Architecture

Completed in 1762, it was the home of Russia's monarchs for 150 years, starting with Catherine the Great. Her love for art created a vast collection that formed the largest part of the works for decades. The initial collection grew out of 255 paintings the Empress purchased from Berlin, and has grown to over 2.7 million objects.

St. Petersburg is a fascinating mixture of old-style Russia and Gilded Age Europe. St. Petersburg can be considered the Venice of the north.

Constructed in 1969, the church is only partly visible from above ground. What projects above the surface is an enormous dome whose central portion is copper and outer rim is made of glass. From a vantage point on the hill well above the church, one can see the dome shining like a shiny, brown spaceship about to leave the crater's surface. Surrounded by stark, craggy rock it is an amazing sight.

But the interior view is equally impressive.

One of Helsinki's most notable landmarks, the Uspenski Cathedral should be on everyone's list of things to see in Finland's capital.

Tsar Peter of Russia had a well-known impact on St. Petersburg, Russia, the city that bears his name. What is less well-known is the strong influence he had on Helsinki.

In 1937, then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a telegraph key in the White House. That simple action officially announced an event much of the world was already anticipating: the opening of The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

The Plaza Mayor remains one of Madrid's chief tourist attractions. Though called by many names over the centuries and subject to several fires, it retains its allure. The reasons are not hard to find.

The Palacio Real -Royal Palace- in Madrid is grandious. This view is taken from the gardens. Plan to visit the Sabatini gardens close to your visit to the palace.

One of the largest projects ever attempted, The Three Gorges dam spanning the Yangtze river in Sandouping has been under construction since 1994, having been in various planning stages for 50 years before that.