The VasaMuseet, Stockholm, Sweden

(photo by wm_archiv)

The Vasa was a Swedish ship that sank in Stockholm Harbour in 1628 after sailing for less than a mile on its maiden voyage. The ship sat under the water for 333 years before being brought back to ground in 1961. The ship now sits on display in the fabulous VasaMuseet Museum, which is the most popular in Scandinavia visitor-wise.

3. The Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt

(photo by zoonabar)

This wonderful museum is home to the world’s most complete collection of Egyptian artifacts. It features treasures King Tut’s tomb as well as a large collection of items from some of the nation’s famous Pharaohs. In total, there are more than 120,000 items on display. These include tiny statues and Egyptian mummies.

4. The Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, Japan

(photo by ctsnow)

This museum sits in Ueno Park, and represents the first ever museum established in the country. It houses a wide collection of archaeological objects and Asian art. The museum is housed in a complex that has 5 separate buildings. You’ll see things such as ancient military armor and samurai swords along with decorative pieces including sculptures and screens.

5. The British Museum, London, England

(photo by mp4 )

This museum was established in 1753 by Parliament. There are some art pieces in the British Museum, but it’s probably more well known for the fantastic archeological collection on display. It houses the famous Rosetta stone as well as the Parthenon Sculptures. The architecture of the museum is also quite impressive and the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court is Europe’s biggest covered square.

6. The National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C., USA

(photo by yotut)

This magnificent museum belongs to the Smithsonian and features the biggest collection of spacecraft and historic aircraft on the globe. It’s one of the world’s top-visited museums as well. You’ll find some fascinating items here such as the Wright brothers’ original airplane as well as the Spirit of St. Louis, which was flown by Charles Lindbergh. In addition, Apollo 11’s command module is on display.

7. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, New York City, USA

(photo by mhowry )

This museum honors the plight of many immigrants who arrived in New York City many decades ago. The Tenement Museum is located in an old original New York City tenement building which was discovered late in the 1980s. Guides take you through the cramped and dark living spaces to show what the conditions were like for many immigrant families before New York implemented housing laws.

Portimao: An Excellent Base to Discover Portugal’s Algarve Region

One of the most popular areas of Portugal is undoubtedly the Algarve region in the south of the Nation. This beautiful area sits on the shores of the mighty Atlantic Ocean and is filled with numerous sandy beaches and picturesque towns and villages.
One of the largest towns in the area is Portimao. It has been known throughout the years as one of Portugal’s leading centers for sardine fishing and canning. You can still taste the fresh fish alongside the pier everyday when the fishing boats bring in their catch around noon hour.

 

(photo by glenbowman)

There are several outdoor restaurants located side by side where you can enjoy a salad, fresh grilled sardines and a cold beer or bottle of excellent local wine. During the 1970s, there were about 5 dozen fish-processing factories in the area. However, today, there is just one left.
It’s still a busy little town of about 45,000 people though it’s quite scenic, has some excellent shops, and features some of the best restaurants you can find anywhere in the country.
It’s not known as a major tourist town, but you’ll find that’s probably what makes it so charming. Portimao allows you to observe the local traditions and way of life while blending in seamlessly and soaking in the atmosphere.
It’s an ideal town to explore by foot and is also a great base for visiting other areas of the Algarve. If you rent a car and stay in local hotel, you’ll easily be able to visit the entire southern coast from east to west.
Along the way you’ll pass some fantastic villages, beaches, markets, landscapes, and towns. In fact, you don’t even have to rent a car to enjoy Portimao and the immediate surrounding area.
Nearby you’ll find a couple of popular beach resort areas. These are Praia da Rocha and Alvor. These are both situated on the Atlantic and offer several fine hotels in all price ranges.
They’re easy to walk from Portimao and there are numerous buses to take you there if you feel it’s a bit too far. Many people like to stay in these outskirt villages and visit Portimao for dining and shopping.
You can also head to Portimao to simply watch the world go by. There’s a huge riverbank park/square area right next to the harbor and close to the seafood restaurants. You’ll also find numerous outdoor cafes here where it appears some local residents love to spend most of their days.
If you visit the attractive town, one of the most popular sites is the Igreja Matriz. This is a wonderful church that was erected in the 13^th century, but was damaged during the huge earthquake that struck Portugal in 1755.
However, the Gothic portal still remains today. There are three aisles in the church which feature statues of saints which were saved from the original church. Portimao is quite a charming destination and is located in an excellent spot for those who just want to relax and enjoy the local beaches as well as those who want to explore the sights and sounds of the surrounding area.
It may not be a glamorous tourist site, but it’s one of the most interesting and authentic Portuguese towns on the map.

