Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

Velvet

You may not need too many yards of this fine clothing, but discovering Antica Tessitura di Luigi Bevilacqua in the District of Santa Croce will enchant you with its velvet and damask produce. Let its luxurious texture adorn your chairs and footstools and bring the elegance of Italy to your home.

The Witches Mirror

This item may have been influenced by the Medieval Period when witches were believed to have roam Europe. You will find this crafted by an artisan in the Dorsoduro District. Find him and be amazed by the convex mirrors that transfix the images of those who gaze at it.

Original Venetian Beads

Do not be tricked by mass produced beads that are sold cheaply in souvenir shops. Go for the real beads of glass by visiting Anticlea Antiquatario at calle San Provolo or Paropomisa at Frezzeria, San Marco. Be more charming and the storeowner may consider showing you a glimpse of their own private collection, a rare treat given to those who are patient enough to look for the best Venetian beads in the region.

Featherweight Glasses

Technology may have improved over the decade, but the world’s lightest eyeglasses are made and created at Micromega in Venice. This would be quite a gift for those wearing eyeglasses and you will value it more since it is created by no other than Roberto Carlon, a popular and only creator of feather-weight titanium frames.

Venetian Books

Amazon and Ebay may have given opportunities for people to purchase books online, but classic guidebooks and Venice themed volumes of readings can only be purchased at specialist bookshops in Venice like Linea d’Acqua, Mare di Carta, and Libreria Acqua Alta.

It would require you to do a couple of walks and a few conversations with the locales before you find these shops; but you can always check the addresses online and find their stores addresses. If you have a friend knowledgeable of the area, then it would be a breeze finding these stores. Moreover, you may even find interesting places that are rarely explored by tourists because it is less known to the public.

About the Author:
Shaiya is a freelance writer for Venice Airport. Learn more exciting trips to enjoy in Italy by hiring cheap and affordable car hire deals in the city.

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Europe offers variety and individuality that many travelers simply do not have access to back home such as Italian leather, Belgian chocolates and Swiss watches; It really is a shopper’s paradise. Here’s the top 5 cities throughout the continent that shopaholics really can’t afford to miss.

Shopping Centre, London, UK by Jim Linwood

1. Dresden, Germany

With its rich yet turbulent history, Dresden is often described as being rather quiet and gloomy, but all that changes during the winter months when they city plays host to the Dresden Christmas Market. Established during the 15th Century, this is the oldest festive marketplace in Europe and is renowned for the homemade stollen on offer. Around 250 stallholders take part annually, selling an array of carefully handcrafted trinkets and blown glass holiday decorations.

2. Barcelona, Spain

The beauty of Barcelona is that it provides a refreshing mix of traditional Spanish stores that have been around since the Civil War and modern designer stores famous around the world. The top brands can, of course, be found nestled amongst quaint continental-style cafés along the cosmopolitan Passeig de Gràcia, known for being one of the most pricey avenues in Spain, while souvenir shops and more affordable stores line the nearby streets of Las Ramblas.

3. Paris, France

Anyone with even the vaguest of interest in clothing cannot pass up an opportunity to shop in the fashion capital of the world. The Champs-Élysées is the place to see and be seen in the center of Paris, with store after store dedicated to the latest styles. It’s not all designer clothes though, as this famous stretch from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde also houses toy stores, ice cream parlors and even car showrooms.

4. London, England

Frequently beating down the strong competition, London is often crowned King of shopping opportunities in Europe, with tourism purchases alone thought to contribute a whopping 3 billion pounds, or almost 5 billion dollars, to the British economy. London is famous for its big name department stores and global chains on Oxford Street, but also offers one-of-a-kind fashion boutiques and unconventional independent stores along Carnaby Street and Covent Garden, and a peek inside a Notting Hill bookstore is an absolute must-do activity.

5. Haarlem, Holland

Considered to be Holland’s premier shopping destination, Haarlem boasts numerous awards for its unrivaled shopping facilities. Visitors are drawn to the pretty, historic and, most importantly, pedestrianised Grote Houtstraat where the major brands are located, as well as to the small independent stores lining the surrounding cobbled streets. Situated just 13 miles west of Amsterdam, access is easy whether you arrive by plane, train or one of the many ferries to Holland.

