The majestic city of Poland is an open-air museum, with palaces, cathedrals and historic homes.

Krakow has been the capital of the country for more than 500 years and was a cradle of medieval commerce and a great center of arts and sciences in the 16th century.

The gem of Poland with its inexhaustible history is a dynamic European metropolis with youthful culture and passion for the arts.

According to the legend, the first inhabitants of the city lived in the cave of a dragon that killed the mythical King Krak.

The myths around the city do not stop there, as it is said that once, the Hindu god, Shiva, threw seven magic stones in seven different parts of the world. And since then, every place where a stone fell is considered to have a separate energy. Krakow was one of these places.

The Old Town is a true architectural masterpiece of great historical monuments and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Basilica of Virgin Mary is built in the 13th century and overlooks its twin bell towers on the central square of the Agora.

The rocky Wawel hill rises 20 meters above the center of the city and has been for centuries the seat of the Polish kings. The visitor will see the homonymous 16th-century castle and a national identity for the Poles. Next to the castle dominates the Royal Cathedral, with a history of 900 years.

Kazimierz Jewish Quarter experienced the devastating consequences of the Second World War and became known to the general public through the Sidler List.

The traveler will find today the most bohemian neighborhood of the city with stone paved alleys and numerous old synagogues, and hosts the Jewish Museum of Galicia dedicated to the Holocaust and the Jews of Central Europe.

It is worth visiting the historic Schidler’s Factory Museum, which is housed in the old enamel factory of the legendary Oscar Sindler and the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology, on the banks of the Vistula River.

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(* The island is called Lesvos and its capital is Mytilene. The capital is so imposing and unique that it has managed to “name” the entire island).

The rich history of the island, combined with its modern use, keeps the interest of visitors alive. Being the third largest island in Greece, it is easy to see how it can offer a wide variety of different scenes and activities.

But why should a visitor make so many miles to reach the northeastern Aegean Sea? What does Mytilene have that makes it special?

The first and main are the beautiful villages, with the picturesque streets, the impressive mansions, the three well-preserved castles in Mytilene, Molyvos and Sigri and the benches with the traditional handmade objects.

Mytiline has been given the status of “Archontissa” and not unfairly! The city is made up of elaborate mansions, while its beautiful waterfront, its smells and colors, magnify the eyes of every visitor! The imposing church of Agios Therapontas that dominates, the imposing castle, the statue of freedom that welcomes you to the port, makes the city an idyllic place for exploration!

Ouzo, whichever brand you choose, will introduce you to the culture of the locals.

The process of drinking ouzo requires a specific ritual. Never to drink ouzo without its so-called meze. It needs salad, sardines, beans, greed, pickles and various other appetizers. Trust the local cooks and indulge in the magic of ouzo. In the famous Plomari you can visit the Ouzo Museum and learn the secrets of its production:

http://www.theworldofouzo.gr/en/ouzo-plomari/ouzo-museum.php

Moving from the capital of the island to the center of the island, you will notice that the scenery is green and full of beautiful trees, something that changes radically from Kalloni and beyond. If half the island is dressed in green, the rest is like a lunar landscape and this combination gives also a unique characther to the island.

The volcanoes that existed thousands of years ago in the area, exploded and the volcanic material produced in combination with the weather conditions followed, favored the creation of a unique phenomenon, the fossilization of the forest that lay in the area.

In the Sigri Natural History Museum, you can learn more about tree fossilization and see radically systems, trunks and seeds.

http://www.lesvosmuseum.gr/site/home/ws/primary+menu/the+forest.csp

Lesvos is still famous for its many miraculous performances. Numerous seekers arrive on the island each year to visit the Taxiarches, Saint Raphael and the Virgin Mary of Agiasos. These monasteries offer an unrealistic tranquility to those who visit them.

