 |
| The colorful Bayahibe |
Book Now
mercoledì 15 maggio 2013
Dominican Republic: the colors of Eden
Book Now
venerdì 10 maggio 2013
martedì 7 maggio 2013
In Venice!
In Venice! Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks.
May happenings in Venezia! Longer and sunnier days are coming!
Book Now
martedì 30 aprile 2013
Paris
PARIS for a summer alternativeHyatt Regency Paris Etoile (ex Concorde Lafayette) 4*
Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile, formerly the renowned Hotel Concorde La Fayette, is 1 km from both the Arc de Triomphe and the famous Champs Elysées. Panoramic city views are offered from the fully-equipped fitness centre on the 34th floor.
from
€ 139 Book Now
martedì 23 aprile 2013
Venice
The perfect start to the week...VeniceAntico Panada
Antico Panada dates back to 1889. It is set in 2 historic buildings, 30 metres from Saint Mark's Square. The air-conditioned rooms feature refined furniture, and Murano lamps.
from euro 64.60
Book Now
lunedì 22 aprile 2013
London in the Spring
London in the spring has a special charm. Come and discover!
Low Cost Weekend in London, discover the offers and flies in the city of Big Ben!
Book Now
Low Cost Weekend in London, discover the offers and flies in the city of Big Ben!
Book Now
lunedì 15 aprile 2013
sabato 13 aprile 2013
venerdì 12 aprile 2013
PRAGUE and the night of witches
giovedì 11 aprile 2013
mercoledì 10 aprile 2013
martedì 9 aprile 2013
Amsterdam
Amsterdam Highlights
Amsterdam has an appeal that is absolutely unique. It’s a vibrant place, a treasure-trove of extraordinary artistic riches, and the living embodiment of 900 years of history, during which it rose to become the centre of a huge global empire. After a period of decline, it matured into today’s relaxed and tolerant modern metropolis. Elegant and serene, Amsterdam also has its seamy side, and this too is part of its character, as much as its famous network of canals.
Whatever you are looking for, this small city packs a big punch.
Canals and Waterways
Amsterdam’s canals, in particular, the elegant ring of three 17th-century canals known as the rachtengordel – are its defining feature. With their delightful views, pretty bridges (1,281 in all), idiosyncratic gabled houses and relaxed waterside cafés, Amsterdam’s 75 km (47 miles) of canals are great fun to explore: full of interest and perfect for a leisurely stroll. They are a constant reminder that the Netherlands is the world’s flattest country, half of which has been reclaimed from the sea with the aid of dykes, canals and, more recently, huge tidal barriers. Before you start exploring Amsterdam’s canals on foot, however, you should take a boat tour for a fascinating overview.
Housed in the old city orphanage, this vibrant collection traces the history of Amsterdam from the 12th century. The Historical Museum houses the city’s most fascinating collection of artifacts, archaeological finds, clothes, jewellery, maps, paintings and sculptures. Originally a convent, in 1580 it became the city orphanage. Handsome extensions were added by Hendrick and Pieter de Keyser before Jacob van Campen’s magnificent rebuilding of 1634. The orphans moved out in 1960, and in 1975 the museum moved in. Its stunningly presented exhibits and interactive displays chart Amsterdam’s growth and metamorphosis over the centuries.
The museum celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010.
you start exploring Amsterdam’s canals on foot, however, you should take a boat tour.
2 Keizersgracht
3 Prinsengracht
4 Entrepotdok
5 Reguliersgracht
6 Amstel River
7 Brouwersgracht
8 Bloemgracht
9 Leidsegracht
10 Singel
Prinsengracht
The outermost canal of the Grachtengordel, designed for warehouses and artisans’ housing, has a breezy, laidback air. It is peppered with cafés, art galleries and houseboats. Cycle its 3 km (2 mile) length, or explore
short stretches on foot.
cafés overlooking colourful houseboats.
cut in 1664.
Brouwersgracht
The happy-go-lucky feel of the “brewers” canal’ makes a pleasant contrast to the sophisticated elegance of the Grachtengordel.
