In Belgium, beer is undoubtedly a quintessential beverage, something the people of Mechelen – just over 20 kilometres from Brussels – are well aware of. Citizens of this Flemish town have had enough with beer being regarded as a male prerogative, prompting them to launch a guide entitled, Beer in women’s hands,which stresses the historical and current role of women in the making of this elixir.

This Mechlinian project features recommendations on both tours of the city to visit historic sites and craft breweries and pointers to tasting the best local beers combined with typical dishes. A good example of this are bapas (snacks paired with a beer) and food pairing (creative combinations of beer with local dishes). All these options have one goal – to banish the myth that beer is not a woman’s drink and to dispel the belief that they prefer wine (and white wine at that) or light, fruity beers.

Another option in the guide is to cycle from Het Anker brewery, the oldest in Flanders, originally run by Beguines, nuns of a lay religious order who lived mainly in Mechelen and Louvain. This is where Golden Carolus is brewed – thus called after Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, who was brought up in this city – as is the brand named Lucifer, which tops the rankings of the best beers in the world.

Another suggestion in the guide is to have an aperitif in St Rumbold’s Tower, one of the major tourist landmarks in Mechelen. After the effort of climbing the more than 500 steps to the top of the tower, a beer is just what you need to quench your thirst as you take in the views of the city. St Rumbold’s Tower, nearly 100 metres tall, houses two famous carillons with 49 bells. It is worth mentioning that Mechelen is renowned for its Royal Carillon School, where many carillonneurs from all over the world have come to learn the secrets of this instrument.

The guide also recommends going on a multicultural, historical walk with tastings included. The itinerary takes you through the city’s central square, the Grote Markt, site of one of Mechelen’s three city halls, and of the unusual statue known as the Opsinjoor, depicting a man pulling a doll around on a sheet, considered the city’s mascot. Other landmarks on the route include the Palace of Margaret of Austria, Charles V’s aunt and governor of the Netherlands in the 16th century, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, originally a Jesuit church, the Church of Our Lady across the river Dijle, which features works by Rubens, and the Palace of Margaret of York, the residence of the Bishop of Kamerrijk (Cambrai) when he was in Mechelen.

A final recommendation for Mechelen is a visit to the Dossin Casern, an erstwhile transit camp converted into a museum and documentation centre on the Holocaust and human rights. From 1942 to 1944 it was used by the Nazis as a transit camp where over 25,000 Belgian Jews and gypsies were detained before being deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Mechelen is an ideal spot for sightseeing on a day trip from Brussels, as it is easily reached by train. Check out our flights to the Belgium capital here.

Text by María Jesús Tomé
Images by Turismo de Malinas

By Fabiana Fierotti from METAL

New, cutting-edge beauty spots are one of the main things going on in Milan right now. It is not only about having your hair done or getting the perfect manicure, it is more about experiencing something involving all of your five senses, above all, taste. Here is a short list of places you should not miss while you are visiting the city, all with a special something that will definitely leave a mark.

Bahama Mama is a place for Nails, Taste and Beauty as the entrance sign itself says. It is the first nail bar ever opened in Milan and its philosophy is entirely linked to natural and “green” products. The best thing one can do is go there with your friends, have a manicure all together while sipping a glass of Prosecco and tasting Tuscany’s specialties. And, if you are up for it, you can also treat yourself with a little vintage shopping.

QC Terme Milano is a very special place right in the heart of Porta Romana, one of the historical sites of the city. The possibilities are many: enjoy a swim in an open-air warm whirlpool surrounded by Spanish walls built in the XVI century; an evening visit to the Wellness Tram, the world’s first bio sauna, while watching video projections; have a brunch or an aperitivi after a whole day in the spa… Whatever you do, one thing is for sure: you will forget about your everyday life and get lost in this paradise of wellness.

