GET THE picture

Le Tour... in Italy

Amping up its cycling credentials is the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna as it prepares to jointly host the Tour de France’s Grand Départ next summer, from 29th June, with Florence. The 111th edition of the race will pass through some key checkpoint towns, including Bologna, Rimini, Cesenatico and Plaisance, as the cyclists compete on Italian soil for the first time. Already a favourite destination for the Giro d’Italia, there are some classic routes all cyclists, whether on a road bike or a mountain bike, should tackle in the region. Shown here is Forte di San Leo in the commune of Sant’Agata Feltria, 45km south of Rimini.

Welcome to The Whale

This spectacular attraction – not a traditional natural history museum, nor art gallery or research institute but taking the best of each and fusing them into something new – is due to be built in Vesterålen, Norway. Here, the continental shelf is only 10km from the shore and plunges steeply into the depths, making it ideal for whale spotting. Designed to imitate the great beauty of these mammals, The Whale will celebrate the important role these magnificent creatures play in Norwegian coastal culture.