Unmissable Pubs on London Tours

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By Todd Clifton


All London tours should spend some time soaking up some of The Big Smoke's rich public house culture. As you can imagine, there are hundreds of places to drink London, here are a few pubs that should be the cornerstone of any good tour.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street
Rebuilt after the Great Fire in 1666, this pub has been location since 1538 and is an absolute must for all London tours. Operated by the Samuel Smith's brewery, this pub is notable for its curious lack of natural lighting
Charles Dickens was known to regularly frequent this pub, and its gloomy setting makes it easy to imagine that some of his characters were created here. The roaring open fireplace means this is a pub best seen in winter.

Andalucia for the Romantic Traveller

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By Andy De Ronda


Andalucia, Spain is one of the sunniest and warmest places in Europe. With a vibrant culture and a colorful array of carnivals, foods, and history, Andalucia is one of the greatest places to visit in all of Europe.
Known for flamenco dancing, bullfighting, and architecture, Andalucia has much to offer the visiting admirer. For the art lovers, any number of museums will satisfy their curiosity of Andalusian fine art talents. The Museum of Fine Arts in Seville has hundreds of works from the Golden Age of Sevillian painting, created by famous artists such as Murillo and Valds Leal. It also houses the famous sculpture by Pedro Milln, Crying Over the Dead Christ.

A Quick Tour Of Italy - Northern Sardinia

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If you are in the mood for a tour of Europe, why don't you consider the island of Sardinia, a region of southern Italy? Depending on your specific interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. Some parts of Sardinia remain undiscovered by tourists, while other sites are favorites of Italian and international jet setters and are priced accordingly. This article presents northern Sardinia. Companion articles present central Sardinia and southern Sardinia.

Saint Catherine of Siena goes to Avignon, France

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Copyright © 2011 Bob and Penny Lord's Site


Catherine wrote many letters to the Pope, pleading the case of Florence. It was always as if she were writing to an old friend, very personally, very lovingly, or as to a father, calling him "Babbo Mio," (my daddy), never intimidated yet respectful of his position. And he, on his part, answered in kind, to a daughter. He liked Catherine.



Catherine wrote, as someone sent by the Lord, with authority, fully confident she was to bring His Will to His Vicar on earth. Does this sound a bit lofty on her part? Well, she was not the first woman to be a Prophet to the Pope. St. Bridget of Sweden, also a Mystic, had the courage of her convictions to speak out strongly on the need for reform, attacking boldly the corruption and politics in the Church. Whereas Pope Gregory XI called her a Prophet, he did not have the warm affection for her, that he had for Catherine with her gentleness. Whereas St. Bridget spoke of doom, Catherine called the Church a garden with beautiful flowers having been allowed to grow wild, with weeds in its midst choking it. She saw the Church, at large, as foolish, stubborn children in need of Daddy, Babbo, but too strong-willed and prideful to come home and say they were sorry.

Caravaggio And His Followers In Florence

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"The dark voice of reality"... is not the title of an unedited album by the Doors, but one of the most appropriate definitions ever given to the work of Michelangelo Merisi, also called Caravaggio. Indeed, Merisi's approach to life was that of a contemporary rock star. His short life, turbulent and dissipated, characterized by violence, riots and general excess (he was also condemned to death for murder, even if he was not executed) make him a perfect example of a "cursed artist", compared to which Mick Jagger and Ozzy Osbourne come across as little more than beginners.

January Attractions of Southern Italy

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So you are hankering to visit southern Italy in January, but just aren't sure what to see and what to do. Don't despair; there are lots and lots of special events that simply aren't available in the good old summertime. Here are a few of them. Get rolling; Janaury is almost upon us. A Palio is a horse race that pits neighborhoods against one another. Pignola, Basilicata hosts the Palio of S. Antonio Abate in mid-January. Villa d'Agri, Basilicata celebrates Befana Canterina. You might know that Befana is an old woman dressed as a witch who gives sweets to the good kiddies and coal to the bad ones. In mid-January Rotondella, Basilicata hosts the Feast of Sant'Antonio Abate and Feast of Fire Festival on the following day. Corigliano Calabro hosts the Calabria Orange Festival and Procession.

Winter Attractions And Events In Sardinia

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The beautiful island of Sardinia that lies east of the Italian mainland has a relatively mild winter. And yet I know that you definitely would not want to sit in your shirtsleeves in a seaside cafe sipping a local wine. This indescribable pleasure will have to wait for the other seasons.

