Things to Do in Europe

A showstopper of a church, Santa Maria del Giglio (known locally as Santa Maria Zobenigo after the Venetian family who founded the original chapel) has one of the most ornate baroque facades in Venice. The church also houses works by Peter Paul Rubens and Tintoretto and boasts an ornate, cherub-covered baptistery.

Founded in the 9th century, Santa Maria del Giglio (Saint Mary of the Lily) was rebuilt in the 17th century by Italian architect Giuseppe Sardi for Antonio Barbaro, a renowned military leader and scion of a wealthy Venetian dynasty. The sumptuous marble facade is unusual in that it includes largely secular imagery. The interior contains Tintoretto’s The Evangelists and, in the Molin chapel, Rubens’ Virgin and Child with the Young St. John, the only painting by the Flemish master in Venice. 

Santa Maria del Giglio is a stop on some private walking tours of the San Marco neighborhood, which may also include nearby highlights such as St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica San Marco), the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), and the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto). You can easily pair a visit to the church, set just off the Grand Canal, with a gondola ride and serenade.

 

The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio is located at Campo Santa Maria del Giglio in the San Marco neighborhood, just a short walk from Piazza San Marco. It’s also possible to reach via vaporetto (water bus); take line 1 to the Santa Maria del Giglio stop along the Grand Canal.

Venice is one of the most crowded tourist destinations in Italy, especially in summer. Visit in late fall or early spring to enjoy the city with fewer crowds. As the church isn’t one of the city’s blockbuster sights, it’s a good choice during the busiest part of the day.

The unusually secular facade of this church features prominent statues of the Barbaro family, who financed the church’s 17th-century rebuilding. Also depicted are maps of the regions where Antonio Barbaro served on his military campaigns, battle scenes, and the family coat of arms. Flemish sculptor Josse Le Court, who also worked on Venice’s Santa Maria della Salute church, contributed figures of the Four Virtues. 

Milan’s best-preserved 16th-century church, the Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore features frescoes by Bernardino Luini as well as the oldest pipe organ in the city. It is also home to the Archaeological Museum of Milan (Museo Archeologico di Milano), which displays artifacts from the Etruscans, Greeks, and Romans.

Built in the early 1500s, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is one of the oldest surviving structures in Milan. The church is attached to a Benedictine convent—the oldest convent in the city—which today houses the archaeological museum. The church is often featured on Milan history and art tours, which typically include a visit to da Vinci’s famous The Last Supper with skip-the-line admission. For a personalized experience, book a private tour to explore the ancient structures of Milan and the city’s hidden gems. 

San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is located at Corso Magenta 15. To get there by public transit, take the M1 metro line to Cadorna or Cairoli. Alternatively, take tram 16 to Corso Magenta via Nirone or Via Meravigli.

The church is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 7:30pm. Milan gets very busy during the summer season, so it’s a good idea visit the church during the shoulder seasons due to its small size.

The opulent Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is one of the most revered churches in the city, along with the famous Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano). It was rebuilt during the Renaissance era, and many artists from the school of Leonardo were commissioned to paint its frescoes. Restored over 30 years into the 2010s, the church’s more than 40,000 square feet (4,000 square meters) of frescoes earned it the nickname the “Sistine Chapel of Milan.”

Like most of the many churches throughout Rome, Chiesa di Santa Maria in Comedian has an ancient past and a fascinating story. Built on an ancient worship site that was once a great temple of Hercules, it became under care of the Byzantine Papacy. Its name “Cosmedin” is the Greek word for “beautiful decoration.”

The beautiful decorations remain — with its unique characteristics including a pre-Roman crypt, a massive bell tower, marble inlaid floors, architecture and designed by the Cosmati brothers, a beautiful altar with a rare 8th century mosaic, and frescoed walls.

The famous ‘Mouth of Truth’ or Bocca della Verità can be found in the portico of the church. The face of an unknown man or god is believed to be part of an ancient Roman temple, and is said to have once functioned as a lie detector — as it would bite off the hand of a man who did not speak the truth.

