Posts for Europe Category

Don’t Miss Memorable Places To Visit While You Travel France

Europe, Travel Blog - Ross French - July 25, 2017

Many people have been enjoying a lot their living lifestyle by spending most of the time in staying luxurious destinations. Many destinations beckon the people eagerness to stay at least once in their life. Those who travel to France for business purpose, education or vacation make a sure list of tourist spot that you never forget anymore. Already, those travelers who stay in the France pleasure in the next level by seeing romantic chateaux, cheerful landmarks, remarkable landmarks, etc.

Marseille:-

It is one of the Europe’s ancient cities situated in the France as well second largest city includes several honorable roman ruins, cultural venues, medieval architecture, moderate climate, etc. You can fulfill the long daydream with the natural attractions in the Marseille and don’t waste the life.

Lyon:-

Now, the Lyon is one of the third largest and leading city in France familiar for the historic architecture, cultural scene and gastronomy. The greenery, peaceful and luxurious environment never make you wait for any more to spend the vacation and bear in mind best planning. The top rated restaurants and convenient passageways urge to visit all over Lyon.

Strasbourg:-

If you are in the France start the travel to Strasbourg and feel uniqueness, modern culture and incredible atmosphere everywhere in the Strasbourg. From the big change of ancient culture to ultra modern culture displays through museums, architecture, historic center, cafes, shops, Gothic Cathedral, astrological clock, etc.

Arles:-

If you interested in the ancient architect scenery give more importance to visit Arles because of Roman architecture shows Roman Amphitheater. In olden days, the special occasions, events, bull fights arrange in the venue, and you can enjoy classical theater, Church of Saint Trophime, the Obelisk and the Cryptoporticus.

Biarritz:-

The shorter distance from Spain explore the complete France beauty and enhance elegance by the seaside resort, lovely beaches, Grand Plage, world-class surfing, etc. In addition to, the rock formation located the Rock of the Virgin well connected to the mainland and you take a look at old iron bridge constructed by Gustav Eiffel.

Loire Valley:-

The stunning fantasy look obtained Loire Valley includes historical villages, picturesque vineyards, beautiful scenery and magnificent chateaux. The famous chateaux obtain Chinon, Chenonceau, Rivau, Chambord, and Amboise. The homeland for several wineries provides sensational wine tastings and tours.

Bordeaux:-

Bordeaux comprises of unparalleled historic architecture, world-class arts, culture scene and so on. The striking landmarks and historic structures situated around 350 old bridges named as Ponte de Pierre and medieval churches.

Mont Saint-Michel:-

The most popular tidal island and medieval structure you should visit in the France and attract well every visitor without waste the chance anymore in the journey. The Bishop of Avranches and other attractive places pull the interest to spend a long time.

French Riviera:-

The French Riviera situated Mediterranean sea on the French coast consists of international tourists hordes and famous for St. Tropez, the Cannes Film Festival or Monaco. You can also visit Saint-Paul de Vence, Eze villages, etc.

Paris :-

It is one of the top, and everyone desired to visit as well dream destination to see several famous things like Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, etc. Get ready to travel now France and visit Paris and other significant places with unlimited joy in the journey.

Important!: ETIAS visa waiver for France is expected to be introduced by the end of 2022.

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Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Italy

Italy, Travel Blog - Ross French - June 1, 2017

Attractions in Italy

Amongst all the famous tourist destinations, Italy has always been on the top of the list. People often swear that no matter how much life gets busy, visiting Italy is important at least once in a lifetime. Italy, a country in Europe, is famous for its beauty, food, culture, and tourism and encounters thousands of tourists everywhere from different parts of the world. Well, if you are planning a trip to Italy, here is a list of Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Italy, visit each and every destination and make your trip a memorable one.

17 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Italy

1. Colosseum:

Colosseum is one of the famous tourist attractions in Italy. It is an amphitheater built by the Roman Empire and has remained a model for sports facilities and stage shows. Today, the building contrasts strongly with the modern development that surrounds it and is a conspicuous example of ancient times and Rome’s comprehensive history.

There is also an Eros museum on the upper floor of the building’s outer wall. Part of the building was re-floored. Under the Colosseum, a network of underground tunnels once used to transport wild animals and gladiators, which is now open to the public.

2. Venice Canals:

Venice is famous as the most beautiful city in Italy. The canals, buildings, streets, and everything else is utterly beautiful, making Venice one of the best tourist attractions in Italy. If you are planning to visit Venice, don’t think twice and book your ferry tickets with ok-ferry and enjoy this romantic city of islands with your special one.

A gondola trip along Venice’s canals is a tradition travelers love for generations. Venice is an island city, and the canals were the city’s main streets, linked by a maze of small passages.

