And then of course there is the world-famous Champagne, which is unique to the French district of the same name, in Reims. Therefore wine tours are one of the best ways to sample wines and at the same time see the amazingly beautiful areas of Europe responsible for these delicious beverages.

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Basque Country – Spain

This area is well-known for its Riojas and there are plenty of opportunities to tour the Bodegas or wineries made famous by this rich red wine. Try the Marques de Riscal one of the most well-known wineries in Basque country, and only an 11 minute drive from LaGaurdia, it also has a spectacular hotel attached to it. You are able to taste and sample a variety of wines here and also taste some of the delicious meals created by the top on-site chefs, handy to soak up all of the alcohol!

Quinta da Aveleda – Portugal

Near the City of Porto along the west coast of Portugal, the international number one wine tasting experience at Quinta da Aveleda is not to be missed. Only a 30 minute drive from Porto the main building is covered in lush green ivy and surrounded by beautiful gardens that you can stroll around. You get taken around by friendly helpful guides (who can also speak English) and they show you the vineyards and grapes that they make into Vino Verde. This unique green-tinged wine tastes light and refreshing; you are able to taste whole bottles of wines at the end of the tour. The staff are more than happy to accommodate your personal tastes if you would rather try a different wine to your partner or travel companion.

Quinta da Aveleda, Portugal by zip 95

Margaux – France

Just north of the more well-known wine tasting area of Bordeaux, Margaux is arguably one of the most refined wines of the region. With glorious countryside and ancient castles and forts surrounding the area, you are likely to stumble upon a truly delicious vintage at this unique winery. In order to make it a more seamless vacation, why not go on a cruise for wine lovers? You can go from Southampton in the UK and then tour the regions with a guide and share your love of wine with other like-minded fellows.

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Interestingly, Tuscany has been en-vogue in England since the 16th century, when famous writers and artists discovered its rustic beauty and passionate way of living. So much that in the Eighteen hundreds the British community living in Florence was so numerous that the famous Florentine steak was actually an offspring conjugating the English passion for meat and the huge Chianina cow breed.

It was also during these years that the care for Tuscan homes started to become present even among Tuscans. However, it would only be during the 1970s that Italians really got the matter into their hands to deeply transform abandoned farming lands and their farmhouse into beautiful gardens surmounted by Tuscan villas.

While on one side new owners invested into these rural properties, on the other tourism development boomed, starting to offer a variety of services and options that made Tuscany ever more attractive. As a result, in Tuscany tourists can find some of the richest museums and galleries. The Uffizi in Florence should ring a bell, but it is just one of hundreds. Restaurant owners moved away from being tourist traps and started giving real value to visitors, making Tuscan cuisine famous worldwide.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Alex Ranaldi

Speaking of food, when you visit Tuscany you have to dive into its great variety of genuine gourmet foods. Aged cheese with delicate preserves, cold cuts that melt in your mouth, crunchy bread to go with them, and wonderful Chianti and Brunello wines to wash them down. This is just a glimpse of all that awaits you during a visit in Tuscany.

The best way to enjoy the region is to stay in one of the many Tuscany villas that you can rent with other family members and friends. Just relax by the pool of your rental home, then take advantage of your location to discover the tasty culinary realities that lay near your vacation spot. Do not cram in one daytrip after another. Take your time to savor your stay, plan one or two outings per week to the places that interest you the most, cook a lot at home, and just do as the Tuscans do!

Matt lives in Tuscany and loves this land so dearly that he decided to start his own business to help travelers get the best Tuscan villas at the best price.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Gilles Messian

Château de Chenonceau, in comparison to the other castles of the Loire, has a very calm and majestic appearance. It may be surprising that the castle is the work of women (was built and reconstructed according to the wishes of several noble women), therefore the castle is also known as the “Château des Dames” (Castle of women). For example, Catherine de Medici added amazing yew maze and a rose garden. Madame Dupin changed the castle to ​​a center of fashion in the 18th century.

Château de Chenonceau is standing on the site of the former water mill. It has been built between the years of 1513 and 1521. The current form of the castle dates back to the 16th century. In the years of 1556 – 1559 its typical bridge arches were added to the castle and connected the banks of the river.

In the castle you can admire the beautiful tapestries, magnificent paintings and original tile floors. No wonder that after Versailles it is the second most visited castle in France.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Gilles Messian

The castle is open to the public, and features the magnificent interiors and beautiful gardens. There are even restaurants and galleries. It is also home to various regular exhibitions and concerts. Before visiting the Château de Chenonceau you can download audio guide of the castle from the official website of Château de Chenonceau.

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Today Sevilla has about 700 000 inhabitants. Like the most of the country, also Sevilla was for a long time – the whole 500 years – under the rule of Muslim Moors, who left indelible traces here. The name Andalusia comes from the Arabic “Al Andalus”, which was an Arabic name given to a nation in Iberian Peninsula under Arab domination. This term was derived from the Vandals, who inhabited the area at the turn of the 4th and 5th century.

