Posts Tagged ‘Balkans’
Athen’s spectacular Acropolis Museum
I’ve already written about visiting the Acropolis on your next visit to Greece’s capital, Athens. Just at the foot of the ascent/decent is the spectacular, newly restored and absolutely-not-to-be-missed Acropolis Museum. The museum has been planned since the 1970s, since the earlier museum was hardly impressive enough for all the splendors it contained. The new packaging…
Read MoreHanging out with Athena. The Acropolis, Athens
Last year I went with my family for a few days to Athens, Greece. We had a great time exploring the city and its impressive history. We obviously couldn’t miss a visit to the Acropolis during our stay. We’d spent so much time admiring it from all angles around the city – including from our…
Read MoreMonumental Skopje, Macedonia
I was in Skopje, the capital of the Former Yugolslav Republic of Macedonia last spring. I’ve already written about many things to see there, including the Kale fortress, the historic and picturesque neighborhood of Čaršija and the impressive Ottoman Bridge. But this is old Skopje. The modern city is – well, er – constructed on an…
Read MoreAdmiring dramatic sunsets in Athens
I went to Athens with my family this past December, and we lucked out with sunny skies and balmy temperatures – I even returned to Rome slight suntanned. : ) Athens is a great city to explore, and the Acropolis is perched at a dramatic high point where it can be enjoyed across the entire city…
Read More5000-year-old modernity at the Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens
It was a rainy Monday morning in Athens on a recent visit there, and my family and I decided it would be a good time to dry off and explore a museum a Greek colleague had suggested to me – The Museum of Cycladic Art. The museum is located in the upscale residential neighborhood of…
Read MoreA room with a view … of the Acropolis
Earlier this month, my family and I had an enjoyable escape to Athens, Greece. We live in Rome, and live close to the Colosseum and Ancient Roman Forum, so it’s not surprising that we wanted to be close to the Greek ruins on our visit to Athens. Because of its position high up, the Acropolis…
Read MoreAdmiring Skopje’s Ottoman bridge
I love Ottoman architecture in general, but I especially enjoy admiring Ottoman bridges. Maybe I’m even somewhat of an Ottoman Bridge groupie. I’ve already written about the Ottoman bridge, Stari most, in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina and even wrote a short story where it plays a small role. I’ve written about the Ottoman Goat Bridge and the Princip Bridge,…
Read More2019 European Culture capitals – Matera and Plovdiv
Two European cities or towns are selected by the European Commission each year to serve as European culture capitals. Two cities I’ve visited and enjoyed have just been named as 2019’s culture capitals. The first is the beautiful Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, the first ever European culture capital in Bulgaria. I already posted about this…
Read MoreSkopje’s old town – Čaršija
Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, is an interesting city to explore. One of the first things you’re bound to notice in this Balkan city is the building spree going on in the New Town. I could be forgiven for having thought I’d been transported to Ancient Rome, pummeled by towering monuments, statues and fountains at…
Read MorePoppies amidst the fortress ruins in Skopje, Macedonia
I live in Rome, and each spring I watch the poppies growing in the high grass, peeking out from the ancient ruins. On a recent trip to the Balkan country of Macedonia, I smiled as I visited the ancient 11th century Kale fortress to see that it was also overrun with the beautiful red blooms.…
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