Tombs of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Mgiganteus1

Approach to the Tombs of the Kings

At first sight during my visit there appeared to be very little of interest to be seen, just a craggy outcrop of rocks, as the tombs are almost entirely underground.  It was only as I ventured around the side of the site that the detail of how it had been used became apparent.  It was amazing to think of these tombs being chiseled by hand from the soft limestone, and then completely excavated to form rectangular rooms with about three feet of thick rock above them as a ceiling.

A subterranean adventure

Seven of the eight tombs have been excavated, and I found them to be extremely well preserved.  Their overall design is quite unusual for this part of the world since, although they date from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, their architecture tends more towards Macedonian in style.  Some of the tombs were constructed to look like dwelling places for the living rather than burial sites for the dead.  It is possible to see fragments of the original frescoes, and the atriums (central courtyards) are largely intact, so that the overall structure – complete with porticos and columns – is clearly evident.

Tombs of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Romeparis

Getting around the site

To gain access to the underground tombs there are stone staircases leading downwards, although tomb number three has an additional wooden staircase that was installed during the excavation, making it easier to negotiate.  Great care is needed when descending into any of the tombs, as the stone steps are quite uneven.  The best time to visit is early morning before the heat of the day builds up, and it is sensible to wear comfortable shoes and take a hat and bottled water, as the site is quite large.  Touring the whole of it can easily take a minimum of two hours.

Tombs of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Romeparis

Getting to the Tombs of the Kings

There is a good bus service from Paphos city center to the Tombs of the Kings, and it is worth taking the bus, as the neighborhood around the site is a little shabby.  Admission prices are very reasonable and, along with cheap flight deals available to Paphos International Airport, I found a vacation in Cyprus to be both affordable and rewarding.  Besides the historic Tombs of the Kings, there are many other visitor attractions, including Aphrodite’s Rock, Coral Bay, the Adonis Baths Waterfalls and Kato Paphos Archaeological Park.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jiuguang Wang

And how did the period get its name? Just after Hallstatt village, which was at that time an important trading center. There was the salt mined in its vicinity, which was also exported to far away places. The history of the local salt mining extends at least from 2nd millennium BC up to the present and gave the region not only wealth and prosperity, but also created a specific cultural landscape, where nature blends with human activity in unusual harmony. It also led the Commission of UNESCO to add this area “Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape” on the list of World Heritage in 1997.

Very interesting on Hallstatt is that it has long been accessible only by boat across the lake, or along narrow mountain trails. The first road was built along the shore in 1890, but only thanks to the power of explosives. Despite of this apparent inaccessibility the people settled here anyway seven thousand years ago. The rich history recalls not only architecture of Hallstatt, but also the local museum, which collects extensive archaeological excavations. Many of them come from the necropolis on the plateau above the town, where were discovered the remains of 4,000 people. And those remains were the main reason to name the period as “Hallstatt period”.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Party Lin

It is understandable that many places in Hallstatt are related to salt. The local salt mines are reportedly the oldest in the world and you can see them in an unusual museum. Why unusual? Well, how many museums have you visited which had 64 metres long wooden roller coaster…? But the underground salt mines offer much more than this unusual attraction. You can learn about the life of people who mined salt here for thousands of years. The body of one of them was found here in 1734, perfectly preserved by salt. Notable is also an underground salt lake with an area of ​​1400 m2.

If you already have enough salt, you can target the other wonders of the underground world – Dachstein ice caves. And because we are in the Alps, it is not necessary to say that you can see lots of interesting also on the surface. Whether it’s a remarkable historical buildings, or simply “just” beautiful countryside with fresh air and a nice panorama of mountain giants.

There are lots of Austria hotels in the town as well as camp sites at the shores of the lake. Hallstatt is also a great starting point for your hiking tours around the mountains.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Andrew Hurley

From the Arab period you can see well preserved Castillo de San Miguel and the towers, protecting the city against enemies approaching by sea. The towers are preserved in almost perfect condition today. From an earlier Phoenician Period comes the necropolis Puente de Noy. During excavations in the years 1979 to 1993 were discovered 132 tombs, which provide convincing evidence of ancient inhabitants of this place.

Quite a lot monuments date back to the period of Roman domination. Those include the Aqueduct and Cave of the Seven Palaces, which now serves as an archaeological museum. From this time you will find also the Monks Tower and even Factoria de Salazones de Pescado (Salting FishH Factory).

