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Close Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video More Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video Watch Listen Subscribe Sign in My Account * Settings * Newsletters * Topics you follow * Sign out Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account [ ] Sign in My Account * Settings * Newsletters * Topics you follow * Sign out Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account --------------------------------------------------------------------- Listen Watch --------------------------------------------------------------------- Edition US International Arabic Espanol Edition * US * International * Arabic * Espanol --------------------------------------------------------------------- Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video --------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow CNN Travel * * * Download the CNN App --------------------------------------------------------------------- * US + Crime & Justice + Immigration + Education + Transportation + Race & Identity * World + Africa + Americas + Asia + Australia + China + Europe + India + Middle East + United Kingdom * Politics + Trump + Facts First + CNN Polls + 2026 Elections Calendar + Redistricting Tracker + Epstein Files * Business + Tech + Media + Calculators + Videos * Markets + Pre-markets + After-Hours + Fear & Greed + Investing + Markets Now + Nightcap * Health + Life, But Better + Fitness + Food + Sleep + Mindfulness + Relationships * CNN Underscored + Electronics + Fashion + Beauty + Health & Fitness + Home + Reviews + Deals + Gifts + Travel + Outdoors + Pets * Entertainment + Movies + Television + Celebrity * Tech + Innovate * Style + Arts + Design + Fashion + Architecture + Luxury + Beauty + Video * Travel + Destinations + Food & Drink + Stay + Videos * Sports + Pro Football + College Football + Basketball + Baseball + Soccer + Olympics + Hockey * Science + Space + Life + Unearthed * Climate + Solutions + Weather * Weather + Video + Climate * Winter Olympics 2026 * Ukraine-Russia War * Israel-Hamas War * Watch + Featured + Shows & Films + Network TV + Clips + CNN Headlines + CNN Shorts + Shows A-Z + CNN 10 + CNN TV Schedules * Listen + CNN 5 Things + Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta + The Assignment with Audie Cornish + One Thing + Tug of War + CNN Political Briefing + The Axe Files + All There Is with Anderson Cooper + All CNN Audio podcasts * Games + Daily Crossword + Jumble Crossword + Photo Shuffle + Sudoblock + Sudoku + 5 Things Quiz * About CNN + Subscribe + Photos + Investigations + CNN Profiles + CNN Leadership + CNN Newsletters + Work for CNN --------------------------------------------------------------------- Download the CNN App Ad Feedback Travel 3 min read The 1,700-year-old megastructure history almost forgot By Maureen O'HareMaureen O'Hare Updated Feb 28, 2026, 7:00 AM ET Published Feb 28, 2026, 7:00 AM ET PUBLISHED Feb 28, 2026, 7:00 AM ET Jetavanaramaya, a huge religious structure in Sri Lanka, was completed in about 301 CE. Jetavanaramaya, a huge religious structure in Sri Lanka, was completed in about 301 CE. Jeremy Woodhouse/Photodisc/Getty Images Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel's weekly newsletter. Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay. In our roundup of travel stories this week: a man recreates his father's round-the-world bicycle trip, a luxury yacht that turned out to be a mold-covered wreck, plus the ancient Roman city 10 times the size of Disneyland. Built to last Jetavanaramaya, a colossal fourth-century Sri Lankan monument, was once among the world's largest structures. This vast and ancient brick-built engineering marvel was born out of religious rivalry, and over the centuries it has survived earthquakes, neglect and civil war. However, while it's the largest brick structure by volume ever constructed, it's little known outside of Sri Lanka, and for periods of history was largely forgotten. Read more here about how Jetavanaramaya was lost, then rediscovered. In Turkey, there's another man-made wonder of even older vintage. The UNESCO World Heritage site Ephesus is one of the world's best-preserved examples of a Roman port city. Its many historical marvels are spread over a 1,600-acre plot 10 times the size of Disneyland. Once a bustling metropolis inhabited by the likes of Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, it's still a popular destination, pulling in 2.5 million visitors a year. Here's what there is to see. Finally, a European masterpiece that's still under construction. Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi's unfinished church, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, is edging towards completion, 144 years after work began in 1882. Pope Leo has been invited to lead the opening ceremony of the central tower next summer. Watch the building process here. Fixer-uppers Janis and Blaine Carmena bought a neglected yacht and renovated it. Janis and Blaine Carmena bought a neglected yacht and renovated it. Onboard Tangaroa There's nothing that a little bit of TLC can't fix. For CNN subscribers, we have the story of a Canadian couple who tried to buy a luxury yacht and ended up with a mold-covered wreck. Despite the vessel's appearance, Janis and Blaine Carmena felt an immediate pull -- they knew they were "the right people" to take her on. Six years later, it's their floating home. American woman Amelia Butler bought a bargain home in the village of Latronico, in Italy's Basilicata region, sight unseen. As soon as she spotted the property in an online listing, "I knew it was mine," she tells CNN. Based on the valley view from the window, she bought the one-bedroom apartment without viewing the property in person or even visiting the village. Here's how it turned out. Love and family Jamie Hargreaves cycled more than 15,000 miles, retracing his father& apos;s tire tracks. Jamie Hargreaves cycled more than 15,000 miles, retracing his father's tire tracks. Courtesy Jamie Hargreaves In 2024, Englishman Jamie Hargreaves followed the route of his dad's 1980s round-the-world cycle ride to Australia. He rode the same brand of bicycle and visited some of the same places and people -- and recreated the photos, frame by frame. "I've been inspired by my dad my entire life," Jamie tells CNN. "It's a real sort of connection to Dad. The only thing dividing us was time." For CNN subscribers, we have another tale of connections: three of them, in fact. It began with a woman in Alabama getting a text saying, "Come outside, we're surrounded by hot British men." Life was never the same again. This chance encounter between a group of young Brits and Americans led to three transatlantic love stories and three weddings. Here's how it unfolded. Tourists in trouble 117228_JapanSnowRescue digvid 1.jpg Video Ad Feedback Why more tourists need rescuing in Japan's ski towns 1:06 * Source: CNN 117228_JapanSnowRescue digvid 1.jpg Why more tourists need rescuing in Japan's ski towns 1:06 Japan is facing a sharp rise in ski and snowboard accidents involving foreign tourists this season. Rescuers warn that they are operating at a breaking point and cannot guarantee everyone will be rescued. CNN's Hanako Montgomery reports. In case you missed it A presidential address. A grim anniversary. A cartel kingpin. What do you remember from the week that was? A K-pop star, a cliff edge and 2,000 daily visitors. How a viral photo led to the closure of an Australian beauty spot. Their dream of Italian citizenship suddenly vanished. But there might still be a lifeline. British pubs can be intimidating for visitors. But there are tricks to blending in. Facebook Tweet Email Link Threads Link Copied! 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