Florence – Tuscany, Italy The historic city of Florence stands along the banks of the Arno River and is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the city flourished under the patronage of the powerful Medici family, whose support of artists and scholars helped transform Florence into […]
Galway – Ireland Galway stands along the western coast of Ireland where the River Corrib flows into Galway Bay along the Atlantic shoreline. The city developed as an important medieval trading port and later became a cultural center for the surrounding region. The historic city center contains narrow streets lined with colorful buildings, traditional pubs, […]
Trim Castle – County Meath, Ireland Trim Castle stands along the River Boyne in County Meath and is the largest Norman castle in Ireland. Construction began in the late 12th century under the leadership of Hugh de Lacy, a powerful Norman lord granted lands in the region. The castle’s enormous stone keep dominates the surrounding […]
Dublin – Ireland Dublin, the capital of Ireland, lies at the mouth of the River Liffey where it flows into Dublin Bay along the Irish Sea. The city began as a Viking settlement during the early medieval period before developing into the political and cultural center of Ireland. Historic landmarks such as Dublin Castle, Trinity […]
King John’s Castle – Limerick, Ireland King John’s Castle rises prominently on the banks of the River Shannon in the historic city of Limerick. The fortress was built in the early 13th century during the reign of King John of England, at a time when Norman rulers were strengthening their control over Ireland. The castle’s […]
Bunratty Castle – County Clare, Ireland Bunratty Castle stands along the banks of the Ratty River near the Shannon Estuary in County Clare. Built in the 15th century, the castle is one of the most complete and well-preserved medieval fortresses in Ireland. The structure consists of a tall stone tower house surrounded by defensive walls […]
At the end of our Carpathian Mountains of Eastern Europe Trip, we were lucky to visit with long-time friends Mark and Tom in London. Apart from some fun times catching up, we visited the Tate Modern for views from the tower, had fish & chips in an old pub, slid down the gigantic new slide […]
Buda Castle – Budapest, Hungary Buda Castle occupies the southern portion of Castle Hill, rising high above the Danube on the western side of Budapest. The site has served as a royal residence since the Middle Ages and was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt as the political center of the Hungarian kingdom. The castle complex today […]
Budapest – Hungary Budapest stretches along both banks of the Danube River, where the historic cities of Buda and Pest were unified in the late 19th century to form the modern capital of Hungary. The city sits at the western edge of the Carpathian Basin, a vast plain surrounded by mountain ranges. The skyline of […]