Historical Building Sights
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Casa Loma
The mock medieval Casa Loma lords over The Annex on a cliff that was once the shoreline of the glacial Lake Iroquois, from which Lake Ontario derived. Climb the 27m Baldwin Steps up the slope from Spadina Ave, north of Davenport Rd.
The 98-room mansion – a crass architectural orgasm of castellations, chimneys, flagpoles, turrets and Rapunzel balconies – was built between 1911 and 1914 for Sir Henry Pellat, a wealthy financier who made bags of cash from his contract to provide Toronto with electricity. He later lost everything in land speculation, the resultant foreclosure forcing Hank and his wife to move out. Parking costs $3/9 per hour/day.
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Jim Thompson's House
In 1959, 12 years after he discovered the fine silks being woven across the klorng in Baan Krua and single-handedly turned Thai silk into a hugely successful export business, American Jim Thompson bought this piece of land on Khlong Saen Saeb and built himself a house. It wasn’t, however, any old house. Thompson’s love of all things Thai saw him buy six traditional wooden homes and reconstruct them in this jungle-like garden. Some of the homes were brought from the old royal capital of Ayuthaya; others were pulled down and floated across the klorng from Baan Krua – including the first building you enter on the tour. Beware well-dressed touts in soi near the Thompson…
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Arsenale
Founded in 1104, the Arsenale soon became the greatest medieval shipyard in Europe, home to 300 shipping companies employing up to 16,000 people. Capable of turning out a new galley in a day, it is considered a forerunner of mass industrial production. Though it's closed to the public most of the year, arty types invade the shipyard during Venice's art and architecture Biennales, when it hosts exhibitions and special events.
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Parliament Hill
Vast yawning archways dominate this stunning complex of copper-topped towers. The city's most picture-perfect attraction by far, Parliament is Canada's nexus of political activity. The primary building, Centre Block, supports the iconic Peace Tower, the highest structure in the city. Venture inside to peruse the hand-carved limestone and make a stop at the gorgeous library with its wood and wrought iron. Visitors are allowed to see the Commons and Senate while they're in session. Question Period in the House of Commons is particularly popular, occurring every afternoon and at 11am on Fridays. Admission is on a first-come first-served basis.
Free 45-minute tours run…
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City Hall
That mighty beaux arts dome pretty much covers San Francisco's grandest ambitions and fundamental flaws. It was designed by John Bakewell and Arthur Brown Jr in 1915 to outdo Paris for flair and outsize the capitol building dome in Washington, DC. The dome was a little unsteady until its retrofit after the 1989 earthquake, when ingenious technology enabled the dome to swing on its base without raising alarm.
The gold leafing on the dome's exterior is a reminder of dot-com–era excess. But from the inside, the splendid rotunda has ringing acoustics, and if that dome could talk, it would tell of triumph and tragedy. Anti-McCarthy sit-in protesters were hosed off the grand…
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Kyoto Imperial Palace
The original imperial palacewas built in 794 and was replaced numerous times after destruction by fire. The present building, on a different site and smaller than the original, was constructed in 1855. Enthronement of a new emperor and other state ceremonies are still held here.
The Gosho does not rate highly in comparison with other attractions in Kyoto and you must apply for permission to visit. However, you shouldn't miss the park surrounding the Gosho.
To get there, take the Karasuma line subway to Imadegawa or a bus to the Karasuma-Imadegawa stop and walk 600m southeast.
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Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista
Political power had its perks for this influential Venetian confraternity, including a polychrome marble 1st-floor meeting hall designed in 1729 by Giorgio Massari, a grand, Codussi-designed double staircase, and Pietro Lombardo’s 1481 carved marble courtyard entry arch topped by the eagle of patron saint John the Baptist. Bellini and Titian turned out world-class works for the scuola (religious confraternity) that have since been moved to the Gallerie dell’Accademia – but Palma Il Giovane’s works still illuminate the Sala d’Albergo, and Pietro Longhi’s charming Adoration of the Wise Men is still here, with its bright-eyed, wriggling baby Jesus.
One of the six…
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Fondaco dei Turchi
The dukes of Ferrara had the run of this 12th-century mansion until they were elbowed aside in 1621 to make room for Venice’s most important trading partner: Turkey. Turkish merchants were a constant in Venice throughout the maritime powers’ rocky romance, celebrated with favoured-nation trading status and inter-Adriatic weddings, and tested by periodic acts of piracy, invasion and looting. The Fondaco dei Turchi remained rented out to the Turks until 1858, after which the place underwent a disastrous modernisation. Original facade features were sacrificed to the architectural fancies of the time, including odd crenellations that made the gracious Gothic building look…
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Shūgaku-in Rikyū
This imperial villa was begun in the 1650s by the abdicated emperor Go-Mizunoo, and work was continued after his death in 1680 by his daughter Akenomiya.
