History of Arch of Janus

Constructed in the early 4th century AD, the Arch of Janus was located at the periphery of the Forum Boarium, once Rome’s cattle market. Built of brick and marble, the arch has alcoves which would have originally contained statues and other decorative items, though these have unfortunately not survived.

Little is known about this arch and, despite its name, the Arch of Janus was probably built in honour of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. As such, it is often known as Arcus Constantini.

As Constantine himself converted to Christianity after his victory in the civil wars, there is much debate as to whether such a triumphal arch would have been dedicated to a pagan deity by Constantine, further compelling the mystery surrounding this monument.

Arch of Janus Today

This ancient arch can be found in the centre of Rome, near other Roman sites such as the Roman Forum and Colosseum. As such, it’s certainly worth a quick detour to view it as it’s a pretty impressive site.

Getting to Arch of Janus

From the centre of Rome, the Arch of Janus is reachable in around 15 minutes by car via Via del Teatro di Marcello. A number of bus and metro transport options are also available which take around 25 minutes. By foot, it’s a scenic 30 minute stroll via Via Nazionale.

Today, they are a fascinating tourist attraction located a half an hour’s train journey out of London.

History of Chislehurst Caves

It is unclear exactly when the caves were first created. Early 20th century archaeologist William Nichols, then the Vice President of the British Archaeological Association, suggested that they had been made by the Druids, Romans and Saxons. This theory later led to different sections of the caves being named, and today tour guides point out supposed Druid altars and Roman features. However, this is heavily disputed and very unlikely.

The earliest mention of the mines and lime-burning kilns dates from a 9th century charter, and then once again in 1232 AD. The earliest documented evidence of a chalk cave dates to 1737, and it’s likely that the caves were most active and developed in the 18th and 19th centuries. They are last believed to have been worked on as late as the 1860s for producing lime.

When air-raids began during World War Two, the caves were used for shelter. Inhabitants from London and Kent paid 1p per night to sleep in the biggest bomb shelter in London. The tunnels accommodated up to an incredible 15,000 people at a time and were fitted with electric lighting, toilets, washing facilities, a chapel and hospital.

So many people were packed into the caves as bomb shelters that temperatures reportedly often reached up to 70°F (21 degrees Celsius).

In the 1930s, the caves were used for mushroom cultivation. From the 1950s they were used for music gigs, with bands performing right up until 2001.

Chislehurst Caves today

Today, the caves are open to the public via tour only. A 45-minute tour will take you along a mere mile of the tunnels, but it is well worth it to explore the relics of hundreds of years of human activity.

Along with being a hugely popular tourist attraction, the caves have been the site of a number of cultural spectacles, such as two performances by Jimi Hendrix, four performances by David Bowie, a performance by Pink Floyd, an episode of Doctor Who (some of the stage set glitter is still visible on some of the walls) and a Led Zeppelin launch party. They are still available for private hire for a range of events.

Getting to Chislehurst Caves

The caves are a 30 minute train ride from London Bridge or Charing Cross, and are a short walk from Chislehurst Railway Station. By road, take the A222 between the A20 and A21. At the railway bridge by Chislehurst Station, turn into Station Approach, turn right at the end then right again into Caveside Close.

By bus, the 269 runs between Bromley and Bexleyheath and the 162 runs between Beckenham and Eltham. The entrance can be found in Caveside Close near the “Bickley Arms” public house.

As with the other underground cities in this region, Derinkuyu was built by early Christians to escape religious persecution. The result is an astounding network of subterranean houses and communal facilities, including food and drink preparation areas, mass storage rooms, stables, wine presses and a church all spread over 8 levels.

Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Derinkuyu Underground City is incredibly well preserved and offers an in-depth insight into the lives of these troglodyte or ‘cave dwelling’ people. For those who are not too claustrophobic or frail, this is one of the most interesting sites in Turkey.

