Brasília - City Sights

Monumento JK President Kubitschek Memoria

The Monumento JK is a mausoleum and presidential memorial dedicated to the 21st president of Brazil, Juscelino Kubitschek. JK was medical doctor before he going (?) into politics. He was mayor of Belo Horizonte and he run for president under the slogan “Fifty Years Progress in Five”. Kubitschek died in a car crash in 1976. His memorial, designed by the architect Oscar Niemeyer, opened to the public in 1981. The Monumento JK is located in the Eixo Monumental road, and its main column is 28 meters high. The stained glass inside the Memorial was designed by Marianne Peretti. The memorial contains Kubitschek’s collection of 3000 books and outside you can see his car, a For Galaxie LTD. Also there is a bronze statue of him with Sarah Kubitschek. Wagner Moura played young Kubitschek in a film in 2006. Also, did you know that in Kubitschek Plaza Hotel they serve JK’s pudding secret recipe?

Jakarta - City Sights

National Monument

The national monument is a 132 m obelisk in the centre of Merdeka square in central Jakarta. The National Monument or Monumen Nasional – Monas for short – symbolizes the struggles during the Indonesian National Revolution between the years 1945 and 1949. The construction of the monument started in 1961 and it was first open to the public in 1975. The monument encapsulates the philosophy of lingam and yoni, the harmony between the feminine and masculine energy of Shakti and Shiva. It also resembles the bloom of the amorphophallus titanum or titan arum, an endemic flower of Sumatra. In the outer yard of the monument there are reliefs that depict instances of the Indonesian history. 

Riyadh - City Sights

Al Masmak Fortress

The Al Masmak Fortress is a clay and mud-brickt fort in the old city of Riyadh. The fortress was built in 1865 by Abdurrahman ibn Sulaiman. It was built with four watchtowers and a foundation of stone blocks. The Fort played an important role in the War of Unification. The Battle of Riyadh took place in its grounds in 1902. It consists of six parts: the gate, the mosque, the majlis, the well, the watchtowers and the courtyard. The Fort was converted into a museum in 1995. 

Helsinki - City Sights

Suomenlinna Island

The Suomenlinna Islands is made up of eight islands, including the Suomenlinna sea fortress. The construction of the Suomenlinna sea fortress began in 1748 by the then Swedish crown as protection against Russian expansionism. The Suomenlinna sea fortress is not only a museum, but a living community too! In the past, visitors would go through background checks to be deemed as honorable before entering the fortress! Suomenlinna was added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1991. It is now a place to explore history or to enjoy a relaxing stroll. 

Malmö - City Sights

Lilla Torg

Lilla Torg is a square in the Old Town in central Malmö. It is located right next to Stortorget. Lilla Torg was built in the 1590s after extensive earthworks. Here people crowded on the west side of the square around the meat counters while the bakers on the south side of the square lured them with freshly baked bread. Today, the square is characterized by its many restaurants and historic buildings. 

Gothenburg - City Sights

Feskekörka (10 tickets)

Feskekörka is a seafood market in central Gothenburg. Feskekörka was designed by Gothenburg’s then city architect Victor von Gegerfelt. The building was declared a listed building in 2013 because it is a unique icon for its city. Feskekörka opened on November 1, 1874 and is named after the way it looks. 

Alingsås - City Sights

 Alingsås Museum

 Alingsås Museum was founded in 1928 by the history enthousiast Anna Norlander, with the goal of managing the cultural heritage of the Alingsås people. The museum focuses on children and young people and enjoys hosting visitors at the exhibitions. The building which houses the museum is one of the oldest in Alingsås and was built by Jonas Alströmer in around 1730. The house was originally used as a warehouse for materials for the industries in the city, but nowadays only museum artifacts can be found here! The museum park next door is a beautiful green oasis where you can rest, have a look at the statue “Våren” (Spring) by Erik Gate, and take some time to relax. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and amission is free, so go ahead and enter!

