Choirokoitia / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Klaus D. Peter, Wiehl, Germany

Cyprus has long been a popular holiday destination for Northern Europeans looking for that perfect beach holiday, and especially for the British whose country ruled the island up until independence in 1960. Cyprus is now firmly in the European Union with the Euro as its currency. With thousands of years of history Cyprus has some wonderful places to visit including  a number on the UNESCO World Heritage list which are:

1. Choirokoitia. A Neolithic settlement dating from the 7th till the 4th millennium B.C. The remains found at this site are some of the most important finds in the Easter Mediterranean and cast in light on the evolution of humans in this area. The site has only been partially excavated so it is hoped that future finds will help in the research.

2. The painted churches of the Troodos Mountains are a well preserved example of Byzantine architecture. The complex consists of 10 monuments all vividly painted with murals providing an overview of Byzantine painting in Cyprus.

3. Paphos and the area around have been inhabited since Neolithic times and was a centre for the cult Hellenic following of the fertility Goddess Aphrodite. A temple to the Goddess was erected by the Myceans (Ancient Greeks) in the 12th century B.C.  With the Mosaics of Neo Paphos some of the most beautiful in the world. The site is of exceptional worth due also to the many villas, fortresses, and tombs that have been uncovered.

These three sites in Cyprus have been deemed so important as to be put on a list giving “enhanced protection” status by the committee for the protection of cultural sites so that the destruction of the Mostar Bridge in Bosnia Herzegovina , and the shelling of the city of Dubrovnik  never occur again.  By giving the sites enhanced protection it is hoped that signature states to the Hague Convention for the protection of cultural monuments will abide by the conventions terms in the event of armed conflict.

Temple in Paphos / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Fiore Silvestro Barbato

Cyprus is most visited during the Summer months, and is thought of primarily as a beach destination.  A visit to these sites though will allow you to see a little more of what Cyprus has to offer including a drive into the mountains where the air is cooler, this provides a nice break to all those days you will be spending at the beach.

Cyprus is an easy Island to fly to from anywhere in Europe, and just recently low-cost carrier Irish airline Ryanair has announced that it is making Paphos a hub, for the airline, and will be basing aircraft in Cyprus. This will create 600 jobs while offering 80 flights a week to 14 destinations throughout Europe. Yet more proof of Paphos’s appeal as a holiday destination.

We hope that you have found this information useful, and that you will visit these cultural sites on your visit the Beautiful Island of Cyprus.

This is another article from Nathan Griffiths and was written on behalf of e rentals. Visit their site to compare rates and deals available for car rentals worldwide.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Arturo R Montesinos

San Lorenzo de El Escorial, as is its full name, is situated at an altitude of 1028 meters above sea level. It lies at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama, where the stone has been mined and used for its construction, which started in 1563 by order of King Philip II of Spain. This pious monarch decided to commemorate his victory over French troops by founding of the Augustinian monastery, part of which would become the royal residence. The monastery should also serve as a center of education and final resting place of the Spanish aristocracy. And so, over the next 21 years, grew up into a large unique complex in the area of ​​207×161 meters. Two prominent Spanish architects were working on its construction – Juan Bautista de Toledo, who created the plans and Juan de Herrera, who completed a building in 1584.

San Lorenzo de El Escorial features a rich interior decoration, which was assigned to the hands of the greatest artists of that time. Therfore we can admire the beautiful works of Tiziano Vecelli, El Greco or Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez. In El Escorial you can also find about one and a half thousand of preserved rare paintings and about five hundred frescos that adorn the ceilings of most of the interior. In 1984, San Lorenzo de El Escorial was just for its unique decoration included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Igor González Martín

In the former times was El Escorial a symbol of secular and religious power of the king and its monumentality is amazing until today. The whole complex is crossed with 24 kilometres of tunnels, which connect individual rooms and buildings. Right in the center is a beautiful basilica, which is a main dominant of El Escorial. In its vicinity is situated Augustinian monastery with three hundred monastic cells and the Panteon de los Reyes, where are the remains of eleven Spanish kings and their wives, starting with Charles V, a father of Philip II. Do not miss a visit to the historical library, which is considered to be the most valuable in the world. Holds almost 45 thousand volumes from the 15th and 16th century and more than five thousand valuable manuscripts in Arabic, Latin and Spanish.

