Finding yourself in a Mediterranean village just 10 kilometers from Budapest is one of the surprises the Danube offers up to travelers. The small town of Szentendre (Saint Andrew) is the gateway to the Danube Bend, a curve of Hungary’s most majestic river. The town retains its 18th and 19th century appearance and atmosphere.
With a population of approximately 26 000, to this day the customs and traditions of Serbs who fled the Turkish hoards at the end of the 17th century are kept alive here. Evidence of this are the many churches and crosses all over town, built facing the east according to orthodox tradition, as well as the great cross erected in 1763 by traders in order to give thanks to God for protecting the town from the plague.
For years it was the favored destination of all kinds of artists who came to live and work there. Today it has so many museums and workshops that it is hard to choose which to visit. If you are pushed for time, make sure to squeeze in the famous Margit Kovács Ceramics Collection and the Ferenczy Museum, named after the work of this family.
In fact, even its streets are a work of art. The Baroque-style town center is filled with decorative facades with bright colors and rococo flourishes, giving the sensation of being on the set of a movie from another era.
And 3 kilometers from the town is the largest Skanzen (Open Air Museum of the Hungarian People) in the country. This interesting expanse of 46 hectares brings together exhibits of rural culture, such as houses, churches and bell towers, from different parts of the country.
If you are traveling to Budapest, a trip to Szentendre is a must!
IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts has a hotel in Budapest: the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Budapest, which has 5 stars. It enjoys a privileged location, surrounded by important buildings, embassies and shopping areas. The hotel was built in 2011 and its suites are absolutely luxurious.”
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