The illuminated work was composed by Monks in 800 AD and is arguably the most famous Celtic manuscript. Named after the Abbey in Kells that housed the manuscript for centuries, the 340 folio work was given to Trinity College in the 17th Century. It was bound in four volumes in 1953 and now resides on permanent display at the Old library.

To get to the illuminated manuscripts, you must enter through Fellow’s Square. There is normally a long line at the entrance and an admission fee of 9 Euros for Adults, 8 Euros for Students and Senior Citizens, and free tickets for children under 12.

The first room past the entrance is dimly lit and framed by warm dark wood. It has large panels entitled, “Turning Darkness into Light,” explaining how the book was made. Only four pages from two volumes are ever displayed at once. The current illuminated pages on display are from the Gospel of St. Luke and Folios on the entombment of the body of Jesus. Text pages are from the Gospel of Saint John. The volumes are under glass, and many visitors will anxiously crowd around to peer at the elaborate lettering and gilded illustrations.

The Book of Armagh is another early manuscript housed in the library. Written mainly in Latin in the 9th century AD, many believed in was produced by Saint Patrick himself. Actually, it was written in part by a scribe named Ferdomnach of Armagh, for a member of Saint Patrick’s family. This book is also very special to the Irish people, and the current pages on display are from the Revelation of Saint John.

The final Celtic Tomb in the collection is the Codex Usserianus Primus, written in Irish. It has been badly damaged and discolored over the years, but it retains its grandeur as the oldest surviving Irish Manuscript.

To leave the Book of Kells exhibit, visitors must walk upstairs through the Long Room. It is more akin to walking through a time machine than onto another floor: The Long room is majestic and antiquated. It is 65 meters long with over 200,000 works of some of the library’s oldest books. The shelves reach two stories high, with exhibitions of beautiful botanical illustrations under glass. Marble busts line the hall, in tribute to great writers and philosophers of the past. The overall experience in the room is reverential and impressive.

Although hassles such as a relatively high admission fee, lines and a predominant gift shop at the entrance may cause a minor annoyance, the Book of Kells and the Long Room are definitely worth a visit during your next trip to Dublin.

Top 5 Dublin Hotels near Trinity College:

• Hotel The Lombard – Townhouse – Double room from €64
• Hotel  O’Donoghue’s – Guesthouse – Double room from €90
• Holiday Inn Dublin City Center – 3-Star Hotel – Double room from €75
• Hotel The Westin Dublin – 5-Star Hotel – Double room from €179
• Maldron Hotel Cardiff Lane – 4-Star Hotel – Double room from €199

Photo of Book of Kells design by Psd

The Warsaw University Library, The Agora Building, and Metropolitan all demonstrate a bold commitment to sustainable design rarely seen even in the most progressive cities. The buildings showcase a remarkable blend of technology, aesthetics and function often with a wonderful integration of plant life as an integral part of the architecture.

1. The Warsaw University Library

Designed by Marek Budzyński & Zbigniew Badowski with the landscape by Irena Bajerska, the Warsaw University Library is located east of the city center, falling between the main university campus and the banks of the meandering Vistula River.

The main facade consists of a long and gentle concave curve dominated by green copper and tinted glass. A huge inscription “Biblioteka Uniwersytecka” dominated the top of this curve while 8 large copper panels visualize excerpts from Polish Renaissance writer Jan Kochanowski, Plato, an old-Russian chronicle, Arabic and Indian classics, and from the Bible. To complete the gesture there is a score by composer Karol Szymanowski and sample mathematical formulas engraved on these tablets.

This main street facade is complimented by flanking facades where plants and gardens have grown to dominate the architectural expression. Copper trellises bring vines climbing up the walls, connecting ground to roof garden. A series of hills, ramps and stairs lead the visitor up the side and onto the roof of the building were they are introduced to one of the most magnificent spaces in Warsaw, a 10,000 square meter garden overflowing with colors, textures and smells of flowers and plants, while offering stunning views of the city’s skyline and the gently flowing river. From within and without the building is overflowing with life, making nature a vital element of the building’s expression and thus clearly demonstrating the architect’s aspirations of making a building that is fully integrated into its surroundings.

2. The Agora Building

The Agora Building is also located a bit outside the city center, this time to the south east. Designed by JEMS Architekci - a local firm – the office block contains a magazine and newspaper group and demonstrates the value of how the architecture of a building can promote an egalitarian work environment.This building has grown into a great example of how to combine ecological awareness with innovative design.

The facade consists of a series of wood louvers that act as a sun screen while the seemingly boxlike building has gardens and terraces carved out to both bring natural light into the interior work areas and to provide natural ventilation deep into the structure. Inside, a cascading garden atrium connects the floors and allows for visual connections as well as easy circulation while once again allowing daylight to stream in. Balconies ring the building between the sun screen and the glass curtain wall, giving the workers access the outdoors. Vines have been planted at strategic locations and have slowly grown up the walls to provide a living element in the aesthetics of the building.

3. The Metropolitan

Metropolitan, designed by the world renowned architect Sir Norman Foster, has the most prestigious location of the three being located on Pilsudski Square just outside the historic old town. This building also took the most technological approach to sustainability. Rather than using plants and wood as the main expression, Foster and Partners have opted for a high tech look with sleek glass and metal curtain wall the curves and flows around the site.

A series of vertical stone fins line the facade providing protection from the sun while also serving an important role in the aesthetics of the building – when viewed straight on the building appears to be open and transparent while from the side it becomes a solid stone mass relates to the surroundings. The building wraps around a central plaza with a fountain and planted trees, giving the city a quiet and shaded place for people to gather. It also keeps the building to a manageable depth allowing decent penetration of natural light and ventilation.

These three buildings have not only changed the face of a city but also charted the course into the future of architecture in Warsaw. Most visitors will visit the historic town square, the stalinist tower and other popular tourist destinations but no trip to Warsaw will be complete without seeing these three pillars of a sustainable architectural future.

Top 5 Hotels in Warsaw:

• Mamaison Hotel Regina – 5-star Hotel – Room Price:  €86
• Polonia Palace Hotel – 4-star Hotel – Room Price:  €72
• Hotel Rialto – 5-star Hotel – Room Price:  €70
• The Westin Hotel – 5-star Hotel – Room Price:  €89
• Sheraton Warsaw Hotel – 5-star Hotel – Room Price:  €113

Photo of the  Warsaw University Library by Jussi-Paavo

Although jazz was born in the United States (arguably in New Orleans in the late 19th century), the form quickly spread to Europe, as many African-American “jazzmen” found that their brand of music was both taken more seriously and considered more acceptable across the ocean than back at home. Paris, in particular, opened its arms to these innovative musicians, many of whom settled in Paris after fighting in Europe during World War I. Many jazz historians feel that were it not for Paris’s whole-hearted welcome of jazz and African-American jazz musicians, the music might never have fully developed and found its place in the world.

