the wind from the East announces the East of Europe, creeps between the forest of Slavkov and the hop fields, onion-shaped bell towers, storks' nests on top of the poles of the light, orange sunsets, villages lost in nowhere that have operetta names. But the real treasure of the Czech Republic lies underground. Hundreds of mineral-rich springs flow out discovered in the Middle Ages in the water cities, frequented in the 19th century by artists and sovereigns such as the British King Eduardo VII and Tsar Peter the Great. The cities of Karlovy Vary, Mariánské Lázně, Františkovy are a triumph of Baroque and Art Nouveau Lázně, which form the Thermal Triangle, a Unesco heritage site since 2021, "a paradise on earth" according to Goethe, who came to regenerate in the beneficial waters of these centres. From the Middle Ages one extraordinary meeting place, mixture of peoples and peoples, when merchants, nobles and men of letters reached them through the prehistoric amber route that connected the Baltic to the Mediterranean.

Lanzarote island

In Monte Carlo, the micro and the macro meet together, they often overlap and find a way to coexist and enrich themselves. The skyscrapers hide urban micro-areas, the Mediterranean sea can be an oasis for oysters, as a green rooftop can host bees. Despite what we think, Montecarlo is not only the residence for Formula one drivers or top tennis players. The normality of work and passion is revealed even in Europe's most prestigious and richest state. Jessica Sbaraglia, a former model with a penchant for greenery, has found a balance between steel and concrete in the principality by creating organic vegetable gardens where she grows the raw materials she delivers to residents and restaurants.This began in the shadow of the tower with the most expensive flat in the world . We truly call it km less than zero. She made it to the top, in every sense of the word, when the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort realised the value of the project and entrusted her with the roof to grow the raw materials used in Michelin-starred chef Marcel Ravin's restaurant below. Éric Rinaldi has no noble titles, but the prestige of being the only fisherman in the Principality World to the end of the world character. There is even something evangelical about his departure from Quai de l'Hirondelle, even if Rinaldi does not fish for miracles, but for mullet and langoustines, and he has the dry talkativeness of someone who does not need bigwords to reveal what he considers the beauty of Monte Carlo: normality. Federica Nardoni Spinetta, philosopher and president of the Monegasque Chamber of Fashion, turned her back on clichés and started the Beach Cashmere Monaco brand. Disused sails of luxurious boats become chic clothes of great craftsmanship, included in collections such as Save the Ocean and Save the Reef. Philip Culazzo is an entrepreneur with his eyes in the clouds and his hands in the branches of the orange trees on rue Grimaldi and boulevard de la Belgique, from which he picks the fruit to distil the liqueur l'Orangerie, an icon of "Made in Monaco" flavours. Brice Cachia, a marine biologist, has created a paradise for Breton oysters, which he cultivates in the crystal-clear water in front of the Rock. Nothing is left to chance and he checks and measures the water and the corals on the seabed. A delicacy that the passionately recounts and distributes in his small restaurant: justquality.

here is a nature-inspired entry. Yes, le Perche National Reserve really is all about the nature, with this ancient wooded area offering visitors the perfect city escape just 140km from the capital. You can travel via train or bike here, but probably the easiest option is to rent a car and drive – a very affordable option if there’s a group of you. Free walks abound, but there’s also the chance to bike or horse ride through this beautiful rural area. In addition, historical monuments, grand gardens and tons of local foodie experiences are on offer too. With so many free, outdoor things to do here, Le Perche is undoubtedly one of the top Paris day trips. that's why many Parisians choosed this region to move, stettle and forget about the capital

beautiful homes for dream vacation in Puglia

In 1999, in collaboration with Lorenzo Fiaschi and the Galleria Continua, the Contemporary Art project began. Since 2015 Philip Larrat-Smith has been appointed curator, actively contributing in the choice of artists from all over the world. In fact, it was clear from the very beginning that this place was also able to speak to the hearts of the artists, to touch their sensitivity, and – through the genius loci – to open the horizons of knowledge, trying to reconnect the past with the future. The genius is, in Greek philosophy, a divinity who represents all generated things and, at the same time, is capable of generating them. St. Augustine defines genius as "the inventive and creative talent", but it will be Kant who will give it a much more detailed definition in his 'Critique of Judgment': "the talent to discover". The genius is the one who has the possibility to find: it is not necessary for him to know, but he must be able to produce something masterful, that is: reference for everyone. 'Genius' is nothing more than the ability to create original things given by nature to man. The addition of the genitive loci defines the specific genius of a place. Terroir, on the other hand, is the term, used in oenology, which defines the uniqueness of a wine. Graphically, it is represented by a triangle whose vertices are the soil, climate and variety and at the center of which is man. Not all wine-growing areas are equipped with terroir, and a vineyard without terroir is like a deconsecrated church: it seems that nothing is missing, but in reality the most important thing is. Being in Ama, listening to their stories, breathing in the air and drinking their wine: this is the best way to introduce ourselves. And this is how the artist ends up being fertilized by the genius loci - just as has already happened to the winemaker with the terroir - and creates something masterful, unrepeatable and specific for that place. Here and nowhere else.

