Amongst the islands there are eight airports so you’ll always be able to get to exactly where you want to go.

Tenerife coastline, Canary Islands, Spain by Mate Marschalko

Environment

The islands are the only place in Spain where volcanic eruptions have taken place in the modern era. Their volcanis origins have created some stunning, landscapes and coves. This combined with the climate have made them prime real estate for tourist orientated developments. Their position off the northwest coast of Africa means that they can have sunshine all year around. Despite their proximity, these islands have their own specific characters and climates.

Beaches

If it’s the classic holiday line-up of sun, sea and sand that you are looking for then this is the place to go. There are more than 1500km of beaches between the seven islands. You can stay within touch of the tourist areas with easy access to food and bars and sun loungers or drift further afield.

The Sotavento on Fuerteventura is a stretch that goes on for 17 miles on the south-east coast of the island. Here it is easy to find expanses of deserted land. Here the sea is warm all year around so is perfect for floating and enjoying the sun.

While these golden sands are what many people desire there is more variety to the beaches on these islands. El Golfo on Lanzarote has black volcanic sand and a green lagoon making it striking to look at. More volcanic sand can be found at El Bollullo, Tenerife with a stunning surrounding of Volcanic rocks.

You can also indulge in a number of water sports with the winds and waves making these seas perfect for Kite surfing.

El Golfo on Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain by Moni Sertel

Nightlife

With a variety of islands you get a variety of nightlife opportunities. Gran Canaria and Tenerife offer much more of a party atmosphere with Gran Canaria’s Playa del Ingles the party capital of the islands with bars, clubs and restaurants. It is easy to see why this is the destination of choice for groups of young people going looking for a cheap holiday abroad.

Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are much more family orientated with much of the entertainment contained within resorts with child friendly bars and entertainment that everyone can enjoy.

With so many holiday experiences available, the Canary Islands are the perfect location to create a holiday tailored to your specific needs.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article was written on behalf of Voyager Travel Direct.

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Lagos

Known for its abundant nightlife and young crowd, Lagos has a reputation as a bit of a party town, but there is more to it than just the vibrant party atmosphere.  The stunning coves and beautiful, sweeping beaches attract surfers in to catch the amazing waves and then hit the clubs and bars when the sun goes down.  Picturesque homes and cobblestone streets, along with a rich history, are a must for sightseers, and Lagos is known for being an excellent destination for backpackers as well.

Tavira

Tavira is referred to as the Venice of Portugal, thanks to the Rio Gilao running through its center and the elegance of the homes and buildings within.  That’s not all that Tavira has to offer for those seeking beauty and history in architecture, there are castle ruins, 37 churches, and a multitude of 16th-18th century buildings to be seen.  Finally, the Igreja da Misericordia, a renaissance monument built in the 1540s, is a must see with its striking arched, carved doorway that is topped with magnificent statues.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cayetano

Monchique

This gorgeous town is centered in Serra de Monchique, Algarve’s forested mountain range.  It’s a nice contrast to the coastal regions that the Algarve is known for.  It is known to be a great region for hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling, but it also features lesser known but no less rewarding experiences in hidden spas and a private zoo for endangered species.  It really is a great region to visit if you are looking for a more laid back and relaxing experience in the Algarve.

Silves

Silves’ two biggest attractions are the Castle and the Museu Municipal de Arqueologia.  The Castle, restored in 1835, has a fantastic view over the town and nearby countryside.  As you walk around its sandstone walls, you can see the site’s Roman past in the unfinished archaeological digs throughout.  The Castle is believed to have been built in the 11th century, and shows evidence of its Moorish occupation with its deep well and water cistern.

The Museu Municipal de Arqueologia was founded after a Moorish well, over three times as deep as the one in the Castle, was discovered, along with numerous archaeological sites in the area.  The museum displays pieces from prehistoric, Roman, and Moorish times, and has one glass wall that displays a supporting fort wall of the building.

