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VPG-DVD-233 - ZANZIBAR Zanzibar is a paradise-like island just off the Tanzanian coast. An island of spice and exotic aromas, sultans' palaces, harems, shining white beaches and fiery red sunsets. The ancient oriental city of Zanzibar derived its name from its many old stone buildings. Charming and mysterious they have witnessed much of the island's dramatic past and the tangled architecture of coral stone and shell lime serves as a fascinating backdrop to this colourful city that is strongly influenced by an Arabian way of life. In the north of the old town is one of the island's most beautiful buildings, the Ismali Dispensarium. It was built by a wealthy Indian businessman and was originally a hospital with an adjoining pharmacy. Today it contains a cultural centre. The house of the infamous Tippu Tip who was once Zanzibar's biggest slave trader, has not yet been restored. He was an extremely unpleasant man who sent his servants into the African bush to catch slaves who were later sold in Zanzibar Livingstone House was built in 1861. The famous missionary and explorer once resided there prior to going on his final expedition. He was frequently the guest of Tippu Tip who offered Dr. Livingstone various maps that were based upon his slave routes. A tropical paradise just off the African coast with the flair of the Orient, historic architecture and the colours of Africa. Zanzibar is most assuredly a legendary and fairy-tale island of global culture.
Vista Point ZANZIBAR...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m24s
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VPG-DVD-216 - VALLETTA Valletta is the capital city of the Mediterranean island of Malta and is also known as The City of Palaces. It was once inhabited in turn by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Turks and in 1530 the Order of the Knights of Malta moved its main residence to this section of the island. Malta's pre-historic epoch is demonstrated by its primeval stone temples and graves. They belong to the Menhir period that extended to the British Isles. The St. John's Co-Cathedral was built in1577 by Gerolama Cassar as a monastic church of the Order of the Knights of Malta. At the command of Pope Pius the 7th, in 1816 it was designated as a cathedral and was given the same privileges as the bishop's seat in Medina, thus its somewhat strange title of 'Co-Cathedral'. Situated on the northernmost point of the peninsula is the famous Saint Elmo Fort, a dominant feature of the coast. Throughout the centuries it has been witness to many bloody battles and much courageous resistance. It reached its zenith during the time of the Knights of Saint John who expanded the fortress and made it almost totally impregnable. Its walls successfully fended off the Turks and later the French blocked off the harbour entrance to the British fleet. During the Second World War anti- aircraft artillery were positioned on the fort's upper levels to defend against both German and Italian bombers. The Orient and the Occident have both left their traces in Valletta a picturesque location carved from stone. The former City Of Knights in which the future joins with the past.
Vista Point VALLETTA Malta
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m27s
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VPG-DVD-135 - TUNISIAN OASIS Gabes is the beginning of a journey through what is the fascinating oasis of Tunisia that contains all the mystique of the Orient: art, culture, history and endless desert horizons. The Ghorfas of Medenine boast a variety of souvenir shops and in the past the multi-floored mud buildings served as dwellings and storage areas for the semi-nomads of the region. A Ghorfa is a collection of buildings that form part of large complexes with hundreds of buildings grouped together around large courtyards. Surrounded by desert is the sleepy village of Douz that was once a thriving camel trading centre. Now it contains markets and is also the location of the famous Sahara Festival. The Torra Ruins in Mansurah are a further highlight of the journey across the Tunisian oasis. The sun beats down relentlessly on the boundless Sahara and individual palm trees appear as green guardians of the oasis. Tozeur, the 'Eden Of The Desert', is a safe haven for almost twenty villages. Its unique architecture is highly impressive and the walls of its houses consist of loam bricks that form geometrical patterns. Nefta's new town with its nearby souk quarter is situated in the east. On the western side is the older district with its sacred buildings and twisting alleys. For more than a thousand years the town has been the religious centre of a mystic Moslem sect known as the Sufis. As the shadows of evening begin to fall and the light of the setting sun illuminates the Tunisian oasis in a spectacular purple light this everything combines to make this a most memorable and atmospheric experience.
