Day trips from Catania by public transport

day trips from Catania by public transport - Syracuse Ortygia Piazza del Duomo

Sicily’s second city of Catania makes an ideal base for day trips by public transport to Taormina, Syracuse and Mount Etna. Here’s what to see and how to get there. Catania day trip 1: Taormina – for ancient ruins and vertiginous viewpoints Taormina is famed for its ruined Greek theatre, which dates back to the […]

The mountains and monasteries of Meteora, northern Greece

monasteries of Meteora

“Suspended in the air”. That’s the meaning of Meteora. These monasteries of northern Greece live up to this translation, perching on rock massifs hundreds of metres above the valley floor, seemingly defying the forces of gravity. The history of the monasteries At the height of construction in the 14th & 15th centuries, some 24 monasteries inhabited […]

Albania’s UNESCO World Heritage sites

Albania's UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Gjirokaster

If you’re a castle and ruins-aholic like me, then Albania’s UNESCO World Heritage sites are a dream. An unexpected hive of history; castles peak out over mountain ranges, Greek and Roman-influenced ruins face the Ionian sea. The settings are as memorable as the remnants of the buildings they’re famous for. I visited three of Albania’s […]