POPULAR CITY IN EUROPE

Cannes Beach

2010-05-11T20:35:00.000-07:00

A water-skiing instructor on this private beach will be happy to instruct you in the rudiments of this difficult sport. Sunbeds are EURO 7.32 per half day and EURO 10.67 per full day. A set menu at the fresh fish restaurant will set you back around EURO 20.58. The hotel has a pleasant atmosphere in which to soak up the sand, sea and sun. The hotel has a view of Cannes and its surroundings and the town centre is a stone’s throw away.

Tarifa Beach

2010-05-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

Tarifa transformed from a strategic military fortress to a remote fishing town, and today tourism flourishes in this melting pot of cultures.Every population which either settled or passed by has left its imprint. This is evident from the traces of ancient Rome to the modern windsurfing culture although Tarifa’s Moorish style is still predominant with its medina (old city centre). This modern transformation, which avoided the mistakes made by the much of the mass Spanish tourism of the 60’s, has reinvented itself by beautifully blending its hotels and other accommodation facilities both along its virgin coastline and within the old city walls.These pages contain all the information you need to plan your visit. You will find advice on all the activities available. There’s more to Tarifa than mesmerising on the beautiful beach!

Ibiza Beaches

2010-02-15T08:13:00.000-08:00

Long time Ibiza goer John Thompson gives an insight into Ibiza's best beaches. There are over 60 beaches in Ibiza and most are assessable by car or bike. Holidays in Ibiza offer great scope for people wanting to explore as you can drive from one end to the other within an hour. The less crowded beaches can be found in the south of the island and are more secluded. Major tourist beaches tend to surround San Antonio, Santa Eulalia and Playa den Bossa.

Not surprisingly the beaches are most crowded from June to September although the waters are warm from late April until the end of October. The Mediterranean climate keeps Ibiza warm for much of the year and out of season is a great time to holiday in Ibiza. Villas in Ibiza are very cheap out of season and worth looking into.

If you are looking for peace and quiet after a hard nights clubbing then there are some magnificent unpopulated beaches that are definitely worth making the extra effort to get to. Cala Xarraca in the north of the island is surrounded by cliffs and has little sign of life making for a very idyllic day out. Cala d'Hort has views out to the stunning Es Vedra rock and is well worth the drive down to the far south west. If you're looking for a hippy experience, watching the sun go down then Cala Bennirras is a great place to visit. There are a variety of performers every night from circus acts to hippies, to musicians. Fire breathing and juggling are also popular.

Ibiza has many nudist and gay friendly beaches making it a very cosmopolitan place to visit. Notable beaches are Es Cavallet and Los Molinos (Figueretas) on the south east side of the island.

For those who have more than a few days on, the island then Formentera is definitely worth a visit as they have Europe's finest beaches. The majority of beaches fly the covered Blue Flag which highlights the cleanliness of the crystal clear blue water. There are good windsurfing and catamaran centres on Es Pujols and Migjorn beach for those who want some activity.

For people looking for cool places to hang out with music and nice loungers there are a number of beach clubs that offer a very nice beach experience. New this year is Amante (formally Sol den serra) down a dirt track near Cala Llonga, check out the breakfast yoga club. There is the Delano and Ashuaia in Playa Den Bossa bringing a new lease of live to the stretch of beach opposite space. Added to this you have the old favourites of Sa Trinxa at Salinas and Blue Marlin at Cala Jondal. Beach life has never been this good in Ibiza!

Biarritz's beach

2010-02-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

Biarritz is a seaside resort on the Atlantic coast of France located on the Bay of Biscay, just north of the Spanish border in the Basque region. With a 2006 population of about 28,000, Biarritz is known as much for being a posh and classy retreat as is known for being the site of the annual Biarritz Surf Festival.

Biarritz was put on the map by the Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III when she built a summer palace here. The palace, now known as the Hotel du Palais, is still very much a prominent tourist attraction and beautiful bit of architecture. Although Biarritz was originally a destination of royalty, it has opened its gates to a wide range of visitors including many surfers who come for the renowned surf conditions. It does however retain its level of class and is indeed a ritzy place.

