Milan

What to See

Milan’s Duomo is the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world: only Seville Cathedral is larger (and St. Peter’s Basilica doesn’t count because it’s not a cathedral). Milan Cathedral is 157 meters long and 40,000 people can fit comfortably within.

Exterior

The Duomo of Milan blurs the distinction between Gothic and neo-Gothic, for the Gothic west front was begun in 1616 and completed 200 years later. Only in its details does it reveal its Baroque and Neo-Classical date. From 1900 some of the less Gothic details of the facade were replaced in a true Gothic style, to designs of Giuseppe Brentano.

The roofline dissolves into openwork pinnacles that are punctuated by a grove of spires, topped with statues that overlook the city. The main spire is 109 meters high. These can all be investigated up close on a breathtaking walk on the roof. The huge building is made of brick faced with marble from the quarries that Gian Galeazzo Visconti donated in perpetuity to the cathedral chapter.

Interior

The cathedral’s five wide naves are reflected in the hierarchic openings of the facade. Even the transepts have aisles. The great windows of the choir are reputed to be the largest in the world.

Mark Twain, a great fan of the Duomo, can take over the description from here (from Innocents Abroad): What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! A very world of solid weight, and yet it seems …a delusion of frostwork that might vanish with a breath!…

The central one of its five great doors is bordered with a bas-relief of birds and fruits and beasts and insects, which have been so ingeniously carved out of the marble that they seem like living creatures– and the figures are so numerous and the design so complex, that one might study it a week without exhausting its interest…everywhere that a niche or a perch can be found about the enormous building, from summit to base, there is a marble statue, and every statue is a study in itself…

Away above, on the lofty roof, rank on rank of carved and fretted spires spring high in the air, and through their rich tracery one sees the sky beyond. …(Up on) the roof…springing from its broad marble flagstones, were the long files of spires, looking very tall close at hand, but diminishing in the distance…We could see, now, that the statue on the top of each was the size of a large man, though they all looked like dolls from the street…

They say that the Cathedral of Milan is second only to St. Peter’s at Rome. I cannot understand how it can be second to anything made by human hands.
We don’t think the Duomo di Milano is quite as exciting as Mark Twain did. Although the facade is lovely and the cathedral is impressively large, it is quite dark and not terribly interesting inside.

However, all the extras of the Duomo are very interesting: the roof climb; the treasury; and the excavations of the Early Christian baptistery.

Roof Climb

The roof climb provides a unique and memorable opportunity to walk high on the roofs of the huge Gothic cathedral. The views are magnificent and the opportunity to see the pinnacles and sculptures close up along the way is worth the climb alone. Entrance is from the north side of the cathedral (walk around left from the front). You can choose to walk up the stairs – which are solid, square, and more roomy than many cathedral stairways – or take an elevator for a higher price.

Crypt and Treasury

The crypt is entered from inside the cathedral near the choir. Entrance to the crypt is free and many visitors descend the short stairway to visit the tomb of Cardinal Borromeo. Also in the crypt is the Tesoro del Duomo, or Cathedral Treasury. If you have any interest in medieval art, religious art, or “old stuff” in general, this is a must-see.

Baptistery Excavations

Archaeological excavations beneath the cathedral have revealed the foundations of a Paleochristian Baptistery dating from the 4th century. It is said to be the baptistery in which St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, baptized his student Augustine.

Kos Island, Greece

Kos is an island in the Dodecanese group, located just two and a half miles from the coast of Turkey. It measures 25 miles by 5 miles and features an alluring port and lively tourist activities, ancient Greek ruins, and miles of coastline where you can enjoy R&R on the beach. There are over 21 beaches on the island, many of which feature exquisite fine sand and crystalline water. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy on Kos Island Greece, whether you are interested in exploring ruins and historic landmarks like the ancient Odeon or the Ruins of the Ancient Gymnasium, or prefer to simply fall out on the beach for a few days.

The port, also called Kos, is the epicenter of tourist activity on the island. It is an idyllic little port where many boats are moored. There is a host of restaurants, cafes, and bars, and even a few nightclubs for people who like to keep the party going into the late hours of the night. You will not have to look far on this relatively small island to find the perfect beach either. As with many of the other islands in Greece, there are beaches that are suitable for private relaxation, as well as lively, tourist-centric beaches with all the standard amenities and beach services. There are several hotels and resorts on the island. Top beaches include Mastichari Beach, Kefalos Beach, Lambi Beach, and Marmari Beach.

Another attraction of this island is the formidable, fourteenth-century fortress that stands at the entry of the port. It was constructed in the year 1315. The Cathedral of the City of Kos and Hippocrates’ Statue are also must-see landmarks.

Kitzbuhel, Austria

It’s hard to say whether Austria is better known for its music or its skiing, but it is easy to say that for skiing enthusiasts, Austria is a dream come true. With the awe-inspiring peaks and runs of Innsbruck, Montafon, Kitzbuhel and Arlberg the hardest part of skiing in Austria is deciding where to go.

Innsbruck has twice hosted the Winter Olympics because of its world-class facilities and ski runs. There are six different areas for skiing and snowboarding in Innsbruck, each offering a slightly different set of challenges and amenities. A Super Ski Pass is available for all areas and includes 200 lifts and 310 miles of skiing terrain.

When you’re taking a break from skiing, Innsbruck also has ice climbing, shopping, the Alpine Zoo, historic sights and first-class dining.

Montafon valley offers 66 railways and ski lifts, ten skiing schools, 122 miles of downhill ski runs and 62 miles of cross-country trials. The Montafon Skipass is a combination ticket that includes all railways, lifts and bus posts in the valley.

