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Rembrandt and Van Gogh, popular mills, the Red Light District and the canals of Amsterdam, The Hague, the stately, large dams that protect the country from the sea and next-generation architecture and design are the usual attractions of any visit to the Netherlands.

But there is a more surprising and hidden worth exploring. Netherlands a different and fun where you can make an excursion in a genuine Italian gondola in an incomparable setting, the canals of Utrecht, or an amphibious bus ride along the river Meuse, near the Renaissance and modern Rotterdam, through an amazing journey for inside the human body in Corpus.

Then the visitor can enjoy lunch in an authentic natural greenhouse Amsterdam has its own garden and learn about the amazing story of the bag or cocktails in the style of Tom Cruise.

These are just some examples that could be hidden treasures of a multicultural Holland in Amsterdam which remains its main tourism related.

Behind the front of the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, the two big galleries that attract hundreds of thousands of tourists annually, opened a year ago the House of Bols, a center dedicated to interactive hipermoderno Lucas Bols and producing company alcoholic beverages is 400 years old.

The world of cocktails is a surprise for which he enters for the first time. This is not a museum or a winery or a bar, but the visitor can see, touch and smell the spices, herbs and, ultimately, the ingredients of the drinks.

You can even dare to distinguish the aromas of 36 spray bottles that give off any odor (melon, strawberry, Peppermint, mint, fruit of love) and finish preparing the visit enjoyed in its own cocktail bar mirrors.

The final icing on the most adventurous is to emulate Tom Cruise himself in his popular movie Cocktail throwing bottles into the air and pouring its contents into the glasses in a year juggling improvised. They are then filmed in a small room flairbooth digital movie to remember that this feat can be sent to friends or family.

If one is not satisfied with the aromas of the broker-dealer, you can try the pies. At number 10, and Ferdinand Bolstraat bolting a sympathetic Dutch Siemon de Jong, has created cakes eighteen years as a stunning success.

Siemon says that his works especially chocolate and apple, a favorite of his players in public are all kinds of celebrations such as weddings, birthdays and births. Indeed, in its local supercoloreado Center, De Taart van mijn Tante (The tart of my aunt), with bed and breakfast in the annex, we are surprised with a large cake dedicated to a Gypsy Flamenco is very close to another baby bears, proving that anything is possible for him and his team. Siemon prepared between 30 and 40 large pies a month (for about 50 people per piece) and its price is 500 euros.

Just need a little walk on foot to reach the Museum of Bags and purses. It is managed since 2007 Sigrid A. Ivo in the beautiful building number 573 Canal Knights (Herengracht).

We are in a unique museum which reviews the history of the bag since the seventeenth century to the present day with over 3,500 original examples. Sigrid continues a family tradition that began Hendrik his grandmother, a true collector of different topics, and when she bought in Norwich (England) a beautiful piece of leather and tortoiseshell German, dated 1820, which was used to start his passion for handbags and its history. Today we continue to acquire some fifty bags a year to increase the collection says Sigrid, the Metropolitan in New York has made several mentions of our museum and we have already made several exhibitions in Sweden and Italy.

Given such a universe of models, visitors - especially women, are attracted almost equally by both historical pieces of the final stage of the Middle Ages as the original design of the best known contemporary signatures that are present in the museum: Pierre Cardin, Paco Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace, Gucci, Hermes, Channel, Donna Karan.

The visit did not disappoint, as well inside the palace, which contains original paintings of the seventeenth century, offers excellent views of the channel's most elegant Amsterdam.

No, this is not a photo. On Tuesday, Duncan Zuuren, a Dutch 34 years, took the rising tide in Venice - which on Monday reached 156 cm, the fourth highest record since 1872 - to ski in the Piazza San Marco. In 2004, the intrepid athlete was third in the World of this modality. The video of his adventures is one of the most visited Youtube.

A Dutch tourist took the high water in Venice San Marco Square to practice wakeboarding. The liquid level reached on December 1 1.56 meters, and since then the waters have been gradually declining, a major town that suffered flooding due to high tide.

This is the fourth highest level since 1986, when the "high water reached the mark of 158 centimeters. City residents and tourists climbed to the chairs and tables from pubs and restaurants to avoid being stranded at the hip to the water.