Encarnación church was designed by famed architect of King Philip II., Juan de Herrera. The author of its tower then became a Granada’s native Diego de Siloé, who mainly participated on the most part of the Cathedral of Granada.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by NoelWalley at en.wikipedia

Approx. 40 minutes from Almuñécar you can visit Peña Escrita natural park where you suddenly find yourself almost in paradise. You will see beautiful countryside surrounded by mountains on one side and sea on the other. It’s a great tip for a nice walk, when you go around wonderful nature that is full of various animals and birds singing.

Beaches

Beaches are very natural and not as commercial as they are on the Costa del Sol.

Playa de Cantarrijan
This beach lies exactly on the boundary of two provinces, Malaga and Granada. You can get here from the national road No. 340 and you have two options. Either you walk down the path that is steep and sometimes you come across a smaller gradient, or choose the second one, which is milder but longer.

Playa La Herradura
It is 2100 m long beach. From both sides is protected by foothills of La Punta de la Mona and Cerro Gordo mountains.

Playa del Muerto
Do not be intimidated by the title (in translation beach deceased). The name is probably derived from the peace and quiet to be found there. It is a small beach (280 meters long) which you can enter by following an artificial rocky road.

Playa de San Cristóbal
One of the most famous beaches of this area lies to the west of Almuñécar. Besides the beach you can go to several bars and restaurants and enjoy some of the excellent local cuisine.

If you did not choose any from these beaches, you certainly do so once you get there. There’s a lot more!

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Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia by Giovanni Dall’Orto

Soon after the completion of the main road, which connected the town to Altinum, Aquileia would grow to become a powerful and wealth commercial center. At the peak of its time, the town of Aquileia was home to more than 200,000 Romans. The city was known for its glassmakers.

In 452, the town was attacked by Attila the Hun and set ablaze. Many of the glassmakers who had helped make the town prosperous, relocated to the area surrounding the Venetian Lagoon. It is here at the lagoon that some of the most famous glass shops min the entire empire rose.

Archaeological Area, Aquileia, Italy by Zumzum

The town of Aquileia today is a park which is opened to the general public. Many of the ruins in Aquileia such as the forum, necropolis and harbor can be visited by year round by the general public. Many people also take the time to wander through the two neighborhoods in Aquileia that have been recently opened to the public as well. There are two different museums in Aquileia that house the many artifacts that have been uncovered over the years in the archeological dig sites located throughout Aquileia.

It is important to note that the original Roman basilica which had been built back in the 3rd century was destroyed during the attacks of Attila the Hun. The present day basilica was built on the ruins of the originally by order of the House of Savoy back in 1031.

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In many places along the canyon, the sheer cliff walls stand as much as 500 meters tall. The top of the cliffs along the Cava Grande Cassibile Canyon are covered in a variety of different tree species which only adds to the awe-inspiring views that can be found within the region.

Cava Grande Cassibile Canyon, Sicily, Italy by Carlo Columba

As the Cassibile River meanders its way to the canyon, it creates a number of waterfalls and natural swimming pools. Some of the locations throughout the canyon are openly available to the public for swimming; however other locations due to potentially dangerous undercurrents, are strictly off-limits.

One of the best ways to enter into the Cava Grande Cassibile Canyon is by starting in the old yet picturesque village of Avola Antica. From here, you are able to follow a path that leads you down into the canyon where you will be afforded some of the most amazing views imaginable. However, it is also possible to access the canyon through the village of Scala Cruci.

Regardless of how you choose to access the Cava Grande Cassibile Canyon it is important to remember to bring a good pair of shoes because many of the pathways are very rocky. Anything that you choose to wear should have appropriate ankle support in order to protect you from the uneven terrain. At the same time also do not forget to bring a towel and some sunscreen so that you can cool off in the crisp clean waters of the Cassibile River when the day gets too hot.

Natural pools in Cava Grande Cassibile, Sicily, Italy by pjt56

Perhaps one of the first things that a number of people notice when they start making their way through the Cava Grande Cassibile Canyon are the numerous necropolis that can be found carved into the limestone cliff walls of the canyon. While there are a number that date back to the Greek Empire, there are also several that date back to some of the earliest settlers of the Sicilian island back in 1200 B.C.

There are countless animals and plant species that can be found throughout the Cava Grande Cassibile Canyon including 400 varieties of plant species and almost 100 different animal species. Some of the inhabitants of the canyon are also very rare as well as endangered. As such, it is important to take special care when you are wandering through the Cava Grande Cassibile Canyon to make sure that you do not pick any wildflowers, or otherwise harm the ecosystem of the region.

The Cava Grande Cassibile Canyon is a beautiful example of what makes the island of Sicily so unique and special. So picturesque is the canyon, that every single year, tens of thousands of people make their way down the beaten paths which straddled the Cassibile River from the head source all the way out to the Ionian Sea.

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