Tag Archive for: Old Town

Alghero – A Melting Pot of Many Cultures and Rulers

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Colourful houses of the old town of Alghero above the city walls by the sea glow in the warm evening sun, Sardinia, Italy

Alghero, on the west coast of Sardinia, has been shaped by numerous, changing rulers. This began with early roots in the Neolithic period and the well-known Nuragic culture. Around 800 BC, its history continued with Phoenician, Carthaginian, and later Roman influences. The Genoese followed in the 11th century, before the Catalans (with the House of Aragon) significantly influenced the cityscape and regional culture that can still be seen today. Read more

Talamone – Small but Perfectly Formed Holiday Spot

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Driftwood sculptures on the beach in front of the old town of Talamone on the Mediterranean, Maremma, Tuscany, Italy

On our trip to Tuscany, we had only two destinations firmly planned: a reunion with the Old Town of Siena and the coast near Castiglione della Pescaia in southern Tuscany. After that, we let our curiosity guide us. When we spotted Monte Argentario on the horizon to the south of Castiglione, our next direction was set. For this, we crossed the Maremma plain near Grosseto and passed through the Monti dell’ Uccelina Nature Park. On its southern edge lies Talamone, a small ensemble of a medieval old town, a fortress and a modern marina, which we had chosen as our next base. Read more

Castiglione della Pescaia – Gateway to Maremma

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View over the Fortress, the town and the harbour of Castiglione della Pescaia, looking out onto a wide, sweeping bay on the Maremma coast at dusk, Tuscany, Italy

Castiglione della Pescaia is a place just how I like it – the attractive atmosphere of an authentic, lively Italian small town with shops and restaurants, a variety of options for sports activities or relaxed recreation, nestled in a historic old town worth seeing and a stunning coastal landscape. Read more

Verona awakens from lockdown

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The Roman Ponte Pietra over the Adige River in the old town of Verona in front of a Mediterranean landscape in the morning sun, Veneto, Italy

After months of lockdown restrictions to contain the coronavirus pandemic, public life in Verona began to awaken in June 2020. In Italy, leaving one’s home was restricted to only a few exceptions, i.e. valid reasons such as work, shopping, etc. It was therefore understandable that people were drawn outside after the measures were lifted. Especially in Italy, where conversation and exchange in the streets and squares are part of the way of life. Read more

Evening stroll through Korčula

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View of the medieval alleys and buildings of the historic Old Town of Korčula in front of the Pelješac peninsula at sunset, Southern Dalmatia, Croatia

The summer day’s heat was blown away by a fresh sea breeze. These winds make the strait between the island of Korčula and Pelješac so popular with surfers and sailors. The low evening sun made the natural stone walls of the buildings in the medieval old town of Korčula shimmer in gold. Read more

The medieval Old Town of Korčula

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The Old Town of Korčula in front of the Sv. Ilija mountain massif on the Pelješac peninsula in the backlight of the morning sun, Korčula island, Southern Dalmatia, Croatia

Whichever way you approach the town of Korčula, whether by boat across the sea or coming down the mountain on the road from Vela Luka, Korčula offers a breathtaking sight from every angle. The Old Town of Korčula, well-preserved with its medieval buildings, is situated – once strategically favourable – on the hill of a small peninsula. The narrow alleys fan out across the compactly built-up area like the veins of a leaf, appearing to have grown organically. As if that weren’t impressive enough, the karst mountain massif of Sv. Ilija rises 961 m above the strait between the two islands on the nearby Pelješac peninsula.  Read more

Along the Croatian Adriatic Coast – Split

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Tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius in Split in the former palace of Emperor Diocletian in the morning light, Split, Croatia

With the arrival of the ferry from Lošinj late in the evening in Zadar, we finished the first leg of the journey along the Croatian Adriatic coast. After that, we drove a bit further south on the motorway towards Split and stayed overnight at a service area. This made the remaining distance shorter the next morning, so we could reach the ferry pier for the crossing to the island of Korčula as early as possible. Read more