Marinelle Adams
While travelling may not yet be possible for most of us it does not harm to dream and plan ahead in the future for when things will come back to normal. In the meantime, stay healthy by practicing social distancing and stay healthy and happy by doing things you enjoy and love like running, reading, watching series, spending time on casino.netbet.fi or doing whatever else you may like.
With the summer slowly making its appearance and the restrictions easing in some parts of the world the mood is set for shorter or longer getaways. Where restrictions have not eased yet it does not harm to plan for next summer. We recommend the top 3 European destinations for 2024 to have an unforgettable time!
1. Lisbon, Portugal
Authentic, atmospherically charming with a distinct beauty that can hardly be surpassed, Lisbon is at its best against the backdrop of the spring landscape. With a heart that beats in intense Mediterranean rhythms, the hospitable Portuguese capital is one of the places you will surely love.
What to do: Start your tour of the city with a tour of the Bairro Alto and Chiado neighborhoods. Discover the labyrinthine alleys of the 16th century, taste the traditional food in the many restaurants available around, walk among the tourists in Casas de Fado and enjoy your drink in the dozens of bars with the local musicians! Take one of the yellow cable cars to discover the most picturesque corners of Lisbon and reach Alfama, the medieval Arab quarter of aristocratic glamor. Visit the Torre De Belem, the water-shaped tower on the banks of the Tagus, and the majestic Hieronite Monastery and the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
Tip: Take the opportunity and take a trip to Sintra, a beautiful suburb worth discovering, just 45 minutes from Lisbon. From there continue to the westernmost tip of the continent, Cape Cabo da Roca! Route 403 from downtown Sintra takes 30 minutes and ends at a steep hillside, where “the earth ends and the sea begins”, and a lighthouse stands proudly. From there by the same bus and in 30΄ you will reach the seaside resort Cascais! Its historic center is full of architectural treasures, while the imposing Cidadela fortress stands out.
2. Barcelona, Spain
Fiery temperament, Mediterranean temperament, extroverted, youthful, sunny, open-hearted! The capital of Catalonia invites you to experience it with all your senses! It has gained its own loyal audience, as it is one of the coolest cities in the world, while the wonderful architecture, the huge beach, the amazing view, and the exquisite cuisine are some of its strong assets that no one can overlook!
What to do: Getting to know Barcelona will start at the Rambla, the city’s most famous boulevard, which leads to the beach. Here you will become one of the Catalans crowded on the city squares full of mimes, fortune tellers, musicians and actors who put on improvised performances. Arriving at Barceloneta, find a corner, take off your shoes, dip them in the sand and just wait until the sun dives into the sea. Stroll the Barri Gotic and get lost in the long alleys that create pleasant labyrinths. Introduce yourself to Gaudi: From the two-story Sagrada Familia, a registered trademark of Barcelona, to Park Guell and the Casa Battlo and Pedrera Museum houses, you cannot miss any of this modern works of art!
A walk up to the Montjuic hill is a must and even more so when one of the ways to get there is to the state-of-the-art Teleferic de Montjuic. In your short trip you will have the opportunity to see all of Barcelona – from Tibidabo hill to Port Vell.
Tip: Discover the most must neighborhood of the city! Undoubtedly one of the liveliest areas of the city. El Born, south of the Barri Gotic and adjacent to the Via Laietana and the Carrer del Comerc, deserves the title of “‘bohemian neighborhood of the city”. With museums like Picasso, galleries, up-and-coming little designer shops and a plethora of tapas cafes, bars, and restaurants, you will soon realize why this will become one of your favorite cities. With tables outside, crowded people, improvised concerts of classical music, but also with a special artistic touch, El Born, part of La Ribera, knows how to win over its fans.
3. Venice, Italy
Venice can easily boast that it is the most romantic destination in Europe and rightly so! Canals, bridges, palaces, golden domes, romance in a gondola at sunset are some of the reasons that Venice becomes love at first sight.
Water canals instead of cobblestones, which every hour of the day take on a different shade. Elegant palaces and buildings where great moments of European history were written. Masterpieces of art, stylish cafes, and bridges-sets for vows of eternal love. What else to ask for?
What to do: Start your walk on the Grand Canal. It divides the city in two and around it stand Venetian palaces of unsurpassed luxury, with a reference to the Gothic style Ca d’Oro, but also Corner-Spinelli, Ca da Mosto and Grimani di San Luca. Embark on a vaporetto to the iconic St. Mark’s Square. As hundreds of pigeons fly around you, the majestic Basilica of St. Mark, one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture in Italy, will inevitably catch your eye.
Next stop is one of the oldest buildings in the city, the Doge’s Palace, or Palazzo Ducale. You will feel a thrill when the time comes to see the Bridge of Sighs (the only closed bridge in Venice), from where the convicts were once taken from the court to the prisons, seeing the sun for the last time and sighing just before the deprivation of their freedom and, in most cases, of their lives.
You will be surprised by the Clock Tower or Torre dell’orologio, built in the late 15th century, with its majestic façade depicting phases of the moon and the zodiac signs, made of salt and gold. In the same square, visit Belfry, from the top of which you can see the breathtaking view of the city and the Alps if the weather permits of course, the Archaeological Museum and the Sansoviniana Library.
Tip: Buy a piece of art in Murano! On an island – or rather a cluster of islands – of Venice for hundreds of years the secrets of glassmaking are passed down from generation to generation, creating art that has acquired their personal stamp… that of Murano! If you are looking for a souvenir, then a visit to this special island is more than necessary, since the excellent creations from blown glass are the stars in the shop windows.