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A tale of six cities  Malcolm
Rogers considers six city weekend European breaks.
ZAGREB
The capital of Croatia survived the Balkans conflict reasonably intact
and today it has an olde world, relaxed feel about it.
Mass tourism hasn’t fully arrived and it is none the worse for that.
You can still get all visitor amenities without worrying about a stag
party coming round the next corner.
What to do: Take the funicular up to the medieval Upper Town and stroll
past the Church of St. Mark.
The Radiceva Street area is full of outdoor cafés, art galleries,
boutiques and bars. The cathedral is postcard-grade standard amazing
stained windows, huge defensive walls and ornate chandeliers.
The Old Town is similarly equipped with handsome architecture alongside
inviting bars and restaurants.
Ban Jelacic Square is ideal for sipping a coffee and watching the world
go by; nearby Mirogoj Cemetery is a necropolis famous for its ornate tombstones
and fine sculptures.
Where to stay: Top end is the Hotel Regent Esplanade (tel 00 385 1456
6666) www.regenthotels.com , double rooms from £100.
For trendy and not too spendy try Arcotel Allegra (tel 00 385 1469 6000).
www.arcotel.at
Where to eat: Croatian food is generally hearty and tasty. Head for
Vinodol (tel 00 385 1481 1427) main courses from £6 or the similarly
priced Dva Goluba (tel 00 385 1232 8950).
How to get there: Croatia Airlines www.croatiaairlines.hr flies from
Heathrow and Gatwick
Wizz Air www.wizzair.com flies from Luton.
Bergen
Norway’s second city is situated within a stone’s throw of
the fjords should you be pining for them.
The city itself is perfect for sauntering around down to the harbour,
back-up through the town, stopping- off at one of the dozens of cafes
for schnapps and snacks.
What to do: Must-see museums include the small but entirely absorbing
Theta Museum (tel 00 45 5555 208) which deals with the Nazi occupation
of Norway. Within walking distance (almost everything in Bergen is within
walking distance) is the Rosenkrantz Tower a dramatic castle overlooking
the town and further round the square is the Maritime Museum.
If classical music is your thing stop by at Troldhaugen a memorial
to Norway’s most famous composer Edvard Grieg (of Morning fame).
Where to stay: The up-market choice is the Havnekontoret Hotel (tel
0800 444444) www.choicehotels.com doubles from £170.
This splendidly comfortable, chic hotel occupies the former port authority
building.
For medium prices try Steen’s Hotel (tel 00 47 55 30 8888) www.steenshotel
Doubles from £100.
Where to eat: Café Kippers (tel 00 47 5531 0060) has high value
meals from £8. For more up-market head for Anhjorningen (tel 00
47 5532 7919).
How to get there: Norwegian Air Shuttle (tel 00 47 2149 0015) www.norwegian.no
flies from Stansted and Manchester. Wideroe www.wideroe.no flies from
Aberdeen and Edinburgh
Vicenza
The home of the 16th century Andrea Palladio, Vicenza is situated between
Venice and Verona. But it’s not all Italian Renaissance
Vicenza boasts medieval castles, contemporary cafes and cutting-edge art
galleries. It’s a world-beating blend of natural beauty and human
artistry.
What to do: First-off, have a coffee in the main square the Piazza dei
Signori and feast your eyes on Palladio’s masterpieces which surround
the piazza.
Then head for the Teatro Olimpico om Piazza Matteotti a Roman-style
theatre inside medieval fortifications. Simply staggering.
For posh bling, head for Corso Palladio, which boasts some of the most
up-market shops in northern Italy. Shelf-denial is not an option here.
Where to stay: The stately 18th century Hotel Villa Michelangelo (tel
00 39 0444 550300). www.hotelvillamichelangelo.com doubles from £125.
For more wallet-friendly digs try Albergo Due Mori tel (00 39 0444 321886)
www.hotelduemori.com Doubles £55.
Where to eat and drink: For an early evening aperitivo glass of Garganega
present yourself at the Gran Caffe Garibaldi (tel 00 39 0444 544147).
For grappa liqueurs it has to be the Antica Casa della Malvasia (tel 00
39 0444 543704).