Jennifer Watts, a freelance writer, provided this article for P&O Ferries. The opinions expressed are those of the author and any data provided does not originate from P&O Ferries. The following is a link to the P&O Ferries homepage – https://www.poferries.com/

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“The Three Graces” Fountain in Placa Reial, Las Ramblas, Barcelona / David Merrett

Las Ramblas still has its market, and flower stalls but is also awash with a variety of street entertainers who compete with each other for your attention, and your loose change. Some of them are very clever, and certainly worth watching. It is here however where you must be careful with Barcelona being one of the worst cities’ in the world for pick pockets. Avoid crowds, and do not let people get too close to you. In fact you are probably better off leaving all your valuables back in the hotel safe. At night the southern end of Las Ramblas becomes Barcelona’s red-light district with people openly having sex with prostitutes in the side streets. Remember Barcelona is a big city like New York or Paris where each of them has their parts you would not want to go. Keep your wits about you, and avoid the Ravel part of Las Rambles at night, and you should be fine.

Now we have the bad side of Las Ramblas out of the way we will try to concentrate on the good side. If people watching is your thing have a seat at one of the outdoor bars order a coffee or beer while watching your very own Fellini film act out in front of you. Las Ramblas is also the place to buy your postcards, or cheap reminders of your time in Barcelona.

If you love indoor food markets La Boqueria is the place for you just steps off the busy Ramblas is where the locals go to buy their daily produce including meat and fish saying “If you cannot find it in the Boqueria it’s not worth eating” You could spend a couple of hours in this market just staring at all the different meats hanging from the stalls, and bags of nuts and colourful spices from North Africa. There has been a market on this site since 1217, with the building you are in today being constructed in 1911.

The bottom of the Ramblas is marked with a statue to Christopher Columbus for it was here in Barcelona that Queen Isabel welcomed Columbus back to Spain following his first voyage to the Americas. Just beyond the Ramblas is the Ramblas de Mar a popular wooden  extension bridge in the shape of a wave that leads to the Maremagnum  a complex of shops restaurants and movie theatres , and is also home to a large aquarium completed in 1994 it is supposed to symbolize Barcelona’s opening to the sea.

John Ross is a globe-trotter who has been traveling for over 20 years. Tim has spent the last two years on various parts of Spain and recommends Outlet4Spain.com for the best accommodation anywhere in Spain.

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Top attractions

However short your stay in Nice, you should spend some time wandering the narrow streets of Nice’s charming Vielle Ville (Old Town). Many of the buildings date back over two hundred years when Nice was still part of Italy. Compact, full of restaurants, souvenir shops and places to buy local specialities like olive oil and local wine, even in the height of summer it’s nice and cool place. Visit the market at Cours Saleya for flowers and local produce, on eat in one of the cafes that takes over from the market at lunchtime. A few minutes away in Place Rosseti, this is where Italian ice cream can be found.

Not only does the Place Rossetti sound Italian, but this is where you can indulge in the best Italian ice cream, with nearly 100 flavours to choose from. (Marianne Heredge 2008)

From the Old Town it’s only a few paces to the Promenade des Anglais and the Baie des Anges. Local people come and stroll, especially on Sunday afternoons. Beware the kids (and adults) with their rollerblades and skates. Special tracks are laid out for them and if you want a go, hire wheels or blades to fly along this wide esplanade. The beaches are a little stony, looking better from a distance than close up. This doesn’t stop most people and the sea is lovely and warm for most of the year.

August summer holidays! Looking across the beach to Mont Boron, Nice. (Marianne Heredge 2008).

If you’re interested in art, you couldn’t have come to a better place. Popular with many of the top artists who lived here at various times, there are museums of the art of Marc Chagall and Matisse in Nice, as well as collections of Picasso’s work not far away in Antibes, Renoir in Haute Cagnes near Cagnes-sur-mer, Fernand Léger in Biot, and a fabulous collection that belonged to Aime and Marguerite Maeght, art dealers at St Paul de Vence who were friends with artists like Chagall and Matisse. For Asian art, the little Musée des Arts Asiatiques de Nice is a gem and on Saturdays you can be taken through a Japanese ceremony (book in advance). The Fine Arts Museum (Musée des Beaux-Arts) and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art have large collections of French and art from other countries too.

