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The National Brewery Centre (Horninglow St.; phone 01283 532 880, national brewerycentre.co.uk.), an interactive museum and visitor center showcasing England’s brewing heritage, opened Sept. 21 in Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire.
Visitors will see hundreds of exhibits, rare artifacts and multimedia presentations plus the brewing process and, of course, may sample beers. Open 10-6 daily except Christmas. £8.50 ($13.40) adult, including tour and four beer samples.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi opened on Oct. 28 on Yas Island (10 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport).
The Teleférico (Teleférico Casa de Campo, C/ Cerro Garabita, s/n 28011, Madrid, Spain; phone 91 463 64 11) is a cable car in Madrid that runs between two parks, Parque del Oeste and Casa de Campo, in 11 minutes, reaching a maximum height of 40 meters. Its five-passenger cars have been traversing the 2.5-kilometer route since 1969.
It runs every day April to August and infrequently in other months outside of October-December, when it is closed. €3.60 (near $4.50) one way, €5.20 ($6.50) round trip.
Armenia has the world’s longest aerial tram,* as of October. With terminuses near Halidzor and Tatev Monastery and crossing the Vorotan River Gorge, Tatevi tever (Tatev wings) stretches 3½ miles.
The Israel Ministry of Tourism has released the iSrael iPhone and iPad application, which provides detailed, regularly updated information on tours, accommodations, leisure activities and events in Israel and includes mapped directions to heritage sites, archaeological sites, museums and nature reserves.
To download it in English or Hebrew, type “Israel tourism” in the Apps search bar on an iPhone or iPad or visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/israel-tourism/id393773314?mt=8. For info on travel to Israel, visit www.goisrael.com.
Select Italy (Chicago, IL; 800/877-1755, www.selectitaly.com) has a series of day trips, “The Archi-Wine Tour: When Architects Meet Winemakers,” focusing on innovative wineries in the Tuscany and Piedmont regions. One half-day and three full-day tours are offered.
Villa Laura, the actual property used in the filming of “Under the Tuscan Sun,” has been painstakingly restored and is available for rent through Doorways, Ltd. (Bryn Mawr, PA; 800/261-4460, www.villavacations.com).
On eight acres outside of Cortona, the estate contains two properties: the villa, which covers 6,000 square feet on three floors and sleeps 10, and the more rustic farmhouse, with 4,000 square feet on two floors and sleeping eight.
In Biel (Bienne), Switzerland, the OMEGA Museum (Rue Stämpfli 96; phone +41 [0] 32 343 91 31, www.omegawatches.com/spirit/history/museum) reopened in May after extensive renovation. The Swiss watch company’s collection includes about 4,000 watches plus movements, clocks, tools and photos. Some items are new to the public, including a pocket watch used by Albert Einstein.
Free entry. Open 9-5 Monday-Friday, except public holidays. Guided tours, to the first 20 people, are in English (2 p.m. Wed.), French (2 Thurs.) or German (2 Tues.).
by Julie Skurdenis
by Sandra Scott