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Five Destinations To Visit From The Ancient World
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At the foundation of modern day nations, many ancient settlements grew into vast metropolises.
A Homage To Provence, Home Of One Of The First Motion Pictures
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Location of numerous Van Gogh paintings and place of the Lumières' 1895 motion picture, Provence is rich with French beauty.
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A city famous for its thermal spas, Budapest's public spas are both luxurious and packed with history.
Travelling is an occupation
By Will Street
Jul. 25, 2019, 11:30 AM
Five Destinations to Visit from the Ancient World
At the foundation of modern day nations, many ancient settlements grew into vast metropolises.
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The world's ancient cities were not only the most populated regions of antiquity, but also the beating heart of ancient nations where goods would be brought to be sold at market and command over great regions of far-flung lands would be decided. We've taken a look at the settlements that controlled nations and whose legacy have continued to inspire future civilisations centuries beyond their time.
Number 5: Edfu
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Edfu is located on the west bank of the Nile River and today is a only a small town with a population of approximately 60,000. However, the town is home to the Temple of Horus and close by the ancient Egyptian settlement of Wetjeset-hor both of which are important in the history of Ptolemaic Egypt. The temple of Horus, built between 237 BCE and 57 BCE is the most impressive of the two whose sandstone walls rise 36 metres in the sky. Inscriptions on the side of the wall further provide details about Egyptian religion and mythology, such as the age-old conflict between Horus and Seth. Fifty metres away from the temple lies the ancient settlement of Wetjeset-hor, which was a provincial town from the Old Kingdom through to the Byzantine period but most importantly includes the ancient mound of Tell Edfu which contains complete archaelogical sequences of occupation dating from the Old Kingdom to the Graeco-Roman period. Religious activities ceased in the Temple of Horus when Emperor Theodosius banned non-Christian worship in 391 AD however the remains of the building have survived through centuries of history and today attract thousands of tourists each year.
Number 4: Varanasi
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The holiest city of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and the site where the Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism in around 528 BCE, the city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges has been at the centre of religious worship and pilgrimage since its first habitation in around 1800 BCE. In Hindu mythology the city was said to be founded by the god Shiva and the Mahabharata tells of the Pandavas visit to the city in search of the god to atone for their sins. Today, this belief of atonement for sins is still held dear and many Hindus bath in the Ganges to remit sin or come to the city to die in order to release their soul from the cycle of rebirth. Nearby in Sarnath, the city was also the site where the Buddha gave his speech "The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma" in 528 BCE initiating the start of Buddhism and today the city is equally inhabited by a large muslim population, making up 27.9% of the city's populace in 2001. With such a diverse religious demographic, it's no surprise Varanasi showcases a plethora of impressive religious buildings, such as the Kashi Vishwanath temple on the Ganges and the Gyanvapi mosque in the heart of the city. From walking through the ancient city centre to getting involved in some of the many religious festivals such as the Hindu Maha Shivaratri in February, this diverse and sacred city has plenty for you to explore.​
Number 3: Rome
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Capital of one of the largest empires in antiquity, Rome's founding by Romulus in around 750 BCE after he and his brother, Remus, were raised by a she-wolf has been much extolled in later Roman literature and Art. The historian Livy in the later Augustan period wrote that the twins, Romulus and Remus, were conceived when the vestal virgin, Rhea Silvia, was raped by the god Mars, whereupon the babies were ejected from the city but placed on the banks of the river Tiber before being found and brought up by a she-wolf and later adopted by a shepherd. The city, Rome, was founded by Romulus, who had together with his twin sought to set up city after they both had been ejected from Alba Longa. Remus was killed by Romulus leaving Romulus to found the city on the Palatine Hill. According to Livy and taken far further by the Augustan poet, Virgil, in the Aeneid, the ancestral Italian settlers in Alba Longa were descended from Aeneas who had escaped the Trojan War. Barring the legendary sack of Rome by the Gauls in 387 BCE, the city continue to thrive both through periods and Republicanism and Imperialism until 476 AD when the last ruler, Romulus Augustus, was dethroned by rebels. A city that took initial inspiration from the aesthetic of Greek architecture, Romans built some of the most impressive buildings in all antiquity including the Colosseum and Domitian's Palace, both of who's remains still remain strong today. With a population of around a million at its peak and an ambition to build as impressive as possible, Rome today showcases a plentiful array of sites for any history-loving tourist to enjoy.
