Category: Europe

Iceland is an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, located between Greenland and Norway, north-west of the Faroe Islands; a few miles south of the Arctic Circle. The country is made up of a large island (99.7% of its area) with some small islands and islets nearby. It is a country known for volcanism, geysers, highlands (center) and fjords and lack of vegetation. Most of the population is settled in the Reykjavik area. Other important cities are Akureyri (port city) and Keflavik where is the international airport. Its climate is tundra but thanks to the Gulf Stream, the temperature in its south and west coasts do not go much farther than 0 ° C. The country receives a lot of tourism especially in summer and the three most visited sites are the Pingvellir National Park, the Gulfoss Falls and Geysir geothermal field. You can also visit the protected glaciers in the Vatnajokull and Snaefellsjokull National Parks. If you want to know a little about the history of the Vikings, visit the National Museum and the Sagas Museum in Reykjavik.

Tips

If you want to travel the country by car, take the main road (road 1) that goes around the island and connects most of the habitable areas. If you think of taking the roads in the interior of the country, you need a 4×4 vehicle because there are many fords but in winter they are usually closed.

There is also the possibility of taking bus lines during the summer season.

You will also find some ferries to go to small islands and a ferry for vehicles if you want to go to Denmark via the Faroe Islands, from the port of Seydisfjordur.

To see the northern lights, visit the glacial lagoon of Jökulsárlón, in the south-east of the country.

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San Marino (or Repubblica di San Marino) is the 3rd smallest state of Europe, after the Vatican and Monaco. Enclosed within Italy, the state counts with a little more than 30,000 citizens (including 5,000 foreigners). It is an integral part of the historic Montefeltro area. It is a small fortified town on top of a hill with a medieval ambience. There is a small university and many museums, the most important of which is the State Museum which is located in the Pergami Belluzzi Palace; it houses thousands of rooms that allow us to know the history of the republic which has become a place highly appreciated by tourism. The state has no natural resources.

Tips

Wear comfortable shoes because the paths and streets are sloping. If you want to visit the 2 towers which are the main tourist attraction of the republic, you can do it in a half day. There is a path that connects the towers but you do not have to wear heels because the towers are 750 meters and the slopes are marked. At the top, you will have an excellent view of the surroundings.

If you like photography, San Marino is a place where you will be glad but if your visit is just passing from one to another Italian city, take at least the time to stay until sunset because your view and your photos will be breathtaking. If ancient weapons interest you, go to the building called Second Tower where you will find the Museum of Ancient Arms exhibiting more than 1500 pieces that go from the fifteenth to the seventeenth century. Another interesting museum is the Museum of Wax and Torture Instruments. It has more than 40 historical scenes and a hundred remarkable characters. There is a special section devoted to melodrama as well as to all the instruments of torture of the time.

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