Faro

Located on the southernmost end of the Algarve, the Faro is a great place to visit if you are looking for entertainment and nightlife, with a little sightseeing and history thrown in.  If you are a younger traveler, the Rua do Prior features multiple bars and clubs with students from the area keeping them going every night, especially on weekends.  The Taverna da Se is an in-crowd bar that you will also find to be going strong every night of the week.  If you are looking for a more low key bar, A Capelinha is a beautiful outdoor bar centered around a fountain where you can enjoy excellent sangria while browsing the internet on the computers they have supplied.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Greg Pye

As to the entertainment aspect, you can find drama, music, and dance at the Teatro Lethes, a building that was built in 1603 and adapted into a theater in 1874.  If football is your thing, Faro has its own team, the SC Farense, and you can catch one of their games at the 30,000 seat Estadio Intermunicipal do Algarve.

Finally, if you want to do some sightseeing, be sure and check out the Se.  The Se was finished in 1251 on the site of a former Roman temple and Visigoth cathedral.  It features several of the old chapels and gate, as well as beautiful tile work, a baroque organ, and beautiful carvings.  You also can climb on to the rooftop and get a magnificent view of the surrounding town and countryside.

As you can see, no matter what kind of holiday you have planned, the Algarve has something to accommodate you.  The Algarve villas are amongst the best type of holiday accommodation available in the region and the Owner’s Direct website has a lot for you to choose from.

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However already in the 5th century there was a Christian church standing on this place. During the Ottoman Empire domination, monastery (with church) was dissolved and overgrown with weeds. Just at the end of the 19th century it was discovered by two Czech archaeologists – Škorpil brothers.

Monks cells were carved into the limestone rocks and connected by corridors which create a three-storey complex. There were also kitchens, dining rooms, prayer rooms, simply everything what monks needed for their life. They lived here in celibacy and create their own world, away from civilization, so they could devote prayer and spiritual development.

The entire monastery was completely self-sufficient. With the surrounding monasteries the monks communicated by ringing the bell. Today you can ring on it during your visit. It is interesting that during the archaeological research of graves in the vicinity of the monastery, were found around 5 kg of gold objects. These historic gems can be seen in the Museum of Natural History in Varna.

In the forest park below the monastery is a small museum, where you can further see the Roman mosaics, Orthodox icons, photos, and models and drawings of the original appearance of the monastery. About 500 metres from the monastery (still in paid section) are other caves named as the catacombs.

Aladzha Monastery can be reached from Golden Sands or St. Constantine, both on foot or by taxi. The Varna is probably best to go either by bus to Golden Sands and the intersection before the golden sands. From there it is on the road about a mile up the hill. Serpentine is an interesting twist around a ravine with a stream.

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Giglio offers beautiful beaches and numerous bays for a relaxing holiday, far away from the hustle and bustle. Its untouched nature is ideal for hiking and crystal clear sea with rich marine life is ideal for snorkeling and diving.

If you would like to spend your holidays on a beach with golden sands and wild nature around, then you should come here and look for Spiagga delle Caldana, which will be the right place for you. Located south of the vibrant beach Cannelle, the beach of Caldana is really a “precious jewel”, which is accessible only by boat. If you want to visit the beach during a round trip by car to Italy, it is better to park your car at the Tuscan mainland. Access of tourists to the island with an area of ​​21 square kilometres is limited.

Crystal clear water, that is full of fish, is a paradise for divers. You can discover the remains of three towers that were used in 60′s of the last century for transshipment cargoes. Rocky reefs with colorful corals, underwater cave with a statue of the Virgin Mary and seahorses, however, can be seen only by experienced divers. But do not give up! The diving school is located in close vicinity to the beach.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, source wikipedia

Giglio has become very popular and world-known since the last month due to an accident of mega cruise ship Costa Concordia. The ship hit a reef on Friday 13 January 2012 and partially sank. The number of tourists increased rapidly in this island as everyone wants to see the largest passenger ship (by tonnage) to sink. If you still haven’t seen it, don’t worry, the ship will probably be waiting for you at the coast of Giglio for additional several months. In these days it is without a doubt the best attraction in the area.

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