Embark on a 5 Unknown Cultural Sites You Should Visit, from ancient ruins to sacred temples, revealing untold stories and preserving the diverse tapestry of human heritage. Explore these lesser-known treasures that echo with the whispers of history.
5 Unknown Cultural Sites You Should Visit
At Exodus, we think that experiencing a foreign culture firsthand is the best way to start traveling. It’s also true that while popular tourist destinations like the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India, and the Lost City of Machu Picchu in Peru are highly recommended, there’s merit to exploring 5 Unknown Cultural Sites You Should Visit that are just as fascinating and attract fewer visitors. We have therefore compiled a list of a few of our top cultural destinations for your future travels in 2024 that are definitely deserving of the moniker “hidden gems.”
1. Explore Takayama, a traditional old town set in the Japanese Alps
We visit the charming town of Takayama in central Honshū, Japan, for two days as part of our trip to Ancient and Modern Japan. Takayama’s Sanmachi Suji historic district, well away from Tokyo’s neon lights and fast-paced lifestyle, is lined with elaborate wooden merchants’ houses from the Meiji and Edo Periods. The hills are dotted with colorful shrines and traditional inns, which add to the already gorgeous scenery.
Takayama is renowned for more than just its architecture; it’s also home to a number of intriguing cultural museums and the twice-yearly Takayama festival. Since the middle of the 1600s, the community has celebrated the arrival of Sakura season in the spring and Momiji-gari, or “red leaf hunting,” in the fall with colorful parades that include puppet performances and elaborate, gilded floats. Don’t worry, though; the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall in the city has a wonderful display of traditional, hand-carved floats that you can see if you miss the parade. While you’re here, you should also check out the Hida no Sato folk village, an outdoor museum with stunning farmhouses from the Edo period. The trip there takes only ten minutes by bus from Takayama station. For those who enjoy vintage art, the town’s Retro Museum features items and souvenirs from the Showa Period (1926–1989).
2. Visit Uros Islands, a Man-Made Breed Island on Lake Titicaca
On our Essential Peru trip, you will spend a night in a traditional homestay on Amanti Island, one of Lake Titicaca’s larger islands, and the next day, you will take a boat to the artificial reed island of Uros. When visiting Peru, make sure not to miss this exceptional cultural experience. According to research, Lake Titicaca was the destination of an indigenous Uros people migration some 3,700 years ago. Owing to political unrest in the area, especially after the Incas arrived, the Uros created artificial reed islands to hide from their adversaries. They still reside on these islands today. 1,200 Uros people live on 62 man-made Lake Titicaca Islands at the moment.
When you visit Uros Island, you can learn about the unique way of life of the locals by hearing stories from them about how they built the islands. Building a single artificial reed island can take up to a year and a half, but once constructed, it can endure for up to 50 years. The Uros people, despite their deep cultural roots, have embraced technology and installed solar panels to create electricity for their ovens and cell phone charging. In addition, they create by hand beautiful, elaborate rugs and cushion covers that depict the distinct history of the Uros people. These make wonderful souvenirs of your visit that you won’t find anyplace else in the nation. By boosting their economy, you can also contribute to the community by supporting their trade.
3. Prepare to be dazzled by the sun-yellow town of Izamal in Mexico
Our Mexico cultural tour featuring the Mayans, Aztecs, and Conquistadors has it all. We visit lesser-known cultural locations like the magic town of Izamal in addition to major historical sites like the Mayan site of Palenque, the ancient city of Teotihuacan, and the Zapotecan site of Monte Alban. The town’s name, which means “Place of the God of Medicine,” comes from when it was a Mayan settlement.
The town’s astonishingly vivid yellow buildings, however, are what draw the most attention. When Pope Frances visited the town in 1993, the people there decided to honor the Mayan sun god Kinich Kak Moo by painting the buildings yellow. Built atop a destroyed Maya temple, the striking Convento de San Antonio de Padua is one of the town’s most intriguing architectural examples. It’s not just the second-largest outdoor atrium in the world, after the Vatican, but also one of the oldest Catholic monasteries in the Americas!
4. Wander around the ancient Roman city of Gerasa in Jerash
On our Hidden Treasures of Jordan tour, you will not only see the famous Rose Red City of Petra but also have the opportunity to explore the amazing ancient city of Gerasa in Jerash.
If you have enough time to explore this marvel of Roman engineering, visit the North Theatre, dating to the second century AD with the Nymphaeum fountain, and the South Theatre, seating 3,000 and constructed between 90 and 92 AD during the reign of Emperor Domitian. Other notable features include the elaborate Temple of Artemis, with a large oval forum nearly entirely surrounded by tall columns, and the imposing Hadrian’s Arch, constructed to commemorate Emperor Hadrian’s visit. The hippodrome, located behind the arch, was once the site of chariot races in front of up to 15,000 spectators; chariot marks are still visible today!
5. Take a step back in time at Cēsis Castle in Latvia
Discover the Baltics offers you the chance to explore the charming town of Cēsis, situated inside Gauja National Park. There are many things to do in Cēsis, which includes a visit to the unique Cēsis Castle, which was once the headquarters of the Livonian Order. Cēsis stands as one of Latvia’s most traditional towns and a hub for arts and culture. This was the home of the Knights of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, who built it in 1214. It served as a crucial stronghold for centuries until 1919, when Estonian and Latvian forces defeated the Germans in the Battle of Cđsis, a pivotal conflict in the Latvian War of Independence. We will visit the castle and its museum in the morning during our Baltic tour, and afterward we will go on a guided building tour.
During our trip, we will also have time to explore the surrounding Guaja National Park, which is home to over 500 historical and cultural sites, such as manor houses, windmills, castle mounds, and churches. In the fall, the surroundings are especially stunning.
Click this Club TravelScape link to learn more about the cultural adventures we have planned for 2023.
