Mumbai is a Coastal City

Mumbai is the capital of the state of Maharashtra and is located on India’s western coast on the Arabian Sea. The seven islands Colaba, Mahim, Parel, Mazagaon, Old Womans Island, Wadala, and Matunga Sion were joined together to form Mumbai.

The principal part of the cities is concentrated at the southern claw shaped end of the island. The southernmost peninsula is known as Colaba. It has a decent range of hotels and restaurants and is home to the two of the citys best landmarks the Gateway of India and the Taj Mahal Hotel. Directly north of Colaba is the area known as the Fort, since this is where the old British fort once stood. Further west is Marine Drive, which sweeps around Back Bay, connecting the high rise modern business centre with Chowpatty Beach. To the north are the suburbs of Greater Mumbai. Here youll find the two airports, Sahar International and the domestic Santa Cruz.

It is never too hot or too cold in Mumbai and since it is a coastal city there is not much change in the temperature throughout the year. Due to its proximity to the sea the weather is humid throughout the year.

Mumbai is famous for its fast food consisting of vada pavs, batata vadas and bhel puri. Apart from its famous fast food, Mumbai offers lot of culinary variety such as South Indian, Chinese, Punjabi, Mughlai, Thai, Mexican and Lebanese. Amongst drinks the ubiquitously available coconut water is the most popular. Tea and coffee are the other popular beverages.

It is a city that never sleeps. No matter what time of night you venture out you will find substantial number of people on streets and roads. The city is famous for its vibrant night life. There are plenty of bars and clubs to suit every taste.

Mumbai is a shoppers paradise. From swanky air conditioned shops of big brands to street markets that involve hard bargaining, Bombay caters to shopper of every hue. There are niche-shopping areas for different items. Some of the famous shopping localities of Bombay are Crawford Market, Chor Bazaar, Colaba Causeway, and Fashion Street.

Juhu beach is one of the most famous beaches of India. It is also one of the most posh localities of Mumbai and home to many famous film personalities.

Chowpatty beach is one of the major tourist attractions of Mumbai and the site of many religious ceremonies. One can witness annual thread tying ceremony initiating young boys into the Brahmin caste, and the Nariel Purnima towards the end of the monsoons at the Chowpatty. But the place reaches it climax during Ganesha Chaturthi when lakhs of people congregate at Chowpatty and the idols of Lord Ganesha are immersed in the sea.

Private Villas In The Exotic Dream Destination Phuket

The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions : the mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.

Located 862 kilometers south of Bangkok is Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, which is often dubbed as the pearl of the Andaman, or the pearl of the south. Its natural resources- rocky peninsular, limestone cliffs, white powdery beaches, tranquil broad bays and tropical in-land forests contribute to making it the South’s wealthiest, busiest, most visited and most popular island and province.

Staying on the island is easy, as there are only two seasons in a year – the rainy season (May to October) and the hot season (November to April). The low season of phuket is between September and October as they are the wettest months. The best period for a visit, is from November to February, when it is possible to see the clear blue sky, feel the fresh sea breeze and marvel at the crystal clear water while lying on powdery, palm-fringed beaches. Average temperatures ranges between 23 degree and 33 degree.

Renting a Phuket Villa can be a daunting task, with literally thousands to choose from on the island, and more appearing every day it can be a difficult choice for many. Phuket villas come in all styles, sizes and in different locations around the island, from hill top locations offering panoramic views of the islands and the Andaman Sea, to beach front beach villas providing instant access to powdery white sand and azure calm seas.

When choosing a luxury villa guests must decide whether they want solitude or a more hectic atmosphere with hustle and bustle of street markets and beach activities. Luxury villas on the east coast offer the kind of peace and quiet that is more akin to Samui or Krabi. There is a sense of remoteness here, with traditional Thai fishing villages, and quiet serene beaches dotted along the coast.

The West coast is the far more recognized and notorious part of the island with luxury villas concentrated in Patong, Kamala, and Surin areas. Karon and Kata beaches also have some excellent choices for beach front accommodation. Villa estates such as The Samsara Estate, Phuket Pavilions, Baan Thai Surin Hill and The Plantation are gaining international recognition for their excellence both in terms of quality of surroundings and quality of service and value offered.

