Praça da República is the main square in Tomar and where the Town Hall and the Church of Saint John the Baptist are located. Both buildings were gifted to the city by D. Manuel I, King of Portugal and Grand Master of the Order of Christ (16th century). The statue in the centre belongs to D. Gualdim Pais, fourth Grand Master of the Knights Templar in Portugal and founder of the city, who ordered the construction of the castle , the Convent of the Christ and the church of Santa Maria do Olival, a burial ground for the knights templar. Back to Tomar
The land where the Grote Markt stands was donated to the city in 1220 by Duke Henry I of Brabant. Soon after the first annual markets, also known as the Brabant Fairs, were organised. At the end of the 15th centuryAntwerp became the most prominent city of the Low Countries, with merchants arriving from England, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Northern German Hanseatic cities. The centrepiece of the square is a large fountain, known as the Brabo Fountain. It was built in 1887 and according to legend, Brabo was a local hero who killed the giant Antigoon and cut off his head and hands. The giant was demanding a high toll to each ship that wanted to enter the city. The square is surrounded by 16th-century Guildhalls, restaurants and cafes. In Winter it hosts the Christmas Market and an ice rink.
Cap de Formentor is the most northeastern point of the Island of Mallorca, where the Tramuntana Mountain range meets the Mediterranean. The 13.5 km winding road that connects Port de Pollença to Cap Formentor is scary and can be crowded at times but the dramatic scenery to be found makes it well worth the drive. On the way to Cap Formentor, there are cliffs 400 metres tall, almost inaccessible beaches with turquoise waters, unusual rock formations and pine woods that guide you halfway to the end of the cape where a lighthouse stands. On the way, there are several viewpoints where it's possible to stop a car for a couple of photos or just to enjoy the scenery. The lighthouse was inaugurated in 1863 and at the time it was only accessible by sea or by a mule track. This isolation came to an end in the 1930s when the asphalted road was built and today there's a shop and a restaurant for a well deserved light meal after the thrills and scares of getting there. ...
Kition was a city-kingdom located in present-day Larnaca, established in the 13th century BC. The first inhabitants of Kition were the Achaeans, the first Greek colonists to go to Cyprus. They settled with the purpose of exploiting copper but the settlement eventually faded two centuries later. The town was later rebuilt on a larger scale and there is some evidence of Phoenician presence at the beginning of the 10th century BC. The kingdom was under Egyptian domination for a short period in the 6th century BC and Persia ruled Cyprus from 545 BC. In 499 BC Cypriot kingdoms joined Ionia's revolt against Persia, whose rule over Cyprus eventually ended in 332 BC. However, in 312 BC Ptolomy I from Egypt conquered Cyprus, which was later annexed by Rome in 58 BC. Strong earthquakes in the 4th century destroyed Kition making the population move closer to the sea. Opening hours : mid-Sep. to mid-Apr., Mon. to Fri. 8.30 am to 5 pm; mid- Apr. to mid-Sep., Mon. to Fri. 9.30...
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