Blue Lagoon, Comino, Malta by Simon

A Short History of Comino

The name Comino derives from the cumin seed, which was once prolific on the small island. Most notably, from today’s age to centuries ago, Malta has always been best known for its isolation and tranquillity. For prolonged sections of its history, Comino has either been sparsely populated, privately owned or been completely vacant. During the Roman Times, it was mostly inhabited by farmers, but in the Middle Ages and with the rise in sea faring vessels, Comino became a popular hideout for pirates and looters. This was due to Comino’s rugged coastline, which ran jagged with sheer limestone cliffs, providing the ideal coverage for rouge ships. Comino’s many caves and coves were also used by pirates to ambush unsuspecting ships sailing between the islands of Malta and Gozo.

Comino’s early history is also linked to knights. It was used as the hunting ground for the Knights of Malta and in the 16th and 17th century, it became a place of exile for wayward knights, who were given the tedious task of guarding St. Mary’s tower. The tower was built in the 15th century to help spot invasions and to also deter pirates from hiding on the island.

Comino Caves, Malta by Simon

Tourist Attractions

Malta only has a handful of permanent residents and the majority of people on the island are just temporary visitors, who stay over at one of the Comino hotels. Large sections of the island are cornered off as a bird sanctuary and nature reserve, making Comino a haven for wildlife. Because of its tranquillity and crystal clear waters, Comino is an excellent diving spot, although some of the waters are restricted. The most popular attraction is the Blue Lagoon, a postcard bay that boasts crystal clear waters and a stretch of smooth, white sand. It’s visited by tourists on a daily basis and is popular with swimmers, snorkelers and divers. Because of its spectacular beauty, Comino has appeared in many films, notably Troy and The Count of Monte Cristo.

Penny Munroe is an avid writer in travel news and tips. Articles include travelling safety tips to outlining the beautiful holidays Malta offer.

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Albufera Nature Park, Mallorca, Spain by Kiko Piris

Many of the ecosystems in this park, which claims the greatest biodiversity of any area in the Balearics, can be traced back to over 18 million years ago! The park’s present wetlands formed about 100,000 years ago, however, and its dunes formed about 10,000 years ago. Much of the park’s waters come from seasonal streams in north and central Mallorca, though subterranean aquifers also provide the damp. Seawater also makes its way to the park in the summer, and is said to have a “particular effect” on area vegetation. Park meadows feature an abundance of seagrass, which provide an essential hydrodynamic barrier that protect area beaches and dunes from erosion.

An internationally protected area for birds, birdwatchers from all over Europe flock (no pun intended) to the park to catch glimpses of rare and beautiful waterfowl, as the park is the most “bird-rich wetland” of any island in the Mediterranean. There are at least 60 bird species that use the park for breeding purposes, and over 200 species have been spotted in the park in general. Birds known to inhabit the park include ospreys, who leave their breeding sites to fish in the wetlands, as well as egrets, crested coots, terns, herons, and sand pipers. Other bird species that live in the park all year round include peregrines and hoopoes; birds that utilize the park for breeding include stonechats, moustached warblers and long-eared owls. Waterfowl that make occasional appearances at the park include spoonbills, glossy ibis, and cranes. Birdwatching “hides,” or sites, are located throughout the park for wildlife viewing, and the park’s visitor center features an audio visual display room for listening to the songs of assorted park birds.

Birds aren’t the only life forms inhabiting the park. Over 29 species of fish live within the wetlands, including a rather sizable eel population, as well as 66 species of funghi. Water snakes and marsh frogs are some of the most visible reptiles and amphibians. Mammals that call the park home include eight species of bat, including the rare Barbastelle bat, as well as an assortment of rats and mice. Visit the park in the spring to enjoy its stunning selection of wildflowers, but remember to utilize the area foot or bike riding paths.

Admission to the park is free. The park is open year round, though how long the park is open each day depends on the time of year. It is accessible by walking, bike riding, or driving, though cars must be parked on either the nearby side streets or residential areas. It is important that all park rules are followed, and visitors are not allowed to collect flowers, other vegetation, or wildlife.

Bio: This article was written by Hotel Sis Pins, a Hotel Majorca location. Contact them to book your stay today!

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Most impressive and largest aqueduct at that time was undoubtedly the Pont du Gard in Provence, in southern France. It dates from Roman times – was built 2000 years ago. It is not only beneficial structure, but also an architectural gem. It can certainly be called wonder of the ancient world. This building has been preserved almost in working conditions until today.

Aqueduct transferred water from the Eure spring to the wells in Nimes (48 km). Noteworthy is that the height difference between spring and wells is only 17 m, which proves truly outstanding calculations of the whole system.

A part of the aqueduct is a huge, three-storey bridge over the river Gard, which is also the most interesting part. The bridge is 275 meters long, 49 meters high and at the highest part it is 3 meters wide. It consists of three rows of arches – the arcades. Blocks of stone are embedded into each other with millimeter accuracy while no fasteners were used.

At the time of the Roman Empire the city of Nimes had approximately 50 000 inhabitants. Aqueduct was able to supply about 400 liters of water daily for each person.

The bridge is now a major tourist attraction and one of the most visited monuments in France with more than 2 million tourists per year. In 1985 it was included in UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can even stay in camping which is situated right bellow the Aqueduct.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Antonis Lamnatos

Lake Como is the most diverse and most attractive lake of all the Italian lakes. It is surrounded by alpine peaks, forested hills and lush vegetation. The mild climate makes ideal conditions for flowering gardens on its banks and many places around the lake are also used as a climatic spa. Lago di Como lies at an altitude of 197 m and the length of its shore is 170 km. The lake is widely popular among tourists especially for the great possibilities for hiking and doing sports. Swimming here is in the summer basically comparable with the sea. Lake is also suitable for scuba diving and windsurfing.

In the vicinity of Lago di Como are lots of interesting places worth visiting. To visit them you can use the roads along the coast or local shipping and ferry transport. The most famous resort on the lake is a town Como.

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The historic center of town is full of the historical monuments and interesting shops. The dominant of the city center is the church Duomo, which was founded in the 14th century. Its construction lasted four centuries and today it features pretty facade. Next to the church you can see the Palazzo Govia, which houses a historical museum of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Another important monument in Como is the Town Hall Broletto dating from the 13th century. Among the rare secular monuments are the Lombard Romanesque churches of San Fedele and Sant ‘Abbondio. All these monuments can be found in the medieval fortifications that surround the city. Como has a wonderful Sant’Agostino port from which you can get to the only island in the lake – Comacina.

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