Travel Around The Clock

Located on a hill, on the border between Périgord and Agenais, the castle of Biron is the seat of one of the four baronies of the Périgord (together with Bourdeilles , Beynac and Mareuil). Over the years, this primitive fortress has undergone multiple changes. Each century has left its mark there, giving a particular appeal to this exceptional architectural ensemble.  Chateau de Biron But the Biron Castle is a must-see site in more than one way: not only it is stunningly beautiful in its impressive structure, but it has a long history! It belonged for 8 centuries to the Gontaut-Biron family, which was also one of the 4 baronies of the Périgord. Indeed, the first lord of the castle was called Vital 1er de Gontaut (12th century) and participated in the construction of the building. Many lords and barons have succeeded, but Gaston VI de Gontaut (15th century) and his sons Pons and Armand de Gontaut (15th-16th century) were the most important figures. Chateau de Biron Gaston VI was th...

Ragusa Ibla, located in the southeastern tip of Sicily is considered the capital of Sicilian Baroque . The ancient historical center, in a dominant position on a hill, welcomes the visitor with over fifty churches and numerous noble palaces, in which the rich Baroque architecture in local limestone takes the form of scrolls, columns and capitals, statues and decorations of various kind. Ragusa Ibla The origins of Ragusa Ibla date back to a very ancient era; its name can be traced back to an archaic Greek colony (Hybla Heraya), but the current historic centre was built in the 18th century, after the devastating earthquake that struck Eastern Sicily in 1693. In fact, the other cities of the Val di Noto also date back to this period, and they are all characterised by a late Baroque style. Ragusa was then rebuilt in two distinct sites: Ragusa Superiore, the modern city, on the plain, and  Ragusa Ibla that was rebuilt in Baroque style on the ruins of the ancient Sicilian city, and...

The island of Ortygia  (spelled as Ortigia, in Italian) emerges from the waters of the Ionian Sea along the eastern coast of Sicily , a few hundred meters from the mainland. It is a piece of land of just 1 square km in extension, and it represents the heart and true historic centre of the splendid city of Syracuse .   Its name refers to Greek origins, but this area, rich in fresh water springs, was already inhabited since the Bronze Age, as evidenced by archaeological finds dating back to 3500 BC. and 1200 BC. Walking around the island means savoring centuries of history, art and culture. It means capturing the Greek and Roman civilizations and the indelible passage of the Aragonese and Arabs in the buildings and all the architectural details. Ortygia Ortygia Here is our top 5 things to see in Ortygia! Let's start our virtual tour! PIAZZA DUOMO AND CATHEDRAL Every itinerary in Ortygia should start or end on the large main square, beautifully located in the heart of the is...

From rustic cuisine to gourmet meals, the Dordogne is renowned for its tasty traditional cuisine, typical of South-West France, widely appreciated for its simplicity and the great quality of local products. Fruity sweets, natural treasures and good agricultural production colour the weekly markets, delight gourmets and celebrate the richness of this exceptional terroir. Here are some of the most delicious specialties of the Dordogne, that you should absolutely taste while visiting the region! Foie gras Absolute reference in the gastronomy of Périgord, foie gras, both from goose and duck, pan-fried or semi-cooked, is always a delicious temptation. An IGP (French acronym for PGI meaning Protected Geographical Indication) that guarantees and protect the local production, has been obtained in 1992. The majority of the production is carried out from duck, the goose having unfortunately been a little neglected in the years 80's-90's, even if the demand for goose has been slowly maki...

The Puuc Route is an extraordinary itinerary road that connects five main Mayan sites : Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak and Labnà. Most of these cities were vassals of Uxmal, and were linked together by Sacbé, white paths of piled stones that were more than a meter high to be sheltered from the vegetation and to remain passable in case of rain. Some archaeologists believe they also had an astronomical role.  On the road, Yucatan The Mayan-Yucatec term Puuc has acquired various connotations; it is used to designate a geographical area, an archaeological region and an architectural style, as well as a period in the history of the Mayans. That is, in essence, it has a geographical-cultural meaning. The Puuc region shows specific and peculiar architectural and decorative elements such as the multi-storey structures, the finishing of the stones that cover the buildings, assembled like a mosaic, the insertion of columns on the facades and on the base, the complex decoration with anthropomorp...