The mayor, Massimo Cacciari, recommended that people stay in their homes. "This is the tenth worst flooding of the past 1000 years," said the chairman of the Veneto region, Giancarlo Galan.

The highest in the north of the city on the Elbe is not in vain as one of the most beautiful in Germany. And even the normally cautious Hanseatic can be proud of "their" Hamburg not hide.

Sandy, Wellengeplätscher quiet, palm trees and a hot drink to cool beats: Holiday Feeling on the Elbe. Anyone here a day on the Beach Club has spent miles admits the cliché of the unterkühlten on hamburgers and distanced. You can feel the world of openness and hospitality, and gets pleasure, the diversity of the city to conquer: on the bank of the river Elbe noble villas, colorful scene in pubs living quarters, the former workers quarters in change. Hardly a city creates its intense District life so much closeness and intimacy, such as Hamburg.

From the beach clubs, it is only a small leap to one of the HVV ships calling at a conveniently located between Sandtorhöft (subway Baumwall), Landungsbrücken (it in U-and S-Bahn station) and Finkenwerder sail back and forth. So erhascht not only a glimpse of the historic city of memory, the world's largest contiguous warehouse complex, but also to the modern, over 7400 hectares of port area with containers from around the world. Standing still is a foreign word. Once it gets dark, the whole area shines in the spotlight and the fully automatic loading and unloading of ships continues.
Next stop is the Alster, the large lake in the heart of the city. As you walk there you can see alongside the Edelboutiquen another feature: Hamburg is pervaded Fleet and canals you wonderfully with the canoe can capture - in an hour to park or even a day trip to Poppenbüttel. Make halt when Bodos jetty or let your legs on one of Hamburg's dangle bridges - because there are about 2496 pieces, more than Venice and Amsterdam combined.

Located in the Bierzo in León, 20 km from Ponferrada, Médulas The place is a great result of the Roman territory along two centuries and changes in that territory to the present.

This site, a strange beauty, is what remains of the largest gold mine operated by the Romans in the northwest of the peninsula using a procedure known as "montium ruin."
It was the largest gold mine operated by the Romans in the Peninsula
It undermined the heart of the mountain with an intricate network of galleries in different lengths and in which successive tranches with wider sudden narrowing. Later, the tunnels will be released on huge masses of water brought from the nearby mountains through a network of channels and stored near the farm, which resulted in the colossal collapse.

The mud was washed and was produced to extract the gold. As more than a vestige of the rule mining activity is preserved Carucedo lake formed by water used in the extraction of gold and money laundering.
The exploitation of gold Médulas is the largest of any known in the northwest of the country and probably the largest of the entire Roman Empire.

Today, Las Médulas declared in 1998 by the Unesco World Heritage Site, impressed by its beauty, which is the product of man, the passage of time and the whims of nature.
The Médulas were declared a World Heritage Site in 1998
Getting There

It is possible to arrive by car to the farm, however, recommended to the last mile (1.8 km) walk to enjoy more of the environment.
From the village of Médulas will continue on foot along a steep slope off the road to get Cuevona and Enchanted Cave, allowing two Bocamina get an idea of the operating system extension.

To see the landscape from the viewpoint Orellán, before we reach the population of the heart, a deviation to the left leads to Orellán. From the village, a track on the right leads to the lookout.

Other Roman ruins in the area

The neighboring region of La Cabrera, which is accessed from Puente de Domingo Florez (N-536), retains many interesting Roman remains tied to the gold mine. Must also stop in Yeres, belonging to the municipality of Puente, to cover the area of the site that extended into this area, popularly known as the "The Medulillas of Yeres.
Corporal Cabrera and flames are other rural communities of interest. From the village of Las Médulas you can visit the Submerged Lake, one of the "agogae" or washing of gold.

* Lodging: Hotel Monte Medulio is situated at the entrance to the picturesque village of Las Médulas, belonging to the municipality of Carucedo. Information and reservations: Tel: 987 422 833 / 987 422 889. In Carracedelo, Villamartin Villanueva de Valdueza and you can easily find accommodation.
* Addresses of interest: visitor reception center organizes guided tours of the path of the valine (a distance of three kilometers to La Encantada and La Cuevona).
* Directions: From the A-6 or the N-VI, from Ponferrada or from Villafranca del Bierzo, to connect with the N-120. Next to La Barosa take the diversion to Carucedo. For the N-536, from Ponferrada to the peoples of Borrenes or Carucedo. From Ourense, the N-536, until Sunday Flórez Bridge.

