Europe Explored » Cities https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Fri, 06 Sep 2013 07:49:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 European Budget Holidays for Summer 2012 https://europeexplored.com/2012/06/27/european-budget-holidays-summer-2012/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/06/27/european-budget-holidays-summer-2012/#comments Wed, 27 Jun 2012 08:47:38 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=8551 After a long winter and a drizzly spring at work, going off somewhere exotic can sound a very appealing prospect, but if you’re working on tight margins the very idea can seem like a distant prospect. However, there is a whole range of locations you can get to and stay in on a relatively tight […]

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After a long winter and a drizzly spring at work, going off somewhere exotic can sound a very appealing prospect, but if you’re working on tight margins the very idea can seem like a distant prospect. However, there is a whole range of locations you can get to and stay in on a relatively tight budget that you might not have considered, each of which has a wealth of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.

Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia, Bulgaria / antonella sinopoli

Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia is one of the cheapest eastern European cities to visit and stay in, and by extension one of the cheapest on the continent. The city displays much of its history in its architecture, starting with the city walls, much of which remain largely intact since their establishment in its 7th century days as a regional capital in the Holy Roman Empire. The frescoes of the St George Rotunda date from the 12th century, while the edifice’s foundations date back to the Roman settlement of 4th century Serdica, the original site of the city. Since then, the city’s older buildings trace its time from Byzantine, Ottoman and medieval Bulgar fortresses through the neoclassical period and into the prefabricated socialist-era apartment blocks.

The city also boasts a large number of classical theatres, which remains the country’s most popular performing art, followed by the combined National Opera and Ballet company, established in 1891. Free hiking and cycling tours are a great way to see the Sofia’s extensive green and mountainous areas without leaving the city limits. Bulgaria is still a very cheap place to visit, and 4 (and sometimes even 5) star hotels are affordable if you book sufficiently ahead of time.

Guimarães, Portugal

An average-sized city in the slightly cooler northern region of the country, Guimarães is a real hidden gem that is begging for travellers to seek it out. Tucked away in a lush, secluded valley in the district of Braga, the city was founded around the 9th century by a local noble who conquered the region for the then-kingdom of Galicia, and since the 12th century been considered the seat of Portuguese nationality and the home of the Portuguese conquistadores. In 2012, Guimarães was named European Capital of Culture, and not without good reason.

Despite its size (only around 190,000 in the greater urban area), the city is home to a large number of musuems, galleries and theatres, principle among which is the Alberto Sampaio museum. Opened in 1931, it contains a huge collection of pieces from the city’s history during the 14th-16th centuries. On the first weekend of August, there is the Festas Gualterianas, in honour of Saint Gualter, featuring fireworks, street performers and musical performances, and the spectacular Battle of the Flowers.

Dorset, England

Of course, if the cost of physically getting across the seas is too much, you don’t even have to pass through customs to have a great holiday on the cheap. The south-west of England has long had tourist centres in Devon and Cornwall, but Dorset is just as calm, quiet and picturesque without facing the same high prices and tailbacks as its neighbours. Even better, if you get yourself a bus pass, you can see most of the county without straying from the public transport system.

This holiday might be strictly for the hardcore hiker, as getting the most out of your stay will rely on your capacity for long walks and creative use of wireless internet if you want to stay tuned in the goings on beyond the hills and beaches. The best place to pick up some tips on where to stay while on the Jurassic Coast is Countryside and Coastal, with its range of B&Bs and hostels.

So don’t panic if your budget is looking fine this summer: just take a look outside of the usual haunts.

Catherine Halsey is based in Edinburgh and writes for a digital marketing agency. This article links back to Skype.com.

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Arbanasi – a picturesque village in Bulgaria https://europeexplored.com/2011/09/04/arbanasi-a-picturesque-village-in-bulgaria/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/09/04/arbanasi-a-picturesque-village-in-bulgaria/#comments Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:19:51 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4830 Bulgaria boasts many large cities to entertain and excite visitors but what about those who prefer something a bit more unpolished? Arbanasi is a picturesque settlement located in north central Bulgaria. It’s a popular tourist destination because of its historical buildings and also because of its proximity to Veliko Tarnovo, which is a medieval town […]

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Bulgaria boasts many large cities to entertain and excite visitors but what about those who prefer something a bit more unpolished? Arbanasi is a picturesque settlement located in north central Bulgaria. It’s a popular tourist destination because of its historical buildings and also because of its proximity to Veliko Tarnovo, which is a medieval town on the Yantra River just 3km away. Arbanasi sits on a rocky plateau so offers some incredible views to the Tsarevets and Trapezitsa Hills. The village has some good hotels and restaurants for its tourists.
Arbanasi was founded in the 15th century by a Christian community and was the property of the Grand Vizir to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. As a result, a lot of the buildings in Arbanasi possess an Ottoman design and décor.

