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ATHENS – Greece holiday apartments

Whilst the mainland and islands may be the body of Greece, Athens, is the very heart of Greece.  This capital city was named after Athina, the Goddess of Wisdom and the Protectoress of Cities.  The ancient Athenians chose the owl of wisdom as their symbol; it was imprinted on all their coins and featured on brooches and many other jewellery items.  In fact this Athenian symbol is still very popular today and is often seen in modern pieces.  Athens’ rich historical pedigree stretches back over 3,000 years and the City has a worldwide reputation for being one of the top destinations for sightseeing.  This powerful, vibrant city literally sucks you in to a maelstrom of noise, traffic, smart boutiques, buzzing restaurants, charming tavernas and chic café culture, all peppered with the most spectacular archaeological sights and monuments, creating a cultural blend that even the most committed philistine cannot help but admire.

BARCELONA – Spain holiday apartments

Barcelona is a charming, cosmopolitan port on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This prosperous bilingual (Spanish and Catalan) city measures up to a city such as Madrid. Its museums, theatres, art galleries and nightlife are of an impressive high standard. Besides that, this art and design centre has a lot of interesting sights to offer to its visitors. The best place to watch people go by, to stroll or simply relax, is ’Las Ramblas’, a pedestrian street with dozens of outdoor cafes. You’ll also find an endlessly fascinating flowing receptacle of pageant-jugglers, singers, dancers, puppeteers, sidewalk artists, living statues and assorted oddballs on parade. Nearby is ’Plaça Real’, with plenty of bars and restaurants, and ’Palau Guell’, built by the Catalan architectural genius Antoni Gaudí in his undulating art-nouveau style.

BERLIN – Germany holiday rentals

Berlin is Germany’s largest and most cosmopolitan city as well as the country’s historic capital. Berlin is one of the most influential centres in European politics, culture and science. The rapidly evolving metropolis enjoys an international reputation for its festivals, contemporary architecture, nightlife, and avant-garde arts. Being a major tourist centre and home to people from over 180 nations, Berlin is a focal point for individuals who are attracted by its liberal lifestyle, urban eclecticism, and artistic freedom. Furthermore, the city is also full of reminders of its place in Germany’s turbulent past.

BRUSSELS – Belgium holiday rentals

Brussels is the headquarters of the European and NATO and today is a bustling city of diplomats, followed closely by towering skyscrapers, museums and restaurants. You will see superb examples of art and architecture, both past and present Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Art-Nouveau. The city is also famous for its well preserved chateaux, colourful fairs and festivals. Nature reserves as well as amusement parks all within easy reach.     

Beer, waffles and festivals – if this is what you’re looking for you will find them in abundance when you visit the country’s capital city. Brussels is the major gateway for the country: it is on the main routes heading inland from the Channel ports via the Flemish art towns and it is as well a convenient stopover on the train between France and the Netherlands.

Brussels took its name from “Broekzele”, or “city of the marsh”, which grew up in the sixth century on the trade route between Cologne and Bruges / Gent. Under the Habsburgs the town flourished, eventually becoming capital of the Spanish Netherlands. In the 19th century it became the capital of the newly-independent Belgium.

FLORENCE – Tuscany Italy holiday rentals

Florence is the one city few visitors allow enough time to see. It lays in Tuscany a stunning province of hills and mountains, which has produced such famous sons as Leonardo, Dante, Machiavelli and Michelangelo. Ever since the 19th century revival of interest in the art of the Renaissance, Firenze has been a shrine to the cult of the beautiful.

The world famous Duomo with the Brunelleschi cupola and the marble clad baptistry are simply stupendous, but not all the monuments are like this. The streets of the historic town centre are often narrow and dark, the palaces robust and intimidating. But have a look at the squares – wonderful mediterranean places where you like to spend hours sitting at a cafe just watch people passing by.

However, Florence is a city of incomparable pleasure concerning churches, monasteries, museums, galleries and palaces. Among the things you can’t afford to miss are the Uffizi Galleries, one of the best art museums in the world, the cathedral with the baptistry, the Santo Spirito church and the Ponte Vecchio. To get a great overview of the city head for Piazza Michelangelo in Oltrarno (other side of river Arno).

