BEYOND THE HORIZON...
ARE MODERN CITIES STEEPED IN ANCIENT TRADITIONS
By travelling so far and wide, this epic voyage visits a collection of cities and countries that have developed over time and across waves of conquest, destruction and renaissance. Many of these destinations are home to UNESCO World Heritage sites that allow you to gain a hands-on appreciation for the heritage and history that came before. Spanish colonial architecture competes with skyscrapers in Manila, where you’ll find one of the four Baroque Churches of the Philippines , a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. Located in Intramuros, Manila’s walled Old City, the 16th-century San Agustin Church fuses European design with local materials that created a new tradition of church-building in the Philippines. Penang has long been a crossroads of east and west culture and today it boasts a thriving arts scene and colourful carnivals. The well-preserved heritage buildings of Penang’s capital, George Town, were designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2008. Unlike other sites called out for their historical significance, George Town remains a diverse and thriving blend of old and new. Halfway between Gibraltar and Barcelona, the port city of Alicante is known for its glistening architecture, medieval castle and predictably buzzing nightlife (this is Spain, after all). It’s also home to Palmeral of Elche, a haven of date palm trees that was originally laid out during the construction of the Muslim city of Elche in the 10th century AD, when the bulk of the Iberian Peninsula was Arab. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. With over 200,000 palm trees, it’s a perfect oasis to wander within as you ponder your world cruise, which will draw to a close in Barcelona.
2023 WORLD CRUISE / 15
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