Ile D'Yeu The untamed rugged coastline of Ile d’Yeu reminds us of the Celtic landscapes of Scotland, dotted with many coves and rocky outcrops. Countless inlets with fine sandy beaches nestle amidst the cliffs such as Belle Maison, Anse des Fontaines, Les Sabias (a tiny beach with fishermen's huts) to mention a few. L’Ile d’Yeu‘s well-known Port de la Meule is a natural haven providing shelter for passing boats. It sits snugly into the landscape and is overlooked by the iconic chapel of Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle which stands proudly on the coast.

Lollove è considerato il più piccolo paese al mondo, 13 abitanti, nell'entroterra Sarda in provincia di Nuoro. Il massimo splendore l'ha raggiunto negli anni 50 con circa 500 abitanti La principale fonte di ricchezza del paese era basata prettamente sull’agricoltura e l’allevamento, costituito principalmente da pecore, maiali selvatici e vacche, oltre che essere rinomato per la gran produzione di miele e olio La continua mancanza di acqua nella rete, la totale assenza di fogne ma sopratutto, le corse dei pullman sempre più rare dagli orari sempre più scomodi non hanno fatto altro che incentivare gli ultimi giovani del paese a trovare una fissa dimora altrove, al fine di una maggiore comodità e disponibilità di servizi. Con la crescita del polo industriale del Nuorese ha messo in moto un inevitabile spopolamento, perdendo le due scuole , la caserma dei carabinieri, i due bar, il tabaccaio e l'unico negozio di generi alimentari e un telefono pubblico. Ci prova a rivatilazzaro Simone Ciferni, poco più di trent'anni che dopo la laurea in Economia e Gestione Aziendale a Cagliari, si è specializzato sullo sviluppo locale, in particolare sui piccoli paesi, e lo ha fatto sia in comunità simili a quella della sua Lollove in Sudafrica e Costa Rica e successivamente con lo studio di grandi centri, come San Francisco e Washington. Dopodiché è tornato a Lollove, per realizzare il suo progetto attraverso l'azienda multifunzionale di famiglia. Propone un soggiorno detox , con workshop per mettere le mani in pasta o nel latte per produrre un po' di ricotta da consumare al volo. Ha coinvolto tutti i tredici compaesani, trasformando la frazione in una detox destination. Un progetto che nel 2019 gli ha consentito di vincere l'Oscar green regionale (premio di Coldiretti Giovani) nella categoria sostenibilità

la Madernassa, two stars gourmet restaurant, chef Michelangelo Mammoliti, in the Piemonte region

travel Greece summer sea vacation

Italian summer in central Italy

Puglia travel holiday

summer lake vacation boat italy iseo

“Below, in spring, life begins again: the rays feed the phytoplankton, which produces the sugar used by all living beings: in a few weeks, these almost invisible algae will be half a meter tall” Marine biologist Trond Rafoss is sitting in the dining room of UNDER, Europe's first underwater restaurant, which opened in 2019 in this southern Norwegian bay. Under, in Norwegian, has a double meaning: it means "below" but it also means something else: "wonder" The chef is called Nicolai Ellitsgaard and he is a boy-faced Dane who has already transformed the seabed into his vegetable garden. At dawn he puts on his watertight overalls and goes to get the ingredients for the kitchen the restaurant is located in the county of Lindesnes, where the oldest lighthouse in the country stands and the campers wait for the sunset, it has recently won the award as the first sustainable destination on the Continent, for the spasmodic attention dedicated to the environment. From Kristiansand to Stavanger the landscape is both dramatic and gentle, in a succession of anorthosite ridges (the same rock that covers the lunar surface) and beaches and dunes, a paradise for kitesurfers and surfers. For those looking for a "salmon lord" experience, equal to that of the English lords of the century who came all the way here just to fish, there is the Boen Manor restaurant and hotel, a 19th-century noble house with a flowing river directly on the estate. Rods can be rented. And the fish, maximum two a day, cooked directly by chef Rochon Tomasz. «Some guests do like bears, filleting the salmon and eating it raw on the shore» says maître Dagfinn Galdal, «from a health point of view it is not recommended. But for something, in life, you have to go crazy». In Lista and Havik, you can hike among the yellow and blue marshes, in a brackish seafront that allows the growth of three hundred species of plants among which the peregrine falcon, the ogre and the red-necked grebe nest. While in the interior there is rafting, canoeing and moose safari on the Bjelland river, where a Scotsman with an adventurous past has set up a structure called Adventure Norway (adventurenorway.net). Along the forty kilometers of the Rogaland coast, further north, the waves are low and regular and the surf schools numerous, perfect for practicing the discipline in this Mediterranean and Nordic scenery at the same time.

suoni delle Dolomiti, music festival in the Dolomiti Alps italy

The finland capital is booming!: fashion , food and design are transforming Helsinki in one of the top stylish destination.