Derinkuyu Underground City history

The Cappodia region’s caves were likely built into the soft volcanic rock by the Phrygians in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. However, it was during the Roman period that the Derinkuyu Underground City was established by Greek-speaking Christians, who expanded the caverns into deep multi-level dwellings with chapels.

By the Byzantine era, the city was fully formed and was used as protection from Muslim Arabs during the Arab-Byzantine Wars between 780 and 1180 AD. Derinkuyu was connected with other underground cities such as Kaymakli through the miles of tunnels, which continued to provide a sanctuary for Christians during the Mongolian invasions led by Timur in the 14th century.

Again, under the Ottoman Turkish Muslims, the caves were used as refuges by the natives and as late as the 20th century, the Cappadocian Greek locals were still using the caves to flee persecution. When Turkey expelled its Christian population to Greece in 1923, the caves were abandoned. It was therefore not until 1969 that around half of Derinkuyu Underground City was opened up to the public.

Derinkuyu Underground City today

At a depth of 250 feet with a capacity to hold 20,000 people, the multi-level Derinkuyu Underground City remains a fascinating site for visitors to Turkey, with over a millennia of history to see. Inside, you will see ventilation shafts, water wells, a large meeting hall, stables, kitchens, living area and a prisoner holding area.

A visit to Derinkuyu takes around 90 minutes. Be aware there is little signage so reading up on the site history beforehand is advised and you will have to go through small areas that need you to hunch down (never crawl). This is also not an ideal location for the claustrophobic.

Getting to Derinkuyu Underground City

Travelling by car is the easiest way to reach the Derinkuyu Underground City. From Kayseri, take the D805 to Gülbayir and head west towards Derinkuyu. The drive should take you around an hour and a half, and the city is only a 10 minute drive from Kaymakli.

History of Kaymaklı Underground City

Built as early as the 7th century BC, early Christians later expanded the elaborate labyrinth of tunnels and caves as a way of hiding from religious persecution, particularly during the Arab-Byzantine Wars. It’s believed to be the widest underground city in existence (meaning it’s not too terrible an option for claustrophobes), and spans over 8 levels although only 4 of these are open to the public.

Like all of these underground cities, the most impressive aspect of the Kaymaklı Underground City is the organised, structured and comprehensive nature of the complex. It had everything from living space, stables and communal kitchens to a church and a graveyard as well as being well fortified to protect its inhabitants. The Kaymaklı Underground City also has an inordinate number of storage rooms, which historians and archaeologists believe allude to economic stability and prosperity.

The site was first opened to the public in 1964, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Incredibly well-preserved and maintained, only a fraction of the complex is currently open to the public.

Kaymaklı Underground City today

The complex is well worth allowing time to explore – most visits tend to take between 2 and 3 hours. It’s extremely popular with tour groups, so it’s worth visiting early in the morning, or around lunchtime when they’ll be otherwise occupied.

The tunnels are well-lit and spacious, meaning that even those who don’t necessarily like underground or confined spaces should feel relatively at ease.

Getting to Kaymaklı Underground City

Kaymakli is about 90 minutes drive from the city of Kayseri – happily, it’s also easily accessible by public transport. Head to Nevşehir and find the central dolmuş (shared taxi) stand – you should be able to hope on a service to either Derinkuyu Koop or Kaymaklı dolmuş and then hop out in central Kaymakli. These depart every half an hour from 7:30am to 7:10pm so you shoud have plenty of time to explore.

Mgarr Second World War Shelter history

The Siege of Malta saw the island of Malta being subjected to an intensive aerial bombing campaign by the Italians and then the German Luftwaffe from 1940 to 1943. The main reason for this was that Malta was a vitally important strategic location for the British and held several airfields, thus becoming a target. In 1942, Malta received the George Cross for its citizens’ bravery during this period.

The Mgarr Second World War Shelter was dug entirely by hand and served as a home, temple and refuge for the people of Mgarr while enemy planes blitzed their homes above.

