June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
The mountain range rises 1,236 metres above the Catalan lowlands, 50 km northwest of Barcelona. Montserrat means “serrated mountain” and the shape is unmistakable: a jagged ridge of grey conglomerate rock that looks like a saw blade against the sky. The Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat, has been here since 1025. The mountain holds […]
Tags: 13th-century, benedictine-monastery, black-madonna, boys-choir, catalonia, catholic-spain, extensive-library, holy-grail, infant-christ, last-supper, legend-says-that, local-boys, miraculous-powers, montserrat, napoleonic-wars, national-symbol, pope-leo-xiii, rock-climbers, saint-patron, spain, supernatural-abilities, virgin-mary
Categories: Nature, Sights, Spain, Wellness, Relax & Sports
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
St Albans combines Roman history, medieval architecture, and modern prosperity in a way that few English towns can match. The great Cathedral, built from Roman bricks scavenged from the abandoned city of Verulamium, rises above the parkland and shopping streets. The remains of the Roman theatre, one of only two of its kind in Britain, […]
Tags: abbey-mill, architectural-monuments, benedictine-monastery, christian-martyr, city, classical-elements, dovecote, duke-humphrey, english-gothic-style, history-of-england, london-westminster, medieval-architecture, most-beautiful-towns, nationwide-building-society, river-thames, roman-settlement, spiritual-centre, st-alban, st-albans, tumultuous-events, uk, winchester-st, ye-olde
Categories: Cities, Sights, Sights, United Kingdom
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
The name Parma is spoken in kitchens around the world. Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano have made this city famous long before most tourists ever visit. But Parma is far more than its edible exports. The Romanesque cathedral and baptistery dominate the old centre, their pink Verona marble glowing in the afternoon light. Correggio’s fresco […]
Tags: 11th-century, architectural-attractions, arturo-toscanini, baptistery, benedictine-monastery, century-church, cheese, cittadella, city, creation-of-the-world, ducal-palace, food-safety, gothic-church, ham, ham-recipes, hams, italian-town, italy, little-stream, local-delicacies, marble-tower, middle-ages, opera-house, orto-botanico, paganini, palazzo-del-governatore, palazzo-della-pilotta, parma, parmesan-cheese, pink-marble, quaint-town, roman-control, romanesque-cathedral, san-francesco-del-prato, san-giovanni-evangelista, san-sepolcro, santa-croce, teatro-farnese, teatro-regio, tourist-destination, town-of-parma, university-of-parma
Categories: Italy, Sights
Updated June 10, 2026 by europeexplored
Lake Orta sits in the shadow of its more famous neighbour Lake Maggiore, and that is precisely its charm. The crowds go elsewhere, leaving this smaller lake to those who prefer quiet beauty over commercial spectacle. The water reflects the green slopes of the surrounding hills and the island of San Giulio rises from the […]
Tags: 16th-century, 4th-century, artistic-treasures, baroque-architecture, benedictine-monastery, blooming-garden, century-lake, costellation, countless-tourists, fine-resorts, glaciers, isola, italians, italy, lago-d-orta, lake-maggiore, lake-orta, lake-orta-italy, landscape, nature, northern-italy, olive-groves, orta-lago, orta-lake, picturesque-buildings, quiet-beauty, san-giulio, san-guilio, shorelines, toce, tourist-routes, tourists, unexpected-beauty
Categories: Italy, Lakes, Nature, Nature