1. See three major sights in one square Standing in the middle of the magnificent piazza San Marco is an experience in itself: Napoleon referred to it as the ‘drawing room of Europe’, apt today as, at times, it appears that much of Europe’s population is crammed into this great square. But it’s St Mark’s basilica (Basilica di San Marco), often seen as the living testimony of Venice’s links with Byzantium; Doge’s Palace, once Venice’s political and judicial hub; and Torre dell’Orologio, a clock tower built between 1496 and 1506, that are,…

Hostel Name: Ostello degli ElefantiCity: CataniaCountry: ItalyYour Name: Marcello RannoA Brief Description of your hostelOur hostel is located in a beautiful XVII century building situated in the vibrant heart of Catania. From every room and terrace you can almost touch the city's most important monuments and our fascinating volcano Etna. Each spacious hostel room boasts high, domed ceilings with beautiful frescoes from the XVIII century. In addition, our rooms have heating, air-conditioning, free wi-fi access, and each bed has its own personal light, locker, USB ports for…

London is one of the world's top tourist destinations, attracting upward of 15 million visitors each year. Britain's capital city is a vibrant arts and entertainment center. It also boasts one of the planet's greatest concentrations of cultural attractions. One of Britain's most iconic buildings, Buckingham Palace is also the scene of London's most popular display, the Changing of the Guard. Displaying one of the world's finest collections of antiquities, the British Museum contains more than 13 million artifacts from the ancient world. From prison to palace, treasure vault to private…

Berlin is the capital of Germany. Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media, and science. Berlin is well known for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts, and a high quality of living. The Reichstag building is part of a number of government buildings that you need to check out. The Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most stunning squares in the city. The Brandenburg Gate is Berlin's signature attraction. It is one of Germany's most visited landmarks and an icon of the city of Berlin. During its more than 300-year history, it has played many different…

In a city so filled with icons of antiquity and the Christian faith, it's hard to know where to go first. The largest structure left to us by Roman antiquity, the Colosseum still provides the model for sports arenas. It was large enough for theatrical performances, festivals, circuses, or games. The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world, most of it enclosed by the Vatican walls. Inside are the Vatican palace and gardens,St. Peter's Basilica, and St. Peter's Square. The highlight of the Vatican museums is the Sistine Chapel, whose magnificent frescoed ceiling is…

Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most famous cathedrals on earth, and a beautiful example of french gothic architecture. Beautiful sculptures, and stained glass decor surround this home of multiple important Catholic relics, including the Crown of Thorns. La Louvre museum displays treasures such as the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and Egyptian mummies. Built in 1889 for the entrance to the World Fair, you can't stop in Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. Take a few pictures and have a bite to eat at one of the restaurants on the first and second levels. Standing over a busy Paris…

Despite its far-flung location from London on the west coast of England, Bristol is the 13th most visited city in the UK. In 2014, The Sunday Times declared Bristol the best city to live in Britain, and in 2009 an Eyewitness guide for young adults named it as one of the top ten cities in the world. There were several good reasons for these conclusions. For starters, the city is steeped in beauty. Visitors have the opportunty to admire over 4300 Grade-listed buildings located in the city - historically and architecturally significant locations of real elegance and charm. Surrounding…

The fact that so many other leading cities are nicknamed after Venice - Bruges, Stockholm and St Petersburg among them - speaks volumes in itself; it is truly one of the most desirable tourist destinations in the world. St Mark's Square is Venice's chief public square. Its Campanile tower offers the city's highest views, and it also draws crowds keen to witness its famous frequent bouts of flooding. The St Mark's Basilica, nicknamed the 'Church of gold' for its lavish golden decorations, this magnificent structure is the chief Roman Catholich church in Venice. This 15th century Doge's…

One of the most visited cities in the world, tourists are smothered by guides quibbling over what to prioritise in its wealth of attractions. Less commonly explored is what to avoid. In this short article, we identify ten of the most ill-advised things to see and do in this famous city. 1. The Underground Suffocating crowds make Underground travel labourious makes it one of the ten overrated things in London. By far the fastest and most comfortable way to get about in London is by bus. 2. Oxford Street Ubiquitous brand names and streets as crowded as the Underground make this a…

www.smayloss.com Just to make sure that you all get our seasons greetings, here are 139 other ways to say "Merry Christmas and Happy new year"! Enjoy and stay safe! Afrikaans - Geseende Kerfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar Albanian - GÃzuar Krishlindjet Vitin e Ri! Amharic - Melkam Yelidet Beaal Arabic - I'D Miilad Said ous Sana Saida Aramaic- Edo bri'cho o rish d'shato brich'to! Argentine -Feliz Navidad Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand Aromunian - Crãciunu hãriosu shi unu anu nãu, bunu! Azeri - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun …