To assist you with your photographic journey we are sharing some tips for taking great history photos.
Know your equipment
Possibly one of the most important pieces of advice is to thoroughly know the inner and outer workings of your camera. To take great pictures you don’t need to have the most expensive equipment, but you do need to know how to use them to their full potential. Have you tried playing around with your camera’s shutter speed, ISO, aperture? Does your camera have internal image stabilisation, is it weather sealed, what are the autofocus settings? Paying attention to those things can really improve the quality of your images.
View towards Arundel Cathedral from the Arundel Castle grounds, April 2021
Image Credit: ©Teet Ottin
Find something that excites you
Historic photography is incredibly varied, allowing you to try out many different styles and ideas. The best pictures are created if the photographer enjoys what they are doing, which means finding the right subject is crucial.
Do you enjoy portrait photography? Try taking pictures of old statues and busts. Do you love capturing fine details? Try photographing old coins. Even if you don’t know what you are passionate about, go out and start taking pictures, you will soon discover which things draw your eye.
San Sebastián Cathedral, July 2021 (original image cropped)
Image Credit: ©Teet Ottin
Use a tripod
Tripods are great at allowing you to stabilise your image. This is especially important if you are taking long exposure photos in which the camera’s shutter is left open during a somewhat lengthy period of time. This allows you to take high quality images in darker places or get the silky water effect for shoots near bodies of water. But don’t get discouraged if you don’t have a tripod, it is a very useful tool in certain situations, though not needed all the time.
The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome. May 2022
Image Credit: ©Teet Ottin
Check the weather
Do you have an image idea in your head? Start preparing the details. Checking the weather forecast is quite important if you are planning on taking outdoor pictures. Light is crucial for photography and different types of weather will give your photos a different feel. The early morning and late evening sun are usually the best if you want your pictures to be rich in warmth and soft lighting. Stormy days may offer you dramatic dark clouds, while cloudless skies open up a perfect backdrop for black and white photography.
Menai Suspension Bridge, June 2021
Image Credit: ©Teet Ottin
Know the history and be respectful
It is always a good idea to know some of the history of the sites or objects you are photographing. This can help you to single out especially significant parts of a building or help you to stay out of trouble. Some sites have strict rules, not allowing any photos to be taken (some religious buildings for example). Make sure that no damage is done to any of the sites or objects you decided to capture with your camera.
Telford Suspension Bridge, June 2021
Image Credit: ©Teet Ottin
Think about composition
When taking a photo you should keep in mind how all elements in the frame are positioned – composition is king. Move around and try taking pictures from different angles and play around with your zoom. These steps will help you to find a composition which has not been repeated a thousand times by others. With some buildings, instead of focusing on trying to capture the whole structure, you can experiment with photographing smaller details and elements to create a more unique image. You can also utilise magnifying glasses or even normal reading glasses to create interesting effects with your camera’s focus.
The dome of the Pantheon in Rome, May 2022
Image Credit: ©Teet Ottin
Take your time
If you want to take truly amazing images, then take your time and don’t rush. Only very few photographers are able to make every single of their photos a ‘winner’, for most people the best strategy is to take a lot of images and pick out the best back at home. If you have multiple camera lenses try out taking the same shot with different gear, you will be surprised how varied the results can be. The more you shoot the more likely you are going to find the perfect shot.
Ancient ruins in Rome, May 2022
Image Credit: ©Teet Ottin
Use editing software
Once you have taken a satisfying amount of pictures with your camera the last step begins – photo editing. The majority of images you see online have been retouched to achieve the perfect results. This includes colour correction, decreasing or increasing contrast and vibrance, removing elements from the image, cropping to achieve the perfect composition, etc. With programs like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom there is no end what you can achieve, though even some more simplistic editing tools can help your photos to stand out.
Angels on the St Angelo Bridge Rome (original image cropped)
Image Credit: ©Teet Ottin
In this article we explore the history of drag ballroom culture, from its post Civil War beginnings to developments brought by the Black and Latinx community to its eventual break into the American mainstream.
Beginnings at Hamilton Lodge No. 710
The story of drag balls reaches further back in time than one may expect. In 1869, the first known example was organised in the Harlem’s Hamilton Lodge No. 710, New York as a masquerade charity gala. Both men and women dressed in clothes usually worn by the opposite sex. Attendance quickly grew as it was seen as a safe space for queer individuals to meet and express themselves. The competition aspect would play an important role, with prizes such as ‘most perfect feminine body displayed by an impersonator’ being given out.
