Explore 420 UCPlaces digital self-guided tours in Mainsites

Drive one of Europe's great coastal roads, from Vlorë, where Albania declared independence in 1912, over the 1,027-metre Llogara Pass and down the Albanian Riviera to Sarandë, facing Corfu. On the way: the bay where Albania kept four Soviet submarines, the beach where Julius Caesar may have landed his legions, the Orthodox stone villages of Dhërmi, Vuno and Old Himarë, Ali Pasha's intact sea fortress at Porto Palermo, a Cold War tunnel in the cliffs, the olive groves of Borsh and Suleiman the Magnificent's lookout above Sarandë. Narration plays automatically as you drive, with optional stops for the Llogara viewpoint, lunch in Himarë, Porto Palermo Castle and village walks. About 124 km and roughly 3 hours of driving without stops; allow a full day with visits. Practical notes: the old Llogara Pass road is steep and winding with tight hairpins. It can be foggy, and snow or ice can close it in winter (roughly November to March); if it is closed, use the Llogara tunnel and rejoin the tour after Palasë. Pull over only at safe, marked spots, never on bends. Expect slow traffic, buses and campervans in July and August, and animals on mountain roads. Fill up with fuel in Vlorë or Himarë, carry some cash in lek for small cafés and parking, and check opening times before planning visits.

ברוכים הבאים לפתח תקווה! בואו נתחיל בקצת כנות. זאת לא עיר שחושפת את הקסם שלה במבט ראשון. אם ציפיתם לסמטאות ציוריות, שדרות אלגנטיות וגלויות נוף מעבר לכל פינה… יכול להיות שתהיתם אם לקחתם פנייה לא נכונה. אז זהו, שלא. פתח תקווה דורשת מכם לעבוד קצת יותר קשה. בין השיכונים, הכבישים העמוסים והבניינים עם הארכיטקטורה המפוקפקת משהו, מסתתר סיפור שממש קל לחלוף על פניו בלי לשים לב. בדיוק בשביל זה הסיור הזה כאן. פתח תקווה הוקמה ב-1878 ונודעה כ"אם המושבות". לפני הפקקים ומרכזי הקניות, היה פה ניסיון שאפתני להקים קהילה חקלאית. המייסדים שלה עזבו את הסביבה המוכרת של ירושלים כדי לעבד אדמה שהעמידה למבחן את הכישורים, הבריאות והנחישות שלהם. הם קראו ליישוב שלהם פתח תקווה – כלומר, פתח של תקווה. שם מקסים. אבל לגרום לו לעמוד בציפיות דרש כבר הרבה יותר מאמץ. תוך כדי תנועה, נפגוש את האנשים שמאחורי הניסוי הזה: מייסדים, חקלאים, שומרים, פועלים ומשפחות שהתוכניות שלהם לא תמיד חפפו. נגלה למה באר מים הייתה חשובה יותר מבית, איך פרי ההדר חיבר את המקום הזה לשווקים רחוקים, ואיך מושבה חקלאית קטנה צמחה והפכה לעיר שסובבת אותנו. יש מקומות שמזמינים אתכם להעריץ את מה ששרד. כאן, חלק מההנאה היא לדמיין את מה שנעלם. תסתכלו מעבר לחלון ראווה, ותדמיינו חצר של חקלאי. מעבר לבניין מגורים, תראו בדמיון שורות של עצי הדר. מתחת לשם רחוב מוכר, חפשו את האדם עם השאיפות, הוויכוחים, וכנראה בלי שום מושג שיום אחד אנשים יתלוננו פה על חניה. לאורך הדרך, יהיו הזדמנויות לעצור, לחקור ברגל ולמצוא משהו טוב לאכול. שימו עין על הכביש ותעקבו אחרי הניווט. אנחנו נעזור לכם לגלות את הסיפורים לאורך הדרך. בואו נגלה את פתח תקווה.

Welcome to Petah Tikva! Let’s start with a little honesty. This is not a city that reveals its charms at first glance. If you were expecting cobblestone lanes, elegant boulevards and a postcard around every corner… you may be wondering whether you took a wrong turn. You didn’t. Petah Tikva makes you work a little harder. Between the apartment blocks, busy roads and buildings of questionable architectural ambition, there’s a story that’s easy to drive past without noticing. That’s what this tour is here for. Founded in 1878, Petah Tikva became known as Em HaMoshavot—Mother of the Colonies. Before the traffic and shopping centers, there was an ambitious attempt to build a farming community. Its founders left the familiar surroundings of Jerusalem to work land that would test their skills, their health and their determination. They called their settlement Petah Tikva: “Opening of Hope.” A lovely name. Making it live up to that name took rather more effort. As we explore, we’ll meet the people behind that experiment: founders, farmers, guards, workers and families whose plans did not always agree. We’ll discover why a well could matter more than a house, how citrus connected this place to distant markets, and how a small agricultural colony grew into the city around us. Some places invite you to admire what has survived. Here, part of the pleasure is imagining what has disappeared. Look beyond a storefront, and picture a farmer’s courtyard. Beyond an apartment block, imagine rows of citrus trees. Beneath a familiar street name, look for a person with ambitions, arguments and probably no idea that one day people would complain about parking here. Along the way, there will be opportunities to pause, explore on foot and find something good to eat. Keep your eyes on the road and follow the navigation. We’ll help you uncover the stories along the way. Let’s discover Petah Tikva.

