At the downfall of Rome’s imperial power, when beautiful regions of South Europe were overrun by hosts of barbarians who wanted to compel its populations to accept their laws and their habits, the Huns, Gothes and particularly the Longobards caused a part of the inhabitants of the cities of Aquilea, Altino and Padua, which had been destroyed, to flee toward the lagoon as they did not intend, being faithful to the principle of Christ’s religion, to submit themselves to the church of Arius.

A hundred-odd islets in the middle of the vast lagoon, some of them knawed and halfsubmerged by the sea, other higher above the water and crowned by trees, where a handful of poor fishermen and salt-collectors already used to dwell, offered to the exiles a providential shelter against the fury of men and of the elements.

This is how from the mud of the marshes the first urban nucleus of the “Venetici” was created with the name of “Rius Altus”.

The magnificent isolation of those refugees, together with their strong determination to rebuild their homes, their courage and, in particular, their ingenuity of builder, caused the strangest city in the world to be gradually erected, the so-called “Civitas Venetiarum”, the Venice of the first dwellers, suspended amid the sea and the sky, on a myriad of deep-set piles… the first embryo of the famous “Serenissima” which was to astonish the world for many centuries with her heroic enterprises and to dazzle mankind with her fabulous riches. Read the rest of this entry »

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Watch out for bicycles if you are in Denmark and especially in Copenhagen. Everyone goes by bike; there are bikes and bike lines everywhere.

Bicycle bicycle bicycle I want to ride my bicycle Bicycle bicycle bicycle Bicycle race

Before the year of 1962 Copenhagen was a car town, but after the first pedestrian street was built the more and more public space has allocated to bicycles. Nowadays Copenhagen of great public spaces would not be possible without bicycle network.
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No one region of Central America can be compared with Costa-Rica. More then 50 years ago this country gave up the idea of army and bet against the mountain rivers rafting, eruptive volcanoes, wild beaches and full of life tropical forests. Since then the wealth of nature becomes a trump card of this state and its main income source.

Costa-Rica is not a big country. Ten days here will be enough for a full adventure with rafting and mountain bike, hiking and canoeing. There are good places for surfing, diving, deepwater fishing and snorkeling. You can go with a low budget or seek the more exclusive resorts. Read the rest of this entry »

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“The Queen of lake Mälaren”, “The Venice of the North”, “The City which Floats on the Water”… just a garland of names suits the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Sweden to enhance its reputation for enticing charm and inspiring beauty. Names that try to capture the essential beauty of Stockholm.

Its unbroken tradition, its position on the water, its surrounding heights witness the circumstance that, this splendid town was always in the centre of events and still leads the pulsating life of a metropolis. Read the rest of this entry »

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Monuments of Rome

Trevi Fountain – Pantheon Navona Square – St. Peter’s basilica in the Vatican City

Start from one of Rome’s highest points: Esquilino Hill. In fact, it seems that the lowest steps of St. Mary Major’s basilica are as high as St. Peter’s dome. Esquilino is also famous for housing some of the oldest churches in Christian history. Leaving the hill you will continue onto Republic Square with the famous Fountain of the Mermaids, or Fountain of Shame, as it is commonly called given the nudity of the statues.

Stop at the Trevi Fountain, where you can admire Nicola Salvi’s masterpiece. Next continue down the famous walkway through the narrow streets of the historic center until reaching Navona Square. This walkway was once used to navigate through the square with small boats. Read the rest of this entry »

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Here you can find destinations which Hotels.com is offering you for family fun, beach get aways, B&B’s, spa and relaxation, golfing or gambling. Read the rest of this entry »

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Thailand has an incredibly wide variety of exciting attractions to keep even the most demanding of holidaymakers happy. There are swimming pools, beaches, boat trips, go-karts, paintballing parks, water sports, bars, clubs and restaurants to name just a few. But there are also many other options for those tourists who are perhaps looking for entertainment with a bit more of a connection to nature.

Thailand’s wildlife and countryside have lots to offer the nature-loving tourist and there is no shortage of places to visit in order to get a taste of them. Some of these greener crowd-pullers are located close to the centre of town, but others take full advantage of the quite stunning landscapes to be found within easy reach of Thailand’s most popular holiday resorts. Read the rest of this entry »

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Nostalgic romanticism of the past an the quirky modern life, imperialistic cultural treasures and musical highlights, combined with hospitality and charme: Vienna has a lot to offer!

Vienna is old, Vienna is new: a contrast that is clearly visible in the centre of the “Old City”. The 137m high Stephansdom, on of the Viennese landmarks, is mirrored in the post-modern glass front of the Haas House, which, just like the cathedral, offers a stunning view over the roofs of the city. If you want to explore all this in style, get into a classic Fiaker horse cart. Vienna is especially attractive thanks to the exciting combination of nostalgic flair from the ages of the emperors and the lively cultural scene that does not only spread the newest trends but also takes the responsibility to preserve the heritage and the ancient traditions. Read the rest of this entry »

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Requirements

You must be 18 years of age to lawfully drive a car in Thailand and hold a license. While, for tourists, an international drivers’ license will suffice, for those remaining in the Kingdom for an extended period you would be advised to apply for a Thai license. Read the rest of this entry »

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In winter and summer, Karlštejn Castle towers majestically over the neighbouring countryside. It has a unique arrangement of buildings, ranging in importance from the lowest – the burgrave’s residence to the great tower constructed to house the coronation jewels, the holy relics and state papers. Thanks to its content and purpose decided upon when it was conceived, it is one of many proofs of the extensive cultural program and state perspicuity of its founder.

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