The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood
The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, or the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, was commissioned by Tsar Alexander III between 1883 and 1907 on the exact spot where his father, Tsar Alexander II, was fatally wounded.
Located next to the Griboedov Canal and visible from Nevski Prospekt, the building was constructed according to the traditional Russian style and inspired by Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. It therefore stands as one of the most striking Baroque and Neoclassical buildings to be found in Saint Petersburg. The structure includes three semi-circular apses and is crowned by five domes. It is one of the churches housing the largest number of mosaics in Europe, which bring together both Byzantine and Art-Nouveau styles.
In the past, the church was only available for private use but was opened to the public following the revolution. The building was used for various purposes throughout the communist era and eventually fell into complete disrepair. In 1970, responsibility was passed to Saint Isaac’s Cathedral and a series of restoration projects began that were to last for 27 years.
It is currently open as a museum and entry costs 250 roubles (350 if you visit during the White Nights Festival). We recommend that you rent an audio guide (200 roubles) so as not to miss any of the interior details or alternatively join one of the guided tours offered on the website of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral.
By Isabel Romano from DiariodeaBordo
Makes you want to go, right? Do it! Check out our prices here!
The oldest brewery in Prague
Based on the statistics, we could say that the country’s national sport is beer consumption and the average 132 liters a year per person confirms it. Considered by many part of their national heritage, the Czech Republic has ideal conditions for growing hops and that is why the tradition dates back hundreds of years, being the oldest brewery in Prague "U Fleků".
Despite having become a place of pilgrimage for tourists (including a gift shop), this huge place has been opened since 1499 and still retains the atmosphere of yesteryear with live music and traditional food to accompany your jar. Find out how to go undetected, there are certain things you should know before ordering beer ... 'Jedno prosim pivo'!
1. Let the waiter keep serving you without saying a word: This applies to both Czechs and tourists. Of course, if you do not want to end up really wasted let them know that you have had enough or just put your coaster over your jug.
2. Their menu is measured in degrees. And this does not mean anything other than the amount malt. Keep in mind that the more degrees ... more alcohol.
3. After touching glasses with everyone you should touch the table and look into the eyes of your companions as you say "na zdravy". If you do not, your sex life will suffer. Or so says tradition.
4. The foam is a must. Do not even complain because for them it is very important and has to be very thick. If it continues intact once you are done the server did a good job.
5. Do not forget to tip. From a 10 to 15% is the usual, but they always thank generous customers.
Image from Zobacz Zasady
Makes you want to go, right? Do it! Check out our prices here!
more infoThe Best ‘Ramen’ in Barcelona: Ramen-ya Hiro
Long queues have begun to form lately outside Nº 164 on Calle Girona in Barcelona with dozens of people, half of them Japanese, waiting patiently for Ramen-ya Hiro to open its doors. It’s the latest buzz on the streets of Barcelona: Hiro makes the best ramen in town.
‘Ramen’ is a type of soup that is served in a bowl with noodles. The dish, originally from China, has become one of the most popular in Japan and the small restaurant run by Hiroki Yoshiyuki has captured the very essence of Japan. To start with, they only serve one culinary speciality – as is the case in most restaurants in Japan. The focus here is on two varieties of ramen: one with miso stock and another with soy sauce stock, accompanied with vegetables, some meat and a naruto. Gyozas (small meat and vegetable pasties) are the perfect side dish for ramen and are served five at a time on a Japanese ceramic dish.
Among other things, the menu also includes edamame, onigiri, kimchi and chasu-don (a bowl of rice with strips of pork and onion). Also on the menu is a small selection of typically Japanese desserts, such as strawberry daifuku and green tea ice-cream.
So, what is the secret to the success of Ramen-ya Hiro? The excellent culinary skill and the tradition that goes into preparing the food. The noodles are prepared traditionally every day, as is the stock which is cooked for over ten hours. The flavour of the ramen at Ramen-ya Hiro is so good that just tasting it will transport your mind to Japan.
Ramen-ya Hiro
Address: 164 Calle Girona, Barcelona.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 13:30 to 15:30 and from 20:30 to 23:30. Closed Sundays and Wednesday lunch-times.
Price: basic ramen €7.50; plate of gyozas €4.50. They offer a set lunch menu for €10.50 with ramen and gyozas.
www.facebook.com/RamenYaHiro
By Isabel Romano from Diario de a bordo
We’ll be there, if you want to come too check out our flights here.
more infoTuttomondo. Keith Haring’s last mural
It takes 180 square meters of the south wall of the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate-the convent of the Friar Servants of Mary of the Church of San Antonio in Pisa. The art of Keith Haring, the renowned artist from New York, left the imprint in this pisan wall with a work that wants to give out a message of peace and citizen participation.
Tuttomondo is the only mural painting of the artist thought to be a permanent work, unlike his early works he executed quickly with white chalk on the Subway’s commercials. Haring was identified from the beginning with the Street Art, avant-garde art of the 80s that rebelled against the traditional system of exhibition galleries. So was born a way of counterculture related to graffiti and hip hop . His art seeks graphic simplicity that can be understood by everyone at first sight; uses images as graphic symbols.
The large mural was created in 1989, a year before he died, and took a week to be finished. Tuttomondo thereby became the last public work of Keith Haring. Everything came after a casual meeting in New York with a student from Pisa who proposed the idea. Thus the idea of Tuttomondo was born, a word that sums up the idea that the artist had about interaction with his audience, and in it 30 figures are represented to symbolize peace and harmony in the world . Each figure has a role within its gear, in this way men with dolphin represent man’s relationship with nature, the figures “human scissors” are a symbol of solidarity to defeat the snake symbolizing evil-or the woman with the baby represents motherhood.
Colours are also very important, and that was his election, Haring chose the tones of Pisa’s buildings, to keep harmony with the environment.
Image: Cutiekatie
A place well worth discovering! Check out our flights here.
more info