Founded in the late 19th century by Prince Ivane Mukhranbatoni, the Chateau Mukhrani is a winery and castle located in Mukhrani village, just outside of Tbilisi. Mukhrani wines received international acclaim from the beginning and the winery was one of the exclusive suppliers to the Russian Imperial Court. The castle and gardens were once a cultural center for the Georgian elite and Russian royalty. Chateau Mukhrani was abandoned and nearly destroyed during Soviet times, but in 2002 plans began to restore the estate to its former glory and to revive the winery.

Since 2007, Chateau Mukhrani has once again been producing wine harvested in its own vineyards. The wine cellar has also been rebuilt according to its original design and now holds more than 60,000 barrels of wine. Today, visitors can tour the restored castle, gardens and wine cellar; sample Mukhrani wines and Georgian cuisine; and try their hand at traditional bread baking, churchkhela making or chacha distillation.

With its dramatically jagged cliffs towering 450 feet over lush green valleys and limestone rock face pocked with caves, the Cheddar Gorge is not only England’s largest gorge, but one of the country’s most impressive natural wonders. Formed during the last ice age and cocooning the now-underground Cheddar Yeo River, the striking gorge winds its way through the Mendip Hills for almost three miles and makes a popular site for hiking and rock climbing.

The Cheddar Gorge has also become known for its collection of limestone caves and underground caverns, which made headlines back in 1903, when England’s oldest complete human skeleton was found there – a specimen nicknamed the ‘Cheddar Man’ and now kept at London’s Natural History Museum. The most famous of the caves include Gough’s Cave, with its spectacular stalactites; Cox’s Cave, with its unique calcite sculptures and mirror pools; and the adjoining Crystal Quest, where the caves are filled with JRR Tolkien-inspired fantasy figures.

Squeezed between downtown Baixa and the nightlife party-central of the Bairro Alto, glossy Chiado is within shouting distance of the romantic ruins of Carmo Church (Igreja do Carmo) and the hidden treasures in the Church of St Rocco (Igreja de São Roque). It is also home to glorious Art Nouveau shops, old-world Lisboa cafés with window displays brimming with delicious pastries, and timeless antiquarian bookshops. Amid the fine 19th-century townhouses fronted with wrought-iron balconies and the piazzas with madly patterned mosaic sidewalks stand top-end fashion designers, jewelers, theaters, concert halls and posh boutique hotels. An eclectic mix of restaurants – from Michelin stars at Belcanto to basic snacks at neighborhood tapas bars – adds to the cultural soup of this sleek hillside enclave. 

When Chiado was hit by fire in 1988, the famous Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira (who redesigned much of central Porto) was called in to oversee the regeneration of the area; he designed the sophisticated mall Armazéns do Chiado and restored the Art Nouveau glamor of streets such as Rua Garrett, with its host of charming cafés. The hip area of Príncipe Reale is known for design stores and antique shops while also doubling as one of Lisbon’s leading gay quarters; interwoven into all this urban sophistication are hidden nooks and crannies such as shady Praça das Flores, perfect for people watching over a glass of port and a custard Pasteis de Nata.

The ancestral seat of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is a prominent example of 17th-century architecture, and one of Britain’s most popular stately homes. It draws visitors from all over the world who come to tour the building and see the famous gardens designed by “Capability” Brown.  

Home to the Cavendish family since the 1600s, Chatsworth House stands on the River Derwent near the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire. The house was built in the 1560s but remodeled extensively in the 17th century, when the parterre gardens were added. The interiors of the house are very well preserved and include Old Masters paintings, ancient Roman and Egyptian sculptures, and much more. The landscaped grounds by “Capability” Brown were developed in the mid-18th century. Chatsworth House and its owners, the Devonshires, have played an important role in many historical events in the UK. More recently, the home has been used as a location for several films and TV shows, including the famous BBC adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. 

Chatsworth has been voted the UK’s most popular country house several times and is a favorite stop for guided tours of England. If visiting independently, you can purchase individual tickets for different attractions or buy a combined pass.

Chatsworth House is located in Derbyshire in England’s Peak District, close to the town of Bakewell. If driving, there is on-site parking. Alternatively take the train to the town of Sheffield and then transfer to a bus to Chatsworth, or join a guided tour.

