Things to Do in The Whitsundays & Hamilton Island

South Mumbai’s exclusive Churchgate district is home to some of the city’s most iconic sites, including Elephanta Caves, the Gateway of India, and Rajabai Tower. Facing the Arabian Sea and dominated by the mile-long Veer Nariman Road, Churchgate is home to many of Mumbai’s most prestigious companies and organizations, including the offices of the High Court.

But what’s in a name? Well, the island of Bombay was first in the possession of the Portuguese, and when their national princess, Catherine Braganza, married King Charles II of England in 1661, Portugal needed to stump up an impressive dowry. In fact, they ended up giving away the whole of Bombay as a gift. The British, in turn, leased the area to the East India Company who decided that a fort was necessary to protect the precious city. Completed in the 1720s, the high city walls had three entrance gates, one of which was Churchgate to the south. This gate was named after St. Thomas Cathedral, which you can still see today.

A hundred years after the city walls were built, however, it was decided that such boundaries were suffocating the growth of the city, and so in 1860 they were torn down. Today, the grand Flora Fountain commemorates the original site of Churchgate. Built in 1864, you can visit this heritage site on Veer Nariman Street.

Dedicated to one of the region’s most popular Christian saints, the current Church of St George (or Mari Girgis) was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, although the original was established as far back as the 10th century.

This Coptic Christian church has a distinctive style, having been built on top of a round Roman tower; it is the only circular church in Egypt. Its dark interior is an atmospheric place, thick with incense and with sunbeams filtering in through stained glass windows. There’s a flight of steps leading down into the old Roman tower, although this is closed off to the public.

The Monastery of St. George next door is also closed to visitors. The Coptic Moulid (saints’ festival) of Mar Girgis is held here each year in April.

Built in the 4th century, the Church of St. George (also called the Rotunda of Sveti Georgi) is thought to be the oldest building in Sofia. Located in a courtyard between the President’s Building and the Sheraton hotel, the small church is surrounded by Roman era ruins. Largely destroyed by the invading Huns, it was rebuilt in the 6th century and many of the interior murals were painted between the 10th and 14th centuries. After the Ottoman conquest in the 16th century, it was converted into a mosque and most of the church’s medieval frescoes were painted over and not uncovered again until the 20th century.

The Church of St. George has been a working church since the middle of the 19th century. Visitors should look for a frieze that contains 22 portraits of the prophets, as well as remnants of the 10th-century frescoes.

Covered in intricate mosaics and massive murals in Late Byzantine style, the Church of St Savior in Chora has been standing since the 4th century. The present day structure is thought to have been built in the 11th century, then converted to a mosque by Ottomans in the 16th century. Today it functions as a secular museum, housing what are considered to be some of the world’s finest frescoes and mosaics. The interior of the church has been especially well preserved throughout time. In total there are more than 50 mosaic panels, most dating back to 1310 and in near perfect condition.

The frescoes depict the lives of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, as well as saints and icons of Christianity. Above the door to the nave in the inner narthex, you’ll find one of the most spectacular mosaics of Theodore Metochites, the director of the Byzantine Treasury, making an offering to Christ.

A frenzied whirligig of Baroque ornamentation, the Church of the Holy Spirit was constructed at the beginning of the 15th century and is one of the most ornate of all Vilnius’s churches. Over the centuries and depending on who was ruling Lithuania at the time, it has been a Catholic church, a Dominican monastery, a parish church, a prison, and finally, today it is the Orthodox parish church of the Polish diaspora in Lithuania. 

Owing its present Baroque and rococo appearance to a facelift by architect Jonas Kristupas Glaubicas after a fire in 1749, the interior is a heady clash of colors, gilt, carved wooden pews, ornate lecterns, and bright sprays of flowers. The crypt contains the skeletons of nearly 2,000 bodies, thought to be a mixture of plague victims and fallen soldiers from the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. However, most people visit to gaze in awe at the over-lavish internal decoration of the church, with its swags of marble, frescoes coating the walls, coats of arms, stucco, reliquaries and precious icons, its 16 altars and the monumental Casparini organ dating from 1776.