Mgarr Second World War Shelter today

Today, the Mgarr Second World War Shelter is open to the public, who can tour its underground passageways and learn about the Maltese experience during the war. Reaching a depth of 12 metres and extending to over 225 metres long, visitors can enter the shelter and relive the experience of the Maltese who took refuge within the underground maze.

Getting to Mgarr Second World War Shelter

Located in St Julien’s, the Mgarr Second World War Shelter is easily found near Balluta Bay Beach where there is a bus stop that serves the 14, 222, 13A, 16, 233 and 255 routes.

History of the Old Elbe Tunnel

The Old Elbe Tunnel was completed on 7 September 1911. At 426 metres-long, it was a technical innovation at the time of its construction and the first river tunnel on the continent, modelled on the Clyde Tunnel in Glasgow.

Built 24 metres beneath the surface, its two 6 metre-diameter tubes connect central Hamburg from the Landungsbrücken piers in St. Pauli (which house the machinery) with the docks and shipyards on the southern banks of the River Elbe at Steinwerder. This was a big improvement for tens of thousands of workers in one of the busiest harbors in the world.

Construction began on 22 July 1907 by Philipp Holzmann, using caissons. These large watertight chambers, (open at the bottom, with the water kept out by air pressure) enabled work to be carried out under water. However, they were dangerous for the workers. Spending time in the high-pressure atmospheric conditions put them at risk if they returned to lower pressure outside the caisson too quickly – leading to decompression sickness and ‘Caissons Disease’. Of 4,400 workers, 3 died, 74 suffered severe cases and over 600 suffered mild symptoms.

During World War Two, the shaft house of the Elbe Tunnel was damaged by bombing raids on the south side of the Elbe. It was only later that the tunnel became a tourist attraction when the ‘new’ Elbtunnel and bridges were built in the 1970’s. Further renovations were done for the tunnel’s centenary.

Old Elbe Tunnel today

Six large lifts either side of the tunnel carry pedestrians and vehicles to the bottom, with the two tunnels both still in operation. Due to their limited capacity, other bridges and tunnels have been built to handle most of the traffic.

The tunnel is used by locals to get to Wilhelmsburg or Altes Land, but there is an observation platform south of the river where you can see panoramic views of the city. Inside the tunnel itself, there are distinctive Art-Deco designs, and the tunnel was honoured as a ‘Historic Landmark of Civil Engineering in Germany’ in 2003.

Getting to the Old Elbe Tunnel

The closest station if approaching the tunnel from the centre of Hamburg is the U3 stop or S1 stop at Landungsbrücken. The nearest bus route is 156, stop ‘Alter Elbtunnel’. A building with a green dome on the Landungsbrücken points to the tunnel itself, the side most people approach from.

Cyclists and pedestrians can cross the tunnel free of charge around the clock.

History of Refugi 307

During the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona was the most heavily bombed by Franco’s air forces. The first of 192 bombing raids was on 13 February 1937. The Passive Defence Board was set up in response as a means of trying to save local residents’ lives during what they predicted was going to be a very bloody war.

The first shelters were built under houses and in metro stations. As bombing intensified, more were built throughout the city, creating a virtual underworld of more than a thousand shelters and involving a great deal of cooperation between the people of Barcelona.

Comprised of over 400 metres of tunnels of 2 metres high and 1.6 metres tall and with facilities such as a hospital, infirmary, a drinking fountain, and toilets, Refugi 307 was was dug under a fold of northern Montjuïc by local citizens from 1937 to 1939.

Over these two years, the web of tunnels was slowly extended, creating the capacity to hold 2000 people.

Sleeping overnight in the shelter was forbidden, as work needed to be carried out when raids were not happening. The tunnels were narrow and winding, and were coated in lime to seal out humidity and whitewashed to relieve the sense of claustrophobia.

After the civil war ended, Franco extended the ‘refugi’ network while considering entering The Second World War on Hitler’s side. After he decided against joining the war, many shelters – including 307 – were abandoned, with the subsequent years of famine and rationing in the 1940s and 1950s meaning that many families from Granada took up residence in them.