Chatsworth House is open daily year-round except for major holidays. Hours vary by day and by season; check online for current schedules. 

If you’re traveling with little ones, they are sure to enjoy the farmyard and playground that you’ll find on the grounds at Chatsworth (tickets available separately). Children can see the farm animals up close and even help with farmyard tasks like milking the cows. The playground—with rope park and zipline—will appeal to adventurous youngsters. 

The town of Chester in northwest England was established by the Romans in 70AD making it one of the country's oldest towns. It is also one of England's best preserved walled towns with most of its walls still intact. Visitors can walk the ancient city walls to get a better view of the city as well as the largest Roman amphitheater in Britain and the beautiful architecture of the Chester Cathedral. Another historic part of town is the Rows, a series of Victorian half timbered buildings dating back to the 16th century which now hold shopping galleries. 

Chester also has the Chester Zoo and the gardens of Tatton. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, and venues that host live music events throughout the town. Within the walls, the town is compact, making it easy to explore by foot and enjoy the charm and history. Not too far from Chester, visitors can explore old stately homes, medieval castles, and the mountains of North Wales. 

The 17th-century San Carlo ai Catinari Church (Chiesa di San Carlo ai Catinari) is dedicated to Saint Carlo Borromeo and known for its sumptuous baroque interiors. The church features stucco decorations, three-dimensional depictions of the cardinal virtues, and Antonio Gherardi's Chapel of St. Cecilia, which features a dome illuminated by hidden windows.

Guided tours of the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere often include a stop at San Carlo ai Catinari (Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari), along with the nearby Turtle Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe) and the Chiesa di Santa Maria in Trastevere. You can easily pair a visit to this neighborhood with a tour of Rome's most famous sights, including Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Campo de' Fiori.

The church was designed by Rosato Rosati and has an elegant marble facade by Giovanni Battista Soria. Inside, the elaborate stucco ceiling decorations and paintings of the cardinal virtues around the base of the dome pop out of their frames, making them appear three-dimensional. These are attributed to Domenichino, while other important works by Pietro da Cortona, Giovanni Lanfranco, and Guido Reni decorate the altar and chapels.

Set about halfway between the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle and the Tiber river near the former Jewish Ghetto, Chiesa di San Carlo ai Catinari is located at Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 117. Take bus 40 or 64 from the Termini train station.

Rome's churches offer a cool respite during the heat of the day, so if visiting in summer, time your visit for midday when the temperatures outside soar.

The phrase “ai Catinari” refers to the workshops on a nearby street that once specialized in making clay basins, or “catini.” A small street across from the facade of the church is still called the Vicolo de’ Catinari, or Basin-makers’ Lane.

Renowned for its full-bodied reds, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the breakout stars of the Rhône Valley wine region and a firm favorite among wine lovers. The hilltop village is undeniably picturesque, with its imposing castle, atmospheric medieval streets, and magnificent views over the vineyards below. 

Most visitors choose to explore Châteauneuf-du-Pape on a half- or full-day tour from Marseille, Avignon, or Aix-en-Provence. A typical day-trip itinerary includes wine tasting in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a walking tour of Provence villages such as Les Baux de Provence or Arles, and a stop at the towns of Orange and Avignon, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

For wine enthusiasts, a Rhône Valley wine tour is an ideal introduction to French wine. In addition to  Châteauneuf-du-Pape, most tours include a stop at wine-producing towns such as Tavel, Mont Ventoux, Gigondas, and Beaumes-de-Venise.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is about a 30-minute drive north of Avignon, and buses run frequently from Avignon’s central bus station. To explore the surrounding wine estates and villages, you’ll need your own transport. For those interested in the local wine, it’s a good idea to visit as part of a group or private tour with a designated driver.

The main tourist season for the Rhône Valley is from April to October, and many wineries, guesthouses, and restaurants close their doors outside of this period. July and August are by far the busiest months, when the small village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape can get crowded. It’s best to book tours and wine tastings in advance during the high season. 

