Street in the historical center of Prague // Photo by Dm. Onishchuk
Czech Republic: European Capital of Magic
Prague is not only the most ancient city in Europe to have survived almost intact. It was here that during the Inquisition magicians and sorcerers flocked from neighboring countries, the cream of astrology and alchemy of that time: the ruler of the Czech capital graciously provided them with shelter. As a result, Prague became the only city that was built and modernized according to the laws of magic. Today's compilers of thematic programs (alternative to traditional sightseeing tours) offer to check what this has led to.
Tourists who dare to take part in the 'Mystical Prague' program will face many things: Celtic sacred rituals at the ancient menhir – the hour pillar (called the 'Czech Stonehenge'), the Well of Spirits and the ancient settlement of Czech kings, 'living' stones and the Hunger Wall of Petřín Park, the mysterious influence of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, an encounter with yourself in the mirror maze, the dungeons of Hradčany with libraries of incunabula and stores of various antiquities, Golden Lane with its alchemical laboratories, the Orloj clock that runs backwards… You will be told the legend of the clay man Golem and the teachings of the mystic Kabbalist Ben-Bezalel, and that St. Vitus Cathedral can serve as a mystical device tuning a person's consciousness to interact with Higher Powers. And don't forget the ancient castles, of which there are a great many in the vicinity of Prague, and each has material evidence of the country's dark magical past.
Overly impressionable people may get nervous, which, however, is easily relieved by a visit to the nearby resort of Karlovy Vary – with traditional drinking of mineral water or bathing in a mineral pool. However, there is another way to relax – Czech beer.
The cost of a five-day 'Mystical Prague' tour varies depending on transport: €170 (by bus), €250 (by train), from €450 (by plane). However, the 'magical' component is also included on request in traditional excursion tours of Prague.
Greece: Nights in the Mountains
Among tourists who come to relax in this country, there are unlikely to be many who enjoy packing their suitcases every day and moving from one hotel to another. But even for those who prefer to stay put for a long time, there is a real opportunity to combine beach comfort with visual impressions – you just need to choose the right 'location'. The western Peloponnese can safely be considered such a place – this Greek region seems specially created for a variety of excursions.
The main objects of attention are Athens, Olympia and Argolis. In the capital, the program is traditional: the Acropolis with the marble ruins of the Parthenon, the Archaeological Museum with original ancient Greek sculptures, etc. Olympia, however, will surely interest those who have a weakness for ancient myths – after all, this is the place where the history of the Olympic Games began; in the local Temple of Hera, the Olympic flame is still lit to this day, which then travels around the world. Argolis is the quintessence of what Greece can show tourists: it is the cradle of the ancient Mycenaean civilization, the setting of the famous Homeric poems, the tomb of Agamemnon, and the ancient theater of Epidaurus, whose acoustics are unrivaled in the world.
But the most unusual 'feature' of the Peloponnese is the mountain castle-hotels, where you will certainly see old interiors and fireplaces. From such hotels, jeep safaris and mountain trips with visits to the most beautiful waterfalls are organized.
Taking into account accommodation in a castle, expect to spend from €700 per week.
Southern France: Oyster Paradise
Oysters are not just an intimate part of French cuisine; it was in this country that effective methods of artificially farming edible mollusks were devised. Apparently, that is why the French not only successfully trade live goods all over the world, but also manage to build tourist routes around them.
Themed programs include visits to the most famous local restaurants that have made a name for themselves with seafood – you don't think your table will be limited to oysters, do you? In addition to the oysters themselves, served as various dishes beautifully arranged on French table silver, the excursion program includes a personal, unforgettable experience of harvesting a 'crop' of oysters in special cages and participating in their preparation. You also get the opportunity to consume everything that has been prepared. And as a bonus – old Marseille, Toulouse and Bordeaux, a sea trip to the Château d'If, the wine cellars of Frontignan, the fortress of Carcassonne. As additional entertainment, the beaches of spring Provence are suitable – in this region they are always well-maintained. Moreover, if in the 'high season' the Riviera is overcrowded, in spring it is quiet and spacious, and the sun already beats down in a completely summery way in April.
A week of oyster travel will cost from €600, depending on the intensity of the excursion program and the hotel category.
Germany: In the Footsteps of the Third Reich
At all times, there are people who visit the sights of the troubled war years with interest – up to concentration camps preserved in their real form. Therefore, a program that retraces the historical steps of the ruling figures of fascist Germany noted in textbooks will certainly find its admirers.