Even though it’s less than a mile long, the elevated boardwalk at Cinco Ceibas Rainforest Reserve can take an hour to complete. Here, at Central America’s longest boardwalk, endangered, swooping green macaws can often be spotted in the treetops, and rows of marching leaf-cutter ants parade along vine-covered trunks. Every few steps are worth a stop to marvel at the forest around you—which stretches for over 2,700 acres of pristine Costa Rican countryside. The elevated forest boardwalk aside, Cinco Ceibas Rainforest Reserve is a bright light of conservation in the midst of natural destruction. Here in the province of Sarapiquí to the north of San José, a global demand for Costa Rican pineapples has led to deforestation. Tirelessly working to conserve what they can, Cinco Ceibas set out on a mission to plant half a million trees—including a grove of towering teak that’s been growing for 20 years. Today the teak grove forms the backdrop for eco-tours on horseback, and many of the park’s facilities and buildings were sourced using park-grown materials. Hear the efforts towards conservation while kayaking the Rio Cuarto, a leisurely, slow-moving mountain stream where monkeys, macaws, and red-eyed tree frogs flit across banks and bushes. Best of all, is that despite the park’s remote location and distance from San José, guests are greeted with comfortable facilities and impeccable customer service. It’s the park’s hope, that through education and tourism, that much like the stoic Ceiba trees that have stood for 500 years, the sustainable, natural, conservation practices will help the area keep its forests for at least 500 more.

While the romantic position of the lovely Baroque Church of the Assumption on a minuscule mound in the middle of Lake Bled is enough to attract thousands of visitors to it each year – it is one of Slovenia’s most popular wedding venues – it is also feted thanks to its internal ornamentation, 177‐foot (54‐meter) tower and dedication to the Virgin Mary. Starting out as a pagan temple many years before the advent of Christianity, the church has at various times been a small, wooden structure and a single‐aisle Gothic church, which was consecrated by the Bishop of Ljubljana in 1465. The freestanding bell tower appeared later in the same century and the church was reconstructed yet again in 1685 in its present Baroque style, with a deliciously OTT gilt‐encrusted altar and black marble and wood‐carved pulpits contrasting keenly with its serene white and cream aisles. Two legends surround the church: that men must carry their partners up the 99 steps of the 15th‐century stone staircase leading up to its entrance to ensure marital happiness; and that ringing the wishing bell – which dates from 1534 – on the left of the altar makes wishes come true. 

Culture, art, and history abound in this Belgian national museum. The four main collections span periods of time from prehistory in national archaeology and classical antiquity, to European decorative arts and non-European displays. Explore artifacts from all over the world, with collections dedicated to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome and also movements in Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and even Art Deco European arts. Trace the evolution of art in Europe from the 10th century or journey through the arts of India, China, pre-Columbian Americas, and other non-European civilizations.

Unique pieces in sculpture, tapestry, historic jewelry, and even glassware are some of the museum’s highlights, as well as the overview of history of mankind from prehistoric times. The museum contains more than 350,000 historical artifacts in total in its permanent collection. It routinely houses some of Europe’s finest traveling exhibitions.

Having just opened in 2014, Cinecitta World is Italy’s newest amusement park and the largest film studio in Europe. Dedicated solely to film and entertainment, eight film sets, four theaters, and twenty attractions comprise the main area. The park was built in the Castel Romano complex atop former a film studio, and remains an homage to great Italian cinema produced here in the 1960s. Films such as Gangs of New York, Ben-Hur, and Dante's Inferno were brought to life in this space.

Visitors today are immersed in the experience of filmmaking, having the chance to go behind-the-scenes in former and imagined movie sets. Oscar-winning composer Ennio Morricone created the soundtrack for the Western themed set, and designer and art director Dante Ferretti completed the initial drawing plans. The idea is that the line between fiction and reality becomes blurred during the experience. The park also has two rollercoasters and live themed shows daily.

Built, as its name suggests, on a hilltop overlooking Sighisoara, the Church on the Hill is one of the city’s oldest buildings, dating back to the mid-14th century. Acclaimed as one of Transylvania’s most important examples of ecclesiastical Gothic architecture, it’s a striking sight, perched on the 420-meter summit of School Hill.

It’s a steep climb up a 175-step covered wooden staircase, the ‘Scholar’s Stairs’, to the church, but it’s worth the effort to view the beautifully restored interiors.  Highlights include a number of carefully restored 15th-century frescos, an elaborate 16th-century altar and an eerie crypt, home to around 30 tombs.