Biarritz is a beautiful landscape with its spectacular cliffs and surf, the rocky headland by the old fishing port with its quaint cottages, and the stunning Virgins Rock. There are many fine sites to see in Biarritz, and you can spend quite a bit of time just on the wondrous buildings such as the Chappelle Imperiale, which is known for its intricately decorated roof interior and elegant wall tiles. There are Art Deco villas alongside Chateaux and Romantic style gabled homes, along with the famous blue dome of the Russian Orthodox Church.

And what would a French beach resort city be without casinos? Biarritz won't let you down in that department, and a trip to the two waterfront casinos by the Grande Plage (beach) will show you their allure.

There are also many outdoor activities to be enjoyed in Biarritz, like golf, horseback riding, rugby and, let us not forget, sea and sand, which is truly world-class. And if you like getting pampered, the spas of Biarritz won't disappoint.

Obviously you would want to visit Biarritz in the beach season, but be warned that this town gets intensely crowded during the surf Festival in July and during the European vacation month of August, so if you can make it in May, June or September, do so.

London England

2007-09-22T15:07:00.001-07:00

London Travel Guide

With a population of just under eight million, London is Europe's largest city, spreading across an area of more than 620 square miles from its core on the River Thames. Ethnically it's also Europe's most diverse metropolis: around two hundred languages are spoken within its confines, and more than thirty percent of the population is made up of first, second- and third-generation immigrants. Despite Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolution, London still dominates the national horizon, too: this is where the country's news and money are made, it's where the central government resides and, as far as its inhabitants are concerned, provincial life begins beyond the circuit of the city's orbital motorway. Londoners' sense of superiority causes enormous resentment in the regions, yet it's undeniable that the capital has a unique aura of excitement and success - in most walks of British life, if you want to get on you've got to do it in London. For the visitor, too, London is a thrilling place - and since the beginning of the new millennium, the city has also been overtaken by an exceptionally buoyant mood. Thanks to the lottery and millennium-oriented funding frenzy of the last few years, virtually every one of London's world-class museums, galleries and institutions has been reinvented, from the Royal Opera House to the British Museum. With the completion of the Tate Modern and the London Eye, the city can now boast the world's largest modern art gallery and Ferris wheel; there's also a new tube extension and the first new bridge to cross the Thames for over a hundred years. And after sixteen years of being the only major city in the world not to have its own governing body, London finally has its own elected mayor and assembly. In the meantime, London's traditional sights - Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London - continue to draw in millions of tourists every year. Monuments from the capital's more glorious past are everywhere to be seen, from medieval banqueting halls and the great churches of Sir Christopher Wren to the eclectic Victorian architecture of the triumphalist British Empire. There is also much enjoyment to be had from the city's quiet Georgian squares, the narrow alleyways of the City of London, the riverside walks, and the quirks of what is still identifiably a collection of villages. And even London's traffic pollution - one of its worst problems - is offset by surprisingly large expanses of greenery: Hyde Park, Green Park and St James's Park are all within a few minutes' walk of the West End, while, further afield, you can enjoy the more expansive parklands of Hampstead Heath and Richmond Park.You could spend days just shopping in London, too, hobnobbing with the upper classes in Harrods, or sampling the offbeat weekend markets of Portobello Road and Camden. The music, clubbing and gay/lesbian scenes are second to none, and mainstream arts are no less exciting, with regular opportunities to catch brilliant theatre companies, dance troupes, exhibitions and opera. Restaurants, these days, are an attraction, too. London has caught up with its European rivals, and offers a range from three-star Michelin establishments to low-cost, high-quality Indian curry houses. Meanwhile, the city's pubs have heaps of atmosphere, especially away from the centre - and an exploration of the farther-flung communities is essential to get the complete picture of this dynamic metropoli.

