In the era of social networks and viral advertising campaigns, not only news, but also tourist attractions (sights) can be fake. “Around the World” tells of seven places promoted by guidebooks, which in fact have no or almost no relation to history.
Zeus Cave (Greece)
On the Greek island of Crete, cunning guides will be ready to show you at least two places where the youngest son of Kronos and the Titanides Rhea, a thunderer from ancient Greek myths, the father of gods and people, the main Olympian god Zeus, were supposedly born. So, according to one of the many legends about the origin of God, Rhea hid from the insidious titan Kronos in the Dictated Mountains, in a cave called Psychro. Today, excursions are led here and advertised as a “cave of Zeus.” Moreover, any Greek would argue that the real birthplace of Zeus was the Idea Cave, located on the slopes of the mountain of the same name (Ida). The only entrance to this cave is located at an altitude of 1538 meters above sea level, and the descent into it is equipped with special rails and wooden stairs (pictured). Tours are also led here. The debate about which of the two caves is the real birthplace of the ancient god does not stop.
Juliet’s Balcony (Italy)
Thousands of lovers annually come to Verona to kiss on the balcony of Juliet’s house. They sincerely believe that such a symbolic gesture will bring them happiness in a relationship
Millions of tourists annually come to Italian Verona to follow in the footsteps of the most famous lovers in history and take pictures on the very balcony on which Romeo confesses to Juliet’s feelings in the film Franco Zeffirelli. But only in the original source, that is, in Shakespeare’s play, there was no such scene. Moreover, in those years when the tragedy unfolded, the building of the 13th century did not have a balcony itself – it appeared there only in the second half of the 20th century. Just to attract more romantically inclined tourists here.
Mid World (Ecuador)
Where is the middle of the world? Of course, in Ecuador, at the equator . Sure? Which middle of the world do you mean? Monument Mitad del Mundo (Mitad del Mundo) in the park of the same name? Or the nearby park-museum Intinyan (Intiñan) ? Or, finally, KITSAT point (Quitsato) , which means the world thinks GPS -Equipment and the satellite signal? In all this diversity, only one thing is good: all three attractions are within walking distance in relation to each other, so that any tourist can go around and inspect each one, so that he can confidently declare that he or she has visited (in) the middle of the world.
Shangri-La (China)
Go to the city of Shangri-La in China, know that he has nothing to do with the magical land of Tibetan legends. And in general, it’s actually Zhongdian, just in 2001 the government decided to rename the village and thus increase its prestige and attractiveness to travelers. In other words, create a powerful travel brand . Although the temple complex towering above the city looks impressive. But only that.
Pole of Cold (Russia)
The Oymyakon Valley has long been considered a cold pole of the Northern Hemisphere: in 1933, the air temperature here dropped to –67.7 ° C. Indeed, this is the coldest place on Earth, where people constantly live. Still, Oymyakon is a cold pole for tourists , and officially this status is located 620-odd kilometers north of Verkhoyansk, where in 1885 the temperature was −67.8 ° C. However, according to unofficial data, in 1938 it was –77.7 ° C in Oymyakon. The argument is ongoing.
Dracula’s Castle (Romania)
Located on the border of the Romanian historical regions of Muntenia and Transylvania, Bran Castle (pictured) is considered to be at least a prototype of the castle of Count Dracula . Indeed, according to legend, the famous governor Vlad Tepesh-Dracula stayed in the fortress built at the end of the 14th century, when he advanced on another military campaign. But even if this were so, then this fact is not related to the character of Bram Stoker: in the novel of an Irish writer, a vampire lives in the castle of Poenar. This fortress, the “real Dracula’s castle”, or rather the ruins remaining from it, is located only 130 kilometers from Bran Castle, if you go by car. In general, you can visit there and there.
Checkpoint Charlie (Germany)
Checkpoint Charlie in October 1989
One of Berlin’s calling cards and a must-have item in the travel program of every traveler who has reached the German capital is the checkpoint or checkpoint Charlie located on Friedrichstrasse. From 1963 to 1990, the checkpoint was created here, created after the city was divided by the Berlin Wall to move from West Berlin to East, and vice versa. The transition was intended primarily for the Allied troops. With the fall of the wall, Charlie was closed and dismantled.
So was the dismantling of the checkpoint in 1990
By the end of the 1990s, a reconstructed booth was set up here. The place attracted tourists, and the city authorities decided to return the attraction, and at the same time opened the Berlin Wall Museum in the building next door, in which you can learn more about the Cold War, life in the German Democratic Republic and the attempts of East Germans to flee to Germany.
Photo: Getty Images, Flickr
