San Sebastian is located on the northern coast of Spain, 20 kms away from the French border. It offers you a wide variety of experiences such as attending events, engaging in water sports like surfing, lazing on the beautiful beach and checking out some great pubs and restaurants.
San Sebastian was earlier encircled by a long wall, which was demolished in the 19th century. Muralla del Puerto is where the remains of the historic wall still stand. The renovated wall serves as a passage between the City Hall and the lower part of Mount Urgull. You can view the activities down at the harbor from this place.
The long distance road race between Behobia and San Sebastian is a unique and popular event in which several thousand runners participate. The local people enthusiastically assemble in large numbers and give the occasion a festive touch.
La Semana Grande, a popular celebration held in the second half of August was introduced to attract tourists and offers week-long musical events, sports, bullfights and firework competitions. You will have a great time if you visit San Sebastian at this time of the year. In San Sebastian, there is a popular ice skating rink also named Palacio del Hielo Txuri Urdin.
If you like traveling, you can take advantage of San Sebastian’s geographical proximity to France and can visit two countries in one trip.
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Arahova is located on Mt Parnassos. It was built on the ruins of Anemoria and Kiparissos, the two cities which existed in 2000 B.C. It was ruled by the Ottoman and Greek rulers.
There are many places of historical interests in Arahova. Agios Georgios is the biggest Church in Arahova. If you visit the place in April, you can enjoy the annual festival held here to celebrate the Greek victory over the Ottoman rulers.
Mount Parnassos has a mythological past. The mountain is named after Parnassos, the son of the nymph Kleodora and is believed to be sacred to Apollo. It is also considered to be the home of the nine muses.
The best ski centre of Greece is located on this mountain. The 16 ski runs attract a large number of visitors every winter. The National Park of Parnassos is also worth a visit.
If you have some time to travel 30 km, you can go to Distomo village to visit The Monastery of Osios Loukas. The monastery was built in the 10th century and has great heritage value. Arahova is only 12 km from Delphi and can be used as a base to visit the ancient temple.
Arahova is a popular destination not only in the winters, but also can be visited during the summers. If you are looking for a cool summer vacation, then you can consider Arahova because of its proximity to the beaches Itea and Antikira.
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Antiparos is located in the Aegean Sea of Greece and is one of the islands of the Cyclades. It is located southwest of its bigger neighbour Paros and is a small holiday paradise. One of the best things about Antiparos is that you can walk to most places and it is virtually traffic free.
Antiparos has several small beautiful beaches which are great for swimming. Sandy shores and crystal water are a given here. The beach at Soros is particularly famous for its calm atmosphere.
The cave of Antiparos and the Enetic castle are a must visit. The cave still has some stalagmites and stalactites, which make for a spectacular view. There are many small churches around in Antiparos and you must visit the Church of Agios Igannis Spiliotis.
You can also go for day trips to Despotiko, a small islet located to the south of Antiparos. Many tourists from Paros and Antiparos go to Despotiko and spend hours on its beautiful beaches.
A bicycle ride along the seaside and mountains of Antiporas will give you the opportunity to enjoy the ravishing natural scenery of the island.
If you like water sports, then you can also indulge in scuba diving, kayaking and pedaloe boating.
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Anafi is a small, sparsely populated island in the Cyclades. The island’s steep cliffs allow you to enjoy marvellous views of the sea. If you are looking for a quiet place to relax and spend time in company of the spectacular nature, Anafi is just the place for you.
Anafi has a small port called Agios Nikolaos, from where you can get to Chora, the main village, in a few minutes. Most of the restaurants and markets are located along Chora’s main road.
Located 6 km from Chora in the extreme end of Anafi, is the Moni Kalamiotissas monastery, which is the main place of tourist interest. Close to the monastery are the remains of a sanctuary to Apollo.
Kastelli is another place in Anafi where you can see the remains of ancient settlements dating back to as far as the 9th century. The Venetians had also built a fortress here in the 15th century of which the ruins can still be seen here.
Besides the places of historical interest, you can also spend some great time at a number of lovely beaches in Anafi. The beach in Agios Nikolaos is sandy and great for spending idyllic time. From there you can go to other beaches by boat. Klissidi is one such beach where arrays of palm trees create a lovely visual.
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Bilbao is the capital of the province of Biscay in Spain. It offers a host of interesting places, historical buildings and museums for you to visit.
Casa Consistorial is Bilbao’s town hall which is built on the neo-Baroque architectural pattern. Statues of prominent persons of the city are displayed outside the building. Casco Viejo is another building of historical importance, which is presently housing historical archives, and the library of Bilbao. If you visit the place in summer, you can enjoy open-air musical concerts arranged in its park.
Guggenheim Museum is a major attraction for the tourists. Inside the museum, there is an excellent piece of flower bedecked sculpture called ‘Puppy’. It has derived its name from its shape of a large-sized dog. To make it look lively, the flowers are replaced every season.
Bilbao’s Metro has been designed and developed with the idea of presenting the different facets of the city. With a novel and marvelous architecture, the transparent shell of the Metro will let you have the glimpse of Bilbao at every stop.
Pasarela Zubizuri is a bridge located close to Guggenheim. It is a delightful experience to walk across the bridge and enjoy the astonishing bird’s eye view of Bilbao. A part of the bridge’s walkway is made of glass, which gives you the thrill of ‘walking in air’.
