Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Christopher John SSF

The city was established by the Romans as a first-century military base. It had a larger fortress than those built in York and other parts of the country, which suggests that Chester was meant to be the capital of Roman Britain. In any case, it was certainly a very important place, and some evidence of Roman Chester survives to this day. These include the remains of Britain’s largest Roman amphitheatre, and central Chester’s main street plan, which follows the same pattern that was laid out by its Roman pioneers.

Chester’s medieval past is more immediately visible today. This was a violent period in the city’s history, and the impressive wall surrounding Chester is evidence of this. First the Saxons, then the Normans built up its fortifications. The Normans further strengthened the city by constructing the castle, and they also carried out much of the early work on the cathedral. Today, Chester has one of the most complete city walls in Britain. Apart from a short section, the wall is virtually intact. It creates a certain feeling of calm within, and walking around the city wall is a fantastic ways to see Chester from a different angle.

Whatever aspect of Chester’s long history you’d like to learn more about, the city works hard to bring it to life for you. There are plenty of activities and attractions for children and families. These recreate moments in history, to help better our understanding of Roman and medieval times.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Christopher John SSF

Walking through Chester’s streets, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s entirely built in the middle-ages. The shopping streets are dominated by black and white timber-framed buildings. They create a unique atmosphere. In reality, some of Chester’s buildings are medieval, but most are the product of Victorian reconstruction and revival. Authentic or not, it doesn’t really matter. The city’s streets have a wonderful charm to them.

Shopping in Chester is especially famous for what it calls the Rows. You won’t find anything else quite like these in Britain. The lower two floors of these typical black and white houses are usually commercial in purpose. The bottom floor is below street level, and there are steps leading down to the shops there. The first floor is above street level, and shops are accessed via a walkway. You’ll find all the big high street names in Chester, but the design of the Rows is much better suited to smaller shops. As a result, Chester has a thriving independent retail sector. It’s not just the atmosphere that’s unique, many of the shops are too.

When you’ve had enough of history and shopping, you won’t have to walk too far before finding somewhere to sit and have a bite to eat. Cafes and restaurants are all over the city. Sometimes they’re tucked away in quiet little courtyards, so look out for the signs. It’s also worth getting a map when you visit Chester. It’s a compact city, but it has some hidden gems. If you don’t know where to look, you might miss out on something special.

Written by www.globaltravelblog.co.uk

View Within the Walls of Chester United Kingdom in a larger map

The post Within the Walls of Chester | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Edwin Lee

There are many great attractions in London for all people. Whether you’re looking for culture, fun, thrills or history, this is the place you will find everything.

One of the most exciting and interesting attractions in London is the Tower Of London, also known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress.

It was founded originally in 1066 as part of the Norman conquest of England. There are lots of things to see and do at the tower. Firstly visiting the Queens crown jewels is a must, followed by walking through the rich colours and comfortable furnishings of the Medieval Palace. The best way to enjoy the experience however is to take the 60 minute Yeoman Warder tour and hear all the exciting tales of the Tower’s past.

Another great way to see the attractions of London can be to visit the London Eye.

The London Eye is one of the largest Ferris wheels in Europe, and shows panoramic views of the city, which lasts long enough for you to really soak it all up. It is based on the River Thames, so it is amazing to see the whole city, and makes it easy to get around. It is described by its operators as the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel.

There are many ways to end your visit to London. One of the best ways is to enjoy one of the fine theatre shows. One of the best shows is The Woman In Black, which is a scary and intense thrill which you are unlikely to find anywhere else. There are hundreds of shows in production, making it difficult to choose. If you’ve earned enough points on your Velocity rewards card or other rewards card, you may be able to redeem them against the cost of a show.

View The Best Sightseeing In London United Kingdom in a larger map

The post The Best Sightseeing In London | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Iain and Sarah

The Romans called it Arx-Arcis (high fortress), the Arabs renamed it to Medina-Arkos. And it was just Arab civilization that created an unmistakable appearance of the village. At this time Arcos became very important and prosperous town. In the 19th century there were a number of policy changes. Arcos was also a home to José I Bonaparte for some time. Today the village is a very important breeding cattle and agricultural centre. It has a strong aroma of olive trees, orange trees and fruit orchards.

The historic center of Arcos is really rich in monuments. One of the most important ones is Basilica de Santa María de la Asunción which is the oldest in Arcos. It was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries on the ruins of Arab mosque. A visit will costs you €1.50.

Another interesting sight is Torre de Santa Maria. This tower offers a really wonderful view of the city and its surroundings. It is a place where you can find the ancient bells of the 15th century, which are valued as the most beautiful in Andalucia. The tower is opened every day from 10:30 to 18:30.

