Palaces

An Italian artist acclaimed as a founding father of 1960s Arte Povera – the “poor art” movement that only used worthless everyday materials – will be next to colonise the stupendously grand halls of Blenheim Palace. Michelangel Pistoletto at Blenheim Palace. Photograph: Edd Horder Michelangelo Pistoletto, whose career was celebrated in recent solo exhibitions at … Continue reading »

The meaning of “mitsuke” as in Akasaka-Mitsuke (as well as Yotsuya-Mitsuke and others) is a fort gate established to guard a castle. Along such gates are watchtowers to make sure “undesirables” do not get too close, and that’s why the kanji “mi” (watch) is used. So Akasaka, to a person in the Edo Period (1603-1867), … Continue reading »

The French medieval city of Avignon is located in the south-eastern region of Provence on the banks of the River Rhone and is surrounded by 800-year-old ramparts that once protected it. There is no escaping the mystery of its historic centre and with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays have just launched their new brochure, jam-packed with new … Continue reading »

Central to the plot of BBC Two’s controversially raunchy Versailles is the titular palace occupied by King Louis XIV. As the series continues, we take a look at why the French king was so enamoured with the former hunting lodge, and why you should go and visit. 1. It’s one of the world’s biggest palaces … Continue reading »

From George V’s appearance on the eve of the First World War to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s post-wedding kiss in 2011, the Buckingham Palace balcony has been the setting of many iconic moments in history. Here, ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday celebrations, Ed Owens explores the history of the famous balcony… Monday … Continue reading »

A towering waterfall appears to fall from midair into the Grand Canal at the Palace of Versailles as part of Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s latest exhibition (+ slideshow). Cascading from high above the surface of the pool, the Waterfall installation appears as a torrent of water of with no discernible source when viewed from the … Continue reading »

Murano chandeliers, glittering jewelry, Venetian mirror-clad ballroom, Instagram-ready staircase—welcome to Madrid’s little known throwback to turn of the century aristocracy. “I looooooove Barcelona.” Those are the sentences I always hear when I tell a fellow American I’m headed off to Spain again. Spain’s capital city, with its labyrinthine layout and its craven failure to be … Continue reading »

Peter Andre and pregnant wife Emily spend day at Buckingham Palace – find out why May 27, 2016 by hellomagazine.com Peter Andre and his wife Emily have been pictured for the first time since their big pregnancy announcement – and where better to make that appearance than at Buckingham Palace? Shortly after confirming their baby … Continue reading »

Nagoya Castle is undoubtedly the pinnacle of pride for the citizens of the city of Nagoya. The castle was originally built on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun, in the early 17th century. It was to be a critical stronghold for invading Osaka Castle, the opposing Toyotomi clan’s final place of resistance. … Continue reading »

On Saturday afternoon London acquired a new “lung” by the reopening of the Alexandra Palace and Park to the public free and for ever. The Palace itself has passed through many vicissitudes, most of them the reverse of prosperous. It was first opened in 1863, being erected mainly with the materials from the international exhibition … Continue reading »