Tyntesfield

Tyntesfield

A day out at Tyntesfield is one for the whole family. This exquisite Victorian Gothic Revival estate includes a grand home, complete with its own chapel on a sprawling estate. Here you can watch the children play hide and seek between the trees, climb around the playground and explore the hothouse plants.… Read the rest

Villa d’Este

Villa d’Este

The alarm rouses me from sleep for a day at Villa d’Este and the first thing I feel is my aching feet, sore from a couple of weeks of walking. Not that I don’t like walking, I do, I like it a lot, especially when exploring new and wonderful places.… Read the rest

Castel Nuovo

Castel Nuovo

Castel Nuovo is an impressive building.  From its perch on the entrance to Naploli, it stands guard over the Gulf of Naples almost as impressive as Mount Vesuvius on the other side of the city.  Certainly as proud, almost as formidable. … Read the rest

Santa Chiara

Courtyard

The Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara is incredible.  Like a little walled world of its own, it must have been even more so, a haven from the outside world, during periods of Napoli’s unsettled past.

Santa Chiara Basilica from the side entrance

It’s another stunning day of our summer holidays and we’re exploring Naples. … Read the rest

Messina

Sweeping views of Messina

Messina.  Another glorious day, another glorious port.  After feeling that I missed out in Valetta yesterday, I am well equipped for today and have a trail planned out.  This pivots around being in the city’s main square at midday to see the clock chime 12pm and the mechanical performance that enshews.… Read the rest

Valetta, Malta

The Grand Harbor and Fort St. Angelo

I am utterly unprepared for the delights that Valetta, the capital of Malta, has to offer.  I have heard of the beauty of the Greek Islands, the party scene and endless nights that Ibiza has to offer but I seem to have missed Malta altogether. … Read the rest

Archaeological Museum of Rhodes

Archaeological Museum – Upper Courtyard

The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes is housed in a building complex that was originally the hospital run by the Knights Hospitallier, the Knights of the Order of Saint John.  It at the bottom of the Avenue of the Knights, just down from the Palace of the Grand Master. … Read the rest

Bracciano

Bracciano’s layers of old town

Benvenuto Bracciano!  It’s been a bit of a long day so far.  We have been up since 2am and didn’t get much sleep before that with last minute packing, not to mention the excitement.  Somewhere en route mid air over Diyarbakir, heading towards Ankara, I have a major pinch-me moment. … Read the rest