Rail enthusiasts will enjoy the scenic Train des Merveilles and Train des Pignes that go from Nice station east up to Italy and west to Dignes. Ideal for going into the Alpes Maritimes for day hikes or visits to villages in the beautiful arrière pays, you will probably need a whole day.

Getting to Nice

Nice is very accessible by air, with budget airlines like Easyjet and BMI competing with Air France and British Airways for cheap prices. In the Winter, when Nice enjoys mild temperatures (cold but brilliant blue skies) you can get rock bottom deals. By train, the TGV from Paris only takes about five hours and offers cheap prices when booked well in advance.

Accommodation

If you really want to treat yourself, the beautiful Negresco Hotel on the sea front not only offers luxury accommodation but some of the finest cuisine in their 3* Michelin restaurant, Le Chantecler. If your pocket won’t extend to this however, there’s everything in between. Lots of budget hotels can be found particularly by the station, just 20 minutes walk from the sea. For example, a cheap but good standard hotel is the Hotel Parisian on rue Vernier close to the station and Boulevard Jean Medécin that leads down to the Old Town with the tramway taking you to the heart of town within minutes.

Dining and shopping

For fans of shellfish and oysters, this is definitely the place to come. Le Cafe de Turin is the best place, down towards the port. Not only the plump North Atlantic oysters, but here you can also try the smaller but more distinctive tasting Mediterranean variety. You won’t be disappointed at any of the cheap little restaurants in the Old Town either, but Nice offers a good selection of haute cuisine restaurants. As well as Le Chantecler, try the more modest Lou Mourelec for good local cuisine.

For shopping, the Old Town shops are full of tempting souvenirs, whether this is beautifully prepared tapenade, special basil flavoured olive oil, or lavender sachets and kitchen accessories in brightly coloured Provence designs.

Forty eight hours in Nice is never enough time, explore car hire Nice options to maximise your time and efficiency. If you don’t manage to see and do everything, don’t worry it’s so easy to back get to Nice that you’ll want to go back time and time again.

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Marsascala history dates back to the 17th century, when there was a small and insignificant fishing village. It had a strategic position, which in 1614 was used by Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John – Fra Alof de Wignacourt. He rebuilt the town into a defensive fortress St. Thomas Tower, which protected this part of the island against the Turkish invasion. The village suddenly became a closely guarded place. Now, the fort does not fulfill its function any more, but it’s just a restaurant.

The Coast of Marsascala Bay is lined with a long promenade, where you can find many cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops – it is a centre of all social life. In the vicinity of the city there are constantly growing new villas and weekend houses. Especially the residents of the capital – Valletta, which is quite far away, use to spend a peaceful end of the week here.

Coast is flat and rocky. You can find sandy beaches in the neighbouring St. Thomas Bay. It offers ideal conditions for swimming, relaxation and water sports. The landscape around the city is made up of fields of orchards and vineyards, which give the place a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Christine Jewell

The village is built around white rocky hills and has a terraced structure. This strategically advantageous location has been inhabited since prehistoric times. During the Roman occupation, Oppidum was built here and in the Middle Ages the local fort became a haven for people from far afield. The village has never been conquered, even during the bloody religious wars in the 16th century. The worst period for Gordes was the beginning of the 20th century, when many of its inhabitants moved to work out in industrial cities.

The village has been finally saved from decline thanks to the modern art. In 1938 Gordes has been discovered by André Lhote – a French sculptor and painter, who invited here well-known artists such as Marc Chagall, Victor Vasarely and other involved in contemporary art. All of them spent a lot of time here, however their quiet creative period was interrupted by war. In 1944 the village was invaded by German troops, who wanted to revenge for the attack of the French resistance, and thus they destroyed more than a half of the village with its monuments. One monk from the nearby Sénanque monastery tried to intervene against this destruction, but he was killed.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Giovanni

Anyway the village managed to retain its ancient charm. Gordes is in fact a labyrinth of cobbled streets that are lined with beautiful houses. Many of them are souvenir shops, but also cafes and wine bars, where the more affluent tourists can enjoy the right muscat wine. All houses in the village were built of the traditional Provencal materials – stone and terracotta plate used on the roofs.

