Europe

On this day: First Person to Swim the English Channel

On August 25, 1875, Captain Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, from Dover to Calais. His second attempt at the feat took him close to 22 hours, and while a straight-line swim would have…

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Monday, 25th August 2014

On this day: Loch Ness Monster Legend Began

The legend of the Loch Ness Monster began on this day 1450 years ago, when Irish monk Columba banished a 'water beast' to the depths after it killed a man who had been swimming in the River Ness. (Although the…

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Friday, 22nd August 2014

On this day: The Mona Lisa Was Stolen

Call Inspector Clouseau! On August 21, 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre. The case was a mystery for two years until the thief (a museum employee who believed the painting belonged in Italy) was discovered when attempting…

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Thursday, 21st August 2014

On this day: St Isaac’s Cathedral Was Inaugurated

On August 19, 1768, St Isaac's Cathedral in St Petersburg was inaugurated. An estimated ten thousand tree trunks were embedded in the swampy ground to provide a stable base for the immense structure. Unfortunately the primitive spray-painting method used to…

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Tuesday, 19th August 2014

The New Seven(ish) Wonders of the World

At the turn of the millennium, an effort was launched by a Swiss foundation to identify the 'New 7 Wonders of the World', through a "decidedly unscientific" polling method allowing the public to vote - online or by phone -…

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Friday, 15th August 2014

On this day: Tivoli Gardens Opened

On August 15, 1843, Tivoli Gardens opened in Copenhagen. One of the oldest surviving theme parks in the world, this lovely enclave from a bustling city has something for everyone - rollercoasters and fairground attractions, gardens and restaurants, theatres and…

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Friday, 15th August 2014

Welcome to Google Sightseeing!

Google Sightseeing takes you on a tour of the world as seen from satellite or street views using Google Maps. Our team of authors present weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

Like this site? We published a photo book of the best entries, you should buy a copy.