Name: Jann Rey Recla Course/Section: BSTM 1A=Night

Southern Europe

1. Cyprus
 Ancient Kourion
o There's no shortage of ancient sites
in Cyprus but Kourion is the pick of
the bunch. Romantically situated
across a coastal cliff with tumbling
views of the countryside and
Mediterranean below, it's a
magical place.

 Larcana
o Easygoing Larnaca, on the island's
southeast side, may be a seaside
resort, but it's kept its local soul.
This is by far the most laid-back
base for holidaymakers here.

 Karpas Peninsula
o The most beautiful region in
Cyprus is the lonely and rugged
Karpas Peninsula, which stretches
out in a long finger of golden
beaches backed by rugged hills in
the northeast of the island (in
North Cyprus).
2. Gibraltar
 The Apes of Gibraltar
o Gibraltar is famous for its Barbary
macaques, a species native to
Morocco and the only monkeys
living wild anywhere in Europe.
o The best place to see them is in the
Gibraltar Nature Reserve in the
Upper Rock area of the island. Here, you'll find the famous Apes' Den, a
great place for you to get up close with these fascinating creatures
without fear of being harassed. But visitors beware: as cute as these apes
are, they're wild and do bite. Also, from time-to-time they venture into
the town, so watch your belongings. Feeding is strictly prohibited.

 Gibraltar Nature Reserve & Cable Car

o Not only does the Gibraltar Nature
Reserve offer great views, it's also a
good place to see some of the
millions of birds that stop over while
migrating between Africa and
Europe. Encompassing more than 40
percent of the island, the reserve
includes many of Gibraltar's most important attractions, including St.
Michael's Cave, as well as Forbes' Quarry, where one of the world's first
female Neanderthal skulls was found in 1848.

 St. Michael’s Cave

o No visit to Gibraltar would be
complete without paying a visit to
the stunning St. Michael's Cave. The
largest of the island's more than 150
caves, St. Michael's Cave lies at least
274 meters above sea level and is
crammed full of spectacular
stalactites and stalagmites. First recorded in AD 45, and known to have
sheltered Neanderthals more than 40,000 years ago, the cave has many
legends associated with it, including one suggesting the island is secretly
connected to Africa via a 24-kilometer-long tunnel.
3. Greece
 Acropolis Athens
o Considered the symbol of Athens
and Greece, and indeed of Western
civilization, the Acropolis is a rocky
mound rising in the heart of modern
Athens, crowned by three
magnificent temples dating from the
5th century BC. The best known and most distinctive is the Parthenon,
originally made up of 58 columns supporting a roof and decorated by
ornate pediments and a frieze.

 Santorini
o Stunning Santorini is the most
dramatic of all the Greek isles. It is
best known for the west coast cliff-
top towns of Fira and Oia, which
appear to hang over a deep, blue
sea-filled caldera. Made up of
typical Cycladic whitewashed cubic
buildings, many of which have been converted into boutique hotels with
infinity pools, both Fira and Oia are considered romantic destinations,
popular for weddings and honeymoons.

 Mykonos
o Greece's most glamorous island
destination is Mykonos. After-dark
activities center on Mykonos Town,
noted for its chic boutique hotels,
classy seafood restaurants, and live
music venues. Other attractions
include Paraportiani (a
whitewashed church in Mykonos Town) and numerous sandy beaches
along the island's south coast (served both by bus and taxi-boat from
Mykonos Town). The island is particularly popular with international
celebrities. Mykonos has an airport and is connected by ferry and
catamaran to Athens' port, Piraeus, and Rafina.
4. Italy
 Colosseum
o This huge amphitheater, the
largest of its kind ever built by
the Roman Empire and the
largest of their constructions to
survive, remained a model for
sports facilities right up to
modern times. Built by Vespasian in AD 72 and enlarged by the addition
of a fourth story by his son, Titus, it was venues for public spectate.

 The Grand Canal in Venice

o The Grand Canal is the largest
and most famous of these
waterways, cutting a wide S-
shaped route through the city.
Along its sides are the grandest
of the palaces once owned by the
wealthiest and most powerful
families of the Venetian Republic. The best way to see many of the grand
palaces, whose fronts face the water, is from a Vaporetto ride along the
Grand Canal.

 Leaning Tower of Pisa

o The Leaning Tower of Pisa (La
Torre Pendente) is just one of
many attractions in the city of Pisa,
one whose world fame comes not
from the considerable elegance of
its design, but from a flaw. Work
began on the tower in the 1100s,
and the sinking, which led to the
lean, began by the time the tower reached the third story.
5. Malta
 The Idyllic Island of Gozo
o Gozo Island is the most idyllic
destination of the Maltese Islands.
With its quiet towns and pristine
beaches, this little island is the
perfect place to enjoy a relaxing
vacation for several days or even a
weeklong stay. Although Gozo is less developed than Malta, the island
has plenty of cultural attractions: a fortified medieval city, Victoria; a
bustling seaside resort, Marsalforn; and the most important
archaeological site of the Maltese Islands, Ggantija Temples, dating back
to around 3500 BC

 Historical Attractions in Rabat, Island of Malta

o In Maltese, the word "Rabat" means
"suburb." Rabat is less touristy and
more modern than Mdina, but there
are noteworthy historical attractions.
One of the hidden gems is the Casa
Bernard, a grand 16th-century house
that belonged to a noble Maltese family
of French origins. Although the Casa Bernard is still a private residence, it
is open to the public for guided tours.

 Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Island of Malta: A

Neolithic Cult Site
o At this UNESCO-listed archaeological
site, visitors can delve into the
beguiling world of the prehistoric era.
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is an
underground Neolithic cult site, a
complex of catacombs where
prehistoric man performed religious
burial rituals and consulted oracles. Carved from limestone using rock
 tools, the interconnected superimposed chambers include passages and
stairways on three levels.
6. Portugal
 Oceanario de Lisboa, Lisbon
o Arguably Portugal's most popular
and family-friendly visitor
attraction, Lisbon's oceanarium is
brilliantly conceived to highlight
the world's diverse ocean
habitats. This is one of Europe's
best and largest oceanariums,
containing a vast array of fish and marine animals.

 Palacio Nacional de Sintra, Lisbon Coast

o Nestling in the lap of a wooded
mountain range, Sintra's stunning
location is reason enough to visit this
charming, verdant town. Indeed,
UNESCO acknowledges the
destination as a World Heritage
cultural landscape such is its beauty
and the significance of the collection of historic visitor attractions
clustered in and around the old town, Sintra Velha.

 Kayaking the Lisbon Coast

o Taking to the sea by kayak to explore
the Lisbon coast makes for a
rewarding maritime excursion.
Besides offering an extra dimension
to the sightseeing experience,
paddling the coastline provides an
excellent excuse to exercise in a salt-
laced, pristine environment.
7. Spain
 Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia and Gaudi Sites
o Antoni Gaudi took the architectural
style known as Art Nouveau a step
further, even, some have argued,
into absurdity. The fanciful and
outrageous buildings he created in
Barcelona have become landmarks,
the signature attractions of this
Catalan city.

 The Great Mosque of Cordoba (Mezquita)

o Once the principal mosque of western
Islam and still known as the Mezquita,
Cordoba's mosque is one of the
largest in the world and the finest
achievement of Moorish architecture
in Spain. In spite of later alterations
that carved out its center to build a
Catholic cathedral at its heart, the
Great Mosque ranks with the Alhambra in Granada as one of the two
most splendid examples of Islamic art and architecture in western
Europe.

 Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

o "The Bilbao Effect" — the ability of a
city to turn its fortunes around by
constructing a single world-class
building — and "architourism," a
whole segment of the travel industry
revolving around landmarks of
contemporary architecture. Inside
the museum are traveling exhibitions
and rotating displays of its own collections of modern art.
8. Turkey
 Aya Sofya
o Renowned as one of the most
beautiful buildings in the world, the
spellbinding Byzantine glory of the
Aya Sofya Museum (Hagia Sophia) is
not only one of the top things to do
in Istanbul, but also in Turkey.

 Ephesus
o Not to be missed, the mighty ruin of
Ephesus is a city of colossal
monuments and marble-columned
roads. One of the most complete,
still-standing Roman cities in the
Mediterranean region, this is the
place to experience what life must have been like during the golden age
of the Roman Empire.

 Cappadiocia
o The surreal, swooping rock valleys of
Cappadocia are every photographer's
dream. Cliff ridges and hill crests are
home to rippling panoramas of
wave-like rock or wacky-shaped
pinnacles that have been formed by
millennia of wind and water action.
9. Vatican City
 St. Peter’ Basilica
o The centerpiece of the Vatican and
one of the best places to visit, the
magnificent St. Peter's Basilica was
built between the 16th and 18th
centuries, replacing earlier
structures that began in 326 on
what is thought to be where St. Peter was buried. Ironically, it was the
selling of indulgences to finance this building in the 16th century that
provoked Martin Luther to begin the Protestant Reformation.

 Sistine Chapel
o Built by Pope Sixtus IV in 1473-84,
the Sistine Chapel is a rectangular
hall, which is the Pope's domestic
chapel, also used for services and
special occasions. After the death
of a Pope, the conclave to elect his
successor is held here.

 Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square)

o The grand Piazza San Pietro in front
of St. Peter's Basilica was laid out by
Bernini between 1656 and 1667 to
provide a setting where the faithful
from all over the world could
gather. It still serves that purpose
admirably, and is filled to capacity
each Easter Sunday and on other important occasions.
10. Andorra
 La Casa de la Vall
o La Casa de la Vall is one of the top
attractions in Andorra la Vella. Built
in 1580 and now the seat of
government, it's notable for its
ornate coat of arms and other
historical emblems of the country's
former rulers.

