By the fall of the great Roman Empire, the area where present day Opatija stands was under the control of the Byzantine Empire until the Slavs arrived in the area around the 7th century. By the 12th century, the Franks arrived and with them, the city flourished. However, it was not until the construction of the St. James monastery during the 15th century that the present day Opatija would be born.

Opatija, Istria, Croatia by Vzach

In 1844, the city of Opatija became one of the first resort towns along the Adriatic Sea when the Villa Angelina was constructed and opened its doors to guests for the first time. Soon after, the Grand Hotel Kvarner would open its doors and help mold the city into the resort town it is today.

The Villa Angelina still stands today and one can even visit it as it has since been turned into a museum. It is located in the middle of the town’s botanical gardens which are simply an awe-inspiring place to visit. The gardens cover 3.64 hectares and are home to more than 150 plant species. The Grand Hotel Kvarner still accepts guests on a regular basis and is still one of the most popular hotels in the city.

There are many medieval buildings located throughout Opatija as well as several prehistoric ruins to see while you are in town. In the nearby Učka Natural Park, artifacts dating back to the 1th century B.C. have been unearthed. There are many great locations of historical importance to visit when you are in Opatija.

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1. Arthur’s Seat/ Holyrood Park

Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano, is one of the defining features of the Edinburgh skyline. It is in Holyrood Park which lies close to the city centre and is one of Europe’s largest urban green spaces, containing an array of hills, lochs, glens and ridges. Lying about a mile east of Edinburgh Castle, it’s the highest point in the city and provides panoramic views over the spectacular skyline. It’s a popular walking spot among tourists and locals. Don’t be put off by its height: it’s not too steep so it’s relatively easy to climb.

2. Gilmerton Cove

Hidden beneath the streets of south Edinburgh, Gillmerton Cove is a series of underground tunnels and chambers. Guided tours of the cove are popular; a guide will take a small group down for around forty-five minutes to one hour and will explain the history and myths surrounding the cove. Entrance is £5 per adult. The attraction is very popular so it’s advisable to book in advance.

3. Royal Botanical Garden

Located 1.5 miles north of Princes Street (one of Edinburgh’s main shopping streets) is the Royal Botanical Garden. The garden spans 31 hectares and is a family favourite, with plenty of benches dotted around for picnics. If you don’t fancy making your own sandwiches fear not, because the garden also features an on-site café and restaurant which provides food, and shelter for when the weather isn’t as good. Entrance to the site is free; there’s a charge to enter the specialist greenhouses but according to reviews, seeing them is worth the extra cost.

After a long day of outdoor activities why not consider staying in one of the serviced apartments Edinburgh has to offer?

Phil Hudson, PR & Marketing Support, SilverDoor International Serviced Apartments

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The royal family had subsequently rebuilt it into their rural retreat with the area of an impressive 800 hectares. The seat is surrounded by vast plots of land with extensive gardens, parks, forests, but also reserves with animals. Today, there are various social events and tours for the public to fully excite the whole family. Children can play in one of many play-grounds, while parents certainly enjoy a beautiful pass through the interior and exterior of the luxury palace.

Osborne House is a good example of traditional British relations, which may seem a little too formal, but on the other hand, for many can be nice and slick.

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In the delta of this Lithuanian river lies the island of Rusnė, which is, with its area of ​​4800 hectares, the largest island in the country. Moreover, it is still increasing by 15 to 20cm annually. The island is a haven for 270 of the 325 Lithuanian bird species. Wetlands here are a paradise for ornithologists. The best place for bird watching is Naikupė, Uostadvaris or Rusnė. Among the millions of species of birds that flies over the island every year, you can see also rare species such as black stork, white-tailed eagle, Black-tailed Godwit etc.

Neman (Nemunas) river, Lithuania by Claire

Rusnė Island is also a place of migratory water birds, as it lies on a major bird migration route – East Atlantic Flyway (birds flying from the Arctic through Europe to East Africa). Birds stop here to gain strength.

In Nemunas Delta Natural Park there is also an important ornithological station and museum. The first Ringing station was founded here already in 1929, but just in the years of 1959 – 1960, the large bird traps were installed here. In 1998 the station celebrated its interesting anniversary – ringed its millionth bird.

The information centers, located in Rusnė, Ventė and Šilutė, offer educational trips associated with bird watching and fishing. Another option is a boat trip with an English or German speaking guide, which guides you through the many waterways in the park. It is also possible to arrange accommodation in the farm or to arrange fishing permits.

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Srebarna lake is one of the most significant natural heritage in Bulgaria. The entire lake is surrounded by mosses, which reach a length of more than 1.5 km. The water covers an area of 638 hectares.

You will find here also many rare plants. This place is a paradise for nature lovers and ornithologists.

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Popradské pleso is also a good starting point for the tours around Mengusovská valley. To Popradské pleso you can get from Štrbské pleso following the marked trail which take approximately two hours of slow walking. Near Popradské pleso there is the symbolic cemetery. In this cemetery there is a monument to victims of the High Tatras. The cemetery is a good idea to show the number of victims who lost their lives in the mountains.

Popradské pleso covers an area of 6.88 hectares and it is 18 meters depth. In the past it was called Rybie pleso (Fish lake), as it was the only mountain-lake in the southern High Tatra Mountains with the natural occurrence of fish. The old name was first used in 1736 by Matej Bel, a prominent Slovak scholar of 18th century.

