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Author Alex

A travel fanatic, Alex is always on the lookout for his next exciting adventure. Over the years, this has seen him live and work in countries as varied as Brazil, Italy and Sudan, scale snowy peaks in Kyrgyzstan and play professional football in Zanzibar. When he's not traveling to far-flung destinations, he can be found writing about them from his hometown of Brussels – one of the most multicultural cities in the world.

28 Hidden Wonders of the World

Hidden Wonders of the World

Our world is an amazing place, full of fascinating landscapes and famous landmarks.

Best Things to do in Katowice, Poland

Things to do in Katowice, Poland

While it is seldom visited in comparison with Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk, Katowice actually has a lot going for it.

Fun Things to Do in Lodz, Poland

Lodz

The third-largest city in Poland, Lodz was created almost from scratch in the nineteenth century thanks to its exploding textile industry.

The Best Time to Visit Sydney for Perfect Weather and Sightseeing

Sydney in April

One of the most popular cities to visit in Australia, Sydney is set in a stunning spot with beautiful blue bays and gorgeous golden beaches.

Why Portugal Beaches Are Europe’s Most Beautiful Coastal Escape

Beautiful Beaches in Portugal

With its long, attractive Atlantic coastline and idyllic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, it is no wonder Portugal boasts so many unbelievable beaches.

Fun Things to Do in Szczecin, Poland

Things to Do in Szczecin, Poland

Both the capital and largest city of West Pomerania, Szczecin is a fascinating place to visit with a rich history to uncover.

Best Things to Do in Uppsala, Sweden

Uppsala

Often called the ‘Cambridge of Sweden’, Uppsala is a vibrant university city with a huge history to delve into.

The Best Time to Visit Kyoto for Perfect Weather and Sightseeing

Best Time to Visit Kyoto

Home to thousands of lovely Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, Kyoto is one of the most popular places to visit in Japan.

The Best Time to Visit Reykjavik for Perfect Weather and Sightseeing

Reykjavik in March

The northernmost capital in the world, Reykjavik is tucked away in the southwest of Iceland, not far from lots of incredible geysers, waterfalls and volcanoes.

The Best Time to Visit Paris for Perfect Weather and Sightseeing

Best Time to Visit Paris

One of the most beautiful and romantic cities on the planet, Paris is a must-visit destination for many.

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Bardstown, Kentucky

Bourbon Made This Town Famous, but That’s Not What Makes It Special

George Peabody Library Baltimore Visitor Guide Most visitors don't expect to find one of the most striking interiors in America tucked behind a row of white columns in a quiet Baltimore neighborhood. You walk through the doors of the Peabody Institute in Mount Vernon, turn a corner, and suddenly you're standing beneath a skylit atrium that climbs six stories above a polished marble floor. It stops you cold. The George Peabody Library Baltimore is that kind of place. It doesn't announce itself from the street. There's no flashy signage, no grand plaza. But step inside the stack room and you'll see why people call it a "cathedral of books." Over 300,000 volumes line the walls, and the space itself feels like something pulled from a 19th-century novel you half-remember reading. Johns Hopkins University runs the place as part of its Sheridan Libraries system. This isn’t a museum replica—it’s a working research collection. You can visit for free during public hours, which makes it one of the easiest cultural stops in Baltimore. Whether you’re chasing that perfect symmetrical shot up through the iron balconies or just want a quiet ten minutes surrounded by something genuinely beautiful, the library delivers without asking much of your time or your wallet. Cast-Iron Balconies And The Soaring Atrium The first thing that hits you is the scale. Five tiers of ornamental cast-iron balconies rise from the ground floor and climb 61 feet to a massive skylight that floods the room with natural light. The effect is vertical and dramatic, like standing inside a very elegant cage made of books and ironwork. Each balcony tier is lined with gold-and-black volumes shelved behind low railings, and the repeating geometric patterns of the iron railings create a visual rhythm that photographers obsess over. Point your camera straight up from the center of the floor and you'll get that iconic symmetrical shot that's all over travel feeds. The image almost looks digitally generated, but it's real, and it's been here since 1878. The marble floor adds to the atmosphere. Sound carries differently in here. Footsteps echo softly, and conversations drop to whispers without anyone being told. The reading room on the ground level sits just off the main atrium, offering a quieter space with wooden tables and the kind of warm, worn-in feeling that modern libraries rarely manage. The light keeps the space from feeling like a museum. On a clear afternoon, sunlight pours through the skylight and shifts across the iron railings and book spines, changing the room's character every hour. You could visit twice in the same day and walk away with completely different impressions. A Quick History Of The Landmark George Peabody, a financier who got his start in Baltimore before heading off to London, founded the Peabody Institute in 1857. He wanted to give something meaningful back to the city that launched his career—a free public library, a lecture series, a music conservatory, and an art gallery. The library building itself took its sweet time, finally opening up in 1878. Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind teamed up with Nathaniel H. Morison, the institute's first provost, to design the interior. Lind focused on that dramatic stack room—he wanted it to feel grand enough to match Peabody's vision but still practical for researchers. Local craftsmen made the decorative cast-iron balconies, and people immediately noticed the design. It stood out as one of the most distinctive library interiors on the East Coast. The collection changed hands a few times. In 1966, the City of Baltimore took over and ran things through the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Then, in 1982, Johns Hopkins University stepped in, and the library became part of the Sheridan Libraries system. These days, the focus is on 18th- and 19th-century works—architecture, religion, science, geography, literature—with gems from folks like Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman. George Peabody Library Baltimore

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