Dada Celebrates Centenary in Zurich. Apart from the residents of Zurich, not many people know that the Dada art movement was founded in the heart of Zurich’s Old Town. The group was formed at Spiegelgasse 1, in the city’s “Niederdörfli” quarter. Here, in the legendary Cabaret Voltaire – which is now open to the public once more – an ironic, loud and colorful movement arose, which, from its base in Zurich, went on to conquer the world. To mark the centenary of the Dada movement, the Cabaret Voltaire is staging 165 themed soirées, each in honor of one particular Dada artist. The rest of the city, too, is joining in the festivities and celebrating Dada with a host of events, performances and exhibitions.

“Fiore di pietra”, the new landmark of Monte Generoso, is an impressive work that bears the unmistakable imprint of architect Mario Botta. The world-renowned architect designed not only the building but also the interior spaces. The civil engineering firm Brenni Engineering AG was commissioned for the structural analysis and the architectural office Marzio Giorgetti Architetti SA entrusted with coordinating and managing the construction project on site, performed under challenging logistical conditions at 1,700 m altitude.

Venetians long ago learnt to cope with living in a lagoon. Will a new tidal barrier change their old understanding with the sea? text by @Lydia Polzer When the tide gauge at Punta della Salute at the southern end of Venice’s Grand Canal shows a water level of 1.1m, Luigi Frizzo knows his bookshop will be flooded. The seawater rises slowly at first, seeping over the threshold of the shop’s canal-side back door, then through the small forecourt and finally into the store. Frizzo shrugs it off. His bookcases stand on beer crates and many of his books are displayed in waterproof vessels, such as a rowing boat, a bathtub and a Venetian gondola. Frizzo climbs between his treasures wearing Wellington boots and a captain’s hat. Tiger, his cat, jumps lithely between the countertop, tables and shelves without so much as a wet paw.  Venice, built in a marshy lagoon, might have always had to contend with the tides of the Mediterranean sea. But the difference between high and low tides averages just 60cm. The streets remain dry even at 80cm above the city’s “mareographic zero” – the median water level of the canals. But high tides of 1.1m are a common occurrence in winter, leaving 12 per cent of the city under water, what Venetians call acqua alta, or high water. What’s more, Venice’s foundations are slowly sinking and seas globally are rising; that median water level is 23cm higher than in 1897 when it was established. This is increasing the frequency of flooding in Venice – along with sales of Wellington boots...  text by @Lydia Polzer

The Palio is the most important event in Siena, taking place on July 2 and August 16 every year. In the Palio, the various Sienese "contrade", or areas in which the city is divided, challenge each other in a passionate horse race in the heart of the city in the Piazza del Campo. Originally, there were about fifty-nine "Contrade"; now only seventeen remain, ten of which take part in the historical pageant and in the race at each Palio (seven by right and three drawn by lots). The 17 Contrade which still exist today are: the Eagle, Snail, Wave, Panther, Forest, Tortoise, Owl, Unicorn, Shell, Tower, Ram, Caterpillar, Dragon, Giraffe, Porcupine, She-Wolf and the Goose. Each Contrada has its own unique emblem and colors and represents an area of the city. As one walks through the streets of Siena it is easy to know in which Contrada you currently are in by observing the flags and emblems displayed along the street. Much like street signs, corners often designate the entrance into a different Contrada with signs. The Palio horse race has its origins in the distant past, with historical records indicating horse races in Siena already taking place in the 6th century. The Palio is much more than a simple event for the Sienese, it actually is a large part of their lives since the time of their birth. Each person belongs to a Contrada, participates in the life of the Contrada and the organization of the Palio throughout the entire year. The Sienese live the Palio with great passion and you'll certainly be able to see this if you have the chance to attend one of the races.

bell ringer in Bologna, travel , tourism

THE LOBBY is a format for a series of travel-articles, a new way to describe a city and get insight from well educated, cosmopolitan and up to date worldwide travelers. The aim of the story is telling and describing a Metropolis (London, Paris, Hong Kong), a financial hub (Dubai, Shanghai, Gibraltar) or a growing “second city” (Rotterdam, Antwerp, Oporto) through the lens of the people we meet in the Lobby of the hotel we find more interesting, lively, cosmopolitan, in town. The hotel " I Portici" in Bologna is a great example in our case

short journey in the land between West and Asia

Matera 2019 European Capital of Culture

traveling Portugal, Oporto Lisbon Braga Oibidos