Bloemgracht
A charming canal crossed by cast-iron bridges, Bloemgracht is known locally as “the Herengracht of the Jordaan”, because of its elaborately gabled houses.
Amsterdam has an appeal that is absolutely unique. It’s a vibrant place, a treasure-trove of extraordinary artistic riches, and the living embodiment of 900 years of history, during which it rose to become the centre of a huge global empire. After a period of decline, it matured into today’s relaxed and tolerant modern metropolis. Elegant and serene, Amsterdam also has its seamy side, and this too is part of its character, as much as its famous network of canals.
Whatever you are looking for, this small city packs a big punch.
Canals and Waterways
Amsterdam’s canals, in particular, the elegant ring of three 17th-century canals known as the rachtengordel – are its defining feature. With their delightful views, pretty bridges (1,281 in all), idiosyncratic gabled houses and relaxed waterside cafés, Amsterdam’s 75 km (47 miles) of canals are great fun to explore: full of interest and perfect for a leisurely stroll. They are a constant reminder that the Netherlands is the world’s flattest country, half of which has been reclaimed from the sea with the aid of dykes, canals and, more recently, huge tidal barriers. Before you start exploring Amsterdam’s canals on foot, however, you should take a boat tour for a fascinating overview.
Rijksmuseum
The country’s largest national museum houses an unrivalled collection of 17thcentury Dutch art, and much besides. The magnificent national museum of the Netherlands possesses nearly seven million works of art, only a fraction of which is on display. It was established by King Louis Napoleon in 1808 in the Royal Palace on the Dam, moving later to the Trippenhuis on Kloveniersburgwal. In 1865, the architect P J H Cuypers designed a new home near the Vondelpark; the Rijksmuseum opened in 1885. The main building is being renovated (until 2013), and only the Philips Wing is open.
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum houses simply the most comprehensive collection of the artist’s work to be seen anywhere in the world – including some of his most famous paintings. The collection also includes works by other 19th-century artists. The most comprehensive collection in the world of Van Gogh’s work was amassed by his art dealer brother Theo, and is housed in this museum. It includes more than 200 of his paintings, over 500 drawings and hundreds of letters, as well as his Japanese prints and works by contemporaries – though not all are on permanent display. Gerrit Rietveld’s airy building, opened in 1973, sets off the paintings to perfection. The display follows Van Gogh’s development from the murky peasant scenes of the early 1880s to the anguished final works. An ellipse-shaped extension designed by Kisho Kurokawa was added in 1999.
Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
Things are not always what they seem, and that is certainly true of this gem of a 17th-century house in the Red Light District: tucked away on its upper floors is a rare example of a perfectly preserved hidden Catholic church. The rest of the museum is fascinating, too – the interior has changed little since the Golden Age. Contrasting sharply with its surroundings in the shabbiest corner of the Red Light District, this lovely 17th-century house has a surprise in store. Concealed in its upper floors is a hidden church, Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic), a rare, perfectly preserved example of the many clandestine churches that were built after the Alteration (see facing page). Local Catholics worshipped here from 1663 to 1887, when nearby St Nicolaaskerk was built. Its little-changed interiors transport you back in time to the Dutch Golden Age.
Begijnhof
A haven of peace, the Begijnhof was built as a refuge for the Beguines, a lay Catholic sisterhood. Amsterdam’s oldest house is here. Away from the bustle of the city, this bewitching sanctuary of elegant houses around a tranquil green was founded in 1346 for the members of a lay Catholic sisterhood, the Beguines, the last of whom died in 1971. Although none of the original buildings survive – nor the early design in which the courtyard was surrounded by water – there is a fascinating example of a 15th-century wooden house, a lovely church of the same period, and an appealing hidden chapel. Visitors are asked to respect the privacy of the current residents.
