On Sept. 24, 1716, the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III de’ Medici officially delineated the borders of the Chianti wine region. Which basically makes him a personal favorite and a hero. Him and Barone Ricasoli, of course. Cosimo had quality control teams patrolling the vineyards in the area and made sure that no other wine outside this blessed realm could be called Chianti, ever again. A predecessor to what would become the modern Denominazione d’Origine Controllata (DOC) and DOCG wine labelling system, the Grand Duke’s act was the first of its kind in Europe. Genius. 300 years later, thehappyfew couldn’t have missed the celebrations. On September 24, 2016, there…
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The treasure map to Portugal’s best beaches
This is your treasure map to Portugal’s best beaches: from North to South, a pocket collection for the happy few charting an Atlantic odyssey. Save your pins! THE FINDS COSTA DE PRATA – between Porto and Lisbon Infinite white beaches for surfers and lovers of the immense blue, and secret coves that are hard to find and even harder to leave. VICENTINA, the freedom enclave – south of Lisbon South of Lisbon, the coastline morphs to a vast, untamed expanse, a true frontier for those who seek raw nature and expansive solitude. From the privileged Costa Caparica to Europe’s last wild coast, Costa Vicentina, this is the happy few freedom…
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Valencia and beyond: the best day-trips
Valencia, as a city, is a happy few favourite for a city break: the sparkling sea, the vibrant taverns, that immense beach, and those incredible urban landmarks. But what if we make it a whole holiday in the area? Embrace the open road for day trips that are nothing short of an escape to wonderland. ESCAPE ONE: Peñíscola Who was first? The Knights Templar or the dragons? If this is your kind of mind race, you simply must go to Peñíscola. Take Costa del Azahar (Azahar means citrus blossom 🙂 ) north from Valencia towards Barcelona on either the highway or the national road, if you want to make a…
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TUSCANY #SINEQUANON: SEE? PERFECTION EXISTS
Plan on a minimum of two weeks here; this is not a place to fast-forward through. In Tuscany, you take your time, give in, and never resist temptation – this is where you learn the true meaning of slow travel. You really need the time to live it, not just visit it, and once you do it properly, you’ll find there’s no place quite like it. Intel Best time to visit: September. Transport: fly into Pisa or Florence and then rent a car – this is non-negotiable. Tuscany has the most beautiful medieval castles and villages, plus the most wonderful country roads. If you can’t freely move between those vineyards…
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The Beauty And The Beast: NAZARE
Far enough up the coast from Lisbon, Nazaré is only transited by tourist packs during the day. If you avoid the classical summer rage, you find a blue and white village that has not sold its soul to the devil of leisure just yet. The legend It is an old fishing village, truly ancient. Around the year 700, its inhabitants fought pirates when a legendary duo entered the scene: a monk and a king. The king wielded a sword of bravery, and the monk bore a statue of redemption. Roderic, the last Visigoth king, settled here with his monk and a statue of the Virgin Mary, borne from distant Nazareth.…
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Despre Bretagne, inceputurile
Cum de am ajuns noi sa avem o Creperie? Prietenii stiu déjà, iar povestea, asa pe scurt, a ajuns destul de celebra in presa. Insa rasfoind din cand in cand pe aici veti afla care este legatura intre caramelul sarat, regele Arthur, les galettes completes, casele-insula si dansurile celte. Intr-un cuvant, o nunta. Desigur ca nu orice fel de nunta, ci o nunta cu mare talc si unica pe lume, care a avut loc intr-un catun inconjurat de ape in Bretagne. Pe langa ca nunta asta a adus impreuna o gramada de oameni minunati raspanditi prin toata Europa si a unit o pereche de ti-e mai mare dragul, a fost…
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SINEQUANON Andalusia: The Keys to the South
ONE: RONDA There is an unbreakable quality about that place: it’s perfect; not intimidating yet not popular either, not humble yet by no means brassy, audacious yet familiar. Ideally situated in the mountains only 40 minutes drive from the sea, the city is fractured in the middle by an abyss, the two halves united by an old bridge. Ronda hangs over the most magnificent abrupt rocks without being terrifying or cold, it has small paved streets with charming boutiques, a Museo de los Ladrones (The Thieves’ Museum) and the most beautiful Plaza de Torros (the bullfighting arena) in the world. The most spectacular corrida in the world takes place here, the Corrida…
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Vacanta in Portugalia sau Mai e timp pentru revelatii
Soare. Vant. Plaje salbatice, nesfarsite. Oceanul cel mai albastru, rocile nepamantene, hipnotice. Un inegalabil sentiment al libertatii. O revelatie categorica si iremediabila a lucrurilor esentiale. Portugalia devine repede o istorie personala. Nu va fi un concediu, va fi o vacanta. Nu va fi all inclusive cu trei mese, pat si plaja cu sezlong, ci va include tot ce nici macar nu iti dadeai seama ca iti lipseste. Nu va fi doar o calatorie intr-un loc frumos, ci un voiaj uluitor de firesc inspre tine insuti. Si nu va fi descifrabil pentru amatorii de cinci stele la resort, pentru ca aici oceanul, soarele, stancile si vantul au darul sa te dezbrace…