Number 2: Jerusalem
First inhabited in 2800 BCE, making it one of the oldest cities in antiquity, Jerusalem is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The city began as a Caananite settlement in around the third millennium BCE based on archaeological evidence found and the presence of a settlement is first referred to in written sources in the 19th Century BCE in the Execration Texts. From its founding, the city would continue through varying reigns of the Caananite, Egyptian, Jebusite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Seleucid, Roman, Byzantine, Jewish, Christian and Muslim governments until the British Mandate in 1917, and later partitioning of the city. The Book of Joshua in the Old Testament relates that Jerusalem was once occupied by Jebusites whom David conquered in the late 2nd Millennium BCE and designated the city as the capital of a new united kingdom of Israel. The kingdom would later lead on to King Solomon and the construction of his temple in which the famous Jewish Ark of Covenant was placed.
After the death of the client-king Herod in 6 AD , whose notable building works included the expansion of the famous 2nd Temple, Jerusalem fell under the jurisdiction of the Roman Empire and continued to do so albeit alternating between Byzantine and Persian at the very end until 614 AD when it was captured by Jews and Sassanids. Thereafter, the city would alternate between Christian and Muslim control through the Middle Ages and later solely Muslim in the Ottoman period. Today, the varied history is reflected in the different importance of the city to different religions. The city's Dome of the Rock is one of the oldest extant works of Islamic architecture, the Western Wall is the holiest spot in the Jewish religion believed to be the closest to spot to Solomon's Temple and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is holy to Christians as the place where Jesus was crucified. Varied claims to the land has given rise to partition however it would be hard to find another city that has produced such world-defining historical and religious significance through multiple millennia.
Number 1: Athens
In a wise and philosophical climax, the winner of our list is Athens. Birthplace of democracy and a centre of the arts, learning and philosophy, Athens is considered the cradle of western civilisation and began much of the political and cultural thought that spread into Roman civilisation and from there into the later époques of history. In the ca. 387 BCE, it was the city in which Plato founded his Academy, which would produce milestone works such as The Republic and the Theaetetus and later Aristotle's Lyceum in 334 BCE, which brought the peripatetic school of philosophy to the world. Today, the acropolis still rises high above the modern day city and in Ancient times was home to some of the most important religious buildings in antiquity, the most famous being the Parthenon, built in 447 BCE as a temple to the city's presiding deity, Athena. In 1987 the site became a UNESCO world heritage site and today attracts millions of tourists each year who come to imagine the life of the ancients. Feel the power of the human thought the city has given us, wonder at the majesty of the architecture and admire the beautiful vision of humanity this ancient settlement brought to the world.
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By Will Street
Jul. 25, 2019, 11:30 AM
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A Homage to Provence, Home of One of the First Motion Pictures
Location of numerous Van Gogh paintings and place of the Lumières' 1895 motion picture, Provence is rich with French beauty.
Provence has been home to some truly remarkable feats of French and World culture. Van Gogh painted his famous work "The Starry Night" in 1889 from an asylum room in Saint-Remy-de-Provence looking out of his east-facing window while one of the first projected motion pictures, "L'arrivee d'un train en gare de la Ciotat", was made by Auguste and Louis Lumiere at the coastal town, La Ciotat, in 1895. Works such as these have had irreplaceable impact on French and world culture and evoke the joie de vivre of picturesque southern France. In love with the region ourselves, we've taken a closer look at our top five destinations of the beautiful province.
Number 5: Aix-en-Provence
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Joint European capital of culture in 2013 and close to the Montagne Sainte-Victoire where Cezanne painted his two paintings of the landscape in 1882-5 and 1904-6, this lively city of a population of around 141 thousand, boasts cultural attractions such as the Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur d'Aix en Provence and the Place de L'Hotel de Ville at the centre of the city. With restaurants and bars running throughout the city, plentiful art galleries and a history of past painters such as Aix-born Cezanne who famously professed "painting from nature is not copying the object; it is realising one's sensations," this city is the perfect weekend getaway for any culture-seeking explorer.