Welcome to a place that pretends to be lighthearted. Campo de’ Fiori. A square that today feels almost frivolous: the smell of warm bread, young people sitting on the ground, glasses resting on low walls, a constant hum of voices mingling with the scent of flowers... and fried food. A square that smiles. A square full of life. But Rome has a way all its own of telling stories: it shows you the surface... and then whispers in your ear everything that surface is hiding. Today, we are going to walk through that very subtext. The shadowed side, the part you cannot see. Campo de’ Fiori has no church, no basilica, no bell tower to give you your bearings. It is the only great square in the historic center without a sacred place watching over it. And do you know why? Because the sacred was not needed here. Here, justice did the talking. A justice that was often just another name for power. Here, in this space that now holds raised glasses and laughter, for centuries they set up temporary courts, public trials, sentences, punishments. And at the center of it all, there was one element that always returns in the history of Roman power: fire. Not a domestic fire, not a fire that warms. A fire that punishes. A fire that silences. A fire that sends a message. You did not come here to seek salvation. You came here to watch someone burn. If you close your eyes for a moment, you can almost picture the crowd pressed together, the overlapping voices, the waiting, that tension that comes before ritual violence... and wood creaking beneath a torch. And in the middle of all this, there was a man. A man who would not kneel. A man who did not know how to keep silent. And he is where this journey begins. Get ready, because what you are about to hear is not a history lesson. It is an immersion. A descent into the way Rome, in every century, has used sin, fear, beauty, and faith... to hold on to power. When you are ready, take a step forward. Walk toward the dark statue that dominates the square. That is where the story begins.

Welcome to UCPlaces and Day 5 of our west-to-east Route 66 adventure—from Amarillo, Texas, to Springfield, Missouri! Today, we’ll trade the wide-open Texas Panhandle for Oklahoma’s historic towns, cross a short but memorable stretch of Kansas, and roll into Missouri. Four states, one legendary road, and plenty of stories along the way! We’re beginning just east of Amarillo, a city that welcomed generations of Route 66 travelers with a hot meal, a full tank, and a place to sleep. Now, with Amarillo behind us, we’re continuing east in their tire tracks. Ahead are leaning water towers, vintage gas stations, neon signs, and communities that helped give the Mother Road its personality. We’ll travel through Oklahoma City and Tulsa, meet the hometown of baseball legend Mickey Mantle, and discover how mining towns and cattle trails became part of America’s great road trip. This is a full day of driving, so settle in and give yourself time for breaks. Stop for fuel, stretch your legs, and explore whatever catches your curiosity. Some of the best Route 66 memories happen when you park the car! Follow the UCPlaces navigation, obey posted signs, and keep your attention on the road. We’ll guide you along the route and share the stories as you go. By the time we reach Springfield, we’ll be ready for a well-earned rest—with just one final day remaining on our journey to Chicago. Ready? Let’s get back on the Mother Road!

Welcome to UCPlaces and the next chapter of our eastbound Route 66 adventure—from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Amarillo, Texas! Today, we’ll climb out of Albuquerque through Tijeras Canyon, cross the open country of eastern New Mexico, and enter the wide horizons of the Texas Panhandle. Along the way, we’ll discover how a highway became a livelihood for small towns—and why some places flourished while others fell quiet. Our journey brings together the Mother Road’s famous landmarks and its quieter surprises: antique cars and soaring aircraft near Moriarty, a desert town with an astonishing blue swimming hole, and weathered roadside stores that once supplied generations of travelers. In Tucumcari, classic motels and colorful signs recall the promise of a comfortable room after a long day behind the wheel. Farther east, we’ll cross into Texas and reach Adrian, where the midpoint sign celebrates being halfway between Los Angeles and Chicago. We’ll finish near Amarillo, with the unmistakable Cadillacs of Cadillac Ranch offering one last roadside surprise. We’ll follow surviving stretches of historic Route 66 and use Interstate 40 where it connects them. Keep following the app’s navigation for the turns. Some attractions are optional visits, so feel free to pause for a meal, a photo, or a little exploring whenever something catches your interest. Get comfortable and enjoy the changing scenery. We’ve got mountains, small-town stories, neon memories, and a whole lot of open road ahead. Let’s get back on the Mother Road!

