What is the essence of Tuscany? See if you can find an answer in this article from a road trip in the region. It starts in Cortona, stops at Pienza,...
Everything from Southern Europe
This category contains all Sandalsand’s articles from countries in Southern Europe. You will find an introduction to this region under the Destinations menu.
Use this search field to find more interesting content on Sandalsand.
World Heritage #0990 – Assisi
The magnificent basilica dominating the north-west part of the hillside town of Assisi is accompanied by four less important religious sites close...
Almost spoiled visits to Spoleto, Assisi, Urbino and Cortona
We were on a road trip in central Italy. A string of very tempting cities were coming up in Umbria and Toscana (Tuscany) and we were eager to spend...
Getting a digital detox in Italy
This is the first article from a road trip in central Italy. Our objective was to look up UNESCO World Heritage Sites in this part of the country...
Nature: 5 Important Straits
Let us visit 5 important straits. I have been exploring various aspects of nature with regard to the four classic elements. A strait represents a...
Nature: 9 Fascinating Beaches
I bet you know many beaches. This article is about my selection 9 fascinating beaches. With about 70% percent of the Earth covered by water, there...
Nature: 7 Active Volcanoes
Here are 7 active volcanoes. Have you seen them? All through the history of mankind fire has fascinated, terrified and calmed us all, and we have...
12 more European city breaks
This is a list of 12 more European city breaks. It continues the previous list of 10 European city breaks. The list is purely alphabetical, and you...
Nature: 6 Great highlands
Some mountain plateaus or plains are more adventurous than the average. My examples of 6 great highlands are from different parts of the world....
10 European city breaks
This is a list of 10 European city breaks. City breaks or city escapes have become increasingly popular and there are many possible destinations. If...
Nature: 8 Amazing Mountain Views
Have you been to these 8 amazing mountain views? If you take nature as the basis and exclude skyscrapers, constructed "skywalks" and such, we are...
Nature: 8 Dramatic Cliffs
Here you will find 8 dramatic cliffs. Steep mountain slopes hitting the waves on a coastline are always dramatic, especially in rough weather....
Nature: 10 Great Caves
A cave is a hollow place in the ground, often very deep but also quite small like a grotto. Here is a nice selection av 10 great caves. This...
Iron Wheels (1) Exciting train journeys
This is an introduction to exciting train journeys. I have registered my travels on a world map and the distance travelled on trains has been...
Porto and the Douro Valley
A calm forest retreat and two more amazing World Heritage Sites in Northern Portugal are the ingredients in this last chapter from our road trip,...
Pictures from Portugal
This is a collection of pictures from Portugal, the result of trips to different parts of the country over several years. If you look up my articles...
VIDEO – Portugal – Douro
This video from the Douro region takes you from the city of Porto upriver to the beautiful and famous terraced vineyards. "Alto Douro Wine Region"...
World Heritage #1046 – Alto Douro Wine Region
On either side of the Douro river, and in the side valleys they have been constructing terraces for centuries. The UNESCO World Heritage List...
VIDEO – Portugal – Porto
This video is from Porto, or Oporto as it used to be called in English. The city has the unmistakable atmosphere of an historically important city....
World heritage sites in central Portugal
On this fourth day of our road trip in Portugal we had planned on visiting five World Heritage Sites in central Portugal. Would that be possible?...
World Heritage #0755 – Oporto
Would you like some Port? In the cellars of Porto (or Oporto) you may taste whichever Port wine you'd like. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes...
VIDEO – Portugal – Coimbra
This video is from Coimbra, the ancient university town in central Portugal. Some scenes are from the university and some from the town centre....
VIDEO – Portugal – Mosteiro da Batalha
This is a video from the Mosteiro da Batalha in Portugal, one of the country's prominent World Heritage Sites. "The Monastery of Batalha" is no. 264...
VIDEO – Portugal – Mosteiro de Alcobaça
This is a video from the Mosteiro de Alcobaça. The church and monastery were among the first Gothic buildings in Portugal. The impression of...
VIDEO – Portugal – Evora
This video is from Évora, an important town for the Romans and later on for the Portuguese until the 18th century. After this the town turned into a...
World Heritage #0505 – Monastery of Alcobaça
The Monastery of Alcobaça is one more of Portugal's fine examples of beautiful architecture and fine masonry. The UNESCO World Heritage List...
World Heritage #0361 – Historic Centre of Évora
The historic centre of Évora, a lazy little town in the interior of Portugal hides a proud history. It is a pleasant place. The UNESCO World...
World Heritage #0264 – Monastery of Batalha
As soon as you enter the halls and cloisters of the monastery of Batalha you will discover a world of tranquillity and the crafts of great masons. ...
World Heritage #1387 – University of Coimbra
The university of Coimbra, a town in central Portugal has deep roots and a splendid view of the river below. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes...
VIDEO – Portugal – Sintra
This is a video from Sintra. There are many palaces scattered around in the area, and one will have a hard time reaching them all. Most tourists...