Iconic Settings

Madrid's Metropolis Building is pure elegance.

@NickLovesSpain So incredibly beautiful! The more time I spend on X, the longer my travel bucket list gets. Canary Islands look magical.

Today, Spain celebrates the Canary Islands. One of the most fascinating regions on Earth. It’s hard to do a place like this justice, but here’s my best shot... 🧵

@xmuse_ I would add patience and perseverance. Incredible city with the strength and fortitude to rebuild instead of starting over.

@sands731 Go for it!

@IconicSettings Thought about retiring in 🇪🇸 Spain. Mediterranean climate, mild winters, 300 sunny days, ideal for active retirement. Cost of living? Low compared to other Western European countries. Affordable housing, healthcare, dining, rich culture, festivals, create a fulfilling lifestyle💖

Madrid's Metropolis Building is pure elegance.

@WorldScholar_ I suppose you could make an argument for timeless... Gehry's work isn't "trendy" which is the opposite of timeless, it just isn't traditional either, which I suppose is what people think timeless really means. x.com/IconicSettings…

@IconicSettings The "Dancing House" may disagree!

I think this quote sums it up the best: “Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” – Frank Gehry

@BudgerigarBlgr @WorldScholar_ 🤣

@IconicSettings @WorldScholar_ I agree. Most of Gehry's buildings look like boxes draped with wet towels.

@archi_tradition Love this list of cities where old and new blend seamlessly. Your inclusion of Rome is perfect, for me, the Eternal City exemplifies this concept.

Most cities pick a lane—old-world charm or modern innovation. The best ones don’t. Here are 20 cities where history and progress live side by side...🧵

@xmuse_ What a sublime setting for a soiree!

@mamboitaliano__ I'm suddenly craving pizza.

How can Naples be so unique? The beating heart of Italy 🇮🇹!

@WorldScholar_ Quite impressive wood joinery that has stood the test of time! I like this detail view of the shingles. Like the skin of a Viking dragon.

This may look like an ordinary church, but in reality, it holds an extraordinary secret. It was built without a single nail, has multiple dragon heads — and is over 800 years old. It sounds impossible, but this is only where the story begins... 🧵

@CultureExploreX Sublime restaurant settings! Outdoor dining in Spring is the absolute best. This setting in Lisbon on Rua Nova do Carvalho, known as the "Pink Street", is such a vibe.

They say beauty feeds the soul. But what if your dinner came with chandeliers, cliffs, or coral caves? These aren’t just meals, they’re experiences you’ll never forget. The world’s most stunning restaurants: a thread for the senses. 🧵⤵️

@WorldScholar_ The texture created from all of the details is just lovely.

@IconicSettings Beautiful indeed.

@JeremyTate41 I can see why it made Hopkins stop the car, it is beautiful. For me, the campus of the University of Oxford in England is one of the most beautiful universities.

10 years ago Anthony Hopkins was driving in California when he suddenly stopped the car and stared at what he later described as “the most beautiful place” he had ever seen. It was Thomas Aquinas College. Beauty is the great evangelist.

@archi_tradition Beautiful collection! I must add Thun Castle in Switzerland. She is an absolute beauty in a stunning setting.

Not all castles were made for war. Some were statements of power. Others were fantasies in stone. Here are 20 of Europe’s most fascinating castles...🧵

@archi_tradition South Korea 🇰🇷 Low crime, friendly people, incredible food, beautiful architecture, history, nature, plus a good exchange rate for the dollar.

What’s the #1 country on your travel bucket list?

@JamesLucasIT Agreed! Especially at Christmastime when you can get up close and personal with Scott Monument. x.com/IconicSettings…

Edinburgh feels otherworldly

@WorldScholar_ Ok, that is one of the greatest backdrops for a football/ soccer game! This one in Hvar, Croatia is also pretty incredible, adjacent to the Adriatic Sea.

A game of football in front of Aqua Claudia, one of the four great aqueducts that supplied water to Rome.

May our gratitude always be overflowing like the wisteria of London Spring.

Brick Gothic grandeur, Hanseatic power, and medieval pride shape the great city of Lübeck, Germany 🇩🇪