Category: Europe

Underground lake of Saint-Léonard, Switzerland

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The underground lake of Saint-Léonard is the largest underground lake in Europe, 300 m long and 29 m wide. It lies between the towns of Sion and Sierre, in Switzerland, in the Valais Alps. It was discovered in 1943 and operated since 1949. It is navigable and its water is constantly at 11° C. As the cave is completely submerged, all tours are done aboard rowing boats with around 40 people at a time. Inside the cave, there is the statue of Saint Barbara, patron saint of geologists. You can also enjoy the beauty of the vineyards which lie just outside, above the lake.

Tips

To make the visit, you must register online. It is possible from March, 19th to November 1st. The visit lasts half an hour in the company of a multilingual guide.

Children under 5 enter for free.

Occasionally there are acoustic concerts. You can find information on their official page.

If you usually feel the cold, bring a sweater or jacket because the temperature there is around 15 degrees.

Burano, Venice, Italy

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Burano is an island in the north of the lagoon of Venice, Italy, known for its lace and its canals lined with houses very colorful. It is not a city but a town in Venice, divided into six districts and consists of four islets: San Martino, San Mauro, Giudecca and Terranova; separated by three channels. The houses were painted with different colors by the fishermen to be able to recognize them more easily in the mist, since the fog in this region is rather dense; especially in winter. Burano counts only with a church, San Martino Church. There was a school of lace but it no longer works but it is a museum that presents beautiful pieces. Today, there are just a few women, lacemakers, who continue with this tradition.

Tips

If you are in Venice, you can take the vaporetto which will take you there in about fifty minutes. The same vaporetto passes through Murano and Mazorbo. There is also another line that connects Burano and Torcello in five minutes.

Consider that if you want to buy a piece really handmade by one of Burano’s lace-makers, you will have to pay for it. Everything you find cheaply comes from China or Hong Kong.

Bačvice, Split, Croatia

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Bačvice is a fairly popular beach in Split, Croatia, which is about 1 km from the city center towards the ferry port. It is a small sandy beach that usually has a lot of people because of the proximity of the port and the city center. There is a cafe on the beach and there are other cafes, bars and pizzerias not far from it. Sun umbrellas and chairs rental is also possible, but as the place is not large there are not for everyone. There are also showers out of the sea. If you prefer there is a part where you will be a bit quieter where the sand finishes and the rocks take place.

Tips

If you are on a cruise and you make a stop to visit the city, it is the closest beach to the port and you can access it by walking about 500 meters. There are no large structure, but it’s okay to enjoy a good time of sea and sun.
If you stay in Split and you want to take a good space on the sand, you have to go early because the beach is small and if there are cruise ships, the place is too crowded with tourists.