A Taste of the Veneto on the Outskirts of Vicenza
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A Taste of the Veneto on the Outskirts of Vicenza

Beautiful provincial cities may be the true treasure of Italy, but the country’s beautiful landscapes are at least as attractive. The Veneto – rolling hills and scenic rivers wedged in between the Alps and the Adriatic coast – is near the top in the list of Italy’s most picturesque regions, and it would be a…

The Beauty of Vicenza, Palladian and Otherwise
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The Beauty of Vicenza, Palladian and Otherwise

Beautiful provincial towns are Italy’s true treasure. Almost every country in Europe has one or two Grade 1 tourist attractions, but only Italy can tempt visitors with a seemingly endless list of Grade B sites, all of which merit a long weekend if not, perhaps, a full-length holiday. Vicenza is another of these hidden gems…

The Waters of Treviso – Three Canals, Two Rivers and One Pair of Tette
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The Waters of Treviso – Three Canals, Two Rivers and One Pair of Tette

Here is a warning: If you cannot stand the sight of water … … and if you are particularly allergic against streams that are narrowly framed by rows of ancient buildings … … you should stay well clear of Treviso because, once you are there, you will find no way of escaping your nightmare. You…

Gardens of the French Riviera: The Parc Chambrun in Nice
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Gardens of the French Riviera: The Parc Chambrun in Nice

Long urban and country walks are great but they do take up a lot of time: time to organize and to prepare, time to travel, time to do the actual walking. Such walks can easily become projects around which you have to structure not only the day itself but your entire weekend break, squeezing other…

Apple Trees, Windswept Dikes and the Charms of Palookaville
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Apple Trees, Windswept Dikes and the Charms of Palookaville

The Altes Land, a few kilometres outside of Hamburg, is Europe’s largest fruit orchard. More than 10 million cherry and apple trees are growing here on the southern bank of the Elbe river, inviting you to stroll through a sea of colour and scenic beauty. That was what we had in mind when we boarded…

Hamburg St Pauli – Hardcore with a Heart of Gold
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Hamburg St Pauli – Hardcore with a Heart of Gold

St Pauli is the oldest of Hamburg’s Szeneviertels, although you would not have called it a “trendy neighbourhood” when people began to settle here in the late Middle Ages. St Pauli started its life as Hamburg’s messy attic: everything that the municipal administration did not want inside the city walls but, for various reasons, did…