More secluded resorts nestle higher up amongst the trees in the center of this island, capitalizing on the wonderful sea and mountain views. With some of the most famous golfing in the world, Phuket villas in these locations are popular options for golfing fanatics. With such a developed infrastructure nothing is more than a 20 minute drive from these hill top locations.
With space becoming a commodity in much of Phuket, the South – once a neglected part of Phuket – is becoming more and more popular and with much more affordable prices than their more famous West coast counterparts. The 40 minute drive from the airport is enough to put most off traveling so far down the island, but those that do find beautiful beaches and headlands, great restaurants and their luxury villas amenities match anything on the island.

As people seek a new getaway for their vacation, resorts including Andaman Cove have become extremely popular offering not only luxury accommodation but amenities such as tennis courts, kid’s clubs and trips to private islands offering their guests that something extra that few other places provide at such great value.

Hamburg is a City in Germany

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany. It is also one of the three cities, which is a Land one of Germanys 16 states in its own right. The Cities stunning location is on the Elbe and Alster Rivers.

Bathing in the Elbe River is possible, however stay away from structures in the river or reaching into the river. Keep out of the way of ships. When staying on a beach down the river, place yourself a few meters away from the water and keep an eye on children playing in or near the water. Container ships passing by sometimes create surprisingly large waves that not only wet your feet on the beach but may also pull you into the Elbe.

Hamburg 1,200 years old is loved both for its contemporary scene as well as for its cultural offerings.

With city state traditions reaching back for centuries, it has always played a special political and cultural role. Today, as a key commercial hub, an international harbour and a media and cultural centre.

The city gained its economic prosperity from its history as a city port on the River Elbe, which flows into the North Sea, giving Hamburg its nickname Tor zur Welt gateway to the world. Its wealth is reflected in its proud architecture, beside the waters of the Elbe. With 1,500 millionaires living in Hamburg, it counts as Europes richest city and its commercial past is still very much alive today, as the importing of tea, coffee and exotic spices continues, along with the sale of oriental carpets.

Germanys second largest city offers a high quality of life and international flair. In Hamburg, the word boredom is unknown. Theres more to Hamburg than the sleaze of the Reeperbahn and the memory of the Beatles, not least the wild nightlife in a 21st century setting. Commerce and industry combine with cool cosmopolitan edge to make this Germanys sexiest city alongside Berlin. Living standards are high and it’s not cheap but bars and restaurants are world class and the sights around the city not to be missed.

In between traditional trading houses and renowned theatres, the latest trends are always cropping up. The St Pauli entertainment district has unforgettable musicals, a night at the theatre, Michaelis Church.

Although Hamburg is jokingly said to be the birthplace of the Hamburger, this might just be a myth. However, the beef patties a German immigrant from Hamburg sold in the 1850s in New York allegedly were named after the butcher and then became a generic term.

beach chairs

There is nothing like a beautiful day at the beach, the sand, surf and the rays of the sun beating down on your body. Beach visits have been popular with people of all ages, and are as much of a family activity as they are an individual excursion. No beach visit is complete without spending some timer relaxing on the beach with some suntan lotion on and getting that perfect tan.

Today, just as important as planning the visit to the beach is the beach supplies you carry with you, from beach towels, to elegant beach chairs and of course swim wear. Irrespective of your age, no visit to the beach can be truly enjoyed without having these basic accessories. With so many new advances in technology and manufacturing methods swim wear and beach towels are now available in a wide variety of designs and patterns. Depending on your taste and choice, there are a vast variety of beach towels and swim wear available today, and the number of manufacturers that are offering these products are simply mind boggling.

Choosing the right beach supplies for yourself can be quite a task if you have no idea where to being. The first thing that you need to get yourself apart from the suntan lotion is a beach towel. Today beach towels are no longer just another accessory to your beach supplies, beach towels are available in a wide variety of designs and also come in a wide variety of finishes. In fact a beach towel has become a way of expressing yourself, and your attitude. The next time you visit the beach look around and you will see everything from Velour finish beach towels to patriotic beach towels with the American flag imprinted on them.

