Venere Travel Blog» culture

Interesting Museums in Warsaw, Poland

Anita Choudhary — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:00:14 +0000

The capital and largest city of Poland is Warsaw. The city sits on the Vistula River and is just about the halfway point between the Baltic Sea on the north and the Carpathian Mountains on the south. Warsaw is the home to numerous beautiful palaces as well as a number of old mansions many of which were destroyed during Second World War. Fortunately, many of them were converted into museums by being completely restored and depict a great deal of Warsaw’s and Poland’s culture and history. The following is a list of some you should consider visiting.

Exploring the Great City of Dubrovnik, Croatia

Will Joce — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:00:47 +0000

At the head of the Adriatic Sea, protected from invaders and the ravages of the sea, lies the great city of Dubrovnik. This charming maritime city, called the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ is located on Croatia’s southern coast and is home to the great seafaring tradition of the Adriatic. The city was one of the great ports of call for merchant ships. Dubrovnik welcomes thousands of visitors each year, yet remains untouched by the ravages of commercialization.

Real New Zealand Festival Sep – Oct 2011

Will Joce — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:00:51 +0000

Taking advantage of the attention during the Rugby World Cup, the Real New Zealand Festival runs from 9th September to 23rd October to celebrate and promote the culture and tourism of this beautiful country. The festival is spread out across the entire nation so wherever you are or want to be there should be something worth seeing, doing or eating.

Discovering the Five Major Museums of Florence, Italy

Abha — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:58:37 +0000

The city of Florence has a rich architectural and art heritage, which is preserved in its elegant piazzas (squares), Renaissance palazzi (palaces), and a host of art galleries / museums. Here, we have reviewed five major museums of Florence, where you can browse through drawings, paintings and sculptures created by famous artists.

The Accademia Gallery houses the statue of David - a marble statue of young shepherd mentioned in Bible, the St. Mathew, the Prisoners and other masterpieces by Michelangelo.

Best time to Visit Dublin, Ireland

Anita Choudhary — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:00:13 +0000

The city of Dublin is Ireland’s capital and largest city and is also one of the leading vacation destinations in all of Europe. Ptolemy, the famous astronomer and cartographer of ancient Greece, was the first person to ever make a reference to inhabitants in the Dublin area. The evidence dates back to 140 AD and the settlement was referred to in Ptolemy’s writing as “Eblana Civitas”. Dublin is also referred to as the “Town of the Hurdled Ford” by many of the locals.

Top 5 Museums in Bern, Switzerland

Satu Rommi — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:00:25 +0000

Switzerland’s capital Bern is a small city but it has surprisingly many museums and art galleries. Here are the most popular museums in Bern.

The Einstein House

Albert Einstein lived in Bern between 1903 and 1905, and here he also developed his famous theory of relativity.

Free things to do in Helsinki

Mhairi Dewar — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:00:44 +0000

Aside from spiralling national debt and the inability of anyone earning a normal wage to get a mortgage, one of the main problems with the global economic downturn, for intrepid travellers at least, is having less money to spend on exploring far away places.

But being a bit strapped for cash doesn’t mean you have to miss out on visiting those places you’ve always dreamed about. As long as you can afford the price of your airfare, the creative traveller will always find a way to make what little money they have last. Finland is one of the cheaper destinations among the Scandinavian countries and there are plenty of things to do in its charming capital city, Helsinki, that will cost you absolutely nothing.

5 Fun Facts about Munich

Will Joce — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:00:21 +0000

Munich has developed a reputation as being a city dominated by a single attraction, the Oktoberfest beer festival. This is unfair as the city has a lot to offer, especially to those who wouldn’t dream of attending a beer festival. The city has cultural and historical attractions aplenty, as well as being a useful gateway city and transport hub for the Bavarian Alps. Here are five fun facts about this beguiling and often misunderstood city.

A Weekend in Moscow

Will Joce — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:00:53 +0000

There are increasing signs that the bureaucratic and unwieldy visa regime, which currently keeps the number of visitors to Russia artificially low, will soon be modified or removed, at least for citizens of Schengen countries. This means that Moscow will become a destination in much more demand, especially for weekend breaks in a city steeped with history, culture and a huge amount of vodka.

Photo: Getty Images

The first stop for almost all tourists in Moscow will be Red Square and the Kremlin. N

Top 5 Travel Books for Kids

Will Joce — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00:19 +0000

While it may not be possible to take children on any and every adventure they dream of, one of the joys of literature is that they can discover the world around them from the comfort of home. This is a great way to inspire youngsters about travel before a trip or simply increase their awareness of other lands and cultures. Here is my pick of travel books for kids, with notes on the appropriate age group for each.

The Tintin series of books is possibly the best series for kids yet written.

High Culture in Moscow

Will Joce — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:00:04 +0000

For centuries Russia has respected and nurtured talents in fields often ignored in the West, especially in the area of ‘high culture’. One of the few good things about the Soviet Union was the way that it opened such aristocratic leisure pursuits as opera and ballet to mass audiences and this is why today, Russia is such a leading critical success in the field.