Harassment from authorities were frequent because of numerous anti-crossdressing laws. Matters were not made easier by the moral reform organisation known as the Committee of Fourteen publishing a report in 1916 laying out the ‘scandalous’ behaviour displayed at these drag balls. But this increasing public awareness did not stop people congregating and exploring the art of drag. By the 1920s the ball not only drew in LGBTQ+ attendees, but also heterosexual artists and writers. The event was drawing thousands of spectators, with the 1936 ball boasting an audience of 8,000.
Article published by ‘The New York Age’, 1930
Image Credit: JD Doyle Archives
The emergence of drag houses
It was not only frequent police raids and a generally homophobic society that plagued the drag ball scene of the early 20th century. Even though the event at Hamilton Lodge was a racially mixed, white participants were favoured, while black queens were encouraged to whiten their faces. Class division also payed a role, with middle class homosexuals looking down on the mostly working class participants.
By the 1960s Black and Latinx drag performers splintered off from the existing ball culture, creating their own events in the process. Drag houses started to emerge, which served as a surrogate family for young queer people of colour who were estranged from their families, struggling to get by or living on the streets. The first of those was the House of LaBeija, founded by Crystal LaBeija who served as the ‘mother’. Through the 1970s and 80s a plethora of houses emerged – the House of Dior, the House of Dupree, the House of Corey, the House of Xtravaganza, etc.
Strike a pose
Like the great noble houses of Europe in days gone by, the New York based drag families would throw their own extravagant events to outdo each other and show-off their splendour. In the 1980s categories started taking centre stage at these balls. Participants would show-off their ‘walk’ and display the outfits of their drag persona in the hopes of winning one of the coveted prizes. ‘Realness’ became a popular category, with judges assessing each participants ability to pass as a heterosexual man or woman. They could range from ‘executive realness’ to ‘butch queen realness’ and everything in between.
But it was not all about cross-dressing, some categories allowed men to show off their masculinity and women their femininity.
You cannot cover the topic of drag balls without discussing the history of Voguing. The dance developed as a sort of battle between the participants. In its earliest incarnations during the 1960s it consisted of posing and mimicking the movements seen in fashion magazines. In the next two decades more acrobatic and athletic elements were added. Even though Madonna did not invent the dance, her smash hit ‘Vogue’ helped bring it to a nation wide audience.
During the 1990s the dance style adopted hyper feminine posturing, intricate hand moves and the addition of the famous death drop. Willi Ninja was known as the grandfather of Voguing, with the House of Ninja becoming synonymous with the dance.
The Imperial Court of New York’s annual Night of a Thousand Gowns Coronation Ball
Image Credit: Ronald Kennedy from New Jersey, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Break into the mainstream
1990 saw the release of the now famous documentary Paris is Burning. It presented the last moments of the ‘Golden Age’ of New York’s drag balls, while also exploring issues relating to race, sexuality, class and gender identity. To say modern drag culture is still influenced by the documentary would be an understatement. Phrases like ‘throwing shade’, ‘you own everything’ or ‘kiki’ were not invented by Paris is Burning, but the documentary has made them a staple in the drag community. The documentary went on to gather great critical success and brought the underground culture to a wider audience.
With RuPauls’s rise to stardom in the 1990s and the success of his TV show Rupaul’s Drag Race, which went on air in 2009, the art of drag has exploded in popularity, becoming part of mainstream culture. Drag balls can not only be found in US cities, but across the world. But it would be a mistake to think that all drag is the same and that all drag balls are similar. Even though the art form has gathered unprecedented popularity, it is not a uniform monolith and there are many subcultures present which are spearheaded by societies most disenfranchised groups.
RuPaul in 2007
Image Credit: David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0
History of Godmersham Park
Built in 1732, on the site of an earlier Elizabethan building, Godmersham Park was the property of the Knight family. The two side pavilions were added around 1780. Jane Austen’s brother was adopted by the son of Thomas Brodanx Knight, who was a distant cousin of the siblings. Edward Austen eventually changed his last name to Knight and married Elizabeth Bridges. Jane Austen regularly visited her brother and it is believed that Godmersham Park served as inspiration for Mansfield Park.