Dropped parties, elegant people, and between Russian retro look: Riga loves opposites. Even in Soviet times was the metropolis of the Baltic will send a link to the West, today, many young fashion and design ideas from Latvia's capital.

Most think of the cold red gazpacho soup immediately and Spain. But there is another place with an even darker and colder Soup with Red Pray instead of tomato. And she comes from Riga, the westernmost city of the old Tsarist empire. "Pearl of the Baltic region," the capital of Latvia, with its 850 000 inhabitants, also called, and it is something like a real time tunnel, which traces from all eras meet. Prior to the brand new airport terminal, visitors from the polite staff receive Latvian soil, the western standards of unkindness to surpass lengths. The transfer of the case will cost extra, she says, but there are only converted 45 Cent.Willkommen in Eastern Europe! Gray panel settlements and pull patinated wooden window panes in the past: the "Wild East". But he is only a stone mosaic in the Panorama Rigas - stylish cafes, bars and galleries await visitors. The center gleams long. Independence 16 years and three years in the EU have a lot to the city and its people changed. English and German are also often become just as natural in the streets to hear Russian and Latvian. Even in Soviet times was Riga as a link between West and East. That made also in the fashion scene noticeable. Wealthy Russians specially traveled to Riga to this new einzukleiden. Today is the perfect styling of the women on: Lettinnen have only themselves when they gathered with their heads held high heels over the bumpy cobblestones strut about like a catwalk.

Riga's city center can easily explore on foot. Good starting point is the broad boulevard freedom (Brivibas Bulvaris), where the New Town in the Old Town alone. Fantastisch is the view on the evening of the Skyline from the 26th Floor of the Hotel Latvija ". On cozy armchairs sipping a Singapore Sling, you can enjoy the view on the panorama and the lights of the city. Latvia is booming. And while the emerging capital is full of old-fashioned details: Where else can you find a painter or cinema? And where rising fine ladies from countless Edelkarossen glamorously dressed and walk through the Old Town? Beside it are old women with headscarves, which until late into the night for a few flowers Santimi sale. Nobel restaurants and luxury boutiques lined up together in the old town. A street corner next to walls with old bröckelnder facade, stray cats around. Visitors discovered in between the small cafes and bakeries, where, it seems, time has stopped. Posh go to dinner in one of the many restaurants. But what to choose: Latvian bread pudding, Russian Borsch, prefer fresh pasta or sushi? Cafes and restaurants are mostly rappelvoll. In the summer, will remain in Riga's far into the night taghell. To sleep a little thought then. There are tables and chairs outdoors, along with countless tourists sit Rigenser with live music on the Domplatz together.

Riga nightlife is wild, with Berlin or Hamburg, it can easily keep up. The pubs, bars and clubs are uncounted. One may wonder how elegantly and sometimes liberally, the Rigenserinnen on the dance floor moving. Especially on weekends will be celebrated and flirted as if there were no more tomorrow. The Sunday Hangover eliminated the Rigenser on the beach promenade in the nearby seaside resort of Jurmala. The Elektrischka takes passengers on a journey into the old wooden benches Osteuropa.Auf abgewetzten he zuckelt sitting leisurely in pine and pine forests and prefabricated buildings over. Then dive winding wooden houses with colorful facades and turrets on. After 35 minutes drive: Stop Majori on the beach! Bikini mermaids cavort in up to 25 degrees warmer water, the white men play beach volleyball. Until the night, because in the summer, you can at the Riga Gulf until the evening at ten forty-five bathe in the sun.

RESTAURANTS
Enjoyment is the Rigensern important - it shows the wealth of cafes and restaurants. Traditional are "Karbonade" (pork), cabbage and potatoes on the menu. A blob of sour cream, pickled cucumbers and a glass of "kefir" (buttermilk) round out the menu. But Riga is also a hotspot of best international cuisine.

CAFES / BARS
At pretty cafes in Riga, there is no shortage. Smoking only outside. Since 1 June 2006, smoking in all restaurants, bars and even Beergardens prohibited.

CLUBS
Whether or freaky elegant, Rigas and club music scene has something for everyone. And happy is celebrated and long. Better to avoid the "Roxy" friday evening - pretty tedious.