Number 4: Gordes
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A truly picturesque French town, Gordes is situated in the Vaucluse region and close to hills of blossoming purple lavender fields. 2,083 feet above see level at its peak, the city rises to the castle at the top of the rock and includes fascinating collections of characterful old villas. Frolick through flagrant lavender fields and relax away in old, heritage-packed bars, this town is the perfect retreat for any loving couple.
Number 3: Arles
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A city famous as the site of a number of Van Gogh's paintings, Arles is situated again in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of Provence and was important during the Roman era in the province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 and have attracted waves of tourists for centuries. The town's ancient history museum, the Musée de L'Arles et de la Provence houses one of the best collection of Roman sarcophagi outside of Rome while the well-known photography festival, Rencontres d'Arles, takes place every year. From envisaging the settings under which Van Gogh painted his beautiful paintings to exploring ancient ruins, this dynamic and diverse cultural beacon offers everything for your entertainment.
Number 2: Saint Remy de Provence
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Another setting of a number of Van Gogh's paintings, Saint Remy de Provence is also situated in the Bouches-du-Rhône region of Provence. This small mountain town boasts ornate fountains and one of the oldest 'Arc de Triomphes", which has existed since Roman times, within the quaint medieval city walls. Van Gogh was treated here in the psychiatric centre at the Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole where he painted his famous "Starry Night" painting and wheat field series and the town was also the residence of the 16th century physician, Nostradamus, whose birthplace is open to visitors today. Relax, explore and enjoy the plenitude of attractions this town has to offer.
Number 1: Avignon
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City of the famous 15th century song "Sur le Pont d'Avignon", Avignon is situated on the Rhone river in the region of Vaucluse. Once the seat of the Pope between 1309 and 1377 and under Papal control until 1791 during the French Revolution, the city's medieval rampants are preserved and about 12,000 people live within the ancient town centre. The historic area, which includes the Palais de Papes, the Cathedral and the Pont d'Avignon, became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995 and showcases some truly breathtaking architectural beauty. Walk alongside the picturesque 19th century Haussmann facades of the Rue de la République, visit the large number of theatres on offer and join us at zowcha.com who, as they say in the song, "on y danse tous en rond."
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Budapest's Best Thermal Spas
A city famous for its thermal spas, Budapest's public spas are both luxurious and packed with history.
By Will Street
Jul. 25, 2019, 11:30 AM
Introduction
The public spa has been an essential feature of any civilization for multiple millennia. As the Ethiopians learnt how to cultivate the coffee plant, so too can man learn how to swim. Choosing commonly natural springs as the place of their bath houses, exemplified by the settlement of Aquae Sulis, now known as Bath, public bathing was an essential feature in society at first during the time of Ancient Rome. Growing once again in popularity much later, bathing would again come to prominence during the Georgian Period, where natural springs were thought to provide healing benefits. Through the times of Art Deco lidos to Brutalist leisure centres, bathing in public facilities would only increase.
Budapest is one city that extols and cherishes the public spa to the max, providing multiple across the city that are both decadent and packed with history. The city is lucky enough to be situated on top of several thermal springs, which was one of the principal reasons the Romans colonised the city in ancient times. In later ages, the Ottomans would construct opulent public baths that are still in use today, while the Enlightenment Period would witness the construction of elaborate Neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau edifices. Right from the beginning, the mineral deposits in the warm water were considered to possess medicinal benefits. Today, they are still traditionally thought to be able to treat conditions ranging from arthritis to skin conditions and poor circulation. Now, all is left is to take a look at them in more detail.
Thaler Tamas, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Gellért Thermal Baths
Although the building that occupies the location today was constructed between 1912 and 1918 in the Art Nouveau style, references to the healing properties of the site’s natural spring exist as early as the 13th Century. In the Middle Ages it was the location of a medieval hospital and later bath houses came to be built during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. It was regarded as a “magical healing spring” by the Ottomans during the 16th and 17th centuries and commonly called Sárosfürdö (“muddy” bath) because of the sediments of minerals that created a layer of mud at the bottom before a filtration system was imbedded.