 Winter Wonderland: Vallnord

o One of the most popular winter
sports destinations in the Pyrenees,
Vallnord draws skiers and
snowboarders from across Europe
to its many fine slopes. Located in
the northern part of Andorra and
boasting a peak altitude of 2,625
meters, Vallnord is really three unique ski resorts in one: Arcalis, Pal, and
Arinsal. Together these three resorts provide a vast amount of terrain to
explore.

 Caldae
o The facility features more than
6,000 square meters of watery fun
and treatment areas, and guests
can make full use of the numerous
lagoons (both indoor and outdoor)
and many saunas and Jacuzzis. It
also boasts many specialized spa
areas featuring Indo-Roman baths, cascades, warm marble slates, and
even a grapefruit pool.
11. Croatia
 Diocletian’s Palace in Slit
o Split, Croatia's second biggest city
after Zagreb, was established within
the ancient Roman walls of the huge
Diocletian's Palace (Dioklecijanova
palaca). Situated overlooking the
Adriatic Sea, it was built by Roman
Emperor Diocletian, who retired here in AD 305.

 Hvar Town
o Many tourists visit Croatia to explore
the blissful Dalmatian islands, of
which the most fashionable is Hvar.
Here, the trendy city of Hvar is home
to some of the country's top hotels
and best seafood restaurants. Dating
back to the years spent under
Venetian-rule (1420-1797), its car-free Old Town is made up of a spacious
main square overlooked by a 16th-century cathedral, a pretty fishing
harbor, and a hilltop fortress.

 Plitvice Lakes National Park

o Croatia's most visited inland
attraction, Plitvice Lakes National
Park (Nacionalni park Plitvicka
jezera) encompasses steep forested
hillsides surrounding 16 emerald-
blue lakes connected by a succession
of thundering waterfalls. A network
of footpaths and wooden bridges crisscrosses the park (the country's first
national park), and the entrance ticket includes boat rides across the
lakes.
12. Slovenia
 Maribor
o In Maribor, you can see the Stara
trta, or the oldest vine in the
world, which dates back for
more than 450 years. Keep the
wine tour going with a trip to the
popular Old Vine House and the
enormous Vinag Wine Cellar.
Don’t miss the major squares in Maribor, which include Slomškov Square,
Main Square and Castle Square, all of which offer plenty of charm and
historic architecture.

 Koper
o As one of the oldest coastal towns
in Slovenia, and a major port,
Koper is an integral part of the
country’s infrastructure. This is yet
another coastal spot that was once
part of the Venetian Empire, and it
formally went by the name
Caprea. Later, it became part of Yugoslavia. Today, Koper is a lesser-
known destination that nevertheless offers several enjoyable attractions.

 Kranjska Gora
o Popular for winter sports
enthusiasts is the destination of
Kranjska Gora, located in the
northwest of Slovenia. During
the winter, Kranjska Gora is busy
with visitors who ski and
snowboard in the resort of
Vitranc, taking advantage of the frequent snowfall and the steep trails.
13. San Marino
 Rocca Guaita
o Three fortresses crown
the long ridge of Mount
Titano, with the city of
San Marino clustered at
the foot of their walls.
The first and earliest of
the fortresses is Rocca
Guaita, constructed in the 11th century. It served for a time as a prison
and was rebuilt several times for different uses until it reached the form
we see today, during the 15th-century war between San Marino and the
House of Malatesta.

 Palazzo Pubblico and Piazza della

Liberta
o Piazza della Liberta is one of
the most popular places to visit
in San Marino because
frequently throughout the day,
the Guardie di Rocca change
guard in a colorful ceremony.
Their uniforms - a dark green
double-breasted jacket with
white braid, red trousers with a green stripe, hats with red pompoms,
and white gaiters - assure that everyone scores great photos of the event.

 Basilica di San Marino

o This Neo-classical basilica
was built in the early 19th
century on the foundations
of a fourth-century
Romanesque church, also
dedicated to San Marino (St.
Marinus), which had been
 abandoned. The interior is classic basilica style, with a long nave and two
side aisles lined with altars.
14. Albania
 Dhermi
o With its welcoming turquoise
waters and beautiful beaches
that stretch into the distance,
the gorgeous scenery of Dhermi
is where many young Albanians
head to in the summer. It is also
home to some pulsating
nightlife.

 Sarande
o With its stunning location on
the Ionian Sea, Sarande is
blessed with year-round warm
weather, sparkling waters, and
a relaxed way of life. While the
seafront is a bit over-
developed with its line of
identity-less apartment blocks,
there are lots of nice parts of
Sarande to walk around, and loads of bars, restaurants and souvenir
shops on offer.

 Durres
o Once the capital of Albania,
Durres is located not far from
Tirana on the country’s
coastline. It is a very popular
destination, which means that
it can get a bit crowded during
the summer.