Founded by the Spanish in the early 16th century, Guanajuato is located on 2,008 m above sea level. The city of Guanajuato is a cultural capital of the Bajio region in central Mexico, and is considered as one of the most charming destinations in the nation. It’s a lovely, colonial city that looks like old Europe. Located about a five-hour drive northwest of Mexico City, this is a picturesque town of pleasant little plazas, cobblestone streets lined with stairs and houses of pastel-colored facades and balconies trimmed with iron work, and flower-filled window boxes.

 During your stay, you’ll see excellent examples of New Spain Baroque art on such edifices as the Basilica Senora de Guanajuato, the Templo de San Diego, the Alhondiga de Granaditas (a grain depository) and the Monumento al Pipila. The town’ fine Baroque and neoclassical buildings, resulting from the prosperity of the mines, have influenced buildings throughout central Mexico. The churches of La Compania and La Valenciana are considered to be among the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture in Central and South America. More additional information you can follow this link.

Set in a scenic espy in the center of the settlement, the atlantic’s most indulgent apartment are in a 15th-century edifice with a comely garden. The Parador de Guadalupe Hotel is justness next to the Stag Monastery of Santa Part of Guadalupe. Both the town and the monastery are UNESCO Concern Heritage sites, Guadalupe state one of the most essential centres of pilgrimage in Spain since the 14th century. The house is titled after Francisco de Zurbaran, the zealous 17th-century master who was foaled in the nearby townsfolk of Fuente de Cantos.

Parador De Guadalupe Caceres offers 41 air-conditioned accommodations with minibars and safes. They are decorated in rustic communication. Most of them are set around the inside form. Convenient democratic rooms on the interior with individual walls and bedrooms which denote the sacred duty as convent. Televisions grow with video channels. In improver to bend flat with two beds or a regent bed, the hotel also has a assemblage with two beds with a canopy.

Facilities: Restaurant, Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Newspapers, Garden, Terrace, Non-Smoking Rooms, Room Service, Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Laundry, Breakfast in the Room, Ironing Service, Currency Exchange, Souvenirs/Gift Shop, Packed Lunches,Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Safety Deposit Box, Heating, Airconditioning, Designated Smoking Area,Hiking, Outdoor Swimming Pool.

The beg corespond with the spherical air of the parador itself, reminds a 15th century castled duty their artifact as foppish definitive and useful.

Built 900 years ago, the Monastery of St. John is an impressive structure with outstanding interior frescoes. It towers above the capital, Chora, and the whole island breathes of faith and devotion. This majestic medieval monastery entirely made of stone towers through inviting incoming tourists to step foot on Patmos with utmost respect, increasing wonder and unending awe. In 1999, the island’s historic center Chora was declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

 
Nevertheless, there is more to the island than its Christian reputation. Patmos Island is a great place to relax and has a very spiritual atmosphere due to its religious background. There are many nice beaches along the jagged coastline, and the people grow fruits and olives on the green hills. The landscape invites you to take long walks and there is much to discover. The beaches of Patmos Island can be organized with sunbeds, umbrellas and taverns, or they can also be totally secluded. The island is quite windy, so it is good for windsurfing.

Construction of this palatine chapel, with its octagonal basilica and cupola, began c. 790–800 under the Emperor Charlemagne. Originally inspired by the churches of the Eastern part of the Holy Roman Empire, it was splendidly enlarged in the Middle Ages. For 600 years, from 936 to 1531, the Aachen chapel was the church of coronation for 30 German kings and 12 queens. The Aachen Cathedral was extensively renovated in the 10th century and restored in 1881.

As a miracle of the architecture – half mystical, half of human origins – the contemporaries explained the Pfalzkapelle of the GermanRoman of emperor Karl der Grosser.  The collections of the cathedral treasure, show sacred cultural treasures, more spectacular, more Carolingian, more Ottonian and unique to their time.  They are works of art, as well as archaeological and historical documents of inestimable importance.