The first stop for any ‘culture vulture’ should be the Bolshoi Theatre. Visitors can go in and admire the sumptuous architecture at any time but seeing a production here is a must.

Transylvania, more than just vampire stories

Gabriela Ordenana — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:00:23 +0000

Located in the central part of Romania, Transylvania is most commonly known because of Count Dracula, Bram Stoker’s most famous character but it is actually one of the most beautiful regions in Eastern Europe.

Bran Castle, Transylvania, Romania. Photo by Horla Varlan

It is rich in myth and medieval sites like castles, fortresses, monasteries and fortified churches, some of the very well preserved.

5 Fun Facts about Marrakech

Will Joce — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:00:40 +0000

Marrakech is in the enviable position of offering an exotic taste of distant lands to travellers while still being within range of European based budget airlines. While the profile of this North African gem has been raised in recent years and visitor numbers are rising ever higher, there is still a lot of mystique shrouding the history and culture of Marrakech.

Photo: Getty Images

The name Marrakech is thought to derive from the ancient language of the Berber people that live in the Western Sahara region and means ‘Land of God’.

How to spend 24 hours in Munich

Mhairi Dewar — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:00:01 +0000

Munich is a truly cosmopolitan city and the heart of Bavarian lifestyle. With its beautiful parks, busy shops, hordes of museums and roaring beer halls, it’s easy to lose days soaking up the atmosphere in its urban sprawl.

Photo: Getty Images

But if you’re only paying a whirlwind visit to this stunning southern German city, here are some of the best things to cram into 24 hours.

5 Family Attractions in Oslo, Norway

Abha — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:00:09 +0000

Traveling with children has challenges of its own: where to go, which toys… The first and foremost task is to select kid-friendly attractions. Indeed, they love fun-filled activities, yummy food, colorful places, parks, zoos and interactive activities. If your kids have different tastes, consider them while planning the itinerary. Also, review educational value of the selected attractions. We have identified five interesting attractions for a family trip to Oslo, capital of Norway.

Christmas Markets in Naples, Italy

Grace A. — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:00:58 +0000

Naples is synonymous with presepe or Nativity scenes. From the big cathedrals to public squares right down to the small houses - there’s hardly any place where you wouldn’t find one! Setting up a nativity scene is a source of great pride for these Italians and is an art that is passed on from generation to generation. The nativity scene is said to have been first created by St Francis of Assisi in 1223 when he conducted a Christmas mass in the town of Greccio. It is usually set up around December 8th and continues right up to epiphany on January 6^th.

Photo by House Of Sims

Popular Islands of Stockholm Archipelago

Abha — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 17:00:34 +0000

Stockholm Archipelago is a mosaic of numerous skerries, islets and islands scattered in the Baltic Sea. However, only 1,000 are populated.

Photo: Getty Images

These serene landmasses are accessible by boats (classic white archipelago boats) or cars. Some islands are tiny while others are huge. Most of the islands are not affected by tides. The archipelago, the home of fishermen and farmers, has inspired many Swedish writers and artists.

3 Landmarks along Krakow Industrial Heritage Route

Abha — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:30:00 +0000

The Krakow Industrial Heritage Route, a unique urban tourist trail, winds through the historic Polish city Krakow. Over fifteen architectural, historic and industrial landmarks build in 19^th - 20^th century are restored along the route and draw tourists, especially those interested in building art, cultural heritage, engineering, technology and vehicles including motorcycles. Read on to know more about various beautiful landmarks. Juliusz Słowacki Theatre (Municipal Theatre) at Sw. Ducha Square was the first structure in the city to have electric light. The theatre, opened in 1893 for public, was taken over by the German troupe during the World War II. It had its own electricity generation plant that now features a small stage. Currently, there are four stages in the theatre that epitomizes Eclectic architecture. Allegorical figures of comedy, drama and poetry adorn its front elevation.

How to Spend 24 Hours in Rome

Poonam Chopra — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:00:33 +0000

The Italian capital, nicknamed the “Eternal City” is a city of layers, contemporary establishments built on thousands of years of history. The sense of history here is extraordinary, so profound and immediate. The city of Rome is a museum in itself, and only 24 hours to spare can hardly do its timeless grandeur and beauty any justice at all, but it is ample time to intrigue your senses and pave your path for return.

The city is best experienced by foot or bike, as transportation is not the most reliable and many of the main tourist destinations are walking distance apart. I prefer walking around the city, as it also provides a full-fledged sensory experience.

Top 5 things to see in Milan

Linda Koscova — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:40:21 +0000

Milan is the second largest Italian city with 1,3 millions inhabitants. It is located in the north of the country and is famous as a fashion mekka of the world. Millions of tourists are coming to Milan every year to see its historical sights, to shop in Italian high fashion shops and to eat typical Italian pizza or pasta. When visiting Milan, there are a few things that you just cannot miss.