SHOPPING
Huge shopping malls in the suburbs - for fashion-conscious Western Europeans, the Baltic city not just a shopping paradise. But a few tidbits there anyway.

Beach, shopping, luxury, beauty and celebrities: In Florida Fun holiday metropolis, everything is bigger and brighter: Party and almost everywhere around the clock ..

On Ocean Drive, at night eleven to three clock, the expression "to drift" his own importance. Especially on weekends then stroll to the thousands of pastel-colored Art Deco buildings along from bar to bar, from club to club. The gardens are crowded restaurant, the hotel "Cardozo (Owner: Gloria Estefan) booms Latin-pop, two houses continue to play a Cuban band, on the Boulevard mixes the music to a wild Soundbrei. It often happens to people congestion, what all great find: Blessed are they smile at each other, pushing each other forward. It is a friendly, fresh and perfumed, above all, very cheerful mass. Each of these people are driving three wishes, which are at this moment are all met: Party! Party! Party!

In winter the sun shines in Oslo only five hours a day, so the people to turn night into day, you commute by subway to the illuminated slopes and celebrate in the clubs and the University of Fine Arts, as if there were no tomorrow. That they are so happy, is not only on alcohol

Behind me are 20 hours on the ferry from Kiel to Oslo, Norway's capital city ahead of me in the morning haze. White chimneys blow smoke in the cold winter air, the sun is low in the sky. In this time of year is the little light is a rarity, the days are short and the nights that even longer. For the night, Danny Larsen jurisdiction. He wears black sunglasses, black shoulder-length hair.

Danny is one of the best snowboarders in Norway and plays in metal bands - a typical combination of Oslo, as it turned out to be. Danny knows what he has in his town: "There is nothing nicer than to late at night on the floodlit slopes in front of the city to snowboarding."

The Cuban city of two million has much more to offer than their dusty Buena Vista Social Club romance. The bustling metropolis of music is now the party center in the Caribbean.

Lightning Blanke Chevrolet Impala in front of historic colonial buildings: At first glance, the socialist Caribbean metropolis for 60 years to stand still, especially if obtained by Habana Vieja, the old city of Havana, touches. The images are described as often, they actually agree to this day: In the gray-haired men play bars and Son cumbia classics that are still a little older than themselves, to the counters are refreshing Mojitos served, and is constantly smoked. But Havana has more to offer. Tired of Salsa sound, Cuba's young people dance to funky today Reggaeton and Caribbean House in the clubs. PRINZ readers discovered the young, new Havana.

RESTAURANTS
The Caribbean cuisine can be found in many fine restaurants enjoy much popularity and atmospheric are the "Paladares" small private restaurants, often in ordinary residential houses and cozy charm with their enthusiasm.

CAFES / BARS
An absolute must is to visit various bars in the Cuban capital, where they necessarily the three National Beverage should try: Cuba Libre, Mojito and Daiquiri.

CLUBS
The nightlife of Havana offers lots of variety and far more than the legendary vaudeville Tropicana, which until now everyone is really any travel guide.

SHOPPING
Havana is not a shopping center, already are in socialist Cuba, very few shops. The proposed locations of us but we should absolutely look.

The good news: In Paradise, you can pay with euros. The bad: It is only 21 square kilometers in size and is located in the Caribbean. The speech is from the French overseas department of Saint-Barthélemy, or St. Barth. The island is currently the destination of celebrities, stars like Dustin Hoffman, Daniel Craig, Donatella Versace and Brad Pitt can not be wrong.

St. Barth is one of the Lesser Antilles and is located in the Atlantic Ocean. The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, he named it after his brother Bartolomeo. They moved several times its membership, was among others in French and Swedish hands. Today, St. Barth as a Collectivité d'outre mer with France and is part of the European Union.

Very much larger than St. Barth, but no less beautiful, is St. Lucia. This Caribbean island is at least 620 square kilometers in size and is also one of the Lesser Antilles.

Especially there urlaubt scandal noodle Amy Winehouse, including Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman and Tyra Banks were already on St. Lucia. The island is far from untouched, lush rain forests, green mountains, banana plantations and miles of beaches with white sand and black take turns. The emblem of the island is of volcanic Twin Pitons, with its two peaks.

