Cities and Towns in Europe
Russia's fourth largest city is located just to the east of the Europe/Asia border. The reason most tourists come here is either as a pleasant place to make a stop and explore on a break from the long Trans Siberian Railway or, for the Russian history buffs, as the site of the execution of the last Tsar and his family after the Russian Revolution. The enormous Cathedral of the Blood has been built on the site of the house where they were shot and out of town at Ganina Yama the Monastery of the Holy Martyr stands on their burial site. Other attractions around Yekaterinburg include the Shirokorechinskoe mafia cemetery, the small historical town of Nevyansk, the Old Believer village of Byngi and several ski resorts and cross-country skiing trails.
The capital of the former Yugoslavia became the capital of Serbia after the breakup. It has been attacked so many times through history, that locals claim it is the most destroyed city in the world. During the Kosovo War in the late 90's, Belgrade got again heavily damaged, this time by NATO bombings. So it is understandable, that the war torn city is bit of a mess today. Exquisite churches and rich architectures are mixed with gritty looking apartment blocks build in the most unappealing Soviet-style. So even that Belgrade is a bit bleak compared to some of Eastern European grand capitals like Prague and Budapest, it is considered one of the best places to have a night out - things get crazy here.
Bratislava is one of those European capitals that doesn't get a lot of attention. And no wonder, it lies only 64km from grandiose Vienna and 320km from ever-so-lovely Prague. The Old Town is tiny and doesn't match those of its neighbor - but sure, it is pretty and chanting with the maze-like alleyways. The city outside Old Town is also tiny and rather dull. It all seems that Bratislava has missed a beat or two on the catching-up-wave since the fall of the Iron Curtain, but that is exactly the reason why to visit Bratislava - to see a city that wasn't hit by the post-communism boom.
Cute little Ljubljana is one of those places you can only like. Ljubljanica river flows through the city center. It is the focal point of the attractive old town and you will find yourself strolling up and down the riverfront more than you care to count. You will encounter charming old houses, winding streets and endless rows of cafes, bars and restaurants with outdoor seating which gives Ljubljana the life and buzz that it is so beloved for. There are no must-see sights besides the ancient, but neatly done-up, castle on top of the hill - and even that one is not a must-see. Ljubljana is not a city to be seen, but a city to be enjoyed.
Piran is Slovenia's charming harbour town on the Adriatic Sea coast. It spreads out to both sides of the small marina along the lovely promenade, which is often crammed with tanned bodies soaking up the sun. The town itself is rather cute with the pastel coloured houses and, though it is touristic, it is nothing compared to the other medieval towns like Dubrovnik further south.
Every traveller to Barcelona find something to their liking. Whether it's architecture (Gaudi), art museums (Picasso and Miró), beach going (Barceloneta) or just finding a bar for some cava sipping, Barcelona can deliver. Of course, there are all the mandatory things like walking up and down La Rambla, snack at the La Boqueria market, visit La Sagrada Familia, and stumbling upon churches and plazas in the Barri Gotic. But things get equally exciting (and more local), when exploring a bit further, like the quarters of El Born Barrio (cocktails), Gracia (shoppe in Carrer de Verdi), and even Poble Sec (boozing). There are so many things to see and do in Barcelona, so don't limit yourself to only the touristic ones.
Ceuta and Melilla are two Spanish autonomous cities located on the Mediterranean coast of Africa. Both are bordering Morocco, but are located almost 400 km apart. Ceuta is the closed to mainland Spain, where the ferry ride only takes an hour.
With an area of 18,5 km2 is Ceuta the big sister, though the populations are similar at 85.000.
Due to its strategically important position at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, Ceuta has changed hands many times throughout ancient history. From the 15th to the 17th centuries, Ceuta was under Portuguese rule. Afterwards it came under Spanish rule.
The majority of the historical buildings dates no more than a few centuries back.
Like Melilla, Ceuta is heavily fenced off to Morocco, since these are the only land borders between Africa and Europe. At times these fences get attacked by big groups of migrants trying to reach the EU.
With an area of 18,5 km2 is Ceuta the big sister, though the populations are similar at 85.000.
Due to its strategically important position at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, Ceuta has changed hands many times throughout ancient history. From the 15th to the 17th centuries, Ceuta was under Portuguese rule. Afterwards it came under Spanish rule.
The majority of the historical buildings dates no more than a few centuries back.
Like Melilla, Ceuta is heavily fenced off to Morocco, since these are the only land borders between Africa and Europe. At times these fences get attacked by big groups of migrants trying to reach the EU.
Most people come to Granada to see the magnificent Alhambra palace, but Granada is a bit of gem itself - especially the historic quarter Albayzín at the foot of Alhambra. Albayzín is enlisted alongside with Alhambra as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is easy to understand when getting lost in the narrow ascending streets. Here are Arabic (tourist) shops, small cafes, and beautiful traditional houses with courtyards. For lunch, aim at a restaurant at the top with views over the neighbourhood and Alhambra with snow covered Sierra Nevada as backdrop.
Like Ceuta, Melilla is a Spanish autonomous city located on the Mediterranean coast of Africa bordering Morocco. It covers an area of 12 km^2 and has about 85,000 inhabitants.
It has a long history of being controlled by whoever was in power in the region. Melilla can trace its Spanish past to the 15th Century. A lot of the defense structures that can be seen today date back to the 16th and 18th centuries.
Today, Melilla normally only gets into the international news, when migrants storm the tall fences.
It has a long history of being controlled by whoever was in power in the region. Melilla can trace its Spanish past to the 15th Century. A lot of the defense structures that can be seen today date back to the 16th and 18th centuries.
Today, Melilla normally only gets into the international news, when migrants storm the tall fences.
Though Seville is a metropolis, it manages to have a distinct Andalusian feel. Its history is rich and the abundance of grand architecture is a testimony to that. Royal Alcázar (only second to Alhambra palace), Cathedral of Seville (third-largest church in the world), Archivo General de Indias (those three are joint enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Plaza de España, Parque de Maria Luisa, and Metropol Parasol (picture) are just some of the many must-see sights in Seville. However, wandering the winding cobbled streets in Santa Cruz, the former Jewish quarter, is what seems to enchant visitors the most - so expect lots of tour groups. But Santa Cruz - and Seville for that matter - is big enough for both locals and tourists, so it's easy to escape any crowds.