Next stop, beaches! The island has many beaches to choose from. The most popular are in Vatera, Skala Eresos, Tsonia, Agios Isidoros and Tarti. The blue waters of the Aegean and the endless blue give peace, tranquility and a sense of freedom. Caution! The waters of the island tend to be frozen than those you may have used to swim. Do not be fooled! Arm yourself with courage and dive!

Other places that deserve your attention are Skala Skoukanias with Panagia Gorgona, Petra with its own distinct Virgin Mary perched on the rock, Karini, which houses Theofilos tree and the thermal springs of the island in the village called Polichnitos.

Give your love to Lesvos and it will give it to you back double and triple. Open your heart, leave your senses and be swept away by the beauties of this place.

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Tinos is famous for its Church Panagia Evangelistria that attract visitors from all over Greece. In the island coexist both Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic populations, giving to the island a unique character.

Apart from the religious tourism, Tinos is also a top summer attraction both for Greeks but also for tourists that visit the island from anywhere in the world.

Tinos combines beautiful mountain villages together with golden beaches.

The most popular beach of Tinos is located in the north of the island and it is called Kolimpithra. Actually we are talking about two beaches different from each other. The smallest one is more cosmopolitan with sun beds, umbrellas and restaurants whereas the larger one is exposed to the north winds and it is ideal for surfers.

Other popular beaches in the island are: Kionia, Agios Romanos, Kalivia, Ormos Kardianis which are all in the south.

If you ever visit the island you certainly have to go to Ysternia, a picturesque village on the slope of the mountain “Meroviglia’’. Here you can walk through marble paved streets, traditional houses and enjoy a magnificent view over the sea.

Another beautiful village is Dyo Choria (meaning two villages) located 20 minutes from Chora. This village has an altitude of 450 meters above the sea level and has many traditional small streets, plane trees and springs.

Pyrgos village is also worth visiting. It is the largest village of Tinos island after Chora. While walking through its streets you can admire the marble decorations at the windows and walls of the houses. Before leaving get some rest at the village square where you can enjoy a ‘’greek coffee’’ and ‘’galaktompoureko’’, a traditional greek desert.

Where to eat

In Tinos, one thing is certain: you will enjoy its traditional food. There are many taverns everywhere in the island that offer good quality food and in reasonable prices. We would recommend you to visit the tavern ‘’Drosia’’ in Ktikados village. Mr Vasilis, the owner and the staff are very polite and they will help you to choose what you like from the menu. Tip: definitely try the meatballs, the lamp and the artichoke pie.

If you would like sea food, a nice option is to go Ntinos restaurant in Exomvourgo. It has the most delicious shrimp spaghetti we have ever tasted.

When visiting the island one thing is certain: The enchanting hospitality, the traditional villages, the trekking paths and the beautiful beaches will impress you.

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With an area of ​​3,640 sq. Km., it is the largest island of the complex – its name derives from the Latin island of Major.

Since the 1960s and flagged the triptych of “Sun, Sea, Fun” has begun to attract a significant number of visitors and has quickly become a synonym for mass tourism.

The marvelous, mainly architectural attractions, the endless miles of exotic beaches with palm trees, picturesque villages, windmill plains, impressive mountains, and the wild nights with the cosmopolitan parties promise the visitor everything he would like from the summer holidays.

Palma de Mallorca

The capital, Palma de Mallorca, is essentially the only town on the island. Stylish and vibrant, it combines exceptional cultural heritage with a cosmopolitan air, enchanting visitors.

The port of Palma is dominated by the La Seu Cathedral, one of the largest in Europe. It is an impressive 14th-century building, with towers, obelisks, columns, which seem to be lost in the sky, and window frames that shine in the sun.

The pulse of Palma hits the historic center, the “Old Town”, which starts from the port and extends to the north. It is an attractive blend of lavender and paved narrow gothic churches and baroque palaces that create the impression that in some corner a melancholy tower will comb her hair on the balcony waiting for her knight to appear.

The city has many bars and restaurants full of tourists. Palma de Mallorca is also very popular of its parties that attract so many visitors.

