History

The mausoleums and mosques in Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, in the Shaikpet district in western Hyderabad, Telangana state, India, are undergoing a 10-year restoration that officials hope will make the area a destination on a par with the Taj Mahal. The buildings, built by the Qutb Shahi family, who ruled the area in the 16th and 17th centuries, are built in a mix of Persian, Hindu and Pathan styles, with distinctive onion domes and pointed archways.

Placed on buildings throughout Russia, there are bare metal plaques commemorating victims of Josef Stalin’s purges. Under the project name Posledny Adres (Last Address), each plaque records (in Russian Cyrillic) the name, date of birth, occupation, date of arrest and date of execution of a person who lived in that building. Some buildings bear multiple plaques.

The plaques were installed by volunteers, with assistance from Memorial (memo.ru/eng), a Russian organization dedicated to preserving the memories of victims of Soviet persecution.

In Britain, the kids are all right

Imagine being a kid forced to spend a big part of your summer vacation with robo-tourist Rick Steves (alias Dad). My kids, Jackie and Andy, did that a lot when they were young. I always considered it a great education for them, but they also had a lot of fun. 

One of their favorite destinations, Great Britain, enthralled them with colorful pageantry and evocative historical sights. Here’s what impressed them the most.

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When I think of Puglia, my mind’s eye sees swooping swallows, stands of ancient olive trees and fields carpeted with red poppies. I hear church bells chiming, announcing not just the hours but the quarter hours as well. 

When my mind wanders back to my May-June 2016 Italian adventure — the 15-day “Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions” tour from Overseas Adventure Travel and their 5-day pre-trip tour of Puglia* — I find myself returning to the city of Matera on day one. 

As of July 4, entry to six of Prague’s National Gallery locations can be procured with one ticket. Costing CZK300 (near $12) and valid for one week from the time of purchase, the pass is good at the Kinský Palace, Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia, Trade Fair Palace, Sternberg Palace, Schwarzenberg Palace and Salm Palace. (Wallenstein Riding School is not included.) Visit www.ngprague.cz.

In the “Fashioning a Reign” exhibit, some of the dresses and outfits England’s Queen Elizabeth II has worn are being shown in three of her official residences.

• Until Oct. 2, the largest exhibit is in the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace (London; www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/buckingham palace), open daily, £21.50 (near $29).

• Until Oct. 16 at Palace of Holyroodhouse (Edinburgh, Scotland; www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse), open daily, £12.

8 days, 7 nights, Dec. 23-30, 2016. Highlights: In Edinburgh, Linlithgow Palace/near Braemar, Royal Lochnagar Distillery/Cairngorms National Park/Loch Ness/Loch Lomond/at Aberfeldy, Black Watch Monument/at Loch Tay, interactive Crannog Visitor Centre/in Glasgow, Stirling Castle and National Wallace Monument/Falkirk Wheel. From $3,510 per person, double occupancy (ppdo). Single, $4,890. Back-Roads Touring Company (Level 1, 107 Power Road, London, England, W4 5PY, U.K.; phone +44 877 3304850, www.backroadstouring.com).