Interestingly, it was later used as a prison, until as recently as the 1970s, but these days it’s open as a tourist attraction – along with the nearby Second Tower which includes the Museum of Ancient Weapons.

View over San Marino by Cebete

The tiny republic of San Marino doesn’t rate too many mentions on any website, even ours, although we did once note that blogger Gary Arndt had visited San Marino! Of course, it sits within Italy so combining a trip into San Marino is easy if you’re contemplating some Italian adventures.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

San Marino’s Castello de la Guaita

The first of these is to stay in a masseria, known in other parts of Italy as an agriturismo. A masseria is usually an old restored farmhouse and the bed-and-breakfast style of these is a sure recipe for some excellent home-style Italian meals.

Trullo roofs by Yellow.Cat

The second suggested option is a trullo (see picture). They are found around the village of Alberobello and are UNESCO Heritage-listed. And they’re easy to spot with their limestone walls and conical roofs – great for photographs!

Of course, please check our posts on Italy for help in planning your Italian trip, including this one on UNESCO sites if you’re looking for more.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Interesting Accommodation in Puglia

Vineyard views in La Rioja by thirstforwine

La Rioja is a small autonomous community in the north of Spain (between places like Bilboa and Sarragossa). It is most famous for its wine as many excellent red wines come out of La Rioja, so visiting the local wineries is a very popular way to spend time in the region. The food in La Rioja is just as good, with their own particular version of tapas which they call pinchos – these are similar to kinds of tapas you may already know but are served on bread and held together with a toothpick. And on top of all that, the landscape through Lar Rioja is beautiful.

We have some great posts on Spain to give you more travel ideas including one on Asturias if you are planning to stick to northern Spain.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Visiting La Rioja, Spain

The tips include an intimate, atmosphere restaurant named La Zucca, a larger restaurant with communal tables full of locals, Paradiso Perduto. You can also read about some of the great local nightlife (not so non-existent as many people will have you believe), including the Orange bar complete with a roof-top dance party.

Gelato in Venice by plusgood

The most important tip (in my opinion!) is for the best gelato in Venice. Apparently this comes from Nico in the Dorsoduro neighbourhood, now top on my list for my next Venice visit! If you’re planning your own Venice visit, check our post on Venice on the cheap and our interesting post on seductive Venice.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Food and Drink, Venice Style

For example, puntarella (pictured below) is a kind of chicory that sprouts in cold weather and making this into a winter salad with anchovies is a popular dish in Rome.

Puntarella salad by rfarmer

The post goes on to describe another tasty-sounding dish, bollito misto, a dish full of meat and vegetables in a special broth (and apparently the key is all in the timing of what goes in when – I’ll leave it up to the Italians I think!). Certainly a trip to Italy is, for many people, all about the food, so this post gives some handy insider tips! We also have some tips on where to eat in Rome to help satisfy your Italian food cravings.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Italian Food for Winter

Titanic Belfast by RandyStorey

Something I wasn’t aware of is that as well as the coming museum there are numerous Titanic-related sites in Belfast, such as the building where the Harland & Wolff firm designed the ship (now abandoned), the Titanic’s very own dry dock and the permanent Titanica exhibition at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, which includes over 500 artefacts rescued from the ship.

We’ve already featured numerous other posts on great things to do in Ireland so have a look through if you’re planning a trip to Belfast to take in the new Titanic museum and want some ideas on what else you can combine with your city visit.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Touring Belfast the Titanic Way

Harbour at Dubrovnik by ser_is snarkish

However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t eat a beautiful meal in Dubrovnik, and this post has some great tips for restaurants where you can eat well (although not necessarily cheaply). Of course, the focus in Dubrovnik is on seafood and there are a number of restaurants listed with good seafood. The key to all of them is that they are either quite removed from the Old Town or on the outskirts – let that be your guide and you’ll already be on the way to a better meal.

While you’re in Dubrovnik, don’t forget to try the new cable car (I’m dying to get back there to see the views from up there!).

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Dubrovnik Restaurant Tips

From the description of the main road of Church Street (including an enticing mention of eateries and pubs) through to the historic York House and its amazing collection of statues, and then on with a mention of Marble Hill House and Marble Hill Park and a stroll along the Thames to Richmond, there seems to be plenty to keep you occupied in Twickenham for a day and it must also be a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of central London.

Pretty Twickenham by Maxwell Hamilton

If you still need convincing then check their list of famous people linked to Twickenham – I was sold by the mentions of Charles Dickens and Henry Fielding myself.

We also have plenty of tips for other off-the-beaten-path visits to London including some secret gardens and information on traditional foods to look out for.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Ten Tips for Twickenham

Memento Park by jaime.silva

Among these highlights are the famous Széchenyi Baths and the Buda Castle, including the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum which you’ll find inside. Memento Park also rates a mention as a fascinating place to see all the old communist statues (even if the locals think it’s strange that we want to see it!). The Cave Church (not far from Hotel Gellert and the Gellert Baths) is another particularly interesting stop, as is the Citadel, “on the top” of Budapest and worth it for the views.

Budapest is still a reasonably budget-priced destination if  you look around for good deals and its long list of attractions make it a great place for a city break.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Highlights of Budapest, Hungary

The suggestions are all on the budget side, going as low as €20 double rooms in the Hostal Galeria Marda, which came in at the top of the suggestion list. Others include  the Hotel del Mar on the beach if you are planning a summertime trip to Barcelona and the Hotel Astoria if you are looking for a different perspective on Barcelona, away from the main tourist route. All five hotels have detailed reviews and are in quiet side street locations close to the most important sites of Barcelona and most come with the best and nearest tapas bars recommended!

Tapas in Barcelona by protocol7

If you’re planning a trip to Barcelona our posts on more great tapas bars and things to see beyond the tourist attractions of Barcelona might give you some more inspiration.

Originally from Top Europe travel content, blogs and websites.

Five Hotel Tips for Barcelona