Las Palmas is the capital city of Gran Canaria. It is found to the north east of the island; this is a particularly beautiful area, set amongst two scenic coves. In between these coves are the Playa de Las Alcaravaneras and Playa de Las Canteras beaches; two perfect spots for soaking up the rays and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. The city of Real de Las Palmas was first established in the late 15th century. Hence it also is a city of substance, with its own long established culture and local economies before it became popular with tourists. As the settlement grew, it split into two districts, Triana and Vegueta. These were located on the left and right banks respectively of the Barranco de Guiniguada. Nowadays, the Calle Juan de Quesada, a modern day main road, forms the border between both of these areas. Vegueta is the ‘Old Town’ of Las Palmas, and since 1990 has been officially recognised by UNESCO as a place of great cultural and historical importance.
Las Palmas Gran Canaria
For about four centuries, the population of Las Palmas mainly remained within the walls of Triana and Vegueta. During the 1500s, 1600s and 1700s, these two districts, as well as some humble immigrant and fishing districts and San José, together formed the city. However, in the 1800s, when Puerto de la Luz harbour was built, Las Palmas began to grow northwards, following the coast. It was at this time that Arenales, Alcaravaneras, La Isleta, Santa Catalina and Ciudad Jardín districts came into being.
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The Canary Islands Music Festival is hosted around Tenerife and Gran Canaria each January and February. 2013 will be the 29th year of the festival. Ever since it began in 1985, it has been counted amongst Europe’s most impressive festivals of classical music. Although each year there is something different, audiences are guaranteed that the finest international orchestras and musicians will be in attendance.
CanaryIslands Music Festival
The most important calendar dates in Tenerife (especially in Santa Cruz) are those on which a carnival falls. These usually occur in February and March, and consist of massive processions. Extravagant costumes are the order of the day, as well as street parties that can last for days at a time. February 2 is a bank holiday in Tenerife, as it is the feast day of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria (Our Lady of Candelaria). Many celebrations in Tenerife do not fall on a fixed date, as they are based on religious or lunar calendars – such as Semana Santa and Pascua (Holy Week and Easter). Easter can fall in either March or April. Around Santa Cruz, La Orotava, La Laguna, Puerto de la Cruz and Garachico you cannot travel very far during this time without coming across a celebration.
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Dotted around Madrid, you will find hidden gems which people either don’t know about, or don’t visit very often. This merely adds to the calm and tranquillity that these havens offer. Their unassuming entranceways are located on quiet roads; for example, in the districts of Lavapiés and Huertas. They are hidden behind old hospitals, monasteries and the former homes of royals. Let’s take the neighbourhood of La Latina, for instance. On Calle del Almendro - a reminder of this street’s tree-lined past – you will find the ruins of the old Christian Wall of Madrid, sheltered by buildings 15 and 17. Those in the know head to this area for tasty taps. Here are a few more of Madrid’s secret places that are waiting to be discovered.
Calle Sacramento is a narrow road occupied in the main by recently constructed buildings. Building 7, however, is different, as it is here that you will find Huerto de las Monjas. Until 1972 a convent stood here, sheltering this enchanting green space with its high walls. It is thought that it was previously a kitchen garden, where vegetables such as cabbages, carrots, chives and lettuce were grown. Hence, when strolling around here you will feel like you have gone back in time.
Huerto de las Monjas Madrid
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Since the late 14th century, a church has stood at the southwest corner of Sobornaya Ploshchad. The first was a wooden church, constructed by Vasily I, which was rebuilt over five years in the late 15th century by Ivan III. Initially, the Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral was the personal chapel of the royal family. After Ivan the Terrible took power, it was extended and the Archangel Gabriel Chapel was added. This was so he could watch services in the main church, which he was forbidden to enter under Orthodox rules. These rules stated that a person who had married more than three times was not allowed to enter the main body of a church. The venerated icons of Theophanes the Greek, the great artist, are housed here.
Sobornaya Ploshchad Moscow
Since 1924, the embalmed body of Vladimir Ilyich (better known as Lenin) has been lying in state in a mausoleum at the Kremlin wall. This is despite a declaration by the founder of the Soviet Union that he wanted to be buried beside his mother in St Petersburg. There seems to be a perpetual queue to view his body, constantly supervised by guards, which forms at the northwest corner of Red Square. Cameras are forbidden – drop yours at the State History Museum’s left luggage office. After you exit the mausoleum, the Kremlin wall itself is worthy of examination, as a number of prominent communists are buried here.
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Near the village of Bran and the city of Brasov, on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, lies Bran Castle. Over the years it has come to be known as ‘Dracula’s Castle’, although it is only one of numerous similarly imposing castles linked to Bram Stoker’s tale of horror. Sitting on top of a 61 metre high rock, and bedecked with spires and towers, it certainly plays the part of Count Dracula’s residence very well. For 37 years up to 1957, it was the home of monarchs. Nowadays it is a museum, with paintings and furniture that belonged to Queen Marie of Romania. A large number of the castle’s rooms are connected via underground hallways displaying a number of artefacts from the 1300s right up to the 1800s.
Bran Castle Transylvania Romania
Approximately 200 metres above the town of Rasnov, which lies on a connecting road between Transylvania and Wallachia, you will find the very interesting Rasnov Fortress. This building is documented as far back as 1331, and was constructed by Teutonic Knights to defend themselves from attacks by Tartars. Unlike its other Saxon counterparts, over the centuries it became a refuge, with all the buildings one would expect to find in a village, such as a church, houses and a school.
