Alexander Barabanov Profile
I work in finance field. I started to specifically target UNESCO Heritage sites while travelling approximately from 2006. Currently I'm combining several long trips to WHS rich remote regions with weekend visits just to reach one specific site (mainly in Europe).
Of course, there is certain percentage of oddly sites, when you're asking yourself, what I am doing here, but in general these sites are special and very rewarding to reach and see. The uniqueness is often in their diversity and globality. Visting them and exploring some specific aspects of human activity and nature phenomona increases significantly knowledge horizons. During the process you will find out details of mercury mining, will see thin layer of soil containing remains of 60 million years old, admire mosaics from V century or climb Africa's highest mountain. I think that WHS travelling will be gaining popularity and we also have to contribute to this process.
Visited Sites Alexander Barabanov
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- ●● Cultural
- ●● Natural
- ●● Mixed
Recent Reviews Alexander Barabanov
Medici Villas and Gardens
Alexander Barabanov Russia - 21-Dec-19
Visited interior of 4 villas in one day on Sunday in November 2019. This could only be done with advance planning, pre-booking and using rented car as follows.
Villa di Poggio a Caiano – this one has regular opening hours, it opens at 08:30 and there is free accompanied tour each hour. Villa has extraordinary interior, including original frescos by Andrea del Sarto in the central hall on the first floor. There is little to add to the previous reviews. Villa Artiminio (Ferdinanda) – this is private property now, which includes winery, hotel and restaurant. There are occasionally guided visits and we booked one in advance for 11:30 for 12 euro. Villas was built in 1596 as a hunting lodge
Read OnBrú na Bóinne
Alexander Barabanov Russia - 28-Sep-19
Visited this site in September 2019. We arrived on Monday and there were not many people. Visitor center is still under refurbishment (the guide told that probably only 2-3 weeks are left to complete the works). We received free tickets to Knowth and Newgrange and visited both.
Knowth comprises one large mound and 18 [...]
Read OnKrzemionki prehistoric striped flint mining region
Alexander Barabanov Russia - 24-Sep-19
Visited this site in August 2019 during weekend trip to Poland. Visitor center is located in lovely rural setting, however the main entrance seems to be for administrative and the cash desk is located on the lateral side. There was no English tour available, so I joined Polish tour for 18 Zloty. While waiting for the tour it is possible to browse adjacent Archaeological museum, which only has explanation in Polish. There were many illustrations of shrimps and crabs at the information stands, so afterwards it was interesting to find out myself through internet the process of flint formation, in which indeed they played leading role.
Read OnDaphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios
Alexander Barabanov Russia - 07-Aug-19
Short update from my return visit to Daphni monastery in July 2019, when almost all the scaffolding was removed (only mosaics 24-29 are not clearly visible due to restoration work in progress). The entrance is still free and the monastery is now open from Wednesday to Saturday, from 11:00 till 15:00. The mosaics are amazing and unbelievably well preseved given that they date back to the 11th century. Mainly the ceiling is covered with remaining mosaics, but the original interior probably fully covered with golden colorful mosaics was likely to be something exceptional.
Read OnChurches of the Pskov School of Architecture
Alexander Barabanov Russia - 07-Aug-19
Visited this site in July 2019 exactly during the weekend when Pskov was inscribed. However, most local guides were quite sure that Pskov was already inscribed for a while. I concentrated on 10 churches recommended by ICOMOS for inscription. As I understood, there was a bit of mess whether 10 sites or all 18 proposed were finally inscribed. Now the official site shows 10 locations. In overall, Pskov and Nogvorod white churches, not influenced by Mongol invasion, have distinct features (like thick walls, unusual bell towers), as compared to traditional ones
Read OnProfile Data
- Name
- Alexander Barabanov
- Country
- Russia
- Most Impressive
- Machu Picchu, Brugge, Angkor Vat
- Proposal
- Volgograd (Stalingrad battlefield monuments), Old city of Pskov, Manhattan Iconic highscrapers from 30s like Empire State Building or Chrysler Building, certainly some nature park from Faroe Islands, Por-Bazhyn (Tuva)
Recently Visited WHS
- Update 18.04.20
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Visited WHS
Rating StatsAngkor 5Brugge 5Iguacu 5Prague 5Québec 5Vienna 5Arles 4Avignon 4Belfries 4Lyon 4Mostar 4Orange 4Paphos 4Ping Yao 4Salzburg 4Tallinn 4Ohrid Region 3.5Ouro Preto 3.5Telc 3.5Bosra 3Burgundy 3Dengfeng 3Derbent 3Djémila 3Graz 3Macao 3Nancy 3Nessebar 3Provins 3Reims 3Sarazm 3Timgad 3Tipasa 3Trebic 3Vézelay 3Yin Xu 3Camagüey 2Jelling 2Le Havre 2Nesvizh 2Reviewed WHS
- Medici Villas and Gardens
- Brú na Bóinne
- Krzemionki prehistoric striped flint mining region
- Daphni, Hosios Loukas and Nea Moni of Chios
- Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture
- Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs
- Pyramids (Memphis)
- Sarazm
- Grimeton Radio Station
- Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland
- Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
- Champagne
- Desembarco del Granma National Park
- Camagüey
- First Coffee Plantations
- Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios
- San Pedro de la Roca Castle
- Cienfuegos
- Old Havana
- Western Caucasus
- Stevns Klint
- Christiansfeld
- Neolithic Flint Mines at Spiennes
- Kernavë
- Sviyazhsk
- Bolgar
- Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin
- Kremlin and Red Square
- Fujisan
- Tomioka Silk Mill
- Solovetsky Islands
- Mount Taishan
- Soltaniyeh
- Santa Maria de Guadelupe
Visited TWHS
Reviewed TWHS
Top 50 Missing Sites
- Alexandria, ancient remains and the new library
- Andaman Islands
- Bagan
- Baikonur Cosmodrome / Cape Canaveral
- Chernobyl
- Communist heritage of Volgograd
- Cultural Landscape of Santorini
- Dzongs of Bhutan
- Ephesus
- Fortified City of Famagusta
- Historic University Towns of Oxford and Cambridge
- Mecca, Kaaba
- Mount Rushmore
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- Rainforests of Polynesia
- Scrovegni's Chapel
- Silk Roads
- Svalbard
- Transiberian Railway
- Vatnajökull National Park