The village has also the castle Castillo de Arcos that served as the fortress during the Arab period, although its appearance looks more like it was from the 15th century.

View Arcos de la Frontera – white Andalusian village Spain in a larger map

The post Arcos de la Frontera – white Andalusian village | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by tomasz przechlewski

Insights into the history
Gniew Castle was founded in the 2nd half of the 13th century and served as the seat of the Teutonic Knights. In the 15th century castle took possession of the royal family. Later, however, the fortress fell to Prussians, who established the military barracks and armory at the Gniew castle. In the first half of the 20th century the building was damaged by a large fire. About 50 years later, began an extensive reconstruction, and the whole place got back to its original form.

Attractions
Today the castle houses an archaeological museum, where you can see many exhibitions of medieval excavations and archaeological findings. The castle also hosts festivals of various historic characters and many exhibitions. In the vicinity of Gniew Castle you can find another great castle, Malbork Castle, which is the largest Gothic building in the world and the largest brick building in the world.

Practical information
You can visit Gniew Castle almost every day (except of Mondays) from 9:00 to 17:00. Admission is 8 PLN. The museum is open from 15 April to 31 October. You can even accommodate right in the castle complex or try some of the great polish traditional meals in the castle’s restaurant. Very impressive is night walking around the castle.

For further details visit official website of Gniew Castle.

View Gniew Castle – a medieval knight’s seat and fortress in Poland in a larger map

The post Gniew Castle – a medieval knight’s seat and fortress in Poland appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Carlo Columba

Visitors of Scillato can admire the typical Sicilian Baglio house from the 19th century. Its owner is old aristocratic Sicilian family since its inception. It is surrounded by extensive parks full of rare trees and centuries-old trees. This house is nowadays used as a hostel for tourists and there is even a swimming pool with cloak-room. The house stands on the edge of a protected natural park, the Parco delle Madonie and is situated near a large golf course.

Do not look for the sea in Scillato (in fact, not all of the places in Sicily offers swimming in the sea), but if you have a car, you can go to the beach town of Cefalu, which is located approximately 40 km away. Cefalu preserved its picturesque and medieval atmosphere. Above the town rises interesting reef La Rocca resembling a fortress, which was once overlooked by the temple of Diana. Cefalu’s dominant is the cathedral of 1131, which was originally a royal tomb, and the main temple of the kingdom of Sicily. The coast is lined with some beautiful sandy beaches.

View Scillato – a good starting point for interesting trips in Sicily Italy in a larger map

The post Scillato – a good starting point for interesting trips in Sicily | Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

The castle complex consists of a group of objects originating from the 12th to 20th century, thanks to which a visitor can see how the castle changed over the centuries from the fortress through a royal palace, garrison and finally into a state prison. At a place, where the castle stands now, was a fortress already in the 6th century, built by King Edwin of Northumbria – after whom the city is named.

Edinburgh Castle can be visited either by yourself or you can use the services of local guides, who tell you about the history of the castle, about the battles that took place here and other interesting legends. Another option is to rent an audio guide, which costs about £3.

Visitors should not miss a tour to the Royal Botanical Gardens, which are located about 3.2 km from the castle. Do not be surprised if among the plants you find a cannon ball – during the wedding celebration of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, a cannonball was fired in her honour from the castle and fell to the gardens.

The castle is open daily from 9:30 to 17:00 (during the summer to 18:00) and a basic admission is £15. For further information visit official website of Edinburgh Castle.

View Edinburgh Castle – one of the most visited places in Scotland United Kingdom in a larger map

The post Edinburgh Castle – one of the most visited places in Scotland | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

The first castle on this place was built around the year of 1280 by Count Floris to secure the mouth of the river Vecht. In 1296 the Count was kidnapped, held captive and later killed, the castle was destroyed. A new castle here was built on the ruins by Duke Albrecht in 1370. At this time Muiden Castle was used as an aristocratic residence, served also as a court and state prison.

At the beginning of the 19th century the castle fell into disrepair, and for a while it seemed like the castle will be demolished and sold out for building material. But King Willem eventually didn’t allow demolition, and the castle was restored in 1895. In the years 1948-1972 Muiden Castle underwent reconstruction, which repaired some previous inadequate treatment. Today the castle serves as a national museum and a venue of many cultural events.

Pieter Hooft Corneliszoon
The most famous inhabitant of the castle was known Dutch writer, poet and historian Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, who lived at the castle in the years 1609-1647. He was also a Knight in the Order of Saint Michael. Hooft used to invite other well-known artists here with whom he enjoyed and worked. The interiors of the castle are just surviving from this period. At the end of the 17th century Muiden Castle was integrated into a new and enlarged earthwork fortress .

