The main characteristic feature of the landscape Nebrodi is a great diversity of landforms, rich vegetation and wetlands. The Arabs called Nebrodi as “Island in the Island” and the reason was the richness of forests, green pastures, quiet lakes and bubbling streams – the country so different from the image of dry and sun-scorched Sicily.

Nature Reserve (Parco naturale) Nebrodi was founded in 1993 and covers the most important and largest forested area of Sicily (about 50,000 ha). Despite of the deteriorating conditions of environmental, Nebrodi still offers the greatest wealth of fauna from all over Sicily. Some species have disappeared, unfortunately – the last wolves were killed at the end of twentieth century, the population of vultures extinct during the 60′s due to poisoned baits for foxes. Among the current, often scarce inhabitants of Nebrodi are porcupine, wild cat, pine marten, greenish turtle, mud turtle, frog, and colorful green jumper. Area of Nebrodi includes 150 bird species, many of them are endemic.

The hiking trails lead through the protected area from the west to the east. In the ridge you can find the only wetland in Sicily, which offers also the beautiful natural scenery.

The highest peak of Nebrodi is the Monte Soro (1,817 m).

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Santa Claus Village was formed with only few wooden-cottages in 1950. Today it is a complex, which consists of several cafes, shops and refreshment facilities. There is also Santa Claus office, or Santa Claus post office. There is a white line leading throughout the Santa Claus Village that indicates the Arctic Circle. In the local stores you can buy a really interesting souvenirs. They sell the handicrafts Lapps, knitted sweaters, gloves, hats, reindeer meat, a variety of products from Finnish berries and real Finnish knife that will last for a lifetime.

500 000 tourists visit Santa Claus Village each year. You can get there from Rovaniemi by bus #8 known as Santa’s Express. The village is open all the year. Opening hours are often changed, it is appropriate to look at the official village site. There is the popular Santa Park situated just 2 km from Santa Claus Village.

The basic admission is 28Eur in winter and 15Eur in summer.

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In this refurbished and very impressive citadel you can find collections of furniture, tapestries, paintings and sculptures from all over Europe. A part of castle are gardens and completely reconstructed 19th century village.

The Bunratty castle is now famous for its medieval banquets, at which the “Bunratty Singers” perform. You can also attend the medieval feast which takes place on the castle.

The Bunratty castle stands on an area of 26 acres of Bunratty Folk Park, where are over 30 typical village buildings including the school building, doctor’s house, post office and other.

The admission is €10.00 to the Castle and Folk park.

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Chaillot Palace complex with its gardens and the Champs de Mars are among the most original architectural works of the early 20th century.

Palais de Chaillot is a monumental building that replaced the old Trocadero Palace. It consists of two wings of a length of 80 m, which are directed towards the Seine river from where you can enjoy beautiful view of the Champs de Mars. The complex was constructed for the occasion of the World Exhibition in 1937. It was designed in classicizing “moderne” style by architects Louis-Hippolyte Boileau, Jacques Carlu and Léon Azema. Today it houses museums, theater and other cultural institutions.

Palais de Chaillot as seen from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France by Yoshi

There are two museums in Palais de Chaillot – left part:

• Musée de l’Homme (Museum of Man) contains a rich anthropological collection to familiarize with all the human races and their way of life. In the paleontological department you can see the skeletal findings, Venus of Lespugue carved from mammoth tusk (late Stone Age 15 000-10 000 years BC) and other neolithic monuments. The museum is open daily except Tuesdays and public holidays from 9.45 to 17.15. Admission is €7.
• Musée de la Marine (Maritime Museum, open daily except Tuesdays from 10.00 to 18.00) shows the history of seafaring, technology and developments in shipping. The exhibition includes the models of famous ships, the need for sailors, etc. Admission is €10.