From 1914 through the 1930’s, the hot spot for jazz in Paris was old Montmartre, a section of the city in which many African-American jazz musicians lived, and the site of many legendary jazz clubs, including Le Grand Duc and Bricktop’s. Decades later, the now ritzy streets just off of the Champs-Elysees were the place to go. Today, jazz can be found all over the city, from huge public venues, to small cozy settings, to a single musician blowing jazz standards on his sax on (or under) a bridge.

If you’re looking for a good venue to enjoy jazz on your trip to Paris, here are a few options.

1. Le Duc des Lombards.

This well-known jazz club has been around for nearly 25 years, and holds a reputation for being warm, intimate and open. Top-notch musicians from around the globe play here, including Steve Swallow, Michele Hendricks, Paolo Fresu. Known especially for its free jazz, you’ll be transported back to the ‘50’s and ‘60s from the first note.

42 rue des Lombards, 1st arrondissement, Paris. Tel. 01.42.33.22.88.

Admission: € 19-25, depending on the performers.

2. New Morning.

One of the most popular jazz clubs in Paris, New Morning holds about 300 people when at capacity, but still manages to have a personal vibe. In terms of décor, don’t expect anything fancy: there are only wooden folding chairs and small tables on which to place your drinks – but you’ll forget about that once the music starts. Buy your ticket in advance, if possible. The lines for tickets the night of a particular concert can get pretty long.

7-9 Rue des Petites Ecuries, 10th arrondissement, Paris. Tel: 01 45 23 56 39.

Admission: € 10, approx.

3. Café Laurent.

This low-key hotel jazz bar has yet to become a big name in Paris, but as far as I’m concerned – that’s great. This is my favorite place to kick back on a comfortable sofa, order a (really well-made) cocktail, and listen to some first-rate jazz. The Christian Brenner trio plays every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, and often invites guest musicians and vocalists from around the world to join them.

33 rue Dauphine, 6th arrondissement, Paris. Tel. 01 43 29 03 33.

Admission: No cover, just one €10 drink minimum after 9pm.

4. Parc Floral Jazz Festival.

If you are a jazz-lover and happen to be in Paris in June and July, you’ll definitely have to check out the annual Jazz Festival at the beautiful Parc Floral de Paris. There are about 1500 seats available, but why not just take a blanket, a bottle of wine and a picnic basket and listen to blissful jazz on the grass, under blue skies? Concerts take place every Saturday and Sunday in June and July, starting from 3pm.

Parc Floral de Paris, boulevard de Ménilmontant, 20th arrondissement, Paris.

Admission: €5.

5. Autour de Midi…et Minuit.

Those who want to listen to jazz on the stomping grounds of the original jazzmen of the 1920’s and 1930’s, will enjoy this cozy club in Montmartre. Although it has not been around long – it opened in 2001 – it has made quite an impression on jazz aficionados. And with its lovely “double voutée” (double vaulted) stone ceilings, even people very into jazz must agree that the place wins top marks for atmosphere.

11, rue Lepic, 18th arrondissement, Paris. Tel.: 01.55.79.16.48

Top 5 Popular Hotels in Montmartre, Paris

• Hotel Le Relais Montmartre – 3-Star Hotel – Room Price: €155
• Le Char Noir Design Hotel – 2-Star Hotel – Room Price: €166
• Hotel de Flore – 2-Star Hotel – Room Price: €85
• Hotel Régyn’s Montmartre – 2-Star Hotel – Room Price: €91
• Timhotel Montmartre – 2-Star Hotel – Room Price: €79

Photo of Jazzmen playing on Arcole Bridge, Paris, by Mohsan

Among the more obvious visits are also the lesser known treats: it’s just knowing where to look. This “48 hour art beat” guide gives you tips for two days of non-stop creative sensory input.

Guide is organized according to geographic region within the city and can be followed in the order presented.

Lisbon for Art Lovers: Day 1

• Museu Berardo - Start your tour out strong with a stop at the largest contemporary art collection in Lisbon. Inaugurated in 2007, the Berardo Museum which is housed in the CCB (Belem Cultural Center) has an impressive collection of the top names in contemporary art and finally puts a contemporary art space on the Lisbon map. Over 500 artists from the 20th and 21st century are represented in the collection.

• Museu da Electricidade – Moving eastward along the river, take a moment to stop by the beautiful red brick building, a former electrical plant powering the city with energy, now an electricity museum with gallery space for contemporary art shows, including the World Press Photo exhibit. Check the large poster hanging on the outdoor cistern advertising the current show.

• LX Factory – Lisbon’s newest hot spot for art, design, and creative connection. A former factory and warehouse space, the newly refurbished areas supply artist ateliers, creative office space, party rental space and an amazing bookstore with an old printing press in the middle. With two cafés, you are bound to find something to munch on as you explore the grounds, peruse the bookstore, and get connected to Lisbon’s creatives.

• Museu da Arte Antiga – This stop is probably not much of a secret, but I’m including it here because it deserves your visit. Feast on paintings that date back to the 15th century and then treat yourself to something from the café on the ground floor, which opens up to one of the most beautiful garden spaces in Lisbon. If you’ve only got 15 minutes, make sure to see Nuno Gonçalves’ polyptych and Hieronymus Bosch’s triptych.

• São Bento Street - To finish out the day, I suggest you wander up São Bento street in the São Bento district, bordering Santos. Passing the National Assembly building on the corner and heading upward, keep your eyes alert for: design/art gallery Yron, Portugal’s traditional glassware store Marinha Grande, urban street art lining both sides of the street, and the vast selection of high-end antique stores which time travel you centuries back into the houses and palaces that once housed the pricey furniture and home décor items now on display.

Lisbon for Art Lovers: Day 2

• Galeria Graça Brandão: Step into the gritty, smelly, funky neighborhood of Bairro Alto. The hip bars and expensive designer shops are an ‘art walk’ in and of themselves, spaced apart by wall graffiti and remnants of last night’s party littering the floor. One gallery to visit in particular is Graça Brandão, which will introduce you to a bit of highbrow contemporary art from Portuguese and Brazilian artists.

• Chiado 8: Wandering out of Bairro Alto, step into the heart of Chiado and find Chiado 8. The Fidelidade Mundial bank cedes a modest space to the programming of this contemporary art space, which is a satellite gallery of a larger institution, Culturgest. Free admission.

• Museu do Chiado: Wander deeper into Chiado to the Museu do Chiado, an austere, concrete building housing temporary exhibits that tend to showcase both Portuguese and non-Portuguese work from the 20th and 21st century. Also plan on enjoying a drink in their pleasant outdoor café, one of the few places also serving Sunday brunches.

