A cultural hub

As well as being home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Vieux Lyon, Croix-Rousse and Presqu’île it is also the birthplace of cinema and plays host to many arts festivals throughout the year. This includes the world famous Biennial Dance Festival and this year, is a particularly special year, as it is celebrating its 15th anniversary.

The Biennale Festival

As lively and bustling as you would expect, Lyon is home to 470,000 people and hosts a number of festivals, cultural events and sporting affairs throughout the year.

Photo by dancetechtv

Lyon’s Biennale Festival features over 50 choreographic works in 30 different venues throughout the city as draws in thousands of visitors to the city each time it visits. For three weeks in September, visitors can enjoy an opportunity to see their favourite up and coming acts in a series of one off performances and recent works.

Biennial acts as a training facility for public art, and is aimed at a broad and diverse audience, from those who are new to dance, to connoisseurs.

A celebration of dance

But clarity of intention aside, the biennial is one of the most ambitious and important dance festivals in the world, and its largeness of scale and intention is splendid to see at a time of ever-shrinking financing for the arts.

The festival has showcased some of European dance’s most famous pieces such as Les Ballets C de la B’s “Aphasiadisiac” and Angelin Preljocaj’s “Snow White”. Set to music by Mahler, costumes for the performance were designed for none-other than Jean-Paul Gautier himself.

“Les Petites Pièces de Berlin,” choreographed by Dominique Bagouet and first performed at the biennial in 1988, went on to become one of the best-loved dance performances of the year, consistently selling out in auditoriums all over the world.

Celebrity spotting

Dance lovers staying at hotels in Lyon can also look forward to a little bit of celeb spotting.

The festival has attracted many famous faces in its 15 years, with the likes of French choreographer Dominique Hervieu who is the creative director and leads the way for the parade which marks the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival.

Last but not least be sure to reserve your hotel in plenty of time, as Lyon gets very busy around this time of year. Tickets sell out quickly too, so book them as soon as you can.

What are your favourite forms of dance?

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-lyon

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It is the most important architectural monument of Greek art on the Italian mainland. Greek colonists lived in Paestum already in the 7th century BC and called the town Poseidonia. Archeological discoveries confirm that the city was an important center of learning, full of temples, roads and rich buildings. It was founded by the Romans around the year 40 BC. At this time Paestum belonged to the prosperous cities of the Roman Empire.

In the Middle Ages Paestum (or Capaccio – as it was called) was abandoned for unknown reasons (historians are leaning toward the theory that it was due to malaria). The archaeological work that was carried out in 18th century (for an initial focus of Pompeii and Herculaneum) again showed this glory to the world and the city has enjoyed rediscovery. On 9th September 1943 the beach at Paestum became a landing place for the 36th American Division. Heavy fighting took place in the city nine days before the German were pushed to the north.

Thanks to archaeological discoveries, Paestum became a frequent tourist destination. Visitors can enjoy history together with a great opportunity to swim in the sea. The real tourist boom occurred after World War II, even though the city has undergone a difficult period of war. The city began to develop a robust tourism industry, which attracted visitors from all over the world. But not only the sea and monuments attracted to Paestum. It is also delicious cuisine and Nature (Paestum is located in the middle of the Cilento National Park).

Paestum has its own atmosphere and charm. You can sit in the numerous restaurants offering fish specialties in pizzerias and cafes. Come to Paestum and see that you will be very nice surprised!

You can also visit nearby Napoli, Pompeii or Capri island.

View Paestum – major Graeco-Roman city in Italy in a larger map

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