Ukraine: History, Culture and Some Fascinating Destinations

The summer of 2012 will be quite a popular one in Ukraine since the historic nation will be co-hosting the European Soccer Championships (Euro 2012) along with Poland. However, you don’t need to wait for a major soccer tournament to visit this fascinating country of about 47 million. In fact, you could easily spend a week in the famous capital of Kiev.
Ukraine is about 233,000 square miles in size and some of the languages you’ll hear there include Ukrainian, Romanian, Russian, Hungarian, and Polish. The country, which is just a little bigger than France and formerly belonged to the Soviet Union, is bordered to the west by the Carpathian Mountains and the south features the majestic Crimean Mountains.
However, the most famous region of the nation is known as the steppe, which is quite flat and stretches for about a thousand miles.

(photo by jwsk)

There’s a lot of history in Ukraine as Russian Orthodoxy was born here. The land was ruled in the 13^th century by the Mongols, followed the next century by the Lithuanians, and then the Polish in the mid 1500s. The Cossacks, who were peasant rebels, revolted and in 1649 created their own state. However, 5 years later they joined forces with Russia and soon came under Russian rule.
Russia controlled about 85% Ukraine, with Austria/Hungary in charge of the rest of it. The nation became independent for a period following the Russian Revolution.
However, it was invaded by the Red Army and by 1920 the majority of the nation was again ruled by the Russians. During World War II, Ukraine was in the hands of the Nazis and millions of people, lost their lives while about two million others were sent to Germany to become laborers.
The Soviet again took control following the war. However, in 1991 about 90% of Ukraine voted for its independence and the Soviet regime was toppled. These are some of the most fascinating destination to explore on a visit to Ukraine.

1. Belgorod-Dnestrovsky

(photo by cristianocani)

This ancient, small city has been around as long as Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem, making it one of the oldest in the world. Greek merchants inhabited it in the 6^th century and started to grow.
In the 13^th century, a fortress was built and protected by a deep moat. It was a medieval architectural masterpiece and was constructed with secret passages and towers.

2. Kyiv

(photo by lord_yo)

Known in English as Kiev, this city is home to about 3,000,000 people and is the capital of the country. It’s a bustling metropolis that features some amazing arts and cultural venues such as the National Opera House, St. Sophia Cathedral, and the Church of St. Andrew. Art performances are very common and the city is overflowing with historical sites.

3. Odessa

(photo by veni)

This picturesque city is often referred to as the Pearl of the Sea. It’s quite vibrant and kisses the shores of the Black Sea. The city is about 200 years old, making it quite young by Ukrainian standards.
However, it’s still filled with attractions and history such as Deribasovskaya Street, Odessa Opera House, Arcadia beach, and the Potemkin Steps.

4. Lviv

(photo by schuilr)

This city was popular in medieval times due to its strategic location on the trade route between the Black and Baltic Seas. It’s currently a World Heritage Site and a former Soviet community.
There are numerous architectural styles in the city due to all of the historic influences of the nations that occupied it over the years. Fortunately, Lviv didn’t suffer serious bombing damage during the Second World War.
Some of the most popular and historic sites include Castle Hill, the Kornyakt Museum, and the Pid Synioyu Pliashkoyu Café.