Edward’s son put the house up for sale in the late 19th century, ushering in a period of a series of new owners until Godmersham Park was bought up by Elsie and Robert Tritton in the 20th century. They helped to restore the building to its former glory, removing many of the Victorian additions and adding an orangery to the west wing.
Godmersham Park today
Godmersham Park was sold to the Sunley family in 1983 who lease it to the Association of British Dispensing Opticians. The beautiful country house is open to public during the National Gardens Open Days. During the rest of the year you can visit through pre-booked tours.
The formal gardens are a lovely sight and offer an atmospheric getaway experience. The grounds can be accessed at any time, since a public footpath runs through them, offering great views over the main house.
Getting to Godmersham Park
The country house is located between Ashford and Cantebury in the North Downs. From London, you can take the Southeastern train to Wye and catch a bus from there to Church Lane. It is only a 4 minute walk from the station to the manor house.
]]>The history of Pienza
The first written records of the town of Corsignano came from the 9th century, remaining a small settlement throughout the medieval period. In 1405 Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini, the renaissance humanist and later Pope Pius II was born in the small town. During his time as the head of the Catholic Church, he transformed the settlement becoming the city of Pienza, meaning city of Pius, in the process.
Pienza represents the first urban centre in the world that was created based on humanist principles, becoming the blueprint for many other European cities in the coming decades. The main architect of the project was Bernardo Gambarelli.
The city of Pienza today
The pedestrianised renaissance town is perfect for those looking for a relaxing stroll through beautifully preserved streets. On the Piazza Pio II, the main square of the city, the beautiful Pienza Cathedral can be found. The building combines elements from Renaissance and Gothic architecture, while also housing some truly impressive 15th century paintings.
The Palazzo Piccolomini can be found standing right next to the cathedral. It was created as the summer home for Pope Pius II and its back garden represents the first example of a ‘roofed garden’ in the renaissance.
Pienza is the home of numerous great restaurants and cafe’s, which will delight any culinary tourists. The town is also famous for producing the famous pecorino cheese, which is often served within food and on cheese platter’s.
Getting to the Historic Centre of the City of Pienza
The easiest way to reach Pienza is by renting a car and driving from either Florence or Siena to the beautifully preserved renaissance town. There are bus services that go from the aforementioned cities, though they usually take up to four hours with at least one change on the way.
]]>The history of Siena
Based on legend, the city was founded by Senius and Aschius, two sons of Remus. Archaeological evidence shows that the site was the home of an Etruscan settlement, before the Roman colony of Sena Julia was established. Siena would prosper during the Lombard rule in the Early Middle Ages, becoming a new trading centre.
The city became a self governing entity by the 12th century, engaging in fierce rivalry with its neighbour Florence. Siena became an important banking centre in the following century, with the oldest continuously operating bank, the Monte dei Paschi bank, located in the city since 1472. The city was not only a financial centre, but also an educational centre too, with the University of Siena founded in the 12th century, making it one of the oldest ones in Europe.
The 14th century would see a period of decline for the Italian city, with plagues, economic downturn and wars destabilising Siena, though this did not stop the construction of new beautiful churches and palaces.
Over the next centuries the city would only play a minor role in geopolitics, becoming a part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
The Historic Centre of Siena today
The city is exceptionally well preserved, with most buildings originating during the later Medieval period, built in the then popular Gothic style. The fortified city wall and gates surrounding Siena are standing to this day.
Siena Cathedral, created between 1215 and 1263, is one of the most famous sites of the old town. Some of Italy’s finest artists worked on the structure, including Donatello, Bernini, Giovanni Pisano and Pinturicchio. The cathedral facade is incredibly ornate, considered by many to be one the most impressive in all of Italy.
The Piazza del Campo is the main square of the city, surrounded by some truly magnificent medieval buildings. The most striking is the Palazzo Pubblico with its tall Torre del Mangia. The palazzo was the seat of Siena’s government, with its adjacent bell tower being the second tallest in Italy.
Twice a year the old town becomes the site of the famous Palio di Siena, a horse race held on 2 July and 16 August each year. The race is preceded by the Corteo Storico, which is a historical costume parade.