Vista Point TUNISIAN...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m38s
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VPG-DVD-153 - TUNIS Tunis is the capital of Tunisia and this 'Paris' of North Africa is a metropolis with a long history. In the centre of the medina the domed roof of the souk encircles the Olive Tree Mosque the spiritual centre of the old town. The central market district dates back to the Hafsidic and Early Christian period. Here there's something for everyone, many of the goods being skilfully crafted under the watchful eye of prospective purchasers and while strolling through the markets it's like being part of an Arabian fairy-tale with all the magic of the One Thousand And One Nights. The tall, octagonal minaret of the Sidi Youssef Mosque is an example of Tunisia's earliest Syric building design and opposite is the Dar El Bey, former palace of the Turkish monarchs. Dar Ben Abdallah is a splendid palace that dates back to the 18th century and since 1975 has incorporated a folklore museum that is well worth a visit. A large cool courtyard is dominated by a central marble fountain and surrounded by both residential and official rooms. The lavish lifestyle of the 19th century is on full display in numerous rooms with precious furniture and crystal chandeliers as well as beautifully attired life-size dolls. Today Bardo is an elegant suburb of villas but in the 19th century the Turkish Beys built their palace district within it and the former harem today contains the majestic Bardo Museum. Tunis has all the wonderful atmosphere of this region's historic and colourful past.
Vista Point TUNIS Tunisia
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m21s
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VPG-DVD-105 - St. Petersburg In 1703, Tsar Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg in the swampy delta mouth of the Newa. It became Russia's capital city and remained so until 1918 when Lenin and his revolutionary Bolshevik government moved to Moscow. Today it is a living monument to the lives and times of Russia's Imperial Tsars The Winter Palace contains Russia's largest museum, the Eremitage, which houses more than two and a half million exhibits. Since Peter the Great, Russian rulers purchased many major works of art, but it was Catherine The Great who acquired complete collections from the auction houses of Europe. The Admiralty, with its needle-shaped, gold-plated tower, is one of the city's most famous landmarks, its grand architecture depicting the emergence of Russia as a naval power and the marvellous Isaaks Cathedral has the third largest dome in the world. Twenty four thousand tree stumps were used for its foundations and it can accommodate a congregation of 14,000. The Peter And Paul Cathedral was the burial place of the Tsars and it contains the marble coffin of Peter the Great. The most colourful church in Russia is the Resurrection Of Christ Cathedral which was built on the orders of Tsar Alexander the Third on land where, in 1881, his father, Alexander the Second, had been killed by a bomb planted by a revolutionary group. Russian Baroque and Russian Classicism were established in St. Petersburg -- city of monumental events, outstanding architecture and an Imperial metropolis on the grand scale.
Vista Point ST....
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m32s
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VPG-DVD-147 - SHANGHAI Shanghai is a gigantic city that is a meeting point of both east and west. The shoreline is without a doubt the city's main focal point. The city is a combination of the past, present and future and contains the historic monuments and eye-catching buildings of a great metropolis. It was once referred to as 'the whore of Asia': capital of crime, the Paris of the east and the centre of Maoism. But today the city is ruled by modern-thinkin communists and the Yangzi Delta is not only China's largest port but also its new shining star of capitalism. The Oriental Pearl Tower is a mighty four hundred and sixty-eight metre high television tower that contains an entertainment centre, futuristic luxury hotel, fine restaurant and offers the most superb views across the city. In the centre of the city's labyrinth-like shopping alleys a zigzag bridge extends across a small pond to a famous tea house. The bridge was designed thus in order to fend off evil spirits who, it was believed, could walk only in a straight line! Located in the countryside, Suzhou is above all famous for its gardens. The 'Garden Of The Policy Of The Common People' is one of China's four most famous gardens. The complex was built between 1522 and 1566 at the command of an important mandarin and designed according to his wishes. South of Suzhou is Zhou Zhuang that is said to have been the first water village in China. A journey on its canals is certainly worthwhile as the surrounding area is covered with thousands of canals and rivers and many villages in the area are only accessible by boat. Shanghai and its surrounding area has now freed itself from its early growing pains and from the restrictions imposed by Chairman Mao and today enjoys the rich rewards of capitalism.