• MUDE: If you’ve still got some fire under those soles, hop on the 28 eléctrico in Chiado and get off in Baixa to visit the newly opened MUDE museum. Francisco Capelo’s extensive collection of design and fashion is displayed in a former bank building, gutted and purposely left raw to house the art. The context works very well with the collection. Slated to reopen in 2010 in a more permanent space.

• Museu Nacional do Azulejo: To finish off your marathon art walk, this last visit will require a bus or taxi ride to the outskirts of the city to visit the beautiful building and collection that is the National Museum of Ceramics. Familiarize yourself with the beautiful tiles, or ‘azulejos’, that are emblematic of Lisbon. Complete with a lovely café and shop.

Design Hotels in Lisbon

• Fontana Park Hotel – 4-star hotel – Room price: €140
• Hotel Tivoli Jardim – 4-star hotel – Room price: €135
• Hotel Gar Rossio – 3-star hotel – Room price: €110
• Pension Inn Solar Do Castelo – 4-star hotel – Room price: €205
• Vip Art’s Hotel – 4-star hotel – Room price: €75

Photo of Museu Berardo, Lisbon, Portugaln by Ponto y Virgula

Enchanted Traveler likes Fondation Maeght, a beautiful Museum of Modern Art is Saint-Paul de Vence, South of France, featuring works by Chagall, Giacometti, Miro, Leger, Giacometti, and many more 20th century masters. If you are on holiday on the French Riviera, do not miss a visit to this charming, picturesque village. A great day trip from Nice, Cannes or Antibes.

Go Green Travel Green shares several tips for reducing the impact of your travels on climate change such as using public transportation, buying local seasonal food, supporting sustainable businesses and more…

To those of  you who dream of a long-term travel abroad but are not sure to be strong enough to face the challenge, Travel Blissful recommends a new ebook by Anil Polat:  Overcoming the 7 Major Obstacles to Traveling the World.

Have Pack Will Travel shares tips on bartering while traveling.  Check out this blog post if you’re going on holiday in Morocco and planning a visit to the famous souks of Marrakech.

Photo of Lisbon, Portugal, courtesy of Hotel Borges

Italian Flashpacker Andrea Di Tonto invites you to enter a contest to win a poem body writing set and a 2-night stay at the luxury Hotel Omm in Barcelona, Spain.

Party in Palm Beach, FL

Tomorrow night the trendy Hotel Biba, West Palm Beach, Florida, is holding a reggae party (8:00 pm to 1:00 am) with free champagne at the lobby from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Enjoy Fine Arts in Rimini, Italy

Le Méridien Hotel, Rimini, Italy,  offers guests an art kit in occasion of  the “Da Rembrandt a Gauguin a Picasso” art exhibition that will be held at Sismondo Castle from Oct 10th, 2009 to March 14th, 2010.

Photos courtesy of Hotel Omm Barcelona, Hotel Biba West Palm Beach and Le Méridien Hotel Rimini.

Thanks to a winning combination of over ninety beautiful beaches, great year round weather and high standards of accommodation.

Yet despite the island’s undoubted popularity Lanzarote still manages to retain much of its original character and identity intact. There are no advertising hoardings scarring the landscape. High rise buildings are notable by their absence. Whilst the three main tourist resorts of Playa Blanca, Costa Teguise and Puerto del Carmen are all well contained. Leaving the island largely as nature intended.

Much of the credit for this fortuitous state of affairs can be attributed to César Manrique - an island born artist who spent over twenty years fighting against the worst excesses of over development.

During the 1970´s, whilst large swathes of southern Spain and the larger Canary Islands were being buried beneath a sea of high rise hotels and apartment complexes, Manrique campaigned to preserve Lanzarote´s unique volcanic terrain intact.

Born in the island capital of Arrecife in 1919 Manrique first fell in love with his birthplace on long holidays spent at Famara in the north of the island, where his family kept a summer house. A beautiful horseshoe shaped bay and beach extending for around 8km.

Here the young Manrique would spend hours gazing at the reflection of the huge Famara massif cliff range in the rock pools and ebbing tide. Fascinated by the colours and textures. An experience which sparked both a deep and lasting love for the island as well as his artistic aesthetic.

Manrique went on to become a leading light in the Spanish surrealist movement of the 1950´s. Before being invited to work and study in New York under the patronage of the super wealthy Rockefeller clan. Where he rubbed shoulders with contemporaries such as Andy Warhol.

But as General Franco began to open Spain up to package tourism in the late 1960´s he resolved to return to Lanzarote. Ready to battle for the integrity and preservation of the island.

Fortunately the Manrique family had friends in high places. Enlisting the support of the island governor Pepin Ramirez, Manrique was able to influence local politicians and force through new laws which outlawed high rise construction.

Manrique was realistic enough to accept that a degree of tourism was both inevitable and necessary to bolster the islands economy. So he also sought to create ecologically friendly visitor attractions that worked with Lanzarote´s raw volcanic terrain – rather than against it. Creating viable alternatives to the golf courses and theme parks being built in other Spanish sunspots.

This fusion of art with nature found its first major expression at the Jameos del Agua. A huge collapsed lava tube in the north of the island which Manrique transformed into a subterranean grotto and concert venue. Replete with tropical gardens and restaurants.

Initially his fellow Lanzaroteños thought he was mad. Who was going to come and visit this arid little island in the middle of the Atlantic anyway? But as word of Manrique´s new creation spread VIP visitors such as Omar Sharif, Peter Sellers and Rita Heyworth began to visit. Intrigued by this unusual new holiday destination.

Manrique went on to create a further six tourist centres around the island and was instrumental in securing UNESCO protected status for Lanzarote in 1994. Some two years after his death. Whilst laying down a blueprint for controlled development on Lanzarote that still survives to this day.

Photos by James Mitchell

Some of the finest examples of Art Nouveau in the world can be found in the Latvian capital of Riga.

A whole district is dominated with examples of the architecture and art works from the late 19th Century. Some of the best examples can be found on the main street of Elizabetes Iela . There are over 800 Art Nouveau buildings in the city so good luck ticking them all off.

A medical themed restaurant

Doctors in Riga have opened a restaurant called Hospitalis where the dining room looks like an operating room and the waitresses wear nurse’s uniforms on wheeled beds. There are syringes and operating tools for cutlery as well as test tube and beakers for wine glasses. If you order the cake then you’re likely to see some fake fingers balanced on the top!

And finally….a flying penis

The Red Bull Flugtag competition was held in Riga in 2008, where complete nutters try to defy gravity and fly through the air over the river. Riga paid host to the usual crowd of strange ideas but one rose to the occasion, so to speak. A giant penis and testicles made its way into the water with the owner standing on top.

