Berlin - a capital of culture

Berlin is famous for once being a divided city, split at the end of World War Two, for the most part by the Berlin Wall. Then with German reunification in 1990, Berlin was reinstated as the capital of Germany. Now a unified city with a strong sense history, Berlin is a wonderful location for a city break for those who love culture, music, and the cosmopolitan environment. Berlin’s great architecture, innumerable museums, art galleries and interesting events provide something for every taste.

With its diverse nightlife Berlin has also become established as a centre for popular, underground and counter-culture in Europe, making it one of the most exciting spots for young people. The city has some world class clubs, such as arthouse Kunsthaus Tacheles and techno venue Tresor, as well as varied pubs and bars. There are plenty of gigs to go and see, and most major acts on tour will do Berlin.

If you are into more traditional culture then Berlin has more than fifty theatres, three major opera houses, and seven symphony orchestras – so the choice of things to do on any one night is wide and varied.

A number of Berlin’s museums are located on its Museum Island, an island in the Spree River. Here you can find the Old Museum with its impressive array of Prussian antiques, and the Pergamon Museum which contains amazing reconstructions of historical and ancient buildings, such as the Ishtar Gate of Babylon.

If you like to have plenty of choice in terms of culture, Berlin is the place to be.

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Rotterdam - the largest port with the hottest nightlife

Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port, and the second largest city of the Netherlands after Amsterdam. With a very upbeat and cosmopolitan population, Rotterdam has a fast, urban pace of life, with cultural events, clubs, pubs and bars, which attract interest not just from other parts of the Netherlands, but from across Europe and beyond. This is all set against the backdrop of Rotterdam’s stunning modern architecture.

In the Netherlands people often jokingly used to say that Rotterdam was the place for earning the money, and Amsterdam was the place for spending it. However people are re-thinking this old saying, as Rotterdam is now a magnet in its own right for those seeking a good night out, so much so, that it is now the popular place for Amsterdam residents to go for fun weekends.

Rotterdam has an impressive and varied music scene, and hosts a number of popular summer music festivals such as the Latin American-style Summer Carnival, the Metropolis Pop Festival, and the North Sea Jazz Festival. Rotterdam is also home to hardcore techno groups such as Neophyte.

If museums are your thing, then Rotterdam is not short of them – take your pick from The Netherlands Architecture Institute, The Historical Museum, The Maritime Museum, The Natural History Museum, or the Volkenkundig Museum, which covers various peoples and cultures around the world. If you like to see animals there is a zoo, and for marine life viewing there is Oceanium, which is a walkthrough sea aquarium where you can see many fascinating species of fish.

Rotterdam is not just a place for city break, but a place that you can keep coming back to.

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Florence - capital of Tuscany

Standing on the River Arno, Florence is the capital city of the much-loved Italian region of Tuscany. Florence was one of the main centres where the Renaissance bloomed, and this has left the city a wonderful legacy of the finest painting, sculpture and architecture, making it a great attraction to those who love art, and bringing in millions of visitors each year from all over the world.

The cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore has a magnificent dome built by Filippo Brunelleschi, and close by is the Campanile Tower which was partly designed by Giotto, whose stunningly realistic style became highly influential to Renaissance art.

In the centre of Florence you will find the Piazza della Signoria which is graced with the impressive Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati. Ammannati’s portrayal of Neptune, flanked by mischievous satyrs and elegant seahorses, was chosen to represent the link between the city of Florence and the sea.

Over the River Arno is one of the most famous sights of Florence – the unique and beautiful Ponte Vecchio, meaning “Old Bridge”, which dates back to the Middle Ages. The stunning feature of the Ponte Vecchio is that it has buildings on it, one of the few bridges in the world with this feature. The buildings and houses on the bridge are now mainly shops, and taking a stroll across the bridge is like walking down an old narrow street, with plenty to see in terms of medieval architecture and stunning shop window displays.

For art and architecture, as well as great Italian food and ice cream, Florence is an ideal destination for a holiday or city break.


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