On the right side of the Palais de Chaillot there are:

• Musée des Monuments Français (Museum of French monuments, open daily except Tuesdays and public holidays from 9.45 to 12.30 and from 14.00 to 17.15). It is dedicated to superior French monumental art in the form of castings and the life-size reproductions. Exhibits are divided according to regions, schools and eras, making it possible to monitor the development of styles and themes.
• Musée du Cinéma Henri Langlois (Museum of Cinema, guided tours daily except Tuesdays at 10.00, 11.00, 14.00, 15.00 and 16.00, visit lasts 1.5 hours) – the history of world cinema is demonstrated in almost 60 halls. There are e.g. Reynaud’s optical theater built in 1888, Edison’s Kinetoscope (1894), the device of Lumiere brothers, movie posters, a giant photo, the famous decorations, costumes, etc. Admission is €7-8.
• A large theater Théâtre National de Chaillot with the hall for up to 1,200 visitors.

Place du Trocadéro et du 11-Novembre lies west of the Chaillot Palace and is dominated by a statue of Marshal Foch.

Jardins du Trocadéro (Chaillot Palace Gardens) are pleasant especially during hot summer days, it refreshes the large pool flanked by bronze statues. An interesting spectacle brings many fountains, and especially at night when they are imaginatively lit.

Champ-de-Mars – a large park covers area between the Seine and the military school. Originally a military training ground for high military school was opened to the public in 1780.

Champ de Mars as seen from Eiffel Tower, Paris, France by Olivier Bruchez

Cimetière de Passy from 1850 – Here are the tombs of famous French people (Debussy, Tristan Bernard, Fernandel, etc.).

École Militaire – The military school was founded in 1773 on the initiative of Madame de Pompadour, and was intended for boys from poor families, who received military training there. The building is closed to the public.

Palais de l’UNESCO – The modern building of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Hotel des Invalides – It forms one of the most monumental complexes in Paris

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At the behest of the Spanish King Charles III. – king of Spain (1759–88) and of Naples and Sicily (1735–59), Luigi Vanvitelli began to work on the construction work in 1752. In 1759, the Charles III. became unable to manage personnel in both kingdoms upon succeeding to the Spanish throne on 10 August, therefore the castle under construction left a son, Ferdinand VI (who became Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, or Ferdinand IV of Naples and Ferdinand III of Sicily).

The whole building including the park were inspired by the chateau of Versailles. The palace has a ground plan dimensions of 247 x 184 m. The adjacent park has an area of 120 hectares.

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Caserta Royal Palace was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

The Park

The Royal Palace of Caserta has the most scenic parks in the world, scattered with fountains and waterfalls. The gardens, partly English and partly inspired by French models, are adorned with statues, made from the best Neapolitan sculptors under the guidance of Carlo Vanvitelli. Although the original draft was much more sophisticated and extensive, there were some economical reductions.

The central avenue of the park, from the gate to the big waterfall, is 3 km long. The park covers 120 hectares in total.

There are several fountains with the vasca (basin) in the garden:

The Fountain of Diana and Actaeon / La fontana di Diana e Atteone
The Fountain of Venus and Adonis / Cascatelle e Fontana di Venere e Adone
The Fountain of the Dolphins / la Vasca e Fontana dei Delfini
The Fountain of Aeolus / la Vasca e Fontana di Eolo
The Fountain of Ceres / la Vasca e Fontana di Cerere

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Parco dell’Uccellina, Italy by Rik & Ste

While consisting as an animal reserve today, the area where Parco dell’Uccellina has been inhabited since the Lower Paleolithic Era. There has been evidence uncovered which dates the first human settlements in Parco dell’Uccellina back 500,000 years ago. Other artifacts have been uncovered which dates back to the Wurm Ice Age which occurred 90,000 years ago.

There are a number of caves in Parco dell’Uccellina which were inhabited by Neanderthals. The most important of these caves is the Fabbrica Cave in which a number of High and Medium Paleolithic Era artifacts have been uncovered. Then there is the Golino Cave in which artifacts dating back to the Medium Paleolithic Era were uncovered back in 1865. Finally, there is the Scoglietto Cave in which some of the oldest known discoveries were made.

In Parco dell’Uccellina, near the city of Grosseto, you will find the ancient San Rabano Abbey which dates back to the 9th or 10th century. There are many other monuments, and churches which can be found throughout the region which dates back to the 13th century.

Countless people make their way to Parco dell’Uccellina to not only see some of Italy’s wildlife in their natural habitat, but to also see some of the oldest known human settlements in the country. There is a lot of history hiding in and around the natural reserve of Parco dell’Uccellina that is just waiting for you to explore and experience firsthand.

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