Rovinj
Rovinj is a coastal Istria’s city and its famous attraction. Primarily a fishing port, or to be precise, the last true Mediterranean fishing port, Today Rovinj is overrun by tourists thanks to the abilities of its citizens to benefit from their natural resources. Rovinj manages to keep up with the modern times in a very interesting way, by combining its rich tradition with the new trends.
The Old Town, contained within an egg-shaped peninsula and surrounded by luscious forests, is criss-crossed with steep cobbled streets and piazzas. The 14 islands of the Rovinj archipelago are a pleasant destionation for an afternoon away,; the most popular are Saint Catherine and Crveni Otok (Red Island). About 1.5km south is the Punta Corrente Forest Park and the wooded Golden Cape, with its age-old oak and pine trees and several large hotels.
Church of St Euphemia : Theproud ot the town, this imposing church dominates the old town from its hilltop location in the middle of the peninsula. Built in 1736, it’s the largest baroque building in Istria, reflecting the period during the 18th century when Rovinj was its most populated town. Inside,the church visitors can marvel at the marble tomb of St Euphemia behind the right-hand altar. Modelled on the belfry of St Mark’s in Venice, the 60m bell tower is topped by a copper statue of St Euphemia, which shows the direction of the wind by turning on a spindle.
Batana House is a museum dedicated to the batana, a flat-bottomed fishing boat that stands as a symbol of Rovinj’s seafaring and fishing traditions. The multimedia exhibitions inside the 17th-century town house have interactive displays, excellent captions and audio with bitinada, which are typical fishers’ songs.
The elaborate Balbi Arch was built in 1679 on the location of the former town gate. The top of the arch is ornamented with a Turkish head on the outside and a Venetian head on the inside.
Grisia: Lined with galleries where local artists sell their work, this cobbled street leads uphill from behind the Balbi Arch to St Euphemia. The winding narrow backstreets that spread around Grisia are like a maze where tourists like to lose themselves among windows, balconies, portals and squares which embody a buffling, but pleasant to the eye mixture of styles – Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassicism. A special attention should be paid to the unique fumaioli (exterior chimneys), built during the population boom when entire families lived in a single room with a fireplace.
Known as one of the most picturesque and romantic towns on Mediterranean, over the last few decades Rovinj attracts a large number of tourists. Most of them faithfully return year after year due to the unique combination of the breath of past times felt as you walk around old town's cobbled narrow streets, with its 22 islands and islets, the mild Mediterranean climate, carefully designed parks, the tidiness of its streets, the friendliness of the local population or numerous and varied town events.
Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe, also known as the "Gateway to the Black Forest", is situated in one of the most beautiful regions of Europe and is an ideal starting point for journeys through Germany, France and Switzerland.
As a major traffic hub, the city is well connected to the main motorways and rail network. With the ICE, Karlsruhe can be reached in just one hour from the Frankfurt airport and in less than two hours from the EuroAirport Basel.
In Karlsruhe culture enthusiasts will get their money's worth. The city offers a diverse museum landscape with the Landesmuseum in Karlsruhe Castle, the Staatliche Kunsthalle with its impressive collection and the Museum of Natural History with its fascinating vivarium.
With around 316,000 people, Karlsruhe is the second largest city in Baden-Württemberg. Karlsruhe is well-known for its history, as well as cultural and historical buildings.
The striking Karlsruhe Baroque Castle was built between 1715 and 1718. It served margraves, then electors and great-grandparents of Baden for 200 years as a residential and government seat. The Karlsruhe castle is the center of Karlsruhe's city plan, the so-called "fan", formed by 32 radial roads. Particularly well visible is this from the castle tower, on which the visitor can climb. In the Karlsruhe castle itself, various exhibitions and events can be viewed. Around the castle Karlsruhe offers the perfect opportunity to relax in the castle parks, go on a sport or just have a break.
The Pyramid on the Market square is the landmark of Karlsruhe. It stands between the Town Hall and the Town Church. Under the Pyramid is the crypt of the Concordia church, which was demolished in 1807. Karl Wilhelm von Baden-Durlach, the founder and planner of the city, should be buried here. The above-mentioned interior is not connected with the sarcophagus of the margrave.
The Botanical garden is located between the Castle garden, the Orangerie and the Federal Constitutional Court. More than 40,000 different plants from all over the world grow there. In the garden, surrounded by fountains, green trees and flowers in various colors one can relax on a bench with a cup of coffee, while in the greenhouse one can admire: sculptures, cactuses, palm trees, birds and much more for curious visitors.
The Tower Hill (Turmberg) is the landmark of Durlach. Since 1888 the Turmbergbahn has been climbing up the hill. In the back of the hill is a large playground for children as well as the Waldseilpark Karlsruhe. Besides gastronomy and wine-tasting, you can look forward to a unique view of Karlsruhe.
Karlsruhe offers one of the best-known places for media and art enthusiasts. The ZKM contains exhibitions on subjects such as acoustics, images, new media and much more. In the industrial building of a former ammunition factory, visitors can actively participate in exhibitions. Research and production, exhibitions and events as well as archives and collections are combined in the ZKM. The visitor is given the opportunity to discuss art and science.
For gourmets, Karlsruhe is worth a culinary discovery trip. The Baden cuisine is widely known and offers many regional specialties. It is distinguished by its high quality and the use of regional products. The proximity to France is evident not only in the local cuisine but also in the excellent wines.