Posts tagged: castle

Algarve, the Nature Park and Beach Pottery

Algarve is a beautiful region full of beaches south of Portugal. The regional capital is Faro, the area known for its pristine beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and sunny weather throughout the year.

Algarve’s climate is delightful. During the spring and summer, the region enjoys warm, sunny days, and winter temperatures remain around 15 º C.

Algarve started to become more important since the 1960′s, when the number of tourists visiting this region increased dramatically. Algarve stands out as a region where newspapers and posters do not come in one language, if not coming in Portuguese, English and German.

Algarve is located on the Atlantic coast, and its long, sandy beaches decorate the landscape. The most important beaches are Playa da Marinha and Armação de Pêra.

Among the many highlights Algarve beaches of Praia da Marinha, located in Lagoa. This beach is considered one of the best in the region, and has won several awards in recent years. Praia da Marinha is one of the most recognized in the country since its breathtaking views have graced thousands of publications on tourism in Portugal.

One of the towns best known is Armação de Pêra, and thousands of tourists visit its magnificent beaches, hotels and restaurants. The village lies in a beautiful bay and has dozens of beaches.

In recent years has also increased the number of golf courses, and now the region is the ideal destination for lovers of the sport. There are a variety of spa and resorts ideal for relaxing or enjoying an occasional treatment. The city of Caldas de Monchique is famous for its hot springs.

La Villa Loulé is a town in the region that was founded in 1266. Even today retains its ancient towers and medieval alleys stand made of stone.

Lagos was the capital of the region from 1577 to 1756. A year earlier, the city had been almost destroyed after the earthquake of Lisbon, when an earthquake destroyed much of Algarve.

The town of Silves is one of the oldest in the region, dating back 3,000 years ago. Recently found a number of ruins where once a Roman villa decorated with ceramic tile.

Algarve is known for its ceramics and clay. One of the most typical souvenirs of the region is ceramic tiles painted blue or with elaborate designs. The more traditional cities Almancil, Loule Porches and specialize in the manufacture of ceramics. In addition, the Algarve is known for its wine, as in this region produces the best wine of the country.

Ria Formosa lagoon is located in this region. The lake is bordered by six small islands that act as a barrier and that link the lagoon with the city of Faro. The famous lagoon Ria Formosa nature reserve is one of over 170 square kilometers. Here, nature lovers can observe hundreds of species of migratory birds.

Ria Formosa is not only a natural park which is responsible for dozens of species conservation, but who is also a place where some fish are raised for sale. Ria Formosa also has some of the best beaches, notably the beaches of Vale do Lobo or Culatra. It also highlights the island of Faro, a place noted for its nature and breathtaking panoramas.

In the sports landscape, highlights the Estadio Algarve, the most important stage of the region belonging to two cities, Faro and Loulé. In this place are usually held parties, concerts and festivals.

The city of Faro is celebrated International Motorcycle Rally in Faro, a well-known festival. La Semana Académica da Universidade do Algarve is another festival that has a lot of importance in the city, as university students organized a series of concerts, competitions and festivals during that time.

There are a variety of sites can be visited in this region. Other prominent religious sites are the Hermitage of San Sebastian and the Chapel of San Luis. Some of the most interesting places to visit include the Castle Horta Faro and goldsmiths. In the cultural panorama highlights the Teatro Leth and some of the most important museums like the Museo Marítimo Almirante Ramalho Ortigao or the Regional Museum.

Prague, Trip to the Ancient Heart of Europe

The capital of the Czech Republic has been in recent years one of the most popular tourist destinations and more affordable.

In 1992 the historical core of Prague became part of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO. The statement is just one more reason to visit the city, being one of the oldest cities in Europe that is noted only tread its soil. The city has an aura of mystery and melancholy that stops time, full of different architectural styles is logical that it is the cradle of dark legends and home to writers such as Kafka, the stroll through its streets is one of the best exercises inspiring may exist.

