That's right - although it may surprise you. In Portugal, we find one and only tiny ski resort, Serra da Estrela. Its highest peak, Torre, is 1993 m above sea level, and in winter crowds of Portuguese descend to the slopes. You can also ski here in summer, when skiers use the artificial slopes in Seia. The resort is located in the north-central part of the country, in the highest mountain range in Portugal. Skiing in Serra da Estrela is more of an addition, an attraction in itself than a tourist offer, after all, it cannot compete with the majesty and landscapes of the Alps. On the other hand, wouldn't it be great to boast about skiing in Portugal?.

Resort Serra da Estela - Portugal

It will be a slightly different story than usual. It will be a story about a journey along the border of two countries, along the Kupa, one of the cleanest rivers in Croatia, and at the same time about a place where visitors can rest in body and spirit, i.e. one of the oldest spas in Europe - Dolenjske Toplice in Slovenia. So let's get started. Kupa, also known as Kolpa, is the main outlet of the Sava River. One of its sections is the border between Croatia and south-eastern Slovenia. The river flows among wonderful landscapes, and the most beautiful of them belong to the Kolpa Landscape Park (Krajinski Park Kolpa). The park stretches within the Crnomelj district, its main attraction is undoubtedly the river itself with its picturesque, vast valley, in some part even forming a canyon with high cliffs on both banks.

Dolenjske Toplice - Slovenia

When it snows outside and frost draws fancy patterns on the glass, many of us dream of going to a place where we can expose our face to the sun, walk on loose sand and swim in the warm sea. And for many of us, hot Spain comes to mind. And where can it be the warmest? In a region that is, colloquially speaking, just a stone's throw from Africa. In other words, in Andalusia. The southernmost Spanish center is Tarifa, from which the lights of the African city of Tangier can be seen at night. After all, they are only 30 km apart.

Tarifa

The second largest city in Slovakia and the heart of the Eastern Carpathian region is now a rapidly growing center. Košice, because we are talking about them, in 2013 will be the European capital of culture. The symbol of the city is the Sculpture of the Marathon Runner - the International Peace Marathon is held in Košice every year. The city is situated on the Hornád River, at the junction of the Košice Basin and the Spišské Ore Mountains, and is extremely attractive for tourists. It has a beautifully renovated old town with 460 historic buildings - the Old Town of Košice is the largest urban historical zone in Slovakia. A large part of them is concentrated on the most beautiful promenade in the country, Hlavna Street. It is worth devoting a few words to her.

Slovak Kosice

There are many excellent spas in Europe that offer treatment for all types of diseases. But not all of them can boast of the beauty of the architecture of buildings, as Karlovy Vary can. The resort is located in the valley of the Teplá River in West Bohemia, on elevations ranging from 370 to 644 m above sea level. Some fantasy lovers may associate it with the Tolkien city of the elves - Rivendell. The terrace buildings of the spa come from the 19th century, the earlier one was burnt down (twice, in 1604 and in 1759). Tourists are especially delighted with the buildings of the post office, the theater and some of the sanatoriums - they have been restored, preserving the ornamentation and asymmetry of the Art Nouveau style. Two local promenades (Stara and Nová Louka) are also beautiful.

Karlovy Vary

Antwerp, on the Scheldt River, is Europe's second largest seaport after Rotterdam. But that's not the only reason why the Maritime Museum (Nationaal Scheepvaartmuseum) was created here, where today we can see models of ships from different historical periods. The museum is located by the river, in the 12th-century Steen Fortress. Antwerp is an important research center (there are two universities here) and also the birthplace of Rubens. The city devotes a lot of attention to nurturing the master's memory. His works can be admired in the huge Royal Museum of Fine Arts (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunstem). In addition to the works of Rubens himself, there are also paintings by Hals, van Dyck, Breughel and other artists.