3. Leaning Tower of Pisa:

Everybody must have heard about this tower in Pisa. The leaning tower of Pisa (La Torre Pendente) is among the most popular tourist attractions in Italy. It gained its popularity from its flaw and now people enjoy taking pictures with this tower. Every year thousands of tourists visit this tower, learn about its construction history, and enjoy the fabulous view from the top.

The Leaning Tower stands on Piazza Dei Miracoli, sharing a setting with Santa Maria Assunta’s magnificent Romanesque Cathedral and a circular baptistery. All these features the excellent medieval stone carving works.

4. Lake Como:

Lake Como is one of the best tourist attractions in Italy, surrounded by mountains and lined by picturesque towns. Coming from ancient times, the lake has many villas and palaces which draw tourists every year. The climate near the lake is calm and serene similar to the Mediterranean Sea.

At the lake’s foot, Como’s small town, important since Roman times, is a train ride away from Milan. From its waterfront, you can depart on regularly scheduled steamers around the lake that make touring the lakeside attractions convenient.

5. Amalfi Coast:

Coming in the list of UNESCO World Heritage, Amalfi Coast is a stunning coastline along the Sorrentine Peninsula. It is among the most visited tourist attractions in Italy. One of the main towns on the Amalfi Coast is Positano, which is full of tourists, and they love to visit different hillside towns cascading down towards the sea.

While walking trails extend along the coast, the most stunning scenery for tourists is Positano’s Sentiero Degli Dei, also known as Gods’ Footpath. It is located towards the west of Positano.

6. Cinque Terre:

Cinque Terre, which means “Five Villages,” is a lovely coastal region with steep oceanside cliffs and hills. Cinque Terre covers five villages that are famous for fishing and hiking. These villages are Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Corniglia.

Travelers love to hike between villages and enjoy the landscape, fishing, and remoteness to calm their minds. The small towns retained a sense of old-world fishing villages, providing a feeling of remoteness though in the world of modern tourism. All this makes Cinque Terre one of the best tourist attractions in Italy.

7. Vatican City:

One of the highly famous tourist attractions in Italy, Vatican City is the smallest and worldwide famous city of arts and culture. The city is honored with some of the oldest and priceless arts and art collections. St Peter’s Basilica and St Peter’s Square encounter countless tourists every year. If you are visiting Italy, then Vatican City is a place not to be missed.

Outside the Vatican is St. Peter’s Square, where the pope preaches his followers. The Sistine Chapel display walls and ceilings are decorated with frescoes, whereas the Vatican Palace displays the works of Raphel and many other well-known artists.

8. Herculaneum

At Mount Vesuvius’ base is an ancient Roman city called Herculaneum. Many tourists regularly visit this city, making it one of the most busy tourist attractions in Italy. A volcanic explosion destroyed Herculaneum about 2,000 years ago. Like its larger competitor Pompeii, the earthquake and subsequent mud blanket retained and fossilized most of the design. Herculaneum tourists can see original houses, refurbished to look like they did 2,000 years before, as well as fossilized fossils, antique advertisements, and exquisite mosaics displaying art from the past centuries.

Here wooden furniture, textiles, even food, and skeletons teach us a lot of ancient everyday life. Its colourful frescoes and mosaics remain intact. Since the place is smaller, less busy, and the sights are more convenient to visit, many visitors find Herculaneum more attractive than Pompeii.

9. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence

The Uffizi Gallery is among the must-visit tourist attractions in Italy for art lovers. Besides being one of the world’s leading art museums, the Uffizi is a one-stop overview of Italian Renaissance art. Though it includes works by some of Western art’s great artists, its greatest treasure is its collection of paintings demonstrating step-by-step the development in painting that took place here from the 14th to the 16th centuries.

Here you can see the first experimentation with perspective, as well as some of the early portraits as painters moving past religious painting, and some of the first use of religious art of naturalistic and landscape backgrounds.

10. Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is among the most historical tourist attractions in Italy. The Roman Forum can take some creativity – or a good tour guide – to explain precisely what it once looked like and how it was used. The historical importance as the center of the Roman Empire, though, cannot be overstated.

Temples were first established, then public buildings, which soon became Rome’s governmental core. Commerce followed with the development of market halls that made the Forum the city’s public life center and finally the Roman Empire.

Just pillars, partial frameworks, and foundations of former temples, market halls, trials, and public buildings today pay tribute to Ancient Rome, which survived for a thousand years here.

11. Capri

The Blue Grotto is one of the top rated tourist attractions in Italy, but there are other opportunities to take a fast boat trip from Naples, Sorrento, or the Amalfi Coast to Capri’s fabulous island. The steep granite island just off an intense blue shore, its rocky cliffs softened by green pines and tropical plants.

