The Guggenheim, is one of the best known museums in all of New York. Founded in 1937 as “The Museum of Non-Objective Painting”, the Guggenheim was created to showcase artwork that was classified as avant-garde. In 1959, it was moved to its present location and the corner of 89th Street and Fifth Avenue, across from the infamous Central Park.

The museum is a piece of artwork in itself, as it was Frank Lloyd Wright’s final major project. The trend-setting architect designed the building to look like a piece of white ribbon curling into a cylindrical stack. In comparison to the uniformly boxy buildings of Manhattan, Wright’s design is an attention grabber to say the least. The building has been criticized by many that feel the design overshadows the artwork displayed within. Much of the artwork has to be lit by artificial light, as the niches are shadowed by the stacked walkways. Hanging artwork becomes difficult also, as the walls aren’t vertical or flat, rather concave, and due to limited spaces in the niches, sculptures are usually displayed in the spiral walkway itself.

The Guggenheim foundation decided to supplement the original building with a rectangular tower in 1992, in order to be able to host more artwork. Designed by Gwathmey Siegel and Associates, this addition dealt with its fair share of controversy, as many felt the iconic building should not be messed with. The Guggenheim remains a landmark of the Upper East Side in New York City and is a must-see for anyone traveling through. The Guggenheim Museum, among other museums is covered in the Fifth Avenue and Central Park audio tour which is available at Tourcaster. Download this tour to your iPod or mp3 player, and walk the Guggenheim and most of Fifth Avenue, at your own pace.

The Colosseum, or Colosseo, is arguably the most famous amphitheatre, located at the heart of Rome, Italy. This architectural feat, was the largest amphitheatre built in the Roman Empire, seating 50,000 spectators. The finishing touches were put on this remarkable structure in 80 AD, and remained in use for almost 500 years. The Colosseum is most famously known its traditional gladiator games, but early Romans also held re-encarnations of famous battles, animal hunts, mock sea battles, and dramas based on ancient mythology.

The site of the monument was chosen between the Caelian, Esquiline and Palatine Hills, by a nearby stream, sparking rapid growth in the area. The Colosseum went through several radical changes during the Medieval period, from having a small church built into the structure, to being used as a castle by the Frangipani family in the 1200s. Then in the 16th and 17th century, the Church, under the guidance of Pope Sixtus, decided to take a more active roll, and planned on turning the building into a wool factory to provide employment for those in need. However this plan fell through with his death.

Today, the Colosseum is one of the most popular tourist attractions, not only in Rome, but in the world. The effects of general deterioration sparked a restoration program between 1993 and 2000, costing around 40 billion lira.

Although the interior of the Colosseum is in no condition to host events anymore, some internationally known performers, including Paul McCartney and Elton John, have held concerts just outside, using this incredible structure as a backdrop. To listen to a walking tour of the inside of the Coloseum on your iPod or mp3 player, visit Tourcaster.

The Brussels Town Hall, or Hôtel de Ville, stands in the infamous Grand-Place, in Brussels, Belgium. The eldest part of the Town Hall, was constructed under Jacob van Thienen, and commenced in 1402. This wing boasts the belfry, or bell, tower, that stands approximately 315 feet tall and was constructed in the Gothic style that was so popular in the 15th century. The archangel Michael, who is the patron saint of Brussels, stands guard atop the tower spire, slaying a dragon.

Legend has it, one of the Town Hall's architects, leapt from the tower upon realizing that the front archway and the main building facade were off-center. However, considering the gaps in construction and change of direction in architecture, the lack of symmetry was an expected and accepted consequence.


Much of the interior of the Town Hall was destroyed during an attack on Brussels in 1695 by a French army under the guidance of the Duke of Villeroi. While the exterior remained mostly intact, many artifacts and archives were lost forever.

The Grand Place and Town Hall, were named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1998, solidifying Brussels and Belgium as a major historical hot-spot. To learn more about the Town Hall and Grand-Place in Brussels, Belgium, visit Tourcaster.

The Trevi fountain, or Fontana di Trevi, is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome, Italy. The fountain is placed at the juncture of three roads, hence the name tre vie. Originally a simple, small basin, Pope Urban VIII commissioned Bernini to design some possible renovations in 1629. When the Pope died, the project was abandoned, and wasn't revisited until 1730. Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi for the final fountain, and work began in 1732. Salvi would pass away in 1751, 12 years before the fountain was completed, but Giuseppe Pannini would put the final touches on this amazing work of art.

The main theme behind the fountain is the Taming of the Waters, hence Neptune, the God of Water, placed in the center niche, being guided by Tritons. On either side of Neptune is Abundance, spilling water from her urn, and Salubrity, holding a cup of water from which a snake drinks. Neptune is framed by a triumphal arch, which is usually built to signify a victory in war.

A little-known fact on the "three coins" myth. It has been said, that if one throws three coins with one's right hand over their left shoulder, into the fountain, they would have good luck. This is all well and good, except the original three coins were thrown by three different individuals. The real legend is that, if you throw one coin in the fountain, you are ensured a return trip to Rome, two coins and you will get married, and three coins ensures divorce.

Carnaval is the most famous holiday in Brazil, and the planning has already begun. The main festivities are celebrated 40 days before the Catholic holiday, Lent, which occurs February 17-20, 2007 this time around.
Tourcaster has three audio tours in Rio de Janeiro, that you can download to your iPod or mp3 player. There is also a driving tour of the Discovery Coast that can be played through an iPod or car CD player. The Discovery Coast tour starts in Porto Seguro, takes you north to Belmonte, and then back south, ending up in Caravelas.
Brazil is such an amazing country with so much to offer, one could spend days just in Copacabana, a small district of Rio. With so much to offer, make sure when you're planning your samba and capoeira lessons, that you leave time to explore the sites. Venture beyond Rio de Janeiro and Tourcaster can guide you.