Amsterdams Historisch Museum
Oude Kerk
This great Gothic basilica preserves a number of its treasures, despite being stripped of its paintings and statuary during the Iconoclasm. The city’s oldest monument and first parish church stands on the site of an early 13th-century wooden chapel that was destroyed by fire. Rebuilt as a small stone hall church in the 14th century, over the years it expanded into a mighty Gothic basilica, now in the heart of the Red Light District. The interior is stark, stripped of its Catholic treasures during the Iconoclasm of 1566, but it boasts some exquisite stained glass, rare ceiling paintings and a world-famous organ. It is dedicated to St Nicholas, patron saint of the city.
Museum Van Loon
Visitors to the Van Loon family residence on the Keizersgracht, lovingly restored in the style of the mid-18th century, have a rare opportunity to see behind the façade of a grand canal house – and to wander freely about it. Step back into the 18th century at this delightful canal house on Keizersgracht, which has been the property of the prestigious Van Loon family (co-founders of the Dutch East India Company, later bankers and royal courtiers) since 1884. In the 1970s, the family opened it to the public, having painstakingly restored it to its appearance in the 1750s, when it was owned by Dr Abraham van Hagen and his heiress wife Catharina Trip. It is beautifully furnished with Van Loon family possessions throughout.
Anne Frank Huis
The hiding place of Anne Frank and her family, before they were discovered, arrested and sent to their deaths, is today a deeply moving museum. This deeply moving museum tells a tragic story. When in 1942 the Germans began to round up Jews in Amsterdam, the Frank and Van Pels families went into hiding. For 25 months, they hid in a secret annexe in the Anne Frank Huis. In August 1944, they were betrayed and deported. Only Otto survived. The diary of his daughter, Anne, who died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in March 1945 at the age of 15, has made her one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century.The museum celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010.
Dam Square
This is where it all started: Amsterdam’s main square is on the site of the dam on the Amstel around which the city grew. Now it hosts markets, events and all shades of city life. The very heart of Amsterdam, Dam Square – or “the Dam”, as the locals call it – marks the site of the original 13th-century dam on the Amstel river. An architectural parade spanning six centuries includes the glorious Nieuwe Kerk and the Koninklijke Paleis. By the 17th century, with the town hall here and the Exchange nearby, the Dam had become the focus of Amsterdam’s political and commercial life. The passage of years may have eroded some of its grandeur – but certainly none of its colour or its vitality.
Canals and Waterways
With their delightful views, pretty bridges (1,281 in all), idiosyncratic gabled houses and relaxed waterside cafés, Amsterdam’s 75 km (47 miles) of canals are great fun to explore: full of interest and perfect for a leisurely stroll. They are a constant reminder that the Netherlands is the world’s flattest country, half of which has been reclaimed from the sea with the aid of dykes, canals and, more recently, huge tidal barriers. Beforeyou start exploring Amsterdam’s canals on foot, however, you should take a boat tour.
Top 10 Canals and Waterways
1 Herengracht2 Keizersgracht
3 Prinsengracht
4 Entrepotdok
5 Reguliersgracht
6 Amstel River
7 Brouwersgracht
8 Bloemgracht
9 Leidsegracht
10 Singel
Herengracht
Stateliest canal of the Grachtengordel the Herengracht is famous for its Golden
Bend – a grand but rather lifeless stretch of mansions built for the richest merchants. A more beautiful stretch lies between Huidenstraat and Leidsestraat, best viewed from the east side.
Keizersgracht
The central canal of the Grachtengordel has fine stretches between Brouwersgracht and Raadhuisstraat, and again between Runstraat and Leidestraat.Prinsengracht
The outermost canal of the Grachtengordel, designed for warehouses and artisans’ housing, has a breezy, laidback air. It is peppered with cafés, art galleries and houseboats. Cycle its 3 km (2 mile) length, or explore
short stretches on foot.
Entrepotdok
An imposing stretch of former dockland has been restored to provide offices and apartments, with outdoorcafés overlooking colourful houseboats.
Reguliersgracht
Much loved for its pretty houses and hump-backed bridges, Reguliersgracht wascut in 1664.
