6 Museums and Historic Sites of Milan

Few countries can claim as extensive a heritage of artistic expression as Italy. To experience Italy's art firsthand is to touch the soul of the country. From archeological sites to architecture, museums and galleries, you will discover the many ways Italy's craftsmen and artists have articulated their passion over the years. Milan is home to many cultural institutions. Here are just a few of the museums and historic sites of Milan.

Pinacoteca di Brera
Milan's most esteemed museum, where the Accademia di elle Arti was founded in the 1700's, its 38 rooms host a fine art collection covering Renaissance and Baroque art from the 15th to 20th century.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (CIMAC)
Opened in 1984, located on the 2nd floor of Palazzo Reale, showcasing the cream of modern Italian and international artists.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
A glorious glass and steel-covered arcade connected to Piazza della Scala, known for its high-end stores and restaurants.

Il Duomo (Milan Cathedral)
This grandiose Gothic Cathedral in the city's main square is made of white marble, with a roof of 135 spires and countless statues and gargoyles, and can hold up to 40,000 worshippers.

Teatro alla Scala
Perhaps the definitive opera house, opened in 1778, the theater also houses the Museo Teatrale, featuring a remarkable array of opera costumes, paintings, scripts, statues and other materials.

Santa Maria delle Grazie
Built between 1465 and 1482, this Renaissance church is famous for the mural depicting the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.

Italy is truly a living museum. Start planning your Italy vacation with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Hotel Spotlight: Novotel Centrum, Krakow

Novotel Centrum
UL. Tadeusza Kosciuszki 5 : Krakow 30-105 : POLAND : Phone 48 (12) 2992900

Novotel Krakow Centrum hotel opened on the first of March 2002. It is perfectly located, just 10 minutes from the magnificient Royal Castle Wawel. At only 150 meters from the hotel you will find famous Market Square called "Rynek", with numerous shops, galleries and museums.


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Poland to Austria - Escorted Tour

Included Features

• First class hotels, rooms with private facilities
• Service charges and hotel taxes
• Breakfast daily and 4 dinners
• Touring by modern motor coach
• Airport and local transfers
• Professional Tour Director
• Luggage handling
• Headsets will be provided for included sightseeing tours, so you can easily hear your guide's commentary

Sightseeing

• Warsaw
• Krakow
• Prague
• Vienna

Hotels

• Warsaw,Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel / Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel (may also be used)
• Krakow, Hotel Novotel Centrum
• Prague, Hotel Angelo
• Vienna, Hilton Stadtpark

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What to see in Zagreb, Croatia

Today's Zagreb has grown out of two medieval settlements that for centuries developed on neighboring hills. The first written mention of the city dates from 1094, when a diocese was founded on Kaptol, while in 1242, neighboring Gradec was proclaimed a free and royal city. Both the settlements were surrounded by high walls and towers, remains of which are still preserved.

Walking is one of the best ways to explore all of Zagreb's picturesque historical sites, hidden alleys & lanes and especially the main square of the city. You can learn a lot about Zagreb on a walking tour as you discover the main sights and attractions at your own pace.

The center of Zagreb is divided into two parts: Gornji Grad (Upper Town) and Donji Grad (Lower Town). Because of its historical structures, churches and religious monuments, Gornji Grad has great historic value attached to it and is literally a tourist's paradise. Donji Grad on the otherhand mostly contains shops, cafes, museums and parks.

There is a lot to see in Zagreb. Zagreb is home to over 30 museums and galleries, several religious and historic buildings and monuments, and a plethora of green spaces and squares. In fact, in Donji Grad 7 squares make up the o-called Green horseshoe or Lenuzzi's horseshoe. Here are a few of the top attractions in Zagreb:

Tkalčićeva Street
Typical European street lined with cafes and interesting shopping. Stop here for a coffee and some people watching.

Botanical Garden
A cool and relaxing oasis on a hot day of sightseeing in Croatia's capital city.

Zagreb Cathedral
Impressive neo-gothic cathedral easily viewed from most vantage points in the city.

Museum of Broken Relationships
Interesting collection revolving around the concept of failed relationships and their ruins. Definitely worth a visit!