From Madrid to San Lorenzo de El Escorial is the most convenient to travel by bus (line 661 or 664) or by train from the main railway station Atocha and then continue on foot for approximately 20 minutes. The way takes less than one hour in both cases. El Escorial is open every day from 10′o clock except for Mondays. Be prepared for numerous groups of tourists that come here especially in the summer and on weekends.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Adam Jones

Buda Castle is situated on 60 m high ridge known as Castle Hill, overlooking the city already since the 13th century. The first written mention dates from 1255, when Béla IV. built a fortified castle here. Around 1356 Ludwig I. then began to build a Royal Castle on the southern slopes of Castle Hill. With the advent of the year 1400, the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg built a Gothic palace here, which was in 1458 rebuilt into a Renaissance style.

The palace was constantly besieged since the beginning by Turks and the Habsburgs, and was almost destroyed and then rebuilt to a smaller one. After the conquest of Buda in 1541 by Turkish troops the palace served as stables and storage of gunpowder. Its expansion was issued later by Maria Theresa, who changed it into a palace with 203 chambers. Habsburgs made a reconstruction of the palace in the 18th century by which they rebuilt it into a huge palace.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Benjamin Vander Steen

Buda Castle includes several major institutions such as the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest History Museum and National Széchényi Library.

The Hungarian National Gallery is a home to an extensive collection describing the turbulent past of the country. It was founded in 1957 and now holds exhibits of Hungarian art from the Middle Ages to the present. Originally, these works were located in the Hungarian National Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, but in 1975 were moved to the royal palace. Visitors can now see the six permanent exhibitions of the most valuable works of Hungary.

The Budapest History Museum is in operation since 1873, when began to collect historical artifacts related to the capital city. During the World War II was in the south wing of the royal palace discovered medieval hall in which you can now see an exhibition called The Royal Palace in the medieval Buda. Here you can find the weapons, sealants, tiles and early crafts. An exhibition shows development of the city from Roman times up to the Hungarian settlement in the 13th century. The first floor hosts an exhibition of contemporary Budapest, the city’s history from 1686 to present.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Országos Széchényi Könyvtár

National Széchényi Library holds a stunning collection of books. The library was founded in 1802 by Count Ferenc Széchenyi. It consisted of 15,000 books and 2,000 manuscripts. Now the collection includes five million prints, it’s everything that has ever been issued in Hungary. Among the most valuable gems are Corvinus manuscripts, which are collections of old books and manuscripts which formerly belonged to King Matthias Corvinus. This collection formed one of the largest libraries in Renaissance Europe.

Once you are in Budapest, I’m sure you cannot miss this great Castle!

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The first records of settlements in the island of Corsica comes from the times of ancient Greece, when the island was inhabited by Greeks, Etruscans and Carthaginians. The entire island of Corsica contains of a huge mountain massif, which dominates the hill of Monte Cinto, which is with his elevation of 2706 m the highest mountain on the island of Corsica. The administrative center is the city of Ajaccio. The biggest and most important port is Bastia.

Corsica is the pearl of the Mediterranean Sea. It offers a beautiful diverse nature. There you will find high mountains with lakes and meadows with streams and creeks, as well as beautiful white beaches and clear sea. Parts of the island are registered on the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best known is the Gulf Port, where is the Gulf Girolata, Cape Porto, and Scandola Nature Reserve. These sites provide habitat for protected plants and animals such as gulls, cormorants and sea eagles. Gulf Port is therefore registered on UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983.

Among the most important monuments on the island of Corsica is a prehistoric menhirs and dolomens, mountain cascades, and the historic city of Bonifacio.

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It is the home to many endemic and rare species of the Balkan Pleistocene flora. There are also lots of famous and popular ski resorts. Since 1983, the entire area of the Pirin National Park is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Pirin National Park with its caves, waterfalls and glacial lakes should be included on your list of destinations if you are planning your visit to Bulgaria.

Visible is the impact of glaciers from the last Ice Age, which created deep valleys and numerous lakes. The rivers are fed from melting snow on the peaks during the summer as well. Water falls to the valleys in several beautiful waterfalls. Pirin, Rila and Rodopi together form the mass of the southern Bulgarian mountains. Pirin is interesting due to the fact that 45 of its peaks have an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level.

During the hiking to one of the peaks you can meet several islands of more-years-old snow, so-called firn, which is an intermediate stage between snow and glacial ice. As the Pirin National Park is relatively far from inhabited areas, many European wildlife species found their home here.