If you are looking to buy a beach towel for regular use, then it is advisable to use a fibre reactive beach towel. Fibre reactive dyes are dyes used on cotton that have much better binding when compared to traditional dyes, so if you are looking to use your beach towel regularly then fibre reactive beach towels are the best option. However if you enjoy the fantastic texture that is offered by velour beach towels then go ahead and indulge yourself, in fact an increasingly large number of velour finish beach towels are now available in fibre reactive dyes too.

The only advice is that no synthetic or artificial material is as durable as cotton, unlike swim wear that is available in a large variety of materials; the best material for beach towels is 100% cotton. So the next time you want to buy a beach towel make sure that the beach towel is 100% cotton or a blend that has a large percentage of cotton. More so if the towel you are using is in velour; as velour usually has a certain amount of synthetic additives, however newer velour beach towels too are as good as 100% cotton, as they are designed to be durable and have a large quantity of cotton used during their manufacture.

Swim Wear

Swim wear is no longer restricted to just swim suits; designers all over the world have started designing swimsuit based club wear, essentially swimsuits and bikinis that you can wear to a club. Even before the advent of club wear based on swimsuits, women from all ages have been wearing swimsuit clothing to clubs, its only recently that fashion houses have started paying attention to the increasingly popular trend and have started offering club wear based on swimsuits and swim wear. The advantages of the club wear mentioned above over traditional swimsuits is that the club wear is made from material that “breathes” and is more suited for wearing to parties and clubs when compared to traditional swim wear. In fact the next time you are looking for something to wear to the club, keep in mind some of the new swimsuit based club wear that is available.

Italian Art and Architecture

Millions of visitors voyage to and through Italy every year in the search of it’s ancient culture. The great food, art, and architecture.

There is more art and architecture to see in Italy than a person could possibly see in an entire lifetime. The three cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice alone offer an inexhaustible choice of art excursions.

Here are a few things you simply must see if you’re on your own voyage seeking Italian art, either ancient or modern.

The Coliseum
The Coliseum is an artistic wonder that was originally used as an entertainment venue and is still an amazing site to see. Curiously, although it could consider a source of embarrassment of the past, it has come to be known as an icon from the ancient Roman period.

Vatican City
Vatican City is actually a tiny country and is perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of Rome. As any Catholic will tell you Vatican City is the heart of Catholicism, both spiritually and politically. St. Peter himself was crucified on this spot, and St. Peter’s basilica was built directly above the ancient hill. Even today Basilica and St. Peter’s square are studies in architecture. Both often the subject of many art history classes. Visitors who go to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are treated to see some of the true masterpieces of Roman art.

Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco is still studied today by urban architects and planners as a one of the most beautiful public places on earth. The square is surrounded by coffee houses, quaint little shops, and of coarse Campanile and St. Peter’s Basilica. Tourists and locals mingle or sit and sip in its coffee houses, or meet to talk, and climb the Campanile to see the amazing view of Venice.

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection
In a city world renown for its ancient art and architecture, the Guggenheim Collection houses one of the greatest collections of modern art anywhere in the world. It’s a collection that includes works by Pollack, Picasso, Klee, Rothko, Chagall, Mondrian, and more. There is also a splendid sculpture garden housing many other works of art.

In reality one could certainly wander Italy for many years and never experience all of it’s great art and architecture. The I’ve listed and briefly discussed are a mere thumbnail sketches of what’s available to an art lover touring in Italy.

Baggage Used For Air Travel

It is remarkable how air travelers choose luggage for trips. Some might find that luggage is often heavy because these people are moving their belongings from one location to another and want to save the expense of hiring a rental truck to move it. Airlines are very generous on the amount of luggage that an air passenger can have and the poundage of each piece of luggage that they can place on an aircraft.

When families choose luggage for a family vacation trip, they will normally choose luggage that matches and fits their travel needs. The baggage they select will have to be deep enough to accommodate hair dryers, multiple pairs of shoes and enough clothing for each day that they will be gone on a trip. Some families combine larger items into one large piece of luggage and will choose to carry some equipment onboard the aircraft at every stop.

