A forty-minute by bus ride from Palermo takes you to the Cathedral of Monreale. This cathedral was constructed during the reign of William II of Normandy, between 1172 and 1190, and is a living example of the fusion of cultures and religions that existed in Sicily during that period. It boasts a syncretic style as it was built by combining Norman architecture with aspects of Moorish art. It consists of a main nave with two wings and an apse. The most surprising features are the interior walls, as they are covered with more than 6,000 m2 of Byzantine gold mosaics inspired by those in the Palatine Chapel in Palermo. The mosaics recount episodes from the Bible, from the creation to the passion of Christ in chronological order from left to right. An impressive Christ Pantocrator crowns the apse leaving visitors speechless.

Adjacent to the cathedral can be found the cloister and its 228 columns, each one supporting a different ornament, along with a number of Arab-inspired arches.

You can travel to Monreale by bus (number 389), which passes by the Piazza Independencia in Palermo. It costs nothing to get into the cathedral but you can hire an audio-guide for 5 euros. Entry to the cloister costs 6 euros.

Image:Urban

By Isabel Romano from Diario de a bordo

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

Many cities would love to have an iconic structure that can even by identified by just its silhouette: the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Sagrada Familia, the Empire State Building… the list could go on!
Another of these iconic buildings has sprung up in Stockholm. The Ericsson Globe is the largest spherical building in the world: 16,000 spectators, 110 metres in diameter and an internal height of 85 metres.

On top of this impressive building, the Swedes wanted to build an “eye” that would let locals and tourists appreciate the Stockholm skyline from 130 metres above street level. Thus was born the Skyview, consisting of gondolas that travel up two sets of rails on the outside of the Ericsson Globe all the way to the top.
The two gondolas can carry up to 16 people at the same time and in 20 minutes visitors will be able to see all 14 of the islands that comprise the Swedish capital.

By Eddy Lara Brito from DestinosActuales.com

Do you fancy visiting the Ericsson Globe? Book your 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.

Looking for an affordable break this Easter? How about Morocco? Forget about jet lag and those flights that last more than eight hours and include interminable stopovers at airports in the middle of the desert. With just a two-hour flight you can be in a completely different world.