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10 great ways to experience Lisbon
Tour leader, linguist and art history specialist Dr Jeni Ryde takes you through one of her favourite destinations – Portugal’s coastal capital city of Lisbon. Situated on seven hills at the wide mouth of the river Tagus (Tejo), where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon enchants travellers with its white bleached limestone buildings, intimate alleyways, and brightly coloured yellow trams.
Tales of Trailblazing High-Country Women
Towards the end of last year, a book caught my eye called ‘Sheilas – Badass Women of Australian History’ by Eliza Reilly. Opening the front cover, I read the introductory paragraph, where Eliza starts by saying: Let’s be blunt. There aren’t enough women in our history books. There aren’t even enough we can name off the tops of our heads, compared to the blokes. The problem is, in our enthusiasm to
Ikara Flinders Ranges
The Flinders Ranges, as they are today, are the mere stubs of once majestic mountains, which hundreds of millions of years ago would have rivalled the Andes or the Himalayas. The original sediments were laid down over half a billion years ago before uplift, folding and faulting formed a massive mountainous range, followed by the weathering that has left us with the current landform
Abruzzo
In an era of mass tourism with Italy amongst the world’s most popular destinations, it can come as a surprise to find that there are still entire regions in the country which are virtually unknown to the international traveller. But such is the case with the region of Abruzzo, nestling in the centre of the peninsular to the east of Rome. I first came to Italy in 1980 with the usual expectations of a place
Unveiling the Enigma
Nestled in the heart of Italy, the Etruscans created Italy’s most fascinating and enigmatic culture prior to the emergence of Rome. Flourishing from the 9th down to the 3rd century BCE, they played a pivotal role in mediating the arrival of Greek and Eastern Mediterranean influence in the Italian peninsular and it was, above all, to them that the Romans looked in the early stages of their emergence as a
The Alhambra of Granada
Granada is southern Spain’s precious jewel, and for much of the Middle Ages it dangled – like the glowing pomegranate for which it is named – temptingly before the eyes of the Christian conquistadors, who hoped to recapture it from the Muslim dynasties that ruled the city from 711. While the Almohads, who reigned until 1228, were known for their orthodoxy and sometimes repressive regime, the Nasrids
Highlights of Chianti
Stretching between Florence and Siena, nestled in the heart of Tuscany, is the romantic Chianti region – well known for its rolling green hills dotted with vineyards, terra-cotta-roofed towns and wine-soaked dinners. And while the copious amounts of red wine are well worth the visit, there is plenty more on offer for the cultural traveller amid Chianti’s winding roads and rolling hills.
Naples
Venice has its gondolas, Florence has Michelangelo’s David, Rome has the Colosseum and Naples…er, pizza? Despite 3,000 years of history, fine architecture, one of Europe’s greatest art museums, mouth-watering food and a vibrant local culture, many visitors to Italy are put off by Naples’ enigmatic reputation. But Naples is a nuanced and complex city that doesn’t give up its secrets easily
José Martí – Cuba’s Hero
Every visitor to Cuba who lands in Havana arrives at José Martí International Airport. If the visitor is observant, as they walk through the streets, they will notice that outside the entrance to every school stands a bust of a moustachioed slightly balding man. That, too, is José Martí, and when the visitor takes the tour to Revolution Square, where all the great rallies are held
Top 5 Cultural Experiences in Rome
The most extraordinary thing about Rome is its sheer longevity. More than any other city, it has been a centre of the world since it developed an empire, which ruled over a third of the world’s population. The vast range of historic sites, stretching from Etruscan pre-history to the 21st century, creates a destination of unique character, with an unrivalled sense of historical continuity between ancient and modern society.
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