Top Riga Hotels on Venere.com

• Reval Hotel Elizabete – 4-star hotel – double room from €116
• Hotel Centra – 4-star hotel – double room from €79
• Hotel Bellevue – 4-star hotel – double room from €109

Photo of Art Nouveau building facade in Riga, Latvia, by Blind Höna

Just west of Tower Bridge, the Jubilee Walkway runs along the south bank of the river and leads visitors past many of the most famous sights in London in a relatively short distance. The Jubilee Walkway is a path around London that encompasses many of the most recognized and visited locations in the nation’s capital, created in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. The part of the pathway that runs along the side of the Thames contains sights such as Royal Festival Hall, the Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, the Hayward Gallery to name but a few.

If you are traveling by tube, the best way to see the sights is to disembark at the Tower Bridge tube station. From this point, crossing the main road and making your way down to the riverside allows for a beautiful west-ward including all the best sides that Bankside has to offer. The promenade is always full of street performers, and on a sunny day the view across the river into the heart of London is fantastic. Walking west away from the Tower Bridge, the first sight you come across is Shakespeare’s Globe theatre. Although the original was destroyed in 1613, rebuilt the year after and then closed a decade after that, the reconstructed theatre began showing Shakespeare’s plays once more in 1997. Performing a variety of the bard’s plays every season, tickets are reasonably cheap. Seats under the covered awning range between £15-30, and the standing room underneath the opened centre are only £5. Although standing for 2 hours in drizzling rain watching Shakespeare may not sound the most fun, it is an experience all its own and is highly recommended. Visit  shakespeares-globe.org for performances, dates and times.

Next door to the Globe is the new Tate Modern art museum. Formally Battersea Power Station and re-opened in 2000 as the Tate group’s Modern art house in London, the museum contains an immense collection of national and international modern art. Artists such as Manet, Rothko, Matisse, Picasso, Sol LeWitt and Andy Warhol are just a few of many renowned artists presented in the well-organized galleries (set up by concept and philosophy rather than chronology) of the permanent collection. Admission is free, and the museum always has temporary exhibitions moving through. From the front of the Tate Modern, visitors can see the dome of St.Paul’s Cathedral (only ten minutes walk away from the museum) and the brand new Millenium Bridge opened also in 2000. After a few years of traumatic construction work (upon opening the bridge swayed a couple of inches as people walked across) the bridge is open again and affords a great view down the Thames. Also outside the Tate Modern is a water shuttle that carries visitors down the Thames to the Tate Britain (boats run frequently and costs £5 for adults). The Tate Britain is on the other bank facing Chelsea and the Southbank district. It is home to fantastic British art, both modern and historic and is a must-see for anyone interested in English art history.

As you carry on walking down the bankside promenade, passing by the London Television Centre and the IBM building, you are suddenly confronted by an unimpressive concrete block of a building known as the Bankside Arts Centre. Surprisingly, this grey complex contains Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall, two major venues for shows and concerts in London. Nestled among this block of buildings is the Hayward Gallery. The gallery is one of the principle contemporary and post-modern exhibition sights in the UK, alongside the Saatchi Gallery and the White Cube. Although admission is not cheap (around £9), the shows at the Hayward are always worth the money. Past exhibitors include Robin Rhode, Andy Warhol, Antony Gormley.

Further down the bank from the Bankside Arts Centre are Jubilee Gardens, a large open space perfect for relaxing after the walk down the riverside Right in front of the gardens is the London Eye. Having become a hallmark of London tourism and a large part of the London skyline, the wait to get onto the Eye can be as long as 3 hours. Granted, on a clear day the view is brilliant, and it is possible to see to the far reaches of the City of London. Its also a novelty to ride on the ferris wheel, but the question remains if the expensive ticket price (adults cost £16) and long wait is worth the view. The ‘flight’ takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and offers a unique view to visitors who may only be in London for a few days.

Just down from the London Eye is the London Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the British Isles. Tickets are fairly cheap for families, and the building offers a fun alternative for children who have just been dragged around the mammoth exhibitions of the Tate Modern. Country Hall is also in the same building and has temporary historical art exhibits. At this point you will have reached Westminster Bridge. Just across the river Thames is the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Cathedral, which leads northwards to James’ Park.

Although this is just a small taste of what London has to offer, the bankside walk between Tower and Westminster Bridge is a great way to spend an afternoon while sampling some of the city’s great arts culture and famous sights.

Top 3 London Hotels near the river Thames

• Swisshôtel The Howard – Luxury hotel just off the London Embankment
• Hotel The Royal Horseguards – Luxury hotel in London Withehall Court
• Holiday Inn London Limehouse – 3-star hotel in London Docklands

Photo of the London Bridge by RachelH

Enormous, packed full of important work and absolutely free (apart from special exhibitions), you could spend days doing little else than wondering around them and admiring the work on show. However, if you don’t have much time in the capital but want to see the most important works of art, then your best bet would be to head to The National Gallery where you will find the following treasures.

1. Sunflowers, Vincent Van Gogh

Oil on canvas, 1888

Van Gogh’s four sunflower paintings are amongst the most famous works of art in the world, and The National Gallery has one of them. Painted using an impasto style, the thick brushstrokes bring out the texture of the flowers vividly. It was painted to decorate the room of his friend Paul Gauguin, who he was living with at the time. The collection of paintings are said to represent the cycle of life, with some of the flowers being in full bloom and some dying.

2. Cupid Complaining to Venus, Lucas Cranach The Elder

Oil on wood, about 1525.

Acquired by The National Gallery in 1963, this masterpiece depicts Cupid complaining to Venus after having been stung by a bee. It is thought that numerous versions of this painting were completed by the artist, but that this is one of the best. The National Gallery claims it is a “moral commentary”, which is based on Idyll 19: The Honey-Stealer, by the poet Theocritus.

3. The Hay Wain, John Constable

Oil on canvas, 1821

This painting of an area along the River Stour in Suffolk, England, depicts a traditional rural English scene, even though the artist painted it in his studio in London. Constable failed to sell it in England at the Royal Academy when he finished it, but it received great acclaim in France, and was even awarded a gold medal from King Charles X. It is without doubt one of the finest British paintings in the country.

4. The Fighting Temeraire (tugged to her last berth to be broken up), JMW Turner

Oil on canvas, 1839

This is a depiction of HMS Temeraire, a ship which fought in the Battle of Trafalgar, as it is towed away to be turned into scrap. Turner enjoyed painting ships near the Thames Estuary, and the artist gave the painting to The National Gallery in 1851. In a national poll in 2005 it was voted the greatest painting in a British gallery.