Amstel River
Until the construction of the Grachtengordel pushed it out of focus, the river Amstel was the city’s raison d’être. It is still used by barges to transport goods to the city’s port.Brouwersgracht
The happy-go-lucky feel of the “brewers” canal’ makes a pleasant contrast to the sophisticated elegance of the Grachtengordel.
Bloemgracht
A charming canal crossed by cast-iron bridges, Bloemgracht is known locally as “the Herengracht of the Jordaan”, because of its elaborately gabled houses.
Leidsegracht
This lovely – and exclusive – canal was cut in 1664, when it was the main barge route from Amsterdam to Leiden.
Singel
Once a fortified moat, the Singel is now home to Bloemenmarkt, the domed Ronde Lutherse Kerk and the soaring Neo- Gothic Krijtberg church.lunedì 8 aprile 2013
giovedì 4 aprile 2013
LE MIGLIORI METE DI APRILE
SCOPRITE LE TOP DESTINATIONS DI APRILE 2013
NEW YORK
New York è certamente una fra le città più importanti oltre che uno dei maggiori centri finanziari mondiali. Nella grande mela per fare shopping sfrenato a prezzi imperdibili, visitare musei gratuiti, da non perdere il Metropolitan Museum of Art, e le visite alle collezioni del MoMa (Museum of Modern Art) e del Guggenheim Museum . Provare spuntini a pochi dollari. Non perdetevi NY ad Aprile....la Big Apple si colora di tinte pop!
NEW YORK
New York è certamente una fra le città più importanti oltre che uno dei maggiori centri finanziari mondiali. Nella grande mela per fare shopping sfrenato a prezzi imperdibili, visitare musei gratuiti, da non perdere il Metropolitan Museum of Art, e le visite alle collezioni del MoMa (Museum of Modern Art) e del Guggenheim Museum . Provare spuntini a pochi dollari. Non perdetevi NY ad Aprile....la Big Apple si colora di tinte pop!
BARCELLONA
La seconda città principale della Spagna, amata da giovani turisti e dalle famiglie provenienti da tutto il mondo. Barcellona è una città antica e moderna allo stesso tempo.
La città regina delle Tapas, per rimanere in tema di "gusto", assaggiare la ricca cucina catalana, in uno dei tanti ristoranti tipici presenti in città, è certamente una tappa imperdibile per ogni turista.
Da non perdere il coloratissimo Mercato della Boqueria sulla Rambla, la Sagrada Família., Casa Mila, Casa Battlò, Parc Guell.
BERLINO
Berlino è la capitale più effervescente per eccellenza; è un amante del buon vivere che si nutre appassionatamente del banchetto che la vita apparecchia. Un'’energia contagiosa pervade i suoi caffè, bar, locali notturni e di cabaret. A primavera la città trendy è animata da musica, spettacoli, mostre, design, divertimento. Preparatevi...la capitale della Germania è tutta da scoprire.
ISTANBUL
Istanbul, la moderna porta d’Oriente, È l’unica metropoli al mondo che si trova su due continenti. Una parte in Asia, l’altra in Europa. Mix straordinario tra Oriente e Occidente, Istanbul è davvero una terra di contrasti. Meta da non perdere, dichiarata Patrimonio dell’Umanità. Ci si muove facilmente a piedi, perdendosi tra veri capolavori: la Basilica di Santa Sofia, la Moschea Blu con i suoi minareti e le bellissime maioliche; l'immenso Palazzo di Topkaki con le sue 300 stanze visitabili con un tour guidato di mezza giornata. imperdibile la Crociera sul Bosforo, Il modo migliore per apprezzare la sponda occidentale e la sponda orientale del Bosforo, vale assolutamente la pena!
Da non perdere il coloratissimo Mercato della Boqueria sulla Rambla, la Sagrada Família., Casa Mila, Casa Battlò, Parc Guell.