VIENNA TRAVEL GUIDE

2007-09-11T04:41:00.001-07:00

Vienna is a city of music, but it is also synonymous with gourmet fare, cream cakes, superb coffee, the angelic strains of the Vienna Boys' Choir and the proud prancing of the Lippizaner stallions at the world-famous Spanish Riding School.

Vienna started out as a Celtic settlement on the banks of the Danube and became one of the Roman's most important central European bases. Its central location on the strategic river contributed to the city becoming a mighty empire, reaching its peak during the tumultuous reign of the dazzling Hapsburg dynasty. At the end of the 19th century the golden age of empire began to decline as Vienna's coffee houses filled with radical intellectuals like Freud, Klimt and Mahler. The Second World War Nazi occupation left scars, but Vienna survived it all to remain a captivating capital that blends Italian romanticism with a Germanic orderliness.
Most of the city's tourist attractions are within the largely pedestrianised inner city area which was once enclosed by the city walls. The walls have been replaced with the Ringstrasse, a wide ring road. Further out in the suburbs is the thrilling Prater amusement park with its massive ferris wheel, and the opulent Schonbrunn summer palace. Visitors also should not miss a trip to the Vienna Woods, peppered with ancient 'heuringen' (wine taverns).

Frankfurt Travel Guide

2007-08-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

Frankfurt Travel Guide

Visitors to Germany do not find much to make them linger in the sprawling city of Frankfurt on the River Main, unless their purpose is business rather than pleasure. For most visitors to the country, however, Frankfurt’s huge showpiece airport is the point of arrival and departure. The city is a major transport hub and an industrial and financial metropolis that ensures it is the economic powerhouse not only of Germany, but central Europe. Frankfurt is home to Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank and Europe's most important stock exchange, which has been trading since 1585.For tourists Frankfurt does offer some sights, some intriguing restaurants in the Nordend, a variety of artistic and cultural events, and excellent shopping opportunities. Sightseeing opportunities are mostly confined to the historical core of the city, known as the Romerberg, where Charlemagne erected his fort in medieval times. Most of the original buildings were destroyed during World War II, but some have been reconstructed, including the home of Goethe, Frankfurt’s famous son who became Germany’s greatest writer. For shopping it is hard to beat the Zeil, Germany’s equivalent to New York’s Fifth Avenue.With its excellent rail connections and Autobahn system, Frankfurt is the natural hub for travellers wishing to explore the surrounding towns and countryside. It is also the venue for numerous trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses, drawing about 12-million visitors a year to these events. The largest and best known is the annual International Book Fair, which is attended by thousands of publishers.

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Paris Travel Guide

2007-07-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

More than ever before, Paris of the 21st century is a feisty brew of peoples from around the world. Old-fashioned French flavours have not been lost, or even submerged - men in berets still play boules on the quai de la Seine, and bourgeois Madames still feed tasty titbits to their poodles from the restaurant table. But there are more ingredients in the city mix, more viewpoints. It is estimated that 20% of the two million people living in central Paris are immigrants. In the North African strongholds of Belleville and La Goutte d’Or, men in bars sup sugary mint tea and puff on water pipes. The Parisian rap and hip hop scene is vibrant and thriving. Restaurants serve couscous, tagine and sticky pastries against a background of ra? music. The picture of Paris as a multicultural paradise is not the whole story but most second-generation immigrants consider themselves, primarily, French.

