Segovia, located to the north of Spain's capital, Madrid, boasts an old town and an aqueduct, both recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Acueducto de Segovia is not only the best-preserved ancient Roman relic on the Iberian Peninsula, but it is also an iconic symbol of Segovia. Two kilometers away from the aqueduct stands the Alcázar de Segovia, which gained fame as an inspiration for Disney's castles.
There are 11 bone chapels in Europe, one of which is located in Évora, Portugal. The inscription at the entrance, "Nós ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos," or "Our bones here await yours," is just a terrifying beginning.
During my stay at the guesthouse, the house owner would always ask me whenever he saw me, "Are you planning to visit Sintra today?" or "Have you just returned from Sintra?" If the answer was no, he would passionately talk about the beauty of Sintra. Consequently, inspired by his enthusiasm, I set off.
Lisbon's Belém is breathtakingly beautiful, with its seamless blend of azure skies and seas, and the omnipresent scent of egg tarts. It ignited within me the desire to settle here upon my very first visit. However, Belém has more to offer than just its charm. Delving into its splendid maritime past, the once-dominant seafaring legacy, is indeed the purpose for many a traveler's journey here.
The first mosque I ever visited in my life was actually a cathedral!
Park Güell, occupying roughly 17 hectares, serves as a vibrant showcase of the creative brilliance of architect Antoni Gaudí i Cornet. The park is a fruitful collaboration between the artist and the investor.
Although the aerial palace is named a "palace," it is not actually a royal palace. Instead, it was constructed alongside the royal palace and serves as the Shiva Temple. In comparison to other structures, this seemingly unassuming temple is, in fact, the predecessor of Angkor Wat, preserving elements such as Mount Meru, a central tower, gateways, and more. To get a close-up view, we must be prepared to overcome challenges!
Today, I climbed two mountains, and one of them was to visit the underwater carvings at a height of 1500 meters above sea level. These carvings are located at the source of the Siem Reap River - Kbal Spean. It takes approximately 1 hour by car from Siem Reap city center and then about 40 minutes of hiking along a mountain trail to reach there.
In Venice, as long as you remember the general location of your hotel and the train station, you can discard the map. Frankly, it doesn't help much.