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Not only is the Uffizi Gallery museum Florence’s most significant museum, it is also its most popular. Work on the Uffizi Palace, brainchild of Giorgio Vasari, began in 1560 under orders from Cosimo de’ Medici. Although the original purpose of the building was a central location for offices of administration, a number of rooms on the third floor were used to store the Medicis’ most prized artworks. These were added to over time by other members of the clan. 200 years later, in 1737, Anna Maria Luisa, the last of the Medicis, left the masterpieces and the palace itself to Florence in her will.
The Uffizi Gallery Florence
The 15th century building that houses the Museum of San Marco is a tourist attraction in itself; let alone what is inside. It originally was a Dominican convent, and later was completely renovated and extended for Cosimo the Elder de’ Medici. As a result it is completely intact, giving the visitor an insight into the layout of a convent from this period in time and what life must have been like within the walls. The cloister, as well as the bright library, together make this one of the best preserved Renaissance interiors.
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A unique feature on Venice’s cultural landscape are the scuole. These originated in the 1200s as places for wealthy people without much social standing to socialise and mix with others of a similar social status. By the 1400s, Venice had six scuole grandi and up to 400 minor scuole. The scuole grandi were frequented in the main by professionals with many financial resources; the scuole piccole were frequented mainly by religious groups, foreigners who wanted to connect with their own ethnicity and trade guilds. Many of the scuoles that were frequented by people with money were highly decorated by their patrons; in some cases a well regarded artist would be commissioned to paint an entire building (for example, Carpaccio at San Giorgio degli Schiavoni and Tintoretto at San Rocco). Hence nowadays, these buildings are regarded as works of art in their own right, therefore serving a dual historic and artistic role. Anyone with an interest in art history should walk around these fascinating buildings.
Just to the east of campo Santo Stefano, you will find Campiello Pisani. The imposing Palazzo Pisani music conservatory dominates campiello Pisani, and was the scene of the shoot-out at the end of Casino Royale, the James Bond film premiered in 2006. The Torre dell’Orologio was the scene of a fight scene in an earlier James Bond film. Fans of Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now should check out the church of San Nicolò dei Mendicoli, which featured in the film, as well as Palazzo Grimani, where the grisly concluding scene was shot.
Painting by Carpaccio at Scuola di San Giorgio degli Schiavoni Venice
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Located in western Crete, in the Chania region, is Falassarna beach. This is an endless, wonderfully sunny strand that is well known for its amazing sunsets. For these reasons it is considered by many to be Greece’s finest beach. However, Falassarna Bay contains a number of smaller, yet very attractive and sandy, beaches. These are all easily accessible from the very old town of Falassarna, to the north.
Falassarna Beach Crete
In western Crete, in the Rethymnon region, are the twin sandy beaches of Amoudi and Mikro Amoudi. The word ‘amoudi’ is a variant of ‘amos’, which in the Greek language means sand. ‘Mikro’ means little. Both beaches are just a short stroll from Damnoni. Mikro Amoudi beach is quite small, but very popular with naturists; as a result it is often overcrowded. Despite this, it is well organised, with rental facilities for sun beds and a good choice of eating establishments, whatever one’s gastronomic preferences. The water is also very clean, and the clear waters make visibility excellent, so this is a great location for snorkelling. Just a short distance down the road is Amoudi beach. Continue reading
The 5 star Kempinski Hotel enjoys an enviable location, just a stone’s throw from Saint Stephen’s Basilica and the Chain Bridge. Not only this, but its facilities are second to none. A number of restaurants are on offer, ranging from Nobu Restaurant, which specialises in Japanese cuisine and sushi, to Restaurant Giardino, serving a mix of Mediterranean and traditional Hungarian dishes. Complimentary wireless internet access and cable TV are available in all of the air conditioned guest rooms. Look out over the Fashion Street, park or the rooftops of Budapest – it’s your choice!
Kempinski Hotel Budapest
The 4 star Buda Castle Fashion Hotel is a newly built hotel, just down the road from the Castle district of Budapest and the Royal Palace. Guests can choose from either exceptionally spacious standard rooms or luxury suites. Whichever you go for, you can be assured of style, a warm welcome and a very enjoyable stay. The breakfast lounge is situated beside the tranquil inner garden, to start your day in the best way possible. The old cellar is perfect if you want to host a party with a difference.
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14 miles south of Athens is the very scenic Vouliagmeni Beach, with picture postcard views of the sea. This is a very well equipped beach (one of the best in Athens), with volleyball and tennis facilities, kids playground, water slide, café and even your own changing hut if you like! The peninsula itself is renowned for its mineral water lake, whose effects are best felt at the nearby health spa. Here, the weather is exceptionally agreeable whatever the season, so visitors can feel the benefits of the mineral waters throughout the year.
Vouliagmeni Beach Athens
Just under 17 miles south of Athens is the sandy Varkiza Beach. Its distance from the city centre of Athens means less people come here – hence you will not be jostling for space in the surf and on the sand. The adjoining hotel offers a host of facilities to beach patrons such as tennis, green spaces, parkland, café, pub, etc. On the beach itself you can also rent out a volleyball or tennis court by the hour. Kids also have their own section where they can play safely.
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