For the hair colour you have always dreamt of, you need to visit GUM. They may serve no aperitivi in here, but they definitely have the secret recipe for the perfect hair look. They even invented new colour techniques, Dirty and Daft, an hymn to the 90’s English aesthetic and dye, along with an organic products line to fit every client’s need, always keeping the retro style.

Speaking of secret recipes, if you have a sweet tooth for everything unique and tailor-made, you should visit Le Labo, a special corner and lab inside Milan perfumery Mecca: Profumo. As they proclaim in their manifesto: “In a world where luxury perfumes are mass-produced and sold in places that look like supermarkets (…) Le Labo has decided to take matters – and perfume – back in hand”. And they did, bringing together the very best noses and creating hand-made fragrances, no matter how much money or time it costs.

And it’s left to Bullfrog to add the masculine touch to the list. A ‘modern electric barber’ where you can shave (old school style!) and have your rockabilly hairstyle done, like you are back in the 50’s. You don’t want to miss on their secret weapon, the English barber James, or their Shaving Academy (two courses, base and advanced). Some real good men stuff.

Enjoy!

Bahama Mama
viale Col di Lana 1.
Tue – Sat 10am/8pm (Wed and Fri opened till 11pm)
closed on Monday
www.bahamamama.it
+39 02 89404538

QC Terme Milano
Piazzale Medaglie d’Oro 2.
Mon – Sun 9.30am/11pm
www.termemilano.com
+39 02 55199367

GUM
Via Vetere 9.
Tue-Fri-Sat 11am/8pm – Wed 11 am/9pm – Thu 12am/9pm
Closed on Monday
www.gumsalon.it
+39 02 36601940

Le Labo / Profumo
Via Brera 6.
Tue-Sat 10am/7pm
Closed on Monday morning
www.lelabofragrances.com
+39 02 72023334

Bullfrog
Via Thaon di Revel 3.
Tue-Fri 10am/8pm – Sat 10am/5pm – Sun 11am/5pm
www.bullfrogmilano.com
+39 02 36531983

By Fabiana Fierotti from METAL

Why not take a trip to Milán? Have a look at our flights here!

Amid Italy’s abundance of churches and chapels, mansions and museums, and the marble and bronze sculptures accumulating over the centuries, sometimes you need a break. And when you’re in Milan, the best place to go for a breath of fresh mountain air is Lake Como, a 146 km² Y-shaped body of water overlooked by the snow-capped Rhaetian Alps. Nestling on the verdant hillsides around the lake shore are a number of appealing towns such as the exquisite Bellagio, atop a hill in the crux of the “Y”, and the town of Como itself, the largest in the region. The lake, also known as Lario, is one of the prettiest places in all of Lombardy. The glacial, pre-alpine lake, as much as 400 meters deep, is ringed by mountains up to 2,700 metres tall, where you get magnificent views of the lake below. The area is rich in history and tradition, and is a favourite spot for recreation and relaxation. Splendid 17^th C. lakeshore villas, many with lush gardens, abound, as do rural Romanesque churches.

If you have time on the way to the lake or back to Milan, a journey taking about an hour by car, you should explore the green landscapes of the Brianza zone, dotted with villages and castles on the banks of the Adda and Lambro rivers.

A Trip on the Lake

There are numerous options for moving around on the lake. We recommend crossing it by ferry or hydrofoils. The Navigazione Lago di Como company operates services all year round from the dock on the northern extreme of the Piazza Cavour. You can also choose a Venetian-style vaporetto to get around the lake, stopping at the several charming towns on the shore, such as Cernobbio, Tremezzo, Cadenabia, and Menaggio. Visit a café for capuccino and a brioche, or a restaurant for a plate of good fresh pasta for lunch –served at midday in Italy– while drinking in the natural grandeur of the lake and surrounding landscape.