Manchester Travel Guide

2007-07-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

Manchester Travel Guide

Although now best known for its football teams, Manchester was once one of England's greatest Victorian cities and was the birthplace of both rail travel and Rolls Royce. It is situated on the east bank of the Irwell River, in the north east of the country, and is the centre of a huge metropolitan area, which now encompasses the surrounding towns of Bury, Bolton, Wigan, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport and Oldham. Liverpool is just 30 miles (48km) down river. The area has long had a reputation as a drab, industrialised sprawl, but Manchester has succeeded in reinventing itself, becoming a vibrant metropolis with nightlife second only to London. The city boasts more than 50 free museums and galleries, a world-class sports centre that recently hosted the Commonwealth Games, and plenty of parks, gardens and other attractions.The city's architecture is largely a reminder of its central role in the cotton trade and many of the original warehouses can still be seen, although modern-day Manchester is now very different from its heyday as an industrial hub. When the city centre was badly damaged in an IRA bombing in 1996, much of the central area was beautifully renovated. Now renamed the Millennium Quarter, it is a marvellous contrast of splendid Victorian architecture and towering glass edifices, including the eye-catching Urbis exhibition centre.Manchester City and Manchester United are two of the biggest football clubs in England and Old Trafford (home to Manchester United) has become a huge tourist destination. For those more interested in arts and culture than football, the new Lowry complex in Salford Quays boasts a fantastic selection of art galleries and theatres. The city also plays host to countless events, concerts, festivals and parades, is home to world-class bars and restaurants, and has plenty of shops and markets. Manchester is also home to the United Kingdom's largest Chinatown, and a vibrant and friendly Gay Village, concentrated around Canal and Chorlton Streets.

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Oxford Travel Guide

2007-06-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

Oxford Travel Guide

Having spawned the legendary Alice in Wonderland, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Harry Potter's Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Oxford is not only England's oldest centre for learning, but the home and inspiration of such famous authors as Lewis Carroll, C S Lewis, J R R Tolkien, and recently one of the key locations in the Harry Potter films. The city's dreaming spires house the famous Ashmolean Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, and whether lazing on one of the college quadrangles, punting down the river or exploring the city's ancient heritage, Oxford promises something for visitors of all ages.

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Glasgow Travel Guide

2007-06-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Glasgow Travel Guide

During the past few decades Glasgow, the UK's fourth largest city, has re-invented itself from a rather economically depressed post-war industrial centre to a modern metropolis with a thriving art and culture scene, which has earned it accolades like the "European City of Culture" title in 1990 and "City of Architecture" in 1999.In days of yore Glasgow depended on shipbuilding and engineering for its wealth; the city fell into decline in the mid-20th century with poverty and unemployment rife. Prosperity has returned, riding on the back of 21st century technology, and it is the hub of Scottish film, theatre, writing, music and design which has captured worldwide attention.The city has more than 20 galleries and museums to complement the architectural heritage of architects like Alexander Thomson, renowned for his classical designs, and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, master of art nouveau.The youthful, progressive atmosphere of the reborn Glasgow is encouraged by its large student population, spawned by four universities and several colleges, and reflected in the numerous lively restaurants, pubs and attractive shopping precincts.Tourists find plenty to see and do in this city on the River Clyde, and can also use it as a base to explore the surrounding countryside that boasts some of Scotland's most scenic mountains, glens, lochs and coastline.

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Moscow Travel Guide

2007-06-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Moscow is the capital of the world's biggest country, situated in the centre of the European part of Russia. At the very heart of the city, and indeed the country, is the Kremlin, the Russian place of command for almost eight centuries, and the religious centre. Red Square and the exquisite, colourful domes of Saint Basil's Cathedral, and the jewelled, Faberg? Easter eggs of the Tsars are images that have long been associated with the Soviet Union in the minds of Westerners.The city of Moscow is a fusion of both splendour and ugliness that is evident in the massive concrete slabs and high-rise apartments of the Stalinist era, and in the ornate churches, beautiful neo-classical houses, and the impressive architecture of the old city. Wide grey thoroughfares give way to narrow winding inner city streets, and golden church domes gleam between the looming skyscrapers. It attracts not only those eager to embrace new business and free enterprise, but also the poor from across the country, and the extremes of affluence and impoverishment are evident everywhere.Since the fall of communism Moscow has been injected with a sense of urgency to change the face of the 'Mother City', embracing capitalism and shaking off the years of communist-imposed atheism, with flashy shop fronts housing western franchises, new restaurants and glossy hotels, and the restoration of lavish Orthodox churches. The once dreary streets are now a vibrant commotion of life with markets and eager vendors offering an assortment of goods that were unavailable during the Soviet years.It is also a city of entertainment, with theatres and the renowned Moscow Circus, museums and art galleries. It boasts the world's largest and most efficient metro system with gleaming stations deep underground, astonishingly decorated in elegant marble, glittering chandeliers and gilded works of art and magnificent mosaics. It is the soul of the new Russia and an intriguing mix of history and politics, business and culture.