Refugi 307 Today

Today, visitors can tour Refugi 307 as just one of the shelters and is now open to the public as part of the Barcelona History Museum. to understand how Barcelona’s citizens lived during the conflict. Tours are compulsory and reserving a place is essential. They run on a Sunday only and are in English at 10.30am, Spanish at 11.30am, and Catalan at 12.30pm.

Getting to Refugi 307

From the centre of Barcelona, Refugi 307 is a 25 minute walk via Carrer Nou de la Rambla. There’s also a regular bus and metro network which takes between 15 and 25 minutes to reach the site. By car, the site is a 15 minute drive via Carrer de Sepúlveda, though parking might prove somewhat tricky at the other end during peak times.

This site also features as one of our Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Turkey.

History of The Basilica Cistern

Built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian in around 532AD, the Basilica Cistern measures approximately 453 feet by 212 feet. It would have stored around 80,000 cubic metres of water at a time to supply the palace as well as the city of Byzantium. At the time, it was located underneath the square known as the Stoa Basilica, upon which a great Basilica stood, hence its name.

The Basilica was reconstructed by Illus after a fire in 476 AD, and would have originally contained gardens, was surrounded by a colonnade, and faced the Hagia Sophia, a Late Antique place of worship in Istanbul.

The cistern provided water for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill, and carried on providing water for the Tokapi Palace after the Ottoman Conquest in 1453 and into modern times.

It has undergone lots of repair. These happened twice during the Ottoman State in the 18th century during the reign of Ahmed III, and then during the 19th century by Sultan Abdulhamid II.

Historical texts claim that around 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction of the cistern.

The Basilica Cistern Today

The Basilica Cistern was opened to the public in 1987. Today, visitors can explore the Basilica Cistern, treading its raised platforms to view its 336 engraved marble columns, enjoy its vaulted ceilings, and experience its eerie nature complete with dripping water and fish.

It is cathedral-sized, with most of the columns in the building appearing to have been recycled from the ruins of older buildings which were likely brought to Constantinople from various parts of the empire.

Amongst the highlights at the Basilica Cistern are two mysterious columns depicting the head of the mythological figure Medusa.

Historical artefacts discovered at the site are also on display and are well-captioned, and there are regular artistic exhibitions which take place on site.

Getting to The Basilica Cistern

From the centre of Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern takes a minute by car via Yerebatan Cd. It is a one minute walk via the same route. There is also an extensive public transport network which departs regularly from around Istanbul.

Alongside exhibits that include the personal belongings of the Brunels, the museum is home to the famous Thames Tunnel shaft, once described as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

The Brunel Museum history

The Engine House – now home to the museum – was designed by Sir Marc Isambard Brunel as part of the infrastructure of the Thames Tunnel project. The tunnel would provide a connection between the ever-growing docks on both the north and south banks of the River Thames.

A tunnel beneath the Rotherhithe-Wapping stretch had been attempted before in 1805-1809 but failed because of the difficult soft ground conditions. The project was deemed a lost cause. Yet the Anglo-French engineer Marc Brunel refused to accept defeat. He designed the tunnelling shield, a revolutionary technology which soon gained funding from private investors including the Duke of Wellington. The project began in February 1825.

The shaft in Rotherhithe was constructed with Brunel’s ingenious iron ring, 50 ft in diameter above ground. On top of the ring lay a brick wall 40 ft high and 3 ft thick. On top of that, a powerful steam engine drove the excavation’s pumps. In total, the design weighed 1,000 tons. The soil below the ring’s bottom was removed by Brunel’s workers as the whole shaft slowly sank under its own weight, slicing through the soft ground like a giant pastry cutter.