5. The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist (also known as The Burlington House Cartoon), Leonardo da Vinci

Chalk on paper, mounted on canvas, 1499-1500

The Virgin and Child with John the Baptist, and the Virgin and Child with St Anne, were two common themes of Florentine art at the time of the painting, and here they have been represented together. One of the things that makes the work typical of the artist is St Anne pointing up to the heavens, a device which also appears in a number of his other paintings. Cartoons were often lost or destroyed after they had been transferred to the panel, making this an especially rare and unique part of the collection.

Top London National Gallery Hotels:

• Hotel St. Martins Lane
• Hotel Club Quarters Trafalgar Square
• Haymarket Hotel

Photo of Trafalgar Square and The National Gallery, London, by Andras Jancsik

As patronising at that moniker may be it gives you some idea of the artistic renown in which the city was held for so long. Unfortunately, ever since February 1945 when the centre of the old city was wiped out by allied bombing, Dresden has been a byword for barbaric destruction and then, in the Cold War, communist style monotony. Thanks to some very impressive restoration since the reunification of Germany, the city of Dresden is now ready to go back to its previous reputation for art and culture and welcome visitors who want to explore it.

The Albertinum Museum

The first museum on this list has to be the Albertinum, although visitors should note that the building is closed for renovation until later this year. The building itself is quite interesting, having constantly evolved since the dark ages and has served as a Royal Palace and many other uses. When it reopens the museum will hold the New Master Gallery (Gemäldegalerie Neue Meister) which will hold a collection covering the modern period and featuring works by many well known artists and sculptors. While visitors are waiting for the renovation work to take place there are selections from the New Master Gallery on temporary display. Complementing the New Masters Gallery is the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, which means Old Masters Gallery. As the name suggests this covers a period earlier than the Albertinum, roughly the 1700’s back to the 1300’s. The collection was saved from the worst of the destruction of the war but then got ravaged by the Red Army. Most of the collection was later returned but certain pieces have never been found and are now presumed to have been destroyed.

The Museum der Dresdner Romantik

The Museum der Dresdner Romantik is a thematic rather than chronological collection dedicated to the Romantic Movement. This is another museum that lost some of its collection in the war, but thankfully most of it was saved. The exhibits here are quite varied and interesting, especially the remaining Stockhausens. Generally speaking, however, this is a museum for the connoisseur rather than the general interest visitor. The renovation of Dresden has been ambitious and comprehensive. The work on the Albertinum is needed and worthwhile so visitors shouldn’t get too frustrated with its closure. Certainly the rest of the city is splendid enough to keep visitors happy until it reopens. There is some debate about when that will be, there is hope that it will be later this year although it may be early next year. My fingers are crossed for as soon as possible. Photo of the Albertinum Museum in Dresden, Germany, by world of jan

• For those of you looking for great Italian food in Camden, London, Yourlocalcamden reviews a new design restaurant serving Sicilian food.

• Visiting Sicily in May? Italy Italia makes you discover Sicily’s Flower Festival held in the beautiful Baroque city of Noto.

•  Looking for a great pasta recipe?Jaycross suggests pasta with sardines and fennel, a delicious recipe from Castellammare, Sicily.

• Traveling to Syracuse? Sicilyguide announces that the program of classic performances at the Greek Theater is now available.

• If you want to read more travel stories on Sicily, Ladyjayde invites you to subscribe to My Sicilian Siesta blog.

Photo of Syracuse’s Greek Theater, Sicily, Italy, by Dario dado.

After the agony of waiting in line for hours to enter the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, visitors might hope that they would have a chance to relax and meander casually through a few rooms of renowned artwork, relaxed and carefree. And yet you walk through the first room, turn into the next corridor and suddenly realize that you are confronted with miles and miles of galleries and more Madonna and Child paintings than you ever thought you would see in your entire life. Its helpful to know what is worth visiting in the Uffizi…although all of the art work presented in the Medici’s collection is worthy of consideration it is possible to feel like you’re drowning in religious Renaissance art work. Allow me to help you breathe a bit easier and point out some useful sights. Besides, its embarrassing to wear water wings through an art gallery.

Book your tickets in advance

Before I start with the artwork, allow me to help you reduce stress before you even enter through the doors. If you go to the Uffizi website, it is possible to either book your tickets in advance on the website or to call the phone number listed to avoid a line that is guaranteed to be at least 2 hours long on a fairly busy day (which in reality is every day). On Via Calzaioulli, about 3 blocks south of the Duomo, is a small booth at the side of the road in the building of Orsanmichele. Here you can buy tickets for the Uffizi, the Academia, Palazzo Pitti and a variety of other tourist attractions without having to wait in outrageous lines at the actual museum.

After entering the second floor of the museum…

After entering the second floor of the museum, visitors walk down a corridor adorned with classical sculpture. To the left is a single room housing a few pieces of ancient sculpture and architecture. The frescos on the ceiling of the corridor are known as grotesques, and were painted by a number of artists of the same school and were produced in the 16th century at the end of the Medici reign. The frescos are surreal and almost disturbing, but it is well worth looking up as you walk down to see some well-painted frescos that are completely different both in style and concept from the rest of the museums collection. The first piece of art that is well worth looking at is Giotto’s ‘Ognissanti Maesta’ in Room 2. The painting was executed in the early 14th century, and is a turning point in religious art and ushered in the realism of the Renaissance. The piece shows Madonna and Child, but is note-worthy for the way that the surrounding angels over lap each other in space, so that their heads look like ‘a bunch of grapes’ instead of previous work where each figure is shown in full. In the next room is Martini’s Annunciation, a fine example of the realistic portraiture that began at the start of the Renaissance. The faces are not stylized as in the earlier Byzantine art of that century, and reflect the works of Giotto because of their pale skin and distinct features. The following rooms show many early Renaissance works, which are admirable for their skill but all look very similar.

The next important work is ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ by Gentile de Fabriano. The piece is hanging on the wall opposite the entrance to room 5, and is a masterpiece of realism and composition, particularly with the inclusion of animals that are painted with so much attention that it is hard to imagine that the very 2d works of artists such as Duccio were only 50 years earlier. In the same set of galleries is Verrocchio’s Baptism of Christ, yet another triumph of realism and shows the influence of northern painting on the early Renaissance.

The next room house Pierro della Francesco’s two portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino, portraits that are recognized by the art community as one of the first examples of both highly individual, specific portraits and of the shift from religious art to private secular artwork. With the rise of the rich merchant class in Florence, more and more artwork was commissioned by rich patrons who chose to have portraits of themselves rather than the traditional Bible scenes. This leads us onto the next room, one of the most popular in the Uffizi.