Getting to the Historic Centre of Siena
The closest airport is Florence airport, which has good bus and train connections to Siena. From Florence, take the shuttle bus from the airport to the Santa Maria Novella station from where the trains to Siena leave.
The Siena train station is located at the bottom of a hill, outside of the historic centre. From the station, take the bus to Piazza del Sale/Viale Garibaldi or Viale Tozzi/Piazza Gramsci. The bus station in Florence can be found near the SMN train station, with two different buses departing to Siena – Rapida (the fast bus) and Ordinaria (ordinary or slower bus).
]]>The history of Florence
Founded as an Ancient Roman military colony in the 1st century BC, Florence has had a long and proud history. By the 3rd century AD it served as a provincial capital becoming a centre of wealth. The fall of the Western Roman Empire and the subsequent Gothic Wars between Byzantium and the Ostrogoths brought widespread destruction not only to Florence but to the Italian peninsula as a whole.
The High Medieval period would see new growth, ushering in an artistic golden age. By the 13th century Florence had become a formidable economic and political powerhouse, largely brought about by its banking and woollen cloth industries. The period would also see the city becoming a Republic which eventually birthed the Renaissance. The late republican period would see the rise of the Medici family, who seized total control in 1569, becoming dukes of Tuscany.
The following centuries saw Florence’s standing diminished, with its cultural vitality paling in comparison to prior eras. For a while the city fell under foreign influence, through a personal union with Habsburg Austria. Florence would finally become part of a unified Italian state in 1861.
Even though Florence has existed since Roman times, most of the surviving buildings stem from the early modern period.
Historic Centre of Florence today
The most famous landmark of the city is the magnificent Florence Cathedral. It is one of the largest churches in Italy and still to this day has the largest brick dome ever constructed. Building began in 1296, but it would not be until 1436 when the structure was fully completed.
In the heart of the city you can find the Piazza della Signoria, which is surrounded by some of Florence’s main attractions. The Palazzo Vecchio, which overlooks the cities main piazza, has been the town hall of Florence for centuries. It remains a popular tourist attraction thanks to its beautiful interiors. Another standout is Bartolomeo Ammannati’s Fountain of Neptune, which is a marble masterpiece.
The Uffizi Gallery, adjacent to the Piazza della Signoria, is one of the greatest art museums in the world, housing works from artists including Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Titan and many more. Many of the most famous paintings are located in this most magnificent gallery.
The Galleria dell’Accademia houses possibly one of the most famous marble sculptures of the early modern era – Michelangelo‘s David. It is the second most visited museum in Florence, right behind the Uffizi Gallery.
Getting to the Historic Centre of Florence
The closest airport is Florence airport, which lies just 3 miles (5 km) outside of the city. You can either take a taxi or the Vola shuttle bus to the historic centre, which shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes.
]]>The runic alphabet developed among the early Germanic people of Northern Europe almost 2,000 years ago. How it was created it still not fully understood, though it is widely believed that contact with Mediterranean civilisations – Greeks, Etruscans and Romans – influenced the creation of this writing system.
Some of the best preserved examples of this script can be found on rune stones, including the lions-hare located in Sweden. They had many varied purposes ranging from marking territory to memorialising fallen kinsmen. Rune stones used to be highly colourful, though hundreds of years of being out in the open means very little is left for modern observers.
Here were look at some of the oldest rune stones found by archeologists.
The Svingerud Stone
The oldest entry on this list is also the most recent to have been discovered. Located in a grave near Oslo, Norway, this rune stone has been dated between 1 and 250 AD, making it unquestionably the first example of runic writing that we know of. The short inscription on the stone seems to refer to a woman and could mean For Idibera.
Detail from the Svingerud Stone
Image Credit: Alexis Pantos/Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo
Einang stone
Found east of the Einang Sound near Fagernes, Oppland, Norway, this rune stone was placed on top of a grave mound during the 4th century AD. To this day, Einang stone is the oldest rune stone to still be standing in its original location. The text found on it translates to (I, Go)dguest painted/wrote this runic inscription.
The inscription on the Einang stone
Image Credit: Lars Gustavsen, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Tune stone
One side of the Tune rune stone, located in the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo, Norway
Image Credit: Skadinaujo, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons; History Hit
Hogganvik runestone
This well preserved rune stone was discovered face down by a local Hogganvik, Norway resident named Arnfinn Henriksen. The text, consisting of 62 characters, is believed to be from 300 to 500 AD.
