Blarney Castle is one of Ireland’s most famous landmarks, and it all comes down to a single stone. The Blarney Stone, set into the battlements, is said to grant the gift of eloquence to anyone who kisses it. Thousands of visitors each year lean backwards over the parapet to plant a kiss on the stone. […]
Deep in the hills of central Portugal, the Mata Nacional do Buçaco, or Bussaco National Forest, is one of the most remarkable and romanticised forests in Europe. Enclosed within a 105-hectare wall, this ancient woodland has been carefully managed by monastic orders for over 400 years, preserving a unique collection of native and exotic trees […]