The village offers some fascinating 17th and 18th century churches, some of which contain ancient mural paintings and wood carvings. The churches in Arbanasi typically have strong, high walls, small windows and very strong oak doors studded with iron nails.

One of the earliest churches in Arbanasi is the ‘Nativity Church’ or the ‘Cathedral of Nativity’. Extensive studies have found that the church was built in three separate stages which presents some interesting structural characteristics. The main body of the church is divided into male and female sections and the whole building is decorated with murals. The Nativity Church is one of the oldest and best preserved churches not just in Arbanasi but across the whole of Bulgaria.


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Dupnitsa – The Green and Shady Town in Bulgaria https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/02/dupnitsa-the-green-and-shady-town-in-bulgaria/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/02/dupnitsa-the-green-and-shady-town-in-bulgaria/#comments Mon, 02 May 2011 19:12:19 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=3629 Dupnitsa is a town in western Bulgaria. It is located in Kyustendil Province, at the foot of the Rila mountains. Currently Dupnitsa has more than 40 000 inhabitants. The first mention of Dupnitsa is from the 15th century. Major attractions include the Art Gallery, Historical Museum of Dupnitsa, the clock tower and the churches in […]

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Dupnitsa is a town in western Bulgaria. It is located in Kyustendil Province, at the foot of the Rila mountains. Currently Dupnitsa has more than 40 000 inhabitants.

The first mention of Dupnitsa is from the 15th century. Major attractions include the Art Gallery, Historical Museum of Dupnitsa, the clock tower and the churches in the city. About 7km east of town there is a monastery Resilovo. 14 km northeast, near the town of Sapareva Banya you can find the ruins of the ancient Roman town of Germania. Nearby is also a spa and mountain resort Panichishte, which offers excellent conditions for hiking and relaxing and in winter for skiing.

Dupnitsa is also called The Green and Shady Town because of the huge number of trees in the town. But it is also called The Little Italy of Bulgaria because lots of people left to work to Italy and returns in summer for vacation when the city is full of Bulgarian “Italians”.


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Top sights to see in Sofia | Bulgaria https://europeexplored.com/2011/03/22/top-sights-to-see-in-sofia-bulgaria/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/03/22/top-sights-to-see-in-sofia-bulgaria/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:08:03 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=2879 Sofia is a beautiful metro city in Bulgaria. If you visit Sofia, you find this beautiful city lying at the foot of Vitosha, which is a beautiful mountain in Bulgaria. This capital city of Bulgaria has an excellent historical background. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. In Sofia, you will have […]

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Sofia is a beautiful metro city in Bulgaria. If you visit Sofia, you find this beautiful city lying at the foot of Vitosha, which is a beautiful mountain in Bulgaria. This capital city of Bulgaria has an excellent historical background. It is one of the oldest cities in the world. In Sofia, you will have a unique opportunity to catch the glimpse of natural aesthete, beautiful landscape, deep mountain range, impressive valley, open sky and glamour of modern city life.

If you decide to visit Sofia, you will have to shortlist attractive historical sites and tourist spots which you can find here and there in this popular city. We chose some of the best known and top sights to see in Sofia.

Nevski cathedral is really marvelous in design. You must visit this tourist spot that has increased the importance of Sofia city. However, you should also go to other exotic tourist spots like Russian church and other religions shrines that are famous for architectural aesthete. This ancient city has a number of ancient Roman, Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian historical buildings, monuments and palaces such as Boyana Church from the 10th century which is a UNESCO world heritage site, or Church of St. George which is the oldest building in Sofia, or St. Sofia Church – early Byzantine church. In the center of the city you should also visit medieval Church of St Petka of the Saddlers

You will get pleasure by watching natural charisma of snow capped mountain range of Vitosha. Here, you will come into contact with the perfect blend of modern city life and natural aesthete. You will find boutiques, small kiosks, shopping centers and a national park at the base of this well known mountain.

The Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library is the largest national book collection and Bulgaria’s oldest cultural institute, which encourages young generation to learn more about Bulgarian history and culture. You can visit this historical building to watch the gigantic structure of this national library. If you are a knowledge thirsty human, you can check and review historical documents, different types of marvelous relics and collectibles which are available in the inventory of the library. You can also visit the famous Boyona church to learn about the historical background of Bulgarian culture and religion as well. In this church, you will also be able to find stored artifacts, mythological figurines, painted images, books and religions documents in archive of the church.

Finally, when you stay in Sofia, you can also spend some time by visiting Sofia Zoo which gives shelter to more than 1000 wild species. The Zoo has been founded in 1888. You will be able to meet some rare animals in this national zoo.

For your transport in Sofia you can use Metro which has been opened in 1998 and now has just one line and 14 stations.

From natural beauty to sophisticated busy urban lifestyle, Sofia has become the main attraction to foreign tourists. You can enjoy an intoxicated nightlife in this metro city.


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Veliko Tărnovo – historical symbol of Bulgaria https://europeexplored.com/2010/11/01/veliko-tarnovo-historical-symbol-of-bulgaria/ https://europeexplored.com/2010/11/01/veliko-tarnovo-historical-symbol-of-bulgaria/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:50:46 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=1973 If you are planning your trip to Bulgaria, you shouldn’t miss historic symbol of Bulgaria – medieval town Veliko Tărnovo. The town is located on the Yantra River and is known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. It is one of the oldest settlements in Bulgaria, having a history of more than […]

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If you are planning your trip to Bulgaria, you shouldn’t miss historic symbol of Bulgaria – medieval town Veliko Tărnovo. The town is located on the Yantra River and is known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. It is one of the oldest settlements in Bulgaria, having a history of more than 5 thousands years.

The combination of geographical location, natural scenery and historical landmarks makes Veliko Tărnovo to be historically and architecturally one of the most important towns in Europe.

The first thing a visitor of Veliko Tărnovo will notice is the dominating feature of the city – a high rocky hill Carevec, surrounded by a massive medieval walls. The area is connected to the outside only by a narrow bridge and hide the ruins of Czar’s palaces and churches.

Steep slopes below the walls are several hundred meters deep. All the impressive scenery is completed with thousands of small houses from the 18th and 19th century, which, from the distance, look like they were built one above the other.

With a beautiful view of the city would be satisfied also the tourists who have no idea how many historical events took place in the context of European history.


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Nesebar – one of the oldest ancient centers in Europe | Bulgaria https://europeexplored.com/2010/10/17/nesebar-one-of-the-oldest-ancient-centers-in-europe-bulgaria/ https://europeexplored.com/2010/10/17/nesebar-one-of-the-oldest-ancient-centers-in-europe-bulgaria/#comments Sun, 17 Oct 2010 09:58:21 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=1904 Nesebar – Pearl of the Black Sea – is the ancient town and a major seaside resort on the coast of the Black Sea in Bulgaria. You can get to Nesebar by bus or boat from the coastal resorts such as Pomorie, or by plane or train to Burgas and then by bus. Nesebar is […]

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Nesebar – Pearl of the Black Sea – is the ancient town and a major seaside resort on the coast of the Black Sea in Bulgaria. You can get to Nesebar by bus or boat from the coastal resorts such as Pomorie, or by plane or train to Burgas and then by bus.

Nesebar is situated on a rocky peninsula. Since 1983 it is registered in the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO due to its ancient center, which is among the oldest in Europe. There are wooden houses and many churches.

Admission is free to lots of sites in the town. Interesting tourist destinations in the neighborhood are Primorsko or Pomorie.


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Sofia – administrative, cultural, economic, and educational centre of Bulgaria https://europeexplored.com/2010/09/04/sofia-administrative-cultural-economic-and-educational-centre-of-bulgaria/ https://europeexplored.com/2010/09/04/sofia-administrative-cultural-economic-and-educational-centre-of-bulgaria/#comments Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:23:48 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=1549 Sofia, with 1,4 million residents, is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 47th largest city by population in the European Union. It is also one of Europe’s most compact and walkable capital cities. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, economic, and […]

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Sofia, with 1,4 million residents, is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 47th largest city by population in the European Union. It is also one of Europe’s most compact and walkable capital cities. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, economic, and educational centre of Bulgaria.

Prehistoric settlements were excavated in the centre of the present city, near the royal palace, as well as in outer districts such as Slatina and Obelya. The well-preserved town walls (especially their substructures) from antiquity date back before the 7th century BC, when Thracians established their city next to the most important and highly respected mineral spring, still functioning today. Sofia has had several names in the different periods of its existence, and remnants from the city’s past can still be seen today alongside modern landmarks.


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