The English port city of Bristol has long forged its place on the national and international stage. Once the main gateway to the Atlantic and the rest of the world, thousands of ships once set out from Bristol to explore the ‘New World’. This seafaring reputation and triangle trade turned the city from humble town … Read more
A centre for Breton heritage (that’s no longer in Brittany after a controversial reshuffle of France’s regions after World War Two), Nantes is something of a link between the industrial northern and more Mediterranean southern halves of the country. Situated in the charming Loire Valley roughly 50 kilometres from France’s Atlantic coast, Nantes’ history is … Read more
Since 1974 Nicosia has been a divided capital, where the Green Line marks the guarded boundary between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Without wanting to trivialise the ongoing dispute between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Nicosia gives you the rare opportunity to sample two opposing cultures in one visit, even … Read more
Crammed into the list below are the places and experiences that a first-timer in the City of Light just can’t pass up. Some of these attractions are so rich and time-consuming that there’s enough for several trips. And not a moment would be wasted, in the thrall of some of the greatest art made by … Read more
Playground of the rich and famous since the earliest days of tourism, Nice has welcomed everyone from British monarchs to artists including Matisse and Picasso. And who can blame them, given near year-round sunshine, a stunning Mediterranean coastline on the Côte d’Azur, and a reputation as the place to be seen? Beyond the bravado, visitors … Read more
The largest city in southwestern France, central Toulouse sits astride the waters of the River Garonne in a symphony of red brick and terracotta rooftiles that gives it the nickname La Ville Rose – The Pink City. Wandering these ancient streets, it’s not hard to see that Toulouse has a history going back centuries, and … Read more
Picturesque Lyon isn’t what most people expect from the third-largest city in France. Situated in the country’s southeast, only 100 kilometres or so from Geneva in Switzerland, Lyon has an almost alpine ambience as it straddles both banks of the River Rhône in Burgundy. But that’s not to imply that Lyon is in any way … Read more
Croatia’s capital is a city divided between Upper and Lower Towns. The hilltop Upper Town has been Croatia’s seat of power for centuries, with cobblestone streets through corridors of palaces from the 1700s. Beside it is the Episcopal City, or Kaptol, where the cathedral pierces the skyline and holds the tombs of Croatia’s national heroes. … Read more
The South Yorkshire city of Sheffield has long held its status as a city of national significance, changing to reflect the times we’ve lived through. Once a humble market town, Sheffield experienced a huge boom in size and economic stature during the industrial revolution. Dealing mainly in steel, this led to the appearance of its … Read more
Images of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men spring to mind when we think of the East Midlands city of Nottingham. Although the ‘Prince of Thieves’ has done much to excel Nottingham’s international reputation, there is far more to this delightful city than robbing the rich to give to the poor. Sports lovers can wander … Read more