EUROPE

SAXONY-ANHALT. In the 18th century, Prince Leopold III Friedrich Franz of Anhalt-Dessau wanted a summer home befitting a ruler renowned for his taste in art and design. So he commissioned court architect Friedrich Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorff to build a neoclassical palace in what is now eastern Germany. Modeled on the stately neo-Palladian homes of England, Worlitz Castle was completed in 1773, and the prince promptly filled it with an impressive collection of works by English potter Josiah Wedgwood. More than 100 splendid pieces remain in the castle, and they form the core of Germany's first exhibition devoted to Wedgwood, one that commemorates the 200th anniversary of his death. Included are early-period examples of cream tableware, later known as Queen's ware; statues of figures from classical mythology; and Greek-style vases. On loan from other collections are hundreds of additional Wedgwood samples, notably the Husk dinner service made for Catherine the Great, which had never before left Russia. Through Oct. 31.

TRAINS. Travelers journeying between Lisbon and Madrid used to have two main options: spend hours coping with traffic jams to get to the airport, or endure a 13-hour trip on an old, rattly train. A comfortable alternative is now available. The Portuguese state railway company has recently launched an 11-hour overnight service on a train designed to be a rolling hotel. The Spanish-built carriages of the Lusitania Comboio Hotel employ an advanced tilt-suspension system that allows a smooth ride. Onboard are a restaurant, a lounge, an entertainment area and sleeping compartments equipped with telephones.

ASIA

VIETNAM. Desperate for hard currency, Vietnam had opened its Bamboo Curtain with enough success during the past few years to attract more than a million foreign visitors annually. While still promoting the communist country as a desirable destination, the government last week inexplicably decided to stop renewing tourist visas. Leisure travelers had been able to extend easily a one-month visa while exploring Vietnam. But in a sudden and unannounced move, immigration police started requiring that tourists leave the country and apply for a new visa to re-enter.

NORTH AMERICA

FORT MYERS. Want to walk through a cloud during a rainstorm and see what makes the thunder roar and the lightning strike? Something like that experience can be had at the Imaginarium Hands-On Museum and Aquarium, now open in southern Florida. Housed in a restored water plant, this fascinating showplace covers the sciences from anatomy to zoology. Featured are interactive exhibits on light, sound, magnetism, electricity, movement and force; a variety of aquariums; and an inventor's workshop where children can make things out of recycled materials.