Rooms 10 through 14 are dedicated to Botticelli, one of the greatest artists of the renaissance. His work is almost illustrative in its simplicity, but the grandeur and beauty of paintings such as ‘Primavera’ and ‘Birth of Venus’ are not to be missed, despite the large amounts of tourists. If the crowds around these two paintings are two much, make sure to check out Botticelli’s religious works at the other end of the gallery, which although less famous and magical are striking works of realistic art.

The next room is also incredibly important, housing work by Leonardo DaVinci. Naturally, all the works in this room are spectacular. But one that should be given close attention is the ‘Adoration of the Magi’, an unfinished work by Leonardo that ushered in a new stage of drama and independent thought in religious works. Pay close attention to the architecture, which shows an understanding of perspective not even dreamt about by the artists in the first few rooms of the museum.

From this point on it is easy to become exhausted, especially upon realizing you haven’t even reached a halfway point. Let me recommend some rooms that are of special interest and are worth seeing for their historical and artistic relevance. The Duhrer works in Room 20, showcase many drawings by the German master that must not be missed, and then further on through the gallery in Room 25 is the ‘Doni Tondo’ by Michelangelo Buonarotti. As with all Michelangelo’s work it is startingly colorful and breath-taking, and definitely a good warm-up if you are planning traveling south to Rome and the Sistine Chapel. Rooms 26 through 28 also show some amazing works of high Renaissance (for example Raphael’s ‘Madonna with the goldfinch’, Parmigianno’s ‘Madonna with the Long Neck’ and Titian’s ‘Venus of Urbino’). These works all lead up to a much more individual and conceptual period in artwork, that of Mannerism, that would follow the Renaissance.

Get a membership card

I highly recommend continuing around the museum, but it is understandable if you are beginning to see everyone in the galleries with halo’s and feel the need of a change of scene. It is also a good idea to invest in a ‘Friends of the Uffizi’ card if you are in Florence for more than a week. It is only 40 euros, and would allow you to come and go to the all the state museums as many times as you wish without waiting in line. For more information on the works in the Uffizi and for the membership card, visit www.uffizi.com and http://www.amicidegliuffizi.it/homenglish.html

Photo of the Uffizi Gallery by cfwee

Great view

Set high up from the 20th arrondissement, a breathtaking walk uphill from the Metro station of the same name, the Parc de Belleville affords a stunning panorama of Paris. It’s a must-see for anyone trying to find that perfect location to see the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

Cheap food

Historically boasting some of Paris’s lowest rents, Belleville initially attracted bargain-hunters from all over the world who championed the area’s array of continental cuisine. One of France’s most famous working-class entertainers Non, je ne regrette rien’s Edith Piaf was born under a lamppost here.

Low-cost wine

Piquette wine was made here by a local innkeeper who wanted to keep prices low for the locals. This has made Belleville famous for some of the cheapest (and most tasteless) wine in the country.

Famous residents

As well as the birthplace of some of France’s biggest icons, it is also the resting place of a few of the world’s most famous. Stuck out like a staccato blip, among the graves in the Pere Lachaise Cemetery is the lipstick-adorned Art Deco monolith to playwright, poet and novelist Oscar Wilde while other tombstones are graffitied with arrows pointing towards the final resting place of The Doors former front man Jim Morrison.

Art community

Today, people come to Belleville for the art scene, predominantly displayed by the painters, sculptors and crafts people that make up Les Ateliers d’Artistes de Belleville, who are fierce opponents of the mainstream art scene.

Free museum

Inside the park is the Maison de l’Air, which describes the elements of the atmosphere in intricate detail. Find out how animals and plants use the air and discover how to help stop pollution. Opening hours are between 13:30 to 17:00 and admission is free.

Smallest cabaret

Paris’s smallest cabaret has opened here under the title Le Zebre de Belleville on the main boulevard. You’ll know you’ve got the right place if you look up and see an inflated black and white four-legged zebra, mid-gambol, looming over the belfry.

Photo of Belleville Metro Station, Paris, by arslan

• Autoinfos invites you in the Planète Auto in Paris, France, from July 1st to July 2nd.

• ejdurant gives you more information on the new Paris attraction, the Phare building, that will be completed by 2015.

• hinudotcom recommends you Matmos and Fraction in Café de la Danse, Paris, for an electronic soirée.

• Evous informs us of the Japanese martial arts expo at the Maison de la culture du Japon, in Paris, up until July 5th.

• Do you want to virtually visit Paris? Give a glimpse on this three-hour-tour pictures by ScottAbraham

Photo of tourist taking pictures in Paris by ollographik

You can pay homage to your favorite painter or marvel at the monumental size of the hundreds of gravestones. These valleys of death tend to be less crowded, which can provide for peace and quiet but can also make it hard to ask for directions, as the walkways within can be labyrinthine. Be sure to find a map at the entrance.As an extended visit to a cemetery will require a great deal of walking, it is recommended that you wear tennis shoes, bring some snack foods, and water. Also be sure to take a bathroom break before entering, since there are no public toilets in the cemeteries. A daytime trip during the summer months can be very romantic and take you back to the days of true love, duels, and the cancan.

I. Pere Lachaise

You could spend a year wandering about the Pere Lachaise cemetery in the northeastern part of the city and still only get through half of all there is to see. The graves of Delacroix, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Balzac, Bizet, and Moliere are here, just to name a few. There is something of a feel of power and prestige as you walk under the ancient-looking trees and climb the old and mildly crumbling steps of cobblestones. Even the parts of the cemetery that are eerie and full of mist and shadows soon give way to bright and open expanses of trees and wildflowers. Nature-lovers will find respite here from the mire and mildew of the metropolis.

If you see one thing and one thing only in the Pere Lachaise, make it the grave of Oscar Wilde. The massive sculpture of a flying, winged angel gave me the chills as I walked up to it from a distance, mostly because it was adorned with lipstick kisses and surrounded by a bevy of women. Notes of admiration cover the foot of the grave. You get a true sense of the importance of art in people’s lives and the love that good stories well-told can inspire.

II. Cimetiere du Montparnasse

Less than half the size of the Pere Lachaise, there is a charming cemetery in the southerly region of the city called Montparnasse. With the gravesites of more modern and contemporary literary figures, the feel of this garden of good and evil is rooted more in the artistic environments of the last century. The stone of Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir’s joint burial plot is void of any religious monogram, in lieu of the couple’s existentialist views. Nor is the famous Irish playwright Samuel Beckett’s grave adorned with a cross or symbol of faith. In a country where more than half of the population is nonbelievers, the cemetery of Montparnasse captures the more recent French interpretation of death and the afterlife that has shaped the literature and the culture. In many ways this is the cemetery of the current Parisian zeitgeist.

