Things to Do in Europe

Toompea Castle, situated on a crest on the edge of the Old Town, was built in 1219 by Danish invaders on the site of an ancient wooden fortress, dating from sometime in the ninth century. The castle served as a seat of succession of foreign powers for seven centuries and since 1922 have housed the Riigikogu, Estonia’s parliament.

Nothing remains of the original Danish castle, but three of the four corner towers of its successor, which served as the seat of the Knights of the Sword and was founded sometime between 1227 and 1229, still stand. Each successive ruler has significantly altered the castle, and the current pink Baroque facade dates from an 18th-century rebuilding by Catherine the Great.

The Estonian national flag flies from the 150-foot Pikk Hermann tower on the southwestern corner: tradition dictates that whichever nation flies its flag over Pikk Hermann also rules Estonia. Each day at sunrise the Estonian flag is raised above the tower, accompanied by the national anthem.

You can visit the castle and parliament only with a guided tour. Tours take place on working days and last around half an hour.

A sprawling archeological site spread along the southwestern coast of Cyprus, the Tombs of the Kings are one of the principal attractions of the Paphos UNESCO World Heritage site. A series of eight excavated tombs make up the site, which dates back to the 3rd century BC, and around 100 Ptolemaic aristocrats are estimated to have been buried there, along with a substantial trove of jewels and personal effects, long since pillaged by grave robbers.

Despite their name, the Tombs of the Kings boast no royal connections, instead earning their moniker thanks to their grand appearance, carved into the natural rock and adorned with elaborate frescos and fluted Doric Pillars. Today, the well-preserved necropolis remains impressive, with steps leading down into the sunken graves and the underground chambers pocked with niches, although only minimal traces of the original stuccos and colorful frescos remain. Exploring the numbered tombs also hints at the later use of the site, with one of the tombs converted into a chapel during early Christian occupation and evidence of pottery work indicating that the catacombs were later used as dwellings or workplaces during the Middle Ages.

Athens' Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Mnēmeíon Agnōstou Stratiōtou) commemorates all those Greek soldiers who died in service of their country over its long history. Among its inscriptions are quotes from Pericles Funeral Oration as written by Thucydides in his History of the Peloponnesian War : 'and one bed is carried empty / made for the unknown ones.' During major holidays, politicians and officials lay wreaths at the tomb.

The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day by the Presidential Guard (the Evzones). These are the hand-picked strongest men of the army - also the most handsome! Their traditional uniform features a skirt, stockings and pom-poms on their shoes, all of which makes the hourly Changing of the Guard ceremony even more worth seeing. On Sundays at 11am they stage an impressive full ceremony with formal uniform and an army band.

Synonymous with Ottoman style architecture, the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is one of the most historically relevant landmarks, and today sits as one of Turkey’s great gems. It is in itself a statement of Turkish progress from a once feudal society to a great empire, and possesses elements distinctly unique to its people from a once overbearing Islamic influence. As a measure of its empiric significance, the palace served for over 400 years the residence of Sultans, where social events and administrative policy alike took the helms over Turkish civilization and development.

Guests of Turkey interested in understanding the culture and pride of this country's people would benefit from a visit to the complex, where from the outset you experience the grandeur of the Imperial Gate, through the plush landscape of the First Courtyard, then into the overwhelming Gate of Salutation to the Second Courtyard, where Sultan Selim III once presided over the masses ceremonial assemblies and state functions.

The remainder of the palace premises contains a plethora of buildings and courtyards, including a treasury, apartments, bathhouses, harems, and an armory, not to mention imperial halls and royal chambers that make a visit into Topkapi’s inner walls one of the world’s great wonders.

Upon visiting Topkapi make sure to give yourself the day in order to explore the nooks and crannies of this important landmark. Audio-guides are available on site to ensure a depth of understanding of the palace. Entrance to the harem unfortunately requires a different fare altogether, and be prepared for an onslaught of long lines during the peak tour seasons, by booking your trip ahead of time.

One of the symbols of Porto is the Torre dos Clerigos, the bell tower adjoining the Clerigos Church, a baroque church built between 1732 and 1750. The church was one of the first Baroque churches in Portugal. Its Baroque adornments reflect the city’s seaside way of life, as its façade is carved with shells and garlands.

More iconic than the church however, is its bell tower. Standing at 75 m (245 ft) high, the tower offers an amazing, panoramic view of the city, the Duoro River and the Atlantic coast.  Completed in 1763, this granite tower is based upon a Roman Baroque design scheme coupled with an unmistakably Tuscan bell tower design; visitors familiar with Italian architecture will be delighted to see a decidedly Roman Baroque masterpiece towering over a Portuguese port. Once you’ve ascended the 225 steps and reached the top of the sixth floor, the Torre dos Clerigos, you’ll be able to see the whole city.

Inside the church, you’ll enter into the Roman-influenced elliptic nave; in the main chapel, the altarpiece is a beautiful masterwork of polychrome marble, carved by famed sculptor Manuel dos Santos Porto, whose work can be found throughout Porto and Vila Real de Santo António in the Algarve.

The Italian town of Tivoli, set just east of Rome, is home to beautiful residences, splendid villas, and two famous UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Renaissance palace of Villa d'Este, famous for its extravagant, 16th-century gardens and water fountains, and the ruins of Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana), the grand second-century estate of Emperor Hadrian of ancient Rome. A visit to both sites entails beautiful garden walks and a variety of ancient architectural styles—not to mention a quiet, elegant escape from the city and some of the best natural water in Italy.

The Basics
Departing from Rome, most Tivoli tours include visits to both Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa. Discover the favorite vacation spot of the Renaissance period at the famous Villa d'Este, commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito, and take in its highlights: the views from the Vialone Terrace and the movie-famous Oval Fountain and Hundred Fountains. At Hadrian's Villa, you'll tour the archaeological remains of temples, libraries, and thermal baths, including the Maritime Theater, set on a man-made island at the center of a round pool; the grand Piazza d'oro; the Imperial Palace; and the Canopus, a replica of the sanctuary of Serapis near Alexandria. Choose a half-day tour or full-day trip through the Lazio countryside with an expert tour guide to get the most out of your visit to the historic sites.