Tag: europe
27 Gorgeous Places to Visit in Iceland’s Southwest
There are so many places to visit in Iceland, particularly for nature lovers. The island nation’s actually a lot bigger than most people think. It’s bigger than countries like South Korea, Ireland, and Hungary. Much of it is uninhabitable but certainly visitable – and it definitely deserves a visit! Here I’ve curated a list of 27 places to visit in Iceland’s southwest, all of which are accessible from Reykjavik. I’ve been to many of them and have added a few I didn’t get to visit exclusively but that I saw and looked particularly interesting.
It’s very hard to go wrong … Continue reading
Tags: europe, iceland
Rovinj, a Charming Town in Croatia: Things to Do & Travel Guide
Rovinj came highlight recommended as a stop in Croatia’s northernmost peninsula of Istria, so making my way there was a no-brainer. It was definitely one of my favourite places I visited in Croatia and an absolute gem of a town.

A Short History of Rovinj
Part of Istria, Rovinj (roh-veen) was first mentioned as the Roman settlement of Castrum Rubini in the 5th century. Much like its sister towns in Croatia, it fell to many governments until it became a part of the Venetian Empire in 1283, when it became a secure town and maritime center. Unlike other parts of … Continue reading
Tags: croatia, europe, rovinj
Exploring Rome, Ancient and Modern – Things to Do & Travel Guide
I remember not wanting to go to Rome for some reason during my first trip to Italy at 16. Maybe because I wasn’t a huge fan of ancient history. But I also remember getting to the city and falling in love with it. I threw a coin backwards into Trevi Fountain and over a decade later made it back to Rome. Steeped in history and detail, Rome is a place that absolutely must be experienced.

The Essential Sights of Rome
Let’s start out with the very obvious – the Roman Forum. The Colosseum, a famous icon of the … Continue reading
Tags: europe, italy, rome
Ravenna, Italy: the Stunning City of Mosaics – Things to Do & Travel Guide
If you’ve taken art history then you may be very well aware of the mosaics of Ravenna, Italy. They’re surviving and absolutely stunning remnants of early Christian art. I am absolutely floored by the amount of work that goes into making mosaics, nevertheless the age of those in Ravenna – which are about 1500 years old and older! There’s nothing like this to be seen in the rest of the world, making Ravenna a truly unique destination.

The History of Ravenna
Around the time of Christ, Ravenna and its area Classe were actually important seaports. It’s hard to see now … Continue reading
Tags: europe, italy, ravenna
Volterra, Italy: a Town from Etruscan Times – Things to Do & Travel Guide
Volterra’s been on my list for a long time. The Tuscan hilltop town that dates from Etruscan times caught my attention years ago and, with a stroke of luck, I was able to visit on my latest trip to Italy. Here’s what I thought and what I recommend (and don’t recommend) doing.

A History of Volterra
It’s believed that Volterra was inhabited since around the 9th century BC and was one of the major cities of the Etruscan world. The town was quite big for the time with 20,000 inhabitants, and it was a major center of trade.
The Romans … Continue reading
Tags: europe, italy, volterra
Venice, Italy – Things to Do & Travel Guide (It deserves more than a day trip!)
Venice is one of the must-sees of Italy. There are so many places in the world nicknamed after it – “the Venice of the north,” “the Venice of the east,” “little Venice.” But there’s only one real Venice. It has a mixed reputation of being a magical place and one of the most overrated places in the world. My first trip, I found the city to be absolutely beautiful. No doubt it’s touristy, but on my second trip, I found Venice just as charming.

Most people carve out a day to visit Venice and, after a 2020 cancellation, etc., I … Continue reading
Tags: europe, italy, venice
Exploring Florence, Italy – Things to Do & Travel Guide
Florence is one of Italy’s most popular cities, and it’s very deserving of the status. This beautiful place is steeped in history, mainly Renaissance history, and of course art. Florence is an absolute must-visit for art lovers, who will find that there’s a lot to do.


The History of Florence
Florence actually dates to the times of Julius Caesar when it was established as an ancient Roman city. It’s even in this period that Florence was part of “Tuscia” (Tuscany). But as Rome is famous for its ancient history, Florence is famous for its Renaissance history. Florence became a central … Continue reading
Tags: europe, florence, italy
Exploring Bath, England: Things to Do & Travel Guide
Popularised as a home of Jane Austen, Bath is one of England’s most popular cities to explore. Having been a Jane Austen fan, I’d wanted to visit Bath for so long – and it completely blew me away. There’s a lot to see in this charming city, so without further adieu, here’s a look at Bath, England (without a focus on Jane Austen).


Also be sure to see my other post on essential Jane Austen sites to see in Bath.
The History of Bath
Bath has been inhabited for a long, long time. Most notably, it was a Roman town … Continue reading
Tags: bath, england, europe, united kingdom
Hever Castle, the Childhood Home of Anne Boleyn
The childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Hever Castle was an easy choice for a day trip from London. It’s a wonderful castle with expansive history and several rooms to explore – not to mention the wonderful gardens and grounds. I was also quite happy to find the town of Hever very small but very charming. It makes a wonderful day trip for everyone.

Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle

The castle was initially built around the 13th century and became part of the Boleyn family property in 1462.
Anne Boleyn’s birth date is debating, but it’s speculated that Anne Boleyn wasn’t … Continue reading
Tags: england, europe, hever, united kingdom
Exploring Medieval Toledo, Spain: Things to Do & Travel Guide
Toledo has always been very high on my bucket list. I was incredibly excited to visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid but quickly cancelled my day trip to Segovia and replaced it with a second day in Toledo. I absolutely loved this place.

Some of Toledo, Spain’s History
Toledo is a small place steeped in rich history. It’s been inhabited since before the Roman times by Celtic tribes, and was then conquered and became a Roman town. In the 6th-7th centuries, the Visigoths captured Toledo and used it as the center of political activity, participating in what are … Continue reading
Tags: europe, spain, toledo
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