Business travelers consider the baggage that they carry while traveling by air very carefully. One of the pieces of baggage that is always carried onboard an aircraft will be the garment bag that contains all of the business suits for a trip. They will often select baggage that is on wheels that can accommodate these garment bags and make them easy to transport from one airport terminal to another.

Older travelers prefer to travel lighter than most. They will select baggage that might not match but has served its purpose for many years on the road during their retirement years. These well-worn baggage selections have certain memories attached to them that are considered priceless and older travelers would hate to lose them in the baggage claim areas.

Younger travelers are not real concerned with the luggage choices that their parents make, but they are certainly concerned about the items that the carry-on luggage contains. Parents will place all types of toys into a travel bag in order to keep the child occupied during the airline flight and while they are waiting in airport terminals to board connecting flights. These baggage choices are just the right size to fit into the overhead storage compartment area that is over the seat and can be retrieved quite easily at any time during an airline flight.

Some people will select only one piece of baggage for an airline flight. They are probably traveling on a short weekend trip to see friends and family that they have not seen for a while. They might see travelers who are in the military and know from their baggage which service they are in. The garment bags for these travelers will typically have the emblem of the military service that they are emblazoned on the side of the bag. Navy people will have a green sea bag with them that contains enough clothing to carry them throughout their career.

I Love Touring Italy – Campania West Of Naples

If you are in the mood for a European vacation, you should really consider the area west of Naples in the Campania region of southwestern Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. While the area is hardly undiscovered it tends to be less “touristy” than many other parts of Italy including Campagnia on the other side of Naples, namely Sorrento and the Isle of Capri described in companion articles in this series. If you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to visit Naples, described in another companion article in this series.

We’ll start our tour in Solfatara just west of Naples. Then we will head west to Pozzuoli and southwest to Baia. We’ll pop up north to Cumae. We finish our tour with some island hopping, first south to Procida, and then southwest to Ischia. The entire area is called Campi Flegrei (Fields of Fire) because it sits on molten lava. There is no reason to believe that volcanic eruptions are a thing of the past. And remember, the area is not far from Mount Vesuvius on the other side of Naples.

Solfatara is a semiextinct volcano whose most recent eruption was in 1198. Its name comes from the Latin sulpha terra for land of sulphur so you know what to expect. Solfatara is hardly attractive, unless you like to look at boiling mud. But as long as you stick to the path you should be safe. On the positive side the escaping vapors have been used for medicinal purposes since Roman times.

Pozzuoli is a fishing town that has become a suburb of Naples, hardly suprising given its proximity. The Greeks founded it in the Sixth Century B. C. Once the home of wealthy Romans, famous residents include St. Paul and Sofia Villani Scicolone better known by her professional name, Sophia Loren. Pozzuoli was damaged by volcanic eruptions during the Middle Ages and again in the 1970s. You’ll want to see the Anfiteatro Flavio (Flavius Amphitheater), Italy’s third largest, that held 40,000 spectators. It hosts evening concerts in the summer.

Baia was perhaps the greatest Ancient Roman resort of them all. All the big shots including Caesar, Nero, and Tiberius had a home away from home in Baia. Cleopatra was visiting when Julius Caesar met his untimely end. For many people part of Baia’s attraction was its thermal, mineral waters famous for their healing powers. Local excavations include the Temple of Mercury, the Baths of Mercury, the Baths of Sosandra, with the semicircular Theater of the Nymphs and a statue of Sosandra, the Temple of Venus, and the Baths of Venus.

Cumae was perhaps the first Greek colony on the Italian mainland, founded in the Eighth Century B. C. You’ll want to see Antro della Sibilla (Sibyl’s Cave) considered by many people to be the most romantic classical site in all Italy. This cave, almost five hundred feet (one hundred thirty one meters) long, was carved out of solid rock. According to legend Sibyl was a prophet granted almost eternal life (as many years as the grains of sand in her handful) but she sadly forgot to request eternal youth. As she aged she shriveled and shriveled; her body fit into a bottle that hung from a tree. She interspersed her prophecies with pleas for death.