Winter hiking trails and toboggan runs, as well as quaint villages also permeate the  Montafon valley. Dreamland, a kids area, also offers ice skating, tennis and skiing.

Kitzbuhel boasts 60 lifts, 99 miles of manicured ski pistes and 31 miles of snowboarding carving areas. It is also home to the world-famous Hahnenkammrennen ski race.

Fine dining, nightlife and a full-service casino make Kitzbuhel the perfect destination for those who want to ski all day and party all night.

The Arlberg region is the birthplace of modern Alpine skiing and 85 lifts and 161 miles of downhill terrain. A variety of ski schools, from professional to beginner make the Ahrlberg region the perfect place to learn or hone your skiing skills. Ski bars, world-class resorts and fine dining make the Ahrlberg region a wonderful place to stay if you like to be pampered at the end of the day.

Ice skating, curling, tobogganing and sleigh rides are also fun ways to spend the time in Arlberg.

Kefalonia, Greece

The name Kefalinia as it was called by Herodotus came from Kefalanes, who were people from Western Greece. The turbulent history of the island, however, brought large fluctuations in its population,and was followed by an intense internal migration to urban centers.

As far as the attractions are concerned, the most important sights are the Archaeological Museum of Argostoli, the Naval and Environmental Museum of Fiskardo, with information on the history of the island, the marine life and the natural beauty, the Natural History Museum of Kefalonia and Ithaki,at Daygata, the ecclesiastical Museum of Holy Monastery of Saint Andrea Milapidia, where there are exposed ecclesiastical heirlooms,paintings, pictures and murals and the Monastery of Saint Gerasimos (or New Jerusalem). The wines produced in the island are part of the tradition of Kefalonia, with Rompola being the most prominent variety of wine, while the cuisine includes well known, traditional dishes of Kefalonia, such as pastitsada and aliada.

Palma de Mallorca

In 1983 Palma de Mallorca became the capital of the newly established Balearic Islands autonomous community. It is the cosmopolitan hub of over 300.000 people. The new self-confidence is plain to see in the city center, a vibrant urbane place that is akin to the big cities of the Spanish mainland-and a world away from the heaving tourist enclaves of the surrounding bay. 

There's still a long way to go, but the bild center now presents a splendid ensemble of lively shopping areas, mazy lanes and refurbished old buildings, all enclosed by what remains of the old city walls and their replacements boulevards.

You will not regret visiting this island of Mallorca, and especially its capital, Mallorca where the magnificent cathedral designed by Antoni Gaudi can be found. The building is essentially gothic, with massive exterior buttresses.

You should also visit the museu de Mallorca, occupying one of the many 15th or 16th patrician mansions, and some exceptionally fine medieval religious paintings. The Basilica de Sant Francesc is the finest among the city's host of worthy medieval churches, and don't miss also the Santa Eulalia, the first church to be built after Jaume's arrival. Close by, the ajuntament is a debonair example of the late-Renaissance style, with a grand and self-assured foyer.

To eat, you have inexpensive cafés and tapas bars distributed around the city center. Xou can also palma_de_mallorca.jpgfind several Mallorca hotels and Mallorca apartments in central and popular areas of Palma.

Palma is a perfect destination for holidays; the city remains beautiful and impressive, with the grand bulk of the cathedral towering above the old town and the remnants of the medieval walls. In high season, finding an accommodation in Palma de Mallorca is not easy. So you should plan your trip in advance and book your Mallorca holiday home early.

The Canary Islands

Population: 2.099.000

Area: 7447 km²

Seven islands, six little isles, four national parks, hundreds of volcanoes, nearly all which are now inactive: this is a brief outline of an archipelago that lies off the West coast of Morocco, near the Tropic of Cancer. Annexed to Spain between the XIV and XV centuries when the earliest inhabitants, the Guanches, were still there, then transformed into a flourishing trading centre on the shipping and trade routes to the American and African continents, these islands are nowadays two distinct Spanish provinces: the Western Islands(Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera) and the Eastern Islands (Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura). The fantastic scenery, pleasant climate and beautiful sea have all made this place a paradise for tourism, though tourists seem to prefer the easternmost islands; La Palma, El Hierro and La Gomera are practically still free of important resorts. Tenerife is the most popular; its name derives from the Guanches dialect name for “Snow-clad Mountain”, clearly referring to the imposing Pico del Teide, which is the 3718 metre high inactive volcano that dominates this triangular island and is the highest in the whole of Spain. Beside seeing the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz, with its white beaches, its churches and interesting museums, the great Parque Nacional del Teide is definitely worth a visit: the park stretches fot kilometres in the barren, lavic scenery that skirts the two volcano cones of the mountain, interrupted only here and there by defiant but rare and beautiful and plants.

The situation in the Eastern Islands is somewhat different. Particulary in Gran Canaria, which attracts almost two million tourists every year; besides a microcosm of scenery and climate (sandy coasts and cliffs, beaches and green countryside, rugged peaks and valleys at the foot of the great volcano cone in the centre of the island), the island has two very famous cities, Las Palmas and Maspalomas. The former is the chief city and the largest in the province, with a very busy port where modern facilities flank the ancient architecture of the old district. Hence, next to the XVI Cathedral consecrated to Santa Ana, and the Casa de Colon, the government building that accommodated Christopher Columbus and now a museum dedicated to his adventures, visitors can see the picturesque Pueblo Canario, a tourist paradise of little white-washed houses, where the sounds of folk music and dancing fill the air around busy little shops selling the ware of local craftsmen. Then there is the Museo Canario, entirely dedicated to the rich, interesting history of the Canary Islands prior to the arrival of the Spaniards; and the Parque Santa Catalina, a shaded square facing the port and full of typical kiosks and delightful meeting places.