In the past it was hard fought over St. Lucia, for centuries the island belonged alternately to France and Britain. Today she is part of the Commonwealth of Nations, Queen Elizabeth II, the official head of state. In the fishing village of Soufrière testify today charming buildings from the colonial era, on the small island Pigeon Iceland is even an old British fort.

They say that the Wolves River Canyon is a magical place, because there are traces of the presence of the Templars and some mysteries wrapped in order to resolve this.

Lobos Canyon River Gorge is a 14 km long in the Nafría mountain range. The canyon, the diversity of fauna and landscape cantiles are the highlights of the protected area. It is one of the reliefs that stand between the Central and the Iberian.

Its continental climate has generated a growing poplar, willow and juniper albar, living with the oak and pine oak.

As for fauna, there griffon vultures, golden eagles, hawks ... and between mamíeros, the Iberian wolf. Also deserving attention amphibians and reptiles.
The slopes can reach an altitude of 100 meters

Erosion by water has sunk the riverbed. On the slopes of the canyon, which can reach 100 meters in altitude, low-water sources for the rusty color of the walls. There are numerous marked hiking trails and the ability to enter any of the numerous torcas, potholes and caves that undermine their walls.

Three different access

Access into the canyon are made from three different points. On the west side, upstream, is accessed from Hontoria del Pinar (Burgos) population being reached by the N-234.

The second access is located 12 km from the previous half-way stage, missing 9km Ucero to output, and is called the Bridge of Seven Eyes and is next to the SO-960 road that connects San Leonardo de Yagüe St. Mary of the Hoyas.

At the end of the canyon is the entry of Ucero is the most popular is the ydonde Interpretation Center of Nature. About Ucero on the road SO-920 is the viewpoint of the Galiana shows that the park from the edge of cliffs.
Since there is a huge cave a spectacular view of the shrine Templar

The most traveled and well-known park is undoubtedly the Colmenar of the friars at the foot of which lies the shrine of St. Bartholomew Templar.

This area is located 3.5 km from the entrance to Ucero, the esplanade that stretches in front of the Great Cave, an enormous cave that remains always open and accessible.

The chapel of St. Bartholomew

The chapel of St. Bartholomew is a Romanesque building of the first quarter of the thirteenth century with a burgeoning influence of Gothic. It was part of a Templar monastery which retains only the chapel.

The link with the Order of the Temple and tested this with her open mysteries remain.

This shrine is at the same distance in meters of the outer limits to the east and west of the Iberian Peninsula. The union between the location of the chapel with other churches Templar Peninsula form a Maltese cross, the symbol of the order.

With the largest skiable area in the Pyrenees, Andorra and all ski areas are finalizing preparations to launch the new winter season 2008/09.
The big stations do offer the best destination in the Principality white

The country has two seasons, Grandvalira and Vallnord where, in addition to skiing and snow surfing you can do other activities related to the snow, snowshoeing and hiking, biking snow sleds driven by dogs and snowmobiles. There are also instaaciones of Naturlàndia-La Rabassa and Parador Canaro.

Grandvalira: Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig and Soldeu-El Tarter

North of the Principality of Andorra, is the season that make up the Pas de la Casa-Grau Roig and Soldeu-El Tarter (1926 Ha). With six different access to tracks, 14 parks, 40 restore points, 450 monitors and a maximum altitude of 2640 m and 1710 m at least, Grandvalira has 110 tracks of 193 km with a capacity of 100,700 skiers / hour, 67 lifts and 83 miles from tracks of snow.

Grandvalira opened this season the Ice Hotel Iglu-Dorf Grandvalira-Grau Roig, 2,300 m, with restaurant and spa, and the ice bar, located at the foot of the ski lift Pla de les Pedres and walking tracks Grandvalira - Pas de la Casa.
To the food lovers can enjoy a very special dinner, over 2,000 m, in restaurants Grandvalira-Canillo, El Tarter Grandvalira-and Grandvalira-Grau Roig.

Vallnord: Arcalís, Arinsal and Pal

Pal sector is ideal for family skiing. A ski area of 707 ha innivada with capacity for 39,180 skiers per hour, with 31 lifts, 271 artificial snow cannons, 200 monitors, 12 restore points and 9 parking with capacity for 6600 vehicles. FIS their stadium is one of the largest in southern Europe, and in areas of artistic and acrobatic skiing and off track (with 40,000 m2 with chill out included) practiced the latest trends in snow skiing and surfing.
Pal sector is the most wanted by the families of skiers

This practice can also be other activities such as snow falls with bikes, snowmobiles, hiking and white scenic helicopter flights. There are also many activities for the little ones, such as circuits snowmobiles children.