Munich – birthplace of the German Nazi Party. Dachau – one of the first concentration camps, founded on Himmler's orders as an 'experimental proving ground' where the system of all forms of abuse against prisoners was developed. Obersalzberg – the mountain massif where Hitler lived for several years in the 'Eagle's Nest' residence. The Bavarian Army Museum. The Reichstag and bunkers in Berlin. Potsdam, where the last Kaiser transferred power over Germany to Hitler.
Germany, despite its past political quirks, remains a country of dominant architectural aesthetics, so you won't be driven past luxurious cathedrals and royal palaces – for the main part of the route runs through Bavaria, its capital, and the surrounding areas. A short sightseeing tour of Salzburg in nearby Austria is also possible.
Given that a week-long program fits well within the scope of a bus tour, its cost may start from €300. Air tours, of course, will cost more.
Italy: a club of pathfinders
The new sightseeing tour of the island of Sicily is remarkable not only for its selection of excursions, but also for its approach to conducting them – it is not simply viewing all the sights in a row, but focusing on those marked by the most mysterious events in their centuries-old history. This method of engaging tourists has recently become fashionable in Europe – apparently, given that Europeans lack the inclination to indiscriminately absorb all the cultural and historical information that accompanies ordinary excursions.
The route begins with arrival in the city of Catania, then tourists visit Taormina, Agrigento, Selinunte, Erice, Segesta, Palermo, Syracuse – and the pathfinders' route, having made a circle, ends in the same Catania. Of course, each of these cities is in itself a unique historical monument that will surely impress your imagination. But the emphasis is on the following historical fact: conveniently located, open to all winds in the Mediterranean, Sicily has many times attracted streams of invaders and colonizers, after whom temples, ruins, castles, and sarcophagi full of secrets of their origins have remained there.
Well, we should not forget that Italy is Italy; and so on the way you are sure to be awaited not only by historical discoveries, but also a sea of goods in nearby shops, stalls, and markets, a sea... of seafood for lunch, and, pardon the tautology, the sea itself – you will surely be able to find time for the beach as well. And the swimming season here begins already at the end of March.
The program lasting 8 days/7 nights will cost €549.
Western Poland: the Krakow cup
This is not about sports, as one might think, but about what one drinks from cups – that is, about wine. Wine culture is rarely associated by most tourists specifically with this country, but nevertheless, not long ago a special thematic route appeared, dedicated to Polish winemaking and wine drinking.
You will have to visit many wine cellars, taverns, and basements with cherished barrels. Of course, the program implies not passive contemplation of all this splendor, but active participation in its consumption internally, various tastings. In addition, the route involves visiting the magnificent old Polish cities of Krakow and nearby Lublin, Rzeszow.
The price is considered a big plus, because travel agencies more often organize such 'wine' tours as bus tours. Three days will cost ?180. Such a program may also well be offered as an additional 'excursion' as part of any tours to Poland.
Northern Ireland: fairy-tale Narnia
Following the record-breakingly popular 'Harry Potter', enterprising British tour operators have put another movie fairy tale on the path of their tourist routes. The fantastic land of Narnia, immortalized by cinema, has a clear address – the Mourne Mountains, located in Northern Ireland.
The route consists of visiting the city of Belfast – the birthplace of the author of the fairy-tale 'Chronicles of Narnia', Clive Lewis. Of course, the program includes a visit to his family mansion, which, together with the garden, makes a stunning impression thanks to the mysterious atmosphere maintained there. Along the way, tourists will also have to personally see the prototype of the lamppost in Narnia in the local Crawfordsburn Park, Dunluce Castle on the cliff top, which played the role of the fairy-tale Cair Paravel. And of course, there will be the magic wardrobe through which the children entered the land inhabited by talking animals and other amazing inhabitants. It's just that you are unlikely to be able to fully use this wardrobe.
Tours to Ireland are not cheap: be prepared to shell out at least €800 for a five-day program.
Italy: 'The Pisa Effect'
It can also be called Tuscan, since Pisa, as is known, is located precisely in this region. Tuscany is one of the most beautiful regions of Italy; it is there that the Alps approach the very sea. And you cannot take a step without stumbling upon an ancient monument, starting with the Leaning Tower of Pisa itself, which has been reopened for viewing for several years now (scientists have managed to halt its fall), and ending with a quartet of other famous cities of art that are lucky enough to belong to Tuscany – these are Florence, Siena, Pontedera, and Livorno. Tuscany's climate is ideal for relaxation at any time of year, with beautiful sandy beaches stretching along the entire coast. In addition, Tuscany is famous for an abundance of hot mineral springs, whose waters treat diseases of the liver and pancreas, the digestive system, diabetes, and asthma.
Tuscany is one of the most expensive Italian regions, a traditional habitat for wealthy Japanese and American tourists. For a week's stay, you will have to pay an average of €700, not counting on-site expenses.