Travel In Europe

Europe encompasses an area of 10,180,000 km² (3,930,000 mi²), stretching from Asia to the Atlantic, and from Africa to the Arctic. European countries welcome more than 480 million international visitors per year, more than half of the global market, and 7 of the 10 most visited countries are European nations. Europe was home to some of the world's most advanced civilizations which has led to an astonishing cultural heritage today. Ancient Greece has been credited with the foundation of Western culture, and has been immensely influential on the language, politics, educational systems, philosophy, science, and arts of the European continent. Ancient Greek structures are scattered over Greece and Turkey, including Delphi, Olympia, Sparta, Ephesus, Lycia and of course the Parthenon in Athens.

STONEHENGE

For your information, Stonehenge is well-known Neolithic and Bronze Age stone monument located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England. The whole WHS is quite large and contains many other structures from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Besides, Stonehenge is owned by the nation and is administered by English Heritage. The Stonehenge landscape is one of the best preserved areas of readily accessible chalk downland in the UK. On the edge of Salisbury plain it features several rolling hills and dry river valleys that allow for pleasant walks without too much trouble. Surrounding farmland is ideal for crops and animal grazing.

STONEHENGE

This places contains some 200 scheduled monuments. It is also the site of one of the biggest Chalk grassland reversion projects in the world.

Meteora

Meteora literally means of "middle of the sky", "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above" is one of the gems of Greece and second only to Mount Athos as being the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Plus, this place is located near the towns of Kalampaka and Kastraki in northwestern Thessaly it consists of a number of rock pinnacles topped with a total of 24 monasteries. These immense, solid rocks, split by earthquakes, weathered by water and wind over millions of years, are nature’s authentic masterpieces.

View of Meteora with Agias Varvaras Rousanou monastery in the foreground

 

 

 

Emerging about 60 million years ago as the elevated seabed material that was the outcome of strong tectonic movements, continuous weathering by water, wind and extremes of temperature turned them into huge pillars of rock. Moreover, this place become common existential needs and strong religious faith compelled them to live united in the first monastic communities, their common drive of faith guiding them towards the unique construction of monasteries of the highest architectural and artistic value.

Town of Kalambaka view from top of Meteora


 

Kalampaka is a town with a very rich and long history itself and should not be assessed as merely sharing the glory of the Meteora pinnacles that tower over it. Furthermore, Relics of an ancient Greek temple, probably for the god Apollo, have been incorporated in the wall of the town’s oldest and most renowned 10th century church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Historical records refer to the town’s Byzantine name as Stagi, by which time it had become a significant center of the Byzantine Empire.

 

 

Blue Lagoon

Blue Lagoon is a Geothermal Spa in Southwest Iceland, located almost mid-way between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik, close to the town of Grindavik. Besides that, It is a by product of the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant. The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help many people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 40 °C (104 °F) and is enjoyable year round, even in freezing conditions.

 

 

BLUE LAGOON

Cinque Terre

For your information, Cinque Terre, means Five Lands, comprise the five small coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso located in the Italian region of Liguria. This places are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Moreover, the Cinque Terre boasts some of the best coastline hiking trails in the world.Since Cinque Terre is an area prone to landslides, it's always better to check if the hiking paths are open or closed, before leaving. You must purchase a pass if you hike the trail number 2 (blue), while no pass is required for the other trails. It is also possible to purchase a hiking and train pass in one if you wish to catch a train to the next town. Trains are frequent but it is advisable to check local time tables especially on Sunday and Public holidays as you could be waiting up to an hour for the correct train

 

 

 

Corniglia and the typical Cinque Terre landscape

 

 

Besides, the main attraction of the Cinque Terre is the landscape. Mediterranean herbs and trees grow spontaneously from the top of the hills down to the water level. Well embedded in this magnificent natural scenery, one can admire the intense human activity of the ancestors, when the wine terraces were built. Plus, an enormous work of transportation, carrying all the heavy stones on men's shoulders and women's heads. A work through the centuries, in fact it's estimated to have taken about 200 years to build the entire stone-wall network. Its total length has been calculated to be at least equal to the Great Wall of China