Wat Prang Luang วัดปรางค์หลวง is an ancient Thai Buddhist temple in Nonthaburi province, it is believed to be the oldest monastery and archaeological site in Nonthaburi and the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. It is situated along Khlong Om Non, also known as Khlong Bangkok Noi.
The temple was previously called Wat Luang วัดหลวง meaning royal temple. It was presumably built in reign of the King Ramathibodi I (U-Thong) the first monarch and founder of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, more than 650 years ago. It is believed that this location used to be his residence after the cholera evacuation, before the establishment of the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
Later in the Bangkok era the name was changed to Wat Prang Luang.
The prang is old and has had redtoration wirk done to it due to the dilapidated state it was in. It has been archaeological proven to date back to the early Ayutthaya period with a different structure than the other prangs of the same period.
A principal ...
Saint Peter’s Basilica, located in Vatican City, is one of the holiest sites in Christianity and the largest church in the world by interior measure. It stands on the traditional burial site of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles and the first Bishop of Rome, considered the first Pope. Catholic tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome around 64 AD during Nero’s persecutions and buried on Vatican Hill, near the Circus of Nero.
The original Old Saint Peter’s Basilica dates back to the 4th century. Around 326–360 AD, Emperor Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, commissioned a five-aisled structure with a central nave and atrium over Peter’s tomb.
This building served as a major pilgrimage site for over 1,200 years, hosting papal coronations such as Charlemagne’s as Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD, and accumulating numerous tombs, relics, and artworks. By the 15th century, however, it had fallen into severe disrepair, with leaning walls prompting plans for ...
Nestled in the heart of Rome, between the Capitoline Hill and the Circus Maximus, the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum together form the ancient core of the city—a place where myth, history, and imperial ambition intertwine. According to legend, it was on the Palatine Hill that Romulus founded Rome in 753 BC, after slaying his brother Remus, and where the she-wolf nurtured the twins in the Lupercal cave. This centermost of Rome’s seven hills quickly became the most desirable address, evolving from modest Iron Age huts to the opulent residences of the elite during the Republic, and finally to the sprawling palaces of emperors like Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, and Domitian. The word “palace” itself derives from “Palatine,” a testament to its enduring association with power and luxury.
Below the hill lies the Roman Forum, once a marshy valley reclaimed in the 7th century BC to become the bustling political, religious, commercial, and social center of the ancient world. For over a ...
The Mercatino di Natale (Christmas market) in Piazza Navona is one of Rome’s oldest and most beloved traditions, often called the Mercatino della Befana. Its roots trace back over 200 years, evolving from seasonal street sellers. The piazza hosted a daily food market from 1477 until 1869 (later moved to Campo de’ Fiori), but by the late 19th century (around 1876), it became dedicated to an annual Christmas fair—initially toys, sweets, and nativity figures tied to Epiphany celebrations.
Today, it’s a festive, family-oriented market filling the piazza with wooden stalls selling artisanal Christmas decorations, handmade nativity scenes (presepi), wooden toys, leather goods, ceramics, books, regional sweets (like panettone and roasted chestnuts), and gift items.
Attractions include a vintage carousel, street performers, puppet shows, and workshops for children. The atmosphere is magical at night with twinkling lights framing the Baroque fountains and palaces.
It typically runs from early ...