Berlin Travel Guide

2007-06-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

For most of the latter part of the 20th century, Berlin has stood as a symbol of the division between East and West, split by the infamous fortified wall erected to separate the socialist sector from the democratic district. When the Berlin Wall was pulled down in 1990 the city discovered that it suddenly had two of everything, most notably two very distinct societies separated both socially and economically. The past decade has seen Berlin embracing unification and rebuilding itself as a modern European capital.More than 100 streets have been reconnected, and signs of the Wall's existence have all but disappeared. Years of division are still reflected in the new city's architecture, however, with a modern city of skyscrapers, retail centres and urban developments in the West contrasting with most of the pre-War city that remains in the East.For nearly 30 years the Wall sealed off the imposing Brandenburg Gate from the West, but now traffic passes through it freely. Similarly Alexanderplatz, which was one of the main centres of 1920s Berlin, and later post-war East Germany, has once again become one of the city's focal centres. The site of the infamous Check Point Charlie with its threatening monitoring tower erected to ensure no one crossed over from East to West, is now a museum, and while the tower no longer stands, visitors can see the East Side Gallery, a surviving chunk of the real Wall, now decorated by local artists.Berlin is once again a vibrant centre for the arts, with many museums, galleries and theatres. At the Kulturforum visitors will find a number of impressive museums and concert venues from the spectacular Berliner Philharmonie concert hall to the complex's Picture Gallery, which houses a vast collection of European paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries.Berlin still boasts a fantastic nightlife, and while tastes have changed since the height of the cabaret halls of the 1920s and 30s, there is a vast array of venues catering to all tastes. Berlin's calendar is also packed with festivals and parties from the Christopher Street Day gay and lesbian parade in June to the massive Love Parade dance party in July and the Jazz Fest Berlin in November.

Liverpool Travel Guide

2007-06-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

Whether you take the Ferry 'cross the Mersey, or a stroll down Penny Lane, most visitors will find it difficult to explore Liverpool without a song on their lips. From the twin cathedrals with their striking views over the city to the historical, Grade 1 listed Albert Dock and its Beatles museum, there's plenty to see and do.An important maritime centre and industrial port, Liverpool was one of the great cities of the United Kingdom in the Industrial Revolution and much of its wealth came from its dominance in the shipping of textiles, cotton, sugar and slaves. The city was severely bombed in World War II and has struggled to get back on its feet, seeing waves of prosperity and depression. The 1960s saw the explosion of the Beatles and pop music, while the 1990s saw an attempt to regenerate the rather dull urban centre.Liverpool's waterfront is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and the city has achieved World Heritage Status, joining Edinburgh and Bath as the only UK cities to carry the honour. Since the announcement of Liverpool as the European Capital of Culture for 2008, millions of pounds have been poured into further development of the city, including the ?920 million Paradise Street development in the city centre.Liverpool is a city of diversity and despite its struggles, it boasts the most Georgian buildings in the UK, Europe's oldest Chinatown, a number of striking Victorian buildings and plenty of world-class attractions. The historical Albert Dock was restored in the 1980s and is now one of the city's most popular attractions, housing chic restaurants, bars, shops and museums, including the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Tate Liverpool. The city boasts two world-class football clubs, Liverpool and Everton, and fans can explore the grounds of their favourite teams. There is also plenty of Beatlemania to satisfy fans, including the International Beatles Week every August, and several Beatles-related museums and points of interest.The city plays host to plenty of other events, festival and concerts, as well as the world's biggest steeplechase, the Grand National, at Ainstree. There are also several fascinating museums, beautiful parks and gardens, bustling markets and galleries to explore. Whether a Beatles fan or not, Liverpool has much to offer the visitor and it is no wonder that it has become one of the top UK day trip destination

