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The Catalan town of Alghero is located on the Northwest coast of Sardinia. Known throughout the world for its stunning beaches and characteristic old town centre it is fast becoming one of Europe’s holiday hotspots.
Alghero is an old fishing town that has embraced the tourist industry with two very large arms. Sprawling out along the coast line Alghero offers the tourist both the opportunity of a beach holiday or a small city break.

If you are looking to just relax and be somewhere that you can walk out the door and be on the beach you must stay in the Lido area. The Lido is Alghero’s own beach that runs all the way form Alghero to Fertilia, a small hamlet of Alghero. There are a number of hotels located in the area with sea views and private sun beds on the beach for residents. In the summer months the Lido comes to life with a number of bars, restaurants and pizzerias either on the beach or in the area and when the sun goes down you can find live music and parties on the beach.

For those who don’t want to be on the beach and want to experience a little more of the cultural side of Alghero there is the old town. Dating back to the 12th century the old town centre is truly something that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Have lunch along the battlements looking out to sea or take a stroll through the shops in the warren of cobble stone streets. There are a number of churches and historical places of interest to visit and many guided excursions to help make sure you do not miss anything.

The area of Alghero does of course spread beyond the boundaries of the city itself. There is Porto Conte with its natural wildlife reserve that spreads along the coast line in complete natural beauty. Reachable either by land or by boat excursion there is Capo Caccia and Neptune’s Grotto which is a must for any visitor to Alghero.

Away form the coast there is also much to see and do. Why not visit an Agriturismo, a working farm that has lodging and restaurant facilities serving up only produce from the farm.

As mentioned earlier Alghero is a Catalan town and although much of the cuisine available is Italian there are a few Catalan influences to be found. Why not try Paella Algherese or Catalan lobster (served cold with fresh tomato and onion). There are of course many Sardinian specialities to be tried such as roast suckling pig or Seadas, a pastry filled with Goats cheese and then dribbled with honey.

The climate in Alghero allows for a perfect vacation all year round. The summer months get up to about 35 degrees and throughout the day in the winter the temperature never drops much below 15 degrees.

A great place for children and adults alike, Alghero is definitely worth a visit.

For more Sardinian tourist information take a look at Sardinia - tourist information

Born in London Kirk Friis moved to Sardinia where he now lives with his wife and son.

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The unique blend of unspoiled natural beauty and beaches and the finest surviving temples of Ancient Greece, makes Sicily a vacation destination like no other. For theatre enthusiasts, Ancient Greek Drama is also available in Syracuse.

The ancient Greek playwright Euripides (480 to 406 B.C) wrote works of tragedy and drama regarding mythological characters and Greek heroines. Picking out from his prolific list of works, this year in the Greek Theatre of Syracuse, The Trojan Women and Hecuba will intrigue the audience from 11th May to 25th June.

Euripide’s play analyses the fates of the royal women of Troy who are at the hands of Greek conquerors who under the pretext of saving Helen, are more deeply concerned by the rat race dominated by pride and personal ambition. In this milieu, Eurpide makes of Hecuba the central figure of the two works, the homonym tragedy Hecubas and the Trojan Women.

At the end of the Trojan War after ten years of harsh fight and traumatic losses, the victorious Greeks, led by their king, Agamemnon, and the great soldier Odysseus, have destroyed the city of Troy and are returning home with the women of Troy enslaved as their war prize, amongst which there is Hecuba, who once was queen of Troy. The play begins with Queen Hecuba devastated by the war and agonizing over the death of her husband, the king, her sons and her grandson.

However, although being a spoil of war herself, she manifests her strong character and superiority as from the beginning by shouting at the women enslaved on the shore. Moreover she hates Helen for bringing so much misery to her city and her people. Hecuba decides to share the burden of war and all throughout the play she imparts her pain but at the same time gaining strength by planning a horrific revenge. Hecubas impersonates the continuity of the disorder that war brought. The spectator witnesses the gradual decomposing humanity of this dethroned queen. The tragedy emphasises the transformation of this character form a matriarch and grieving mother to a cruel being.