III. The Pantheon Crypt

This cemetery is beneath the ground under one of the most famous landmarks in Paris, the Pantheon. The building used to be a church until the political leaders during the Enlightenment felt that it should be used not for the veneration of God but rather of the nation’s greatest thinkers. Laid to rest in exposed tombs in the damp and cave-like crypt of this old house of worship are Voltaire, Rousseau, and Victor Hugo. The long tunnels with walls of stone, lit by dim yellow lamps, have the smell of dust and mist. The tombs are exquisitely carved from wood and limestone, and you can feel the imminent presence of the men deep inside. It is the ultimate capitulation of France’s deep admiration and respect for its writers and artists. In the French value system a great man can be judged not for his vast amount of money but for his vast amount of ideas. This way of thinking is made manifest in the cemeteries of the center of European thought, Paris. They are truly romantic.

Photo of Oscar Wilde’s grave, Père Lachaise cemetery, Paris, by pugetive

The Musee du Quai Branly can satiate your love of African sculpture, and more artist-specific museums like the Musee Picasso can take you into the depths of the mind of a great painter. But just when you think you’ve seen everything and have admired all the beauty and splendor the famous museums can offer, it is the smaller, avant-garde museums of Paris that push you to the next level of art connoisseur!These museums are unabashedly obsessed with the nonsensical, the inexpressible, and the psychological. It is a good idea to come ready for an emotion and mental freefall. There is no telling what kind of inspiration these works made of shattered glass and street trash will excite. If a painting of pretty flowers in porcelain pots is your thing, stay away from these three museums, because most of the sculptures here are made from toilet bowls and passionate rage is a commonplace emotion on these canvases. Do something wild and experience the avant-garde! These museums are a great way to break the ice with a group of friends or spark a deep conversation with a love interest.

1. Jeu de Paume

The Jeu de Paume is a wonder, with photography, film and video exhibits that give you a taste of the latest in Paris art and cinema and keep in mind the older works that inspired the new. Housed in what used to be the Hotel de Sully, the museum has an incredible amount of space and uses it brilliantly, not just showing one collection of a photographer’s work but several periods from early works to masterpieces. The short films can’t be seen anywhere else and are usually made my filmmakers that won’t let their work be screened anywhere but the Jeu de Paume. The museum is centrally located by the Tuileries gardens and is the perfect alternative to the more touristy Louvre. Wear good shoes and bring some water because these exhibits are expansive and will sweep you away with their epic scope.

2. Musee Maillol

Although originally intended as a museum dedicated to the works of painter and sculptor Aristide Maillol, the first floor of this elegant 18th century building is used as a gallery space for the museum’s avant-garde and modernist exhibits. The last known photographs of Marilyn Monroe, known as the “Last Sitting,” by Bert Stern were showcased here in the secretive, low-ceilinged rooms tucked into the dark, cool recesses of the museum. Wander around the labyrinthine corridors long enough and you’ll find a few abstract pieces by Marcel Duchamp and, of course, portraits of the curvaceously plump women in bathing suits that Maillol loved to paint. The hallways are narrow and the rooms have few windows, leaving you with the feeling that you’re the first to see this art work, that it’s something exclusively there for you and only you. During the day, the galleries are rarely ever crowded like the Louvre or the Musee D’Orsay, so you can have a nice relaxing conversation about the art and let your thoughts multiply in the cool silence, a true luxury in the Paris art world!

3. Musee du Luxembourg

After a stroll through the Luxembourg Gardens, most people keep walking toward the Latin Quarter to the cafes and sports clubs without even noticing the Musee du Luxembourg’s walk-in gallery on the garden’s north side. Housed in what seems to have been an old carriage room of the Luxembourg Palace, now the home of the French Senate, the exhibits are very informal but very contemporary, fresh and chic. The ground is covered in white, chalky gravel that crunches beneath your shoes as you enter the space. The soft, dappled light spilling off the gray walls of the mysteriously breezy room lend the steel sculptures a bleak, industrial hue. The paintings are sometimes jarring in their violent brushstrokes and rust and copper colors. But the beautiful sounds of the garden are continually nearby, with the wind in the poplar trees and the children playing with sailboats in the fountain. Most people don’t come to Paris to be lobotomized by pastoral scenes and nature. The walk-in gallery of Musee du Luxembourg offers you a harsher interpretation of the metropolis, something no true connoisseur can say they saw Paris without seeing.

Photo of Musée du Jeu de Paume, Paris, France by benoit d

1. Shopping at Paris Barbes Market

If you are traveling on a budget or are not that into luxury shopping in Paris, why not do like the locals do and enjoy a morning stroll at a picturesque French market? Read this travel article by Blaire Dessent and find helpful tips for shopping at the Barbes market in Paris.

2. English Book Stores in Paris

If you are looking for English books in Paris, go shopping at these recommended English bookstores. You will surely find the perfect novel to read while soaking up the scenery and sun at the terrace of your favorite Paris café.

3. How to Meet People in paris

If you want to make new friends on your next Paris vacation, read this article by Jessica Mordo on how to meet people in the French capital. Jessica’s tips for meeting people in Paris, include joining a French-English language exchange, taking walking tours, attending Paris Meet Ups events and participating in English-language treasure hunts.

4.  Top 7 Alternative Paris Museums

If you are looking for interesting art exhibitions in the French capital, visit these seven alternative art museums in Paris including Le Laboratoire, the Musée des Arts et Métiers, the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Musée Nissim de Camondo, the Musée Maillol and La Maison Rouge contemporary art space.

5. Top 10 Dessert Shops in Paris

If you are planning a gourmet holiday in France and looking for the best desserts in Paris, check out our Top 10 ice cream, chocolate and pastry shops including Joséphine Vanier, La Maison du Chocolat, Chocolat Michel Cuizel, Ladurée, Angelina Chez du chocolat, La Fougasse, Berthillon, Amorino and Pozzetto.

Photo of tourists in Paris, France by Damien Roué 

It seems like Berlin’s independent movie theaters‘ collection reflects the way the city is: densely and multiculturally populated metropolis, where rich kids live on the same street as spiked hair punks and Turkish kebabs neighbor old GDR buildings.

So, here are five interesting movie theaters in Berlin, no typical mainstream multiplexes:

1. Filmtheater am Friedrichshain

This cozy movie theater should be very tempting to those people who love Friedrichshain: the place so diverse that is has everything. You do not even have to leave it to go to see a movie. Filmtheater am Friedrichshain (that is tenderly called FaF by Berliners) is a child of Berlin independent movie theater group Yorck. This group is comprised of fifteen movie theaters that united in order to repulse decisively large multiplex movies. Yorck movie theaters such as FaF have found their audience among those people who love interesting independent movies, old classic masterpieces, and movies in the original language. FaF is one of the most beautiful and unusual movie theaters in the city, it looks like a real movie temple. There are five screens with 911 seats in total. The number of the seats is kept so small on purpose, so you can seat in large upholstered seats and have enough place between the rows to stretch your cramped legs. Starting from May a nice beer garden right behind FaF is open and welcomes moviegoers to debate the movie and try some local food such as grills, Schmalzstullen (kind of toasts) and Gewürzgurken (pickled cucumbers) .

