European Discovery

London is the capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, and is the largest city in Western Europe. Situated on the River Thames in southeast England, London is historically one of the great world cities and remains a global capital of politics, culture, fashion, trade and finance. London will serve as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

London boasts a vast number of attractions for the traveler. Among the most famous are Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament) in Westminster. Shoppers can head to Portobello Road, which claims to be the world’s largest antiques market, for antiques, souvenirs and other knick-knacks or simply a walk through time.

London has a large variety of shows from fringe to Broadway-like musicals and productions. The West End district is where you’ll find the last type, with famous imported Broadway shows and some very good local productions.

London is the capital and largest city of both the United Kingdom and of England, and is the largest city in Western Europe. Situated on the River Thames in southeast England, London is historically one of the great world cities and remains a global capital of politics, culture, fashion, trade and finance. London will serve as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

London boasts a vast number of attractions for the traveler. Among the most famous are Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament) in Westminster. Shoppers can head to Portobello Road, which claims to be the world’s largest antiques market, for antiques, souvenirs and other knick-knacks or simply a walk through time.

London has a large variety of shows from fringe to Broadway-like musicals and productions. The West End district is where you’ll find the last type, with famous imported Broadway shows and some very good local productions.

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, full of impressive architecture, lovely canals that criss-cross the city, great shopping and friendly people (who nearly all speak English). There is something for every traveler’s taste here, whether you prefer culture and history, serious partying or just the relaxing charm of an old European city.

The city is known for its historic port, the sprawling Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, the beautiful concentric canals, and the red-light district (De Wallen) and its liberal coffee shops (which sell cannabis). Other attractions include the Van Gogh Museum, the old Heineken Brewery and NEMO, the largest science center in the Netherlands.

During the Dutch Golden Age, Amsterdam was one of the most important ports in the world, and it became the leading center for finance and diamonds.

The city was founded in the late 12th century as a small fishing village, and has grown to become the largest city in the Netherlands with a population comprised of 177 different nationalities, which makes Amsterdam the most multicultural city in the world.

Text courtesy of Wikipedia and Wikitravel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam; http://wikitravel.org/en/Amsterdam

Germany (or Deutschland in the home language) is a country in Central Europe and a founding member of the European Union. It is bordered to the north by Denmark, to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic, to the south by Austria and Switzerland, and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Germany has numerous cities of interest to tourists. The top seven urban travel destinations are: Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich. Due to its size and location in central Europe, Germany boasts a large variety of different landscapes. In general, the country's climate is mild and humid. Forests are a dominant natural feature in Germany, and these are very important to the country’s culture and folklore. Germany’s top natural tourist destinations include: the Baltic Sea Coast, the Rhine Valley, the Black Forest and the Bavarian Alps.

Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany's largest federal state (by area). Munich is notable for its architecture and culture, and its annual Oktoberfest beer celebration is world-famous.

However, Munich citizens don't want their city to be known only for its beer, and point out that the Bavarian kings helped Munich become a major center of arts and science in the 19th century. Munich still remains one of Germany's best destinations for art, and has been home to many famous writers, artists, architects and musicians.

Munich is one of Germany's top tourist destinations, owing much to its location. It is within easy driving distance of the Alps, the Czech Republic, Italy and the Mediterranean, Austria and some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. Add to its benefits beautiful architecture, (especially Baroque and Rococo), green countryside, the second-largest university in Germany, top-notch museums and the greatest beer culture on the planet, and Munich becomes a city not to be missed.

Austria (German: Österreich, literally "the Eastern Realm") is a land-locked alpine country in Central Europe. It borders Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, and Slovenia and Italy to the south.

Austria is a popular upscale tourist destination. Visits to Austria usually revolve around Vienna, with its famous St. Stephen’s Cathedral, its many "Heurigen" (wine pubs) and its romantic Waltz music flair. Also worth a visit are Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart; Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, surrounded by the Alps; and the vineyards of the Danube River valley. Tourists also flock to Austria for skiing, hiking and mountaineering resorts in the Alps as well as family-friendly recreation areas (i.e., the Witches' Water in Tyrol) and the country’s numerous lakes.

Rome is the capital of Italy; its center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk among the ancient ruins of the Forum and the Colosseum, pay homage to Michelangelo’s famous ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican City, stroll among the bustling streets until you find the perfect sidewalk café to stop and sip an espresso. Family travelers can’t go wrong with the food options: pasta, pizza and gelato.

The “Eternal City” sits on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, and was the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, which ruled from Britain to Mesopotamia. According to mythology, Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus. They were abandoned as infants in the Tiber River and raised by a mother wolf before a shepherd found them and adopted them as his own.

Aside from the ruins, there are awe-inspiring churches, bustling public squares, numerous fountains sure to trigger memories of Anita Ekberg among Fellini fans and museums everywhere waiting to be discovered.