The tunnel opened to pedestrians in 1843 – the world’s first tunnel to be built under a navigable river. The project had not been without issues or danger. A flood in 1828 resulted in the death of 6 men and Isambard Kingdom Brunel (Marc’s son who helped lead the project) was lucky to survive. He went to recuperate in Bristol where he heard of a competition to design a bridge over the Avon Gorge, which would become the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Despite becoming a major tourist attraction, the tunnel was bought in 1865 by the East London Railway Company, who eventually converted it for the railway line which still runs today.

The Brunel Museum today

Today, the Brunels’ original engine house and tunnel shaft remain open to the curious public. For just £6, visitors can explore a wide range of objects commemorating the tunnel, from plates to Victorian paper peep shows before being led 16 metres underground by the volunteer guides into the original shaft, long blackened by age.

Brunel organised the world’s first underground concert party here in 1827, and the Museum celebrates and interprets music and theatre as well as engineering. In fact, the shaft also now features a peaceful rooftop garden within which the Museum hosts regular events.

Getting to The Brunel Museum

The Museum is only 100 metres from Rotherhithe Overground station, which heads to Wapping via the original Thames Tunnel, where the 381 and C10 bus stops.

For those cycling, the museum is on the Q14 Quietway from Cycle Superhighway 4 into Surrey Quays. It is also within walking distance of both Greenland Surrey Quays Pier and London Bridge Pier.

Today, visitors can walk through the corridors from which Winston Churchill directed Britain and stop at the Churchill Museum. Open between 9.30am and 6pm, the museum tells a story through personal items and artefacts from Churchill’s childhood to his military and political career.

The Cabinet War Rooms history

In the 1930s, realising that there was likely to be a war, the government needed to build a bombproof shelter and cabinet war rooms from which to carry on business should there be damage to 10 Downing Street and Whitehall. The war rooms would also allow the proximity of the civilian government to the military authorities for fast decision-making.

Beneath the Treasury building there was already an extensive basement, so from 1938 the basement was expanded with a warren of tunnels and topped off with a thick concrete roof to withstand any enemy bombs.

The war rooms became fully operational in August 1939, a week before Britain declared war on Germany. During the Blitz, the complex was reinforced with a massive layer of concrete for added protection against bombing.

It was from the Cabinet War Rooms that Churchill, his cabinet and some 500 civil servants worked, and sometimes slept, throughout the war. There were 2 rooms of particular importance: the Map Room was constantly used for mapping intelligence to present to the King, Prime Minister and military chiefs; the Cabinet Room from which Churchill declared he would direct the war.

After 115 Cabinet meetings throughout the conflict, the last was held on 28 March 1945. The Cabinet War Rooms were left untouched from 1945 – after the Japanese surrender – when they were no longer needed. Dormant until the 1980s, the war rooms were restored and opened to the public in 1984 by Margaret Thatcher.

The Cabinet War Rooms today

While admission might seem a little steep, entry to the Cabinet War Rooms is well worth it to follow in the urgent footsteps of those directing Britain’s World War Two. Not all rooms are open to the public as the complex is believed to have around 200 rooms in total.

Those which are open to visitors include the Cabinet War Room, Churchill’s office and his bedroom. This underground office block even included a canteen and a hospital.

Visitors should allow at least 90 minutes to savour the atmosphere of this iconic World War Two site and navigate the winding corridors. Do not forget to find the Transatlantic Telephone Room, a tiny cupboard room disguised as a private toilet, where Churchill would speak to the US President in secret.

Getting to The Cabinet War Rooms

Located in Westminster, the heart of central London, the Cabinet War Rooms are easily reached on foot or via London’s extensive public transport system. The entrance is situated along King Charles Street off Parliament Street, seconds from 10 Downing Street.

Buses 3, 11, 12, 87, 88, 159, 453, N3, N11, N44, N87, N109, N136 and more stop at Westminster Station/Parliament Square – 2 minutes walk from the war rooms.

Otherwise, hop on the Circle, District or Jubilee tube lines to Westminster and walk the 5 minutes to the Cabinet War Rooms.