Antwerp - Belgium&#39;s jewel

While in Utrecht, you should definitely climb the Domtoren, the highest church bell tower in the Netherlands (112 meters). When the visibility is good, apart from the whole city - one of the largest centers in the country, with a unique history and atmosphere - you can also see Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Utrecht owes its largely specific, artistic and intellectual climate to the oldest university in the city, the university founded in 1623. Masses of students pass through the streets and you can hear intellectual conversations in different languages.

A lonely tower in Utrecht

There are people who love the touch of history embedded in the facades. There are also those who prefer to raise their heads high, admiring the soaring of modern constructions. The glass and metal skyscrapers delight them more than medieval cathedrals. Such people will surely be interested in the most important financial center of Germany, i.e. the banking district of Frankfurt am Main. The modern development of the area resembles the view of New York's Manhattan district - hence the colloquial name.

Frankfurt am Main

In the heart of Tuscany, at the foot of the Apennines, on the Arno River, lies the cultural and commercial center of the region - Florence. Millions of tourists visit it every year, which is not surprising given the extraordinary beauty of this city. The Church of Santa Croce, Palazzo Strozzi or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore are just some of the monuments that attract visitors' attention and delight. Apart from them, tourists are also tempted by one of the greatest painting galleries - Galeria degli Uffizi. It contains the largest collection of Italian art in the world, including works by Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Titian. You can see "The Birth of Venus" by Botticelli, Rembrandt, van Dyck, there are also works by Rubens, as well as many portraits of Polish kings.

The pearl of Tuscany - Florence

Those who missed this year's opening of the new season in one of the most famous Bulgarian ski resorts, regret it! On December 15, 2012, Bansko was visited by such famous sportsmen as Hermann Maier, Olympic medalist, three-time world champion, four-time World Cup winner, Marc Ghirardelli, five-time World Cup winner, as well as Peter Popangelov junior, Bulgarian alpine skiing star. But let's start from the beginning. First of all, the fact that probably some are surprised by the very fact that there are modern ski resorts in Bulgaria. Meanwhile, not only do they exist - they are one of the most visited ski resorts in Eastern Europe. Among them, Bansko, a small town situated at the foot of the Pirin Mountains, in the southwestern part of the country, is in the lead. It is located about 160 km from Sofia and 6 km from Razlog. In Bulgaria itself, it has been known for a long time, and in less than a decade it has gained considerable popularity also outside the country.

Bansko - a treasure in the Pirin Mountains

If, after reading the title, someone has thought of a trip to China, they may be surprised. Burek is a tasty pastry stuffed with meat, cheese or potatoes that we can eat in Serbia and several other countries, mainly Mediterranean. And it will be a story about Serbia, and more specifically about its capital and, at the same time, one of the oldest cities in Europe, Belgrade. The aforementioned Belgrade lies at the mouth of the Sava and the Danube. He is teeming with life, as if he no longer remembers the terrible times from a dozen or so years ago, when bombs fell on him. After all, Serbia has enjoyed the status of a republic only since 2006, earlier conflicts broke out in it, the capital was moved, and Belgrade itself was occupied by the troops of various countries. Today it pleases the eyes of tourists with the beauty of its monuments, and caresses the ears with beautiful Balkan music played every evening by Serbian ensembles. However, it is impossible not to notice the buildings that have not been renovated yet - some of them serve as a painful reminder of the NATO attacks of 1999.

Belgrade - where can you eat burqa?

About 90 km from Thessaloniki, at the foot of the mythical mountain of the gods, not far from the Mount Olympus National Park, lies the tiny resort town of Litochoro. The only paved road to Mount Olympus leads from it, therefore it is the best starting point for lovers of mountain climbing and hiking. There are also tourists who prefer more extreme adventures - fans of canoeing and rafting, who are attracted by the Enipeas river canyon. There are not too many monuments in the town, but you can enjoy a rest here in the full sense of the word. In the center, in numerous cafes, you can spend many pleasant moments with friends, sipping delicious Greek wine.

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Resort Serra da Estela - Portugal