GLASGOW – Scotland holiday flats

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country’s west central lowlands. A person from Glasgow is known as a Glaswegian.

No trip to Glasgow would be complete without paying a visit to some of its priceless art collections which contain pieces from all over the world. Indeed the City’s Kelingrove is currently host to the world famous Dead Sea Scrolls and expects to receive over 2million visitors in the coming months. Glasgow is the only UK venue after it toured some of the major museums in the States, such as the Field Museum in Chicago.

The Burrel Collection on the South Side of the river features over 8,000 items from Chinese Ceramics to French Impressionist paintings, all housed within a purpose built gallery set in the scenic Pollok Country Park. The Hunterian Art Gallery in the West End is home to the James McNeill Whistler Collection. The Art Gallery and Museum at Kelvingrove Park houses one of Britain’s most priceless and best art collections. Other unique collections include the Museum of Transport in the West End and the once controversial St. Mungo Museum of Art and Religion. A new addition to the range of galleries and museums is the highly popular Museum of Modern Art situated in heart of the City Centre.

GRANADA – Spain vacation rentals

As the Christian Reconquista advanced, the Moors enclosed the city of Granada in layer upon layer of fortification. The citadel was bitterly contested until 1452 when Boabdil, its last Arab king, lost the city to the Catholic rulers Fernando and Isabel. Most of Granada’s mosques were destroyed, but the spectacular Alhambra still attracts visitors from all over the world. It is one of the most important monuments in Spain and a UNESCO national heritage site. The beautiful whitewashed houses and the colourful flowers in the courtyards and on balconies are some of the things worth looking out for, as are the many sights of historic interest. Granada has a very lively flair thanks to the many students of the local university.

The city is quite near the beach and in winter you can ski in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

ISTANBUL – Turkey vacation apartments

Istanbul is Turkey’s prime attraction, it has the most beautiful mosques and palaces of the country,Byzantine churches and Roman temples. Without fear of exaggeration one can say that Istanbul’s claim to the title of Eternal city is as justified as Rome’s.

I have been travelling around a bit and have seen quite a few big cities with a long history in and around old Europe: Berlin, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, Cairo and so many others. But there is one city that makes me come back again and again – for more than 10 years now: Istanbul, the city on the straits, the city connecting two continents.

No matter how and from which side you approach the city, from Yesilköy by airport bus or taxi, by train to the European train station Sirkeci or by ship through the Dardanelles: the moment will come when on the horizon the scenery of the peninsula will raise, the skyline of the mighty mosques. Believe me when I say, this is a moment you will never ever forget! Or as the poet says: Istanbulu dinliyorum, gözlerim kapali – I am listening to Istanbul, while having my eyes closed.

LISBON – Portugal vacation rentals

Lisbon is a fascinating blend of old-fashioned and funky art, architecture and traditions. It’s one of Europe’s most enjoyable capitals with its relaxed atmosphere, cultural diversity, reasonable prices and charming architecture. Lisbon is set on seven low hills next to the Rio Tejo. The city’s atmosphere is rich with wonderful old buildings, Europe’s longest suspension bridge, and fascinating museums and monuments. Despite the city’s muscle-aching hills, Lisbon is compact enough to explore on foot. If your legs get tired, Lisbon has very convenient, bus, trolley and subway lines as well as funiculars to take you up the steeper hills.

LONDON – England holiday apartments

London is the largest city in England and Britain and is certainly one of the most  significant cities in the world from the perspective of influence, culture, business, entertainment and history.

On the first day, you could enjoy the fine arts in some of the world’s finest galleries, such as the Tate Modern and the National Gallery. The second day is for fun and entertainment. There are streets filled with bars, pubs and theatres and contrary to popular belief, not all pubs close at 11.00 PM (but most of them do).

On the third day you could visit the six museums in Kensington where you could spend one whole day just in the amazing Science museum alone. Then there is shopping for day four, and not just Harrods. London has the lot from trendy to traditional. Day five can be spent visiting historic buildings, such as the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. You might want to throw in a boat trip in between.

