Here are six plans for a two-day break in Valencia. We include a bit of history, a bit of sun and sand, a bit of gastronomy and a bit of culture. A well-rounded break!

It takes 180 square meters of the south wall of the Chiesa di Sant’Antonio Abate-the convent of the Friar Servants of Mary of the Church of San Antonio in Pisa. The art of Keith Haring, the renowned artist from New York, left the imprint in this pisan wall with a work that wants to give out a message of peace and citizen participation.

Tuttomondo is the only mural painting of the artist thought to be a permanent work, unlike his early works he executed quickly with white chalk on the Subway’s commercials. Haring was identified from the beginning with the Street Art, avant-garde art of the 80s that rebelled against the traditional system of exhibition galleries. So was born a way of counterculture related to graffiti and hip hop . His art seeks graphic simplicity that can be understood by everyone at first sight; uses images as graphic symbols.

The large mural was created in 1989, a year before he died, and took a week to be finished. Tuttomondo thereby became the last public work of Keith Haring. Everything came after a casual meeting in New York with a student from Pisa who proposed the idea. Thus the idea of ​​ Tuttomondo was born, a word that sums up the idea that the artist had about interaction with his audience, and in it 30 figures are represented to symbolize peace and harmony in the world . Each figure has a role within its gear, in this way men with dolphin represent man’s relationship with nature, the figures “human scissors” are a symbol of solidarity to defeat the snake symbolizing evil-or the woman with the baby represents motherhood.

Colours are also very important, and that was his election, Haring chose the tones of Pisa’s buildings, to keep harmony with the environment.

Image: Cutiekatie

A place well worth discovering! Check out our flights here.

Words: Philippa Dimitriadi / Photos: Eftychia Vlachou

You may have heard a lot of things about Athens. Every travel guide will tell you to visit Acropolis, the Ancient Agora and the scenic streets of Plaka, but no travel guide will tell you about Athens’ street art.

Apart from the historic centre, someone may say that Athens is full of cement and gray, dull walls. That is not true. It just takes a little time to dig out the well hidden diamonds of this city. Street art is now an inextricable part of Athens, so if you are going to visit this city, you had better dedicate a sunny morning for a street art walk.

Starting from one of the most interesting parts of Athens, the area of Psiri, you will come across the sad black and white princesses of Sonke in Pallados Street. Right above Heroon Square, you will see the huge and quite impressive mural of Alexandros Vasmoulakis aka Vasmou, that doesn’t stay the same for very long, since every now and then the artist adds something to his work. Continuing up to Piraeus Street, one of the main roads of the city, you will see the breathtaking hands. Is Athens praying to God, or God praying for Athens? Who knows what the students of Athens School of Fine Arts had in mind when making the famous painting of Albrecht Durer “The Praying Hands” backwards.

Down to Technopolis two other marvelous works of art make their appearance. The cool baby of STMTS and the gigantic eye of “iNo”, which watches day and night all people passing by Piraeus Street. Along with this paintings you will also meet two Greek words– at times with huge letters, other times with smaller ones- decorating the buildings of Athens. “Vasanizomai” and “lathos” are the mystery of Athenian street art. No one has ever seen the artist while working on them and some believe that it’s not the same person who does them, even though the style of both murals looks similar.

The list is endless. Hope with his conceptual works, and B with his yellow girls dancing on the walls of Ierofanton Street at Gazi are must-sees. No matter how big or small, these wonderful paintings are out there. Keep your eyes open and don’t forget to look through rusty doors of abandoned plots, or inside outdoor parking lots, cause, Athenian street artists love restricted places.

Words – Philippa Dimitriadi / Photos – Eftychia Vlachou

A place well worth discovering! Check out our flights here.

Words by Rita Branco

To begin your journey we invite you to take a closer look at an almost forgotten side of Lisbon: Braço de Prata. Located between Santa Apolónia and Oriente, it’s not the most charming area in the city, but in recent times it has become a place where new things find a start. Pioneers in recycling forgotten buildings, the cultural center Fábrica Braço de Prata was created back in 2007. Formerly a factory where war materials were manufactured, it is now a place to cultivate new ideas: since it replaced gunpowder with books, this special spot locks up between its doors countless proposals: from live music to art exhibitions, poetry sessions, dance meetings and other gatherings. Due to its variety of rooms, there is always something happening. It has twelve doors in total, all hiding secrets and each one with its own purpose: four exhibition rooms, another one for film projections, other for musical performances, a bookstore and a couple of bars. A place of leisure filled with a young and dynamic crowd.

Moving to one of the oldest neighborhoods in the heart of Lisbon, Anjos, there’s a place called Taberna das Almas, another cultural association born out of a deactivated glass factory. With two floors and three different rooms, this place made out of wood and full of personality, wants to revitalize the area by promoting and supporting all sorts of cultural projects. Since 2012, every road leads to Feira das Almas on the first Saturday of every month: this alternative market presents sixty projects every new edition, from vintage shopping and handicraft to brand new designers and labels, always accompanied by live music. Being the place where online shops gain a temporarily physical space, big traveling bags are turned into showcases and young artists exhibit their work, Feira das Almas brings a fresh idea into traditional business.

So you feel like visiting Lisboa, do you? Book your flights here!

Imagen de Ricardo Junqueira