Last year’s protagonist in the same Greek Theatre was Antigone (by Sophocles) who for twenty years accompanied her father; she is the personification of grace and patience. In contrast to Hecubas, she chose to be courageous after the great disaster of her youth without being menacing. In Antigone it was God’s justice to be proved powerful in the constant battle between human and divine law. In Hecubas, attack, war, honour and revenge play a key role in Euripide’s work. Moreover, the audience will realize that history repeats itself and that people are incapable to prevent more of the same from happening as if humans have an innate inclination towards war and battle, thus instead of learning a lesson, like Hecubas, human beings tend to do worse and perpetuate devastation and causing more pain hence getting trapped in vicious circle.

It is interesting to highlight that in the Port of Syracuse the Athenian fleet has been destroyed in the last action of the Peloponnesian War. Prisoners were taken in the latomie (stone quarries) placed nearby the Greek Theatre where many died of hunger and hardships. However, Plutarco says that many survived because they could recite pieces form Euripide’s works. Knowing if this really happened is secondary to the fact that poetry can save our life.

Angela Rossi
bbsicilia@virgilio.it

More Details about SICILY TOUR, SICILY HOTELS, SICILY TRAVEL here: http://www.sleepinsicily.com/ Committed to international travel indicating accommodations where to stay and where to rest.

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Planning a wedding is stressful enough. Planning a honeymoon should be a pleasure. As long as both the bride and groom agree on the locale and the activities, this part of the new life adventure should be a snap to plan. Creating plans for the perfect romantic honeymoon should include things that appeal to both, however. If one likes the water and the other hates it, a beach trip might want to be avoided.

Typically, a good honeymoon that’s nice and romantic can take place anywhere the honeymooners can get some quality time together with a lot of privacy. Very few people want a lot of others around during their special once-in-a-lifetime trip together. The vacation, whether it’s for a weekend or an entire month, is meant to help you both ease in to married life and create lasting memories. It should be fun, relaxing and romantic.

Before planning a trip, it’s a good idea for both the bride and groom to sit down and discuss options. Be certain to pick a place together - one that really appeals to both. Although it’s likely a lot of time will be spent in the room, venturing out should be a fun option that offers lots of romantic possibilities, too.

Here are some tips on places to go:

* Beach destinations. For many, there are few things more romantic than watching a sunset on a pristine beach while sipping on drinks with little paper straws and watching palm trees sway in a warm breeze. If this appeals, places such as Florida, South Carolina, California, Hawaii and even some European destinations and the islands of the Caribbean and so on are all good ideas. They all offer their own special appeal and other possibilities for romance and adventure.

* Europe. If staying in a historic city, perhaps within the walls of a romantic, medieval castle, sounds like a dream come true, countries such as Germany, England, Scotland and Ireland might be considered. Sightseeing possibilities are incredible in any of the destinations and accommodations can really be as upscale or as basic as a couple’s budget demands.

* Mountains. There are few places more romantic than secluded mountain cabins. Getting back to nature offers some incredible views, which happen to be very romantic and the privacy can’t be beat. Places to consider for this type of trip include anywhere in the Smokey Mountains, the Rockies, Pennsylvania, New York, Canada and Europe. Again accommodations can include upscale lodges or more rustic cabins or even tent camping. Whatever both the bride and groom deem goes.

* Ocean cruises. When it comes to beautiful views and upscale treatment, cruises are unstoppable. With lots to see and do, there’s plenty to appeal outside of the stateroom.

No matter where you go or what you do on your honeymoon, remember the trip is for both the bride and groom. It’s a time to kick back, relax and get to know each other even better before the day-to-day routine of married life sets in. Just make certain the trip appeals to you both, make it fun and relax; it’s the stuff lifelong memories are made of.

A romantic honeymoon can be cheap, affordable or extravagant. As long as the two most important people are having fun, that’s all that matters. Leave the stress of planning behind at the wedding and just enjoy the honeymoon.

http://www.honeymoonvacationmall.com

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