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is best known for its bold and fruity red wines—around 95% of the region’s production is red wine—with a high alcohol content (a minimum of 12.5%). The most common grapes in this region famed for its unique terroir are grenache, syrah, and mourvèdre. Of the more than 300 wineries in the area, some of the most prestigious wine estates are Château Mont-Redon, Château La Nerthe, and Domaine de Beaurenard.

Evocatively nicknamed London’s Secret Garden, the Chelsea Physic Garden is a green oasis in the heart of Chelsea, hidden away by the Thames riverbank. Founded in 1673, it’s London’s oldest botanic garden, set up by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries and renowned for its impressive collection of medicinal plants and rare species.

The 4-acre walled-garden is home to some 5,000 different edible, medicinal and historic plants, with highlights including Britain’s largest outdoor olive tree, the world’s northernmost outdoor grapefruit tree, a series of endangered plants from Madeira and the Canary Islands, and a World Woodland Garden, devoted to forest plants from around the world. There’s also the Tangerine Dream café, which serves lunch and afternoon tea; a gift shop and an annual schedule of workshops, tours and activities.

Also known at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chiado Museum is one of the best collections of contemporary Portuguese art. Located in the neighborhood that bears the same name, Chiado is the center of Lisbon’s bohemian culture. The museum has been around since 1911, but moved to its current location, a reformed monastery, in 1994. Much of the monastery’s original architecture remains but is now mixed in with modern suspended walkways and sophisticated lighting systems. 

With works that span across the 19th – 21st centuries, pieces range from Romanticism, to Naturalism; from Impressionism to Neo-realism. The permanent collection is small and mostly Portuguese artists with a speckling of other European artists, including several sculptures by the famed French sculpture, Rodin. The Chiado Museum receives a number of rotating exhibits, many of which display Portuguese artists from private collections or other museums throughout the country. A highlight is the outdoor sculpture garden, with simple but carefully manicured lawns dotted with bronze sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The elegant seaside resort of Cherbourg sits by the English Channel (known as La Manche en français) on the Normandy coastline of France, a popular destination with families who visit for the miles of sandy beach as well as cross-Channel sailors who head for the marina at Port Chantereyne. The old town itself is a charming tangle of cobbled streets hiding stylish restaurants and bars as well as a smattering of museums, art galleries and smart shops.

Today Cherbourg’s ferry port connects with the English port towns of Portsmouth and Poole, but for centuries it was an important naval base, thanks to its deep natural harbour. During Napoleonic times in the early 19th century, grandiose sea walls and fortified defenses were constructed to protect the port from English attack. World War II saw most of these destroyed amid fierce fighting but after the end of the war in 1945, US troops rebuilt the harbor and it briefly became the busiest in the world. It can be explored by boat or the electric tourist train that chugs gamely around the town, and Cherbourg’s fascinating Museum of Liberation tells the story of its military history in Fort de Roule, which perches on a rocky crag high above the town. The Cité de la Mer complex is found in the former ocean-liner terminal and has exhibitions on immigration, an aquarium and a tour around a disused French nuclear submarine.

Pisa’s exquisite Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is covered in intricate and fanciful stonework, a hallmark of the 14th-century Pisan Gothic style. With its fairytale exterior and magnificent Madonna of the Rose by Andrea and Nino Pisano inside, this church is a tiny gem and the perfect foil to the grandeur of the city’s Duomo.

 

Built in 1230 to house a thorn from the Crown of Thorns (now displayed in the city’s Church of Santa Chiara), this small, striped marble church is considered one of the most important Gothic churches in Europe and is a highlight of Pisa. The original church was enlarged in the mid-1300s; in 1871, just as waters of the Arno River began to rise, it was moved from a location along the riverbanks to its present site, on the riverside walkway. The richly decorated exterior features a number of statues by Giovanni and Nino Pisano and other important 14th-century artists from Pisa.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is one of the top sights in Pisa, along with the Piazza dei Miracoli, where the Duomo and Leaning Tower is located. Walking and Segway tours often include a visit to Santa Maria della Spina along with skip-the-line tickets to the Duomo, tower, and baptistery. If you have time for a full-day tour, you can easily combine a Pisa visit with nearby Lucca, Siena, or San Gimignano.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is built into the promenade wall lining the Arno across the river from the Piazza dei Miracoli. It’s an easy walk from the main train station.

