Posts Tagged ‘Europe’
Reason #5368 to love Rome: History around every corner
You can’t spend ten minutes in Rome without realizing how true this is. Rome is a city that lives and plays around its antiquities. Each day, we walk over the fabulous subterranean remains of the Roman Empire – sadly, only few of them open to the public, although many can be arranged with advance appointments.…
Read MoreAdmiring Gaudí ‘s Palau Güell, Barcelona
On a recent trip to Barcelona, Spain I was excited to see that Antoni Gaudí’s first major project, the Palau Güell, is now open to the public. The impressive family home of the wealthy Güell family, built between 1885 and 1889 is now a UNESCO Heritage site. I was unable to see this beautiful family home on…
Read MoreJourney 5000 years back in time in Malta’s Hypogeum
I’ve already written about lots to see on the Mediterranean island of Malta, including the historical town of Mdina, tempting swimming at the Blue Lagoon, and the colorful local buses that will ferry you around the island. But Malta’s history stretches far back, as evidenced by the Neolithic temples scattered around the island. One of the…
Read MoreVisiting Oxford, UK with kids
On a trip to London with my kids, I looked forward to a day trip to nearby Oxford. Although I hadn’t planned specific child-friendly activities, it was a pleasant surprise that my young children stumbled across so many entertaining things to do in that charming university town. As parents traveling with children know well, this…
Read MoreStrange 16th century creatures and demons at Bomarzo’s Monster Park
The Parco dei mostri (Monster Park) of Bomarzo, in northern Lazio, makes a great day trip from Rome. The whimsical park is almost five hundred years old. In 1552, following the death of his wife, a grieving Prince Pier Francesco Orsini oversaw the construction of a park filled with sculptures of ogres, snakes, dragons and…
Read MoreWhere to stay in Matera, Italy?
Okay, this the transparent attempt of a traveller – to start dreaming about a place before an upcoming trip by imagining the place, digging thorough old photos, etc. Tomorrow, I’m off to Matera for my annual mecca to the Women’s Fiction Festival, and I’m anxious to be back to this beautiful southern Italian town. Over…
Read MoreGaeta: A Bay of Naples in miniature
About half-way between Rome and Naples, just at the edge of the Italian region of Lazio, lies the seaside city of Gaeta. Gaeta is situated in a dramatic bay, reminding visitors of a miniature Bay of Naples. The Orlando Mountain rises just behind it. An important seaport, Gaeta has a long and rich history, spanning…
Read MoreLess than a month to go to the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival!
Women’s fiction writers … and female authors of romances, thrillers, mysteries, fantasy, young adult and just about any other genre out there, you have less than a month ’til the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival, so be sure to sign up. I already wrote about this year’s festival in an earlier post . There are lots of…
Read MoreGetting around on Maltese public transport
The Mediterranean island of Malta is a great holiday destination, offering visitors historic cities, like Mdina, spectacular beaches – see my post on the Blue Lagoon , and glimpses into its ancient past. On a visit to Malta, my family and I chose to base ourselves in the picturesque capital city of Valletta and to make…
Read MoreReason #5367 to love Rome: Vatican stamp collecting
It’s the rare visitor to Rome who doesn’t make his or her way to the Vatican. Visiting St. Peter’s and the Vatican Museum are highlights of any visit to the Eternal City. As most visitors know, Vatican City is actually its own state, separate from Italy, with its own Head of State – the Pope.…
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