Designed as an imperial retreat, the villa grounds are divided into three large garden areas on a hillside: lower, middle and upper. The gardens' reputation rests on their ponds, pathways and impressive use of 'borrowed scenery' in the form of the surrounding hills; the view from the Rinun-tei Teahouse in the upper garden is particularly impressive.
Tours, in Japanese, start at 9am, 10am, 11am, 1.30pm and 3pm (50 minutes). You must make advance reservations through the Imperial Household Agency. An audio guide is available…
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Doi Tung Royal Villa
On the theory that local hill tribes would be so honoured by a royal presence that they would stop cultivating opium, the late Princess Mother (the king's mother) built the Doi Tung Royal Villa, a summer palace on the slopes of Doi Tung near Pa Kluay Reservoir, which is now open to the public as a museum. The royal initiative also provided education on new agricultural methods to stop slash and burn practices. Opium has now been replaced by crops such as coffee, macadamia nuts and various fruits. The rest of the property, including the Mae Fah Luang Garden and Mae Fah Luang Arboretum,is also open to the public. There is also a top-end hotel, a restaurant, coffee kiosk and…
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Villa Farnesina
This gorgeous 16th-century villa features some awe-inspiring frescoes by Sebastiano del Piombo, Raphael and the villa's original architect, Baldassare Peruzzi. The most famous frescoes are in the Loggia of Cupid and Psyche on the ground floor, which are attributed to Raphael, who also painted the Trionfo di Galatea (Triumph of Galatea) in the room of the same name. On the 1st floor, Peruzzi's dazzling frescoes in the Salone delle Prospettive are a superb illusionary perspective of a colonnade and panorama of 16th-century Rome.
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Bohemian Club
The most infamous, secretive club in all San Francisco was founded in the 19th century by bona fide bohemians, but they couldn't afford the upkeep so allowed the ultra-rich to join. Now the roster lists an odd mix of power elite and famous artists: apparently both George W Bush and Bob Weir are current members. On the Post St side of the club's ivy-covered brick wall, look for the plaque honoring Gold Rush–era author Bret Harte, which depicts characters from his works. On the extreme right is 'The Heathen Chinee.' It's not a racist attack – quite the opposite – but a reference to the eponymous 1870 satirical poem Harte wrote mocking anti-Chinese sentiment in Northern…
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Katsura Rikyū
This palace is considered to be one of the finest examples of Japanese traditional architecture. It was built in 1624 for the emperor's brother, Prince Toshihito. Every conceivable detail of the villa, the teahouses, the large pond with islets and the surrounding garden has been given meticulous attention.
Tours (around 40 minutes), in Japanese, commence at 10am, 11am, 2pm and 3pm. You should be there 20 minutes beforehand. An explanatory video is shown in the waiting room and a leaflet is provided in English. You must make advance reservations with the Imperial Household Agency. Visitors must be over 20 years of age.
To get to the villa from Kyoto Station, take bus 33 and…
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Columbus Tower
Like most SF landmarks worthy of the title, this one has a seriously checkered career. Built by shady political boss Abe Ruef in 1905, the building was finished just in time to be reduced to its steel skeleton in the 1906 earthquake and fire. The new copper cladding was still shiny in 1907 when not-so-honest Abe was convicted of bribing city supervisors. By the time he emerged bankrupt from San Quentin State Prison, the cupola was oxidizing green.
Towering artistic aspirations found a home here, too. Grammy-winning folk group The Kingston Trio bought the tower in the 1960s, and the Grateful Dead recorded in the basement. Since the 1970s, Columbus Tower has been owned by…
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Hualamphong Train Station
At the southeastern edge of Chinatown, Bangkok’s main train station was built by Dutch architects and engineers between 1910 and 1916. Above the 14 platforms it was designed in a neoclassical style by Italian architect and engineer combination Mario Tamagno and Annibale Rigotti, who were working at the same time on the grand Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall at Dusit. It also embraces other influences, such as the patterned, two-toned skylights that exemplify nascent De Stijl Dutch modernism – it is through these that it is known as an early example of the shift towards Thai art deco. If you can zone out of the chaos for a moment, look for the vaulted iron roof and…
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Sentō Gosho Palace
This palace is a few hundred metres southeast of the main Kyoto Gosho. It was originally built in 1630 during the reign of Emperor Go-Mizunō as a residence for retired emperors. The palace was repeatedly destroyed by fire and reconstructed but served its purpose until a final blaze in 1854 (it was never rebuilt).
The gardens, which were laid out in 1630 by Kobori Enshū, are superb. The route takes you past lovely ponds and pathways, and in many ways, a visit here is more enjoyable than a visit to the Gosho, especially if you are a fan of Japanese gardens. Visitors must obtain advance permission from the Imperial Household Agency and be over 20 years old. Tours (in…
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Chinese Telephone Exchange
California's earliest adopters of advanced technology weren't in Silicon Valley, but right here in Chinatown. This triple-decker tiled pagoda caused a sensation in 1894 not for its looks, but its smarts. To connect callers to the right person, switchboard operators had to speak fluent English and five Chinese dialects as well as memorize at least 1500 Chinatown residents by name, residence and occupation. The switchboard was open 365 days a year, and the manager and assistant managers lived on-site.