Vallnord opens this season's first and only Speed Riding School of the Peninsula. It is a new form of skiing developed mainly in the French Alps, which merges the capabilities of paragliding and skiing with a parachute.

La Rabassa Naturlàndia-hundred percent skiing

Sant Julia de Loria, between 2160 m and 1960 m, is Naturlàndia. The Snow Camp La Rabassa is the reference point for lovers of nature and the Nordic skiing. In addition to 15 miles of marked tracks, paths and cross country ski school, has the Inuit Parc, an enclosed area of 3,000 m2 for initiation pathways and circuits games on trees.

La Rabassa offers one of the most spectacular this winter: the Tobotronc. With a height of 400 meters and four miles, the slide has become the cable lifts world's longest. With a length of 1,700 m and climb 3550 m downhill run can walk the woods with a mechanical sled.

The terraces are reluctant to leave the daily Portuguese capital, a city where winter days punctuated with live blue yellow by the sun. Although they all offer snacks with reduced white port and tonic atmosphere, only a few can see the best views in Lisbon.

The winter days punctuated with live blue yellow by the sun

One is the restaurant Casa do Leao, very frequented by tourists because of its location, the Castillo de San Jorge.

Since its railing can enjoy broader menu: the labyrinthine streets of Alfama, the roofs of the Rua da Madalena, skyscrapers built in the 80s east of the town and the bridge on April 25.

As of midday, especially at sunset, is the Bairro Alto Hotel in the fashionable area of Lisbon, which traps the wild over the hills. The establishment has a roof where you can enjoy magical sunsets over the Tagus, atmosphere and chill out for a sandwich or a cocktail at very affordable prices. Sunny weekend brunch also serves a simple 14.5 euros.

For lunch, and only pockets healthy, the central hotel Tivoli Lisboa, on the Avenida da Liberdade, its top floor houses the newly opened restaurant Terraço.

Outdoor or indoor

Has found a space and another area with glass. Monday through Friday offers menu (45 euros) by the Portuguese chef Luis Baena. From time to time the creator of sorbets nitrogen-filled bomb maridajes where there organizing experts and onlookers gathered to try cuisine and wines of the region.

If you surprise late in the quarter of Belém, the viewpoint of the terrace of the dock of the Tagus and the margin is the best Á observatory to see the tower of Belém moves from white to red leaden.

And at night ..

The restaurant Bica do Sapato (Avenida Infante DomHenrique) provides another perspective on the night of the Tagus. Involved in design and with a letter that mixes Italian, Japanese and Portuguese art dyes, allows an approach to Lisbon laúltima at a price of around 40 euros.

More interesting than their food, is its location on the river and its large terrace.

A unpaso in the building next door, stands one of the most prestigiosasde city Lux. This is easily recognizable by the big legs female overcome their front door. Of course, it also has an interesting terrace.

Macedonia has rebuilt a Neolithic village in the oldest archaeological site found near the capital, Skopje, in a state wide project to promote tourism.

Madzari replica of the tomb was built on a hill in Skopje on the grounds of the village of 6000 years ago, which existed until 4300.
A copy of Madzari Tomb was built on a hill in Skopje
The village was located along a small lake, whose remains pervivían until some five decades, although even then it seemed more of a swamp.

The age of the houses were rebuilt with stone materials as archaeological research is used in the Neolithic period, such as wood, cane and mud.

Its interior has been placed figures of people dressed in costumes that are supposed to be wearing at that time, and dedicated to the daily, grinding wheat or weaving.

Madzari tomb was discovered in 1961 during preparations for the construction of an international highway, which passes a few kilometers from the area.

Approximately two thirds of the deposit, with a diameter of 220 meters, is located underneath privately owned buildings, hampering the investigation.

Archaeologists first found in 1981 a Neolithic house in this place, and there are eight, including a sanctuary.
Archaeologists found in 1981 the first house neoítico
This shrine is the figure of pottery called "Majka Golemata" (The great mother), which has become a symbol of the Balkan country and sold as a souvenir of the most famous archaeological.

