Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay.
In our roundup of travel stories this week: a man recreates his father’s round-the-world bicycle trip, a luxury yacht that turned out to be a mold-covered wreck, plus the ancient Roman city 10 times the size of Disneyland.
Jetavanaramaya, a colossal fourth-century Sri Lankan monument, was once among the world’s largest structures.
This vast and ancient brick-built engineering marvel was born out of religious rivalry, and over the centuries it has survived earthquakes, neglect and civil war.
However, while it’s the largest brick structure by volume ever constructed, it’s little known outside of Sri Lanka, and for periods of history was largely forgotten.
Read more here about how Jetavanaramaya was lost, then rediscovered.
In Turkey, there’s another man-made wonder of even older vintage.
The UNESCO World Heritage site Ephesus is one of the world’s best-preserved examples of a Roman port city. Its many historical marvels are spread over a 1,600-acre plot 10 times the size of Disneyland.
Once a bustling metropolis inhabited by the likes of Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, it’s still a popular destination, pulling in 2.5 million visitors a year. Here’s what there is to see.
Finally, a European masterpiece that’s still under construction. Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished church, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, is edging towards completion, 144 years after work began in 1882. Pope Leo has been invited to lead the opening ceremony of the central tower next summer. Watch the building process here.
There’s nothing that a little bit of TLC can’t fix.
For CNN subscribers, we have the story of a Canadian couple who tried to buy a luxury yacht and ended up with a mold-covered wreck.
Despite the vessel’s appearance, Janis and Blaine Carmena felt an immediate pull — they knew they were “the right people” to take her on. Six years later, it’s their floating home.
American woman Amelia Butler bought a bargain home in the village of Latronico, in Italy’s Basilicata region, sight unseen.
As soon as she spotted the property in an online listing, “I knew it was mine,” she tells CNN. Based on the valley view from the window, she bought the one-bedroom apartment without viewing the property in person or even visiting the village. Here’s how it turned out.
Love and family
In 2024, Englishman Jamie Hargreaves followed the route of his dad’s 1980s round-the-world cycle ride to Australia. He rode the same brand of bicycle and visited some of the same places and people — and recreated the photos, frame by frame.
“I’ve been inspired by my dad my entire life,” Jamie tells CNN. “It’s a real sort of connection to Dad. The only thing dividing us was time.”
For CNN subscribers, we have another tale of connections: three of them, in fact.
It began with a woman in Alabama getting a text saying, “Come outside, we’re surrounded by hot British men.” Life was never the same again.
This chance encounter between a group of young Brits and Americans led to three transatlantic love stories and three weddings. Here’s how it unfolded.
Why more tourists need rescuing in Japan’s ski towns
Japan is facing a sharp rise in ski and snowboard accidents involving foreign tourists this season. Rescuers warn that they are operating at a breaking point and cannot guarantee everyone will be rescued. CNN’s Hanako Montgomery reports.
A presidential address. A grim anniversary. A cartel kingpin.
What do you remember from the week that was?
A K-pop star, a cliff edge and 2,000 daily visitors.
How a viral photo led to the closure of an Australian beauty spot.
Their dream of Italian citizenship suddenly vanished.
But there might still be a lifeline.
British pubs can be intimidating for visitors.
But there are tricks to blending in.
