Category: Architecture

Medieval British Village Life: The Definitive Guide for Seniors

Life in the Medieval British Village In a previous article, we looked at the icons of the British village–the pub and the cottage–and looked at their history and evolution from Roman and Norman times. In this article we will look at daily life in the British village during the medieval period–or the period spanning the […]

Georgian Style of Architecture: Definitive Guide for Seniors

When the royal House of Hanover ascended the throne of the United Kingdom with George I in 1714, it ushered in a distinctive “Georgian style” seen in the architecture and interior design of the houses and buildings in Great Britain. In this article, we will look at the two main movements under the Georgian style of architecture–Palladianism and Neoclassicism–as well as the styles that later emerged and were revived in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Gargoyles and Grotesques: A Guide to Gothic Architecture’s Stone Creatures

Gargoyles and grotesques were a hallmark of the Gothic period of architecture, which grew popular in Western Europe from the 12th to the late 15th centuries, and which was carried over well into the 20th century during the age of Gothic Revival marked by fascination with the Middle Ages. You will find gargoyles and grotesques in countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.

London’s Victorian Architecture: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

London’s architecture during the Victorian Era was defined by the transformation of British society, due to the rapid changes of the Industrial Revolution. Industrialisation transformed British life, leading to innovative new technologies, rapid wealth accumulation, and a proliferation of new goods and services.

England’s Liverpool: Port City, Architecture Marvel

During the Industrial Revolution, the city became one of the most important ports in North-West England, prominent for its cotton, tobacco, and slave trade (especially during the American civil war).

Exploring Newcastle upon Tyne: The Definitive guide for Travellers

Newcastle (or Newcastle upon Tyne) in northeast England is rich in architectural wonders and steeped in history.

Ten Things We Never Knew About London

In this article, we’re sharing ten little-known facts about London. Whether you’ve visited London over twenty times, or have never been, we hope that you’ll uncover something that you never knew before.

Capability Brown: The English Garden Genius

Discover the story of Capability Brown, the style of his landscapes and the mark they have left on modern England. Read about Brown’s most famous clients and where you can admire his work today.

800 Years of History: Discover the University of Oxford

With 800 or so years of history, the university has not only shaped the city Oxford but has become a significant part of the fabric of English history, enduring through times of social upheaval and great change.

Travellers exploring Glasgow’s Architectural Heritage

Glasgow’s historic buildings are an important part of the city’s social history, and should not be missed by any traveller – even those with only have a passing interest in architecture!

Arcades of Melbourne, Victoria

Arcades of Melbourne, Victoria Imagine yourself in Marvellous Melbourne, in the second half of the 19th century. The Gold Rushes – and subsequent land boom – have made your city the richest in the world, and the second-biggest in the British Empire. Industrial advances and trade have brought luxury goods from all around the world […]

Continental Crossroads: Discover Morocco

Continental Crossroads: Discover Morocco Morocco is a land of incredible diversity. On an Odyssey Traveller Morocco tour of this magnificent country you will encounter bustling marketplaces, grand and ornate architecture, spectacular deserts, rugged mountain ranges and thrumming African cities.  Situated at the crossroads of two continents, this corner of North Africa been repeatedly conquered and reconquered […]

History of Santorini

History of Santorini: From the Minoans to the Greek Republic The history of the Greek islands of Santorini (or Thera) stretches back to the Neolithic Era more than 3,000 years ago. A place of great importance during the Bronze Age and a beautiful group of islands born from a devastating volcanic eruption, Santorini’s rich archaeological sites […]

History of Pakistan

Pakistan, a young nation created with the partition of British India in 1947, is intertwined with the history of India and the broader Indian subcontinent.

15 Must-See Sites in Berlin

15 Must-See Sites in Berlin | Small group tours Germany Berlin, capital of Germany, venue of the Berlinale, seat of the German Parliament, and location of UNESCO-protected Museum Island, occupies a place of prominence as a cultural and economic powerhouse. The city dates back to the 13th Century and has served as capital of the […]

Questions about Finland

Odyssey has built up a reasonable knowledge bank to answer questions about Finland that travellers are likely to ask

Dry Stone Walls: An Alternative History of the British Isles

Throughout the nation, from Yorkshire to Orkney, miles of moss-covered dry stone walls snake their way through the open land. You would be forgiven for not looking twice. However, dry stone walls offer an alternative route into the history of humanity in the British Isles.

Brunelleschi’s Dome: The Amateur turned Renaissance Genius

Filippo Brunelleschi. We will look at who he was and how he came to win the competition to design the dome for Florence’s cathedral.

Elements of Mosque Architecture

The word “mosque” often brings to mind not this simple prayer space, but the ornately decorated monuments built by powerful Islamic rulers.

Bauhaus Movement: The Definitive Guide for Travellers

The Bauhaus School and its 100-Year Legacy The Bauhaus School was the brainchild of Walter Gropius of Germany, who reimagined art and utility as a single form that combined architecture, fine arts, and crafts (MET 2007). Though it started as a School for practical artists, it developed into a movement, even a lifestyle, which swept […]

Early History of Sicily: From the Phoenicians to the Arab Conquest

Early History of Sicily: From the Phoenicians to the Arab Conquest (800 BC to the 10th Century) Sicily in Southern Italy is the largest island in the Mediterranean, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Messina and lying just 160 kilometres from Tunisia, the northern tip of Africa. Together with its surrounding islands (Egadi, […]