1. The Palace of Versailles

If you are staying in Paris for a portion of your visit, then just 20 kilometers away is situated one of the most opulent memorials to royalty – The Château de Versailles. Built by King Louis XIV, the palace is compromised of extensive landscaped gardens and sprawling, decorative castle grounds. It is recommended to take an audiotour of the castle grounds, or perhaps even a guided tour, as the history and stories behind the palace are both extensive and fascinating.

Garden at the Palace of Versailles, France by Urban

2. Bordeaux

The city of Bordeaux is listed as a World Heritage Site, as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble”. The city, and its surrounding region is famous worldwide for its excellent wines. It is also considered as France’s “Little Paris” thanks to its many cultural, architectural, and historical monuments. It is a lively town, with many young people as it contains the country’s largest university. Thanks to the youthful population, the town has a thriving cafe and night life scene. You will be raising your wine glass many times while visiting beautiful Bordeaux.

Saint Pierre Church, Bordeaux, France by Luidger

3. Provence

You haven’t seen the best of France until you have explored the Provence region. It is one of France’s most beloved regions, by tourists and locals alike. With a distinct Mediterranean atmosphere, it is also famous for its fields of lavender and rose wines. While in Provence, be sure to visit Verdon Gorge, one of the most beautiful gorges in all of the European continent. There are also several ancient castles in the region that should not be missed.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie village, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France by Nepomuk

4. Brittany

Located in the North west region of France, the region of Brittany is perhaps most famous for its prehistoric megalithic monuments at Carnac. The Lac de Guerledan lake is an artificial lake that is worth a visit for its prime scenic beauty. A drive along the Cote d’Emeraude coast would make a memorable road trip, as there are many varied and bustling fishing towns and villages along the way.

Kermario Carnac, Brittany, France by Odedr

5. Normandy

Most famous for the 1944 D-Day invasion by the Allied forces, there are many other things to see and do in this northern region of France. There are many posh resorts on the coast, as well as wild and rugged landscapes of the La Hague.

Port Arromanches, Normandy, France by Comité Régional

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Kew Gardens, London by Herry Lawford

The magic of the gardens

Ok, so spring doesn’t always mean endless days of sunshine and there are no guarantees that you’ll stay dry when you’re out and about in London. But if you do want to enjoy the fresh air with the added security of an undercover bolt-hole then some of London’s finest gardens offer the best of both worlds, with spectacular landscaped gardens outside as well as excellent collections of plant and wildlife inside the greenhouses and conservatories. Kew Gardens are among the very best and rightly famed across the world. Spring is the perfect time to admire the millions of flowers spread out across 300 acres making the gardens a joy to behold, while there are also activities and play areas for children to enjoy and the renowned glasshouses offer year-round safety from the rain in a tropical atmosphere.

Picnic in the park

Parks are a big part of life for many Londoners with many beautiful examples preserving some much needed green space amongst the urban sprawl of the huge city. As soon as the sun comes out there are few better ways to spend the day then grabbing a blanket, a frisbee and some sandwiches and nabbing a spot in a nearby park. Hyde Park is one of the most famous and for added serenity you can always grab a rowing boat and head out onto the Serpentine Lake.

Head for the river

The River Thames is the heartbeat of London and offers some of the best ways to experiences days of relaxation in the fresh, spring air. A simple stroll along the banks of the Thames gives you the chance to see the many different sides to the city or if you want to take to the water then you can admire the sights from the top of a cruise boat or enjoy a cheeky glass of al fresco champagne in the sunshine while escaping the crowds yet sampling enviable views of tourist magnets such as the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.

Lose yourself in the bluebells

Plenty of picturesque flowers spring up at this time of year but the bluebell delivers some of the most vivid displays of colour that really capture the magic of the season. Richmond Park boasts its own woodland garden which becomes a carpet of bluebells in late spring, while Wilderness Wood in Hadlow Down is another place transformed into a sea of blue during April and May.

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Roman Colosseum / Photo by admin

History

The Colosseum was commissioned by the Emperor Vespasian in the year 72 A.D. and later completed under the rule of his son, Titus in 82 A.D. The final modifications were completed during the reign of Domitian, the brother of Titus, who ruled from 81-96 A.D. The original name for the Colosseum was the Flavian Amphitheater, which was derived from Flavius, the family name of the emperor and his sons.
Unlike other amphitheaters built before it, the Colosseum was built in the heart of Rome as opposed to in the outskirts. It was literally erected in place of the lake that Emperor Nero had designed in the landscaped gardens of his villa Domus Aurea. The area was previously densely inhabited but after the Great Fire of Rome of 64 A.D. destroyed the homes in the area, Nero commandeered the land to build his villa. The choice of building site represents a symbolic return of the land to the people after it had been appropriated by Nero.

Uses

In ancient Rome, the Colosseum was used to host gladiatorial contests, wild animal fights, executions, dramas, reenactments of battles and other public spectacles. At the inaugural spectacle in 80 A.D., over 9,000 animals were killed in wild animal fights. The gladiatorial contests and animal fights continued for several centuries. The last known gladiatorial contests were in the year 435 and the last known animal fights were held in 523.

During the medieval period, the Colosseum served as a castle, a cemetery and a workshop. Later, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Catholic Church began to show interest in the Colosseum. One church official proposed setting up a wool factory in the amphitheater to provide employment to prostitutes. Another official managed to authorize its use to host bullfights though the authorization was later revoked. Pope Benedict XIV consecrated the Colosseum because he claimed it was the place where Christian martyrs had died years before although no historical evidence supports this claim. Subsequent popes and Benito Mussolini promoted restoration and excavation projects as well.

Structure

The size and excellent preservation of the Colosseum rarely fails to impress the visitor. The amphitheater is elliptical, measuring 88 meters long and 156 meters wide. The 80 arched entranceways provided access to the 55,000 spectators who could be accommodated in the amphitheater at any time. The seats are arranged in tiers. Spectators in ancient Rome were distributed among the tiers according to their social strata. Separate areas were proportioned for senators, the non-senatorial noble class, plebeians and wealthy citizens. Interestingly, actors, gravediggers and former gladiators were banned from the Colosseum.

The Colosseum Today

Today, the Colosseum is one of Rome´s principal tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors per year. It is one of the most well-known symbols in Rome and is well worth a visit for any tourist in Rome.

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