When the Muslims were defeated in 1248 by King Ferdinand III. and 300 000 of them were driven, perfect Moorish architects and builders were still employed by the Christians. The city thanks them e.g. for the symbol of the city, minaret Giralda, Alcázar – romantic castle from the 14th century, but also for many other oriental buildings and beautiful gardens in the Arab style.

But Christians probably did not want to humiliate, and thus in the year of 1401 they began to build a huge cathedral, saying: “Let us build such a great cathedral that everyone who sees it, regarded us as crazy.”

At the site of a former mosque they built Cathedral of the Virgin Mary for over 100 years. It is built in Gothic style from the outside, but it was influenced by the Renaissance from the inside. Now it is the third largest cathedral in Europe and one of the most admired local tourist magnets – also for a fact that the famous navigator Christopher Columbus is buried here.

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Bullfighting is characteristic for the city of Sevilla. The first bullfight match took place in Sevilla around the year 1750. Later there was built one of the grandest arenas here, called Plaza Toros de la Maestranza, which can host around 12,500 visitors. Another favourite entertainment is Flamenco, typical Andalusian music and dance. Although flamenco is today for many a symbol of Spain, its creation came from the mixture of Gypsy, Jewish, Arab and others.

So if you want to see the bullfights and flamenco, the best time for your visit would be during some of ceremonies or festivals. Sevilla offers a number of interesting museums and other attractions, like the old Jewish quarter with non-Jewish name Barrio de Santa Cruz, Plazza de Espana square with arcades and malls, and more. Perhaps everyone comes into his own here.

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The town is a resort of the aristocracy, the wealthy and celebrities. Some famous people spent holidays here, such as Charlie Chaplin, or Winston Churchill. Admission to the villa is 10 euros.

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Amalfitana Coast has been inhabited since the early Middle Ages. There are many cities with important architectural monuments and works of art. The local people adapted to the terrain variety (the terraced vineyards, orchards in the valleys). The largest center of Amalfitana Coast is the historic town of Amalfi. The main monument is The Dome from 10th century. Another popular place is the village of Positano and Ravello romantic village with its beautiful gardens. Since 1997, Amalfitana Coast is a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Powerscourt Gardens is dominated by a large lake with a fountain and lots of water lilies. There is even a cemetery of the favorite animals of local family. From here you have a great view of the impressive mountain Great Sugar Loaf.

Powerscourt House and Gardens are located approx. 20km from Dublin city centre.

Opening hours and fees:

Gardens
Daily: 9.30am – 5.30pm
Gardens close at dusk in Winter
Closed December 25th & 26th

Ballroom & Garden Rooms
Sundays 9:30am – 1:30pm All Year
Mondays 9:30am – 1:30pm May to September

Entrance Fees
Adults €6.00, Student/OAP €5.50
Child (U16) €3.50, Child (U5) Free

Waterfall
Opening Times
Jan/Feb/Nov/Dec 10.30am – 4.00pm
Mar/Apr/Sept/Oct 10.30am – 5.30pm
May/Jun/July/Aug 9.30am – 7.00pm
Closed 2 weeks prior to Christmas

Entrance Fees
Adults €5.00, Student/OAP €4.50
Child (U16) €3.50, Children (U2) Free

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The Gardens of Ninfa are open to the public only on certain dates set and the entrance is allowed only through guided tours, in order to preserve its delicate environmental balance.

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The tour lasts about one hour. At the end you can visit the Hortus conclusus, an Italian garden dating from the 17th century, featuring citrus and ponds with swans.

The garden is open to the public from April to October and the basic admission fee is €10.

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Isola dei Pescatori, Borromean Islands, Italy by Ed Webster

The first island acquired was that of Isola Bella which was nothing more than a rock that was named after the countess Isabella Borromeo. Over the years, a number of improvements to the island have been made including the construction of a palace during the 17th century. Vast amounts of sand were filed in around the island to increase its size over the centuries.

The second and largest of the Borromean Islands is that of the Isola Madre. The island is well-known for its many beautiful gardens. There is also a palace on the island which is adorned with many fine masterpieces from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

The Isola dei Pescatori (known also as Isola Superiore) used to be owned by the Borromo family. Today it is known as the only inhabited Borromean Island. With a small fishing village, the island has a population of a little more than 200 residents. The residents of this island are also the one responsible for bringing tourists to the Borromean Islands during the peak seasons of the year.

Both the Isolino di San Giovanni and the rock known as Malghera are uninhabited and no major structures have been built upon them. The rock of Malghera is only 200 square meters in size and is known for its small beach; it is located between the islands of Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella.

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