The eastern side of the island is an impressive area, consisting of hundreds of small bays extending from Cap de Ferruxt, near Cala Ratjada in the north, to Punta Negra, the westernmost tip of the island.

During your stay here, you should definitely visit Porto Cristo, a beautiful seaside town that hosts the famous Dragon Cave, with stalagmites and stalactites in unique shapes.

Find out more here

To the south, from Port d’Alcudia to Ca’n Picafort dominate the enchanting beaches that made it famous all over Europe …

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Corfu is a genuine Ionian princess, located at the northwest of Greece. When you visit it and discover its beauties – from the old town to the picturesque villages and the amazing beaches – you will understand why it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece.

Old Town

Corfu’s Old Town is definitely one of the most beautiful – if not the prettiest – of the Greek islands. UNESCO has declared it as a World Heritage Site. Sprawling colorful bougades, mansions, impressive arches and labyrinthine alleys hide within them the soul of this place. Your first stop will be in Liston to enjoy a coffee with the locals under the stone arches with the Venetian lanterns. Continue your walk to the largest square in the country, Spianada.

The forts of the city

Take time and see the two imposing fortresses of the city, the Old and the New, which are preserved in a very good condition. The Old Fort dominates the eastern side of the city, a fortified fortress, which on Venetian rule (15th century) was transformed for defense reasons from a peninsula to an islet with the construction of a moat. You will find it at the edge of Spianada, a few minutes from Liston.

Pontikonisi

It is undoubtedly one of the most famous sights of Corfu. The Greeks spontaneously think of the song “Corfu, Corfu with the Pontikonisi…”, and foreigners definitely have heard or seen it in various pictures. To reach it, you have to head to Garitsa and after a scenic route you will reach Kanoni. This is exactly where Pontikonisi is located, the small green islet in front of Corfu airport by the waterway, in the bay of Halkiopoulos.

Achilleion

Just outside the city of Corfu, in the village of Gastouri, time seems to have stopped. Specifically, at a distance of 10 km southwest of the city, you will see a prestigious prestigious palace, which continues to unabashedly admire the visitor. Achilles was a resort of two forms of European history, the only public among them was their worship to Corfu, Greece and its culture.

Paleokastritsa

Impressive landscape and one of the most popular beaches of the island, in the northwest part of Corfu, 23 km from the city center. Famous for its very cold and crystal clear waters, the wider area includes 6 bays and beaches. The most famous is the one below the monastery of Paleokastritsa and it gathers most of the tourist infrastructure with hotels and restaurants. The rest will only arrive by sea.

Hope you will enjoy your stay in Corfu island!

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With cosmopolitan air, the small town is nestled on the slopes of Mont Blanc and offers stunning views of the Alps. In winter, it is a pole of attraction for climbers and climbers from all over the world with its thirteen ski resorts.

On the scenic side, guests enjoy the peaceful landscape with the background of the virgin nature, as well as boutiques with brand names and picturesque cafes and traditional restaurants with a genuine alpine character.

Its buildings are decorated with Baroque and Art Deco styles and the traveler will taste unique fondues and grilled dishes that make up local specialties.

Visiting Chamonix will not mean anything if you do not experience the ultimate rope-climbing experience on the vertical Aiguille du Midi, at 3,842 m. It is the most famous cable (Téléphérique) car in the world. From this unbelievable altitude, even those not inspired by the secrets of mountaineering, will enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view. The climbing takes place in two stages and the first funicular starts from the center of Chamonix, about 10 minutes walk to the train station.

As the cable car goes up you will feel that you are inside a plane. At the same time you can look at the houses of Chamonix which are so small from up there and enjoy the view of the Alps. Among the peaks of the mountains, is also the famous one, the Mont Blanc (4.807 meters).

You can find more information on the following websites:

https://www.chamonix.com/chamonix-mont-blanc,0,en.html

https://www.chamonix.net/

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Its historic center is called a “small France” or a water district and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The wooden houses with sloping roofs, picturesque canals, the traditional Alsatian taverns and its special kitchen impress the visitor. Built for fairy-tale walks, as Christmas approaches, the city is transformed.

