Italy Places of Interest – Places to visit in Italy

There are so many tourist attractions in Italy that it is difficult to establish what not to miss, I guess it depends on the area visited. The Colosseum in Rome and San Peter’s Basilica with the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican are at the top of the list, as well as Piazza San Marco in Venice home to the famous San Marco Basilica, which combines elements of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture and is one of the most unique churches in Italy, the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), the Correr Museum and the Campanile or Bell-Tower of St. Mark.

Why Spanish Holiday Apartments Are the Best Idea

There are thousands of Spanish holiday apartments available all over Spain to house you during your vacation. These apartments vary in size, price, and amenities. Many of these Spanish holiday rentals come with self-catering accommodations. The benefit of having your own kitchen is that so you can eat in now and then, and eat what and when you want to.

Other rentals include catering or have restaurants on site or nearby. While some rentals are the size of a small apartment, others are the size of a regular house or larger! If you're travelling with extended family, a group of friends, or a social group, a villa will have the space to keep you all under one roof. There are holiday villas available all over the country and at any time of the year. Many Spanish villas come with recreational amenities such as private swimming pools, tennis courts and DVD players. Villas are a great option to create a comfortable home base on your vacation.

Cagliari Travel Guide

Cagliari, situated on the southern coast of Sardinia is the island’s capital city. Those arriving by plane or by boat will be impressed by the Castle rock, the area that is the symbol of the actual city, which is surrounded by the old walls interrupted only by the Bastion of Saint Remy and its panoramic terraces.

Between the towers of the Elephant and of San Pancrazio, the area of Castello encloses a charming warren of alleyways, beautiful noble buildings and valuable monuments. Interesting sights are the cathedral of Santa Maria dating back to the 13th century, the Viceregal Palace, where the Spanish and Pisan viceroys used to live and the Cittadella dei Musei (Museums Village) situated in the complex that used to house the Arsenal, which brings together the National Archaeological Museum, the National Picture-gallery and other museums.

Burgundy (Bourgogne) – Exploring the heart of France

Honeymoon in the “heart of France” and bask in its glorious delights. “Oh! How I would give up my happiness just for yours, although you should never guess, If only on occasion, even from afar, I could hear the laughter of that happiness, born of my sacrifice!” – Cyrano

The region of Burgundy is famous for not only its excellent wines, but its rich medieval history and in particular its abbeys, as this was long the religious center of France.  A visit through Burgundy is best done by car or bicycling, and it begins less than 2 hours away from Paris.

The Magnificent Giralda, Seville

A definite must see, the Giralda bell tower with the magnificent ‘Catedral de Sevilla’ will take your breath away. There is much to see on the inside, having various museums and of course the Giralda bell tower which you can get all the way up to (no stairs!).

The Giralda was originally built as a minaret by Almohaden in 1184-1195. At that time, it was 76 m in height and crowned with four large golden (or copper) balls, which could be seen from 40 km distance. The Koutoubia Mosque tower in Marrakesh served as a model for the Giralda and its sister, the Hassan Tower in Rabat. The statue that was later build on top of the Giralda, is locally known as El Giraldillo, representing Faith.

French Cultural Tips

The French do have certain cultural differences from Anglophones.  Knowing some of these differences can prevent misunderstandings and make your tour of France much more enjoyable. 

Good manners are an extremely important part of French culture and are rooted in long tradition. Being accustomed to certain social conventions, they do not realize that violations of these social codes by foreigners are not a sign of rudeness or poor manners, but just a cultural difference.  Likewise, your idea of politeness and manners may leave you feeling insulted by people who don’t realize that your culture’s social expectations are different.

Mingling with the loud Spanish crowd

In my four years of traveling and residing in various owners direct in Spain, more specifically Andalucía, I’ve noticed that I just can’t seem to get used to how loud the Spanish can be. In bars, restaurants and even when travelling in planes, there is that ever overwhelming sound of “rakatakata”.