You may think that you know Europe well, after all, some of its sights and cities are among the world’s most loved and visited tourist attractions. You’re sure to know the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Sagrada Familia of Barcelona and Rome’s Colosseum, and may have visited many of them, but there are hidden gems of Europe that are just as easy to get to. Once seen, they’re never forgotten, and yet many tourists don’t know how close they are to such spectacular places.
Discover Ancient Italy In Comiso
Italy is famous for its ancient Roman sites of course, as well as masterpieces of the Renaissance period to be found in beautiful cities like Florence. A flight to Comiso, on the Italian island of Sicily, however allows you to experience treasures that are far, far older. In the scenic hills surrounding the town are fragments of Neolithic settlements that are believed to date from at least the seventh century BC, and which may be all that remains of the legendary city of Kasmenai. Comiso has other gems to explore, including its Roman fountain, and a Gothic castle with an octagonal tower. Sicily as a whole is a beautiful island to see and explore, and much friendlier than you may imagine from certain films.
Beautiful Bratislava
Central Europe is home to many cities of exquisite beauty, with the likes of Vienna, Budapest and Prague attracting huge numbers of visitors every year. If you want somewhere a little less crowded, but no less alluring, you should head to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It’s a city that is full of history, with much of its architecture unchanged by the centuries. Through its centre runs the mighty River Danube, with an imposing fairytale-like castle nearby, and the Carpathian moments stretching away beyond it. Bratislava is less than two and a half hours from Birmingham Airport, which has a host of free parking facilities including its highly convenient hotel park and fly Birmingham Airport scheme. For more information, visit birminghamparking.com.
Invigorating Pertisau
A relaxing beach holiday is all well and good, and Europe certainly has lots of great beach destinations to choose from, but sometimes an invigorating holiday is just what you need. If you enjoy walking, outstanding scenery and clean, crisp air, then Pertisau in Austria would be an ideal choice. It’s easy to see why Pertisau is known as ‘the jewel of the Tyrol‘ for few sights across the world are more breath-taking than its mountains reflecting in Lake Achensee. This is also Europe’s biggest nature reserve, so it’s a must-see for nature lovers, but there are also plenty of activities from sailing to climbing available for more adventurous visitors.
Comiso, Bratislava and Pertisau are three very different destinations, but all of them can be the basis of a holiday you’ll never forget. There are regular flights to these destinations, and many more, from Birmingham Airport and other UK and international airports, so reaching them is easy. The only difficulty comes in tearing yourself away from these European hidden gems at the end of your vacation.