Are you bored of the usual trip destinations and tourist attractions? Do you want to see something a little more interesting and different? Check out these fascinating sites, full of mysteries and captivating stories!
1. Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso, Italy
There are more than one undersea statue of Christ named like that scattered around the earth, but the original Christ of the Abyss can be found in the waters of San Fruttuoso, relatively close to the well-known village of Portofino. The statue was places on the seabed 15 meters deep in 1954, at the initiative of legendary Italian diver Duilio Marcante, who wanted to place this statue there following the death of a friend, fellow diver, in that spot.
The sculpture is 2.5 meters high, weighs 260 kg without the foundation, has been recently restored and has become a great tourist destination for scuba divers around the world. There are plenty of diving centers in the village of San Fruttuoso, and the dive itself is not particularly difficult; the statue is close to the bat and the water is shallow.
If you choose to submerge into the sea, you will find, very close to the Christ of the Abyss, another fascinating scenery: the remains of a British ship that sank there during the Crimean War.
2. Kolmanskop in the Namib Desert
Namibia’s most famous ghost town, Kolmanskop is located in a “forbidden territory”, quite close to the port of
Luderitz. Due to the discovery of diamonds on this territory, a lot of people, fortune hunters of course, rushed here in huge numbers, and so the town was rapidly improved and modernized. The development of Kolmanskop reaches its highest point in 1920, and then declined after World War 1 when diamond prices crashed.
The geological forces of the desert have filled the houses and other buildings with sand. Tourists now walk knee-deep in sand, but the popularity is a result of the photographers’ great interest for the setting of the desert sands that are practically reclaiming this once-thriving town.
Due to the fact that it is located in a restricted area, the town requires a permit to be visited by tourists, and you can but those at the gate into the town.
3. The remains of the SS Ayrfield in Homebush Bay, Australia
The ship was a massive steel beast built in 1911 in the UK and registered in 1912 in Sydney as a steam collier. It was originally launched as SS Corrimal and it was used alto to trasport supplies to American troops during World War II.
As Homebush Bay used to serve as a ship-breaking yard, the SS Ayrfield was retired and sent there in 1972. Many ships were taken apart in the bay, but about 4 metallic bodies of vessels are still floating in the bay. What makes the SS Ayrfield special is the way the incredible foliage has developed within this rusted hull. This beautiful scenery is often reffered to as “The Floating Forest” and it attracts many tourists to its majestic presence, rich in mangrove trees.
4. The Kerry Way walking path between Sneem and Kenmare in Ireland
The Kerry Way is a long-distance trails in County Kerry, Ireland. The exact length of the trail is 214 km and it is circular, beginning and ending in Killarney. The Kerry Way goes anti-clockwise and it passes through some of the most isolated and dramatic parts of the country. It quickly progresses through a series of various landscapes and experiences, giving the walker a wider appreciation for the whole scenery. The walk is typically done in 9 days, but you have to keep in mind that setting out to walk a long distance trail like this is actually a serious physical endurance test. Consider including rest days or decreasing the distance walked every day.
5. Pripyat, Ukraine
Pripyat is an abandoned city in northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus. It was founded on the 4th of February 1970 and named after the nearby Pripyat River. It was the 9th nuclear city in the Soviet Union to serve the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
The Chernobyl disaster determined the city of Pripyat to be evacuated too. Its population had grown to 49 360 people when this happened, on the 27th of April 1986. The 13,414 apartments in 160 apartment blocks, the 15 primary schools, the hospital, the stores, the malls, facilities, parks, everything is now abandoned. The curious and adventurous spirits might develop a great interest for this place and a natural concern is whether it is safe to visit the city and its surroundings. Apparently, radiation levels have dropped considerably, compared to the fatal levels of April 1986 and the Zone of Alienation is relatively safe to visit. Some Ukrainian companies even offer guided tours around the area.
If you’ve decided to spice your next trip and begin your journey towards one (or more) of these amazing places, check out the complete list of hotels nearby and the available flights to your destination on TripEconomy. Enjoy your adventure!