Being Italy, you will of course want an ice-cream, so stop by at Tutto
Gelato on Contra Frasche del Gambero.
Lunch with the locals at Righetti on Piazza Duomo (tel 00 39 0444 543135).
For dinner go for the up-market Ristorante Al Pestello (00 39 0444 323721).
How to get there: Ryanair to Venice from Liverpool and Stansted and
to Verona from Stansted. Both cities have rail links with Vicenza.
Sofia
Bulgaria’s capital is one of the least touristy of Europe’s
cities but with plenty to offer the discerning traveller. There’s
a breath of the old Ottoman empire here this is one of the oldest
capitals in Europe as well as an almost Parisian-style café
culture, a burgeoning club scene, tree-lined boulevards and Eastern onion-domed
churches.
What to do: Visit the 4th century church of St. George (that’s
the same George who slew the dragon), before heading for the 10th century
Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Alexander Nevski Cathedral
(one of the world’s largest Orthodox churches with a very high wow
factor), followed by a quick stroll down the road to the early Byzantine
Church of Sofia.
Sofia is long on saints and almost equally as long on museums.
You can trace its torturous times at the National Historical Museum and
the Ethnographic museum to name only two must-sees.
Where to stay: The Sheraton (tel 0800 3253 5353) www.starwoodhotels.com
doubles from £111. For a more modest stay Hotel Niky (tel 00 359
2 952 3058]. www.hotel-niky.com has doubles from around £50.
Where to eat: Classik (tel 00 359 2 980 7477) has main courses from £5.
How to get there: Wizz Air www.wizzair.com flies from Luton, BA from Heathrow.
Berlin
The German capital has one of the most vibrant and diverse nightlife scenes
in Europe.
If you still have any energy left during the day, the city boasts some
150 museums everything from the Berlin Wall Museum to the Architecture
Museum as well as 50 theatres, seven symphony orchestras, and
over 30 art galleries.
What to do: See the Brandenburg Gate the iconic landmark not just of
Berlin but Germany itself then stroll down Unter den Linden.
This tree-lined east-west avenue from the Brandenburg Gate to the site
of the former Berliner Stadtschloss was once Berlin’s premier promenade.
The area around Hackescher Markt is home to bohemian and fashionable culture
with countless clothing boutiques, clubs, bars, and galleries. This includes
the Hackesche Höfe, a conglomeration of buildings around several
courtyards, reconstructed some ten years ago.
Where to stay: Top of the range is Hotel de Rome if you’re financially
carefree www.roccofortehotels.com doubles from £350.
For trendy, head for Lux 11 www.lux11.com doubles from £90.
Where to eat: Restaurant Borchardt (tel 00 49 30 8188 6262) main courses
from £13.
How to get there: Air Berlin www.airberlin.com flies from Stansted. Jet2 www.jet2.com
does the business from Manchester.
Istanbul
One of the world's most exotic cities Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia.
Its horizons reflect that geography and its long history mosques,
churches, synagogues, palaces, castles and towers crowd the skylines.
Stately palaces, and cathedrals stand beside chaotic bazaars, dark hookah
joints and incense-filled cafes.
Magnificent relics from bygone empires (Byzantine, Ottoman) jostle for
space in the new, cool Istanbul.
Where to go: Just about anywhere you’'ll trip over on architectural
gem or a cultural curio.
One of the most important monuments of Roman architecture in the city
is the Column of Constantine which was erected in 330AD and is reputed
to contain several fragments of the original cross.
For Ottoman treats head for the Sultan's Residence Topkapi Palace
stacked with centuries of treasures.
The Suleymanlye Mosque, built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557 is the
must-see mosque, although the Blue Mosque, named after the blue tiles
which adorn its interior runs it a close second.
Where to stay: The Bentley Hotel (tel 00 90 212 291 7730) www.bentley-hotel.com
has long been the destination of boutique hotel devotees, doubles from
£89.
Where to eat: Istanbul's finest fish restaurant is reckoned to be Korfez (tel
00 90 216 413 4314), main courses from £10. The restaurant is on
a cove on Istanbul's Asian shore guests are ferried over in a boat.
How to get there: easyJet from Luton. |
