How a Spanish Basilica Defied the Vatican to Keep Its Medieval Flying Machines
Suspended from a cathedral dome in southeastern Spain, mechanical clouds and wooden flying machines have lowered singing angels every August since the 1400s.
Culture & Heritage
Immerse in the rich human traditions, ritual celebrations, culinary masterworks, and artistic expressions across continental cultures.
Shashmaqam: The Classical Court Music of the Silk Road Oases
Preserved in the ancient courts of Bukhara and Samarkand, this classical modal tradition weaves Sufi poetry and plucked lutes into six complex musical suites.
Batik Kawung: Sacred Geometry of the Javanese Royal Courts
Carved onto ancient stone and reserved for Javanese royalty, the four-lobed Batik Kawung motif encodes deep cosmic balance and spiritual restraint.