Lagos - City Sights

Floating Town of Makoko

Makoko is often referred to as the Venice of Africa due to its waterways! Its population is considered to be 85,840, but later estimations believe this number is much higher! It is mostly populated by Egun people whose main occupation of the people residing there is fishing. Makoko was the home of Makoko Floating School. Unfortunately the school was abandoned in March 2016 and collapsed later the same year.

Tehran - City Sights

Tabiat Bridge

Welcome to the Tabiat Bridge, where ‘Tabiat’ means ‘nature’ in Persian.
The 270m bridge is the largest pedestrian bridge in Iran! Inspired by a bridge on Zafer street, head architect Leila Araghian oversaw the construction of the Tabiat Bridge between 2010 and 2014. The bridge has three layers, its walking paths are made of composite wood and its steel alone weighs 2.000 tons! The bridge on the Northern part of Tehran expands over the Modaress Expressway and connects the Taleghani Park with the Abo-Atash Park. While its official name is “Pole Tabiat” it is also known as the “Third Symbol of Tehran”. It has also won the Aga Khan Architecture Award in 2016!

Pyongyang City Sights

 The Kumsusan Palace / Palace of the Sun

 Before being a mausoleum, what was the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun?
An office for Kim Il-Sung

Venice - City Sights

 Doge’s Palace

 Besides the architecture, what is one thing visitors want to see when touring the Doge’s Palace of Venice?
Artwork

Madrid City Sights

 Palacio de Cristal

Modeled on London's famous Crystal Palace, this 19th-century building is made almost entirely of glass and today hosts regular exhibitions. The Palacio de Cristal was built in 1887. It was originally designed by architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco to house exotic flora brought over from the Philippines, which was at the time occupied by the Spanish. The flower display was part of a larger exhibition on the Philippines that took place in the gardens and included a reconstruction of a Philippino village. Today the Crystal Palace is home to comtemporary art and museum exhibitions organized by the Museo Reina Sofia of Madrid. 

Cape Town City Sights

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

How many bird species have been detected and recorded at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town?

More than 125

Kathmandu - City Sights

Durbar Square

(10 tickets)

The lively historic center of Kathmandu is a great place to discover ancient architecture. Durbar Square is the traditional heart of Kathmandu, an impressive complex of ancient palaces, temples, courtyards and shrines. Most of Kathmandu Square dates back to before the 18th century, although parts were restored following an earthquake in 1934. The square is a sacred place of pilgrimage for both Buddhists and Hindus. 

Munich - City Sights

Munich Residenz

(10 tickets)

Step into the luxurious past of Bavaria's ruling class with a visit to this historic palace in downtown Munich. Located on the northeastern side of the old downtown area, the Residenz Museum is comprised of a series of maintained apartments, chapels and ceremonial rooms. From 1508 to 1918, Bavarian Dukes, Electors and Kings used the Residenz both as a seat of government and as a personal residence. Today, visitors can expect to see a wide variety of styles, including Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical. 

City Sights - New York

The Statue of Liberty

(2 tickets) 

The Statue of Liberty is a statue on Liberty Island, by the Hudson Rivers outlet southwest of Manhattan in New York. It is a colossal neoclassical sculpture designed by Frederic Bartholdi and constructed by Gustave Eiffel. It stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The statue was unveiled on the 28th October 1886 and was a gift to the United States from 'the people of France'. The Statue of Liberty is known all over the world, greeting ships entering the harbor from the Atlantic Ocean. Formally it is called "Liberty Enlightening the World". 

By which river is the Statue of Liberty located?

Hudson River

How long is the nose of the Statue of Liberty?

146 cm

In how many parts was the Statue of Liberty delivered in before construction started?

350

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from which country?

France

What is symbolized by the torch of the Statue of Liberty?

Enlightenment

What material makes up the outside of the Statue of Liberty?

Copperplate

What was the USA celebrating when they were given the Statue of Liberty as a gift? 

The liberty of the USA

What’s the formal name of the Statue of Liberty?