Among the buildings we mixtures Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau, Gothic … it all feels like a place almost of enchantment that has been used as the setting for many movies and be there to understand why …

The city was born as a result of the construction of the Prague Castle (now the Presidential headquarters Castle) on the banks of the Vltava river, the foundations of the city dating from the Middle Ages, but was inhabited in the Paleolithic era and was the settlement of a Celtic tribe in the sixth century BC.
It is advisable to visit the city in autumn, and winters are quite hard and very hot summers, as well as best you can enjoy Prague is loitering, which is not nice if the weather is not accompanied by at least a little.

For lovers of literature this is a place of worship, because Prague is where Kafka stayed and where they came his best works. Some of the places where he lived as a tenant in a room are now small museums in particular is one that is in the old street of the alchemists to the king Rodolfo accommodate those who sought the philosopher’s stone, the place is easily recognizable because house is a small gray facade lined the cobblestone street is in the same spot as the astrological clock and the central square where the executions took place. It is one of the most crowded areas so that there will be no trouble finding it.

Among the attractions of the city we have the Charles Bridge, with thirty statues of saints and that is a place of pilgrimage for believers Czechs.

It is also well known Jewish Quarter: Josejov, one of the oldest in Europe and transmitting the last anguish during the war and is interspersed with the boom that has today. They are also well-known ancient Jewish cemeteries and synagogues, one of them the Klausen Synagogue where they are exposed many children’s drawings made during the Holocaust.

One feature of Prague is the beautiful and dramatic mix, effect that filters its people, as they are very reserved, a result that this area was always the center of many wars and conflicts, but no longer a magical travel to perform.

Halloween at Hunyad Castle, Dracula Prison

Halloween at Hunyad CastleWe know places of fear within the month of Halloween. This time we travel to Romania to visit a haunted castle that is said, or at least they have left open in the British TV show Most Haunted Live. During an investigation of three nights, the program detected paranormal activity at the castle where it is believed, was imprisoned Wallachian prince who inspired the character of Count Dracula. Beyond the statistics confirms that they are more dangerous than the living dead, the truth is that no one could deny that a lonely night in the castle Hunyad at least give us a chill. The castle, the story goes, was part of the principality of Transylvania, and as such, was the place where Vlad III, the prince who inspired the character of Dracula in Bram Stoker’s novel, was imprisoned for seven years after he was deposed .

The silhouette of the castle itself is intimidating, somewhat like the stereotype of haunted castles, though of course with a unique architectural beauty. Also known as Corvins castle, has a great size to be a jewel of medieval art. His style could be framed in the Gothic with Renaissance and Baroque interventions.

It has defense towers, a drawbridge, an internal courtyard, two large halls and is high on a rock. It is located in Hunedoara, a town near the Carpathian Mountains. The castle is run by the municipality, and usually used in films and films about medieval themes.

The World’s Most Beautiful Castles

Most Beautiful CastlesThe castles were built as fortresses or houses of royalty and nobility. So many have stood the test of time in various states of preservation that allow us to enjoy today. Then we tell them what are the most beautiful castles in the world. This historical castle located on a rock at the entrance of the sea was a Benedictine monastery and one of the few strengths that survived intact Norman attacks. Today is one of the sites of World Heritage of UNESCO.

Neuschwanstein Castle
A nineteenth-century Bavarian castle in Germany. The design and the decoration of the castle are impressive and are very well preserved. It has very beautiful arches and towers.

Matsumoto Castle
It is one of four Japanese castles that are part of the national treasury. It was built in 1590 by Ishikawa Kazumasa and excellently preserved.

Castillo de Coca
This castle was built in the fifteenth century by Fonseca and was long considered it the finest castle in Spanish territory. The impression given by the fortress of power and admiration, is more like a palace, perhaps.

Potala Palace
This palace is located in the red hill in Lhasa, Tibet. This was the permanent residence of the Dalai Lama, until the fourteenth Dalai Lama escaped to India.

Hunyad Castle

Originally a fortress of the thirteenth century, this castle is believed Dracula stayed for seven years. The castle is located in Hunedoara, Romania.

Prague Castle
The castle is one of the main attractions of Prague. It was the largest complex in Europe during the medieval period and housed the rulers of the Czech Republic for years.

Bodiam Castle
Located in East Sussex, England, this castle is like a big bucket. Was built around the late fourteenth century as a fortress during the wars between King Edward III and France.