Vista Point SHANGHAI China
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m34s
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VPG-DVD-177 - SEVILLA Seville is a gem of a city and Andalusia's most fascinating metropolis. In the centre of the old town is the Real Alcazar that was originally home to numerous Moorish monarchs and later the domicile of Spanish kings. It's said to be the oldest and most fascinating palace complex in the whole of Europe. Christopher Columbus was welcomed in the palace when he returned from his second voyage to America after having established a trading route with the New World. Its unique mixture of numerous cultures and époques augments the atmosphere of exquisite luxury. With its labyrinth of white alleys, Santa Cruz is the city's old Jewish district and is located close to both the Real Alcazar and the Catedral. Grated windows, flowerpots on the walls and old wooden gates are typical of this area of the city that exemplifies the traditional Andalusian way of life. The Plaza De Toros and the seasonal hustle and bustle of its bullfights, dominates the El Arenal, the city's former harbour district. Designed in the 18th century by Vicente San Martin, the bullfight arena was fully restored in the middle of the 19th century. The Giralda and the Patio De Los Naranjos are the only remains of Sevilla´s Almohadian Mosque. The rest of the temple was destroyed by the Christians. Construction began in 1401 and it became the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. After the Petersdom in Rome and St. Paul's in London it is the third largest Christian building in the world. With its rich cultural inheritance bequeathed by both the Moors and the Christians, Seville is a truly incredible city with a flamboyant way of life and fiery Latin temperament!
Vista Point SEVILLA Spain...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m35s
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VPG-DVD-221 - SALZKAMMERGUT The Salzkammergut is located in the heart of Austria. A wonderful and romantic landscape set between breathtaking mountains and beautiful lakes. In the Middle Ages St. Wolfgang was one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in Central Europe having attracted seventy thousand of the faithful each year. In the summer of 1873 the first paddle-steamer was introduced and the region eventually became famous due to an operetta, Das Weisse Rössl Am Wolfgangsee. The area's main village is Fuschl that is situated on the Fuschlsee at the western end of the Salzkammergut. A tranquil and romantic lake that has inspired countless composers, poets and authors. The lake is a glimmering turquoise colour and the surrounding landscape is truly superb. It takes about three hours to walk around it. Shaped like a sickle the Mondsee is situated between the Drachenwand and Schafberg Mountains. The lake is eleven kilometres long and seventy metres deep and has a relatively warm temperature due to its sheltered location and lack of inlets from cold mountain rivers. During the Ice Age a huge lime plate broke into two sections and created the Dachstein Mountains and the Toten Gebirge. The Dachstein is a fabulous world of imposing and majestic rock and ice. Its remote location set between picturesque mountains and lakes is truly captivating. A landscape of both history and culture the SALZKAMMERGUT a veritable paradise in the heart of Europe!
Vista Point SALZKAMMERGUT...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m23s
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VPG-DVD-210 - SAIGON: HO CHI MINH CITYSaigon, an exotic trading post of bygone times, derived its name from the banks of the river upon which it is located. In 1859 the French arrived and transformed it into the capital of French colonial Indochina. With nearly six million inhabitants Saigon is also known as Ho Chi Minh City and, although large, is no longer the capital of Vietnam.Following the eventual withdrawal of both the French and the Americans the city has prospered once again with a lively trading spirit and a special flair that has helped it to become known as, The Paris Of The East. The Post Office, a mighty colonial building of 1883, highlights the splendour of old Europe and with its colourful glass windows and cast iron gratings and balustrades it is more like a European train station. The History Museum was built in 1929 according to Neo-Vietnamese design and features a large range of fascinating exhibits from each epoch of the country's history. Statues, pottery and other artefacts of various epochs are on display in various atmospheric rooms and they range from the Bronze Age culture of the Dong Son to the Funan, Chenla, Khmer and Cham periods as well as various Vietnamese dynasties. Although past, present and future live side-by-side in this richly cosmopolitan city, today Saigon is experiencing a massive property boom and its city centre premiums now match those of both Singapore and Jakarta. Saigon's dramatic past began with it being a small fishing village followed by its development as the 'Paris Of The East' and then as an American garrison city until it eventually became South Vietnam's modern metropolis of today.
