Located in a charming valley close to the village of San José in Ibiza, La Casita Verde is a small nature and education centre run by volunteers that opens to the public every Sunday and where visitors can discover, in a direct and entertaining manner, that a more sustainable way of life is within reach of everyone.

The buildings that comprise La Casita Verde are made from such recycled materials as bottles, tin cans and wood. They include such alternative living spaces as a house in a tree, a house made from bottles and house built inside a lime oven. What’s more, the place makes daily use of alternative energy sources, such as the sun and the wind, and grows medicinal plants and herbs. That is why La Casita Verde exists as an educational tool to demonstrate alternative living techniques.

Besides being amazed by a pure hippy atmosphere, visitors will be able to enjoy some of the activities on offer: the chance to observe the preparation of healthy vegetarian food, learn how to prepare natural juices from local products (including aloe vera), take a one-hour tour around La Casita Verde, listen to (often live) atmospheric music, receive “natural beauty” treatments with masks made from aloe vera harvested from its own fields and many other interesting things.

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During the reconstruction of the city of Nantes in the ’50s, after World War II, and having the idea of relieving the housing shortage at that time, Le Corbursier conceived La Maison Radieuse, one of the unité d’habitation (unit room) that have become a landmark in the twentieth century’s civil architecture which later, served as inspiration for many European cities.

The first of these Unité d’habitation was built in Marseilles. Later on, in 1955, was built a very similar version but slightly refined in Rezé, just 3 or 4 miles from Nantes.

At first sight, it is surprising that this building with symmetrical structure and vivid coloured windows in contrast to the gray of its structure was so revolutionary at that time. The idea was that the 294-duplex-apartments building would work formally and functionally independent as a boat. For that purpose, he included games communal areas and gardens.

Nowadays, most of the apartments are inhabited, but a few can be visited in this sort of original House-Museum.

Imagen de Pymouss44

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German writer Johann Wolfgang Goethe on August 28th, 1749. The same house where he lived and wrote some of his masterpieces, right on Frankfurt’s oldtown, can be visit nowadays, after more than two centures, restored and in perfect condition. The four floors of the house are an invaluable testimony about society and life in Frankfurt in the 18th century.

Many of the exhibitis were removed for safety during bombings on the World War II but, after the house was rebuilt, these pieces returned in perfect condition.

All the information panels audio guides, on German and English, provide all the insights necessary to immerse the visitor in the Age of Romanticism.

The museum next to the house also worth a visit: beautiful artworks by Goethe and other artists from the same era, a a surprisingly good collection of late-18th and early-19th century art.

The house and the museum are open every day, from 10am to 6pm, Sunday and holidays till 5:30pm. Tickets cost 7€ (general) and 3€ (reduced price). Group prices and tours are available.

Picture by  Mylius

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La Fiera and La Pescheria are two outdoor daily markets that give life to the streets of Catania and have become one of the city’s major tourist attractions as they are a meeting point between indigenous people and curious foreigners who enjoy watching these markets environment.

La Fiera expands along the city center, being la piazza de Stesicoro its nerve center where the market branches on different streets of the city. From early in the morning you can walk through this market and let the smells and colors of the fruits and vegetables wrap you in. La Fiera is always full of people picking through the wide range of things you can find at this huge market.

La Pescheria is the other central market located next to la piazza del Duomo, an incredible fish market buzzing with its merchants from 5 am until noon. La Pescheria offers a huge variety of incredibly fresh fish and seafood and also offers the opportunity to try in situ some of the products such as clams, mussels, oysters and sea urchins.

After walking through these markets, you better enjoy the wide variety of dishes provided by the restaurants in Catania.

Picture by Berthold Werner

Text  by Fran Arnaiz.

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