Tag Archives: Paris

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Best Cities for Lovers of Culture

While some cities around the world may seem slightly one-dimensional, there are others that are absolutely packed with culture, and are known around the world for being a cultural hot spot. When it comes to a city’s culture, its heritage, diversity, and involvement in the arts are all taken into account, and, if you are hoping to soak up plenty of culture on your next city break, these are the cities that you should consider visiting.

Paris.

Paris, France
The City of Lights can almost overwhelm visitors with the amount of culture that surrounds you wherever in Paris you go. With 24 national museums, and various other private ones, museum lovers will be in their element in Paris. The city also has a number of world-famous landmarks, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower to the Notre Dame, and many of its chic boutiques could easily double as landmarks themselves! Paris is also the city with the largest number of public libraries, as well as cinemas, and has an impressive 353 performing arts theaters that support artistic talent and urban culture. Parisian culture is charming and intriguing, and needs to be experienced first-hand in order to be fully appreciated.

London

London, UK
You will never be short of cultural activities to fill your days with while in London, a city that is truly cosmopolitan yet has a strong sense of heritage. From visiting Buckingham Palace to taking a tour of the Tower of London to taking in a Shakespeare production at the Globe Theatre, the city is overflowing with culture. London’s culture is made even richer by the diversity that can be found around the city. Brick Lane is where you can enjoy the best Indian food outside of India, while Borough Market brings together food culture from all over the region. In addition to all of its national museums, London also has a massive 162 other museums, as well as an impressive range of music and art performances.

Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan
With great importance placed on history, tradition and art, Kyoto is a fantastic destination to visit for those who want to experience authentic Japanese culture. Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, most of which date back to many centuries ago, are dotted throughout the city, and there is definitely a noticeable lack of the looming skyscrapers and flashy advertising campaigns that usually take over a developed city. Kyoto has managed to progress forward whilst retaining a strong grip on its heritage, and this applies to everything from its ponds and gardens to traditional cuisine. To fully immerse yourself in the culture and traditions of Kyoto, spend a night at a local ryokan inn, sampling some traditional dishes and getting to know the locals.

Spending time soaking up the culture in a new city is a great way to open up your mind and learn about different parts of the world, and you will also end up feeling much more attached to a destination that you would have otherwise felt.

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Famous Gold Domes Around the World

Gold has been used in architecture for centuries, because not only is it able to withstand the test of time, but it also depicts a sense of power, wealth and grandeur. OROGOLD takes a look at some of the famous gold domes around the world.

Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem.

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Israel
The Dome of the Rock is a 7th Century shrine in Jerusalem, Israel, and houses the rock from which the Prophet Muhammad was said to have ascended to heaven, as well as the site at which Abraham, the first patriarch of the Hebrew people, was said to have sacrificed his son. This makes the Dome of the Rock extremely significant to both Muslims and Jews. The Dome is definitely a spectacular sight, with 80 kilograms of gold used to cover it.

Golden Ring, Russia.

Golden Ring, Russia
As you approach the medieval Russian towns of Suzdal, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Rostov and Zagorsk, you are likely to see glints of gold gleaming in the distance. This is because these towns form Russia’s Golden Ring, a series of historic towns that each have golden domes reaching towards the sky. Many sites in these towns are protected by UNESCO, and while the five towns that OROGOLD has mentioned are the main Golden Ring towns, there is no official list, and there are many other cities and regions that consider themselves to be a part of the Golden Ring.

Wyoming State Capitol, Wyoming

Wyoming State Capitol, Wyoming, USA
Built between 1886 and 1890, the Wyoming State Capitol is the seat of the government of the state of Wyoming, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. While the dome of the building was originally built using copper, this became badly tarnished over time, and, in 1990, this was replaced with 24k gold leaf. To date, it has been re-gilded five times, with the most recent being in 2010. The golden dome is visible from all of the roads that lead to the city, glistening magically when it catches the sun.

Main Buidling, University of Notre Dame, Paris

University of Notre Dame, Paris, France
While the Notre Dame Cathedral may be one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, the historic University of Notre Dame is also significant to the area’s past, as well as its present. The current structure is the third building to stand on the site, and was built in 1879. Its golden dome was added in 1882, and was most recently re-gilded in 2005, with the whole dome covered in gold leaf. On top of the dome stands a 19-foot statue of Mary, the Mother of God, making the whole building another important Parisian landmark.

Since ancient times, gold has been an extremely revered metal, and still is to this day. From the golden Dome of the Rock which was built in the 7th Century, to the golden dome of the Wyoming State Capitol, built just over one hundred years ago, these famous golden domes are located all over the world, each one a great example of the love and respect that we have for this metal.

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Where to Stay for Fashion Week

Luxury hotel room

Wherever you go for a Fashion Week, the fact remains that you need somewhere to stay. You can jetset around the world all you like, but you might not have a house in every fashion week city. That’s where quality hotels come into play. There are always plenty of places to stay in any city, but finding the ones that are actually worthwhile is an often vexing chore. As a result, OROGOLD wishes to help by providing suggestions on places to stay as you travel around for fashion week. Just because the season typically starts in New York doesn’t mean that is stays there, after all. These suggestions are based more on the quality of the hotel than proximity to fashion week itself, but luxury tends to attract luxury in these matters so you won’t have to travel far.

The Empire Hotel – New York Fashion Week
The Empire Hotel is actually one of the best places you can stay for Fashion Week in New York thanks to its proximity to one of the primary runway buildings. This isn’t to say that it is far from the others, but crossing the street to get to a show does have a certain appeal to it. The hotel itself provides high-quality service as it caters to those seeking a bit of luxury in life without it being placed out of reach. A distinct attraction for the hotel is its rooftop bar that allows you to look out over the Big Apple as you enjoy a drink of your choice. Many people rub shoulders in the bar, but you can be sure most of them are worth knowing.

Palazzo Parigi Milano – Milan Fashion Week
Milan’s depth of history makes it sometimes dizzying to know where to go. Fortunately, the Palazzo Parigi Milano covers that by resting towards the center of the city. It isn’t quite at the heart of it all like the Duomo, but it is within easy walking distance. This placement actually puts the hotel in a good location for Fashion Week as several fashion houses are located relatively nearby. The hotel is used to catering to clients with a taste for the finer things in life. Most rooms have plenty of space and make nods to the long history of Milan without forgetting the modern pulse of the city itself. The relative proximity to the center of the city also means you can visit a wide number of the historical landmarks in the city when you’re not watching the runways.

Hotel de l’Abbaye Saint-Germain – Paris Fashion Week
Offering a distinct atmosphere, Hotel de l’Abbaye Saint-Germain focuses on providing you with an air of luxury and beauty as opposed to just a serviceable room with good services. You’re sure to feel right at home thanks to the careful degree of attention focused on the décor. A relaxing garden ensures you can get away from the bustle of Paris when the shows and the crowds get to be too much as well. The hotel enjoys good placement within the Saint Germain section of Paris and offers relatively easy access to other parts of the city without it being too much trouble. This hotel isn’t as close to Fashion Week locations as our other selections, but it makes up for it with its distinct character. That and after multiple Fashion Weeks it might be pleasant to be a bit farther away from all the action.

A hotel doesn’t just have to be the place you lay your head down at night when traveling. They can be homes away from home too. This makes selecting a hotel a matter of personal style just as much as what you wear. OROGOLD hopes that these recommendations provide you with a glimpse into some of the lovelier places to stay during some Fashion Weeks. The beauty of each of these hotels is sure to rival the beauty walking down the runways.