A tiny island off the coast of Sicily, Favignana is the largest one of Aegadian Islands, which also include Marettimo and Levanzo. Whilst Favignana was once prominently involved with tuna fishing and packing, it is now focussed on tourism. But you won’t find scores of people flocking to the white sand beaches with cool boxes in hand, like some other European holiday destinations; the island is relatively untouched by the cruel hands of mass tourism and remains a safe haven for those looking for some peace and quiet.

Cala Rossa, Favignana, Italy by rivaalessandro

Places to Stay

There are a variety of different hotels to stay in around the island and you can be sure a beautiful view of the azure sea is never far away. My two favourites are the Hotel Tempo di Mare and the Hotel Cave Bianche.

The Hotel Tempo di Mare is a four star, stunning white-walled hotel whose entranceway beautifully frames the crystalline waters. It is not a huge hotel and has around 45 rooms, each designed in a simple but chic way with white linens and hints of pale blue. There is a restaurant within the hotel which serves delicious Italian and Sicilian fusion food, using the mouth-wateringly plentiful frutti-di-mare.

The Cave Bianche is a little further away from the island’s main city, only around a 10-15 minute drive, and is set in an old mining quarry. This is a striking hotel unlike anything else in the world; submerged within a quarry with huge vaulted ceilings and characteristic pale sandstone walls. There is also a large pool and Jacuzzi’s not to mention plenty of sunbeds, so you can take advantage of the warming Mediterranean sun.

All in all both hotels are stunning and a real design feat, certainly eons better than what you would find on the Costa del Sol!

Church in Favignana, Sicily, Italy by giovanni.gambaro

Beaches

There are a number of beaches scattered throughout the island, the best has to be the gorgeous Lido Burrone and Cala Azzurra. Both of these beaches are around the south of the island and easily accessible by car or moped. The real thing that makes them special is the fact that the sea is so clear, and the sea beds are covered with luminous white sand stretching out from the coastline. This makes it easy to see all of the amazing sea-life around the area, including octopi, moray eels, crabs and jellyfish, although the majority of these will be found in deeper waters so you don’t have to worry about getting stung!

Sunset at Favignana, Sicily, Italy by payhere

How to get there?

I am from London and so one way I found to get there was flying from Heathrow to Palermo in Sicily which is only a short flight, then hire a car from Palermo to Trapani and then hop on a hydrofoil for around 20 minutes to then get to Favignana’s main port. If all this may seem a little too much, why not try a cruise and stay Caribbean cruise? They are run regularly by many operators and stop right alongside Sicily making it much easier for you to get to Favignana.

However you find it, Favignana is a real hidden gem, so why not discover it now before everybody else does?

The post Top 5 reasons why Favignana is the perfect place for your next holiday appeared first on Europe Explored.

Meteora, Greece / Konstantinos Koukopoulos

But forget the cityscapes of Bruges and Paris, as beautiful as they are, because the originality just isn’t there. These are the tours that everyone does, and they don’t require that much effort either.  Instead, to truly discover those inspiring landscapes that had your jaw dropping at the credits, check out these fascinating European locations that can form the backdrop to your next European holiday.

Meteora, Greece

Perched precariously on top of the rocky Meteroa mountains in Thessaly, Greece, are a collection of monasteries which are incredibly difficult to reach. The original 9th Century monks had formed an order by climbing these formidable rock towers and occupying the hollows and tunnels which ran across their surfaces, and it wasn’t for another three thousand years or so before solid structures began to appear.

Named Meteroa, meaning ‘In the Heavens Above’, only a handful of the original 24 are still inhabited by monks, and although visitors are welcome, you really do need to put in the effort to get to them. Stone steps and walkways lead intrepid visitors up the edge of uncertain cliffs to get to the buildings atop them.  Fans of the James Bond movies will recognise one of the monasteries, Holy Trinity (which is the least accessible of them all), from the movie For Your Eyes. Whether you manage the climb all the way to the top or not the view from this area is inspiring.

Marktschellenberg, Germany

Located just south of Salzburg is an open meadow that should be instantly recognisable to fans of the Von Trapp family.  It is of course the meadow through which Julie Andrews ran and sang with such wanton abandon in The Sound of Music nearly 50 years ago.  The meadow has reportedly changed little in that time, although producers do admit to having added one or two background trees to their shots during production for the effect.  This iconic location is easy to get to and, along with other locations from the film in the neighbouring towns, forms a tour that has quickly become one of the most popular walking holidays in Europe.

Mamores, Scotland, UK / Graham Lewis

Mamores, Scotland

The Mamores isn’t actually a place, but rather a mountain range in the Scottish Highlands.  Lying close to the town of Fort William, the Mamores incorporates ten of Scotland’s highest mountains that form a continuous and circuitous route from one to the next.  This is the type of walking that requires specialist gear, so don’t think about hopping up the nearest hill in your trainers when you’re on a day trip to the area.

The height of these mountains makes the weather unpredictable and confusing so experience is essential.  If you do fit into this category and you find yourself standing at the top of Stob Ban or Am Bodach, you’ll be following in the footsteps of Mel Gibson’s epic trek as William Wallace in Braveheart.  And while you might not be lucky enough to meet a wild man in a kilt on your holiday, the spectacular view of the surrounding mountaintops should more than make up for it.

Byline: Fiona Galloway is a travel writer who has written about walking holidays in Europe.

View Three European film locations for your next holiday in a larger map

The post Three European film locations for your next holiday appeared first on Europe Explored.

Of all the continents, one of the most diverse and magical is Europe. But with approximately 50 countries, each with its own culture and personality, choosing a destination for adventure travel could take all your time. So outlined below are the top five Europe destinations with a few tips on how to make your trip extra memorable.

Paris

This exquisite city of love is the obvious first-choice tourist destination for Europe. The spectacular architecture, delectable food and wealth of cultural sites make Paris the ultimate European holiday destination.

There’s so much to do and see in Paris that it is impossible to exhaust the city in one trip. You can browse in a few couture shops on the Champs Elysees, share a meal in one of the city’s gourmet restaurants, gaze across the city from the top of the Eiffel Tower or simply watch a very chic world go by while enjoying a coffee in one of the many cafes.

Although the weather is at its best in Paris from June to August, this is also when the city is invaded by tourists and the price of holidays goes up.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by agaw.dilim

Barcelona

Second on our list is the historic city of Barcelona, which mixes its old-world authenticity with the wildly bizarre. This intriguingly eclectic city attracts all types of travellers – families, couples, lone explorers and culture vultures and those looking for adventure travel.

Barcelona has an overwhelming variety of things to do, although a lot of attention is given to Las Ramblas because of the quaint narrow streets and alleys crammed with busy restaurants and vibrant markets.

The food and wine in this city are extraordinary, consisting of large meaty dishes and lighter tapas and an abundance of wonderful seafood.

By far the best time to visit the city is May-June as the temperatures are a little too high for comfort in August and so the most of the city shuts down.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Volkanikz

Rome

The mythical city of Rome is a very close third in the list, with its historic architecture, spectacular food and sleek and stylish locals. The beautiful array of dazzling churches and inspiring museums and galleries mean there is plenty to see here, if of course you can drag yourself away from the numerous cafés and restaurants all offering mouth-watering treats. Be sure to try as many various flavours of the gelato as you possibly can! Although most tourists travel to Rome for the history, it is also a very fast-paced and modern city.

Photo by admin

London

One of the busiest modern cities in Europe, London beats with the lifeblood of countless generations. It was once said that no man could ever tire of London and this is true. By day, take your time strolling around Covent Garden or shopping on Oxford Street, visit the many galleries and museums and maybe have a picnic in Hyde Park or afternoon tea in the Dorchester. By night, head to Soho and sample the vibrant and slightly alternative nightlife!

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by edwin.11

Prague

Prague is a picturesque and magical city that has survived so many attacks upon it over the past 1100 years. Wander down the narrow streets and marvel at the churches, the statue-lined bridges and the daunting hilltop castle that make this a fairytale place. English isn’t always spoken language here, though, so keep a phrase book with you in case of emergencies.

Photo by admin

The post Five Great European Travel Destinations appeared first on Europe Explored.