Mushroom Museum
Locals and visitors will be able to find out everything there is to know about mushrooms, such as which mushrooms are eatable, which are poisonous and which would result in death if they were eaten, this new museum just opened this past summer.



Croatian Museum of Naive Art
Very interesting paintings and some sculptures by untrained Croatian artists from rural areas.

St. Mark's Church
Late Gothic Church with some Romanesque features, standing on the corner of St. Mark's Square.

Start planning your vacation to Croatia with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Zagreb Cathedral

While visiting the capital city of Croatia, a stop at the Zagreb Cathedral is a must. The Zagreb Cathedral is the tallest building in Croatia, its spires stand 344 feet tall and can be seen from most vantage points in the city.



The Zagreb Cathedral in a Roman Catholic institution, dedicated to the Assumption of Mark and to kings of St. Stephen and St. Ladislaus.

Construction started in 1093, but was successively destroyed by the Tatars in 1242, the Ottoman Empire invasions at the end of the 15th century and the 1880 Zagreb earthquake. The invasions triggered the construction of fortification walls around the cathedral, much of which are still intact today. After the earthquake, the Zagreb Cathedral was severely damaged, its tower was beyond repair. The restoration that followed, brought the cathedral to its present form, a wonder of neo-gothic artistry.

A stop at the Zagreb Cathedral is worth your time in Zagreb. Start planning your European Vacation with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Italy - the Art of the Cities

Italy is a living museum. Her public structures comprise vivid, visible art and architecture that stand as testaments to the country's history and culture. The Roman and Greek empires influenced early Italian design with their mighty temples and impressive amphitheaters, while Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic design lated played important parts in inspiring both architects and artists in the centuries to come. Their tangible, timeless legacies can be witnessed in every major Italian city and town.

Rome
Founded in 754 BC by orphaned brothers Romulus and Remus, a walk through Rome is a walk through time. From the Colosseum to the Pantheon to the immaculate aqueducts and roads, the Roman Empire influenced design, engineering and architecture for centuries to come. The Vatican offers the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, housing enormous collections of art and the frescoed ceilings of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. From Bernini to Bramante, Raphael and Caravaggio, marvel at the masterpieces that embellish and define the Eternal City: paintings, sculptures, palaces and ever-flowing fountains.

Venice
Venice is a feast of magnificent churches, lavish palazzi and stately bridges, all built upon a labyrinth of waterways. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge for an eagle-eye view of the Grand Canal and the gondolas. Delight in the Byzantine wonder of St. Mark's Basilica, watch St. Mark's Square bell tower pierce the sky and revel in the riches of the city's museums. The Gallerie dell'Accademia showcases Venetian masters such as Tintoretto, Bellini, Giorgione and Carpaccio, while the Peggy Guggenheim Collection presents modern giants like Picasso, Dali, Pollock and Miro.

 

Florence
Built by the Romans and immortalized by the Renaissance, Florence affords an unforgettable voyage through timeliess art and architecture. Savor the contract between the Boboli Garden's green, groomed perfection, Brunelleschi's bold red-tiled red, white and green marble. Gothic and Romanesque facades joust for attention on the churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella. Priceless works by Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo and Da Vinci fill the halls of the Uffizi Gallery. Within the Brancacci Chapel Masaccio's Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden of Eden, their shame and despair palpable. Meanwhile, on the Ponte Vecchio, the latest generation of craftsmen fashion unique art one can wear. It's as if the Renaissance never ceased: Florence's enlightenment continues to enchant the world.

 

Naples
In the 17th century Naples reighned as the undisputed cultural capital of Europe. Indeed, over 40% of Italy's works of art still reside here. Within its National Museum of Archeology lies a bountiful collection of artifacts, sculptures and mosaics recalling its past as well as that of Rome, Greece, Egypt, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Music and song has long defined this sunny city: Naples is home to the San Carlo opera house, Europe's oldest working theater since 1737. Architecturally, the jewel in the crown is the Galleria Umberto I; its elegant glass dome and barreled vaults now host shops and restaurants. Nearby, the vast Piazza del Plebescito embraces the Royal Palace and the church of St. Francis of Paola. At day's end, the sun glints on the towers of the 13th century Machio Angionio fortress.

 

Palermo
This ancient Phoenician seaside colony features a spectrum of architectural styles reflecting many civilizations: Green, Roman, Arabic, Norman, Spanish, French and Byzantine. Each built upon and embellished buildings created by successive cultures, creating a wonderful harmony of designs. From the stunning Royal Palace to the Palantine chapel's lustrous Byzantine mosaics from St. John of the Hermit's original Arab crimson-colored domes and its serene cloisters to the three-tiered Baroque sculptural magnificence at the intersection of Quattro Canti. Palermo's artistry also finds expression in its theaters: at The Teatro Massimo and the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi, concerts and ballet have been performed for centuries.

Italy is truly a living museum. Start planning your Italy vacation with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Hotel Spotlight: Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest, Bucharest

Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest
1-3 EPISCOPIEI ST., DISTRICT 1 : BUCHAREST 010292 : ROMANIA : Phone 40-21-303-3777

Guest rooms, executive rooms and suites at the Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel feature a balcony with stunning views overlooking Revolution Square, Victoria Avenue or the hotel's courtyard garden. Rooms are stylishly decorated to create a light and airy atmosphere, complete with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs. Work at the desk or keep in touch with wireless internet access. Pamper yourself in the spacious bathroom or unwind in front of the TV with an on-demand movie.

Travel to the Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest hotel in central Bucharest, situated near the Romanian Atheneum and just 40 minutes from Henri Coanda International Airport. Bucharest's tourist attractions, from its Royal Palace to shops and nightlife, are 5 minutes' walk away.

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Balkan Discovery - Escorted Tour

Included Features

• Arrival and departure transfers
• First class hotels, rooms with private facilities
• Service charges and hotel taxes
• Breakfast daily, 1 lunch and 7 dinners including dinner and folklore show in Bucharest
• Touring by modern motorcoach
• Professional Tour Director
• Luggage handling
• Headsets will be provided for included sightseeing tours, so you can easily hear your guide's commentary

Sightseeing

• Sofia
• Belgrade
• Novi Sad
• Timisoara
• Hunedoara
• Sibiu
• Sighisoara

Hotels

• Sofia: Radisson Blu
• Belgrade, Hotel Moskva (Metropole Hotel may also be used)
• Timisoara: Hotel Timisoara
• Sibiu: Ramda Hotel Sibiu
• Brasov: Aro Palace
• Bucharest, Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest

Zagreb's Museum of Broken Relationships

The Museum of Broken Relationships grew from a traveling exhibition revolving around the concept of failed relationships and their ruins. Unlike ‘destructive’ self-help instructions for recovery from failed loves, the Museum offers a chance to overcome an emotional collapse through creation: by contributing to the Museum's collection.

Whatever the motivation for donating personal belongings – be it sheer exhibitionism, therapeutic relief, or simple curiosity – people embraced the idea of exhibiting their love legacy as a sort of a ritual, a solemn ceremony.  Our societies oblige us with our marriages, funerals, and even graduation farewells, but deny us any formal recognition of the demise of a relationship, despite its strong emotional effect.  In the words of Roland Barthes in A Lover's Discourse: "Every passion, ultimately, has its spectator... (there is) no amorous oblation without a final theater."

Conceptualized in Croatia by Olinka Vištica and Dražen Grubišić, the Museum has since toured internationally, amassing an amazing collection. Although often colored by personal experience, local culture and history, the exhibits presented here form universal patterns offering us to discover them and feel the comfort they can bring. Hopefully they can also inspire our personal search for deeper insights and strengthen our belief in something more meaningful than random suffering.


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Italians Who Changed Our World

From Christopher Columbus and Marco Polo to Galileo and Leonardo da Vinci, Americans owe a lot to our Italian comrades. Italy has been home to many who have redefined culture, history, science and our perspective in both classic and contemporary times. During your travels to Italy, you are sure to run into relics of some of these famous Italians. Here are just a few to keep an eye out for:

Donatello
Considered the founder of modern sculpture, Donato de Bardi was born in florence in 1386. His bronze David was the first nude statue of the Renaissance.

Sandro Botticelli
A friend of both Leonardo and Michelangelo, born in 1445 and renowned for religious and secular-themed masterpieces such as the Primavera, Birth of Venus and Adoration of the Magi.

Leonardo da Vinci
Born in Vinci, near Florence, in 1452. A Renaissance genius, world-renowned for his paintings, including the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. Leonardo was also a master architect, engineer, mathematician and philosopher.

Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio was born in Urbino in 1493. His superb use of perspective, realism and animation is exemplified by the School of Athens adorning the walls of the Vatican.

St. Francis of Assisi
Giovanni Francesco Barnardone was born to a wealthy merchant family in Assisi around 1181. After taking a vow of poverty, he preached for simplicity and humility before God - to animals as well as to humans. The founder of the Franciscan order, he is also the patron saint of animals and of the environment.

Christopher Columbus
Born in Genova in 1451, his home still stands today. Columbus guided his three-vessel expedition across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, aiming to reach the Far East through a westward course. Instead, he landed in the Caribbean and is credited with rediscovering America in modern times.

Amerigo Vespucci
Born in Florence in 1454. Amerigo was a navigator and merchant who estimated the world's circumference within 50 miles. He concluded America was not the eastern part of Asia, as Columbus believed, but a new continent. It is duly names after him.

Marco Polo
Born in Venice in 1454, Marco Polo's 24 year odyssey through Asia opened up the Orient to Europe. He traveled the ancient Silk Route, was a guest at the court of the emperor Kublai Khan, and his accounts became the greatest exotic travelogues of their day.

Galileo Galilei
Born in Pisa in 1564, the inventor of the first astronomical telescope also presaged Newton's laways of motion and confirmed the Copernican theory of the solar system. Charged with heresy and forced to renounce his theories, his work was officially recognized by the Vatican in 1993.

Valentino
Innovative fashion designed Valentino Garavani was born near Milan in 1932. His Collezione Bianca was the first to have the magic V label. Valentino also designed Jacqueline Kennedy's wedding dress for her marriage to Aristotle Onassis.

Gianni Versace
Born in Reggio Calabria in 1946, couture icon Versace is known for his striking colors, materials and cuts. He opened his first boutique in Milan's Via della Spiga in 1978.

Luciano Pavarotti
Born on the outskirts of Modena in 1935 and arguably the most important tenor since Caruso, Pavarotti combines accuracy of pitch and quality of sound production with a natural musicality. He is widely acknowledged for having popularized opera.

Enzo Ferrari
Born in Modena in 1898, Ferrari's innovation, beauty and style in automotive design continues to make his vehicles the most sought after in the world.

These are just a few of the famous Italians who have changed our world. Start planning your Italy vacation with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Vacation Itinerary Planner: The Romantic Road, Germany

On this famous and popular 50-year-old vacation route from the Main River to the Alps between Wurzburg and Fussen, the traveler will discover an extraordinary cultural variety. Tiepolo's frescoes can be admired in the Wurzburg Residenz. Picturesque towns such as Rothernburg ob der Tauber and Dinkelsbuhl cast a spell on each and every visitor. In Augsburg one can retrace the footsteps of the ancient Romans and the Fugger merchant dynasty. In addition, the lovely Wieskirche or Chutch in the Meadoe, one of the most famous examples of Rococo architecture, is situated on the Romantic Road near Steingaden. The last stop on this famous road is King Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle.

1. Wurzburg
Wurzburg is a pleasing harmony of history, culture and wine. This university town and former royal seat is idyllically situated on either side of the Main river and offers a vibrant atmosphere and an endearing charm. It has gained a name as the centre of the Franconian winegrowing region and, not least, as a city with exceptional places of interest.

2. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small town with a big reputation. Nowhere else will you find such a wealth of original buildings dating from the Middle Ages. You can't help but ask yourself whether time has stood still, as you amble past the beautiful old houses, secluded squares and tucked-away corners of the old quarter, where towers, taverns and town gates alternate with fountains, fortifications and former storehouses.