It is expected that the reply from another Neolithic village built on stilts on Lake Ohrid, in southwest Macedonia, is also open to the public this month.

This is the only Neolithic village built on water in this country.

With about 2 million people, Macedonia, located southeast of Europe landlocked but rich in archaeological sites, wants to promote this sector as a major bid to attract foreign tourists.

Bazar Arab and Roman ruins, churches and mosques, sea and hills, towns and desert. All this is Syria. Once in Damascus, we understand that the capital live in balance between tradition and modernity. The old town with its narrow streets and winding, that develop around the magnificent mosque omayade, retains the charm of an exotic and mysterious place, although in a Christian neighborhood of Bab Tuma tourists and foreign students seem more of the population local. The old Damascene houses, with rich decorations and fountains in the courtyards, there are next to shops and typical current Internet point, while the covered market (Suq Al-Hamidya) is a great way enlightened and full of clothes shops and crafts both sides. Outside the Old Town, are to visit the National Museum and the tomb of Saladin. For purchases and meals are actually spends little. A sandwich with meat and vegetables (shawarma) costs less than half a euro. A lunch at the restaurant at around 5 euros. A bus ride costs 7 cents, in taxis no more than 3 euros. With less than 10 euros to go to Lebanon or Jordan, bus or a collective taxi, leaving the station Baramki.

From the station Haraste, however, leave the bus Palmira (missed the ancient city of Queen Zenobia, in the desert) and Aleppo in the north. On the road to Aleppo worth staying a couple of hours at Hama, to visit the norie, the ancient wooden water wheels (photo above). In the north, inhabited by many minorities, including Kurds and Armenians, the milestone is Aleppo, with the city, whose fortifications were built from 350 BC Can not miss a turn in cities death, old abandoned places for reasons unknown, and the sanctuary dell'eremita San Simeon. Returning to the south, take the path of the sea and stop for a few days on the beaches of Latakia or Tartus and then visit the Krak dei Cavalieri, beautiful crusader castle. If there is time, you can make a quick trip to Maalula (Christian places where you still speak Aramaic, the language of Jesus) and Bosra, the ancient city nabatea almost on the border with Jordan.

In Syria, the people are hospitable and cities are very safe. Obviously, it is better to respect the local traditions, not to show off criticism of the regime and not go around with clothes very succinct (but in the sea of Latakia and Tartus you can safely swim in costume). A tip: bring a vocabolarietto Arabic. Not all speak English!

Endless, endless, immense. From West to East across ten time zones. Different from the luxury end of the "third Rome" (Moscow, of course), the European Union, if not Italian, St. Petersburg, passing through small towns where life is still subject to the 70s of last century. For all tastes and pockets.

Now that Russia is no longer an adventure travel (although, if you wish, not missing) is not risky, but it is a plunge into something quite different from the old Europe.
Having overcome the difficulties and lost some 'time for thorough customs checks to enter the kingdom of communism vintage ", now also involved in embassies and consulates are happy to issue a visa (from 26 to 130 euros, we wants maximum one week). The flights are not lacking: codesharing with Alitalia and Aeroflot, only to leave Milan four flights daily direct.

If you were there in the Soviet period, you can not misrepresent your knowledge of the country. Russia has completely changed, especially Moscow, which has become the capital of unbridled capitalism. Even the architect Norman Foster has wanted to build a tower 1,000 meters in Moscow (now revised slightly 'lower, satisfied that both the highest in the world). Thousands of luxury boutiques, major global brands. More hectic in Milan.

But for those who really want to know the country, remains a must the Trans-Siberian: nine thousand kilometers of birches, boundless steppe, rivers, hills, wooden houses. Eight days by train from Moscow to Vladivostok. Beyond the window flowing Volga, the minarets of Kazan, corrugated profiles of the Urals, the waters of Lake Baikal. An epic journey where it is impossible not to make friends with fellow adventure Russian, Dutch, French. Where in the restaurant car you improvise vodka party and leads to talk of life as the sun sets behind the hills of Siberia. At major stops, you can get off, stretch my legs and the legs to buy roasted chicken, sandwiches, meatballs and fruit from "babuschke" (Russian grandmothers) place is on track to earn a couple of euros.