From nearly anywhere on the island, you can get a clear view. The stunning Villa San Michele could have the best views from its gardens overlooking the Marina Grande from Anacapri village, high above.

12. Pantheon

The Pantheon, an extremely well-preserved Roman relic, shows the Roman Empire’s remarkable architectural accomplishments.

The exact dimensions of the place, devoted to the planetary gods, with the height equivalent to the circumference, and a single light beam approaching the space from the top of the roof, is supposed to reflect the firmament and the sun.

13. Florence Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore

The Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore is surely one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Italy. The place is deemed one of the finest cathedrals in the country and occupies the skyline of Florence. The cathedral was designed between the 13th and 15th centuries, with the most prominent piece being the remarkable dome. It was completed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1434.

The cathedral’s bell tower stands opposite the Piazza del Duomo cathedral, clad in the same patterned marble characteristic of Tuscan Romanesque architecture.
Crafted by Giotto, the campanile is 82 meters tall and you can climb the 414 steps to a viewing platform with spectacular city and dome views.

14. Trevi Fountain in Rome

One of the top-rated tourist attractions in Italy is Trevi Fountain. Nicola Salvi designed the fountain in 1762, representing the god Neptune, accompanied in combat by aquatic animals. Interestingly enough, Trevi’s name comes from Tre Vie (three ways), since it was the meeting place of three streets.

Trevi Fountain is regarded as a spot to throw in a coin for a ride back to Rome, and throwing two coins will ensure romantic relationships with a Roman man or woman. A significant fact is that coins worth around €1 million are collected from the fountain each year. This money has been utilized to help charitable causes since 2007.

The fountain is lit at night, rendering it a beautiful romantic spot to explore.

15. Milan Duomo

Milan’s majestic Santa Maria Nascente Cathedral, “Il Duomo” to the locals, is one of the world’s biggest churches and perhaps the finest example of Gothic architecture anywhere. This makes it one of the best tourist attractions in Italy. Its statue-studded façade (the cathedral’s exterior has a total of 2,245 marble statues) and the 135 stone pinnacles that crown its roof make a first impression, strengthened when you walk within.

Fifty-two massive pillars sustain the nave’s towering dome, and the world’s highest stained-glass windows decorate the walls. The nave’s highlights are Gian Giacomo Medici’s tomb and a 12th-century bronze candelabrum.

An elevator can carry you to the top, where you will walk around the stone pinnacles at a dizzying height.

16. La Pelosa

Off the mainland’s west side in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea, is the island of Sardinia island. Though Sardinia boasts a range of beautiful beaches, none is as picturesque as La Pelosa. Because of its sandy beaches and shallow seas, the beach is so beautiful, making it possible to see straight down through the crystal-clear bay. The beauty of the beach makes it one of the most magnificent tourist attractions in Italy.

La Pelosa is also linked to the Caribbean, giving Italy those tropics. Surfing, kayaking, and also scuba diving at or around La Pelosa.

17. St. Mark’s Basilica

One of Venice’s most popular tourist attractions is St. Mark’s Basilica, whose ornate Byzantine-inspired façade and domes overlook Piazza St. Mark’s Square. The structure itself is an artwork, with a combination of architecture types strongly inspired by the Byzantine Empire, reflecting Venice’s long trading links to the East.

The large interior highlights the brilliant mosaics covering its domes and vaults, and the high altar draped in gold and jewels. Treasury includes more glowing gold and diamonds.

Climb to the porch to stand amid the famous horses for an incredible view of St. Mark’s Square, the tall campanile and clock tower. Next to the basilica is Doge’s Residence, packed with priceless Italian art masterpieces.

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Some of the Great Horse Racing Festivals in the UK

Destinations, Europe, Travel Blog, Travel Tips - Ross French - April 23, 2017

Thousands of horse racing events take place in UK every year. Some of them are, however, more important than others. Here are a few of the best and biggest racing festivals in UK. Continue Reading

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Top Attractions in Cambridgeshire

Europe, Travel Blog - Ross French - February 18, 2017

Attractions

Cambridgeshire County is both archaeologically and historically significant, as a number of major discoveries have been made here. And it is also out of the most scenic areas to visit in Great Britain. It offers a lot of attractions to explore on a visit with famous colleges, impressive cathedrals, stunning architecture and places of historical interest. And there is a lot in terms of shopping with shoppiCng centres, high-end boutiques and plenty of places to shop.

Finding suitable accommodation is never a problem as there are many options to choose from. In terms of hotels Cambridge UK offers a wide range from budget to luxury hotels, to cater to all types of travellers. While in Cambridge some of the top attractions worth a visit are:

Saint Peter’s Cathedral

It is also known as Peterborough Cathedral and is the official seat of the Anglican Bishop of Peterborough. The cathedral is dedicated to the three apostles – St Peter, St Andrew and St Paul. Its foundations were built in the Anglo-Saxon era and it was rebuilt using the Gothic style of architecture in the 12th century. With a beautiful facade and ornate arches it is one of the most visited attractions in the city.