The city – a crossroads as it has been characterized – has been a center through the Roman era.

It is the co-op of the European Parliament after Brussels, where the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe are based here.

-Orangerie: The huge park with beautiful orange groves and the small zoo for children was built in the 19th century to impress Napoleon’s wife, Josephine, to which she is dedicated. Visitors, with free entry, may not be captivated by the green lung that dominates the heart of the city (free admission).

-Museums: From Museums, it is worth visiting the Palais Rohan, an imposing palace that houses the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Fine Arts Institute and the Strasbourg Archaeological Museum. The history and artistic traditions of Alsace, under the same, great building, has an entrance of 5 euros. -The Museum of Contemporary Art hosts occasionally great exhibitions, and from its balcony you will have a wonderful view of Petite France and the bridges of the city.

-The Strasbourg Cathedral, the Notre Dame of the Alsatian capital, was the tallest building in the world by the 19th century. The imposing Gothic temple with its famous astronomical clock stands emphatically in the center of the city. Conservation works are necessary as it was made of an unusual type of rock, which is eroded over time.

You can fine useful information here: http://www.otstrasbourg.fr/en/

64 miles southwest of Strasbourg is the town of Colmar. If you want to get a great dose of medieval grandeur and good wine – the city claims to be the capital of Alsatian wine-making – you should not miss to visit it.

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Each one of us can hardly wait to see the Christmas lights and to fall in love, again, with our beautiful Christmas tree. We’re eager to receive and to give gifts, to play in the snow and have a cold nose. Regardless of our age … we are all children on Christmas.

Considering this, we know you’re excited to visit the world and know the traditions of each country. I’ve prepared, therefore, a list of five unusual places in Europe – they will take your breath away!

1. Have a Wonderful Time in Graz, Austria

This city knows how to offer you exactly what you need for Christmas. It has an entire “collection” of Christmas shops, full of gifts and traditional dishes. Of course, in the same area, you can also find their wonderful Christmas tree! It has a lot of lights and it delights tourists every year!

If you want to see something special, we recommend visiting the ice sculpture at Landhaushof. To create it, over 45 tons of ice was used. It is a true masterpiece which is just waiting to be discovered by you.

In Graz, Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, the whole city dresses in lights and joy! If you really want to live a fairy tale, you have to come here.

2. Experience the longest Christmas in Belgrade, Serbia

Yes, it’s true, Christmas holidays can last until January in Belgrade! This is due to the Julian calendar, when the peak of the holiday is on January 7^th. But don’t worry if your Christmas is on 25th of December, the celebration in Serbia begins early!

Trg Republike is the largest market in Belgrade, which is transformed into “Open Heart Square” for Christmas. Thousands of lights, decorations, sweets and delicious dishes await you!

Don’t forget to attend the New Year Fair, this year is held between 16 – 30 December 2017 and is made up of a multitude of concerts, festivals, fun parks and more!

3. Create New Memories in Thessaloniki, Greece this Christmas

Once you get to Thessaloniki on holidays, you will hear songs and carols everywhere. The lights will meet you at every step. Even if Thessaloniki doesn’t exaggerate with Christmas decorations, you will definitely feel like home here!

You can choose to have a family walk through the city center, or taste the best Greek dishes for Christmas! You will certainly not regret it! P.S. I’ve heard that their parties are amazing!

4. Fall in Love with Dresden, in Germany

The Dresden Christmas Fair is the oldest in Europe, dating back to 1424. In this city, every year people are cooking a giant sponge cake, with raisins and rum. It’s delicious and is shared with all of its visitors! This event gives the second name of the fair, Striezelmarkt.

Of course, besides delicious meals, you can experience all sorts of things here. Everything is impressive and beautifully arranged, with thousands of lights, Christmas trees and lots of carols! It’s like this city invented Christmas!