3. Dinkelsbuhl
Dinkelsbuhl is one of the archetypal towns which give the German Romantic Road its character. Along with its two neighbours (Rothenburg to the north and Nördlingen to the south) it is one of the only remaining walled medieval towns in Germany and its imposing minster and the timbered buildings give visitors a strong picture of how the towns appeared in the Middle Ages.

4. Augsburg
Augsburg, with its Mozart heritage, is one of the most historically significant cities in Germany – not to mention one of the prettiest. As you stroll through the city's ancient streets, it doesn't take much imagination to gain a sense of Augsburg's importance as a prominent financial centre, international trading hub and focal point for the fine arts in the days when the Fugger banking empire was at its peak.

5. Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein is known all over the world as a symbol of idealised romantic architecture and for the tragic story of its owner. After losing sovereignty in his own kingdom, Ludwig II withdrew into his own world of myths, legend and fairytales.

6. Wiskirche
The Pilgrimage Church of the Scourged Saviour at the foot of the Alps is considered a perfect example of Bavarian rococo architecture. Around one million visitors come here every year from all over the world – to look, marvel, pray, attend services, enjoy the summer concerts and, of course, for quiet contemplation.

7. Fussen
Fussen is located at the very end of the Romantic Road (or the beginning if you are travelling in the less usual direction). It is hard to think of a better spot for a grand finale. It is located on a lake (the Forggensee), has the River Lech flowing through the centre, and is set against the spectacular backdrop of the Alps.

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Hotel Spotlight: Hotel Moskva, Serbia

Hotel Moskva
Terazije 20, Beograd : Belgrade : SERBIA : Phone 381 11 2686 255

Hotel Moskva is located on the Terazije square, core of Belgrade's downtown. It lies on the crossroads of three streets: Terazije, Prizrenska and Balkanska. Location on top of Terazijska Terasa provides a wonderful skyline view of Novi Beograd, across the Sava river. Apart from other commercial buildings in the vicinity, two other hotels, "Balkan" and "Kasina", are located right across Prizrenska street and Terazije, respectively, so as the Palace Albania and the Terazije fountain, built in 1860, which is the administratively declared center of Belgrade.

Learn more about this Serbia Hotel.

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Prague, Vienna & Budapest: 10 Days from Prague & Vienna to Budapest!

Escorted Motorcoach Tour

A magical 10 day - 3 country tour, taking in the history and culture of Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic.

Included Features

• First class hotels, rooms with private facilities
• Service charges and hotel taxes
• Breakfast daily
• Dinner with folklore in Prague
• Dinner with entertainment in Grinzing suburb of Vienna
• Farewell dinner with entertainment in typical csarda restaurant in Budapest
• Opera performance in Prague
• Strauss & Mozart Concert in Vienna
• Inter-city travel by modern motor coach
• Arrival and departure transfers
• Professional Tour Director throughout
• Luggage handling
• Headsets will be provided for included sightseeing tours, so you can easily hear your guide's commentary

Sightseeing

• Prague: Royal Castle of Hradcany, St. Vitus Cathedral
• Vienna: Hofburg Palace, Kunsthistorische Museum
• Budapest: Fisherman's Bastion, Coronation Church

Hotels

• Prague, Majestic Plaza
• Vienna, Hilton Stadtpark or Vienna, Hilton Danube
• Budapest, Intercontinental

Travel to Europe with Celtic Tours World Vacations. Give us a call at 1-800-833-4373 to start planning your European Vacation today!

Vacation Itinerary Planner: The German Clock Road

This route takes you through the most beautiful vacation destinations in the Black Forest and the Baar region. Charming museums and sights revolve here around clock making. In clock factories the product process can be witnessed. Wooden clocks were manufactured in Waldau as early as 1667, the most prominent example being the cuckoo clock. On the way you will discover Black Forest farmsteads and houses with the characteristic shingle-roofs, clear streams, luscious meadows and dark green forests.