Monte-Carlo Travel Guide

2007-05-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

Monte-Carlo Travel Guide

Monte-Carlo, unofficial capital of glamorous and lavish Monaco, is surprisingly unattractive and is embellished more by its citizens and visitors than its own attractions. The capital is a blend of ugly high rise buildings and windy roads, but does boast the legendary Casino, luxury hotels, elegant nightclubs and restaurants, views of the sparkling Mediterranean and of course, the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix.Established in 1866, Monte-Carlo was named in honour of Prince Charles III and is the richest of the country's four quarters. For years, Monte-Carlo has been the playground of the rich and famous, from Hollywood starlets to royalty, and business people dodging the taxman. It is also one of Europe's foremost holiday resorts, but certainly not for the humble backpacker. The city has several attractions, such as the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, the Monaco Cathedral and the Prince's Palace, as well as several gardens, and other attractions centred on the country's famous Royal Family, such as an exhibition of HSH Prince of Monaco's Private Collection of Classic Cars.There are some interesting diversions, such as catamaran trips, watersports, yachting and the Azur Express tourist train that links up the city's attractions accompanied by multi-lingual commentary. Worth exploring is the Old town, with its attractive City Hall, and of course when one is bored of sightseeing, the best diversion (and the cheapest) is merely to settle down with a fancy cocktail and people-watch.

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Madrid Travel Guide

2007-05-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

Madrid may be lacking in architectural beauty compared with other major Spanish cities, but it makes up for this with its boundless energy, blue skies, art, culture and some of the most exhilarating and exhausting nightlife in Europe. The city is compact and easy to navigate on foot - most of the sights of interest are found in the downtown area between the Royal Palace and Parque del Retiro.The capital of Spain since 1562, Madrid sits in the geographic centre of the Iberian Peninsula and has long been an important stop on any art tour through Europe. The famous Museo del Prado on the city's 'Museum Mile' houses important works by Spanish and European masters from the Renaissance onwards, while the Museo Thyssen-Bornemiza houses one of the most extensive private collections in the world. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is devoted to 20th century Spanish art, with works by Miro, Dali and Picasso.Visitors wishing to take a break from all that art may want to see the Plaza de Toros, Spain’s largest bullring, where regular bullfights are still held. Sports fanatics who like something a little less blood-thirsty can watch Real Madrid, or Atletico de Madrid, Spain’s most famous football teams kick off.The city sits atop a plateau and is the highest capital in Europe, making its climate somewhat extreme with steaming hot summers and bitterly cold winters. Spring is the best time to visit and explore the squares and alleyways in the heart of this crowded city.

Amsterdam Travel Guide

2007-05-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

Lively, lascivious Amsterdam has a unique atmosphere that belies the caricature of the dour Dutch.Radiating out from the Dam Square, the historic centre of the city is ringed by quaint canals and cobbled streets, thronged with bicycles, tourists, house-boats, students, and street performers. The city wears two faces: on one it smiles and beckons hedonistic youth with it's notorious Red Light District and liberal view of marijuana use, while on the other it offers some of Europe's finest museums and art galleries.For the tourist the joy of Amsterdam is its compactness. The old part of town is a pleasure to explore on foot, strolling across ancient bridges and down narrow lanes past gabled houses, dropping in to browse in inviting souvenir boutiques crammed with blue and white Delft china and wooden clogs. Pavement cafes and cosy bars offer rest and refreshment. An alternative is to take a circular canal-boat cruise and see the city from the water, peering in on the lives of the locals who live on house-boats lining the waterways.At night even the most conservative visitor is drawn by the lively atmosphere of the infamous Red Light District, known as De Wallen, which is bounded by the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudeziujds Achterburgwal canals near the Dam Square. Here prostitutes display their charms in brightly lit shop windows and touts encourage passers-by to view raunchy floor-shows. The best nightclubs, bars, and the theatres and cinemas are mainly to be found in the bustling Leidesplein and Rembrandtplein.