Notre Dame Cathedral and Other Sacred Sites

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By Chris Sarvaiya


If you are planning a visit the most sacred places of the world, then you are advised to have some prior knowledge of these places. Here is a small insight into the three famous holy sites that can give you a brief idea about them and help you plan the visit accordingly.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It is the seat of Archbishop of Paris. The term "Notre Dame" stands for "Our Lady", so this cathedral is also known by the name "Our Lady of Paris". It is the most magnificent building of France. It has remained a sacred place from centuries and a place of pilgrimages. The initial church was built by Childebert but was demolished later on. The present structure was built in 12th century.

Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy - Journey From a Wild Coast to an Organized Holiday Paradise!

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By Irina Pushkova

Costa Smeralda translated from Italian means the Emerald Coast. This combination of words very accurately conveys the predominant color of the sea in the northern part of Sardinia. In the early 1950's Costa Smeralda, formerly known as Monti di Mola, was a wild coast of the north-eastern Sardinia with deserted beaches, fine white sand and granite rocks of spectacular shapes. Back then Costa Smeralda was an uninhabited area with no roads or any infrastructure. Only a few people in the world knew about the existence of this wonderful nook in Sardinia, and Sardinia was considered a very inhospitable land inhabited by gangsters.

I Love Italian Wine And Food - A Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano From Tuscany

Image via WikipediaI think that this wine's name, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, is quite exciting, but perhaps it's just a case of marketing hype. The Lodola Nuova estate property has records going back to the mid Thirteenth Century. It has been producing wine since at least 1452. Its major vineyard is 87 hectares (about 215 acres) near the medieval village of Valiano. The property was purchased by the major Tuscany Ruffino winery about twenty years ago. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a well-known Tuscan red produced from the Prugnolo Gentile version of the Sangiovese grape. It is one of the Tuscany Big Three, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile, and Brunello de Montalcino. Some say that it's a neglected middle child.

Italy - The Island of Sardinia - Alghero

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By Irina Pushkova


Alghero is an Italian town in the province of Sassari, one of the major towns of Sardinia. Its population consists of about forty-four thousand of inhabitants. The town of Alghero is located very close to the airport which makes Alghero one of the most important towns on the north of the Island of Sardinia. Besides Alghero stands on the seashore which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. It is very comfortable even just to come to Alghero for a weekend since one can get from the airport right to a nice beach within a few minutes.

Discover The Best Italian Honeymoons

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Here are six good reasons why a honeymoon holiday in Italy will be a honeymoon you will remember forever:

(1) Classical music began in Italy-think Vivaldi.

(2) Western art was invented here and has produced some of the world's most famous works of art, from Leonardo's Mona Lisa to Michelangelo's David.

(3) People travel from around the world to taste Italian wine in its natural setting.

(4) The natural beauty in the countryside will take your breath away.

(5) The food is a fantasia for the senses, which led my father to pronounce, "If you want to impress a girl, take her to an Italian restaurant; if you want to keep a wife, take her to Italy."

(6) Style and shopping: Gucci is only the beginning. The seductive synergy of these sensuous pleasures wakes the passionate and romantic spirit in all but the most stolid heart.

Stintino, Sardinia, Italy

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By Irina Pushkova


Stintino is a small town on the north-west coast of the Island of Sardinia. Though it is not a big city, every summer dozens of thousands of tourists from all over the world come to visit this place. The main attraction of Stintino is its coast which consists of rocks and beaches with fine white sand.

5 Things We Hate and 5 Things We Love About Italy

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By P. Scottyn


Italy can inspire and frustrate in equal measure, but this vibrant and colorful country has too many good points that even the most irritating quirks can only add to its unique charm.
Hate
Queues
Closing your eyes and imagining you are back in the days of the gladiators while visiting the Colosseum is rather difficult when you are surrounded by thousands of noisy tourists. Italy is home to a wealth of important cultural and historical sights, so it is hard to avoid encountering jostling lines of people. Making an early start from Italy hostels to beat the masses is definitely a good idea.

Things to Do in Sicily: Three Places You Must Visit

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By Marcello Arrambide


People from all over the world are dreaming of going to the Italian island of Sicily. And when they finally do get there they remain clueless about what to do. There are an infinite amount of possibilities on the island that has been conquered by so many cultures. Whether you interested in history, culture, food, or even the arts Sicily has something for you. Here are three places that art fanatics have to see: