Amsterdam

The compact size of Amsterdam – a city built around a system of canals – means that you are never far from the highlights of the destination, and there is never a dull moment, whatever may take your fancy. There is a charm that comes with the quaintness of Amsterdam, but recently a new wave of urban art has been sweeping the town, with an influx of cool reigniting its bohemian credentials. While Anne Frank’s House and the Van Gough Museum are understandably popular, you should also check out rising photographic talent at Huis Marseille or Foam. Away from the tacky stag-do-central of the Red Light District is Reguliersgracht, where criss-crossing alleys are lined with chilled-out cafés and dinky boutique shops.

Amsterdam, Netherlands by Christian Lendl

Istanbul

While the majority of the population of Istanbul are Muslim, it is a sprawling cosmopolitan city with a huge mix of cultures. Being located on the very edge of Europe and Asia, it is a melting pot of Western and Middle Eastern cultures which will fascinate any discerning traveller. One of the archetypal visions of the city can be found in the Covered Bazaar, where merchants and locals trade wares and offer must-have souvenirs to the tourists who pass through. This will give an idea of the whole city, which is a maze of nooks and crannies, all filled with remarkable cafes and boutique shops offering scents, gold and textiles. The Blue Mosque is a must, presenting fabulous mosaics of ceramics and glass, and offering an insight into the wealth and excess of the home of the Ottoman Empire.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey by Jerzy Kociatkiewicz

Rome

The home of an empire that once included territories in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Rome is a goldmine of cultural artefacts. One of the most popular ruins is the Colosseum, which once held brutal fights to the death for the entertainment of thousands. Standing in the stalls, one can imagine the roars and jeers from the baiting crowds. Opposite is Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, from which some of the best views in the city can be found, looking down over the ruins of the residences of many Roman emperors, including Augustus (27 BC-14 AD), Tiberius (14-37) and Domitian (81-96).

Fontana di Trevi, Rome, Italy / Photo by Julo for Best of European Union

London

The British Empire is one with a long and treacherous history. London has a regal sense about it, with cultural monuments still standing proudly across the city – many of which, such as Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament, are still being used today as the centres of the monarchy and Government, respectively. The Tower of London, along the north bank of the River Thames, was built primarily by William the Conqueror in 1078, with many phases of expansion across the centuries. Juxtaposed with the historical sites is modern urban London, with many waves of immigrants creating a cultural hotpot in areas such as Brixton and Camden, where restaurants serve cuisines from across the globe and boutique shops and market stalls trade in unique gifts.

London, England, United Kingdom by Tim Morris

Berlin

Berlin is a strange mix of cultures, which is sometimes a little difficult to feel at ease with. On one hand, you have the ever-present reminders of its recent history, in the form of Third Reich tours or visits to the Iron Curtain and the location of Hitler’s bunker, where he spent his last few hours. While fascinating, it can also be spine-chilling, thinking how recent those terrible events were. However, there are plenty of opportunities to chill out, with quirky urban spectacles such as pop-up nightclubs, and underground ping-pong events, held in derelict buildings. The best way to do this is get talking to the locals and ask if they know of any happenings close by. A sure-fire destination for weekend parties, though, would be Farbfernseher in Kreuzberg.

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany by Bill Tyne

With so many routes and tour companies available to help you travel across the continent or dedicate your time to discovering one particular city, there is no excuse not to learn about these fascinating hubs, no matter what your budget.

Written by Kat Kraetzer, a travel blogger who loves to visit Europe.

The post Europe’s Best Cultural Hotspots appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo by admin

Rome

The Eternal City is near the top of every traveller’s list – a city with a cultural, architectural and historical legacy that is the envy of the world. There is so much to see and do in Rome, it’s a city that should be visited more than once – which is a good reason to start any tour with a trip to the Trevi Fountain. Tradition has it that anyone who throws a coin in this spectacular Baroque fountain – which depicts the Roman God Neptune driving a chariot led by seahorses – will one day return to Rome.

Roman History

Located in the centre of the city, the Roman Colosseum is a remarkable feat of architecture and engineering, and one of the iconic symbols of Rome’s ancient and imperial past. The very first gladiator fight took place in 82 AD, the beginning of a bloody tradition that pitted man against man – and beast – in a fight to the death, with crowds inside the forum reaching 50,000. Visit the Arch of Constantine, built in 315 to mark the famous battle victory of Constantine over Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius.

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Architecture

The Pantheon was built to the orders of Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC and later rebuilt in the 2nd century by the emperor Hadrian. Originally designed as a temple to the gods, it was later converted for Christian worship and, after the Renaissance, became a burial site for the city’s elite and most famous sons, including the painter Raphael. The striking design, with its imperious columns, has inspired many imitators, but nothing compares to seeing the real thing.

The Vatican

The Vatican City is an independent state with its own currency, flag, stamps and militia, the Swiss Guard, which protects its 800 citizens, including the Pope. Out front is the magnificent St. Peter’s Square, while the Vatican Museums house a large collection of Italian masterpieces by artists including Raphael, Fra Angelico and Michelangelo.

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Art

Located in the sprawling gardens of the Villa Borghese, the Galleria Borghese is a must for fans of the Italian masters. Marvel at the Bernini sculpture of Apollo and Daphne, as well as works by Rubens, Correggio, Raphael and Caravaggio.

The Ultimate Travel Company have paired up with the Tate to offer Tate Travels.  They have created a program of art and cultural tours across the world to visit some of the most exciting art destinations.  To see a full list of the upcoming art and cultural breaks, visit The Ultimate Travel Company website.

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Fontana di Trevi is located at the junction of three waterways, at the place where the aqueduct was in the past, which supplied water to Rome. The first fountain was built at this place already in 1453 by Pope Nicholas V. The water was supplied from Acqua Vergine aqueduct, which was created by Marcus Agrippa in 19 BC. Fountain, which is here now, was inspired by an arch of Constantine – one of the last great monuments of Imperial Rome, standing in the shadow of the Colosseum.

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The construction of Fontana di Trevi lasted 30 years, from 1732 till 1762. The main architect was Nicola Salvi, who designed it for the Pope Clement XII. The name of the fountain is derived from three narrow cobblestone streets that are crossing here – “tre vie”, which means three streets. The fountain is carved of marble and in the middle of the fountain there is Titan of Water, Seas, Lakes, Rivers, Oceans, Streams and Ponds – Oceanus.

The dominant of the fountain is a high arch di Trionfo called “Kingdom of the oceans.” In 1998 the fountain was reconstructed and equipped with circulating pumps.

Fontana di Trevi also appeared in the film made by Frederico Fellini – La Dolce Vita, in which the protagonists Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroiani bathed in the fountain. The director in this postwar movie celebrated carefree life in Rome in the 50′s of 20th century.

The people use to throw coins into the fountain – one coin to fulfill the wishes and another one for their return to Rome. Another legend says that when you drop a coin into the fountain, you will meet your true love in Rome, and if you drop more, you’ll have in Rome a happy marriage.

The amount of money in the fountain is really great. The tourists throw here approximately 3,000 Euro every day. Collecting coins from the fountain is strictly prohibited. Money from the fountain is used for the benefit of charities Caritas and the Office for the Protection of Monuments.

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