The Leaning Tower of Pisa is omnipresent: from official posters of Italy to photo albums of travellers around the world who are captured (for eternity) trying to push the tower. Apart from its famous tower, Pisa has a lot of other attractions for you: historic churches and buildings or lovely bridges across the Arno River. The Leaning Tower is a bell tower which originally was built vertically but soon after its construction it began to lean due to a poor foundation and substrate. The tower served as a place where Galilei was experimenting his theories to demonstrate that speed is independent of the mass of objects and then during the WW2 the tower was used by the Germans as an observation post.
Remember to add to your Tuscan travel itinerary also Piazza del Duomo (or Piazza dei Miracoli – “Square of Miracles”), the Knight’s Square where you can admire vasari designed Palazzo della Carovana. Culture vultures should see the church Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri which houses works of arts signed by Vasari, Donatello or Ligozzi.
The church of St. Francis has works by Empoli or Gaddi. To admire some gothic architecture visit the church of Santa maria della Spina. Science fans should visit the Palazzo Reale where Galileo Galilei showed the Duke of Tuscany the planets he had discovered.
Waterford is a southern county of Ireland within the Munster province which has lots to offer to tourists who enjoy walking, horse riding, fishing or practicing water sports as part of their holidays. In fact, the region has a much diversified landscape going from the dazzling coastline over the Celtic Sea (the Copper Coast which is so called for the copper mines set in the 19th Century) to the beautiful river valleys among the mountains.
The Copper Coast GeoPark, in particular, is a natural museum where you can see geological layers of over 460 million years. The coastline stretches along 25km and can be visited through walks or on horse, but also by kayaking all along. Some areas in the west of Dungarvan, the county capital, have a rich historical and cultural value for preserving an exclusively gaelic speaking environment and are known as the Gaeltacht.
One of the villages in west Waterford is Clashmore, located on the Creagagh River, where you can visit one of the whiskey distillery built in the 19th century which is one of the few mills left to be powered by the old river spanning system. If you happen to visit the area, you might consider the option of renting a self catered cottage where you can enjoy the natural landscape and environment in your own pace.
The Canary Islands have become a very popular destination for winter sun holidays for many good reasons. Above all, because the mild climate and spring temperatures of the Spanish islands lasting for the whole winter season can offer to tourists from the rest of Europe a sunny holiday break on some beautiful beaches in a location just 4/5 hour flight away from main European cities.
Among the islands, Gran Canaria and Tenerife are particularly lively places to visit and offer much choice for day as well as night entertainment. Fuerteventura, on the other hand, has some amazing coastlines and is the perfect location for relaxed beach holidays. La Palma is the island boosting a marvellous natural beauty whereas Lanzarote has a much arid natural environment but a spectacular volcanic landscape.
Although commonly referred to as a single island, Zanzibar is an archipelago right in front of Tanzania coast with two main islands, Unguja and Pemba among other smaller islands. The island of Zanzibar is often identified with Unguja which is the main one in the archipelago. This location is the perfect getaway for a dream holiday in one of the most fascinating islands of the Indian Ocean.
The main city of the island is Stone Town, which has recently become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is truly special where its visible influences perfectly embody the history of Zanzibar as a commercial crossroad during the spice trade period. The architecture, indeed, suggests the co-presence of Middle Eastern, African and Indian traditions. Another piece of history worth visiting is the Slave Market, where African rulers sold slaves to Arab traders to eventually work for white European people.
For its winter atmosphere, Sweden is the ideal place to visit around the period of Christmas festivities. Although, Christmas celebrations do take place on the 24th December, there is a very peculiar tradition for Saint Lucia’s day on the 13th December, which occurs close to the winter solstice.
Saint Lucia is one of the few Saints to be celebrated in Lutheran Scandinavian countries that is in fact also related to a pagan mythical figure of Lucia and dates back from Medieval Times. She is personified as the queen of light, a young woman bringing light and sweets in the darkest period of the year.
Many European tourists travel to Romania to enjoy the ski resort of Poiana Brasov situated in the Carpathian Mountains. This place was established back in the 50’s and today it is well known for being a beautiful resort that attracts many ski lovers. Poiana Brasov is not only an excellent place for skiing but you’ll also love exploring the place as it has a rich and wonderful culture as well as colorful history and folklore.
Poiana Brasov is excellent for beginners but the more experienced skiers would also find the facilities perfect for learning and developing their skills further. Beginners can hire instructors to help them learn the basics and to try out the slopes for themselves. It’s safe here and the place is well-guarded and well-preserved. Come here during the months of December up to March where it gets good snow coverage.