At the highest point of the village there is a Renaissance castle, which was built on the site of the original medieval fortress. From the outside of the castle you can explore beautiful Renaissance windows. In the past, the only access to this point was through very steep, almost vertical stairs carved into the rock. The castle now houses a museum of contemporary French art. If you want to see the beautiful Renaissance fireplace in the main hall, you must purchase a ticket to the Musée Pol Mara. Pol Mara was an important Flemish artist.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Thierry

Not far away there is the Eglise Saint-Firmin Church from the 18th century. You can then proceed down the aisle Rue de l’Eglise, which will take you to the Rue du Belvédère – a lookout offering a spectacular view of the surroundings.

The beauty of this place attracted famous people, film directors, painters, musicians and of course the crowds of tourists. However in the main summer season it is better to avoid it. The roads are usually totally congested and it is almost impossible to get here. The best time for a visit is spring or autumn.

Near Gordes, you can visit Sénanque monastery, one of the three great Cistercian abbeys in Provence. It is well known for its Romanesque architecture and the cultivation of lavender.

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The old city center of Tossa de Mar offers a network of narrow streets and its most important monuments include the Church of San Vicente. You also should visit a local gallery and city museum. Along the coast you can find the beaches like Gran Playa, El Codolar and La Baume, offering a complete tourist service. At sea you can enjoy a variety of water sports, such as the diving, sailing, surfing, water skiing or scooters. Along the coast there in a pretty nice promenade with shops and souvenir shops, clothing, jewelry and ceramics. Hotels in Tossa de Mar offer a large hotel complexes, but you will find also the camping here.

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Roussillon is considered one of the most beautiful villages of France. Thanks to the nearby ocher mines, which are a major tourist attraction, has the whole village a reddish colour. Also, the local soil has all the shades of red, ranging from beige to dark red. It used to be mined 17 different colors of ocher – purple, red, orange, yellow, and many others. The history of this site dates back to 230 million years ago, when all the area of Provence was under the sea. The sand at the bottom contained iron, which later oxidized, and such created the ocher.

Already the ancient Romans used it to produce glazes on pottery. In 18th century the local residents found out how to adjust the pigment to be resistant to water. With this discovery, a new industry of colors began. Such colors could be used not only for surface treatment of ceramic products, but also in painting houses. The production of colours decreased in 50′s of 20th century. Nowadays, the ocher is not mining any more and this pigment is produced artificially. The village, however, maintain the original color, and together with its surrounding it is a protected area.

In the village you can walk through the narrow and steep streets that are lined with houses with beautiful red-colored facades, houses the souvenir shops. The beautiful village of Roussillon is unfortunately flooded with crowds in the summer, so if you want to enjoy its unique atmosphere, it is good to visit in a spring or autumn.

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Walibi Belgium was opened on 26th July 1975. It is a medium sized park where all the people from children to older one can find fun. In total there are 50 different attractions. Walibi Belgium is not divided into thematic parts, but into categories according to severity – children, family, for teens and The Big 7 (this is for the bravest ones). There are the roller coasters, free fall, water rides, 4D cinema, and many more. The biggest attraction of the park is the roller coaster “Vampire” and free fall from the 77 meters “Dalton Terror”. The Walibi Belgium has also a plenty of food stalls and souvenir shops. Accommodation right in the park is not possible, but in the vicinity there are lots of accommodation opportunities. There is also the campsite. Otherwise it is a good idea to book tickets over the interent, it will cost you less.

Walibi Belgium is open from late April to early November 10 to 18 hours. Outside the main season is open only on weekends. It should prefer to see the opening hours at the park site. Tickets prices start at 25Eur/person/entrance or you can buy the whole year ticket for 55Eur.

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