Venere Travel Blog - It's our business where you sleep!

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

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. read full article

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. read full article

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. read full article

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.

When thinking about Amsterdam images of clogs, tulips, cheese and windmills usually come to mind. For many people it may also be the red light district and coffee shops, but there is a lot more than that in this interesting city. A visit to Amsterdam is something you’ll never regret.ù

The most common way to move around the city is by bike. You can also take the tram, which goes to most tourists’ spots.

There is a lot to see, but if you only have 24 hours it is a good idea start with a tour around the canals. Amsterdam has more canals than Venice and more bridges than Paris. read full article

Madrid gives you the opportunity to make some great day trips from the city. Take advantage of European trains that for little money will take you around some pretty nice and interesting places.

One of the most popular trips is a visit to the El Escorial palace. Take the Cercanias Train line C-8 from Atocha train station for a one hour-long ride. read full article

Switzerland’s largest city is also one of the most popular European tourist destinations. The city of Zurich is situated on Lake Zurich where the lake is met by the Limmat River. The city is also Switzerland’s financial center and is the home of the stock exchange and the headquarters of numerous international and national corporations. It is also the media center of the country since the majority of the country’s TV channels call Zurich home.

The following content is a listing of some of the FREE things to enjoy in Zurich. read full article

Since the breakup of the Soviet Union and during the post-Communist era, the city of Budapest has become a tourism mecca for international travelers.

There are numerous attractions and events that you can enjoy in the city, especially when vacationing as a family. Budapest is a city steeped in world history and filled with cultural treasures and it could take numerous visits there to discover all of them. read full article

Pink-color structures of Marrakech have earned it the epithet “The Rose City”. And beautiful monuments and vibrant cultural and trading activities of the old city -Medina of Marrakech- draw both locals and tourists.

Are you considering a vacation to Lisbon? You’ll be happy to learn that Portugal’s largest and capital city has experienced a renaissance of late and its contemporary culture is now making its mark on the European continent.

When visiting Lisbon, there is more to see and do than what you can possibly squeeze onto a vacation itinerary. read full article

The Pargue Castle, one of the most important landmarks of the Czech Republic, is the largest castle complex (70,000 square meter area) in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its religious and secular buildings represent various styles of architecture, including Gothic, Renaissance and Roman.

Majestic Vladislav Hall, decorated with Gothic and Renaissance style elements, hosted banquets, coronation festivities, read full article

This article has been quite hard to write as some of the most attractive things about Prague are rather more esoteric than a simple list allows. However, here are my top five and I would be interesting to hear what other people have on their list of top five things to see in Prague.

The capital of Belgium is the city of Brussels, completely surrounded by Flanders (Dutch- speaking) and considered by many to also be the capital of the EU or European Union. Brussels is the crossroads of European culture as well, with the Germanic being to the north and the Romance (French) in the south. It is no wonder that Brussels is considered to be the archetypal “melting pot” of Europe due to the significant role the city plays on the European continent. The current population is 1 million while the greater area is over 2 million.

If you are planning a trip to Athens and your budget is a primary consideration, don’t despair because there are several attractions that you can see involving no out-of-pocket cost.

With the global economy being as unstable as it has been, it’s no wonder that tourists who travel internationally have either cut back on their spending or are looking for free venues in order to supplement their travel itineraries. read full article