The Risorgimento Resort in Lecce, Italy

Historic Lecce, Puglia's principal city, is a superb home base for immersing yourself in the Salento way of life. Lodging choices ranging from villas to farmhouse stays abound but for a classic in-town hotel, treat yourself to a stay at the sumptuou

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Fall is fab for cultural/nightlife scene in Madrid

Summer holidays may be a receding memory, but in Spain–and nowhere more than Iberia Airlines’ hometown Madrid–being back in the “real world” of work and bills to pay is still plenty sweet. It’s the season when local cultural events and the late-night

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See Spain? Yes, But Don't Forget the Other Senses!

We invite your to read this evocative post on our new travel blog Love2Fly!

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In Valencia, Spain, a traditional soft drink much healthier than soda: horchata

To most non-Spaniards, the historic city and region of Valencia is most famous for paella and oranges. There is, however, an incredible edible número tres you probably haven’t heard of.

Even though it’s popular throughout Spain, for whatever reason th

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'Secret' beaches of the Mediterranean

Sunbathing elbow-to-elbow with strangers does not exactly fit anyone’s criteria for a relaxing seaside holiday. But here’s the good news – there are still stretches of uncrowded and untrampled coastline along the azure waters of the Mediterranean. So

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Creating your own impressions of Vienna

If you visit Vienna for the first time and are keen to get under its skin you face a challenge: a mountain of 'must-sees' that over the centuries have cemented the rock solid stereotype of the enchanting city of music, cakes and emperors. Should you

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Hiking Samaria Gorge on the Greek island of Crete

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Off the beaten path in Cyprus: Avgas Gorge

Avgas Gorge, on the western coast of Cyprus, is a magnificent fissure in the limestone cliffs. It lies in an unfrequented part of the island where tourists rarely went.

At the time of my first visit, I lived in Yorkshire. So, my first sight invited c

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Off the beaten 'chemin' in Paris: Bastille area/Marché Aligre

Paris is famously full of world-famous sites we all know and love. But please also try to squeeze in at least a couple of great, very local experiences, as well, such as 11th/12th-arrondissement neighborhood surrounding the Place de la Bastille. Onc

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Sitges, Spain a gay classic for summertime play

Summer is here, and that means Sitges is in full swing for the season. Of the myriad little fishing-villages-turned-beach-resorts along Spain's Mediterranean coast, this is the one nearest and dearest to the heart of gay men and women across Europe a

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Kitesurfing in Tarifa, Spain

The small fishing town of Tarifa in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia has about 17,000 inhabitants, is located in the farthest southern corner of Europe and acts a as a balcony overlooking Africa, situated only 14 kilometers away. Tarifawelcomes abou

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Hungary's pungent pride and joy: paprika!

I've been experimenting more than usual with spices recently, and so pungent Hungarian paprika has been very much on my radar, bringing back memories of a three-week stint in Hungary several years ago. This spice is used in cookery throughout much of

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When Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands became the battleground of the gods

Sometimes when you watch a lousy movie, the only compliments you can muster are about the scenery. For many people this was the case with the 2010 remake ofClash of the Titans, widely criticized for the quality of the 3-D graphics as well as the dub

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The bucolic pleasures of Switzerland's Appenzell

It is a massive understatement to say that the Appenzell region of Switzerland has character. Appenzell is exactly how you hope the German part of Switzerland will be. Well-known among the Swiss as the most traditional area in the country, its inhabi

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Greek Island-Hopping

There are at least 2,000 islands in Greece, only a few more than 200 of which are inhabited. And especially from May through October, lots of travelers love to hop from one to the other, with the help of ferry services that connect most, from the lar

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What makes Kolymbithres Beach on Greece's Paros island so sexy?

The cradle of classical culture may boast some impressive old stone buildings indeed, but certain other old stones out on the Cyclades island of Paros provide one of the more memorable backdrops forGreece's other main draw: its beachy, sun-drenched i

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Eating Indian in Bristol

 

If you are ever in Bristol, England and crave scrumptious Indian cuisine, then a visit to the old Bristol Stock Exchange is in order. Located in an old 100 year plus old structure, the old home of the Bristol Stock Exchange, is now the home to Bri

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Driving the Via do Infante in Portugal's Algarve

Portugal is a popular summer destination, mostly due to its great weather and amazing beaches. It also doesn't hurt that this southern European country makes for a relatively economical holiday. If you are driving in the Algarve this summer, there a

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This weekend's Feast of the Redeemer in Venice

One of Venice’s most popular festivals is now underway: the Festa del Redentore. Ermanno, one of our local guides in Venice, calls this his “favourite festival of the year” (as it is for many Venetians!) and he’s taking time today to share a bit of

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Gwyneth Paltrow, Mario Batali, and Spanish cuisine

With its romantic Mediterranean flair, rich cuisine and millennia-old history, Spain has captured the hearts of many – including world-famous Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow. There’s no denying that the 36-year-old celebrity has had a long love af

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