Most present Cumae is underground. Make sure to see Lago d’Averno (Lake Avernus), a volcanic crater lake that the Romans considered the entrance to Hades (Hell). According to legend, birds flying over the lake would die from the poisonous fumes. It was on these shores that Virgil wrote The Aeneid. Let’s assume he didn’t inhale.

Right near the coast you’ll find Procida, a densely populated island with about eleven thousand people jam packed into two square miles. This is about one third the population density of Hong Kong but Procida is the most densely populated island in all Europe. Yet Procida is beautiful and relatively undiscovered when compared to the other islands off the coast of Campania. Try not to miss the Good Friday procession, an annual event since 1627. The island and its small fishing village Corricella were featured in the films Il Postino and The Talented Mr. Ripley, filmed in many Campania locations including the island of Ischia, described next.

We will finish our tour of this sometimes lovely area west of Naples at the island of Ischia, probably inhabited for thousands of years. Its almost sixty thousand inhabitants including thousands of German citizens most of whom make a living from tourism thanks to an estimated six million visitors a year. No, this is not one of the undiscovered gems that pop up from time to time. Over the millennia Ischia has suffered many conquests. Among the worst was in the mid-Sixteenth Century when the pirate Barbarossa devastated the island, taking four thousand prisoners in the process.

The Castello Aragonese (Aragonese Castle) is Ischia’s most heavily visited monument. Actually it was built on a rock near the so-called mainland just a bit shy of 2500 years ago. In 1441 the castle was linked to the island by a stone bridge. The nearby beach is fine and its waters may heal your ailments.

The La Mortella gardens belonged to the British composer William Walton and his Argentinean wife Susana, 23 years his junior. It is home to several thousand rare Mediterranean plants. After visiting the garden you can climb the long dormant volcano, Monte Epomeo, bathe in the Giardini Poseidon Terme (Poseidon Gardens Spa), or take a short boat trip to the village of Sant&#8217Angelo on the southern coast.

What about food? Volcanic soil makes food tasty and plentiful and gives wine a special zest. The regional focus is on vegetables and fruits. Tomatoes are served every which way, including pizza and spaghetti of course. You should really taste the mozzarella cheese, made from the milk of water buffalo.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Nero di Seppia (Spaghetti with Black Squid Ink). Then try Coniglio all’Ischitana (Rabbit simmered with Tomatoes). For dessert indulge yourself with Strufoli (Honey Balls). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We conclude with a quick look at Campania wine. Campania ranks 9th among the 20 Italian regions for both acreage devoted to wine grapes and for total annual wine production. The region produces about 64% red and and close to 36% white wine, as there is little rosé. There are17 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Only 2.8% of Campania wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. The G stands for Guarantita, and you’ll find three, the red Taurasi, the white Greco di Tufo, and the white Fiano di Avellino. I have tasted the Fiano and found it to be top of the line. A single DOC wine is produced west of Naples; the Ischia DOC whose region covers the entire island of Ischia and is made from a variety of local grapes. This wine may be red or white. The red may be dry or sweet, while the white may be still or sparkling. Frankly, I’d go with the Fiano di Avellino.

Koh Samui Not Only For Backpackers

The third largest island in Thailand, Koh Samui is a tropical paradise, situated in the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea, about 85 km east of Surat Thani and 700 km south of Bangkok. Bestowed with natural scenic surroundings, spectacular as well as diverse flora and fauna, wonderful beaches, magnificent coves and bays, amazing islets, and dazzling waterfalls, Koh Samui is truly a mix of all that are best in the country.

Since Koh Samui gives harvest to more than two million coconuts each month, the island is also sometimes referred to as the ‘Coconut Island.’ Until 1970s’ Koh Samui was only popular as a backpackers’ destination. But, Koh Samui has now grown to include a range of attractions and facilities to enjoy a variety of activities from diving, snorkeling, and sailing to trekking and hiking.

The major draw of the island is undoubtedly its coastline, endowed with pearl-like white sandy beaches and coves and beaches. Of the beaches in the island, most popular is Chaweng beach, which is the longest in the island.

