Laine Cunningham

Old Havana has maintained an extraordinary degree of its original character. Its narrow streets range through a host of historic sites, while its gorgeous plazas offer coffee shops and restaurants. The streets are a joy to stroll along. Tiny parks sparkle with sunlight. Breezes bring cooler air off the harbor near the port, and the sounds of Cuban music add a lively element. Old Havana, Cuba is possibly the most unique city in the world.

Surprises await in Turin, Italy's first capital.Long before Turin hosted the Olympics, it marked important Italian milestones. In 1563, it became the capital of the Duchy of Savoy. During the period of the Kingdom of Italy, from 1861 to 1865, Turino served as unified Italy's first capital city.This "cradle of Italian liberty" hosted individuals who contributed to the Risorgimento, the Resurgence that unified the country, including statesman Camillo Paolo Filippo Giulio Benso, Count of Cavour, Isolabella and Leri.Turin is also rich with cultural gems. Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, and Art Nouveau architecture captivate during a casual stroll. The Mole Antonelliana is visible from various points around the city. The bell tower offers stunning views.Visitors can picnic near the Palatine Gates and their magnificent towers. Stroll along Via Garibaldi or shopping on Via Roma ends with a Bicerin, an espresso drink. The layers of coffee, chocolate, and whipped cream might be Italy's best-kept coffee secret.Taste these surprises and more with the color photos in Treasures of Turin: The First Italian Capital (a Travel Photo Art book).

The Havana campus of Cuba's National Art School is one of the most important historical landmarks on the island. The innovative architecture utilizes Catalan-vaulted brick walls topped with terracotta tiles. The Schools of Dance, Plastic Arts, Ballet, Music, and Dramatic Arts are laid out with groundbreaking styles. Stroll through this National Monument and 2003 UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List site with National Art Schools of Havana, Cuba.

The Colon Cemetery, with over 500 major mausoleums, is considered one of the most important cemeteries in Latin America and the world. A Central Chapel modeled after Florence's Il Duomo, over 500 major mausoleums, and elaborate memorials await. Step through the Romanesque main gate and wander through the centuries in El Cementerio de Cristobal Colon.

In the space between the street and the sidewalk, Havana's residents tend guava and avocado trees as well as blooming plants. Enormous aloe plants and ancient saguaro tower over the sidewalks, turning a casual stroll into a walk through a fantastical space. Verge gardens also highlight the different palm trees as well as unique magnolias, dragon trees and epiphytes. Enjoy the tapestry created by the Verge Gardens of Havana, Cuba.

Havana's tropical climate makes it a gardening paradise. Many homes in neighborhoods like Vedado and Miramar are fronted with flowers and shrubs that provide year-round visual interest. Blooming beauties include the shaving brush tree, bloodflower, peacock flower, cat's tail, and the bush clock vine. The jasmine called the mariposa flower, or the butterfly flower, is a popular choice as the national flower. Take a private tour in Gardens of Havana, Cuba.

One of the most unique elements of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is found on its streets. The classic cars, many of which are convertibles, stand out with colorful pops of pink and red. Pristine models navigate the same streets as lovingly restored ride-hailing cars and well-worn colectivos. Grab a ride in these vintage models with Classic Cars of Old Havana, Cuba.

Cuba's vintage cars have been called one of the most culturally stimulating aspects of the island. Some operate as colectivos, affordable shared taxis that follow set routes through Havana. Others have been meticulously restored. Each photo in Classic Cars of Cuba is proof that the nation's people have created something uniquely their own.

Located in the middle of Sapporo, Mount Moiwa offers a view of the city and the Sea of Japan. A ropeway and a miniature cable car whisk visitors 531 meters to the top while hikers pick from different trails. Starting at dusk, the city lights create one of the best night views in all of Japan.

A host of shrines are scattered throughout Sapporo's city and suburbs. Straw ropes called shimenawa hang on trees and doorways to mark the boundaries of the sacred spaces. And, of course, iconic torii gates of stone or wood mark the entrances. Anyone can visit the resident gods, called kami. Pause in front of the main hall to enjoy a moment of calm during your journey to Japan.

Visitors to Sapporo, Japan delight in the meditative beauty found in public flower beds and private front gardens. Although these gardens can be spectacular when in bloom, the Japanese approach values the sculptural shape of plants and the garden's layout. Stroll through the private and public garden spaces presented in Gardens of Sapporo, Japan to appreciate a unique aesthetic.

