Canterbury

Canterbury is a wonderful historical place filled with relics of the past and castles. It is home to numerous World Heritage Sites. Read Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and visit nearby Bath, which has been described as one of the most enjoyable and beautiful places in all of England.

Canterbury Cathedral – Location of the first Church of England. The cathedral dates back to 597 AD and was a monastery for Benedictine monks in the 1300s.

Canterbury Cathedral, England, UK by Steve Evans

St. Augustine’s Abbey – St. Augustine’s Abbey is a World Heritage Site. It is one of the most important ruins in the United Kingdom and provides insight into church history in England.

St. Martin’s Church – St. Martin’s Church dates back to the Roman period in England’s history. It is one of the first churches established by the Romans in England.

Stratford-upon-Avon

If you are a fan of Shakespeare, then Stratford-upon-Avon should be on your list of trips to take while you are in England. Home to the Royal Shakespeare Company, you can see a performance of one of his plays or visit his birthplace. Although Stratford-upon-Avon can be full of tourists during peak seasons, if you travel to Warwickshire on a weekend trip, you may be able to avoid crowds.

Salisbury

Salisbury in Wiltshire is the home of Stonehenge. Although you will not be allowed to walk among the stones in Avebury, you can visit the historic site of the mysterious stones and walk around the area. Nearby Salisbury Cathedral was established in 1258. It is one of the earliest medieval cathedrals in England and has the tallest spire in the country.

Salisbury Cathedral, England, UK by David Merrett

Cambridge

If you are in the United Kingdom to attend school, then you should not pass up the opportunity to visit Cambridge, located north of London in Cambridgeshire. Established as one of the finest learning institutions in the world, Cambridge is easy to visit and walk through. Cambridge University was established in 1209 and serves as the cornerstone for the other colleges of the university, including King’s College, Trinity College and St. John’s College.

Stroll through the lanes of King’s College or visit the ADC Theatre, which is the oldest university theatre in England. If you are interested in World War 2 history, visit the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. It was established in 1943 to honor Americans who gave their lives in England while fighting the second World War.

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall is a World Heritage Site and the location of the wall that divided the frontier of England from the rest of the world during Roman occupation. It runs 73 miles from east to west and is home to numerous Roman ruins, including garrison towns and roads.

Hadrian’s Wall, England, UK by

Tintagel Castle

Located on the western coastline of Cornwall, Tintagel Castle is where King Arthur was born according to legend. Explore 13th century ruins of the castle, which was once home to the Earl of Cornwall. Visit Merlin’s Cave and find out more about the story of Tristan and Isolde and their connection to the legend of Arthur.

Rich in history and legend, attending school in the United Kingdom is the perfect opportunity to explore many of the sites that provide the foundation for much of Western History. Other places to visit include Parliament, Kew Gardens, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland and the industrial cities of Midland and York.

Sarah writes for Richmond, the American Uni in London. Richmond’s specialist courses range from international relations too their unique art history masters course. Richmond offer low student numbers and a great student experience.

The post The ‘Must See’ Sights For An International Student In The UK appeared first on Best of European Union.

Streets in Chester, UK by Christopher John SSF

Wander the city walls

When you first get to Chester, one of the best ways to get your bearings is to take the 3km walk around the city walls. Erected during the Roman period for defensive purposes, the city walls give Chester its nickname of “The Walled City”. Although Chester’s walls have been rebuilt during their history, they form the most complete city walls of any British city. As you walk the walls you can be stood in the spot where history was made – for instance, King Charles observed a civil war battle from the walls – and take in the structures incorporated into the walls; you will probably be familiar with pictures of the Eastgate Clock, built to celebrate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. If you are keen to learn more about Chester’s history, join one of the guided tours of the walls, to find out more about its interesting past. For anyone with limited mobility who would like to see the whole city, a tour aboard the only remaining operating open top vintage bus from 1924 comes well recommended.

Visit Chester’s cathedral

There has been a church on the spot where the cathedral stands for the last 1000 years – initially a Saxon minster before the Benedictine abbey was built. As you walk round this impressive building, you can marvel at the Norman arches, Gothic columns, wood carvings and stained glass windows. Chester’s cathedral is one of the best examples of a Medieval monastery in England and the garden in the cloisters is equally splendid, hosting ferns, exotic bulbs, springtime flowers, majestic trees and herbs. The plants themselves are not the only attraction, but the way in which the cathedral garden is designed and the “Water of Life” sculpture by Stephen Broadbent that is sited there.

Chester’s Cathedral, UK by David Merrett

Sit in the amphitheatre

Located near the River Dee, Chester’s amphitheatre is the largest in Britain. In 2004 and 2005 excavation by English Heritage and Chester City Council uncovered two amphitheatres made of stone. In one, access to the upper seats is by way of stairs at the rear wall, while in the other the seats in higher tiers were reached by vaulted staircases. The two buildings not only differ from each other, but from other British amphitheatres indicating how important Roman Chester was. Various musical and theatrical events are periodically hosted at the amphitheatre, so if you are lucky enough, you might be able to coincide your trip with one of these performances. Discover more about Roman Chester at the Grosvenor Museum, where you can also learn about the local natural history and geology, as well as home life from the seventeenth century to the early twentieth century and art work.

