Travel Briefs

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.).

The US Travel Insurance Association website trip.ustia.org (Travel Responsibly, Informed & Protected) offers articles, tips and links on various aspects of staying healthy, safe and secure while traveling. There are links to resources such as US embassies, the TSA and visa services as well as for currency exchange, weather and flight info.

When in Riga or Jurmala, Latvia, you can rent one of 100 bikes from one of 11 BalticBike stands shown on a map on the website www.balticbike.lv.

In Swakopmund, Namibia, the landmark, WWI-era iron jetty reopened in August 2010 after extensive reconstruction.

In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, one minute after midnight on Aug. 11, 2010, the beginning of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan was marked by the start of the world’s largest clock. The Mecca Clock sits atop the 2,000-foot-tall tower five of the seven-tower Abraj Al Bait complex, scheduled to be completed in fall 2011.