This ancient country, with its breathtaking islands, rich history, and warm Mediterranean climate, is a dream destination for travelers with many varied tastes, wants, and needs. Just a sampling: fascinating ancient ruins in Athens, Crete, Delphi, Epidaurus, and Mycenae; the otherworldly clifftop monasteries of Meteora; the spectacular vistas of Santorini; gorgeous beaches and charming villages on countless other islands; the fabulous food and Byzantine history of Thessaloniki; and buzzing nig
southern europe (40)
Dmitrij Rodionov
Just a half hour by car or around 40 minutes by train from Lisbon, this municipality of roughly 386,000 residents feels a world apart. Nestled among the forested hills of the Serra de Sintra, its historic old quarter, has long been a retreat for kings, nobles, and wealthy merchants seeking relief from the summer heat of the Portuguese capital. Most of Sintra today consists of modern residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and former villages that have gradually become
This is a story inspired by a particular type of travel scam, but because it´s one associated with a particular ethnic group, let me start with some background and context. The Romani people, known in Spain as Gitanos (gypsies) and Calé, are one of the country’s oldest and most distinctive minority communities. Although many people think of them simply as another kind of Europeans, most experts agree that the Romani originally came from northwestern India – probably in areas corresponding to to
Let´s face it, most people flock to the 227 inhabited islands of Hellas because of their thousands of gorgeous beaches. But many also offer history buffs plenty to admire, and there are a number which are also worth visiting for their historical marvels alone, dating back millennia. Here are the five most important ones:
Corfu: Showcasing a Plethora of Eras
The most important of the Ionian Islands on the western side of the country was one of its earliest vacation stars, and
The soulful urban music of Portugal is often described as the country’s musical heart. The word itself comes from the Latin fatum, meaning “fate,” and the music is inseparable from the Portuguese emotional concept of saudade—a deep, almost nostalgic longing for something lost or unattainable. Since the 19th century, fado has been the sound of Lisbon’s old neighborhoods, echoing through taverns and candle-lit restaurants where singers pour intense feeling into spare, haunting mel
Straddling Europe and Asia,Turkey´s largest city (pop. around 16½ million) is onewith a long history of culture and history dating back to the Neolithic Age, with an astonishing menu for visitors of mosques, palaces, ancient bazaars and more. Here are ten of the ones you shouldn´t miss:
Hagia Sophia
Its name meaning "Holy Wisdom" in Greek, this masterpiece of Byzantine engineering (below) was inaugurated in 360 under the emperor Justinian, and its huge dome (102 feet or 31 meters in diameter)
Greece is often described as the cradle of Western civilisation, a country where history is not confined to museums but woven into everyday life. From ancient temples and theatres to sacred sanctuaries and timeless ruins, Greece offers travellers a rare opportunity to walk through places that shaped philosophy, politics, art, and architecture as the world knows them today. Each historic site tells a story of human achievement, belief, and creativity that has endured for thousands of years.
One o
Italy is famously packed with glorious cities to explore, which means a magical spot like Bari – which would be a headliner in many other countries – here tends to be overshadowed by the likes of Rome, Florence, Venice, its fellow southern-Italian destination Naples, and even neighbouring Apulia (Puglia) region gem Lecce. But to miss out on Apulia’s capital – astride the Adriatic Sea right on the heel of Italy’s famous boot shape – would be a shame for reasons I’m about to go into. And t
Azul
Nestled in the heart of the largest and most populous of the Canary Islands, Teide isn´t just Spain´s highest peak (3,718 meters/12,198 feet)) but also a gateway to one of the most awe-inspiring astronomical experiences in the world. With its clear skies and minimal light pollution, the night time transforms the mountain into a perfect canvas for stargazing. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or a casual observer, a tour operator called Mount Teide Night offers invaluable information on
José Balido
In 2021, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) honoured Spain´s capital with its first World Heritage Site designation, elevating Madrid to the ranks of destinations with districts or monuments worth preserving for future generations (the larger Madrid community surrounding the capital already had UNESCO sites, including the royal sites of El Escorial and Aranjuez, which make marvelous day trips).
The city´s leafy Paseo del Prado boulevard,
Photos: David Paul Appell unless otherwise noted
I've always had a fascinating for things mediaeval. Would never want to have actually lived back in the Middle Ages, mind you. But the architecture and atmosphere of the Romanesque and the Gothic have always captivated me. And while my adopted country provides more than enough to delight me on this front year after year, I've been enjoying my home town Madrid more for its marvelous architecture and monuments dating from the mid-16th century onward
Spain's capital is of course magnificent and brimming with amazing stuff to see and do. But visitors should also make time for a daytrip (or if at all possible, and overnighter) to at least one of the marvelous destinations in the Madrid Community no more than an hour outside the city proper, full of history, culture, architectural gems of their own.
Its streets lined with majestic buildings and its rooftops full of stork nests, this city of 194,000
Ask many people around the world what comes to mind when they think of Spain, and chances are flamenco will land near the top of the list. The sinuous moves; the rapid, hypnotic shoe tapping; the staccato hand-clapping; the mesmerising guitarwork; the plaintive singing - if you've never witnessed a performance in person, your first time in particular will stay with you forever.
An art form and indeed a sensibility closely intertwined with the culture and traditions of Andalusia, flamenco grew o
Nowadays better known to many as the gateway to Aegean Sea resorts, Bodrum (pop. 198,000) is also a fascinating ancient port city in southern Turkey, which we recently had the pleasure of touring. Its medieval castle and underwater museum are are just two of the many attractions we found to tell you about. But first, a captivating history.
Founded around 1,000 BCE as a Greek colony called Halicarnassus (and was the birthplace of among others the famous classical historian Herodotus), it came u
Mariaplr
Hugging Spain's upper border with Portugal, the autonomous community of Extremadura, composed of the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz, is well known to other Spaniards as a proud land of strong traditions; rich history; distinguished cuisine; and fascinating historic, architectural, and natural riches.
In fact, in particular this is considered one of the country's under-the-radar eco-paradises, with extensive and dramatic valleys, plains, and natural parks that attract nature-lovers
