tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50881051918047044242024-03-04T20:03:42.582-08:00TravelEuroCities - Walking you through Europe's fascinating cities...Europe - a continent rich in history, diverse cultures and fascinating cities and architecture. In TravelEuroCities blog, we take a more in-depth look of Europe's many interesting and beautiful cities.Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-27732289629706594442008-08-17T22:51:00.000-07:002008-08-17T22:55:41.249-07:00The one and only, Casa Milà (La Pedrera)In the ultra-fashionable neighborhood along Passeig de Gràcia stands one of the most unusual examples of Barcelona architecture - or anywhere else in the world: Casa Milà, otherwise known as La Pedrera.The first name is drawn from the patron who commissioned renowned architect Antonio Gaudi to build what became an apartment complex. The work began in 1906, sponsored by one of Barcelona's most Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-6499881454446534192008-04-09T11:04:00.000-07:002008-12-10T09:03:29.839-08:00A Visit to Fiesole, TuscanyIt will come as no surprise that much of the Roman character of Tuscany has been preserved. One special example of that fact is to be found in Fiesole. A superb respite from busy Florence below, Fiesole offers views of the city, the Arno and much more from atop its peak.The town itself far predates the Roman period, going back to the country's Etruscan era in the 9th century BC. From here, high Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-73183105442410637662008-03-30T13:30:00.000-07:002008-12-10T09:03:30.441-08:00The Gothic Quarter in BarcelonaBetween Las Ramblas and the Passeig de Picasso lies one of Barcelona's most famous areas: Barri Gotic, the Gothic Quarter. Its fame is well deserved. For, here, visitors can find streets and buildings from the Middle Ages that will provide hours of fascinating exploration. There are small winding alleyways where tourists can find all manner of Gothic-era buildings, shops housed in centuries-old Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-74185718228093360892008-03-24T10:27:00.000-07:002008-12-10T09:03:30.953-08:00Check out the Vatican MuseumsAn entire article could easily be taken up solely by listing the names of all the galleries and museums comprising the Vatican Museums. Naming the artists and their works would take up several more. Describing them takes entire catalogs, held in the Vatican Library.Growing from humble beginnings with Pope Julius II's 1506 acquisition of the sculpture of Laocoön and his sons in the grips of a sea Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-23268327851500834532008-03-06T14:52:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:32.974-08:00The Fountains of The Eternal City of RomeThe fountains of Rome have an ancient and glorious history. Examples range from the Eternal City's glory days in the 1st century AD to its even more glorious days during the Renaissance to the 18th century and beyond.Other cities offer fountains that are barely beyond the utilitarian. But not Rome. Rome must have a water display that is a work of art, because Rome is itself one enormous Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-54364829110561431752008-03-05T12:35:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:33.630-08:00Barcelona - La BoqueriaLa Boqueria, Mercat de Sant Josep, St. Joseph's Market.... Whatever name you use to describe it the sights and smells will be the same. This bustling conglomeration of food stalls, restaurants and tapas bars is one of Barcelona's most often visited attractions. That last fact is all the more interesting since relatively few tourists seek fresh produce on their wanderings. But here one can find Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-20859614842388250642008-02-28T04:42:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:34.283-08:00A Visit to San Gimignano in TuscanyOnce an ancient Etruscan settlement, San Gimignano's first walls were erected much later, in 998 AD. It became one of Italy's smaller city-statues in the 12th century.Featured in fictional form in E.M Forster's 1905 novel Where Angels Fear to Tread, this Tuscany town provides the perfect backdrop for a modern visit as well. Situated roughly halfway between Florence and Siena, San Gimignano is theFadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-19855574214790713532008-02-20T23:37:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:34.758-08:00Poble Espanyol (The Spanish Village)One of the most popular shopping areas of Barcelona, the Poble Espanyol is an array of houses, shops and other buildings done in every style seen across Spain. Enter through the gateway simulated to look like the great walled city of Avila and experience the many sights within.Built in 1929 as part of the International Exhibit, it provides delightful crafts and entertainment, while giving a view Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-1529165025284309482008-02-19T22:36:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:34.911-08:00Barcelona ZooBarcelona Zoo receives over a million visitors per year. It isn't hard to see why, once you know about all the things it has to offer animal lovers. Built in 1892 these 13 hectares located in Ciutadella Park house thousands of animals from 400 different species, many of whom are not typically found at other conservation facilities.There are programs that stock and protect the Gila Monster (Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-16126051615024947052008-02-18T06:40:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:35.147-08:00Cortona, a town in TuscanyCortona is a Tuscan town once little known to travelers booking for Florence. After the publication of Under the Tuscan Sun (and the subsequent film and follow-up books) it garnered a place on every visitor's agenda. Justifiably so.In this Italian hilltop town of 30,000 there are more sights than a visitor could see in three vacations. Located about half-way between its much more famous neighborsFadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-34770813864812535172008-02-14T00:35:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:35.439-08:00The Seine River in ParisWhether seen by a long, leisurely walk or from one of the many excellent tour boats, the view along the Seine in Paris is a delight.The river flows nearly 800km (480mi) from Dijon through Paris and into the English Channel. But even the short section through the city provides enough sights to satisfy the most discerning traveler.La Tour Eiffel can be seen changing shades from cocoa to gold as Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-17650857257898618362008-02-14T00:28:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:35.607-08:00Domus Aurea: The Golden House of Nero in RomeOne of the more recent attractions in Rome is actually one of the more ancient. The Golden House of Nero, what remains of it, has been excavated and the ruins are now available for public viewing. Though re-discovered during the Renaissance, they were the subject of a massive restoration project near the end of the 20th century.Constructed in 64 AD after the devastating fire that burned Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-83157698761601632952008-01-16T07:02:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:35.948-08:00The Eiffel Tower in Paris, quite simply the most romantic location on earth...Originally intended as a structure to commemorate the