Wurzburg is 275km north-west of Munich, in Bavaria and is considered by Goethe to be one of the most beautiful towns in Germany. Its most remarkable monument is the Residenz, one of the largest and most beautiful baroque palaces in the country. This magnificent Baroque palace was created under the patronage of the prince-bishops Lothar Franz and Friedrich Carl von Schonborn in the 18th century. It took sixty years to complete; the palace was built from 1720 to 1744 and the interior finished in 1780. 

The building embodies the attainments of Western architecture of its day, French chateau architecture, Viennese baroque and the religious and secular architecture of northern Italy and is a synthesis of the arts of astonishing universality. The Rezidenz was built and decorated by an international team of architects, painters, sculptors and stucco-workers, led by Balthasar Neumann.

The magnificent sequence of rooms begins with the  vestibule and  Garden Hall and continues via the   staircase and  White Hall to the  Imperial Hall, also with frescos by Tiepolo. In Baroque style, the staircase gained importance as part of a formal reception room. The staircase of the Wurzburg residence spans its vault, an area of 18 ? 30 meters, without pillars.

The Venetian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo decorated the vault with a fresco, showing paintings of the four continents: Europe, America, Asia and Africa. This is one of the largest frescos ever created. The former  residence of the Wurzburg prince-bishops is one of the most important baroque palaces in Europe and today it is on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

Dedicated to Saint Stephen, Bourges Cathedral is a magnificent early Gothic cathedral located near the Loire Valley, France.  It was built in record time – between the late 12th and late 13th centuries by architect Paul-Louis Boeswillwald and the master builder Philippe Berruyer. Bourges Cathedral was added to UNESCO world heritage site list in 1992.

With its unique feats of architecture, impressive sculptures and glorious 13th-century stained glass windows, the Cathedral is one of the great masterpieces of Gothic art. The tympanum, sculptures and stained-glass windows are particularly striking. Apart from the beauty of the architecture, it attests to the power of Christianity in medieval France.

Its magnificent chevet resembles the one at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris with double flying buttresses creating an overall pyramid-shaped elevation. It is however, also its splendid windows that like those at Chartres make this cathedral famous.The architectural style chosen by the unknown Master-builder is based on a plan with no transept and plastic effects of great modernity for their time. The Cathedral is still surrounded by the half-timbered houses of the medieval town. For more information please click here.

Situated on the banks of the river Rhine, the city of Strasbourg is known for its historical and cultural sights. It is the seventh largest city in France and nearly three million people come to visit the city every year. Strasbourg is the seat of several European institutions, such as the Council of Europe and the Eurocorps, as well as the European Parliament and the European Ombudsman of the European Union.

The city is chiefly known for its sandstone Gothic Cathedral with its famous astronomical clock, which is the highest medieval building in Europe. Highlights include the intricate west facade with its three portals; the Eglise and Synagogue statues and the remarkable Renaissance Astronomical Clock, one of the world’s largest clocks, which chimes at 1230 daily, as the Apostles parade before Jesus. The climb to the top platform, from which there is an outstanding view over the city, takes 330 arduous steps.

Strasbourg has a rich architectural history – the entire city center of Strasbourg is classified as world heritage. It was added at World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1988. Stroll down its ancient streets, admire its monuments, visit the wealth of its museums, cruise along the river or stare at its magnificent cathedral, guardian angel of two great civilizations, Latin and Germanic, which built Europe. Famous for its channels which encircle the city centre and bring to the charm of the scenery, for its traditional Christmas Market, lovely parks and a distinctive traditional cuisine, Strasbourg offers its visitors a variety of unique experiences.

 
The Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic cathedral in Burgos, northern Spain. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it is notable for its vast size and unique Gothic architecture. On October 31, 1984, Burgos Cathedral was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and Frommer’s Spain calls it one of Spain’s best cathedrals.