Ely Cathedral

Another prominent attraction in Cambridgeshire is Ely Cathedral that was built in the 12 century. It is the official seat of the Bishop of Ely and was gives its status as a cathedral in 1109. It is known for its exquisite Gothic architecture that features high domes and beautiful arches. It receives hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Ely Cathedral, CambridgeIWM Duxford

It is one of the most historic airfields in Britain and is now a modern war museum which highlights the role played by combat aircrafts in the Second World War. The airstrip in Duxford was used prominently during the Battle of Britain. The aircrafts kept at the museum belong to WWII and other conflicts. There also are a number of warhorse airplanes of both the 19th and 20th centuries on display. Visitors to the museum also get to learn about war strategies.

Newmarket

Newmarket is considered to be out of the top racing establishments in the country and has a number of stables, museums and racing tracks. It is also home to the Jockey Club among other private clubs and the trainers’ yard. Visitors often get an opportunity to see some of the finest racehorses in the business.

Cambridge Colleges

One of the most acclaimed universities in the world, Cambridge University has more than 30 colleges affiliated to it. While policies vary among colleges, visitors are allowed to visit the grounds, classrooms, lecture halls and cafeterias in some of them.

King's College panoramic view, CambridgeGranchester Village

If you are looking to experience the idyllic charm of a rustic village Grantchester Village is the place to visit. It has large green meadows that are perfect to go on a stroll and is one of the most scenic and tranquil places to explore.

The Centre for Computing History

A one of a kind museum, it commemorates the information age. Here, visitors get to learn about the history of computing along with a wide variety of devices and early computer models through the different stages of the development of computer technology. A very informative and interesting place to visit!

Nene Park

One of the best places to visit with the family in Cambridgeshire is the Nene Park that is located along the Nene River. It is extremely scenic with forests, meadows, lakes and parks. Visitors can play golf, try their skills at fishing or just get on a bicycle and tour the pristine woodlands.

American Cemetery

The American Cemetery in Cambridge was established to honour the memory of the brave American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war. Here visitors learn about the numerous stories of bravery and personal sacrifice by the soldiers to uphold freedom and liberty. There is a memorial and a chapel and visitors can learn more about the war at the visitors centre. There are a number of storyboards and interactive displays which portray the events of the Second World War. Take a tour of the court of honour that has a wall of the missing along with stone statues.

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens & Lode Mill

One of the most beautiful gardens in the county it has a stunning collection of flowers through all the seasons. The gardens are planted with a variety of flowers that include a snowdrop collection, herbaceous flowers, dahlias, spring flowers and the renowned Winter Garden. It offers to plenty to explore on a visit with the Hoe Fen Wildlife area perfect for an outdoor adventure. There is Lode Mill, a watermill where you can still see flour being ground the old way. Also do not miss a visit to the magnificent home of Lord Fairhaven that is the epitome of a lovely English country home. To know how life must have been in the 1960s visit the Domestic Wing.

Cambridge University Botanic Gardens

Probably out of the best botanical gardens in the country it is spread over 40 acres and has a number of glasshouses, which can visited at any part of the year. It was established by John Henslow in 1846, who was the mentor of Charles Darwin. It is a heritage listed property and is home to more than 8000 different types of plants including exotic species. It has nine national collections and an incredibly beautiful arboretum. Some of the top attractions include the Scented Garden, buzzing bee borders, the Winter Garden, Rock Garden, a Dry Garden and other impressive natural attractions. Visitors with children can borrow a free explorers’ backpack and explore the seasonal trails at the gardens.

Humphry Memorial Museum in CambridgeMuseum of Cambridge

The museum houses a vast collection of more than three centuries of the area that is spread across nine rooms. Every room has an interesting set of exhibits with some dating to the 16th century. The museum was formerly known as the Cambridge & County Folk Museum and is located in what was once the White Horse Inn. It is a historic 17th century building that is an attraction in itself. There are numerous temporary exhibitions, workshops and activities held all through the year.

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Exhilarating Seaside Holidays in Cornwall

Europe, Travel Blog - Ross French - December 20, 2016

In the south western part of England lies the beautiful country of Cornwall. With its pristine beaches, coastal walks, lovely harbour towns and myriad attractions, it offers the perfect retreat for everyone. The long stretches of coastline are an excellent source of fun for both old and the young. Not to forget, the Looe and Polperro area is beautiful! This is a land with plenty to do and see. Continue Reading

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