Pirin National Park has well-marked hiking paths and trails for the ski runs. You can choose the level of difficulty according to your physical abilities. However most of them belong to less demanding routes. Rest and food for tourists provide several huts, which offer the possibility of overnight accommodation in a beautiful and romantic landscape. The chalet Vichren, which lies at an altitude of 1950 meters can even be reached by car. From there, visitors can walk to the highest mountain peak in just 2-3 hours. The Pirin National Park has just very few tourists throughout the year, which also has its charm. The reason is probably its remoteness, but the park offers unique world of majestic mountain, which is certainly worth a visit.

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Toruń‘s Old Town was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a World Heritage Site in 1997 and 10 years later it was added to the list of Seven Wonders of Poland.

For your visit to Toruń, you should reserve at least 2 days. The city is a charming especially after sunset, when the souvenir sellers and most tourists disappear from the streets. Best time to visit Toruń is from May to September. During the summer, there are lots of music, theater, gingerbread and other festivals in Toruń.

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Piazza di Ferrari, Genoa, Liguria, Italy by Hpschaefer

In the Roman Era, Genoa was one of the most powerful states in the Empire. Their power continued on for centuries and it is even said that the flag of England was adopted from Genoa back in 1190. They were considered to be a super power back in the 10th century. Their power would finally come to an end in 1381 when the Venetians conquered the city.

While the city went through countless busts in development, much of the more historically significant buildings were left standing and were well maintained over the centuries. In the old city center, you will find most of the city’s most notable monuments and structures. Here you will find the Piazza de Ferrari, the Via Garibaldi as well as Doge’s Palace. There is also the 16th century Musei di Strada Nuova and the 5th century St. Lorence Cathedral. The largest sea aquarium in Europe can be found in the old port area which has recently been converted into a shopping center.

Duomo di Genoa, Liguria, Italy by Idéfix

Along the edges of the Piazza de Ferrari, is where you will find the home of Christopher Columbus. While it is unclear as to whether or not Columbus was born in Genoa, what is known is that he spent most of his childhood in the city before becoming the navigator touted as having discovered America. There is also a monument nearby that has been dedicated to the world famous navigator.

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Spiš Castle is spread on an area of more than 4 hectares on a travertine hill at an altitude of 634 meters. You’ll find the castle located just outside the village of Spišské Podhradie, close to medieval town of Levoča. While it’s possible to walk the distance from the village the castle, the walk itself will take more than an hour to complete; which is why many visitors choose to simply drive up to the parking lot which is located just under the castle.

Spiš Castle, Slovakia by Ronnie Macdonald

The castle is situated on an ancient trade route so this place was inhabited since Palaeolithic Period. Sometimes around the beginning of the 1st century it was a place of a very large fortress called Púchov and since then the place underwent a rich history.

When it comes to visiting Slovakia, there are a number of excellent places to visit throughout the country. However, one of the most popular destinations for many travellers who make their way to the country is that of the Spiš Castle.

It was back in 1120 when the Spiš Castle construction first began. Back in those days, it was nothing more than a boundary fort and was used to protect the region during the old Hungarian feudal days. Later on, it was set as the head of the region for several centuries. As a result of the numerous attacks on the castle throughout the centuries, many sections had been destroyed. However, as early as the 15th century, reconstruction efforts were performed in order to convert the castle into a residence. It was Štefan Zápoľský who can be credited with turning the boundary fort into the castle it is today.

Spiš Castle, Slovakia – aerial view by Civertan

Unfortunately, back in 1780 there was a massive fire within the castle compound which just destroyed a large portion of the Spiš Castle. Since there is nobody living on the property or caring for the castle at the time, the Spiš Castle fell into disrepair. It was not until the 1970s with the help of conservationists, that extensive reconstruction and repair of the foundation, walls and other parts the castle were undertook. And while the castle today is still partially in ruins, it has long since been stabilized and many sections had been completely refurbished.

Today, the castle is openly accessible as a museum filled with multiple collections that date back through the centuries. Most of the political documentation back from the medieval days is also on display within the Castle Museum.

The Spiš Castle is a historically important castle not just in Slovakia, but also within Central Europe. It is a beautiful display of medieval architecture. It is also a picturesque, stately manor home which has been referred to by many as a palace which has inspired countless storybooks over the centuries.

So if you are heading to European Capital of Culture in 2013 – Košice, take some time for a trip and visit this castle, which is situated only 70 kilometres away.

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