This chocolate factory produces tasty delights that are adored throughout Russia. Pre-arrange a visit and pick up some sweets for souvenirs. Also be sure to buy a few extras because it’s unlikely they will all make it into your suitcase!
Don’t let the name keep you away. The colorful mosaics, ornate stone carvings, and sparkling interior are worth seeing. Read the rest of this entry »
A short walk from town will take you to the beautiful Villa Comunale gardens. Local brides head to this shaded oasis for fairytale wedding photos. Others seek out this lush paradise for a cool picnic spot on a warm day, as well as some of the most amazing ocean views in Sorrento.
A trip to Sorrento wouldn’t be complete without purchasing a bottle of limoncello. Although there are plenty of shops where you can taste and purchase this refreshing liqueur, you’ll find the best prices at the local Standa supermarket. Read the rest of this entry »
If you want to get a vivid sense of the ancient Roman highway system, which spanned the Empire like the U.S. interstates today, take the short stroll to the outskirts of Rome to the Via Appia Antica, or Ancient Appian Way – the “Queen of Highways.” In an ingenious feat of historical preservation, a 10-mile stretch of this splendid thoroughfare, which ran south to Naples and to the port cities beyond, has been turned into a unique archaeological parkway through the verdant Italian countryside. Read the rest of this entry »
Visitors can be a little confused by the Roman Forum; at first glance, it is a rather lifeless array of marble fragments. But we must remember that in ancient times, this space was far more than the temples and monuments whose ruins we can explore today. It was filled with bustling, noisy life as the popular crossroads of the city – the predecessor, in fact, of the modern Italian piazza. Every morning at dawn, average Romans would escape their cramped, dark apartment blocks (called insulae, or “islands”) and spent their days outdoors. Read the rest of this entry »
The best way to arrive in the Piazza San Marco, the pulsing heart of Venice lapped by the waters of the Lagoon, has always been by boat – and today, landing there by ferry is still an unforgettable experience. Despite the crowds, the vendors and the pigeons that occupy the plaza, we can easily imagine landing here in the late Renaissance, the period when Venice was at its height of imperial opulence. Read the rest of this entry »
Sort of a “Disneyland of Communism,” this park became the repository for the symbols of Soviet domination after the Iron Curtain collapsed. Songs from the Hungarian and Russian workers’ movements play as you tour statues of Lenin and Stalin, among others.
Budapest is proud of possessing one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world. The opening performance of the Opera House was held in neo-Renaissance building, the jewel of the avenue, in 1884 after nine years of construction. The staircase and the auditorium of the palace, designed by one of the best architects of those days Miklos Ybl, are decorated with frescos of eminent Hungarian painters such as Bertalan Szekely, Mor Than and Karoly Lotz. The first director was Ferenc Erkel, Gustav Mahler held this post for several years, and Puccini directed the premiere of two of his operas here. Renowned guest conductors include Otto Klemperer, Sergio Failoni and Lamberto Gardelli. It is still one of the best opera houses in Europe. Well worth a visit, even for those who do especially like operas. Read the rest of this entry »
Van Gogh MuseumThis elaborate collection of the troubled artist’s work is a true find. The museum houses some 200 paintings and 550 sketches exposing Van Gogh’s many moods. These works are combined with hundreds of letters from Van Gogh to Theo. Fascinating.
This expansive collection of more than 6,000 varieties of plants illustrates more than 350 years of Dutch horticultural history. From the “coffee plant that fathered all the coffee in Brazil” to a nursery created exclusively for tropical palms, the Du Hortes is a heavenly destination for plant-lovers the world over. Read the rest of this entry »
Not long ago, researchers proclaimed that red wine could be good for the heart, but the baroque city of Würzburg has known that for centuries. The local wines are usually dry whites, and these “stein” wines, which grow on the steep and sunny slopes along the Main River, are said to be especially healthy because of the minerals they soak up from the chalky earth. Read the rest of this entry »
There were drawbacks to being a European monarch. For Friedrich II the Great, philosopher, flute-player and Prussian soldier-king, the public scrutiny of his royal life got on his nerves. He sketched out his ideal summer home, a cozy little private palace he could reign from, tend his hunting dogs and entertain the likes of Voltaire and Goethe. Read the rest of this entry »
The Loreley is a cliff that plunges into the Rhine River. As legend has it, Loreley is also a water nymph who sat high on the rock combing her golden hair and luring sailors to their deaths with her beauty and seductive song. The magical landscape along the Rhine, between Koblenz and Mainz, only helps to bring this legend to life for the growing number of travelers enjoying river cruises through the area. Read the rest of this entry »