The entire history of Gothic art is summed up in its superb architecture and its unique collection of works of art, including paintings, choir stalls, tombs and stained-glass windows. The construction of a cathedral was ordered by King Ferdinand III of Castile and Mauricio, the English-born Bishop of Burgos. Construction started on the site of the former Romanesque cathedral on July 20, 1221. Work began at the chevet (east end), which was completed in nine years. 

An international team of architects and artists worked on the front spires, chapel and the choir in late Gothic style. It is the only Spanish cathedral that has this distinction independently. Burgos Cathedral is an outstanding example of an integral Gothic cathedral, with church, cloister and annexes and is also the burial place of the Spanish national hero El Cid and his widow.

Merida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura, western central Spain. It was the largest Roman city in Iberia which is manifested today in the finest ruins remaining in the country. The city offers to its visitors many wonderful Roman ruins which are within easy walking distance of the beautiful Plaza de España in the centre of town. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Three must-see points in Merida:
The Roman Theater and Amphitheater. Excellently preserved theater and conveniently situated side by side, this is one of the landmarks of the town. Dates back to before the birth of Christ, the Roman amphitheatre was built by the famous architect, Agrippa. Such is the condition of it today that there are still plays held there every summer during the popular Festival of Merida which takes place annually in July and August attracting many visitors.
Acueducto de los Milagros (aqueduct of Miracles) which crossed the Abarregas River and supplied the city with water from the Roman dam of Proserpina, still preserved. Famous for their trade routes and how they moved supplies between armies, the Romans were key components in bringing the idea of aqueducts to Europe and the five miles of aqueducts still running through Merida today show this.

The Roman Bridge (Puente Romano) is one of the longest bridges built by the Romans. Consisting of 64 Granite arches, it’s now a footbridge over the Guadiana River, the Puente Romano Bridge is still used by pedestrians. Other attractions include:  the Templo de Diana one of the gates to the city, rising to a height of 15 metres; Circo Romano Hippodrome – the ruins of an ancient stadium where chariot races would have been held; The Zona Arqueológica de Morería Archeological diggings.
 

Caceres is located in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. With a land area of 1,750 km², this is the largest in geographical extension and one of the most beautiful in the country. The origins of Caceres can be traced back over 25,000 years to the times of cavemen from the Palaeolithic age. The traveler will discover the mixture of styles in its architecture which is a blend of Roman, Islamic, Celts, Visigoths, Northern Gothic, Italian Renaissance styles and Arabs.

The city was founded by the Romans in 25 BC. The attraction for the traveler to the city’s beauty will create the desire to get lost within its labyrinth of medieval streets and plazas, under its arches, its towers and its battlements; within its churches, beautiful convents and amazing palaces. Thirty towers from the Muslim period still stand in Cáceres, of which the Torre del Bujaco is the most famous.

Cordoba is a city in Andalusia that showcases to its tourists a whole world of striking and astounding history. Founded by the Romans, Cordoba became a port city of great importance, used for shipping Spanish olive oil, wine and wheat back to Ancient Rome. Due to its strategic importance as the highest navigable point of the Guadalquivir River, it was Europe’s largest city, a centre of learning and culture.

Cordoba’s period of greatest glory began in the 8th century after the Moorish conquest, when some 300 mosques and innumerable palaces and public buildings were built to rival the splendors of Constantinople, Damascus and Baghdad. At present, the old town contains numerous architectural reminders of this time. The the highlight of your stay is the magnificent Mezquita – the Great Mosque of Cordoba. This Mosque dates back to 785 and was by far the biggest and most beautiful one constructed by the Moors in Spain.

