Once the world’s largest city, a rival of Constantinople, Cordoba is perhaps the most underrated city in Spain, despite the fact that it is the only city in the modern world to host four UNESCO World Heritage sites: Mezquita Mosque and Cathedral, Historic City Center including Alcázar de Los Reyes Cristianos, The Cordoba Patios, and Palace Town of … Read more
Assisi is a magically atmospheric town that transports you right to Italy’s Middle Ages. Having been continuously inhabited for the past 3,000 years it has been shaped and reshaped by successive generations building on top of the structures left by their predecessors – everyone wanted to live within the protective confines of the city walls. … Read more
Planning a trip to Assisi? Prepare to be swept off your feet by this town’s charming medieval ambience. There’s no shortage of things to do in Assisi, whether you stay for a day or a week. Assisi is a town that exists outside of time. Its perfectly preserved and uniform medieval ambience envelopes you as … Read more
Constantinople was one of the greatest cities in the world, the power seat of two major empires for over a thousand years. But where is Constantinople today? Well, it is hidden in plain sight in the heart of Istanbul, within the crumbling Constantinople Walls. Looking for Constantinople in Istanbul is a fascinating journey of discovering the Roman … Read more
When the Arabs occupied Spain from 711 until 1236, Cordoba was the first capital of their kingdom – Al-Andalus. In 1000AD, Córdoba was a city of a million people. It was one of the most culturally and politically advanced cities in the world, a rival of Constantinople. The Moors left a magnificent legacy in Cordoba, … Read more
Unlike many other cities in Spain, Madrid doesn’t have a well-defined and easily discernible medieval city centre, something that could be considered an ‘old town Madrid’. But that’s not to say that you can’t discover it if you know where to look. To understand Madrid’s history and Spanish culture in general, you have to remember … Read more
Alicante Old Town is the neighbourhood (or barrio) of Santa Cruz, lying just below the Santa Barbara Castle to the north of La Rambla. It spills down the slope of Mount Benacantil, and its total area is quite large. But the most picturesque area is the main residential area on the highest point of the … Read more
Mainly known for being the capital of Costa del Sol, Malaga is a surprisingly ancient city. By the 6th century BC, it was already a leading Phoenician commercial centre. The first city walls of Malaga were built by the Phoenicians. Today, the area that was contained within these city walls is Malaga Old Town or … Read more
Looking to experience centuries-old cafe culture? Then drop by one of these best cafes in Istanbul and soak up the ambience. Whether you are exploring Sultanahmet, strolling along Istiklal Caddesi, or getting lost in the twisting streets of Balat, we’ve got you covered. Coffee may have been discovered by a goat herder in ancient Egypt, but cafe culture … Read more
Prague has one of the most perfectly preserved old towns in all of Europe. Its streets are lined with spectacular architecture – a bold fusion of medieval sturdiness, renaissance sophistication and baroque exuberance. It is practically an open-air museum of European art and history. And like in every museum, there are abundant hidden gems in … Read more
Istanbul’s umbrella streets are some of the most atmospheric hidden gems in Istanbul. While the city is famous for its Ottoman and Byzantine sites, the umbrella streets are delightful features of modern Istanbul. But they can be notoriously difficult to find. You’ll more likely to stumble on an umbrella street than to find it on … Read more