1. Schramberg
Schramberg is a town in the district of Rottweil, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated in the eastern Black Forest, 25 km northwest of Rottweil. With all its districts Talstadt, Sulgen, Waldmössingen, Heiligenbronn, Schönbronn and Tennenbronn (since 2006) it has about 22,000 inhabitants. In 1861 the clock factory Junghans was founded in Schramberg. At the beginning of the 20th century Junghans became the biggest clock factory worldwide with 3000 employees. In the surroundings of Junghans many suppliers like spring producers established their companies. Junghans although being much smaller now still continues to produce clocks nowadays.

2. Rottweil
Located between the Black Forest and the Swabian Alps, Rottweil has about 25,000 inhabitants. The old city is famous for its medieval center and for its traditional carnival. The oldest town in Baden-Württemberg, its appearance has changed very little from the 16th century.

3. Bad Durrheim
Bad Dürrheim in the Black Forest boasts the double distinction of being a salt-water spa and a climatic health resort, which makes it ideal for a successful health break.

4. Titisee-Neustadt
The scenic highlight of Titisee - Neustadt is doubtless the fantastic setting of Titisee lake whose crystal-clear water attracts thousands of enthusiastic swimmers to the healthy climate of the resort town bearing the same name. Since its conversion to a pedestrian zone and waterfront promenade, Seestraße is considered the loveliest street for strolling in the Southern Black Forest.

5. Lenzkirch
Lenzkirch is located in the High Black Forest between the attractions of Lake Titisee, the Feldberg mountain, Lake Schluchsee and Wutachschlucht Gorge, which are known far and wide. Lenzkirch also lies on the German Clock Road. Lenzkirch and its districts are located on a slightly undulating, largely open plateau, which offers marvellous views over the High Black Forest.

6. Glottertal
Located near the town of Freiburg in the far south west of Germany, the Glottertal valley in the southern Black Forest offers picturesque walking country with pretty flower-filled meadows, lush orchards and vineyards, wooded peaks and shady pine forests, not to mention warm hospitality and culinary delights.

7. Waldkirch
Waldkirch is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located 15 kilometers northeast of Freiburg im Breisgau. While the English translation of its name is Forest Church, it is known as "the town of mechanical organs", where fairground organs played on the streets were manufactured by such well-known manufacturers as Carl Frei, A. Ruth and Son, and Wilhelm Bruder's Sons.

8. Triberg
Watchmaking was once a thriving local industry in Triburg. Check out the World's Biggest Cuckoo Clock here.

9. Hornberg
Hornberg, the town of the 'Hornberger Schießen' (Hornberg Shooting) is located in the Gutach Valley on the Black Forest Railway. The district of Reichenbach is one of the 3 villages which are the home of the famous Bollenhut, a traditional ladies' hat topped with pom-poms.

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10 Great Little Trains of Wales

The Great Little Trains of Wales are a very special way of seeing some of the best scenery in the British Isles. All are narrow gauge steam railways and some have a history spanning well over 100 years. All of them have in common the charm of old-time steam trains with plenty of polished paintwork and brass.

Bala Lake Railway
Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake Railway) offers a delightful 9 mile return journey alongside Bala Lake, through the beautiful Snowdonia National Park.

Brecon Mountain Railway
The line runs from Pant, near Merthyr Tydfil. Travel in one of our all-weather Observation Carriages, behind a vintage steam locomotive, into the Brecon Beacons National Park to see stunning views of the peaks of the Beacons across the Taf Fechan reservoir.

Llanberis Lake Railway
Discover the timeless appeal of our narrow-gauge steam trains - a more leisurely way to travel and the perfect way to savour the grandeur of Snowdonia.Starting at Gilfach Ddu, the journey takes you past the 13th century Dolbadarn Castle, crossing possibly Britain's shortest river and passing Llanberis' twin lakes as the train negotiates the extension (opened in 2003) to Llanberis village.

Snowdon Mountain Railway
Let Snowdon Mountain Railway take you on a journey of a lifetime to the rooftop of Wales. Snowdon, at 3,560ft dominates the landscape of Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. Claim this mountain peak, the highest in Wales, as a lifetime’s achievement. With stunning scenery and awe-inspiring views it's all part of a great day out for you and your family in North Wales.