Today it is a moderately-sized modern city with a population of 325,453 in 2008. And visitors would be surprised to know that Cordoba is Spain’s 10th largest city. The contemporary Cordoba is now a Flamenco and Bullfighting township, and undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous places to visit in Southern Spain. A fabulous walking tour of Cordoba, the ancient Moorish capital for three centuries. Discover the Alcazar, Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral), Synagogue and the Fortress of the Catholic Monarchs. Allow your imagination to run wild, as you wander the ancient, narrow, winding streets of the Jewish Quarter. The city is a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Founded in the 11th century, Avila is a medieval city in western Spain, about 70 miles northwest of Madrid. Dates from pre-Roman times this old town has the best preserved medieval walls in Spain. With 82 semicircular towers and nine gates, the walls, surrounding the city, have a total length of 2.5 km and is on average 12 meters high. Ávila also has a magnificently historic cathedral, a number of Extra-Muros Churches, and an authentic medieval atmosphere. For all these reasons, the entire Old Town of Ávila has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The cathedral was built as an integral element of the embattled walls, while the town’s topography of churches, monasteries, and houses extends beyond the ramparts, creating an ensemble of medieval urbanism. Situated at the highest altitude on 1130 m above sea level, this World Heritage city also is the birthplace of St Teresa and the burial place of the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada. Teresa was a 16th-century Carmelite nun who reformed her order, had many ecstatic visions, and wrote several books. She is the female patron saint of Spain and was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church.

Other city’ tourist attractions include: the Cathedral of Avila, Basílica de San Vicente, Iglesia de San Pedro, Palacio de Don Diego del Aguila and many museums, universities and history buildings. Avila contains two main shrines honoring St. Teresa, along with a few more sites associated with the saint. The primary shrine is the Convent of St. Teresa, a convent contains her relics, and the second is the Monasterio de la Encarnacion, where St. Teresa lived and where her cell can be visited.

Unlike much of Croatia, Sibenik was not founded until the 7th century by Croats. The town was inevitably tossed around between the country’s many successive invaders: Ottomans, Venetians, Hungarians, French and Austrians. Despite all this, and the heavy bombing during the Second World War, the old part of Sibenik has survived. The city boasts typically urban Croatian architecture – houses of pale stone and red-tiled roofs.

As has the pleasure of wandering along the lanes and alleys which fan out from each other, of stumbling across the time-worn façade of an elegant mansion or the secret garden of a priory, of idling away time in a small café alongside a chapel. In the glimmer of the street lamps, delicate medieval stone carvings are vividly brought to life – a noble coat of arms above a doorway, a drinking trough for dogs beside a channel, a weaver’s measure still marking the wall on a street corner.

The town also dear to many famous artists, writers, sculptors, cabinet-makers and stone carvers who have chosen to set up abode here, establishing various artisan workshops in the town’ elegantly restored houses. Trogir was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.  Such artistic proliferation is not recent here. The colorful Gothic polyptychs of the 15-th century artist, Blaz Jurjev, a native of Trogir, were representative of the blossoming artistic movement known as the Scholl of Dalmatia.

Among the most famous of these artists are Trogir-born sculptor Ivan Duknovic, and fellow sculptors and countrymen Andrija Alesi and Nikola Firentinac, living in Trogir in the second half of the 15th century, whose chapel for the town’ first bishop, St Ivan of Trogir is a masterpiece of Dalmatian Renaissance art. The chapel forms part of the Cathedral of St Lawrence, itself built in 13th century on the town’ main square. 

Far to the western reaches of Istria, the town of Porec, Croatia, lies on a peninsula and, from 1902 to 1935, was linked to Parenzana by a small railway line. First founded by the Romans in 129 BCE as a military camp, it had grown into a “municipium” known as Colonia Julia Parentium by the 1st century CE. The old town still retains the original cruciform street layout from those olden times, with a long central road, the “decumanus”, lying at right angles to another main road, the “cardo maximus”, off which run endless narrow lanes.

These streets are lined with light-colored paving stones polished smooth with age, their medieval houses and Gothic and renaissance palaces still exuding an air of prosperity tempered by the solemnity of antiquity. Having wandered through the intricate maze of narrow lanes overflowing with souvenir shops whose bright signs mask gracefully ornate facades, and made one’s way across Marafor Square with all its knick-knack and gaudy parasols, down past the canons’ house, an unexpected splendor comes into view, at the end of a discreet and inconspicuous passage.