Day six is for visiting the different Palaces of London, the most famous ones being Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace. The seventh day you can relax, there are many big parks, where you can linger around and sit on the grass, one of the most famous being Hyde Park, with the Speakers Corner.

MADRID – Spain holiday rentals

Spain’s capital is a lively city – nobody is exactly sure when the Madrilenos sleep. It may be the afternoon siesta that gives them the endurance to keep things going well into the night. Try it.

The city is by European standards relatively new -it became capital only in 1561- but today Madrid spreads out all over the place. Fortunately, much of interest lies within the area that can be seen on foot. Check out Calle and Plaza Mayor (medieval Madrid) which is lined by beautiful buildings and the city’s oldest church San Nicolas de los Servitas (plan several hours for this section). Then go shopping at Calle Serrano and the Gran Via. Visit the Victory Arch the Palacio Real (the royal palace with its own art treasures and crown jewels) the Rastro Flea Market and the Plaza de las Cibeles and Puerta del Sol (the last two are major intersections with fountains monuments and shops).

Madrid is a museum-goer’s paradise. Including the Royal Palace, it has 15 important museums, dozens of galleries and several private collections. The three famous museums in Madrid: the Prado, the Thyssen Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia museum. You might end up spending more than one day just seeing museums. Actually, days could be spent in the halls of the Prado alone.

MILAN – Italy (Lombardia) North of Italy holiday rentals

Founded as a Roman military camp Milan  the most “European” of Italian cities has a brisk pace and cosmopolitan air not unlike that of Paris or Frankfurt. It is considered Italy’s commercial, financial and economical capital but it is also a city of art, with many important and wonderful monuments. See the Castello Sforzesco the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (which displays Leonardo’s Last Supper) the Brera Museum (Madonna and Child and Pieta by Bellini) and many other museums monuments and churches.

Moreover, Milan is a lively city, with several pubs, discos and nightclubs. Being a fashion capital too, you might run into a top model or designer. The best chances are in the area around Brera (the artist zone) or the Navigli area. And if you have money to spend, just make a visit in via Montenapoleone and via della Spiga where you’ll find boutiques by Gucci, Ferragamo, Valentino, Armani, Ferre, Fendi and others. Look for other famous designer labels and items such as shoes, camelhair blankets and leather goods.

Near Milan are two must-sees (both can be visited in a day trip): the Carthusian Monastery at Pavia and the 12th-century Chiaravalle Abbey (founded by St. Bernard of Cistercian). Two hours outside of Milan in Pessione is the museum of the history of wine making which has a fine collection of wine-making equipment Imperial glass receptacles and Etruscan and Apuleian ceramics. Milan is 295 mi/470 km northwest of Rome.

MOSCOW – Russia holiday rentals

Moscow is one of the oldest and one of the most beautiful Russian cities.

The Russian emperors, or tsars, made the city their base of rule until 1712, when the capital was moved to Saint Petersburg. Moscow was restored as Russia’s capital in 1918, and it served as the capital of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1922 until 1991. Since then Moscow is the capital of the Russian Federation.

Moscow has a long and full of drama history. Many times the city has been completely destroyed and rebuilt again. Its most ancient wooden buildings disappeared in fires. Each time the city resurrected from the ash to become more and more beautiful. Each time the most talented and famous architects were invited from around the world to restore Moscow.

That is why Moscow has absorbed many different styles that strike the visitors with their variety. Stalin epoch monumental buildings neighbor with small two-store XIX century town houses; splendid cathedrals peer from modern skyscrapers. Even in the heart of Moscow, in the Kremlin, old churches compete with the immense Congress Palace for space.

Despite its size (about 900 square kilometers) and the scale of many of Moscow buildings and avenues, the general layout is easily grasped – a series of concentric circles and radial lines, emanating from the Kremlin – and the center is compact enough to explore on foot.

MUNICH – Bavaria Germany holiday apartments

Sometimes called the “Village of One Million” Munich is a southern city located near the Alps. This wonderfully charming 800-year-old city is the capital of Bavaria and the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest (beer festival). Despite its name, Oktoberfest starts in late September and spills into the first week of October — dancing oompah bands and food dominate. Be prepared not only to drink but also to eat: You’ll have your fill of sausages that is for sure but experiment a bit — whole oxen for instance are cooked on giant spits.