Whether you're a birdwatcher, a plant lover, or need a cool place to take the kids, Sapporo's parks are waiting to welcome you. Located in the Hokkaido prefecture, the city parks allow visitors to enjoy many of the region's unique natural attractions. Nakajima Park, Hokkaido University's botanical garden, Tenjinyama Ryokuchi Park, and others let you sample the richness of the Hokkaido region. Many offer playgrounds, adult sports facilities, picnic shelters, shrines, memorials, and more. Take a break from the busy city streets in one of these green oases.

Known as much for its summertime activities as its annual snow festival, Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan. The downtown district is divided by the mile-long Odori Park, a strip dotted with flower gardens, fountains, and plenty of benches. Other areas of the city are beautified by Shinto shrines and the Toyohira River. The city is also the capital of the Hokkaido district, an area known for being Japan's premier food location. From Susukino's entertainment district to the TV tower, Sapporo has a lot to offer at any time of the year.

New Life in Dzveli T'bilisi.Originally an administrative district, Old Tbilisi is a distinct area of the Republic of Georgia's largest city. At its heart, the Tbilisi Historic District straddles the Kura River. On the left bank are the Alexanderdorf German quarter, and the Avlabari Armenian and Georgian neighborhood. On the right stands the Persian Quarter known as Said-Abad.The iconic wooden buildings with ornate balconies sit in the shadow of the ancient Narikala fortress. Dating from the 4th century, Shuris-tsikhe was originally called the Invidious Fort. Much later it became Narin Qala, Little Fortress. Much of what visitors see today dates from the 16th and 17th centuries.Looking down on the original Old Tbilisi is Kartlis Deda. The monument atop Sololaki is sixty feet high. The aluminum figure wears the traditional Georgian national dress for women. She greets visitors who mean well with a bowl of wine in her left hand. In her right is a sword with which she greets those who mean Georgia harm.Lower down, bathhouses utilize the sulfur spring. The water flows in an open canal through the middle of the Abanotubani, or bath, district. The round domes mark the Turkish baths. These ancient structures are still in operation and are open for public use.Explore this astonishing maze with Original Old Tbilisi: From Kartlis Deda to the Sulfur Baths (a Travel Photo Art book). In the Travel Photo Art series, traditional tourism panoramas mix with arthouse aesthetics. These slim, passport sized productions are your passport to new perspectives on famous places. Peer around corners and discover a unique way to interact with monuments and memorials you thought you knew.This popular series includes titles that mix text with the pictures. Books like Notre Dame Cathedral: Our Lady of Paris, featuring photos taken months before the 2019 fire, become keepsakes associated with a specific site. Titles like Lidice Lives and Terezin and Theresienstadt are deeply meaningful for families touched by the Holocaust.Laine Cunningham, a three-time recipient of The Hackney Award, writes fiction that takes readers around the world. Her debut novel, The Family Made of Dust, is set in the Australian Outback, while Reparation is a novel of the American Great Plains. She is the editor of Sunspot Literary Journal.

Surprises await in Turin, Italy's first capital.Long before Turin hosted the Olympics, it marked important Italian milestones. In 1563, it became the capital of the Duchy of Savoy. During the period of the Kingdom of Italy, from 1861 to 1865, Turino served as unified Italy's first capital city.This "cradle of Italian liberty" hosted individuals who contributed to the Risorgimento, the Resurgence that unified the country, including statesman Camillo Paolo Filippo Giulio Benso, Count of Cavour, Isolabella and Leri.Turin is also rich with cultural gems. Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neo-classical, and Art Nouveau architecture captivate during a casual stroll. The Mole Antonelliana is visible from various points around the city. The bell tower offers stunning views.Visitors can picnic near the Palatine Gates and their magnificent towers. A stroll along Via Garibaldi or shopping on Via Roma ends with a Bicerin, an espresso drink. The layers of coffee, chocolate, and whipped cream might be Italy's best-kept coffee secret.Taste these surprises and more with the color photos in Treasures of Turin: The First Italian Capital (a Travel Photo Art book). In the Travel Photo Art series, traditional tourism panoramas mix with arthouse aesthetics. These slim, passport sized productions are your passport to new perspectives on famous places. Peer around corners and discover a unique way to interact with monuments and memorials you thought you knew.This popular series includes titles that mix text with the pictures. Books like Notre Dame Cathedral: Our Lady of Paris, featuring photos taken months before the 2019 fire, become keepsakes associated with a specific site. Titles like Lidice Lives and Terezin and Theresienstadt are deeply meaningful for families touched by the Holocaust.Laine Cunningham, a three-time recipient of The Hackney Award, writes fiction that takes readers around the world. Her debut novel, The Family Made of Dust, is set in the Australian Outback, while Reparation is a novel of the American Great Plains. She is the editor of Sunspot Literary Journal.