祖卡里宫，罗马，意大利 Palazzo Zuccari, Rome, Italy (© Photon-Photos/Getty Images)

可怕的外墙 Fearsome façade

祖卡里宫，罗马

在罗马西班牙阶梯的顶端，从宏伟的天主教堂下面左转，沿着一条不起眼的小街走下去，有一个惊喜在等着你：一座怪兽之屋。欢迎来到祖卡里宫！这是一座16世纪的宫殿，在它的外墙上，神话似乎栩栩如生，怪诞的面孔吞没了宫殿的门窗。建造这座宫殿的费德里科·祖卡里对怪兽非常精通，他在佛罗伦萨大教堂绘制的《最后的审判》和但丁《地狱篇》的插图满是神话人物。怪兽门最初通向宫殿的花园，因为祖卡里喜欢通过这种方式让客人体验从恐怖入口到美丽花园之间的强烈对比。如今，这扇门通向赫尔奇阿娜图书馆，这是一家专门研究意大利艺术史（从中世纪到现代）的图书馆，自1912年以来一直占据着花园的原址。如果你想在罗马寻找更多的怪嘴，离祖卡里宫不远处就是古罗马面具——“真理之口”，据说它会咬掉任何说谎者的手。

Palazzo Zuccari, Rome

At the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome, take a left underneath the imposing Catholic church. Down an unassuming side street, there's a surprise waiting for you: a house of monsters. Welcome to the Palazzo Zuccari, a 16th-century palace where myths seem to come to life on its façade—grotesque faces swallow up its doors and windows. Federico Zuccari, who built the palace, was well-versed in monsters. His painting of the Last Judgment in Florence Cathedral and his illustrations of Dante's Inferno are replete with mythical beings. The monster door originally led to the palazzo's garden because Zuccari enjoyed making his guests experience the contrast between the scary entrance and the beautiful serenity of the garden. These days, the door leads to the Bibliotheca Hertziana, a library specializing in Italian art history, from the Middle Ages to the modern day, which has occupied the site of the garden since 1912.

If you're looking for more monstrous mouths in Rome, not far from the Palazzo Zuccari is the Bocca della Verità, an ancient Roman mask. According to legend, it will bite off any liar's hand that's placed in its mouth.

乔治·史密斯州立公园的柏树，佐治亚州，美国 Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia (© Chris Moore/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

在秋天里傲然挺立 Standing tall in fall

乔治·史密斯州立公园的柏树，佐治亚州，美国

你见过坚韧、喜欢沼泽环境且总是很时髦的柏树吗？这些树可以长到100多英尺高，幼时通常呈金字塔状。在今天的图片中，我们来到了乔治·史密斯州立公园，该公园位于乔治亚州伊曼纽尔县，占地1634英亩。从今天的图片中可以看到，该公园的中心是一个占地412英亩的磨坊池塘，这里是钓鱼和划独木舟的好去处。池塘里生长着池柏和秃柏树，这两种树是美国的原生树种。公园内有长达7英里的蜿蜒小径，带领游客穿过沙地，经过鸟类保护区和龟类栖息地。这里的硬木树是啄木鸟和其他鸟类的天堂，而松软的土壤则为陆龟提供了理想的穴居地。无论在哪个季节，这座公园都能为所有人提供一个宁静的休闲场所。

Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia

The sturdy, swamp-loving, cypress trees pictured in the mist on our homepage can grow over 100 feet tall. These towering specimens are found in George L. Smith State Park, which spans 1,634 acres in Emanuel County, Georgia. The park's centerpiece is a 412-acre mill pond, a favorite spot for fishing and canoeing. Out of its waters grow pond cypress and bald cypress trees, two varieties that are native to the southeastern US. Winding through the park are over 7 miles of nature trails, leading visitors through sandy landscapes past a bird sanctuary and tortoise habitat. The hardwood trees here are a haven for woodpeckers and other birds, while the soft soil provides ideal burrowing ground for tortoises. No matter the season, this park promises a peaceful retreat for all.