While the food is good, fest goers never let it distract from the main focus of the festival: beer. The city is filled with thousands of casual and committed beer drinkers guzzling foamy brew for days on end. If this sounds like heaven by all means go and enjoy it but if it doesn’t avoid Munich at all costs during this time. Book your Munich apartment or hotel space well in advance for Oktoberfest. But don’t think Oktoberfest is the only time Munich celebrates. The pre-Lenten celebration of Fasching is equally popular. It goes on for days with all sorts of costumed parties and festivities.

Munich is an important cultural centre with special opera, theatre, ballet and concert seasons. It also has museums and galleries on every imaginable subject (including one about unusual museums). Some interesting ones are the German Theater Museum, Museum of Mankind and Nature, the Residenz (Egyptian Art and the crown jewels) and the Valentine Museum. The Deutsches Museum is the largest science and industry museum in Europe. The Alte Pinakothek and Neue Pinakothek (art museums) house extensive collections of medieval to modern European painting. The Lenbachhaus Gallery also has an exceptional collection of expressionist paintings (Kandinsky Klee Macke Marc).

NAPLES – Italy holiday apartments

Although it’s a pretty chaotic city Naples has always impressed travelers with its beautiful bay and setting. Nearby Mount Vesuvius, which can be visited by chairlift or road, forms the backdrop to the city and the bay. In the shadow of the volcano, the fertile crescent of Campania cradles the Bay of Naples and the larger Gulf of Salerno. Some say, this is Italy’s most spectacular natural setting. Sunny climate, a wealth of historic sights, and hospitable populance make the area around Naples a well-touristed domain. Naples itself is home to 1.2 million inhabitants, amonst them Pulcinella (the ancestor of Punch and Judy), the Great Caruso and – of course – pizza.

The city’s commercial and cultural history has always been strictly connected with the importance of its port. Strategically located Naples has been coveted ever since it was established as a Greek colony around 600 BC, named “Neapolis” (New City). Conquered by the Romans in 327 BC, it became a favorite residence of emperors and literary personages, including Virgil and Nero. A Byzantine dukedom in the 7th century and later sunject to Norman Sicily, Naples reached the zenith of its medieval prosperity when Charles I of Anjou made it his capital in 1266. Along with his Angevin and Aragonese successors, Charles enlarged the city and embellished it with palaces and churches. The Spanish Habsburgs (1502 – 1704) were followed by the Bourbons, Bonapartes and finally the Savoys, when Campania became part of the unified Italian nation in 1860.

PARIS – Capital of France holiday apartments

Paris is known as The City of Light and absolutely deserves this name. But it is much more than just the City of Light. Paris is one of the best travel destinations. It has everything a traveller could possibly wish for: good Paris restaurants (both expensive and cheap), good accommodation at moderate prices, some of the best museums in the world, as well as a couple of landmarks you must have seen at least once in your life.

A stay in Paris should at least include a visit to the Louvre, one of the best galleries in the world, a climb of the Eiffel Tower, a day of shopping frenzy, a night out on the town and time to relax to sit in a park or visit one of the squares.

ROME – Italy holiday apartments

What can we say about Rome? The eternal city has to be visited by every Italy traveler. It is true what all those millions of visitors say: it is a great, vivid and picturesque city.

The southern part of Italy fascinates the traveler with its great hospitality and gorgeous landscapes. Campania has attracted visitors over the centuries:

Roma: the name inverts neatly to form ‘amor’. And that’s it – people tend either to love or to hate the place and Rome can reward you as no other city can. Rome, the eternal city which exerts the most compelling fascination, has to be visited by the Italy traveler. 29 million pilgrims and tourists went to Rome in the year 2000 alone.

Few cities have such a long and turbulent history as has Rome. No other city has been the focal point of the world for such a long period. The mistress of the Roman Empire, lavished with architectural jewelry by her emperors, but also often seiged raided and destroyed. Also fires and earthquakes left their scars, but each time the eternal city recovered from her injuries.