Today, the complex showcases an opulent Art Nouveau main hall with a gallery and glass roof. The current bath house and hotel was opened in 1918 and later expanded in 1927 and 1934, incorporating an outdoor artificial wave pool and a bubble bath. The complex offers both thermal baths, fuelled by underground thermal springs, and saunas, plunge pools, an outdoor artificial wave pool and an effervescent swimming pool. The thermal baths contain calcium, magnesium, hydrocarbonate, alkalis, chloride, sulfate and fluoride that are known to treat a range of medical conditions, whether it be skin conditions or joint pains.
Taking a dip in the indoor swimming, housed in the Art Nouveau building, the ornate pillars and resplendent glass roof provide a spectacular setting, yet be prepared for the cold at a frosty 19 degrees Celsius, whereas the thermal baths offer a warmer experience at a balmy 40. Take in the scenery as well, for Gellért Baths was also the shooting location of several films, including K-12 in 2019.
misibacsi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Rudas Baths
An Ottoman thermal and medicinal bath house on the banks of the River Danube, Rudas Baths were first built in 1550 and maintain some of the key elements of Turkish Baths, including a dome and octagonal pool. The complex includes a selection of six historic thermal baths and a larger indoor heated swimming pool. Enjoy the curative properties of the thermal baths once more, for the thermal water contains traces of sulphur, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and fluorine.
Christo, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Lukács Baths
Opened in 1880, this spa and hotel was named after Saint Luke. The thermal baths date back further, however, to the 12th Century and have been extolled for their healing properties for centuries, appreciatively recognised with plaques on one of the complex’s walls from people who felt they were in some way cured by the waters. Constituting an extensive complex, the site features a range of thermal pools, two swimming pools and a collection of other physiotherapy pools.
Széchenyi Thermal Baths
An enormous complex of multiple pools, Jacuzzis, thermal baths and steam chambers, Széchenyi thermal baths is one of Budapest’s most famous locations. The majestic Neo-Renaissance architecture surrounds the outdoor pools, offering opulent seating for spectators and a breath-taking setting.
The entrance façade was built in the early 20th Century in the Neo-Baroque style. Construction began in 1909, and by 1913 the spa welcomed roughly 200,000 bathers into its precincts. In 1927, further additions were constructed at the site, which expanded the complex to its current size bathers see today constituting three outdoor and fifteen indoor pools.
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With two thermal springs fuelling the complex, Széchenyi is the largest medicinal bath house in Europe. At temperatures of 74 and 77 degrees Celsius, the two thermal springs contain traces of sulphate, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and a significant amount of metaboric acid and fluoride.
Király Thermal Baths
In a finale of Budapest’s thermal spas, here is the most ancient. Király thermal baths date back to 1565 when the city of Budapest was under the control of the Ottoman Empire. The 16th Century buildings still remain standing today, showcasing an Ottoman octagonal pool with an ancient domed ceiling. The small openings in the roof allow for steam to escape and bless the pool with a shimmering beauty. Within the same complex there are another three smaller thermal pools and a modern Jacuzzi. At a temperature of between 26 and 40 degrees Celsius, the waters are once again extolled for their curative properties, containing traces of sodium, calcium, magnesium bicarbonate, sulphate-chloride and a significant quantity of fluoride ion. All that’s left for you to do is relax and indulge in the ancient experience.
Conclusion
An enjoyable and therapeutic occasion, bathing in Budapest’s thermal spas has got to be high up on anyone’s bucket list. For those seeking a summery sun trap, take a walk down the opulent swimming pools at Széchenyi and bask in the Neo-Renaissance magnificence. If history’s your thing, where better to go to than Király’s Ottoman dome and witness centuries of cultural heritage. The multitude of options come aplenty. Featuring from the times of Ancient Rome to the 21st Century and as a pastime we all love, I hope you’ll join us at blawa.com in saluting Budapest’s selection of thermal baths.