At the lake you can find Cottage of Popradské pleso where you can buy some refreshments, beer or try Slovak traditional meals (e.g. Bryndzové halušky). You can also book a room here and stay here for few nights. If so, I would recommend you to wake up very early and enjoy the sun-rise.

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Aukštaitija National Park has been established in 1974, in the eastern side of the country, where are located the most attractive sceneries of the Baltic States. Aukštaitija National Park is situated at an altitude of about 150 meters and was previously created by the glacier. About 70% of the park is covered with pines, firs and deciduous forests that are home to moose, deer and boar.

Aukštaitija National Park, Lithuania by Wojsyl

As the most beautiful section of the park is considered Aukštaitija, which in Lithuanian means “highland”. Right here you can find 126 lakes, of which the deepest one is 60,5 meters deep and is located on the northern edge of the park. You can enjoy the best view of the lake from the tops of the surrounding hills, that reach a maximum height of 200 meters above sea level. One of them is Ledakalnis where you can get by following the marked path. From there you can see six or seven local lakes. One of the most beautiful lakes in Aukštaitija National Park is Baluosas lake that covers an area of 442 hectares and is entirely surrounded by woods. The lake is attractive because it surrounds seven islands, and in one of the island, the new additional lake has been created.

Aukštaitija National Park became a home to 194 kinds of birds and 60 kinds of other animals, including rare rock and sea eagles. Some parts of the national park are closed for tourists, or can be visited only with a guide. These include Trainiskis reservation with Baltys and Gruodiskes lakes or Ažvinčiai forest that is home to lots of 150-200 year-old pine trees.

Lūšiai lake in Palūšė, Lithuania by Wojsyl

The area with lakes is very popular for tourists especially those who love canoeing and camping, but also for the hikers who will find numerous marked trails here. In some areas of the park it is allowed to collect mushrooms and berries.

Aukštaitija National Park contains a hundred villages, some of which date back to the 18th century. Five of them – Šuminai, Salos II, Vaišnoriškes, Varniškés II and Strazdai were even declared as protected ethnographic centres. Ginučiai Village boasts a watermill from the 19th century, and the village Stripeikiai has a Museum of ancient bee-keeping. The park has several ancient piliakalnis (fortification mounds), such as Taurapilio on the southern shore of Lake Tauragnas.

Wooden church in Paluse, Lithuania by Wojsyl

The great attractions of the park also include wooden churches and bell tower from 1750 that you can even find on 1 LTL bills. Another interesting part of the park is the path lined with wooden statues and leads around the lake Lusiai, which is a typical example of popular folklore.

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Photo published with a kind permission of its author Paulo Heitlinger

On the area of 105 hectares you can find incredible 700 kinds of trees, including giant Mexican cedar, giant ferns, cypress, plane, evergreen oak, cork, etc. Forest Buçaco is surrounded by a wall which is 5750 meters long and 3 meters high.

The climate is mild with few frosts and exceptionally snow. The annual rainfall is about 1500 mm, with 130 days of rain annually. The temperature ranges between 39-40 ºC in summer and 1 °C in winter. The fogs are very frequent and dense here, and less frequently in spring and winter than in summer and autumn.

Mata Nacional do Buçaco is a popular tourist destination – here you can walk through the forest paths, lakes, fountains and chapels. Beautiful is the local hotel Palácio Hotel do Buçaco, which was originally built in 1907 in an exuberant Neo-Manueline style by the royal family as their residence. Next to it lies the cork church.

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Steep cliffs are covered with forests, and the geological bedrock (granite) affects both the landscape and vegetation. There are two castles at the borders of the national park, Burg Hardegg and ruined castle Kaja. You can find there about half of all plant species originating from Austria.

Animal World is so prominent and contains a large number of very rare species of vertebrates. In terms of sport, cycling and hiking are popular activities in the park.

At the Czech side there is one of the most beautiful water reservoir called Vranov. In the case of bad weather you can visit nice city of Znojmo and test the Czech wine.

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Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy by Snowdog

The 1963 film The Pink Panther was filmed in the area as was the 1981 James Bond sequel, For Your Eyes Only. Several scenes from the film cliffhanger were also filmed in the slopes surrounding Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The town itself is situated atop the Valle del Boite with the valleys of Puster, Val d’ Ansiei and Agordo on all sides. To the west of Cortina d’Ampezzo is where you will find the famous Tofane Mountains. The Pomagagnon Mountains are to the north, Sorapis and Faloria Mountains to the East and the Becco di Mezzodì mountains to the south.

Back in 1420, Cortina d’Ampezzo was part of the Republic of Venice and by 1508 it would fall under Austrian control. The city remained in control by Habsburg until 1920. As a result, most of the males in Cortina d’Ampezzo were enlisted into the Austrian military during the First World War. After the end of the First World War, the city would become part of Italy. It was not until after the war that the city received the name Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Many of the world’s finest winter sporting events have been held in the slopes surrounding Cortina d’Ampezzo over the years. The Nordic as well as the Alpine World Skiing Championships have been held in the city throughout the 1940s. While the city has made bids for both the 1988 and 1992 winter Olympics, they unfortunately lost the bids to Calgary and Albertville.

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