Potter along The Rows

The Rows are unique to Chester. They are part-timbered balconies, which give rise to a second row of shops above those at ground level. You can find these second level shops along Watergate Street, Northgate Street, Eastgate Street and Bridge Street. If you are looking to buy something more unusual for yourself or a gift, you are likely to find exactly what you are after in the many independent stores located in The Rows. Also take the time for a coffee or lunch at one of the cafes in The Rows, before you set off to explore the rest of the city.

Claire writes about city planning and architecture on behalf of a landlord and property advice news site, Pro Buy To Let where thousands of landlords come every month for the latest news on property hot spots around the UK. Chester is surely one of those.

The post Chester – a Historic City Waiting to Be Explored | United Kingdom appeared first on Best of European Union.

Rimini is located in an area known as Adriatic Riviera, which is famous for its endless sandy beaches and long gradual entry into the sea, which is appreciated especially by families with young children. The resort is situated on a flat sea coast in the southeast corner of the Po Valley, about 200 km south of Venice and 50 km from the historic city of Ravenna. Along with several other towns in its surroundings creates a long strip of the urban landscape.

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The town has been here already since Roman period, which is reflected in the buildings in the city center. Rimini has received wider recognition in 1843 when the first spa resort was built here, which is still working. They deal with the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases and respiratory tract and are located in the northeast of the city. During the World War II almost the whole town was destroyed but it has been reconstructed during following years, began to grow and today it is one of Europe’s largest sea site resorts. The first hotel was opened here by Baldini family together with a spa centre in the year 1843. Since then there has grown additional 1600 accommodation properties.

Currently this resort can offer not only the sea, beaches, entertainment and attractions, but also nice old city with some beautiful and important monuments. So you can find a wonderful combination of nature, history, culture and entertainment here. Rimini has two faces – one is historic, great and calm in the same time, while the other one is trendy, vibrant and splendid.

Fans of medieval and Roman monuments will certainly not be disappointed since there are few of them right in the city center. One of the most important monuments is Ponte di Tiberio, a bridge that was constructed of Istrian marble. Its history dates back to the year 20 AD. Up to 90′s of the 20th century the bridge was used for transport, but now serves only for pedestrians. At this bridge, originating from the reign of Emperor Tiberius, starts the main street Corso di Augusto, which crosses the old city.

Following the street you can get up to the south edge of town where you can admire the oldest triumphal arch in Italy – Arco d’Augusto, which was built in 26 BC and served as the official gateway to the city. From the gate, then leads the main road Via Principalis.

The main square of Rimini is Piazza Cavour, which reflects all the city life. Its dominant feature is the ancient palace Palazzo del Podesta built in the 14th century. In front of it you can see the equestrian statue of the former ruler Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta. He was considered as one of the most daring military leaders in Italy of this time.

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On Via IV. Novembre street you can see a Renaissance cathedral church Tempio Malatestiano, which is perhaps the most beautiful building in the town at all. It was built in the 13th century by architect Leon Battista Alberti. His work has subsequently become a jewel of Renaissance architecture. Old Town provides a pleasant rest from the otherwise bustling tourist center. You can wander the picturesque cobbled streets or relax in hidden corners and observe the life around.

But Rimini is mainly known for its busier environment and rich cultural program. It is an ideal place for those who want to enjoy an active holiday full of fun and entertainment of various kinds. So if you like a hectic shopping, crowded pizzerias, discos and bars, you should spend some time on the main street near the beach. In the dark the resort transforms into a center of wild fun. There are especially young people, who are enjoying the vibrant nightlife of clubs and discos until the early morning hours. Exuberant nightlife is the main reason why Rimini is often called “Ibiza of the Adriatic” among young people. However you will not be disappointed even if you are the lover of good food and drink, as you can sit in a comfortable environment of restaurants, pizzerias and bars.

If you will want a break from the hot Italian sun, go to cool down into the Adriatic Sea. Rimini has over twenty kilometers of beaches with golden sand, which is sometimes up to 200 meters wide. Although the sea is a little cloudy from the sand, do not worry about its purity. If you do not prefer sunbathing on the beach and just lying, you can try paragliding, windsurfing, water skiing or jet-ski. In addition to water sports Rimini offers also opportunities to play volleyball, tennis, golf, mini golf and many other sports you can think of. If you have roller skates, be sure to take them with you – Rimini offers several special in-line routes.

You can also spend some time in one of the many parks. The biggest one is the Parco XXV Aprile, where you can get from the street Dario Campana. If you are planning your vacation with children, it is better to choose accommodation in a quieter part of town, like Miramare de Rimini, where the beaches are not overcrowded and there are no fees. This is more quiet part than downtown, which you appreciate like a ple. Howeverg tourist ceeAcbll=44/stro she builsst mert of town, s monsidered astrong>Rimivzo ur/strong>. Hep>

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