The stone re-established at its original location, August 2010
Image Credit: Bjoertvedt, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Kylver Stone
This Swedish stone dates back to the 5th century AD. It was discovered in 1903 near a farm at Kylver, Stånga, Gotland. It is famous for being the earliest rune stone to list all characters of the the Elder Futhark (the oldest form of the runic alphabet).
The Kylver stone, Gotland, Sweden
Image Credit: Gunnar Creutz, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Möjbro Runestone
Created between 400 and 500AD, this well-preserved rune stone has been known to Swedish authorities since the 17th century. Besides the runic inscription it also depicts a rider on a horse with two dogs. Many believe that the image was inspired by depictions of victorious continental Germanic warriors, which itself may have derived from motifs popular on ancient Roman tombstones.
Möjbro Runestone in Uppsala, Sweden
Image Credit: Bengt A Lundberg / Riksantikvarieämbetet, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Stentoften Runestone
Discovered in 1823, this rune stone is believed to have originated between 500 to 700 AD. It contains a curse that translates to (To the) <niuha>dwellers (and) <niuha>guests Haþuwulfar gave ful year, Hariwulfar … … I, master of the runes(?) conceal here, nine bucks, nine stallions, Haþuwulfar gave fruitful year, Hariwulfar … … I, master of the runes(?) conceal here, runes of power. Incessantly (plagued by) maleficence, (doomed to) insidious death (is) he who this breaks.
Stentoften Runestone, exhibited in Sankt Nicolai church, Sölvesborg
Image Credit: Henrik Sendelbach, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Björketorp Runestone
This Swedish stone is notable for being one of the tallest rune stones in the world, measuring 4.2 metres in height. The runes were created between 500 and 700 AD and translate to I, master of the runes(?) conceal here runes of power. Incessantly (plagued by) maleficence, (doomed to) insidious death (is) he who breaks this (monument). I prophesy destruction / prophecy of destruction.
The Björketorp Runestone in Sweden
Image Credit: Joachim Bowin, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Rök runestone
This 9th century example is noteworthy for having the longest runic inscription out of any rune stones, marking the beginning of Swedish literature. It contains elements from lost Nordic mythology and mentions the Ostrogothic king and ruler of Rome Theodoric the Great. Nowadays it can be found beside the church in Rök, Ödeshög Municipality, Östergötland, Sweden.
The back of the Rök stone
Image Credit: Arkland, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The history of Venice and its Lagoon
Traditionally, Venice is said to have been founded at noon on 25 March 421, by authorities of Padua in northern Italy. Established as a trading post, its first inhabitants were refugees from cities across northern Italy, fleeing the ongoing Hun and Germanic invasions there.
In 568 AD, the Lombard hordes invaded, causing the Eastern Roman Empire to lose much of its recently acquired western territories. Many more mainlanders fled to the islands in the nearby lagoon, which provided them with natural defences.
The city would receive full independence from the Byzantine Empire in the 9th century. Venice’s location at the crossroads between the Frankish and Eastern Roman Empire contributed to its position as a trade powerhouse.
Venice would quickly grow to become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. It played a crucial role in the Fourth Crusade, capitalising on the demise of Constantinople when many Eastern Roman treasures were shipped to the lagoon city.
The Renaissance would see Venice indulge in unrivalled splendour, with seemingly almost every building having been worked on by some of the greatest artists of the era. The days of the independent Republic would last until the late 18th century, when the last doge was deposed and the city fell under Austrian influence. During the Napoleonic wars the city would be incorporated to the short lived Kingdom of Italy, which was under French control, before being returned back to the Habsburg realms.
Venice would finally become part of a fully independent unified Italian state in 1866.
Venice and its Lagoon today
The lagoon city has undeniably become one of the greatest tourist attractions in the region and for good reason. The beautiful architecture, rich history and outstanding art make Venice a truly unique place to explore.