A Stroll through Como

There’s plenty to see in the elegant and prosperous town of Como, with a population of some 90,000. City walls built in the 12^th C. still stand around the old quarter. For several centuries the city’s main industry has been the weaving of silk items, and you can buy silk scarves and neckties at discount prices. Blankets of flowers in the spring and summer make the lakeshore town even more picturesque. The tourist office will help you plan a walking or cycling tour of Como, which is sure to include the Duomo, with its magnificent marble front. Inside it you’ll find architectural elements and decoration in Baroque, Romanesque, and Renaissance styles. A few hundred metres south of the city walls, behind the Viale Innocenzo XI, is the beautifully preserved 11^th C. Romanesque Basilica di Sant’Abbondio, with 14^th C. frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Christ. Another must-see is the 6^th C. Basilica di San Fedele, with three naves and three apses, a lovely 16^th C. rose window, and frescoes.

A Place to Eat

Much to be recommended is the Ristorante Sociale, next to the city’s theatre. A favourite with locals as well as visitors, its exposed brick walls are adorned with allegorical frescoes you can admire while dining, along with the curious baroque fireplace. A dish you should sample is the excellentrisottowith chicory. The average cost per person is 25-30 euros.

Come to Como! Check out our fares to Milan here!

Text:  Isabel y Luis Comunicación

Photos: Italia Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo

When planning a trip to Sicily, what springs to mind is the island’s astounding heritage – the result of its eventful past – as well as the chance to see an active volcano like Mt Etna, taste its delicious, varied cuisine, have a bathe in its magnificent waters or simply let yourself be carried away by its decadent magic. And, why deny it, devotees of The Godfather who want to discover the cradle of the Sicilian Mafia have things cut out for them here. Who would have though that the largest island in the Mediterranean, coveted and invaded over the centuries by Greeks, Germanic tribes, Saracens, Normans, Spaniards and, finally, Italians would end up becoming a destination for tourists in search of experiences and souvenirs.

The capital, Palermo, is a must-visit city for any tourists worth their salt. What a delight it is to wander along the city’s labyrinthine streets and behold the sheer number and variety of monuments, a melange of the Byzantine, Arab, Norman, Renaissance and Baroque. It is a pleasure for art lovers and sightseers alike.

Mummies in the Catacombs of the Capuchins

However, those who hanker for something over and above myriad monuments in Palermo, or who simply wish to add a touch of mystery and morbid fascination to their stay in the city – and are prepared for the odd nightmare – should not hesitate to jot down on their wish list a visit to the Catacombs of the Capuchins. Situated in the Piazza Cappuccini, on the outskirts of Palermo, it offers what is certain to be one of the most unusual shows on the island as it houses the mummies of numerous Palermitani. We aren’t aware of whether they rest in peace, what with so many tourists milling about the rooms, but they do manage to stir up fear and inspiration for the odd horror movie.

The story goes that, from the 17th to the late-19th century, the friars in this community used to mummify and thus preserve for posterity the bodies of numerous Palermitani – specifically, those who requested and were able to afford it. To achieve this they resorted to a rather rudimentary technique which involved eliminating all moisture from the corpses inside a cave with a very dry atmosphere and then bathing them in vinegar, after which the bodies were left to dry in the sun, to complete the process of mummification. Quite shocking, isn’t it?

When filing through the catacombs, you get the feeling you are not alone, but accompanied by a bizarre retinue, some of whose members are lying down and others hanging vertically against the walls, dressed in all their finery and meticulously arranged by gender and social class. The headiest and severest moment on the tour is when you see the mummy of the little girl, Rosalia Lombardo, who died in 1920 at the age of two and who seems to be more asleep than dead. It is almost impossible not to feel cold shivers when setting eyes on her.

The strangest thing about this story is that the reason for this practice is not known, while there is no other place on the island where corpses are preserved in this manner.

Pluck up the courage to visit this unusual spot, suitable only for dare-devils and lovers of the bizarre. Book your Vueling here.

Text by Los Viajes de ISABELYLUIS

Images by Juan Antonio F. Segal