French Revolution, who could've guessed that 100 years later The Eiffel Tower would become the symbol of Paris itself?But, judging by the six million annual visitors and the millions of photographs, that's what it has become. To date the tower has received over 200 million visitors since its completion in 1889.For two years, three hundred Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-71312445534591682522008-01-16T06:57:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:36.128-08:00Las Ramblas in BarcelonaOnce exclusively a flower market, the bustling Las Ramblas area of Barcelona is the perfect place for shopping and people watching. Once lined with convents and churches, the streets are now thronged with performers, magazine vendors and a hundred other things. The convents and monasteries were all closed by 1830.There are no cars allowed in the central sections. They are constrained to two smallFadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-64118348649687656742008-01-12T11:29:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:36.779-08:00Montmartre of Paris!Montmartre is a fascinating mixture of old and new, seedy and sacred, bizarre and blasé. Within this section of Paris, technically the 18th arrondissement, there is everything from Moulin Rouge and Musée d'Erotisme to the Sacré Coeur Basilica. There are several art shops, a Dali museum and even a winery.(Note: An 'arrondissement' is a district, laid out around Paris clockwise, with the 1st at theFadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-21907032521217478622008-01-12T11:24:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:37.180-08:00Barcelona, the city of Gaudi architectureThe architect Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926) didn't create Barcelona. The city is over 2,000 years old and the famed artist was active around the end of the 19th century. But much that is worthy in this Spanish city is the result of his efforts. Just a list of the works he created that are still extant here would fill pages. To describe them would take volumes.Unquestionably the most well known of hisFadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-26227917637552531602008-01-07T11:56:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:37.513-08:00The Uffizi Gallery in FlorenceIt's rare for an art museum to have too many masterpieces to display. That happy fate befell the Uffizi Gallery in Florence when the last of the Medici, Electress Anna Maria, willed the entire family collection to the gallery in 1743. The results, collected over several centuries, provide a view of one of the finest treasure troves of art anywhere in the world.The Uffizi occupies a building Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-20508741451033825392008-01-07T11:48:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:38.204-08:00A visit to Maison de Victor Hugo in Paris...'Maison' is French for 'house'. In this case the word is slightly misleading. While no palace, though sited in the Place des Vosges - originally known as Place Royale - the site is no simple domicile. These sprawling apartments were the home of the famed writer between 1832 and 1848. Hugo fled from the revolution in that year.Hugo was the author of such well-known (if less widely read) works suchFadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-67501055515714962922008-01-01T18:31:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:38.702-08:00The Romun Forum - A center of political and cultural lifeLocated in a valley between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill, the Forum Romanum is one of the foremost archaeological sites in the world. Long before the first millennium the forum was the center of political and cultural life for the Roman Empire.Under construction for centuries, by the 7th century BC it was already a major part of Roman culture. It grew into final form under Octavian, son of Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-36361768139651234732008-01-01T18:22:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:39.434-08:00Notre Dame - The timeless symbol of FranceSecond only to the Eiffel Tower as the recognized symbol of France, the Cathédrale Notre Dame is both a tourist destination and a working church.Built between 1163AD and 1345AD the Gothic masterpiece remains today one of the world's great structures. The enormous interior can seat 6,000 at the base. But, for many, the major attraction is the 387-step climb to the top of the famous towers.Once Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-27235148826850840242007-12-28T13:04:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:39.837-08:00Just cruising along Port Vell, Barcelona...Barcelona is a city by the sea, the Mediterranean Sea to be exact. Like most coastal towns its history and ambiance are affected by that fact. For centuries the harbor was the scene of seafarers and townspeople bustling about on the traditional business that takes place at any port.But Port Vell fell into disuse over the generations. Its warehouses fell empty, its railroads less traveled, its Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-12418091182555297682007-12-28T12:49:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:40.248-08:00Appreciating the Piazza del Duomo in PisaThe Leaning Tower of Pisa may be the most famous landmark of this Tuscan city. But, there are many other stellar sights to see in the Piazza del Duomo where the tower is located.Scattered around lush green lawn lie some of the world's finest architectural achievements. There's the famed campanile, of course. But there is also the Duomo or cathedral itself to which the leaning tower is 'merely' a Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-7415318111841238322007-12-26T11:38:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:40.605-08:00Peace and quiet in Rome at Villa BorgheseLike every metropolitan city, Rome is a bustling, buzzing hive of outdoor activity. While much of that is naturally a source of excitement for tourists, there comes a time when anyone will want to find some peace and quiet. No spot in Rome could serve that purpose better than Villa Borghese.Moderate-sized by some standards, the Villa Borghese is 148 acres (80 hectares) of greenery containing Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-62283412934534877312007-12-26T10:50:00.000-08:002008-12-10T09:03:41.328-08:00Disneyland in Paris!Affectionately known as DLP by Mouseketeers the world over, Disneyland Paris is a cornucopia of rides, restaurants, exhibits and all out fun for everyone. And in the last few years the fun has been doubled as Disney added the Walt Disney Studios park to an already jam packed adventure.Many of the traditional rides from the California theme park were recreated (with some French twists) at the parkFadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088105191804704424.post-84651874232083501782007-12-23T09:03:00.001-08:002008-12-10T09:03:41.916-08:00Romantic vacations in villas in TuscanyThe Bed and Breakfast scene in Tuscany is booming. For good reason, since it offers something considerably different from its counterparts in other countries. Here, one can stay in a huge castle over 1,000 years old, or a tiny villa a 'mere' 100 years of age. Add in the surrounding countryside with its million and one things to see and you've got some very impressive numbers.You can find Fadila & Alanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10626322579166317075noreply@blogger.com0