Rome’s history is tightly connected to the history of Europe. Not just the Roman emperors, but also medieval emperors and kings like Charlemagne or Otto I saw Rome as the true seat of power. They challenged the new rulers, the popes for the supreme power. It was the dispute about who was the true representative of God. Both emperor and pope claimed to be true inheritors of the Roman Empire.

ST PETERSBURG – Russia holiday rentals

Saint Petersburg,is formely known as Petrograd (1914-1924) and some people remember it as Leningrad (1924-1991).

St Petersburg is probably the most dynamic, sophisticated and beautiful city among other Russian cities. It is the seaport and administrative center of Leningrad region. It covers the territory of 620 square kilometres and has a population of 5 million people.

The city was founded by the Russian tsar Peter the Great on the small Zayachy island in the mouth of the Neva river as a fortressas and a ’window to Europe’ (or in Russian “Okno v Evropu”) on May 27, 1703. Here at a seaway to Northern Europe he intended to bring Russia closer to European culture, trade, education etc.

In 1712, Peter the Great moved the capital of Russia from Moscow to Saint Petersburg, establishing it as the main industrial, cultural, educational and political centre of the country. He brought in the best architectures of that time to build magnificent buildings, design splendid gardens and create fantastic fountains and a lot more.

In terms of architecture and culture St Petersburg is really a marvelous city with palaces, estates, parks and gardens, combined with the legendary Nevsky Prospekt, the Mariinsky Theatre and countless world-class museums including the Hermitage and the Russian Museum. All that makes Saint Petersburg the most delightful city to explore.

VALENCIA – Spain vacation rentals

Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous.. It is integrated into an industrial area on the Costa del Azahar. Its main festival, the Falles is known worldwide, while the traditional dish, paella, originated around Valencia.

The city contains a dense monumental heritage, including the Llotja de la Seda (World Heritage Site since 1996), but its landmark is undoubtedly the City of Arts and Sciences, an avant-garde and futuristic museum complex.

VENICE – Italy holiday rentals

Maybe you expect Venice to be one dazzling, romantic, fairytale-like labyrinth of canals, alleys, picturesque houses and impressive squares and buildings. Well, you are right then (although it is also dirty, run down and rather smelly in the summer heat). The best thing to do is wander around and get lost for at least a day. Roam the winding streets and the various piazzas and see the melting pot of architectural styles. Around the main St Mark’s square there are many artists who will sketch your portrait for a reasonable price.

If you are interested in Venetian painting, you can bathe in the collections of paintings from artists such as Titian and members of the school of Murano. The Galleria di Palazzo Cini, for instance, houses the private art collection of Vittorio Cini, the wealthiest Venetian art collector of this century. His collection includes paintings from the Tuscan Renaissance and the school of Ferrara. Find your own musical inspiration in this city, whether by seeing a Venetian Opera composed by Montiverdi (the Titian of Music), visiting Campo Bandiera e Moro (the birthplace of Vivaldi) or listen to baroque music played (on a 18th century organ) in the Santa Maria Della Favaon at the Sunday mass.

VIENNA – Austria vacation rentals

The capital Vienna was once the citadel of the Habsburgs who ruled the country for over 600 years. The city is an architectural gem and a centre of music from the medieval times. The Hofburg (Imperial Palace) and the adjoining Augustinian Church are two of the marvels of architecture. Other notable sights in Vienna include the Museum of Fine Arts, Belvedere Palace, and the Sigmund Freud Museum.

Austria’s capital Vienna spreads along both sides of the “Blue” Danube (which as the Viennese are certain to point out is actually muddy brown) at the very foothills of the Alps. The city is a smorgasbord of Baroque with a dash of art nouveau. Circling the old town (the Innere Stadt ) is the imposing revivalist architecture of the Ringstrasse Vienna’s main boulevard. These buildings range from the charming Opera House to the monumental Natural History Museum. Nestled throughout the city are the graceful art-nouveau buildings of turn-of-the century architects Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos. The buildings are one of the many remnants of the artistic and intellectual flowering that took place in Vienna at the turn of the century. Of course the buildings and the city’s history is only a backdrop for the daily culture that can still be found in the concert halls opera houses and cafes.