哈索尔神庙，邓德拉神庙群，基纳，埃及 Temple of Hathor, Dendera Temple Complex, Qena, Egypt (© Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images)

立足现在，发掘过去 Uncovering the past for the present

国际考古日

今天，在国际考古日，深入挖掘你内心的印第安纳·琼斯或劳拉·克劳馥吧！该节日始于2011年，于每年10月的第三个星期六举办庆祝活动，旨在庆祝考古学对当今社会做出的贡献。其全球性的活动包括举办展览和动手挖掘遗迹，有些活动还会持续一个月。此外，许多美国国家公园、州立公园、历史地标和当地博物馆也会举办相关活动。

埃及是较早开展国际考古日活动的国家之一，从今天的图片中可以看到埃及哈索尔神庙的天花板。哈索尔神庙是丹德拉神庙群的一部分，也是保存最完好的古埃及神庙之一。虽然目前的神庙可以追溯到托勒密十二世和克利奥帕特拉七世（约公元前 50 年），但有证据表明，以前供奉埃及爱情和生育女神哈索尔的神庙可以追溯到数千年前。

International Archaeology Day

Today, dig deep and unearth your inner Indiana Jones or Lara Croft on International Archaeology Day. The event celebrates archaeology's benefits for society, and includes exhibits and hands-on excavations, some of which run throughout the month. Many US national and state parks, historic landmarks, and local museums also hold events.

Egypt is steeped in ancient history and home to many internationally renowned archaeological sites, including the Temple of Hathor, the ceiling of which can be seen in today's image. Part of the Dendera Temple Complex in Qena, Hathor is one of the best-preserved ancient Egyptian temples. While the current temple dates to Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra VII (around 50 BCE), evidence suggests that previous temples dedicated to Hathor, an Egyptian goddess of love and fertility, go back thousands of years earlier.

曼哈顿中央公园的秋天，纽约，美国 Autumn in Central Park, Manhattan, New York (© mapman/Shutterstock)

邂逅秋日的林荫道 Fall in the Mall

曼哈顿中央公园的秋天，纽约

每年秋天，纽约中央公园18000棵树木中的许多树，都会染上黄色、红色和橙色的色调。秋天是中央公园出镜率最高的季节之一，它为《当哈利遇见莎莉》和《头发》等电影提供了标志性的拍摄背景。树木不仅通过温度来感知冬天的到来，还通过日出和日落时光线照射到树叶上的角度来感知。由于纽约高楼林立，光线、阴影和温度的独特相互作用往往导致公园里的秋叶比城市里的其他地方来得晚。

今天的图片展示的是中央公园林荫大道的秋天，这是一条于19世纪中期设计和建造的人行道。林荫道的两侧是长椅和美国榆树，道路上方的树冠恰似弧形拱门，让人仿佛置身于大教堂中。这条长达四分之一英里的长廊是公园里唯一一条笔直的道路，旨在为不同阶层和背景的纽约人提供一个聚集、漫步、休憩的场所，或许还能让他们在这里思考四季的变化。

Autumn in Central Park, New York

Every autumn, many of the 18,000 trees in Central Park, New York, are painted in shades of yellow, red, and orange. It's one of Central Park's most photographed seasons, and fall in the park has provided iconic backdrops for movies like 'When Harry Met Sally…' and 'Hair.' Trees sense the coming of winter not only by temperature, but by the angle at which sunlight hits their leaves. Because of New York's buildings, the unique interaction of light, shadows, and temperatures often results in fall foliage occurring later in the park than the rest of the city.

Today's image features fall in the Mall, a pedestrian walkway designed and built in the mid-1800s. Flanked by benches and American elm trees, the Mall's canopy was meant to evoke an architectural space like a cathedral. The quarter-mile promenade is the park's only straight path, and it was intended to be a place for New Yorkers of all classes and backgrounds to gather, stroll, sit, and perhaps ponder the passing seasons.

地肤草，茨城县，日本 Kochia, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan (© DigiPub/Getty Images)

随风摆动，进入秋天 Rolling into fall

地肤草，日立海滨公园，茨城县，日本

如果您曾经见过照片中那像火一样的一望无际的红色田野，那您肯定见过地肤草。在春季和夏季，这种一年生草本植物开始呈现出嫩绿色，就像一个蓬松的绿球。随着季节的转换，它的颜色也在变化，会变成红色、橙色甚至粉红色。

地肤草也被称为地肤，原产于欧洲和亚洲的部分地区，如今已遍布世界各地，并且在日本的日立海滨公园找到了一个特殊的家，如今天图片所示。公园里每年种植约3万至4万株地夫草灌木丛，漫步其间，仿佛置身奇异世界。这些观赏植物在日本文化中还具有重要意义。过去，它们被晒干制作成扫帚。不过，也不是所有的部位都注定沦为清扫工具，地肤草还有一些部分可以用在食物中。这种植物的干果——地肤子，又被称为“田野鱼子酱”，是一种珍贵的配菜。