A branch of the acclaimed Imperial War Museum, the Churchill War Rooms are set in the secret wartime bunker from which the cigar-puffing Prime Minister of Britain, Winston Churchill, directed the country’s war efforts. Situated beneath street level in London’s Westminster district, the Cabinet War Rooms were constructed shortly before the outbreak of World War II. Little has changed within them since the war came to a close in 1945, though these days, the underground complex functions as a museum, documenting the workings of the United Kingdom’s wartime government.  

 

For anyone with an interest in WWII history or British politics, the Churchill War Rooms are an absolute must. They are divided into two areas: the original Cabinet War Rooms, including the all-important Map Room, and the Churchill Museum, which chronicles the life and work of the revered wartime leader. You can explore the exhibits independently with the aid of a complimentary audio guide. Some organized excursions combine entrance to the Churchill War Rooms with guided tours of Westminster Abbey and nearby WWII sites. London Pass holders get free entry to the Churchill War Rooms.

 

 

The Churchill War Rooms are located on Clive Steps, just off Whitehall. The nearest Underground stations are Westminster (Jubilee, District, and Circle lines) and St. James’s Park (District and Circle lines). Charing Cross railway station is about a 12-minute walk away.

 

The Churchill War Rooms are busiest during the summer months (May through August); during school breaks (such as around Easter, and during February and October breaks); and on Saturdays. To avoid the crowds, go midweek. 

 

The Churchill War Rooms are not the only attraction in town to delve into WWII history. The Imperial War Museum in Lambeth, South London, also features WWII-oriented exhibits. A stone’s throw away on the South Bank sits HMS Belfast, a warship that took part in the Normandy landings in 1944, while Parliament Square hosts a statue of Winston Churchill. Bletchley Park, the Victorian estate where British intelligence cracked Germany’s enigma code, is within day-tripping distance of London.

One of the most significant sites in Jerusalem’s Armenian Quarter, the walled Church of St James serves as the cathedral of the Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Georgians first built a church on the site — believed to be the location where St. James was beheaded — during the eleventh century. The structure was resorted by Armenians during the twelfth century.

Besides its ties to the martyred disciple, the Church of St James also houses the tomb of another James, the oldest brother of Jesus and the author of the Epistle of James, who was himself martyred in 62 AD.

The church ranks among the most ornate houses of worship anywhere in the holy land, adorned with hanging lamps, gilded icons and colorful woven carpets. The courtyard of the church features a series of interesting carved stone crosses, called khatchkars.

Beloved by both pilgrims and art aficionados, the Church of St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli) houses the chains that bound Saint Peter when the Romans imprisoned him in Jerusalem. Built in the fifth century, the church today is also home to Michelangelo’s Moses, part of the unfinished monumental tomb of Pope Julius II.

 

Michelangelo’s dramatic Moses statue was to have been the most prominent of the 40 figures planned for Pope Julius II's tomb and is considered one of the artist’s best works. But, work on the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican interrupted progress on the tomb, and Michelangelo completed only a few of the planned statues before his death.

 

The Church of St. Peter in Chains, also known as the Basilica Eudoxiana, is a favorite stop on walking tours of Ancient Rome that include other early Christian churches, such as San Clemente and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Those who want to pair their culture with cuisine can combine a tour of St. Peter in Chains with a wine tasting in the surrounding Monti neighborhood.

 

 

St. Peter in Chains is only a short walk from the Colosseum and Roman Forum; the closest metro stop is Cavour.

 

Italy's capital city is one of the most popular destinations in Europe, and its sights can be very crowded in the summer months. Try to visit from November to April to enjoy the city's treasures without the crush of high-season tourists.

 

This holy relic eventually made its way from Jerusalem to Rome, where it arrived in two parts, one of which was sent to Eudoxia, wife of emperor Valentinian III. When held next to shackles owned by Pope Leo I, legend holds the two parts miraculously fused together to form a single chain, now kept in an urn under the main altar.

St. Petersburg’s most iconic site after the Hermitage Museum, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood is known for its elaborate façade and brightly colored onion domes. Officially the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, the magnificent church was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881.

