Europe

A Romantic Getaway on the Italian Riviera: Sanremo

Music, flowers and sea: these three things make Sanremo one of the most elegant locations on the Italian Riviera.Sanremo was known as a select tourist destination since the 19th century, while another thing that added to its popularity was Festival Della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo (Sanremo Music Festival): the place where many famous artists of the last 60 years started their career. Getting Around The city is located by the Ligurian Sea and is composed of an old quarter known as La Pigna (with typical medieval buildings) and a modern town with shops, restaurants and cafes. Corso Matuzia in Sanremo Sanremo is also known for its casino...

The Colorful Rovinj

If we were to describe Rovinj in three words we would say without hesitation: colorful, lively, charming. At first glance, this coquette city located in the north of the Adriatic Sea seems as if it didn’t have much to offer in terms of unique sights and attractions, but once you see the lively (although often crowded) harbor, numerous beaches, colorful houses and narrow cobbled streets, you will easily fall in love with it and get that wonderful feeling that you found the perfect spot for relaxation. Getting There and Around The closest airport is located in Pula, about 30 km to the south. From here you...

Short Guide to Plitvice Lakes National Park

As promised in one of our previous articles, we are now back with more details about Plitvice Lakes National Park – one of the most popular destinations in Croatia, located near the border between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and visited by approximately 1 million tourists every year. Why Should You Visit Croatia? If you have not yet visited Croatia, then you should definitely find the time to spend a few days in this Central European country. Why? Because it has over 1,700 kilometers of beach (although you will not find here the fine sand of the Caribbean, the Croatian beaches are among the most famous...

Valencia, Spain – Historical Sites and Futuristic Architecture in One Place

The hot sun of August always makes us dream of nice sandy beaches, trips and parties, so we thought we’d talk a bit about Valencia, the lively and ever-sunny Mediterranean city.We visited Valencia three years ago, during a one-week work trip. Ever since that visit back in August 2008 we have planned to spend another holiday here, when we would visit all the attractions of the city and take pictures all day long.The city combines various kinds of summer fun for all: tourists looking for fun in the sun won’t be disappointed by the fine sand beaches, crystal clear waters of the...

Walking Tour Through the Heart of Little Paris

As promised last week, we continue our virtual walk on Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue) and visit other interesting sights, representative for Romanian culture and history: an almost 300-years-old church, two of the most popular theaters in Bucharest, and the main cultural institution of the Romanian Army – these are places where you can feel the charm of times when the capital of Romania was known under the nickname of “Little Paris”. Kreţulescu Church A monument that should always be included in a sightseeing itinerary of Bucharest is Biserica “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” Kreţulescu (“The Assumption of the Virgin Mary” Kreţulescu Church). Chancellor Iordache Kreţulescu and...

A Walk on Calea Victoriei, Bucharest

Calea Victoriei (Victory Avenue), located in the center of the Romanian capital, is one of the busiest streets during the week (as is the whole downtown at rush hours, actually) but also an ideal place for a Sunday afternoon walk, thanks to the numerous old buildings, museums, gardens, parks and terraces that you can find here. Short History This avenue was first known under the name of Podul Mogoşoaia (Mogoşoaia Bridge) and was inaugurated by Constantin Brâncoveanu in the 17th century, in order to ensure an easier transport route between his residence in Mogoşoaia and the Royal Palace in the centre of Bucharest.For...

Rila Monastery in Bulgaria

Rila Monastery (Rilski Manastir), located in the Rila Mountain, at approximately 120 km south from Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, is the biggest monastery in Bulgaria.The monastery was named after the hermit Ivan of Rila (Ivan Rilski), who founded it in the 10th century and whose relics are exhibited in the main church, here at Rila Monastery. View from the Rila Monastery courtyard Neofit Rilski, 19th-century Bulgarian monk and teacher at the Rila Monastery Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, has four chapels, about 300 monastic cells, a library, a kitchen and provides sleeping rooms for those who want to...

Three Essential Landmarks in Sofia

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria and one of the oldest cities in Europe, is located near mountain Vitosha, at approximately 380 km from Bucharest, our home city. Last year we made a visit, learned a few interesting things about our neighbour country’s capital and took a bunch of photos – make sure you come back next week, for our photo gallery. Saint Sofia Statue The statue you see above represents Saint Sofia, the goddess protector of the city. It was built in the year 2001 and placed on the same spot where the statue of soviet communist leader V.I. Lenin stood for decades. The...