BERLINO
Berlino è la capitale più effervescente per eccellenza; è un amante del buon vivere che si nutre appassionatamente del banchetto che la vita apparecchia. Un'’energia contagiosa pervade i suoi caffè, bar, locali notturni e di cabaret. A primavera la città trendy è animata da musica, spettacoli, mostre, design, divertimento. Preparatevi...la capitale della Germania è tutta da scoprire.
ISTANBUL
Istanbul, la moderna porta d’Oriente, È l’unica metropoli al mondo che si trova su due continenti. Una parte in Asia, l’altra in Europa. Mix straordinario tra Oriente e Occidente, Istanbul è davvero una terra di contrasti. Meta da non perdere, dichiarata Patrimonio dell’Umanità. Ci si muove facilmente a piedi, perdendosi tra veri capolavori: la Basilica di Santa Sofia, la Moschea Blu con i suoi minareti e le bellissime maioliche; l'immenso Palazzo di Topkaki con le sue 300 stanze visitabili con un tour guidato di mezza giornata. imperdibile la Crociera sul Bosforo, Il modo migliore per apprezzare la sponda occidentale e la sponda orientale del Bosforo, vale assolutamente la pena!
Santorini
Santorini
the island of Santorini is probably the most intriguing
island of Greece. Simply its name is more than enough to
unfold in mind stunning sunsets and scenery, white, red and
black sand beaches, impresive traditional houses, balconies
with vew to the Volcano and and lively night life. All the
above, allong with the remains of the antiquity and the myth
of the Lost Atlantis justify the words which the tourists
determine this wonderful island.
The active volcano of Santorini erupted in the 50's and ruined many towns of the island. Santorini is also called Thira and its capital is the town of Fira. It is a very touristy island and therefore rather expensive.
The active volcano of Santorini erupted in the 50's and ruined many towns of the island. Santorini is also called Thira and its capital is the town of Fira. It is a very touristy island and therefore rather expensive.
The locals live mainly off agriculture and tourism. The islands
largest export product is soil; 2.000.000 tons a year are used
all over the world, mainly to make concrete. The Suez channel
was built with this concrete for example.
Most holidaymakers stay where the beaches are, Kamari and Perissa, but these places really do not represent the island's amazing distinctiveness.
If you can, you should try to stay in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia, the towns on the cliffs, which are very beautiful and full of little cafes, shops and places of interest. There is a bus that goes to the beaches everyday, and it is much better to be in the towns in the evening and on the beaches during the day. If you stay in Monolithos you will have more peace and quiet.
Most holidaymakers stay where the beaches are, Kamari and Perissa, but these places really do not represent the island's amazing distinctiveness.
If you can, you should try to stay in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia, the towns on the cliffs, which are very beautiful and full of little cafes, shops and places of interest. There is a bus that goes to the beaches everyday, and it is much better to be in the towns in the evening and on the beaches during the day. If you stay in Monolithos you will have more peace and quiet.
Approaching the island by boat the immediate impression
obtained is this is a Greek island unlike any other. The island
of Santorini was formed out of the lava from the volcanic
eruption in 1660 BC. The central part of the volcano sank into
the sea leading to the emergence of Santorini itself and the
tiny neighbouring islands of Thirasia, Palaia and Nea Kameni
close by.
Today, Santorini is the only inhabited Caldera (volcano cauldron) in the world. Unlike other islands in Greece, the towns and villages sit densely on top of the massive cliffs of the Caldera and from a distance appear like snow capping the towering mountain tops. The coloured strata of the volcanic rock of these cliffs are spectacular in themselves: chocolate brown, rust red, yellow ochre, white and cream. The geological uniqueness however is not the only thing that makes Santorini a special holiday destination.
Today, Santorini is the only inhabited Caldera (volcano cauldron) in the world. Unlike other islands in Greece, the towns and villages sit densely on top of the massive cliffs of the Caldera and from a distance appear like snow capping the towering mountain tops. The coloured strata of the volcanic rock of these cliffs are spectacular in themselves: chocolate brown, rust red, yellow ochre, white and cream. The geological uniqueness however is not the only thing that makes Santorini a special holiday destination.
Iscriviti a:
Post (Atom)