No city tour of St. Petersburg is complete without a visit to the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood; most sightseeing tours and shore excursions include at least a photo stop at the famous landmark. Many tours combine a visit to the church with St. Petersburg attractions like the Hermitage Museum, the Winter Palace, and the Peterhof Palace Gardens; a cathedral tour, which often includes the St Isaac's Cathedral and Kazan Cathedral, will also stop here. 

Located along the Griboedov Canal just off Nevsky Prospekt, the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood is hard to miss. The closest subway stations, both a short walk away, are Nevsky Prospekt and Gostiniy Dvor. 

The church is open to visitors daily except Wednesdays, year round, with extended evening hours between May and September. The busiest time to visit is during the peak summer months (July and August ), when it’s best to plan an early-morning visit to avoid the crowds.

Completed in 1907, the church’s design was inspired by traditional Russian architecture, as well as St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow and the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev. The interior, designed by some of the most popular Russian artists at the time, features more than 7,500 square feet (697 square meters) of mosaic tiles on the walls and ceilings. Additional highlights include a large icon of St. Alexander Nevsky, the mosaics’ intricate biblical scenes, and an ornate shrine located on the exact spot where Tsar Alexander II was killed.

The church endured significant damage over the years, first in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution and later during the Siege of Leningrad during World War II, when it was used as a morgue. Restoration began in 1970; the church reopened to the public as a museum in 1997, but it was never reconsecrated. 

Located opposite the entrance to the Imperial Hofburg Palace, Michaelerkirche was consecrated in 1217. Although fragments of the present incarnation date back to the mid-14th century, most of it was rebuilt in 1792 in fine Baroque style, but it is still topped with its spindly Gothic spire. 

Thanks to its position at the very heart of Imperial Vienna, Michaelerkirche became the parish church of the Imperial Family and by default the place of worship favored by Vienna’s aristocracy. It was in this church where Hayden played, and where Mozart’s unfinished Last Requiem was performed on the magnificent Sieber Organ after his death in 1791. 

Toady Michaelerkirche is known for both its Baroque ornamentation and its music recitals but is chiefly notorious for the grisly secrets in its crypt. In the early 17th century, the graveyard surrounding the church filled up with tombs and was closed down. From 1631 until 1784, more than 4,000 of the good burghers of Vienna were entombed in the crypt’s catacombs, and thanks to a quirk of climatic conditions down there, many of their mummified bodies and decorative coffins – skillfully carved with wreathes, flowers and death masks – have been perfectly preserved.

The caskets stand in ranks throughout the crypt; several are open to view, revealing parchment-like skin stretched taught across grinning skulls, tufts of wig and glimpses of fancy period waistcoats etched with lace. 

Ciampino was the first airport serving the Rome area, and though it was replaced for many routes by the larger, newer Fiumicino International Airport, Ciampino remains in operation for many of the domestic and shorter routes within Europe. It is also known as G. B. Pastine International Airport, and services commercial and civilian as well as military aircraft.

The airport opened in 1916 and remains one of the oldest airports still in operation. During World War II, Ciampino was captured by Allied Forces and became a cargo hub, even serving as a United States Army Air Force airfield at one time. Today it welcomes just over 5 million passengers per year and is a hub for Ryanair, the budget airline connecting most of Europe.

Cicek Pasaji was the most glamorous address in the Beyoğlu district during the heady days of the Orient Express, and today the historic 19th-century arcade is known for its restaurants and lively bar scene. Opened in the old site of the grand Naum Theatre in 1876, Cicek Pasaji was originally known as Cité de Péra, but following the 1917 Russian Revolution the galleria became known as Cicek Pasaji (Turkish for Flower Passage) because some of the newly-impoverished bourgeois Russian women who fled to Istanbul to start again began selling flowers here. By the 1940s, the new name stuck because by then, most of Cité de Péra’s buildings were occupied by flower shops.

Once home to some of Istanbul's most glamorous apartments and stores, by the time of the Second World War, the exclusive shops had turned into rough and rowdy meyhanes (taverns).  But the galleria has since been restored and refurbished, and a glass canopy was fitted in 1998, so that a visit to Cicek Pasaji will let you see the arcade’s grand Second Empire architectural style returned back to its original glory.