The whole city feels like an open air museum, with fascinating historic sites awaiting you at every corner. One of the most visited parts of Venice is St Mark’s Square, which is surrounded by some of the cities best known landmarks. The most prominent building facing the square is the gorgeous Byzantine Saint Mark’s Basilica, originally founded in 828 AD. Near the Basilica is the late-15th century elaborately decorated St Mark’s Clocktower. The most towering feature of the square is St Mark’s Campanile, a watchtower originally built in the 12th century, extended in the 16th, and rebuilt following its collapse in the early 20th century.
A popular way to travel around the many canals is to take a gondola – a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat. For centuries they were the main way in which Venetian citizens traveled inside the city.
Venice is regularly prone to flooding, which is something travellers should bear in mind, especially when visiting between autumn and early spring.
Getting to Venice and its Lagoon
Venice Marco Polo Airport is located close to the city, making it possible to fly there fairly directly. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to reach the old town is by taking the train from the Mestre station in modern Venice to Venezia Santa Lucia. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes.
]]>The history of San Gimignano
Situated roughly 35 miles (56 km) south of Florence, the town served as an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome. San Gimignano derived its name from the Bishop of Modena who saved the settlement from a barbarian invasion in 450 AD. Following the fragmentation of the Italian peninsula during the Middle Ages, the town became an independent republic, dominated by two powerful noble families. The 14th century would see the eventual decline of San Gimigano, brought about by plagues ravaging the local population. The town would eventually find itself under the influence of Florence.
The affluent families of San Gimignano indulged themselves in lavish building projects, which included the building of 72 stone towers, of which 14 remain to this day. The towers signalled the standing and prestige of each family, though most of them have collapsed over the centuries due to poor foundations.
Historic Centre of San Gimignano today
San Gimignano is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Italy, with many beautiful Gothic and Romanesque buildings surviving in prime condition. Besides the famous towers there is also the Palazzo Comunale, which houses the civic museum and picture gallery of the town.
Another standout is the Romanesque Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, a minor basilica. It houses a stunning collection of Renaissance frescos by artists including Domenico Ghirlandaio, Benozzo Gozzoli, Taddeo di Bartolo, Lippo Memmi and Bartolo di Fredi.
Sam Gimignano is also well known for its stellar white wine, making it a must visit site for wine aficionados.
Getting to the Historic Centre of San Gimignano today
There are multiple ways to reach the medieval town. You can take the train from Florence Santa Maria Novela train station to Poggibonsi train station. From there you will have to catch the local bus #130, which runs from Siena to San Gimignano. The whole journey should not take more than 80 minutes.
]]>The history of Memphis and its Necropolis
The city is believed to have been founded by Menes, the first Pharaoh of a unified Egypt. It was known by the local people as Inebu-hedj, meaning ‘the white walls’. This may have been a reference to the royal palace, which was built out of whitewashed brick. The city served as the capital throughout the Old Kingdom, and in parts during the Middle and New Kingdom, when Thebes and Itjtaw were from time to time designated as the centre of the Empire. Memphis remained an incredibly important settlement up to the Islamic period, when the founding of new cities ultimately overshadowed the ancient capital.
Memphis was surrounded by an ever increasing necropolis, showcasing not only its administrative weight but also its role in the religious spheres of the Egyptian world. It was a city sacred to the Gods. The Necropolis stretched to the north and south of the capital, including the famous Giza plateau. Many of the very first monumental Egyptian stone buildings were constructed in the region.
The modern day name Memphis derives from the Ancient Greek version of the name of a nearby pyramid – Men-nefer.
Memphis and its Necropolis today
Much of the former capital city has been lost to the sands of time, with mostly small scale ruins remaining. The most impressive survivors of that bygone era can be found in the surrounding Necropolis. The many graves and pyramids are some of the most famous in all of Egypt, displaying centuries worth of craftsmanship and innovation. The earliest one is the famed stepped Pyramid of Djoser – together with the remains of its mortuary complex, this is a truly fascinating site.
The largest Pyramid can be found at the Giza Necropolis. Described as one of the seven wonders of the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest structure on earth for thousands of years. Besides great pyramids surrounded by the Sahara desert, there are multiple temple ruins that can also be explored.
Getting to Memphis and its Necropolis
Memphis is located approximately 12 miles (20km) from the city of Cairo. The easiest way to get to the ancient city is by flying to Cairo International Airport and taking a taxi, which can be found outside Terminal 1,2 and 3. The best way to explore the necropolis is with an organised tour.
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