Looking to spend your holidays somewhere where you can combine beautiful beaches and relaxing times with some cultural and historical sites? There are many places in the World where you can achieve this combination, but if you’re planning on not straying too far from Europe, three countries come to mind right away.
First of all, Italy. Home of one of the biggest and most successful empires in Ancient History, Italy and Rome have kept up with the standard or artistic and architectural excellent set by the Romans. Travelling through Italy at times feels like traveling back in time and for the architectural and art aficionado it’s probably the best place to be. And if you’re wondering where to go, it’s really just a matter of taking your pick. Milan is a modern city that hosts some of the most beautiful buildings in the country. Rome, the Eternal City, has an amazing set of churches, museums and statues tucked away all over town, not to mention the Vatican City. Venice is, of course, unique with its romantic canals. But this doesn’t even scratch the surface of what you can enjoy in Italy.
Secondly, we can’t forget the other cradle of European civilization, Greece. Greek islands holidays are among the most rated holidays in the World, and it’s not by accident. But mainland Greece also has its charms. Sunny Athens boasts some o the most beautiful ancient ruins in the World, including the famous Acropolis, but also the Temple of Zeus and the Agora, both stunning in their own way. The mainland also hosts ancient cities like Sparta and Delphi that are just amazing to visit and well worth a day or half a day to get to know in depth. Going to the islands is, of course, the best options if you are more into beaches than into history.
Finally, there’s Egypt. Probably the best option to take 5 star holidays because of its cheaper price range, Egypt is also a major site for visiting ancient ruins. You don’t even need to mention the Pyramids and the Sphinx, there are also the amazing sites of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings and amazing smaller sites down the Nile. As for spending quality time at the beach, Egypt has an amazing coastline in both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Wherever you choose to travel, I am sure you will not be disappointed.