The castle is now open to the public all year round with guided tours only. From April to November it is open from monday till saturday from 10:00 till 17:00. On Sundays from 13:00 till 17:00. Then from November till April only on weekends from 13:00 till 16:00. No photography is allowed inside the castle.

View Muiden Castle – the most visited castle in the Netherlands in a larger map

The post Muiden Castle – the most visited castle in the Netherlands appeared first on Europe Explored.

In the last year for which figures are available, some 2.4 million people visited the Tower of London, helped by its central location, close to key transport links, restaurants and the top London Hotels.

View Tower of London – Royal Palace, fortress, prison, place of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo and jewel house United Kingdom in a larger map

The Tower of London is formally known as Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, giving a clue to its historical use. It was used as a prison, an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie and the home of the Royal Mint. Famously, it was and still is used to store the Crown Jewels. It’s unique appearance and grandeur is mimicked at all places of luxury, such as the top Dubai Hotels or finest London restaurants. People seem to enjoy re-creating the pomp and circumstance of the era, even if the Tower itself had a grizzly past.

The Tower of London was founded in controversial circumstances. William I, having just defeated the English king Harold, was keen to make his mark on England and commoners saw the tower as being a symbol of oppression.

Over the next few hundred years, it was besieged several times, while in the 15th century it was the prison of the Princes in the Tower.

On the death of Edward IV in 1483, his eldest son Edward V should have acceded to the throne, but his uncle, Richard Duke of Gloucester, was declared Lord Protector instead, as the child was only 12. Edward was imprisoned in the tower, along with his younger brother Richard, and they are believed to have been murdered there in the late summer of 1483.

Among the Tower of London’s other famous temporary residents was Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, who was imprisoned and later executed at the site. Guy Fawkes, one of the members of the Gunpowder Plot to blow up the Palace of Westminster in 1605, was tortured at the Tower.

The Crown Jewels are stored in the Waterloo Barracks at the Tower, and are without doubt one of the most fascinating sights of London. The collection includes St Edward’s Crown, made in 1661, the Imperial State Crown made for George VI in 1937 and the George IV State Diadem, made in 1820.

View Tower of London – Royal Palace, fortress, prison, place of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo and jewel house United Kingdom in a larger map

The post Tower of London – Royal Palace, fortress, prison, place of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo and jewel house | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

In the city you can walk through the narrow cobbled streets full of stairs and steps. Portoferraio is also known for its numerous old churches. Since the city was reconstructed in 1548 in a military style, its main attractions are fortresses Stella, Falcone and Bastion della Linguella. Another interesting sights are the Church of Reverend Mercy and Napoleon’s museum. In the old city there is also one the residences of Napoleon. If you rent a car or a motorcycle in Portoferraio, you can take a circuit around the island and visit some of the most interesting places, including hidden and remote beaches. Portoferraio has good ferry connections with Livorno, Piombino and with many other islands of the Tuscan archipelago.

In the area of ​​Portoferraio there are one of the most popular beaches for scuba diving. However the whole island of Elba is actually a paradise for divers. Therefore you can find almost everywhere a dive shop, where you can add an oxygen or rent diving equipment. Even if you have no experience with diving and would like to try it, you can subscribe to any of the courses in the local diving schools. The local beach has a gentle declivity towards the sea, which is especially appreciated by families with small children and less able-bodied swimmers. Swimming is allowed in the crystal clear water of the Ligurian Sea.

You can try out a variety of water sports such as windsurfing, paragliding, water skiing, scooters and pedal boats. The port city of Portoferraio is also an ideal place for sailing, there are regularly held international sailing races.

Not surprisingly, Portoferraio fascinated visitors since the Middle Ages, however the increasing number of tourists is the only disadvantage of this great island.

View Portoferraio – the largest and capital city of the Italian island of Elba in a larger map

The post Portoferraio – the largest and capital city of the Italian island of Elba appeared first on Europe Explored.

Today Hohensalzburg Castle is open to the visitors during the whole year. Particularly interesting is the medieval royal room and the castle museum. For a tour around the castle complex from 11th century you will need more time. There is also a palace Hohe Stock, Church of St. Georg or several different towers. In the local Gothic rooms you can join the unique concert with candlelight. Since 1892 there is a cable car (Festungsbahn) in operation, which can help you to get up to the castle easily and quickly.

During 20th century Hohensalzburg Castle became one of the most visited attractions in Austria.

View Hohensalzburg Castle – one of the largest medieval castles in Europe Austria in a larger map

The post Hohensalzburg Castle – one of the largest medieval castles in Europe | Austria appeared first on Europe Explored.