Where on earth would you start? Possibly, Florence I suppose.
Situated in the heart of Tuscany, Florence has so many architectural delights and treasures that it would be very easy to spend not just one holiday but a lifetime appreciating the delights of Florence. The Uffizi for one has to be or almost at the top of the list. The former offices of the ruling Medici family (now there's a name to take seriously) the Uffizi houses a veritable cornucopia (treasure trove to the uninitiated) of Renaissance masters that it is difficult to take all of them in.
Next on your whistle stop tour of Florence I guess would be the Duomo. It is very easy and understandable to be dumbstruck when you first view the Duomo. Why? Well for starters there is the central dome designed by Brunelleschi added to which the slender Bell tower designed by Giotto plus Ghiberti's gates, Michelangelo's Pieta all topped off in red white and green marble. All run of the mill stuff basically.
Then it is a quick sprint to the Pitti Palace to get a real idea of how the Medici family lived. The Pitti Palace house a collection of paintings that would rival those housed in the Uffizi. Boy were the Medici family into artwork. I know this is a massive understatement and probably sounds like heresy but boy could this family collect paintings. The Pitti Palace has an amazing collection of porcelain, carriages, modern art and formal gardens.
Moving away from Florence and as we head towards Siena is the fairytale town off San Gimighano. Here you would be hard-pressed not to believe that you have actually walked on to a historic film sent with a fairytale town, stone towers, churches covered in frescoes and all surrounded by a breathtaking network of patchwork fields and terraced vineyards.
Next on the list of Tuscany's greatest hits is Pisa, proof if ever there was needed that God does indeed have a sense of humour. Home of the world-famous leaning Tower, Pisa has more to it than just vertically challenged architecture.
Off the Florence and Pisa, Siena has to be the next stop on our whistle stop tour and he yet again you are confronted with a giant of a cathedral, the Duomo (yes I know another one) again packed to the rafters with confidence, frescoes, and sculptures. Oh and lest you forget, Bernini's Chapel.
Lastly it is time for a little liquid refreshment and of course no still in Tuscany would be complete without a glass of the wine that is synonymous with the entire area and of course by this I mean a glass of Chianti. However, let us not forget that Chianti the wine is named after Chianti the town a true Tuscan idyll and not to be missed.
1. Covering an area of 36.5 square km Myvatn is the fourth largest lake in Iceland. It has an abundance of small coves and over 40 small islets. You will have to experience for yourself the stunning natural beauty of the area. Some of the most popular places are the lava formations at Dimmu Borgir a result of an active volcanic past, Mt. Hverfjall an enormous crater (The rim of the crater is only accessible by two trails, It is strictly forbidden to use other routes up or down). Krafla a 10km caldera, and the geothermal area east of Namaskarour.You will have a great opportunity to observe the abundant bird life in this bizarre landscape.
2. Geysers. No trip to Iceland would be complete without a visit to see the Geysers. The Great Geyser was the greatest natural attraction in Iceland in the past. It used to erupt a jet of boiling water and steam 80m high into the air. Strokkur is now one of the most famous geysers in Iceland and you can judge when it will erupt as it does so every 5 to 10 minutes. The Great Geyser is located only 20 meters away from it. The spout reaches up to 20 meters' high and although it is not as high as its? great predecessor, it is still an impressive sight. Everywhere you look you can see the boiling sulphurous landscape which has many dotted steaming vents and hot and cold springs. Even if you are not a gardener/plant lover you will notice the rare and primitive plant life that grows in this unusual location.
3. The Blue Lagoon is a stunning natural feature in Iceland. Research tells me that the white Silica mud and blue-green algae form a light natural sediment on the bottom of the lagoon giving it its ghostly, opaque, aquamarine colour. One can not help but be drawn to this natural wonder. Purported to have curative powers this man-made lagoon has a water temperature of 40C. The Blue Lagoon is a truly magnificent and unique experience especially if you wish to bathe in it when there is snow all around you!
4. On a clear day in Reykjavik, the enigmatic Snaefellsjokull glacier can be seen across the sea in the distance even though it is over 60 miles away. People believe that it has mystical powers ever since Jules Verne wrote The Journey to the Centre of the Earth?. The landscape features stunning moorlands, beautiful meadows, rivers and small ponds along with beautiful rock formations not to mention the black sand beaches. Being in Iceland was like being on another planet.
5. Thingvellir National Park is said by some to be one of the most beautiful places in Iceland, having seen so much of it I could not make such a statement as Icelands? landscape has so many unusual and truly remarkable locations. To Icelanders Thingvellir is a place of great importance as in 930 Parliament was founded there.
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Stephenmorgan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Information Technology, Home Improvement and BMW. Scott James writes on a great many Travel issues and more on the above can be found at ,. Stephenmorgan's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.
Stuart Cheese has sinced written about articles on various topics from The Internet, Monuments and Travel and Leisure. Stuart Cheese is the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours and, having visited over 110 countries, has a wealth of travel experience. One World Tours / The. Stuart Cheese's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.