Welcome to Day 3 of our Route 66 journey. Today we’re leaving the pine forests of Flagstaff and heading east to Albuquerque, with a lot of open country and a few wonderfully strange roadside surprises in between. We’ll pass Winona, a tiny place made famous by the Route 66 song. We’ll find dinosaurs at Meteor City, a corner immortalized in another song in Winslow, and the colorful hills of the Painted Desert. If you have extra time, Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest National Park make remarkable detours. Then we’ll cross into New Mexico, where Gallup, Grants, and the communities of Laguna Pueblo add new stories to the road. We’ll drive surviving sections of historic Route 66 where they fit our route and use Interstate 40 to connect them. Some of the best moments today are small ones: an old sign, a quiet trading post, or a bend in the road that still feels much as it did decades ago. Take your time. Albuquerque will be there when we arrive.

Today’s drive takes you from the pine-covered mountains of Flagstaff through the vast, sun-baked high desert and into the historic heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire — San Bernardino. Along the way, you’ll trace the original Mother Road’s winding path, experiencing iconic Route 66 sights, quirky roadside attractions, and a dramatic shift in landscape. From the awe-inspiring views of the Mogollon Rim to the remnants of classic motels and neon signs in Kingman, you’ll feel the pulse of Route 66’s golden era. Pass through small towns that tell stories of early American travel, mining booms, and westward dreams. As you descend from the desert’s vast openness toward the bustling urban sprawl, keep an eye out for classic diners, vintage gas stations, and the unmistakable charm that makes this stretch one of the most celebrated on the entire route. By the time you arrive in San Bernardino, the official birthplace of Route 66, you’ll have journeyed through a tapestry of history, culture, and landscape — all tied together by the enduring spirit of the Mother Road.

Welcome to Route 66! Today, we're beginning at the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica and heading east toward San Bernardino, following the Mother Road through Los Angeles and the communities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Now, if you're already east of Los Angeles, you can begin your Route 66 journey with our next tour starting in San Bernardino. But if you're anywhere near Santa Monica, we highly recommend starting right here. There's a reason. For travelers historically heading west, this was the final stretch of Route 66 — the last chapter of an incredible journey across America before reaching the Pacific. And that means there's a lot of Route 66 history packed into the road we're about to travel. We'll begin at the famous western terminus in Santa Monica, travel through Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, follow historic sections of the Mother Road through Pasadena and along Foothill Boulevard, and discover some wonderful pieces of roadside Americana along the way. We'll see historic motels and service stations, unusual roadside architecture, monuments that actually predate Route 66, and even the place where one of the world's most famous fast-food stories began. And as we travel east, you'll notice the character of the road beginning to change. The dense streets of Los Angeles gradually give way to the classic Route 66 corridor that will eventually carry us toward the wide-open landscapes of the American Southwest. This tour ends in San Bernardino, but our Route 66 journey certainly doesn't. From there, simply start the next UCPlaces Route 66 tour and we'll continue heading east together. So get comfortable, follow the navigation, and let's turn our backs on the Pacific and begin one of the world's great road trips. Chicago may be a long way from here — but Route 66 starts for us right now.

Bienvenue à Hobart, en Tasmanie ! C'est la deuxième plus ancienne capitale d'Australie, un endroit unique où l'histoire coloniale, un superbe front de mer et des paysages de montagne sauvages se rencontrent. Au cours de ce **circuit autoguidé en voiture**, nous allons découvrir les multiples facettes de Hobart. Nous passerons devant des bâtiments historiques en grès, témoins du passé pénitentiaire de l'île, longerons le port animé, découvrirons Salamanca Place et Battery Point, et suivrons la rivière Derwent à travers certains des plus beaux quartiers de la ville. En chemin, nous découvrirons des histoires d'explorateurs, de bagnards, de marins et de colons. Nous verrons aussi la plus ancienne brasserie d'Australie encore en activité, et ferons un petit détour par la station de signalisation historique de Mount Nelson pour profiter d'un panorama exceptionnel. Et puis, nous gardons le meilleur pour la fin. Nous laisserons la ville derrière nous pour grimper à travers les forêts de Wellington Park, en suivant la route sinueuse jusqu'au sommet de kunanyi / Mount Wellington, à plus de 1 200 mètres d'altitude. De là-haut, si la météo est avec nous, vous aurez une vue incroyable sur Hobart, la rivière Derwent et tout le sud-est de la Tasmanie. Alors installez-vous confortablement, suivez le GPS et, dès que vous pouvez le faire en toute sécurité, ouvrez grand les yeux. Bienvenue à Hobart. C'est parti pour l'aventure !