Kos is a good choice for your holiday. It caters mostly to family holidays, but single travellers or honeymooners can relax and find their peace here as well. Aside from the beautiful beaches that it is most popular for, Kos also has many ruins that you could explore. Kos has a healing dream (or sleep) temple of Asclepius which is believed to be founded after Hippocrates – the father of medicine – died. Hippocrates is thought to have been born on Kos island where you will also find the oldest tree in Europe – The Plane Tree of Hippocrates. It is believed that lectures were held by Hippocrates under this tree. The old branches of this impressive tree are held by scaffolding, but it’s worth a visit and lots of pictures.
The resort of Kardamena is very popular with British tourists. Spiritual tourists can visit the Orthodox cathedral in Zia or a mosque catering to the muslim population of Kos.
Sailing is a relaxing and fun activity, a way to discover new lands and live new experiences. If you plan to go sailing, there’s no better place to go but the Greek Islands.
The islands have so much to offer and you can embark on a journey to the Roman city of Ephesus and enjoy the ancient beauty of the place. You can enjoy your cruise and pay less becuase there is a special 2 for 1 offer for you: an Aegean Odyssey Cruise from £1,295 (and your companion goes for free).
eWaterways.com offer great cruises around the world and the fleet is impressive. You will sail the Greek Islands onboard mega yachts such as Harmony V, Harmony G as well as Galileo which are luxurious yachts for private cruises (they accommodate only 50 passengers).
Other cruise special offers include the classical Greece Cruises, and the Jewels of the Cyclades Cruises that are available for as low as £1,595 and £1,077 per couple.
Abu Dhabi is not as popular as Dubai but you’d love staying here for a great holiday. Abu Dhabi is a luxury destination catering for sophisticated people.
There are some exciting sights in Abu Dhabi that you must visit during your stay there. Al-Hosn Palace is one of the touristic attractions and it is the oldest building in the city which is completely modernised and is the home of popular exhibitions throughout the year.
The Corniche is a road in Abu Dhabi extending for 6 kilometres and sprinkled with parks and gardens or swimming areas. The Corniche is the prefect place for all ages – children can play on the grass, teenagers can play sports or go swimming while adults have a delicious picnic in the park.
The historical name of the place was Tomis was a Greek colony founded around 600 BC – this is the place where Ovid was exiled. The city was later named Constantia after the name of Constantine The Great’s half sister.
The city is the oldest in Romania and is located in Dobruja region, on the Black Sea coast.
The best time to be in Constanta is the summer. Grab a chair on the beach and enjoy the heat, the sun and the sea. After you cool down in the waves of the Black Sea you can walk around The Casino – a beautiful art nouveau building which is representative for the city. Later in the evening you can have dinner in an open air restaurants on the old streets of the city or you can head to a club and party until morning.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is omnipresent: from official posters of Italy to photo albums of travellers around the world who are captured (for eternity) trying to push the tower. Apart from its famous tower, Pisa has a lot of other attractions for you: historic churches and buildings or lovely bridges across the Arno River. The Leaning Tower is a bell tower which originally was built vertically but soon after its construction it began to lean due to a poor foundation and substrate. The tower served as a place where Galilei was experimenting his theories to demonstrate that speed is independent of the mass of objects and then during the WW2 the tower was used by the Germans as an observation post.
The Canary Islands have become a very popular destination for 
Although commonly referred to as a single island, Zanzibar is an archipelago right in front of Tanzania coast with two main islands, Unguja and Pemba among other smaller islands. The island of Zanzibar is often identified with Unguja which is the main one in the archipelago. This location is the perfect getaway for a dream holiday in one of the most fascinating islands of the Indian Ocean.
For its winter atmosphere, Sweden is the ideal place to visit around the period of Christmas festivities. Although, Christmas celebrations do take place on the 24th December, there is a very peculiar tradition for Saint Lucia’s day on the 13th December, which occurs close to the winter solstice.
Many European tourists travel to Romania to enjoy the ski resort of Poiana Brasov situated in the Carpathian Mountains. This place was established back in the 50’s and today it is well known for being a beautiful resort that attracts many ski lovers. Poiana Brasov is not only an excellent place for skiing but you’ll also love exploring the place as it has a rich and wonderful culture as well as colorful history and folklore.
Kos is a good choice for your holiday. It caters mostly to family holidays, but single travellers or honeymooners can relax and find their peace here as well. Aside from the beautiful beaches that it is most popular for, Kos also has many ruins that you could explore. Kos has a healing dream (or sleep) temple of Asclepius which is believed to be founded after Hippocrates – the father of medicine – died. Hippocrates is thought to have been born on Kos island where you will also find the oldest tree in Europe – The Plane Tree of Hippocrates. It is believed that lectures were held by Hippocrates under this tree. The old branches of this impressive tree are held by scaffolding, but it’s worth a visit and lots of pictures.