The beach and its surroundings are a center for fun and entertainment. Further, the area is dotted with a range of world-class hotels, resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs. Another fantastic beach in the island is Lamai Beach, which is much favored for its teeming nightlife. For a magical experience, take a tour to Bophut beach, whose surroundings are strewn with an array of old Chinese shops, superb gift shops, and eateries with sumptuous pizza.

Close to the Bophut Beach is Choengmon Beach, which is also a much sought recreational area. Likewise, for vacationers seeking solitude amid serene setting, then one of the best choices would be Maenam beach, situated in the north of Samui Island. Also, popular are Samui Beaches such as Big Buddha Beach, Taling Ngam, and Lipa Noi Beach.

With these spectacular as well as tranquil beaches, Koh Samui is truly a mecca to enjoy an array of leisurely and adventure activities such as para sailing, scuba diving, sea skiing, fishing, and sea canoeing. If you don’t want to indulge in any of the aforesaid activities, then simply take a stroll along the stunning beaches to experience its unrivalled beauty and elegance.

Apart from the activities that are revolved around its unparalleled beaches and shorelines, Koh Samui offers much more. Thai cuisines are regarded as among the best in the world. Hence, become an adept in Thai cooking by taking advantage of superb Thai cooking courses rendered by some of the excellent restaurants in the area.

If you are looking for something different while your stay at Koh Samui, then head to the nearby stadium to spectacle amazing Thai boxing, which includes five rounds of three minutes each. Likewise, if you don’t mind some violence, take opportunity to spectacle such traditional activities as buffalo fighting. One of the best options for fun lovers would be monkey show. Further, nothing would be better than a hiking or trekking trip for those interested in exploring the natural serenity of the place, comprising lush green vegetation, verdant hills, and brilliant waterfalls.

Above all, Koh Samui’s sightseeing options are aplenty, with a range of unusual as well as refreshing attractions. Probably the most significant of the Koh Samui’s landmarks is Big Buddha, a temple whose focal point is a 12 m high golden statue of Buddha that can be seen even away from several kilometers. For nature lovers, a visit to the Butterfly Garden with hundreds of rare species of spectacular bufferflies would be a unique experience. Also, found within the garden are a bee house and a museum featuring some rare species of insects from across the nation as well as other countries. Similarly, take a tour to Samui’s Crocodile Farm to have a fascinating look on different types of crocodiles such as Siam crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles, and Caimans.

Not to miss attractions in the island also include phallic rocks, which is popular among the locals as Grandfather Rock and Grandmother Rock; Lamai Overlap Stone, which is considered a challenge to climb this impressive boulder; Secret Buddha Garden, which is home to beautiful temples, statues, and waterfalls; Snake Farm, which has to its credit some of the most poisonous as well as scary snakes in Asia; and Samui Aquarium and Zoo. Equally marvelous are the temples or wats in the region, such as, Hainan Temple, Hin Lad Waterfall Temple, Laem Sor Pagoda, and Pagoda Khao Chedi.

From stylish sea view villas and bungalows to beachfront resorts and world-class hotels, all of the accommodation options in Samui are superb. Majority of them provide top-notch facilities including air-conditioned rooms coupled with en-suite bathrooms, lounge, kitchen, and dining room. Additionally, many of the villas and apartments offer maid service, apart from facilities such as superb swimming pools and complimentary airport transfers. Fantastic accommodation options are also available for budget conscious travelers.

With these incredible attractions and activities to enjoy, Koh Samui is truly a pearl of the Gulf of Thailand.

Axarquia – The Sun and Avocado Route

Next to Malaga, in Rincon de la Victoria, we set out on this route of the sun, thus called because it follows a long stretch of the easternmost Costa del Sol, reaching Torre del Mar. From there, it turns inland, passing through fertile warm valleys and plains, becoming a country route as it reaches the region’s capital, Velez-Malaga, and continues on to towns with undeniable rural charm, such as Benamargosa, Benamocarra or Iznate.