可可海滩上的渔船，果阿邦，印度 Fishing boats at Coco Beach in Goa, India (© Abhinav Sah/Shutterstock)

沙滩的秘密和日落 Sandy secrets and sunsets

可可海滩上的渔船，果阿邦，印度

欢迎来到海滩爱好者的梦想之地：果阿邦。这个印度邦以金色海岸而闻名，吸引着来自世界各地的游客。旅游业是当地经济的核心产业，125公里的海岸线被沙滩覆盖，沙滩上热闹非凡。今天的照片展示了可可海滩，这是一个隐藏在尼鲁尔村庄的明珠，该村庄位于果阿邦的北部地区。这里气氛宁静，却有许多有趣的娱乐项目。您可以一边晒日光浴，体验钓鱼、划船、观赏海豚和游泳等冒险活动，一边沉浸在当地的文化氛围中。独特的历史意义使这个海滩更加与众不同。它在20世纪50年代至60年代的果阿邦解放运动中发挥了重要作用。这是当地人为结束葡萄牙统治，将果阿邦与印度统一而进行斗争的地方之一。所以，可可海滩才不是一个普通的海滩，这是一个有故事的地方，历史与大海在这里交汇。

塞维利亚王宫少女庭院，西班牙 Courtyard of the Maidens, Alcázar of Seville, Spain (© Danny Lehman/Getty Images)

辉煌的塞维利亚 The splendor of Seville

塞维利亚皇家阿尔卡萨尔王宫，西班牙

今天，我们将走进历史悠久的西班牙伊斯兰帝国的中心。塞维利亚皇家阿尔卡萨城堡位于安达卢西亚南部地区，矗立在10世纪的城堡遗址上，在随后的200年间不断扩建。当基督教军队在1248年占领这座城市时，阿尔卡萨尔几乎完全按照穆德哈尔风格重建，这种风格从伊斯兰建筑的复杂装饰图案汲取了灵感。阿尔卡扎尔宫内有几个庭院，庭院两边都有雕刻精美的圆柱。其中之一就是今天要介绍的少女庭院。

这个美丽的庭院的中心是一个游泳池，静静的池水不仅倒映着安达卢西亚的湛蓝天空，还倒映着庭院拱门上错综复杂的纹饰。仔细观察这些拱门，你会看到雕刻的法蒂玛之手——一种据说能带来保护的象征，由植物和阿拉伯文字组成。柱子后面的墙壁上装饰着五颜六色的陶瓷片，上面有几何图案。这些瓷砖被称为“azulejos”（意思是“光滑的小石头”），是安达卢西亚装饰的标志。外面有一个大花园，花园里有喷泉和绿树成荫的小径，是在西班牙烈日下乘凉的绝佳地点。

Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain

Today we're stepping into the heart of the historic empire of Islamic Spain. The Royal Alcázar of Seville, in the southern region of Andalusia, stands on the site of a 10th-century citadel, which was expanded over the following 200 years. When Christian forces captured the city in 1248, this historic palace was almost totally rebuilt in the Mudejar style, which takes inspiration from the intricate patterns and decorative motifs found in Islamic architecture. Within the Alcázar, there are several courtyards lined with delicately carved columns. One of these is the Patio de las Doncellas, or Courtyard of the Maidens, pictured here today.

In the center of this beautiful space is a pool, whose still waters provide reflections of not only the blue Andalucian sky above, but of the intricate latticework of the courtyard's arches. Look a little closer at these arches, and you'll see carved shells, Hands of Fatima—a symbol said to bring protection—plants, and Arabic script. Behind the columns, the walls are decorated with colorful ceramic tiles decorated with geometric patterns. These tiles, known as azulejos, are a hallmark of Andalusian decoration. Outside, there is a large garden full of fountains and tree-lined paths—a perfect spot to cool off from the hot Spanish sun.

