Things to Do in Europe

The Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is situated on the hill of Toompea, opposite the Estonian parliament buildings and Toompea Castle. The cathedral is as popular with visiting tourists as it is with people of Orthodox faith. It is dedicated to the Russian hero St. Alexander Nevsky, Prince of Novgorod, who saw off German invaders at the 13th-century Battle of the Ice at Lake Peipus.

The cathedral, which is Tallinn's largest, was built in a classical Russian Revival style by Mikhail Preobrazhensky between 1894 and 1900 "“ a period when Estonia was part of the tsarist Russian Empire "“ and strategically placed on the former site of a statue of Martin Luther. As a result, the cathedral is the subject of controversy with some Estonian nationalists calling for its destruction.

The cathedral features the onion domes, typical of Russian Orthodox churches, and the interior is filled with mosaics, icons, paintings and ornate gold leaf decorations. If you time your visit to coincide with the beginning of a service, you will be able to hear the full assembly of the church's 11 bells, including the largest in Tallinn.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is open to visitors every day and there is no to charge to go inside.

Run by the University of Amsterdam and housed in a grandiose former bank on the southern fringes of the Red Light District, the Allard Pierson is the city's leading archaeological museum. Unaccountably often overlooked, it is named after the first classical archaeology professor at the university and turns the spotlight on ancient Mediterranean civilizations. The collection of antiquities spans the centuries 4,000 BC to 500 AD, from the time of the pharaohs through the ancient Greek and Roman empires until early Christianity. Including Persian, Etruscan and Cypriot pottery, jewelry and glassware, the museum may not be vast but it is certainly world class; the star exhibit are the extensive Egyptian collection, including mummies, statuary, and everyday household objects unearthed from tombs. A roster of temporary exhibitions provides further insights into civilization around the shores of the Mediterranean during ancient times. 

In addition to larger and more famous cities and towns on Sicily's eastern coast - like Catania, Taormina, and Syracuse - there are several notable towns that may not be on your radar but are excellent bases for exploring the area. One of these cities is Acireale, which sits at the base of Mount Etna, not far from Catania.

Attractions in Acireale include a number of beautiful churches (one of which is in the famous Sicilian Baroque style) and several public parks and gardens. One of the parks overlooks the sea, giving visitors the lovely combination of being surrounded by a nature reserve and having glorious views of the water.

Acireale is a mid-sized city, but compared to nearby popular destinations like Taormina it may feel a bit further away from the tourist crowds, even in the summer. The time when Acireale will feel like the entire planet has arrived is during the city's annual Carnival celebrations.

Carnival - or "Carnevale" in Italian - occurs each year right before Lent. The exact dates change every year, but it usually happens during mid-to-late February or early March. You've probably heard of the elaborate costumes of the Venice Carnival, but Acireale's contributions to the Carnival season are larger than life: floats adorned with enormous and colorful allegorical characters parade through the city. There are often more than 10 days of festivities, including parades for children in costume, musical performances and fireworks.

The Carnival parades have proved so popular that Acireale stages "summer carnival parades," too, so check the schedule of events for the time when you'll be visiting the area.

Exhibiting over 12,000 artifacts relating to the history of the Mediterranean and Pamphylia regions in Anatolia, Antalya Museum (also known as the Antalya Archaeological Museum) is one of the largest and most important museums in Turkey.

Born out of an attempt to prevent the country's archaeological treasures from being plundered by the Italians during World War I, the museum started its life in a mosque in 1922, only moving its collection to its present building in 1972.

Today the museum has 13 exhibition galleries that include regional excavations and galleries of prehistory, pottery, mosaics and various statues, as well as sarcophagi, coins, jewelry and ethnographic collections. There are also open-air galleries and a garden. 

Most of the best preserved finds from the ruined ancient cities of Anatolia can be found at the museum, and it's a fantastic way to grow your knowledge and understanding of these ancient civilizations, their Gods, culture and icons.

Amalienburg is Emperor Charles VII's most precious legacy and the beautiful park gardens and fountains have become one of Munich's most scenic locations. A former hunting lodge on the grounds of the Nymphenburg Palace Park, the Amalienburg palace is considered one of the finest examples of European Rococo style. The ornate decorations of every room reflect a French-inspired refinement, especially the breathtaking Large Salon, also called the Hall of Mirrors. This circular room alternates windows, mirrors, and doors creating the illusion of an open pavillion through the real and reflected light.

Each room has a unique artistic feature that make the Amalienburg palace a main attraction of the Nymphenburg park. The wood carvings in the Bedroom, the Rococo paintings in the Hunting Room, the Chinese wallpaper and pheasant motif of the Indian Cabinet, and the Dutch tiles of the Kitchen all create an exotic air in the style of the palace.

Located atop a hill in the heart of Ankara, the Ankara Citadel, or castle, serves as one of the most recognizable symbol's of Turkey's capital. Visiting the citadel is more than just seeing the impressive structure, with its 14-16 m (46-53 ft) high walls. A journey inside the citadel also provides you with a look at what ancient Turkey might have looked like.

The structures within and around the castle serve as some of the oldest authentic examples of traditional Turkish architecture. Although no one know for sure exactly how old the citadel is, its foundations were thought to have been laid by Galatians nearly 3,000 years ago. Inside the citadel, many of the old houses have been restored and converted into restaurants, creating the atmosphere of an ancient Anatolian village. The local people still live as if in a traditional Turkish town. As you wander along the narrow winding streets, you'll often see women beating and sorting through skeins of wool.