Thus, this route is the perfect balance between the two most outstanding features of the coast and the tranquillity of such beautiful spots as Macharaviaya. It shows us how this land has managed to blend its cultural and monumental past with the present-day reality o a traditionally welcoming hospitable people, Rincon de la Victoria, Bezmiliana, of Arab origin and the Higueron Cave (also known as the Treasure Cave), containing cave paintings, the Moslem remains of Bezmiliana Castle and, next to the mouth of the river Velez, Phoenician and Carthaginian graves that corroborate the site of the ancient Mainake.

From here and after passing through a series of charming towns, we come to the place where most of the region’s monumental heritage is to be found: Velez-Malaga, the capital of La Axarquia. The recently restored Fortress or the Citadel remind us of its undeniable Moslem origins, the solid walls contrasting with the whitewashed houses that spread down the hillside from the foot of these two monuments. Among the rooftops the towers of the various examples of religious architecture poke through: the Church of San Juan Baptista and Nuestra Sra. de la Encarnacion, and the church of Santa Maria la Mayor, both from the 16th century and, as virtually all of them, built on the site of ancient mosques.

Other outstanding examples are the Convent of San Francisco, nestling among the maze of narrow Arab streets in the Jewish Quarter, the Convent of Las Claras, the convent of Las Carmelitas, the Sanctuary of La Virgen de los Remedios, the Palace of the Marquises of Beniel, the San Marcos Hospital, the Fernando VI Fountain or the House of Cervantes. They all form rich historical and monumental heritage that has, quite rightly, been declared of Historic and Artistic Interest. Back on the coast, during the annual Sea Procession of the Virgen del Carmen, we can experience the magical light of the dawn, one of the most deeply-rooted traditions of La Axarquia, whose inhabitants go out in their boats to accompany and honour the Virgen of the Mariners. It is a spectacle of unbeatable colour and beauty.

A Quick Tour Of Italy – Western Apulia

Apulia is the heel of the Italian boot. It is located in the southeast corner of Italy on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Apulia was frequently invaded by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Among its many rulers were the Byzantines, Goths, Lombards, Normans, Spaniards, and Turks. Its moment of greatest glory was in the Holy Roman Empire of the 13th Century, when majestic Romanesque cathedrals and palaces were built. This article presents the western and usually northern part of Apulia. A companion article presents the rest of the region.

Apulia’s administrative center is Bari, the biggest city in southern Italy, with a population of over 325 thousand. It is a major port that includes a modern city center and an old town which you won’t want to miss. Everywhere you turn you can see the Adriatic Sea. The pedestrian-only street Via Sparano is the site of evening strolls. The nearby Eleventh Century Bascilica di San Nicola is said to contain the remains of St. Nicholas, yes Santa Claus. According to legend local sailors stole his remains from Turkey. Funny, I always thought that Santa Claus… To the northeast you will find the small port of Trani, once a major Adriatic port. Trani’s attractions include two medieval synagogues and several historic churches.

The spur of Italy’s boot is the Promontorio del Gargano (Gargano Promontory), which is a very popular tourist destination. Its mountain roads are very curvy so pay strict attention to your driving. Near the tip you’ll find the whitewashed town of Vieste which is known for its castle. You should take a ferry from Vieste to the nearby archipelago Isole Tremiti, but remember Tremiti as in tremor. The view is really spectacular.

The Foresta Umbra (Shady Forest) encompasses well over sixty thousand acres. It is home to hundreds of animal species and two thousand plant species many of which are normally associated with northern climes. Monte Sant’Angelo has been a major pilgrim destination for centuries. You’ll want to see the Santuario di San Michele (Sanctuary of San Michele) and the Tomba di Rotari (Tomb of Rotari), a medieval baptistery. Finish your tour of western Apulia at the famous Castel del Monte, a mysterious eight-sided castle built in the Thirteenth Century.

Among Apulia’s classified foods are Clementines, Olives, two Cheeses, and four Olive Oils. Be sure to see our companion article I Love Touring Italy – Western Apulia for a sample menu and more information on Apulia wines as well as an in-depth examination of western Apulia’s tourist attractions. The best-known local wine is Castel del Monte DOC, which is available overseas and is frankly not that great.