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Zaragoza is the populous capital of Zaragoza province in Spain, situated on the river Ebro.
You will find a number of palaces, museums and monuments in Zaragoza. The Moorish Palace of Aliaferia is one of the major tourist attractions. It is a magnificent castle built in the 11th century, with a spacious complex accommodating inner courtyard, mosque, pools and fountains.
The 16th century Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Piler also attracts a large number of tourists. There is a beautiful statue of Virgin Mary inside the basilica. The frescos done by eminent Spanish artists have added to the beauty of its interiors. A 7-day festival is held every year with great fanfare to celebrate the Virgin Mary’s appearance before Saint James. The occasion draws a large number of people who take part in singing and dancing in bars and night clubs.
Fusion of various architectural styles reached their peak in The Seo del Salvador cathedral. It has an imposing museum where you will find an interesting range of tapestries of French and Flemish varieties.
In the ancient times, the city of Zaragoza was encircled by the Roman walls. You will have an enriching experience visiting the city’s museums where excavated remains of the Roman walls have been preserved.
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The Navarra region of Spain shares borders with France, Castile, Aragon and Baskland. The beautiful towns of Navarra, namely Artajona and Roncesvalles are chief tourist attractions. If you visit Navarra in the month July, you will have an opportunity to witness “Running of Bulls” held in Pamplona, the capital of Navarra.
Navarra’s numerous natural preserves have added to the area’s tourist attraction. You can have an adventurous experience rock climbing and hiking in Reserva Integral de Lizardoia and Parque Natural de Senorio de Bertiz.
Among religious sites, you should visit Pamplona Cathedral. The architectural craftsmanship inside the church is simply spellbinding. The tomb of Carlos III and his wife Dona Leonor is also very popular with the tourists.
Navarra’s Tajera Park is another place frequented by the tourists. You can visit towers of the town inside the park. From there can further walk down to Puerta de Zumalacarregui, one the six old doors of the town. You should also go to Taconera Park to see the beautiful monuments and the Fountain of Neptune.
For those of you who think holidaying is not complete without some shopping, you can find several kiosk shops in all parts of Navarra where you can pick some interesting tit-bits. Handicraft items like hats, vests, woodcarvings are very popular with the tourists. You can also shop for fashion apparel and accessories in the boutiques of Navarra.
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A populous port city of Spain, Algeciras is situated 20 km north of Tarifa. It is the chief embarkation point on the way to Tangier and Morocco.
The city has a rich historical background. You will find buildings with old architecture in the Sal Isidro Quarter. You can admire the beautiful architecture of the 18th century at the church of Nuestra Senora. The church compound is a peaceful place, where you can sit or take a stroll. Algeciras has grown into a place of tourist interest only in the past few years.
You should take a trip to Tarifa from here to watch the migratory birds. Whale watching in the Bay of Gibralter is another delightful experience you can not afford to miss.
The coastal route along Algeciras is of great scenic beauty. A guided tour from the port of Algeciras to Morocco should be a ‘must do’ on your agenda.
Another place in Algeciras that fascinates the tourists is its park. The trees and fountains inside the park create a charming atmosphere that gives you a nice break from the din and bustle of the city.
You may also spare sometime to visit the local market and experience the frenzied selling of consumable items there.
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Amorgos is undoubtedly the star attraction of Cyclades. It lies in the south east of the main group of islands and boasts of a mountainous topography which makes way some absolutely spectacular views.
The island has two natural ports – Katapola and Aigiali. Katapola, the main port of Amorgos lies on the northern coast and is by far the best natural harbour of the Cyclades. Aigiali is more popular as a resort destination.
The south east coast of the island is very steep and hosts a monastery embedded in a mountain cliff. The monastery is called Panagia of Hozoviotissa and was built in 1088 by a Byzantine emperor, Alexios Komninos. The monastery is only visible by sea as it is hidden by the steep mountains it is embedded in. It is one of the most important sites in Amorgos and is a great example of Byzantine architecture perfectly synched with the natural beauty.
Amorgos is one of the few places in the world that offers visitors the option to indulge in both mountaineering and water sport activities. Amorgos is also known for its archaeological wealth. There are a number of impressive archaeological sites which give you the peek into its history from the prehistoric times.
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Agia Galini, meaning Holy Peace is a small city on the southern coast of Crete, Greece. It was at one time a small fishing village, which has now transformed into a popular tourist destination. However, this little village still does not see a big influx of tourists and retains its serene and peaceful atmosphere. It is great place to escape from their hectic urban life and enjoy the slow paced life of a small village.
Agia Galini is famous for its natural beauty. This village is built on top of the hills, which surround a port. The view of the Lybian Sea from the village is beautiful and breathtaking. You can enjoy the beauty of colourful sunsets along the beaches around this area, which can be visited for day trips. The sandy beaches of Agia Galini are calm and offer a wonderful opportunity to relax and unwind in peace. You can also enjoy day boat trips to popular destinations like Agios Giorgos, Paximadi, Preveli and Agio Farago from the harbour.
Even though Agia Galini is a small village, it has all modern amenities and public conveniences such as ATM machines, restaurants and convenient modes of transportation. There many places here, which serve excellent local food. This small village also boasts of an active night life and an interesting local market.
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