5. Fill your soul with happiness in Metz, France

Come to this beautiful city of France and be a child again! Let yourself be hypnotized by lights and beauty!

One of the most important tourist attractions here is Frozen Fairyland, where you can be impressed by a multitude of ice sculptures! It will hardly come to you to think that it is not, in fact, a dream.

In addition to delicious French dishes, you can have fun in various amusement parks such as merry-go-round or several walks through a magic forest.

Besides these cities, Europe has many more Christmas markets that will make you no longer want to go home. If you ever wanted to live a dream in real life, you definitely have to visit the destinations above!

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Its area is larger than that of Skiathos, however, its residential part is only a very small percentage of its territory, which is limited mainly to Patitiri, its picturesque harbor and to the Old Town, which is on a hill with spectacular views, while the population does not exceed 3,000 inhabitants.

The beaches of the island are many and with great beauty. Typically, if a traveler stays on the island throughout the summer there will be a beach to discover every day! The most famous of them is Chrissi Milia, the idyllic oasis with fine sand and crystal clear water that is also offered for water sports.

Equally impressive and organized, is the beach of Agios Dimitrios, which is considered to be the most beautiful beach on the island. It occupies a large area on both sides of a small peninsula. Also, the White Gialos with the small pebble is the most suitable choice for the younger age as it has a beach bar with a DJ choosing the best dance music of the summer.

The evening life on the island of Alonissos is located mainly in Patitiri with many places of entertainment and in Old Chora.

Specialtie of the island is the Alonissos typical cheese pie with feta cheese and crispy leaf, a delicious, tasty feast that no one ought to miss. However, the tourist character of Alonissos is not as intense as its natural, ecological character and is therefore a pole of attraction for friends of nature tourism.

The entire attitude of the locals moves around the protection of the environment, respect for nature and contact with it. On the island, you will find the International Academy of Classical Homeopathic Medicine and, with a little luck, will have the chance to swim next to dolphins and seals located in the sea park, the largest marine conservation site in Europe.

Regarding accommodation and transportation to the island, there are many lodgings both in the port and the smaller villages. The hospitality is of a high standard and the locals are polite and helpful.

One option is the 4-star Yalis hotel, with astonishing view and a swimming pool: http://www.yalishotel.gr/

and Ikion Eco Boutique Hotel: http://www.ikionhotelalonissos.com/

You can move from the harbor to the Old Town by public bus that runs frequently throughout the day, while a day trip is organized on one or two of the countless coach beaches starting at 9am and returning to the harbor at 4pm. There are also alternative travel choices, such as sailing boats to many beaches and hiking trails for fit buddies.

So, if you love nature and you are looking for a quiet destination with crystal clear seas and magical landscapes, what are you waiting for? Prepare suitcases immediately! Alonissos is waiting for you!

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Lichadonisia are located between Maliakos and the Northern Evian Gulf and is a complex of 7 small islands with the popular island of Manolia.

They are accessible by boat from either Kamena Vourla or Kavos at the northeastern point of Evia, which is approximately 45 minutes drive from the city of Edipsos.

Routes run daily from morning until afternoon and the ticket is economical.

Nowadays, the Lichadonisia are uninhabited, nevertheless until the 1970s three families lived in Manolia. There are no hotel facilities and the visitors can spend the night in the nearby beautiful settlement of Agios Georgios, which is located almost 3 km from Kavos of Lichada, across Manolia.

In Manolia, there is the picturesque church of Agios Georgios. You can walk until there from Manolia beach, an organized beach with umbrellas, loungers and bar.

The sea is blue, like a pool and the beach is sandy.

Tips: Due to the increased tourist traffic, it is advisable to avoid going there in weekends in order to enjoy the authenticity of the landscape and not to get tired of looking for shade and umbrella, unless you are equipped with all the necessities.

It is worth a boat tour around Lichadonisia, where you can see the wreck of 1944, the family of seals brought from nearby island of Alonissos, the great variety of birds and the mysterious phenomenon of Euripus’ tide.

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