ROME Travel Guide

2007-05-12T18:23:00.000-07:00

The eternal city of Rome, constructed of ruins and in whose name the Caesars sought to claim the world, opens for the visitor as a living museum. The centuries peel back with each new vista in this great city of gladiators, lunatic drivers and well-rounded pasta posteriors. Vespas, nippy little Fiats and red sports cars speed past trendy sidewalk bistros and nightclubs, revealing the Rome of Fellini's La Dolce Vita. The chillingly stark facades of the Stadio Olimpico complex bring back Mussolini's attempts to reinvent the architecture of the Caesars.For a taste of the Baroque, visitors need only climb the famous Spanish Steps, walk through the Piazza Navona or toss a coin into the beautiful Trevi Fountain. Renaissance splendour is perhaps best revealed in the Pope's residence, the Vatican Palace, or in Michelangelo's efforts on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. From early Christian Basilicas to the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and the Pantheon, the sequence of history trails back to the height of the Roman Empire.It may sound like a city of contrasts, but Rome's timeless magic lies in its ability to blend the old with the new. Empires have risen and fallen, old gods have been replaced with new ones, but Rome remains.

Milan Travel Guide

2007-05-07T04:57:00.000-07:00

Milan Travel Guide
Sophistication reaches new levels in Milan. The financial and commercial centre of Italy attracts fashion fundis, opera lovers, the young, the beautiful and the bold. Shopping, eating and clubbing is serious business here and it is no surprise that the city boasts the world's most beautiful shopping mall, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Equally vying for admiration are the Milanese icons of La Scala Theatre (Teatro della Scala) and the Gothic Duomo, one of the world's largest churches. Milan's frenetic pace surges ahead in its drive towards progress, forsaking the lengthy siestas enjoyed in other parts of the country. The city's urban tentacles stretch for miles, although the significant historical attractions are contained between the two landmark sites - the Duomo and the Sforzesco Castle. These reside within the inner loop of the city's concentric design, which is split into four squares: Piazza Duomo, Piazza Cairoli, Piazza Cordusio and Piazza san Babila. The modern civic centre lies to the northwest, around Mussolini's colossal train station built in 1931. The area around here is dominated by a skyline of skyscrapers from which the sleek Pirelli Tower emerges. The Fiera district that stretches around Porta Genova station is the nub for trade and fashion fairs

Switzerland Travel Guide

2007-04-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

Switzerland is one of Europe's most visited countries, but one of its least understood. Pass through for a day or two, as most people do, and you'll get the quaint stereotype of Switzerland that the locals deem suitable for public consumption - the Alpine idyll of cheese and chocolate, Heidi and the Matterhorn. Stay longer though and another Switzerland will emerge, the one which the Swiss inhabit, and one which can be an infinitely more rewarding place to explore. Sights are breathtaking, transport links are excellent, costs are no higher than in Britain or Germany, and the locals are unfailingly courteous. Almost everyone speaks some English along with at least one of the official Swiss languages (German, French, Italian, or, in the southeast, Romansh). Notoriously placid these days, Switzerland nonetheless spent the first five hundred years of its existence rent by conflict, and fought a civil war as recently as 1847. The Swiss Confederation (abbreviated in Latin to " CH ") dates back to 1291, when Alpine peasants formed an alliance to defend themselves against the Hapsburgs. By the early 1500s, the Confederation had grown into a military superpower feared throughout Europe. It was only with the Reformation that the Swiss began to earn their reputation for neutrality, a reputation which served them well right through into the boom years after World War II. In the 1990s, the country's image was tainted, as expos?s uncovered Swiss banks' dubious wartime collusion with the Nazis. Public soul-searching in the aftermath of the scandal is heralding Switzerland's first tentative steps towards ending its dogged isolation and joining the EU and the UN.
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BARCELONA TRAVEL GUIDE

