A visit to Costa Calida may not be quite the same as visiting the better known Costa Brava, but it is still one of the better places to visit in Spain. So, if you do decide to visit Costa Calida makes sure to check out Aguilas F.C. Museum that is a must for every soccer enthusiast, and there is also an ethnic museum of miniatures known as Angel Reinon, while over in Lorca there is the Archaeological Museum where you can find displays of finds from prehistoric times.

In Cartagena, there is the excellent Concepcion Castle that is located very aptly on what is known as Hill of La Concepcion which is but one of a total of five hills that provide protection to the town of Cartagena, and where there is an excellent tourist center as well.

Another top spot worth visiting in Lorca is the Guerra Theater which boasts of being the oldest theater anywhere in the Murcia region having opened up in the year 1861, while if you are in La Manga there is the La Manga Go-kart worth paying a visit to and which is the biggest Go Karting track in this part of the world and which is ideally suited for enjoying a day out.

Another place of interest when in Lorca is the Museum of the Paso Blanco and this building was once a church and which is now the museum of tapestry of the group known as White Pass that is given to participating in the parades when Easter time arrives is certainly a place worth visiting. There is also the Museum of Wine that you could visit at Bullas and this excellent museum that displays locally made wine from Bullas will provide you with valuable knowledge about how wine is made and you can also taste some of the excellent wines made here.

About the city…

Rome, a breathtaking city with a certain air of timelessness about itself, is the capital of Italy and the most populated commune in the country. Mythology tells us that Rome gets its name from its founders, Romulus and Remus though archaeological evidence suggests that the city grew from pastoral settlements on the palatine hill. The Leonardo da Vinci Airport or the Rome-Fiumicino International Airport is well connected to different parts of the globe by most of the major air carriers.

When to visit Rome…

The tourist season in Rome begins at Easter and continues up to October, spring and autumn being the peak periods when tourists pour in from various parts of the world. The numerous outdoor festivities and the light traffic on the roads made possible by the residents abandoning the city to enjoy the mountains and beaches in summers also makes it an ideal time to visit this beautiful city. Some restaurants and shops close in the month of august and Christmas time witnesses a mild winter and a few fun activities.

Some must see places in Rome

The Roman Colosseum

Also known as the Flavius Amphitheatre, The Colosseum of Rome is one of the most imposing structures that stand witness to the innumerable bloody fights that were fought on its opening ceremony and the gladiatorial combats which the people thronged to see, a major form of entertainment those times. The arena has a capacity of 70,000 spectators. Built out of slabs of travertine stone, the original structure consisted of 4 storeys. What stands today is a skeletal remains of the original splendor. The tiers are angled in such a way that a spectator, wherever he’s seated gets a clear view.

The Pantheon

Coming from two Greek words, “pan” and “teon” meaning everything divine, it is one of the oldest works of art existing. It is the best preserved monument having the biggest brick dome in the history of architecture. It was built between 25 and 27 BC and later rebuilt in 80 AD, after a fire. The present day structure was built by Emperor Hadrian after the original was hit by lightening and caught fire again, after lot of modifications and restructuring. As Michelangelo put it, the Pantheon is indeed a work of angels, not men.

St Peter’s Square – The Colonnades

The ornately decorated Basilica beneath the dome architectured by Michelangelo attracts many pilgrims of the Roman Catholic faith. It has taken more than 100 years to build and all the great designers of yore had a part to play.

The Roman Forum

It is situated between the Colosseum and the Piazza Venezia. A magnificent view of the Forum can be obtained from the terrace of Campidoglio. The imposing ruins of Basilica Emelia, the Cura, which was once upon a time the seat of the senate is also visible from the terrace. The forum was a place of celebrations during Caesar’s time and a symbol of The Empire in the imperial times.

Here’s the place for all you travel enthusiasts to come, visit Rome and experience and enjoy the enriching flavor of one of the oldest cities in the world.

Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, is one of the oldest capital cities in Europe. There are lots of places to visit and enjoy in this beautiful city. All the major airlines like Lufthansa, KLM, Austrian airlines to name a few fly to Sofia on a regular basis. Some places of tourist interest are:

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral:

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a basilica with a cross dome. The dome is gold plated possessing a height of about 45 m. The central dome contains the Lord’s Prayer inscribed in gold.12 bells with a total weight of 23 tons are contained within the temple. Italian marble decorates the interior structure. The cathedral was given the status of a cultural monument in 1924.

Banya Bashi Mosque

The Banya Bashi Mosque is one of the oldest Mosques in Europe built during the Ottoman Empire. “BanyaBashi” translated in English means “many baths” The most striking feature of the mosque is that it was originally constructed over natural thermal springs.

The Hagia Sophia Church

The Hagia Sophia Church is the second oldest church in Sofia, giving its name to the city and one of the oldest works of early Christian architecture. The church is a cross basilica having three altars. Among the superstitions that surround the Church, the most popular one is that the miraculous power of St Sophia protected the monument from numerous human invasions.

The monument to the Tsar Liberator

This equestrian monument stands at the center of the capital city as a tribute to the great emperor, AlexanderII who freed Bulgaria from the Ottoman Rule during the Russo Turkish war. Built out of polished granite from Vitosha comprises of a massive neo renaissance cornice, middle part with some figures and a pedestal. The sculpture of the Russian Czar completes the monument. There is also a bronze wreath at the foot, donated by Romania to keep alive the memory of the Romanian solders who died fighting in the war.

Vitosha

These mountains are one of the closest places to hike and are located on the outskirts of the capital. Said to be formed as a result of volcanic origin, they appear like a dome but are actually made of numerous denudational plateaus which rise in tier like forms. Cherni Vrah is the highest peak of the mountain at 2290 m. The foothills house many resorts, and the knayzhevo quarter has many springs. In the Balkans, Vitosha is the oldest national park.

The Sofia Synagogue

Situated in the centre of the city, the synagogue built to cater the religious needs of the Sephardic Jews in Bulgaria is one of the largest synagogues in Europe. The structure contains an octagonal dome and the main chandelier, the largest in the country weighs 2 tons. The interiors are richly decorated with wood carvings and carrara marble.

The Boyana Church

One of the most well preserved monuments, the Boyana Church is located on the outskirts of Sofia. It’s famous for its beautiful frescoes which depicts the achievements of the Bulgarian culture in medieval times. Majority of the original frescoes have been retained to this day. Around 240 human images are illustrated on the walls of this church. It is believed that these world famous frescoes contributed towards shaping European paintings.