Liberty Enlightening the World

What's the name of the engineer who constructed the Statue of Liberty? 

Gustave Eiffel

What’s the name of the island where the Statue of Liberty stands?

Liberty Island

What’s the name of the Roman goddess depicted by the Statue of Liberty?

Liberta

What year was the Statue of Liberty opened?

1886

Who designed the Statue of Liberty? 

Frederic Bartholdi

Empire State Building

(3 tickets)

The Empire State Building is a skyscraper and an office building between Fifth Avenue and 34th West Streeet in Manhatten, New York. The Empire State Building began construction in 1929 and was opened on May 1st, 1931. The building has 102 levels and is named after New York state which is nicknamed the Empire State. The building was the tallest building in the world for 39 years and is at the moment owned and managed by W&H Properties. Hard to believe it only took 1 year and 45 days to construct the building, very impressive! 

As of 2017, the Empire State Building is owned and managed by whom?

W&H Properties

For how many years was the Empire State Building the tallest building in the world?

39 years

How long did it take to build the Empire State Building?

1 year and 45 days

How many elevators does the Empire State Building have?

73

How many men worked on the building of the Empire State Building?

About 3400

How many of the Empire State Building's floors are above ground? 

102

In what year was the Empire State Building opened?

1931

In which of these films is the Empire State Building featured?

King Kong

What source of inspiration was used to speed up the construction of the Empire State Building?

Henry Ford

What was the hourly wage for those who worked on building the Empire State Building?

$1.92 per hour

Who was one of the designers of the Empire State Building?

Gregory Johnson

Brooklyn Bridge

(3 tickets)

The Brooklyn Bridge is the oldest suspension bridge in New York. It extends over the East River, from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and was the world's largest suspension bridge when it was finished in 1883. It took 14 years to complete the bridge and on the opening day 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed the bridge. The bridge has 6 lanes for car traffic and is open for pedestrian crossing. Many tourists walk over the bridge during their New York visit. 

As of 2017, what’s the cost of crossing the Brooklyn Bridge?

It’s free

How many crossed the Brooklyn Bridge on the first day of its opening?

150,300 people

How many lanes for car traffic does the Brooklyn Bridge have?

6

How many vehicles passed over the Brooklyn Bridge on its opening day?

1800

How many years did it take to complete the Brooklyn Bridge?

14

In what year was the Brooklyn Bridge opened?

1883

The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn to what other New York borough?

Manhattan

The Brooklyn Bridge was the first suspension bridge that made use of what?

Steel wire

What type of architecture does the Brooklyn Bridge possess?

Neo-Gothic

What type of bridge is the Brooklyn Bridge?

Suspension bridge

What was the original name of the Brooklyn Bridge?

New York and Brooklyn Bridge

When the Brooklyn Bridge was being built, much was still unknown about a certain weather phenomenon’s impact on bridges? Which one?

The wind

Which of the following world famous bridges was completed first?

Rialto Bridge, Venice

Who was the owner of the architectural firm that designed the Brooklyn Bridge? 

John Augustus Roebling

City Sights - Paris

Eiffel Tower

(2 tickets)

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower is 1,063 feet high? The Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. The tower was inaugurated March 31st, 1889, but there was no access to the public prior to May 6th the same year. Constructed from 1887-89 as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair "Exposition Universelle", it was initially criticized by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals for its design. Now it has become a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognisable structures in the world. The Eiffel is the most-visited paid monument in the world. Around 7 million people visit the tower every year. 

Rome City Sights

Trevi Fountain

(No tickets)

The Trevi Fountain is an important fountain close by Piazza di Trevi in the center of Rome. The fountain was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and constructed by Nicola Salvi. Tourists often throw coins in the fountain, as legend says that if you throw two coins in, you'll soon be married! 

Standing 86 feet high, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. The fountain is constructed of "Travertine", and in the center a giant statue of Oceanus (god of all water) can be seen. 

How high is the Trevi Fountain?

86 feet

In which of Rome’s neighbourhoods is the Trevi Fountain located?

