Sydney Bay was discovered by European explorers in 1770. Populated at first by colonial convicts and their guards, the city today accounts for one fifth of the entire population of Australia. Renowned for its Opera House, it presents an ultramodern vista to the tourists’ gaze. Sydney Harbour Bridge - one of the longest bridges in the world - and the immense high-rise buildings that sore skywards both astound and fascinate. At the same time the great city is truly cosmopolitan, incorporating a celebrated Chinatown and even more prominently an Aboriginal area in which the colourful way of life of these …

Consolidated by the Norsemen in 841, Dublin became the capital of the Republic of Ireland (Eire) when the country gained formal independence in 1922. It is primarily an industrial city, and boasts distilleries, breweries and flour-mills among the more scenic delights that include the Tobacco Factory, the Customhouse, the 13th-century St Patrick's Cathedral and the Gothic-style Catholic church of St Audoen. As shown by the author, Ingo Latotzki, Dublin remains a city that is both poetic and tragic. It was here that Irishmen determined to achieve national independence instigated the Easter Rising of April 1916, an attempt at a revolt …

Among the best-known ancient cities in our time, the capital of Greece contains much that is fascinating, including many archaeological treasures like the Acropolis and its temples. Athens remains a city both picturesque and dynamic. One third of the Greek population lives here, while its port, Piraeus, holds half of Greece's industry. So, once you have visited the city's temples, why not go round the flea markets or walk to the centre of the old town with its traders and traditional festivities? The return of the Olympic Games to their origins constitutes a major event for the town, providing the …

Franz Marc (1880-1916) was a key figure in the German Expressionist movement of the early 20th century. Marc was a founding member of the expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter along with other great artists of the time: Wassily Kandinsky, August Macke, and Alexej von Jawlensky. A brilliant use of colour along with stark futurist and cubist styles create the distinct qualities that make Marc a master of modern art. Symbolising masculinity, femininity, and violence among his calm and bucolic animal subjects, Marc's unique and creative use of colour and meaning will forever have a firm place in art history.

Like so many other cities of South America, Rio is an urban sprawl containing some truly stunning contrasts. Yet Rio comes alive, really, for only two things – soccer and the samba. According to tradition, founded by the Portuguese navigator André Gonçalves on 1 January 1502, declared the capital of Brazil by King John in 1763, Rio underwent major reorganization under President Alvarez at the beginning of the 20th century. Avenues and boulevards were laid out in a logic that added overall cohesion to the city. The greatest architects of the time and place were invited to make use of …

Saigon is the city known for the unexplainable languidness that possessed the “French and American” Europeans that lived in Vietnam. At night, in front of a drink, the memories of flowery young girls in their traditional costumes surrounded by the thick smells of the ngoc man, the feverish sounds of the city's motion piercing through the humid heat of the Asian nights hauntingly reappear. A city of contrasts, Saigon has lived through dramatic changes: the turbulence of the South for which it was renowned was replaced by the terrible coldness of the North and the joyfulness of the city was …

In the past decade, Berlin has become the construction site of a new Reichstag, image of the German democracy, of futuristic buildings and incredible museums like the Pergamon or the Charlotteburg. Mythical sites such as the Alexanderplatz, the Unter den Linden, the arch of Brandeburg, the favourite esplanades of the Berliners, the Kurfürstendamm, breathe a new life and are illuminated once a year for the joyful celebration of the Love Parade. For these festivities, young people from all over the world come to express their passion for the city that has now become a symbol of joy and love. “Ich …

Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840), a prominent German painter of the 19th century, was a vital figure in the Romantic movement. His artwork is characterised by its poetic and melancholic essence, displaying a profound sense of spirituality and transcendence. In his paintings, he masterfully blended external nature depictions with deep inner symbolism. His often desolate landscapes and grand architecture evoke a yearning for peace, solitude, and spiritual elevation. The skilful utilisation of light and shadow in his composition amplifies the emotional resonance of Friedrich's art, imbuing it with an almost mystical quality. The artistic legacy of Caspar David Friedrich continues to …