Address: Bötzow Strasse, 1-5

Tickets: Mon/Thur 5,50 €, Tue/Wed 6,50 €, Fr/Sun 7,50 €; 0,5-1 € discount for students

2. Babylon

This is also one of the small independent Yorck movie theaters that screens movies some of the best Berlin’s movie programs, movies by cinematographic schools, old German silent movies, and foreign films in the original language. The main emphasis is done on displaying non-mainstream movies, art house pieces and retrospectives. Besides, they very often invite movie makers from different countries to display their movies and then have a nice evening discussing nowadays trends in movies, life challenges, and other interesting things. There are two screens in Babylon and lectures, reading and workshops at this movie theater never stop.

Address: Rosa Luxemburg Strasse, 30

Tickets: Mon 5,50 €, Tue/Wed 6,50 €, Thur/Sun 7,50 €

3. Kino International

This is a very nice movie theater with GDR charm, it has seen it all: Great Berlin Wall era, socialist propaganda, and managed to survive till nowadays. Now Kino International is under World Heritage protection that proves the value of the building’s architecture and interiors design. Entering Kino International, you walk through the huge magnificent foyer with crystal chandeliers and arm chairs upholstered in red velvet, follow twin staircases covered with grey carpets and finally enter the big screen room. Located in the eastern Berlin, Kino International has become an inalienable part of Karl Marx Allee. Kino International displays Hollywood flicks and flamboyant Bollywood movies. Every month one of Mondays is a special day – Mongay, when movie programs for gay audience are screened. Moreover, it is not just a movie theater, but also a party place: every first Saturday there is a great party in Kino International.

Address: Karl Marx Allee, 33

Tickets: Mon 5,50 €, Tue/Wed 6,50 €, Thur/Sun 8 €, Mongay 6,50 €; 0,5-1 € discount for students

4. Lichtblick Kino

Now from small independent movie theaters to a totally tiny one. Lichtblick Kino is a great change from huge 5-6 screen movies: it is the smallest movie theater in Berlin. Its teensy screening room has just several rows of red velvet seats ensuring intimate and almost fairytale ambience. Here enthusiasts and devotees of movies and filmmaking can satisfy their craving for retrospectives of such trendsetting directors who have changed the movies medium as Fellini and Godrad. Besides, Lichtblick Kino screens classics of Italian Neorealism, French New Wave, and New Hollywood Movement, so everybody can find something here according to his or her preferences. Luckily, most of the movies are displayed in their original language. You can also see some works of modern German directors here. Buying a ticket at midnight on Saturday, you can find yourself in Casablanca, where Rick and Ilsa find and lose each other once again. This Sunday midnight tradition never changes.

Address: Kastanien Allee, 77

Tickets: Mon/Fr 3.90 €, Sat/Sun 4.50 €

5. Brotfabrik

Finally, the last of our selection of movie theaters is Brotfabrik or Bread Factory. This movies also has something to offer to demanding cineastes: a mix of German and international movies. Besides, Brotfabrik is a mix by itself: it accommodates a cinema, an art gallery, a bar and a theater. So, there is always something happening here like a play by Fyodr Dostoyevsky or performance art lecture. In Brotfabrik movie theater they screen movies in the original language most of times. Small bar in Broffabrik is also worth visiting.

Address: Caligariplatz, 1/ Prenzlauer Promenade, 3

Tickets: prices range from 3 to 6 €

Photo of movie theater, Berlin, Germany by Maharepa 

Several cities and resorts in Provence, like Monaco, Cap Ferrat and St Tropez are choice destinations of the international jet set and are often written up in the tabloids and travel magazines but there are many other cities of Provence which have successfully retained their quaint old world charm that should be explored on any visit to the region.

1. Aix-en-Provence

Aix en Provence was the capital of Provence in the 15th century. The Romans founded Aix in 123BC and fashioned it after the city of Florence. Aix is an important center for art and culture and the city has hosted several creative souls like Guigou, Stendhal, Mistral, Zola, and Cézanne through the ages. Aix is known for its old ornate mansions, flower filled squares and flamboyant fountains all of which have been preserved and restored carefully. Every summer, the International Festival of Lyric Art fills Aix’s narrow shaded streets with the wondrous sounds.

2. Avignon

The fortified city of Avignon with its famed bridge which has been immortalized forever in the song ‘Sur le pont d’Avignon’ was once the favorite stomping ground of the Popes. The city even has a magnificent palace called the Palace of the Popes which overlooks its lively main square. Avignon today is well known for its Theater Festival that is held here during the month of July.

3. Arles

The city of Arles is located on the banks of the River Rhône and is a UNESCO designated World Heritage site that dates back to the 7th Century BC when it was a prominent Gallo-Roman town. In fact various Roman ruins like the Arena, the amphitheater, the Roman baths of Constantin and the Alyscamps burial grounds are scattered all over the city. The Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh spent nearly a year in Arles in the company of his fellow artist and friend Paul Gaugain in 1888. His stay in Arles was most productive as he was greatly inspired by the immense beauty of this medieval city to create nearly two hundred works.

4. Saint-Rémy de Provence

This beautiful Gallo-Roman village is located in heart of the Alpilles and is encircled by a 14th century protective wall. Saint Rémy is built on one of the oldest archeological sites in Europe and should be considered a ‘must-visit’ on any Provence itinerary. Vincent Van Gogh, spent time in a sanitarium located here in 1889. He was so inspired by the village’s scenic beauty that he produced one of his most famous works called the ‘Starry Night’ during his confinement. Apart from its historical significance, Saint Rémy is also well known for its many charming restaurants and shops and it is also the home of world-famous artisan chocolatier, Joel Durand who uses several native ingredients like lavender, Provence almonds and olives to create his mouth-watering treats.

5. Menton

The port city of Menton is located on the southern eastern tip of France. Its location on the Mediterranean has blessed Menton with a year round agreeable climate which is conducive to growing flowers and citrus fruits. Orange trees, lemon trees, palm trees and mimosa are found in abundance in Menton which is known for its luxuriant gardens. Menton pays homage to its delicious citrus fruits with its colorful, parade-filled Lemon Festival which is held all over the city for three weeks every February.

Photo of fountain in Aix-en-Provence, France by mac ki