Pisa’s Duomo complex is most crowded from late morning through the afternoon, so try to schedule your tour in the early morning and then move on to Santa Maria della Spina when the throngs of daily visitors arrive. 

The Piazza dei Miracoli, home to Pisa’s Gothic Duomo and baptistery and iconic Leaning Tower, is one of the most popular sights in Tuscany. In addition, you can tour the Monumental Cemetery and Sinopie Museum, which has a collection of preparatory sketches for the cathedral’s frescoes. Finally, the Duomo Opera Museum houses art that’s been removed from the Duomo and baptistery over the centuries.

Once one of three Berlin Wall border points, bridging the divide between the Allied-occupied West Berlin and Soviet-occupied East Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie is one of the most important Cold War sites in Berlin. Today, a recreated guard house marks the site where numerous confrontations, escape attempts, and protests took place, and the adjoining Checkpoint Charlie Museum is a moving tribute to those who risked their lives to escape from East Germany and bring about the fall of the wall. 

Most sightseeing city tours or hop-on hop-off bus tours of Berlin make a stop at Checkpoint Charlie, while walking tours, bike tours, and Segway tours offer a more unique way to visit the landmark. For historical context, be sure to visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum (Mauermuseum), or combine it with a tour of other historic war sites, such as the Wall Memorial, the East Side Gallery, or the Allied Museum, where the original Checkpoint Charlie border crossing is on display. 

Checkpoint Charlie is located on Friedrichstrasse in East Berlin, just east of Potsdamer Platz. The closest U-Bahn stations are Kochstrasse and Stadtmitte, but it’s also possible to walk there from many nearby sights—the Brandenburg Gate is about a 20-minute walk away.

The sight is open daily, all year round, but the small space can get overcrowded in the summer months. Aim to visit first or last thing in the day to avoid the main crowds or pre-book your tickets in advance to skip the line. 

A small museum crammed with photos, artifacts, and information, the Checkpoint Charlie Museum offers a moving portrait of Berlin during the Cold War era. Notable exhibitions focus on the creative and daring ways that East Germans attempted to escape across the border—including a cleverly adapted VW car, a hot-air balloon, and a suitcase. It’s a memorial to those who lost their lives, and offers first-hand accounts of life behind the wall as well as a look at human rights efforts around the world.

Château St Martin is a former 12th-century Knights Templar fortress on the French Riviera that is now a prestigious five-star guest property. This historic building sits amid acres of natural beauty and affords its guests some spectacular views across the Côte d’Azur. 

The château itself blends perfectly with its environment, with red and green vines clinging to the walls for most of the year. The building was restored by the contemporary architect, Luc Svetchine, and decorated by the property’s owner, Maja Oetker. Aubusson and Gobelins tapestries, 18th century pendulums, plus Persian and Turkish carpets combine to make the château a fascinating place to simply wander around.

Château St Martin offers some dramatic and varied views from all angles and the grounds’ perfectly-maintained gardens provide a sense of peace and tranquillity. With 46 classically designed rooms, incredible views, and a distinctly sophisticated and refined atmosphere, Chateau St Martin is one of those truly unique places to spend the night.

One of the most historically important churches in Siena, the Basilica of San Domenico is famous for another saint: the city’s own Saint Catherine. It was here that Catherine took her vows in 1363 at the age of 15, and the church holds a number of her relics, including her head, thumb, and whip used for self-flagellation.

 

Join a guided tour that takes in the Basilica of San Domenico and other city highlights, including Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, and Torre del Mangia. Many Siena walking and Segway tours also include skip-the-line entrance tickets to Siena’s cathedral (Duomo), along with the adjacent Piccolomini Library—frescoed by Pinturicchio—and the Museo dell'Opera. Siena is a popular day trip from Florence, and tours often include stops in Pisa and San Gimignano, as well. 

 

 

The Basilica di San Domenico is on Piazza Domenico on the very edge of Siena’s pedestrian historic center, an easy walk from most other top attractions and the train station. 