Talylln Railway
The Talyllyn Railway is a historic narrow-gauge steam railway, set in the beautiful Mid-Wales countryside. Running from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol, the line passes the delightful Dolgoch Falls and there are excellent forest walks at Nant Gwernol.

Vale of Rheidol Railway
Travelling on the Vale of Rheidol Railway is the finest way to see the stunning Rheidol Valley. Opened in 1902, the railway has been delighting passengers young and old for over a century.

Welsh Highland Railway
The Welsh Highland Railway is Snowdonia’s most spectacular railway. Trains start a spectacular 25 mile scenic journey from beneath the castle walls at Caernarfon.

Welshpool & Llanfair Railway
Welcome to the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway.  Opened in 1903 to link the market town of Welshpool to the rural community of Llanfair Caereinion,  this 2 foot 6 inch narrow gauge steam railway now provides a tourist service for all the family and a welcome change from the rush of every day life.

Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
Your train will take you for a short ride, then we stop at the Engine Sheds where you get to climb into the cabs of the locomotives and see how things work.Find out about the narrow gauge railways of Porthmadog and how they became famous around the world.

These Great Little Trains are perfect for a romantic Wales vacation as well as a family vacation. Start planning your vacation to Wales with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Bremen - Full of years, yet young at heart

Bremen, a former free city of the Hanseatic League, pulses with life in the heart of northwest Germany. It is the city of the Bremen town musicians and of the legendary knight Roland - a city where the past and the future live side by side - a city that respects tradition but lives entusiastically in the present -a city steeped in its Hanseatic history and the development of astronautics - and a great city that is only one hour flying time from Frankfurt.

Start planning your European Vacation with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Hotel Spotlight: Radisson Blu Grand Hotel, Sofia

Radisson Blu Grand Hotel
4, Narodno Sabranie sq. - 1000 : Sofia : BULGARIA : Phone 359 2 9334 334

Located in the cultural and commercial heart of the city, the Radisson Blu Grand Hotel, Sofia is situated on the city’s notable vibrant yellow pavement square and shares the ultimate address with the Bulgarian Parliament.

Learn more about this hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria

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Vienna to Bucharest - 11 Days/9 nights from Vienna to Bucharest via Budapest

Premier Escorted Motorcoach Tour

Travel to Austria, Hungary and Romania on this 11 day escorted tour of Europe with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

Included Features

• Arrival and departure transfers
• First class hotels, rooms with private facilities
• Service charges and hotel taxes
• Breakfast daily and 1 lunch
• Dinner with entertainment in Grinzing suburb of Vienna
• Dinner with entertainment in typical csarda restaurant in Budapest
• Strauss & Mozart Concert in Vienna
• Inter-city travel by modern motor coach
• Flight ticket "Budapest - Bucharest"
• Daytime Danube river cruise, Budapest
• Touring by modern motor coach
• Airport and local transfers
• Professional Tour Director
• Luggage handling
• Headsets will be provided for included sightseeing tours, so you can easily hear your guide's commentary

Sightseeing

• Vienna: Hofburg Palace, Kunsthistorische Museum
• Budapest: Fisherman's Bastion, Coronation Church
• Bucharest: Parliament Palace, The Village Museum
• Brasov: First Romanian School; Sinaia Monastery; Bran Castle

Hotels

• Vienna: Hilton Stadtpark
• Budapest, Intercontinental Hotel
• Bucharest, Intercontinetal Hotel

Vacation in Europe with Celtic Tours World Vacations. Give us a call at 1-800-833-4373 to book your vacation today!

Dunmore Cave, Ireland

Dunmore Cave
Ballyfoyle, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland

History and geology blend at Dunmore Cave to give an interesting and unique situation. Consisting of a series of chambers formed over millions of years, the cave contains some of the finest calcite formations found in any Irish cave. The case has been known to man for many centuries and is first mentions in the 9th century Irish Triads. The most interesting reference however, comes from the Annals which tells of a Viking massacre at the cave in the year 928 AD. Archaeological finds within the cave confirm Viking activity. Exhibitions and displays in the Visitor Center. The cave is inaccesible to wheelchair users.

 

Travel to Ireland with Celtic Tours World Vacations