Rome is the capital of Italy; its center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk among the ancient ruins of the Forum and the Colosseum, pay homage to Michelangelo’s famous ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican City, stroll among the bustling streets until you find the perfect sidewalk café to stop and sip an espresso. Family travelers can’t go wrong with the food options: pasta, pizza and gelato.

The “Eternal City” sits on the River Tiber, between the Apennine Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, and was the administrative center of the mighty Roman Empire, which ruled from Britain to Mesopotamia. According to mythology, Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus. They were abandoned as infants in the Tiber River and raised by a mother wolf before a shepherd found them and adopted them as his own.

Aside from the ruins, there are awe-inspiring churches, bustling public squares, numerous fountains sure to trigger memories of Anita Ekberg among Fellini fans and museums everywhere waiting to be discovered.

Venice, Italy (Venezia in Italian) is one of the most interesting and lovely places in the world. This sanctuary on a lagoon is virtually the same as it was 500 years ago, though it has certainly begun to decay since its heyday. Tourists slightly outnumber residents, but the city’s romantic charm remains.

Venice is made up of different parts. The most famous is the area comprising the 118 islands in the main districts of Cannaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, Isola Della Giudecca, San Polo, San Croce, San Marco and Lido di Venezia where the main monuments and sights are located.

The Most Serene Republic of Venice dates back to 827, when a Byzantine dukedom moved its seat to what is now known as the Rialto, and for the following 970 years prospered on trade and under the rule of a Roman-style Senate headed by the Doge. In 1797 the city was conquered by Napoleon, a blow from which the city never recovered.

The summer may be the worst time to visit: It’s sometimes very hot, the canals sometimes stink (in the most literal sense), there are occasional infestations of flies and there are more tourists than usual. Spring and fall are probably best. Ride a Vaporetto (water bus) down the Grand Canal right before sunset. The Vaporettos are inexpensive, but the sites are priceless: amazing architecture, soft seaside sunlight, and a fascinating parade of Venetian watercraft. Or shop. Venice is packed full of little stores in every corner and crevice. The most common local specialties are Carnival masks, glass and marbled paper.

Florence (Firenze in Italian) is the capital of the region of Tuscany in Italy. The epicenter of the Italian Renaissance, Florence remains a top destination for art lovers; it is a cultural and architectural gem, and one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Located in the heart of Tuscany, a stunning province of hills and mountains, it has many famous sons like Leonardo, Dante, Machiavelli and Michelangelo.

Among the things you can’t afford to miss are the Uffizi Galleries, one of the best art museums in the world, the Duomo, the Santo Spirito church and the Ponte Vecchio. To get a great overview of the city, you have plenty of choices: climb the “Cupolone” of the Duomo or the Giotto Tower, head for Piazzale Michelangelo in Oltrarno (other side of river Arno) or farther up to the church of San Miniato.

Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It has borders with France to the west, Italy to the south, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east and Germany to the north. Switzerland is known for its polite and efficient people, and the crisp, clean beauty of the landscape.

Switzerland is renowned  for its awe-inspiring mountains (Alps in the south, Jura in the northwest) but also has a central plateau of rolling hills, plains and large lakes. The highest point is Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet while Lake Maggiore (on the Italian border) is only 640 feet above sea level. The climate is temperate, but varies with altitude. Switzerland has cold, cloudy, precipitation-laden winters and warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers.

Besides the magnificent landscapes, mild climate and quaint, clean cities and towns, Switzerland is known for its neutrality in world affairs. It is considered an extremely safe and pleasant place to travel.

Paris is the cosmopolitan capital of France and - with 2.2 million people living in zone 1 (Central Paris) and another 9.9 million people in the suburbs (la banlieue) - is one of the largest cities in Europe. Located in the north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historical associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design. Dubbed the City of Light, it is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Central Paris is officially divided into 20 districts called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of town. Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveler.

One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the Paris Museum Pass (previously known as Carte Musées et Monuments), a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris. Those there are too many to list, highlights include: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and the Picasso Museum.

Paris is the cosmopolitan capital of France and - with 2.2 million people living in zone 1 (Central Paris) and another 9.9 million people in the suburbs (la banlieue) - is one of the largest cities in Europe. Located in the north of the country on the river Seine, Paris has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic of all cities, brimming with historical associations and remaining vastly influential in the realms of culture, art, fashion, food and design. Dubbed the City of Light, it is among the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

Central Paris is officially divided into 20 districts called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the centre of town. Each arrondissement has its own unique character and selection of attractions for the traveler.

One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the Paris Museum Pass (previously known as Carte Musées et Monuments), a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris. Those there are too many to list, highlights include: Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay and the Picasso Museum.