Since anyone born in China was prohibited by law from visiting San Francisco throughout the 1882–1943 Chinese Exclusion era, this switchboard was the main means of contact with…
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La Rotonda
No matter how you look at it, this villa is a show-stopper: the namesake dome caps a square base, with identical colonnaded facades on all four sides. This is one of Palladio’s most admired creations, inspiring variations across Europe and the USA, including Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (La Rotonda’s late owner, Mario di Valmarana, was a retired University of Virginia architecture professor; he died in 2010). Inside, the circular central hall is frescoed from the walls to the soaring cupola with trompe l’oeil frescoes. Catch bus 8 or 13 (€1.20) from in front of Vicenza’s train station, or just walk (about 25 minutes by foot).
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Takayama-jinya
These sprawling grounds south of the Sanmachi district house the only remaining prefectural office building of the Tokugawa shōgunate. Takayama-jinya was originally built in 1615 as the administrative centre for the Kanamori clan but was later taken over by the bakufu. The main gate was once reserved for high officials. The present main building dates back to 1816 and it was used as the local government office until 1969.
As well as government offices, a rice granary and a garden, there's a torture chamber with explanatory detail. Free guided tours in English are available (reservations advised). Takayama-jinya is a 15-minute walk east of the train station.
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Neues Rathaus
The coal-blackened façade of the neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus, New Town Hall, is festooned with gargoyles and statues, including a dragon scaling the turrets. Inside, six grand courtyards host festivals and concerts throughout the year. For a good view of the city, ascend the 85m tower.
The highlight of the building is the Glockenspiel (carillon). Note the three levels: two portraying the Schäfflertanz and another the Ritterturnier, a knights' tournament held in 1568 to celebrate a royal marriage. The night scene featuring the Münchener Kindl (a girl in a monk's robe) and Nachtwächter (night watchman) runs at 21:00.
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Scuola Grande dei Carmini
Eighteenth-century backpackers must have thought they’d died and gone to heaven at the Scuola Grande dei Carmini, a shelter run by Carmelite nuns with interiors lavishly appointed by Giambattista Tiepolo and Baldassare Longhena. Longhena designed the gold-leafed stucco stairway to heaven, which is glimpsed upstairs in Tiepolo’s nine-panel ceiling of a resplendent, rosy Virgin in Glory. The adjoining hostel room is a wonder of boiserie (carved woodwork). Sadly, cots are no longer available in this jewel-box building, but ask downstairs about occasional concerts by Musica in Maschera, performed here in 1700s costume.
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Palace Hotel
The city's most storied hotel opened in 1875, and was gutted during the 1906 earthquake and fire. Opera-star Enrico Caruso was staying here that day, and he reportedly ran into the street, swearing he'd never return to San Francisco. The current building opened in 1909. Ten years later, Woodrow Wilson gave his League of Nations speech here, and in 1923 US President Warren G Harding died upstairs. Visit by day to see the opulent Garden Court and its luminous stained-glass domed ceiling, then pop into the Pied Piper Bar to see Maxfield Parrish's mural of the Pied Piper. Afterwards have drinks across the street at House of Shields and see the gorgeous mahogany back bar,…
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Old Government House
This magnificent sandstone palace was erected for the British governor in 1826. The representative of the queen moved out in 1893 after the province refused to continue paying his expenses, and during most of the 20th century the complex was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) headquarters. It now evocatively captures a moment in time with tours led by staff in period costume. New Brunswick's current lieutenant governor (Graydon Nicholas, a member of the Maliseet Nation and the first aboriginal lawyer in Atlantic Canada) lives on the 3rd floor.
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Provincial Legislature
The seat of Ontario's Provincial Legislature resides in a fabulously ornate 1893 sandstone building, north of College St in Queen's Park. For some homegrown entertainment, head for the visitors' gallery when the adversarial legislative assembly is in session (Monday to Thursday March to June and September to December). Viewing is free, but security regulations are in full force. You can't write, read or applaud as the honorable members heatedly debate such pressing issues as skidoo safety. Free 30-minute tours depart from the information desk.
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City Hall
Much-maligned City Hall was Toronto's bold leap of faith into architectural modernity. Its twin clamshell towers, flying-saucer central structure, sexy ramps and funky mosaics were completed in 1965 to Finnish architect Viljo Revell's award-winning design. An irritable Frank Lloyd Wright called it a 'headmarker for a grave'; in a macabre twist, Revell died before construction was finished. Collect a self-guided tour pamphlet at the info desk; don't miss the geeky 1:1250 Toronto scale model in the lobby. Parking is $13.
Out the front is Nathan Phillips Square, a meeting place for skaters, demonstrators and office workers on their lunch breaks. In summer, look for the Fresh…
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