Page 107 - Off The Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 2 of 2)

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ART AND CULTURE

ABOVE Exterior of the National Museum of Mali, Bamako, a showcase for the country’s cultural talent
LEFT Flamboyant European-style architecture at the grandiose Amazon Theater in Manaus, Brazil

AMAZON THEATER, MANAUS, BRAZIL One might well ask how this preposterously NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MALI, BAMAKO This is one of Africa’s finest archaeological
pink belle époque opera house came to be built in a port city in the middle of the South and ethnographic museums. Among several thousand cultural and art objects, perhaps
American rain forest. Step inside and you could be in any opera house in Europe: its the most interesting are the vast collections of photographs and musical instruments.
decorations and furniture hail from France, its marble from Italy, its porcelain and glass Mali is renowned worldwide for its music, and here you can find out all about its roots:
from Venice, and its cast-iron columns and banisters from Britain. The international effort field research has produced hour upon hour of recordings. The museum puts on regular
seems to have been worthwhile – more than a hundred years on, the venue is thriving, musical events as well as films and fashion shows, and plays host to the biennial African
with a varied repetoire of opera, dance, music, and film. Photography Encounters exhibition of contemporary photographic work.

MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART, DOHA, AMBER ROOM, CATHERINE PALACE, BERLIN FILMMUSEUM, GERMANY This fantastic celebration of German cinema comprises
QATAR This elegant, understated ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA A glitzy show four floors of cutting-edge design and effects in the Sony Centre on Potsdamer Platz. It
building, a late work by the American of wealth and craftsmanship, the Amber shows what towering figures and films emerged out of the industry, from silent movies
architect I. M. Pei, is set on an island in the Room comprises six tons of amber. Today’s such as Fritz Lang’s Metropolis and Marlene Dietrich’s Blue Angel, to Werner Herzog and
bay of Qatar. With a wonderful domed room is a reconstruction. The original, a other stars of the German New Wave. Many black-and-white greats were made in Berlin’s
atrium, it holds treasures from across the gift from Friedrich I of Prussia to Russia’s huge Filmpark Babelsber, the world’s oldest large-scale film studios. Once employed to
Islamic world, from Spain to India. Peter the Great, was looted in World War II. make Nazi propaganda films, they are now revitalized, back in use, and open to visitors.

DALÍ THEATRE-MUSEUM, FIGUERES, GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION, VENICE, CARPET MUSEUM, TEHRAN, IRAN
SPAIN Decorated with bread rolls, this ITALY For 30 years the wealthy American Persia is synonymous with carpets, and a
museum is no doubt the best place to art collector Peggy Guggenheim lived in visit to this museum helps to understand
see what the eccentric Spanish Surrealist the fabulous Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on their history, beauty, and craftsmanship,
artist would himself have described as his Venice’s Grand Canal. A visit to the gallery and their place at the center of Middle-
fantastic genius. Among trompe-l’oeil established here after her death is worth Eastern cultural life. The tradition goes
paintings and other visual jokes are a it as much for the opportunity to step back to 2,500 BC and continues to this
Cadillac with a raining interior and a sofa inside this intimate palace as to admire day. The building, designed in 1978 by
shaped like Mae West’s lips. Dalí himself, the 20th-century art she collected. The the then queen, Farah Diba Pahlavi,
ever the showman, is buried in the crypt. sculpture garden is especially delightful. resembles a carpet loom.

MUSEUM OF BAD ART, BOSTON, USA THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL, UK Held TOULOUSE-LAUTREC MUSEUM, ALBI,
“It’s clear that many of these artists every summer for nearly 300 years, this is FRANCE The episcopal palace in Albi
suffered for their art,” says MOBA; “now it’s one of the world’s oldest classical choral offers an unlikely window onto the demi-
your turn.” With galleries in Somerville festivals. It rotates between three of monde of belle époque Paris. With a fine
and Dedham Square, this is a collection Britain’s great cathedrals, at Worcester, garden overlooking the Tarn River, this
of previously ignored or abandoned Hereford, and Gloucester, with the host ancient palace-fortress houses the largest
artworks garnered from piles of garbage organist acting as musical director. The collection of works by Henri Toulouse-
and thrift stores. It pokes fun at the most week-long event is a choral extravaganza Lautrec, who grew up in the town. It has
pompous aspects of the art world, of chamber music, opera, organ recitals, his famous Moulin Rouge posters as well
leaving you wondering: what is art for? theater, talks, and exhibitions. as works by his contemporaries.

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