Gastronomy is a key attraction for tourists, and part of what makes their visit feel authentic. Culinary souvenirs are also important, allowing visitors to continue enjoying gastronomic traditions and products once they have returned home. Let's take a look at what this brochure from 1964 has to offer us.
This is a plentiful, delicious buffet, with origins dating back to the 17th century and the reign of the House of Vasa. At the time, powerful families would serve buffets that were known as Brännvinsbords or Akvavit tables.
They became popular in the 19th century, when hotels would serve them as an appetizer called SOS. The letters stand for the Swedish words for butter, cheese, and herring. At the 1939 New York World's Fair, they gained international exposure, becoming known as smorgasbords.
The idea is to eat a lot of protein, which is why accompaniments such as potatoes, rice, and salads tend not to be included. Diners help themselves and might have up to five helpings. They are usually enjoyed with Akvavit liquor and beer.
Akvavit (40% ABV) is a drink traditionally consumed at celebrations and parties. Commonly known as schnapps, it is served in small glasses (between one and two fluid ounces). Another traditional alcoholic drink is Punsch, a very sweet liqueur that is served very hot, at around 104ºF (40°C).
Lutefɪsk is a traditional dish made from dried white fish pickled in lye. Find out which country we're talking about and hurry there to try it—it sounds really delicious!
Most good menus will include two or three kinds of cheese as a key ingredient in a smorgasbord. There must be at least one soft cheese and one hard cheese. Olives, radishes, and celery are the perfect garnish.
Culinary tourism is a way of reviving a region's traditional cuisine. In the mid-20th century, a structural shift occurred, with tourists starting to enjoy food from other places.
We've left Pegman somewhere in the city. We're sure it won't take you long to figure out where you are. Have a nice trip, and send us a postcard if you get the chance!
The Lion of Venice is one of the most prized statues in the world, and one with a very unusual history. The lion has stood on a column in St Mark's Square, Venice, Italy, since around the 12th Century, and come to be recognised worldwide as a symbol of the aquatic city.
The winged lion is the traditional emblem of St Mark, the patron saint of Venice. But the Lion of Venice probably began life as a griffin statue on a monument to the god Sandon, in Cilicia, around 300BCE.
Over the centuries, the original bronze sculpture was repaired and modified, to create the Christian monument we see today.
Like the Lion, the founding of Venice is lost to history. All that's known is that the oldest families can trace their ancestors back to the late Roman empire, and that Paolo Lucio Anafesto, the first leader of Venice, titled the Doge, was elected in 697CE.
Well, we've landed somewhere, let's get looking for the lion. Stay on this slide and point & click to explore the city, and keep your eyes open.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a … griffin? Winged lion? Either way, it's the one we're looking for, and it's pride of place in the Piazza San Marco.
Next to the Lion is another column, this one holds the statue of Venice's other patron saint, Saint Theodore. Like the Lion, it's rather unusual, being made of several different sculptures, including a crocodile which represents a dragon.
Winged lions are almost everywhere in Venice. But the Lion did once leave the city. In 1797, after the defeat of Venice by Napoleon, the Lion of Venice was captured and taken to Paris. After Napoleon was deposed in 1816, it was returned home - with only a few missing parts.
Thanks for joining today's scavenger hunt. While we're here, why not take a gondola and discover the rest of the 'floating city'. You wouldn't want to miss the historic Rialto Bridge. Until next time, arrivederci.
Some artists paint directly from their imaginations, but many work from real life references. Scroll to compare and contrast artistic works with the locations which inspired them.
This illustrious château, a few hours southwest of Paris, was illustrated by an unknown artist in the 19th century, but its history extends even farther into the past. Built in 1471, the manor has had a number of notable residents, including Leonardo da Vinci.
Clos Lucé has changed hands many times since its construction, but today, it's open as a museum and you can learn about the life and work of da Vinci.
The home of beloved English poet William Wordsworth, Dove Cottage was originally built as a pub in the early 1600s. Several of Wordsworth's most celebrated poems were penned right here in this modest cottage.
Today, the cottage is open to visitors and you can see its famous garden. Click to explore the area using Street View.
Van Gogh's final months were spent in Auvers, France where he was extremely prolific with his artwork. This oil painting of the town church is exemplary of his work at the time. This piece, done in 1890, is hanging at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
As you can see, the church has been wonderfully preserved in the time since. Swipe back and forth to compare the painting with the real thing, then look around with Street View.
French painter Alfred Philippe Roll created this nighttime scene of author Victor Hugo's funeral, backdropped by the magnificent Parisian monument at the end of the Champs-Élysées.
Completed in the 1830s, the monument still stands triumphantly today. Tourists can explore in person or using Street View. You can even paint the scene!
English artist Charles W. Bartlett traveled extensively, creating prints and paintings of beautiful locations all around the globe. This print of the Taj Mahal was created with Japanese shin-hanga woodblock printmaker Shōzaburō Watanabe in 1916.
The real Taj Mahal, commissioned by Shah Jahan in 1632, is a gorgeous mausoleum in Agra, India. It remains one of the most prized architectural and artistic achievements in the world.
American artist Georgia O'Keeffe painted this serene view of the misty Peruvian mountains in 1957. This ethereal piece is on display at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
In actuality, Machu Picchu is much more than hazy hilltops. It is a mountain citadel built by the Inca in the 1400s. Use Street View to discover the breathtaking Peruvian vistas!