A view of Porto, Portugal by Sunny Ripert

The entire province that Porto is located in is an important commercial center for the country. Today you will find many fine buildings that span the centuries and include cathedrals, churches, mansions and so much more. Nearby, along the river Tâmega, you will find some of the finest mansions in the country, many of which can be dated back to the 17th century and beyond.

Along the banks of the Douro River, you can find the Caves do Vinho do Porto. There are several wine cellars which house more than 50 different types of wine. You can take guided tours throughout the cellars and even have the opportunity to taste some of the finest wines.

Many people chose to stop by and check out the 13th century Sé Catedral which houses many finer artifacts from across the centuries. Then there is the nearby Torre dos Clérigos which is a bell tower that was completed in 1763 and features 225 steps to the viewing level. The 19th century Palácio da Bolsa was the former home of the nation’s Stock Exchange but today stands as a beautiful example of some of the finest workmanship of the era.

There are many great locations throughout the region to experience the culture and history of Portugal. There is the Museu de Serralves which is a contemporary art museum that showcases an amazing collection of art from some of the best Portuguese artists of recent times. The Museu Municipal Abade Pedrosa is a museum dedicated to the medieval times and has a number of important artifacts from the era.

Porto Cathedral, Portugal by Gabriele Margapoti

You may also want to check out the Antiga Cadeia da Relação prison which is now home to the Portuguese Centre for Photography. The Edifício do Instituto do Vinho do Porto is the institute responsible for ensuring the quality of Douro wines.

For some rest and relaxation, you can stop by and visit the Jardim de São Lázaro gardens which were developed back in 1834 or the Jardim do Passeio Alegre gardens which date back to 1870. For the ultimate treat though, spend a day at the Termas de São Vicente hot springs where you can get that much needed rest and relaxation you have been searching for.

Just do not forget that you cannot leave Porto without visiting the Citânia de Sanfins ruins. This 15 hectare archaeological site is the location of some of the most important findings on the entire Iberian Peninsula. You will see ruins from both the Neolithic as well as the Palaeolithic Eras. There are roads and buildings as well as baths that can be dated back several thousand years.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by David Merrett

To avoid a clash with the 2012 Olympics in London (never heard of it, personally), the festival has been brought forward from its usual August schedule. It will now take place, in and around the glorious Hereford Cathedral, from 21-28 July.

For those of you who have never heard of the Three Choirs Festival, you’re in or a treat. Let me enlighten you and perhaps you can comment in reply, introducing me to the various ins and outs of these so-called Olympics (whatever they might be).

The Tree Choirs Festival has been running for nearly 400 years. It began as a two-day gathering to celebrate ecclesiastical music and gather the bordering cathedral counties of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester.

Since its inception, the festival has developed and expanded, with each of the three cities hosting according annual rotation. The three choirs of the respective cathedrals remain central to the programme; although other core ensembles and distinguished guests have been added, in recent years.

The festival has a long association with distinguished British composers, such as Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar. Purcell and Handel were frequently performed across the 18th century, while Mendelssohn and Haydn became firm festival favourites from in the 19th century.

Beethoven, Mozart and Rossini became extremely popular in the 1800s, but the greatest impact was not made by a composer, but by engineers. With the invention of the railway, the festival gained large crowds and revenues.

This new found popularity did not sit easily with The Church and the festival was scaled back, but it wasn’t to last. The festival was reinstated in all its glory as J.S. Bach was played for the first time.

In the 20th century the festival concentrated on British musicians and began a tradition of premiering and commission new work, including that of Finzi, Howell and Parry.

Now, the three cathedral choirs are joined by the Festival Chorus, who perform the majority of the large scale repertoire. Guests are also regularly invited and this year sees the beginning of the Philharmonia Orchestra’s three year-long residency, as well as the first visit of composer Diego Mathuez from Venezuala and a world premier by Dobrina Tabakova.

If you’d like to learn more of the history, then there is an excellent timeline of the Three Choir’s most important events on their website.

Written by Simon for Hotel Shop, offering cheap breaks across the UK and beyond.

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Santa María de León Cathedral was built of golden sandstone, in the Gothic style in the 13th Century. Master Cathedral architect was Enrique. It was built in the place where originally (in the 2nd century BC) stood Roman Spa, which was about 800 years later converted into a palace.

León Cathedral was completed in the 16th century. Today it is a wonderful building and since 1844 it is Spanish National Monument.

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Right at the entrance of the León Cathedral there are three decorated portals. Inside the cathedral there are more than 250 magnificent stained glass windows and a large circular window. Stained glass windows occupy more than 1800 m2.

In León Cathedral you also find cathedral’s museum. You can see there La Virgen Blanca, which is a Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary. Then the treasury of the 16th century and the cloister decorated with frescoes by Nicolás Frances. Cathedral Museum is in the summer (July-September) open from Monday to Friday, from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:30. On Saturday it is open from 9:30 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. Cathedral is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

But the museum is open all year round, however opening hours are changing, it is better to look at the official site of the León Cathedral. Basic admission fee is 4 €.

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Maastricht claims to be the oldest city in the Netherlands (a claim it shares with Nijmegen). There are some magnificent buildings, lots of old houses, lovely cathedrals and a spectacularly cobblestoned town centre.

What to see in Maastricht
City Center

• Two town squares in the centre of the city
  • The Vrijthof, which features the massive St Servaas Church and St Jan’s Cathedral. It hosts large festivals also in autumn and winter. The Carnaval before Lent is an amazing occasion that everybody should see
  • The Markt, which features the Town Hall (Stadhuis) and on Wednesdays and Fridays, markets

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