 

The Basilica di San Domenico is usually less crowded than Siena’s cathedral, and can be a quiet and cool respite during the peak hours of midday.

 

The Gothic church was built in 1226 on the Camporegio hill and contains a number of important works of art by the Sienese school in addition to St. Catherine’s relics. Of note are a magnificent Majesty (Maestà) by Guido da Siena, frescoes by Francesco Vanni and Pietro Lorenzetti, and the sumptuously decorated chapel dedicated to St. Catherine, where her head and thumb are displayed. The Chapel of the Vaults (Cappella delle Volte) holds a pretty portrait of the saint.

Despite its modest white façade, flanked by four simple Doric pilasters, the Chiesa Nuova, or New Church, is one of Assisi’s most historically important churches, founded on the site of the house of Saint Francis’ home and birthplace. A church has stood on this spot since the 14th century, but the modern-day structure dates back to the early 17th century, when it was built under patronage of King Philip III of Spain, and has since become a significant landmark for pilgrims.

The most notable features of the Renaissance-style Chiesa Nuova are the colorful frescoes by Cesare Sermei and Giacomo Giorgetti that adorn the interiors and the adjoining museum and library that offer greater insight into the site’s unique history.

At 80 sq km (31 square miles) Chiemsee is the largest lake in Bavaria, fed by the snowmelt water of the rivers Prien Tiroler and Achen, which drain the lake on its northern shores as the Alz.

Attractions around Chiemsee include the house designed by flamboyant Secessionist artist Julius Exter in the lakeside resort of Übersee-Feldwies; surrounded by colorful gardens, the house is ornately decorated with wrought-iron balconies and many of his paintings are displayed in his former studio.

There is also a retrospective exhibition of Exter’s vivid landscapes in the Baroque Augustinian Monastery on Herrenchiemsee, an island in the middle of Chiemsee. Also located on the same island is the extravagant Herrenchiemsee New Palace, built in the style of Versailles for King Ludwig II, who reigned over Bavaria between 1865–86; a small museum in the palace details his short but eccentric life.

Frauenchiemsee is the second islet on Chiemsee, home to one of the oldest monasteries in Germany. It was founded back in 782 and flourished for the most part for the next millennia before being rebuilt in Baroque style in the 17th century, although parts still date from medieval times. 

As well as its manmade landmarks, Chiemsee is popular with walkers and cyclists for its natural beauty; surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Alps, the shoreline is protected as the wetland home of several endangered species of wading birds. 

Set within the grounds of Dublin Castle, the Chester Beatty Library houses the collection of wealthy American mining magnate Sir Alfred Chester Beatty. Exhibits include thousands of rare books, from copies of the Quran and the Bible to ancient Egyptian papyrus texts, as well as paintings, woodblocks, textiles, and decorative arts.

The only Irish winner of the coveted European Museum of the Year Award, the Chester Beatty Library is one of Ireland’s leading museums. It hosts two permanent exhibitions (Arts of the Book and Sacred Traditions) as well as a changing roster of temporary exhibitions. 

Most visitors explore the collections independently, after arriving on foot or via hop-on hop-off tour buses, though free drop-in guided tours are available on Wednesdays (1pm) and Sundays (3pm and 4pm). Some history-themed walking tours of Dublin make stops at the library, together with nearby historic sights such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College.

The Chester Beatty Library is situated within the grounds of Dublin Castle, just a short stroll from Temple Bar, Grafton Street, and Trinity College. The nearest Luas tram stops are St. Stephen’s Green and Trinity, both of which are about 10 minutes away on foot. 

During the summer months, the library can be busy, particularly after 12pm, so come in the morning to explore when it’s quiet. Note that a maximum of 15 people can be accommodated on guided tours, and participation is on a first-come first-served basis. Arrive early to ensure a spot. 

Among the most fascinating items on show are the examples of ancient Egyptian love poetry, which are written on papyrus manuscripts and are believed to date back to around 1100 BC. The Sacred Traditions exhibit houses a valuable collection of Qurans dating from between the ninth and 19th century and showcases ornate Islamic illuminations and calligraphy.