Vista Point SÀI GÒN Ho...
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Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m20s
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ROMA Roma Aeterna, eternal city and ancient centre of the world. The Piazza Navona is situated in one of the Italian capital's most beautiful squares in a city that has always been a dream destination for travellers from all over the world. Three large fountains adorn the large oval square that was built above the ruins of a Domitian stadium that dates back to the 3rd century A.D. The Romans had a special regard for fountains the most famous of which is the Fontana Di Trevi. It was designed by Nicolo Salvi for the façade of the Palazzo Poli. The Via Appia Antica was the most important street in ancient Rome and it connected the southern area with the main city and even today one can walk over its ancient cobblestones. Pope Gregor The 13th had the Palazzo Del Quirinale built as his summer residence but it was not long before the Italian monarchs acquired it as their Renaissance palace. Today it is the residence of Italy's President and the daily changing of the guards ceremony is still a popular attraction. The 17th century St. Peter's Square is the most beautiful square in the world and is situated in the centre of the Vatican, an autonomous Church State in the heart of Rome that also contains the imposing and breathtaking Petersdom, the largest Christian church in the world. The allure of this city lies in its combination of chaos and joie de vivre, elegance and creativity. Rome is a complete work of art!
Vista Point ROMA Italy Rome
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m19s
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VPG-DVD-181 - RODOS Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodekanissa, a group of Greek islands located in the south east of the Aegean just off the west coast of Turkey. Since antiquity its unique location has brought it both power and wealth. On the northernmost tip of the island is the fascinating metropolis of Chora Ródos whose harbour entrance was once adorned by the Seventh Wonder Of The World, the Colossus Of Rhodes. But the legendary lighthouse has long since gone and today excursion boats and yachts crowd the island's former trading harbour that has a rich and dramatic past. Byzantines, Arabs, The Knights Of The Order Of St. John, Ottomans and Italians, each one influenced the ever-changing history of the island that was first settled in 400 B.C. At the city's highest point is the huge palace of the Grand Master, the monumental junction of the Street Of The Knights and the command post of the Christian order. The Grand Master was the highest dignitary of the Order Of The Knights Of Malta, a lifetime office. The Street Of The Knights leads from the Grand Master Palace down the hill to the Hospital, a unique ensemble of Gothic medieval architecture set amid the Mediterranean. The main buildings of the various groups of knights were erected along the main street and it was here that the knights met and conferred according to their membership of various European regions. Rhodes is an island steeped in history as well as the calm lifestyle of the Mediterranean.
Vista Point RODOS Greece...
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Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m23s
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VPG-DVD-169 - PROVENCE Marseille is the most important city in Provence.and is situated on the south coast of France. From a distance, one of Marseille's main landmarks rises high above the harbour: the seafarers' church of Notre-Dame-De-La-Garde. With abundant internal furnishings, Byzantine arches, golden mosaics and numerous votives it is a splendid structure inspired by Byzantine Romanic design. The most impressive religious building in Marseille is a fortified monastery church that dates back to the 5th century, the mighty Abbaye Saint Victor. Deep down in the rock is an Early Christian crypt and a number of stone sarcophaguses that contain the remains of various holy martyrs that date back to the Roman persecution of the Christians. A boat trip from Cassis leads to one of the most beautiful coastal areas in Europe, Les Calanques, a unique nature reserve where shining white limestone cliffs plunge more than four hundred metres into the deep blue sea and extend for twenty kilometres. Sur Le Pont D'Avignon is a world famous French song that is familiar to both young and old alike. It is a song of dance on the bridge of the Pont Saint Bénézet but it is more likely that the people here once danced under the bridge, as that is the location of its bars! A place of radiant light and sweet aromas with villages that nestle in the rocks like eagles'nests and with cities that have an historic past. Provence is indeed a captivating land full of fascinating contrasts.
Vista Point PROVENCE France
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 159 days ago
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Runtime: 1m27s
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