黄山云海，安徽省，中国 Sea of clouds over Huangshan Mountain, Anhui , China (© yangyang1991/Getty Images)

云海奇观 Sea of clouds wonders

重阳节

今天是重阳节，登高赏秋、感恩敬老是重阳节的两大主题，重阳节在历史发展演变中融合了多种民俗，承载着丰富的文化内涵。

提起登山，人们会想到层峦叠嶂的峰林和美丽壮观的云海。今天图片就向大家展示了黄山迷人壮丽的景色。去过黄山的人都说，黄山的“主旋律”在云海。也就是说，黄山美丽的风景都在山顶，而最美的风景是在云雾缭绕的时候。

黄山云海不仅本身是一种独特的自然景观，而且还把黄山峰林装扮得犹如仙境，远近山峦，在云海中出没无常，宛若大海中的无数岛屿，时隐时现于“波涛”之上。如果你想要在金秋十月去攀登高峰，品味一览众山小的意境，不妨到中国黄山体验一番。

马布尔附近的白杨树，科罗拉多州，美国 Aspens near Marble, Colorado (© Jason Hatfield/TANDEM Stills + Motion)

色彩斑斓的秋天 Colorado in full color

马布尔附近的白杨树，科罗拉多州

纤细的白色树干直插云霄，即使是微风拂过，树叶也会摇曳生姿——白杨树是美国荒野的象征。它们广泛分布在美国西部各州，尤其是犹他州和科罗拉多州。这些树是北美分布最广的本土物种。正如今天这张在科罗拉多州马布尔附近拍摄的照片一样，白杨树林的秋景令人叹为观止，白杨树叶在秋天会变成明亮的金黄色，点亮整个景观。白杨树不仅美丽，而且在生物学上也令人着迷。它们以大型群落的形式生长，起源于单一的根系，是地球上最大的生物之一。树群中的每棵树都具有相同的遗传特征。当白杨树被砍伐或受损时，根系会继续存活，从而使新的枝条萌发并生长，这有助于形成一个弹性的网络，可以在野火等恶劣的条件下生存。这种物种能迅速在附近被烧毁的地区生根发芽，即使野火燎原也能再生。白杨树不仅仅是赏心悦目的风景，它们更象征着坚韧不屈的精神。

Aspens in the White River National Forest, Colorado

Slender white trunks reaching skyward and leaves fluttering even in the gentlest breeze—aspen trees are a symbol of the American wilderness. Found across the western states, especially in Utah and Colorado, these trees are the most widespread native species in North America. Their fall foliage is breathtaking, with their leaves turning a vibrant yellow that lights up the landscape, as seen in today's photo, which was taken in the White River National Forest, Colorado.

Aspens are not only beautiful but also biologically fascinating. They grow in large colonies that originate from a single root system, making them some of the largest living organisms on Earth. Each tree in the colony is genetically identical. When an aspen tree is cut down or damaged, the root system remains alive, allowing new shoots to emerge and grow, which helps create a tenacious network that can survive harsh conditions, including wildfires. This species quickly colonizes areas that have been recently burned down and can regenerate even after frequent fires. Aspen trees are more than just a treat for the eyes; they are an example of nature's resilience.

索拉诺，托斯卡纳，意大利 Sorano, Tuscany, Italy (© Luigi Vaccarella/eStock Photo)

托斯卡纳的石头小镇 The stone town of Tuscany

索拉诺古镇，托斯卡纳，意大利

索拉诺位于意大利托斯卡纳南部的格罗塞托省，是一个坐落在悬崖峭壁上的中世纪村庄。漫步在古老的鹅卵石街道上，你可以游览奥尔西尼堡垒，这座堡垒可追溯到11世纪，如今已成为一座博物馆。游客在堡垒内每走一步，都能感受到几个世纪以来关于防御入侵与权力更迭的故事。在波吉奥·圣·罗科和波吉奥·克罗切山附近有这样一个墓地，它是个大型的古代墓葬遗址，其中拥有保存完好的伊特鲁里亚人的墓葬，暗示着该地区悠久的历史。公元前8世纪至公元前3世纪，伊特鲁里亚文明曾居住在这一地区，并在现在的托斯卡纳和翁布里亚繁衍生息。索拉诺隐蔽的山谷是维洞的所在地，这是一个错综复杂的通道网络，可能是用来抵御入侵者和野兽的防御系统。在这里，厨师们精心制作当地特色菜，保持着世代相传的烹饪传统。到索拉诺旅游，一定要去葡萄酒商店喝上一杯备受推崇的莫雷利诺·迪·斯坎萨诺葡萄酒。