2007-03-05T06:58:00.000-08:00

Barcelona Travel Guide

The enchanting city of Barcelona is a visual delight, and has an atmosphere that combines elegance and sophistication with provincial charm. In exploring its streets you'll discover medieval romance in its Gothic quarter and the awe-inspiring delights of the fantastic and sometimes outrageous Art Nouveau architecture of Gaudi and his contemporaries.The funicular up to Tibidabo, or the cable car up Montjuic both offer breathtaking views over this city. Its skyline is perhaps most famous for Antoni Gaudi's masterwork, the still incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia, as well as the city's huge Gothic cathedral. The artistic legacy of Barcelona is one of the city's most appealing offerings, with museums containing extensive collections of the works of Miro and Picasso.Barcelona is also a shopping Mecca, with the city's flair for style reflected in its numerous boutiques and markets, open late into the afternoons. As the sun sets, and the city's many bars and restaurants open, the night comes alive. Dinner is served at any time between nine o'clock and midnight, and the festivities around the bars and nightclubs carry on well into the early hours of the morning.Barcelona is the commercial centre of the popular holiday region known as the Costa Brava, the northernmost Mediterranean seafront in Spain, as well as the Costa Dorada to the south. The coast is dotted with popular resort towns, many retaining their age-old charm, which can be easily reached from the city.

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ATHENS TRAVEL GUIDE

2007-01-19T05:10:00.000-08:00

Athens Travel GuideAthens exudes a uniquecharm, its lively character winning over tens of thousands of visitors every year. Street markets, vine-covered tavernas, souvenir stalls and ancient monuments all form a conglomerate with buildings old and new in this city, which one out of four Greeks call home. For tourists the greatest advantage is that most attractions are accessible on foot in the central area around the landmark Acropolis. Walking is the best way to soak up the Athenian atmosphere because the traffic can reach nightmare proportions.Athens was named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, who according to mythology won the city as prize after a duel against Poseidon. The city can chart its history back thousands of years and is regarded as the cradle of western civilisation; the place where democracy was invented and philosophy, art and architecture were refined. After a classical golden age when it was home to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the city declined in the Middle Ages, dwindling to nothing but a town with a few thousand residents gathered in the colourful area that is now known as the Plaka, until its rebirth as capital of an independent Greece in 1834.

VENICE TRAVEL GUIDE

2006-12-03T06:50:00.000-08:00

Venice Travel Guide
Elegant Venetian buildings and palaces peer over the ancient maze of narrow streets and labyrinth of canals that contrive to make this a unique city. Tourists naturally flock to Venice to experience its inimitable charm. The downside of this can be felt in the narrow streets and cramped piazzas of its sought-after areas. A good way to get to know a more personal side of Venice is to saunter through its romantic back streets and residential quarters.Venice rests on one of a series of 117 islands distributed throughout the Venetian lagoon at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea. This strategic position conferred on Venice economic and defensive advantages over its trading rivals. As the wealth of the city increased and its population grew, the composition of the city grew ever more dense and today only a handful of the islets that constitute the historic centre are not entirely developed.The historic centre is divided into six quarters (sestieri). These are: San Marco, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce, Cannaregio and Castello. The city's main thoroughfare is the Grand Canal that intersects each district as it meanders through the length of Venice from the railway station to San Marco. An alternative to walking the bewildering streets of Venice is to cruise the waterways onboard the motorboat buses known as vaporetti. These are the less romantic but also less expensive substitutes for the famous gondolas.Venice extends beyond its six sestieri to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. These are known for glass and lace-making respectively and Torcello is noted for the magnificent Byzantine Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta that rests on its soil. Trips by boat to the islands provide a pleasant diversion from the busier historic quarters.
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