Trevi

Of what material is the Trevi Fountain constructed?

Travertine

Trevi is an etymological distortion of the word trivio. What does this word roughly translate into?

Three streets

What does myth say will happen when you throw 2 coins in the Trevi Fountain?

You will soon be married

What is the meaning of the Italian word fontana?

Fountain

What is the Trevi Fountain?

A fountain

Which god is placed in the center of the Trevi Fountain?

Oceanus

Who began the construction of the Trevi Fountain?

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Who completed the construction of the Trevi Fountain?

Nicola Salvi

Stadio Olimpico

(2 tickets)

During the 1960 Summer Olympics, the stadium hosted the opening and closing ceremonies as well as athletics competitions. A lot of soccer is played here as the arena is home to two of Rome's big teams, Lazio and Roma. The Stadio Olimpico can accomodate 72,698 spectators. 

Italy's national soccer team, called "Gli Azzurri", often plays at this stadium and for the 1990 FIFA World Cup the stadium underwent an extensive renovation. 

The stadium hosts the annual Italian Cup final, called "Coppa Italia". It also hosted the Champions League soccer final in 2009 where FC Barcelona won. 

How many spectators can the Stadio Olimpico hold?

72,698

Italy’s national football team sometimes plays at Stadio Olimpico. What is the nickname of the team?

Gli Azzurri

In what year was construction completed on the Stadio Olimpico in Rome?

1928

In which part of Rome is the Stadio Olimpico located?

North

In which year did Rome host the summer Olympics?

1960

In which year was the Stadio Olimpico re-built in preparation for the World Cup in Italy?

1990

The Italian Cup soccer final is played annually at the Stadio Olimpico. What’s the cup called in Italian?

Coppa Italia

The Stadio Olimpico hosted the Champions League soccer final in 2009. Which team won the cup?

FC Barcelona

Which of the following statements about the Stadio Olimpico is correct?

It has a running track

Who owns the Stadio Olimpico?

The Italian Olympic Committee

Colosseum

(3 tickets) 

The Colosseum, which is also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, was built  between 70 and 80 A.D. in Rome. It has a circumference of 1,788 feet. 

Construction began under the emperor Vespasian and was completed under his successor and heir Titus. Despite being partially ruined because of damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is still an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. The part of the building which still stands is a powerful sight, as well as a popular destination for tourists. 

Approximately how many deaths have occured in the Colosseum?

500 000

In ancient Rome, what group of people was allowed to sit in the front row at the Colosseum?

Senators

The Colosseum is also known as what?

Flavian Amphitheatre

What is the approximate circumference of the Colosseum?

1,788 feet / 545 meters

What is the primary cause of the Collosseum’s deterioration?

Earthquakes

What’s the name of the Russell Crowe film which contains scenes involving the Collosseum?

Gladiator

What surface was used on the arena floor during gladiatorial fights in the Colosseum?

Sand

What were the ancient Roman gladiatorial games called?

Munera

Which Roman emperor initiated the construction of the Colosseum?

Vespasian

Who completed the construction of the Colosseum?

Titus

City Sights - Lima

Government Palace

Due to its many re-buildings, what is said to be the only original piece of the palace property?

A tree that Francisco Pizarro is assumed to have planted

How did the Peace room get its name?

Honduras and El Salvador signed a peace treaty there in 1980

City Sights - Las Vegas

The Strip

(5 tickets)

The Strip is a stretch of South Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada, known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. 4.2 miles in length, The Strip is located just south of the Las Vegas city limits in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester. The Strip was named by Los Angeles police officer and businessman Guy McAfee, after his hometown's Sunset Strip. Organized crime figures such as Bugsy Siegel were a driving force in developing the fledgling gambling destination. His interest paved the way for the world famous city of decadence as it's known today. Many of the largest hotel, casino and resort properties in the world are located on the Strip. Some well known hotels are "New York, New York" and the "Luxor Las Vegas" which looks like a pyramid. In 1959, the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign was constructed.