Who wants to see the real Sicily, the one without vendors Sicilian carts crowded the edges of the temples of Agrigento or lookout in Taormina, should go in the area to the south of the triangle, the one that almost touches Africa. And have the courage to go where the magnificence of the volcano, the celebrity of casba Palermo el'assaltata beauty of the Aeolian islands give way to the chirp of cicadas, crossed by a desert locust trees and stone walls at various spots surrounded by beaches dunes. The southeast Sicily, in between the province of Ragusa and Siracusa, is the most extreme corner of the island, the true heart of the Mediterranean. It's called Val di Noto and takes its name from the city late for excellence, Noto. But hidden gems less known and more fascinating: Ibla Ragusa, Modica and San Diego. All rebuilt after the earthquake in 1693 with a unique style: the rococo carved in local stone, white and crumbly. Capita so to find the gaze of magnificent cathedrals scenic bill, real stone embroidery, boasting of columns and capitals between miserable huts plaster yellow, consumed scales from four centuries of sun peak, glimpses of streets that require silence, contemplation. More often, though the smell of jasmine Arab mixes with that of tomato and laundry hanging out to dry, with struggimento.

This is Sicily by Giuseppe Tornatore and his Malena, for who speaks the language of cinema. Montalbano Commissioner for those that of television. Of Vinicio Capossela if you love music. By Elio Vittorini, Salvatore Quasimodo and Gesualdo Bufalino for means of literature.
Around, "the usual" historical and archaeological traces left by Sicilians, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards, a campaign designed by rocks and terraces and corners of nature still unspoiled. It will be why the whole area recently joined the list of goods protected by 'Unesco.

Ragusa Ibla
A Ragusa Ibla deserve a visit the Gothic-Catalan old St. George, the Church of San Giorgio, the church of San Giuseppe and communal gardens. But above all, the alleys and streets closed to traffic that offer splendid views of the valley below and the sight of hidden courtyards and beautiful.

Modica

A Modica, an ancient seat of the county and now known for its chocolate tradition of Spanish and Aztec derivation, the tour departs from classic Umberto course, coverage of the stream that ran through the city, to visit the church of Santa Maria di Betlem, the church St. Peter with the statues of the twelve apostles on the staircase, the rock church of St. Nicholas Lower, cave in a jewel of the twelfth century and the two symbols of the city, the Church of San Giorgio, the hinge between the lower and that alta with its 250 steps, and the tower of the castle last part of the walls.

Scicli
In San Diego, the route is short but more suggestive, all concentrated between the Via Francesco Mormino Penna, the living room of the city, and one of the most beautiful Sicilian palace, Palazzo Beneventano. Who has time, the visits during Easter, when it plays one of the most fascinating religious festivals: San Diego. It is the procession of the risen Christ for the alleys of the city, carried on shoulders by the crowd without paths or directions to night. It is also the essence of this part of Sicily: outside time and space.

The kitchen
Ragusa excels for caciocavallo, cheese dall'orgoglio Dop, so called because they spread out to dry on a horse with a rope stretched. San Diego has a serricoltura intense that produces the famous cherry tomatoes and zucchini mini. Modica is now recognized as one of the Italian capital of chocolate: it produces a dough craft, manufactured cold and without milk, which leads Aztec and Spanish traditions. The whole area excels comuque for desserts. The case of ricotta, straight or mixed with chocolate and cinnamon, the "mustazzola" hard biscuits made with honey and almonds, "a ghugghulena" or cobaita, nougat of sesame seeds, "the mpanatigghie, small stuffed trousers a preparation of meat and chocolate. As for savory dishes, worth mention the "Chess" and "pastizzi, rolls of bread dough stuffed with tomato, cheese, broccoli or meat.

How to get there, where to stay and where to eat
Some relevant information for those wishing to travel accingersi. Ragusa, Modica and Scicli can be reached by air (better not rely on trains in a region where rail routes, and sometimes even the coaches, go back to the Bourbons). The nearest airport and in Catania, where they operate all major national and international areas, including low cost and Windjet Volare, (but soon will be available the old missile base in Comiso). From there to rent a car or take a bus or Etna Ast: Ragusa direction.
Those seeking a guide, contact the cooperative Etnos, provides qualified personnel, tourist guides, advice on routes, visits to museums and other helpful tips.
To stay there is a flood of Bed & Breakfast for all tastes and all pockets and are easily booked and visited here. An easy guide to restaurants, however, is here.