Qatar Airways is putting flights across the world on sale, offering 30 percent off travel to everywhere from Bangkok to Sydney.
21.07.2023 - 07:31 / roughguides.com / Charles Iii III (Iii)
On Saturday 6th May 2023, hundreds of thousands of travellers from around the globe will flock to London to watch King Charles III crowned at Westminster Abbey. It will be the fortieth known coronation held at Westminster Abbey.
The first was that of William the Conqueror, in 1066, which didn’t go off without a hitch. William himself was apparently rather uneasy, and tensions between the new Norman nobility and the recently conquered English soon erupted into violence. Charles’ coronation is likely to be less dramatic, but rather more spectacular.
Whether you can’t get enough of royal celebrations, or you want to hide under your duvet until it’s all over, there's travel inspiration to be found in coronation spots around the world. Read on to discover five destinations that have hosted the most important, impressive or just downright unusual coronation ceremonies throughout history.
Okay, this one will be a little difficult to travel to, because no one’s exactly sure where it is. According to the Bible, Gilgal was the site of the coronation of Saul, the first king of Biblical Israel.
Gilgal is mentioned nearly 40 times in the Bible and appears on the famous mosaic map of Madaba in Jordan. However, its exact location is now lost, though several sites have been suggested.
Anyone hoping to visit a Saul-related location would do better to seek out Israel’s Mount Gilboa. Here the unfortunate king was defeated in battle against the Philistines and met his end.
Tomb of Cyrus the Great of Persia, Pasargadae © Shutterstock
We don’t know much about the rituals involved in Saul’s coronation, but we have rather more detail for another coronation held in antiquity. Thanks to the writings of the Greek historian Plutarch, we know how King Artaxerxes I of Persia underwent his coronation.
In a temple in Pasargadae, he donned the robes of his great-grandfather, Cyrus the Great, and then ate figs, turpentine and sour milk. Delicious.
Pasargadae, though once the capital of the Persian Empire, is now a ruin, and very little of the former city remains to be seen. It’s still worth a visit, though. Here you’ll find the magnificent tomb of Cyrus the Great. One of Iran’s key archaeological treasures, it's been added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
It’s also only an hour’s drive from the remarkable ruins of Persepolis, another former Persian capital and an undoubted highlight of any visit to Iran.
St Peter's Cathedral, Vatican © Shutterstock
One of the most significant events of the early Middle Ages took place in St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, on Christmas Day in the year 800. Pope Leo III anointed the King of the Franks, Charlemagne, and proclaimed him the Holy Roman Emperor.
While the story goes that Charlemagne wasn’t expecting
Qatar Airways is putting flights across the world on sale, offering 30 percent off travel to everywhere from Bangkok to Sydney.
From major European cities to small US ports, coastal communities around the world are attempting to curb the number (and size) of massive cruise ships looming over their shores.
Looking for a new museum to add to your travel to-do list? TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent company) has released the Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Museums of 2018, including the top 10 worldwide and the top 10 in the United States, with some surprising frontrunners. The findings also highlight bookable ways to see each winner—think VIP tours and scavenger hunts—with some offering the added perk of allowing you to skip the lines to get in.
AirHelp, the online service that files complaints against airlines on behalf of passengers entitled to compensation for air delays or cancellations, knows a thing or two about air travel. Because it’s hard for the average person to understand air passenger rights and pursue a legal claim when they’ve been wronged, AirHelp is always going toe-to-toe with airlines and airports—and reveals once a year which ones that treat their passengers for the better (or worse).
If seeing the seven wonders of the world is on your bucket list, then group-travel operator, Contiki, wants to help you achieve this dream by paying your rent while you do it. With the company’s new Jordan trip, it now has itineraries to all of the “new” Seven Wonders of the World. To get the savings, book each of Contiki’s trips to the seven wonders (these are individual trips that visit the Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, Petra, and the Colosseum) and then prove your rent amount with your rental agreement. Contiki is offering a savings of up to $2,840, the national average of rent for two months.
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For the sixth year in a row, Finland has claimed the top spot in the World Happiness Report. The annual report, compiled by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, surveys residents in over 150 countries to determine which nations are the happiest.
Grupo Xcaret is excited to introduce the inaugural Xcaret Culinary Festival, a first-of-its-kind event in Riviera Maya. In a groundbreaking culinary festival, distinguished chefs from around the world, including internationally renowned and Michelin-starred chefs, will join forces with the finest Mexican culinary experts to celebrate the art of Mexican cuisine. The event will showcase a captivating array of dinners, tastings, pairings, and presentations, blending innovation with the rich traditions of Mexican gastronomy.
It takes about 20 million steps to walk around the world, not to mention several years of commitment as well as determination, stamina, trekking gear, and a state of mind that few of us can imagine.
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No matter where in the world you're headed, we bet you're looking forward to a delicious meal or two. And many of the dishes easiest on the pocket are the tastiest on the tastebuds too.
From South Asia’s most inspiring writers speaking in Jaipur to literary heavyweights entertaining crowds at Hay, book festivals are now a truly international affair. Bibliophiles can get their cultural fix across continents and throughout the year, taking their pick between huge extravaganzas and intimate gatherings. Here are some of the highlights in 2016: