Walking across Saint Mark’s square, the Doge’s Palace sits royally upon the shores of the Grand Canal. The Gothic architecture, ornate artwork, and inner political workings offer visitors a glimpse of the non-religious part of life for historic Venetians.
The Craggy Gardens trail located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway a short distance from the bustling town of Asheville, North Carolina, offers hikers an enormously satisfying view of the Black Mountain range with very little sweat. The visitors center at the trailhead even offers a bathroom. What can be better than that?
We were visiting family in Charlotte and were searching for something fun to do with our 2 year old son. Hands down, the Reedy Creek Nature Center, Park, and Preserve was the most fun we had while visiting this beautiful city. From a playground, to a nature center, to hiking trails, to archaeological ruins, this park has it all. And I can honestly say that there is something here for everybody.
On our way from Virginia Beach to Charlotte, we stopped to stretch our legs and take a short hike along the Cole Mill Trail at Eno River State Park in North Carolina. This park offers a wonderful respite for anyone living in the urban areas of Durham and Orange Counties. It was one of our favorite places that we happened upon while in North Carolina. The trails are easy to follow, easy to walk along, and the scenery provides visitors with so much nature to look upon!
On the northern side of the small Greek Island of Ikaria is the Osias Theoktistis Monastery. The architecture of the small monastery is a traditional church, like most of the other ones located on this beautiful island. However, the small chapel, Theoskepasti, located just next door, has the most unique architecture. Built into a cave underneath a large, flat rock, from the outside, the Theoskepasti chapel looks more akin to a mushroom house than a place of worship. It is an absolute gem to see!
Walking through the historic town of Hólar in northern Iceland, we stumbled across a large and impressive statue of Guðmundur Arason. Arason served as the Bishop of Hólar from 1203 until his death in 1237 and is seen as a Catholic Saint to Icelanders today. His life was recorded in the Guðmundar saga biskups, which is an Icelandic bishops’ saga solely pertaining to Arason’s.
Within the small town of Hólar in northern Iceland, Nýibær provides visitors with a glimpse of the past. Public access to this historic turf house allows one to see what rural Icelandic life was like in the past and it really is cool to see!
If you’re traveling through the small town of Hólar in northern Iceland, you should stop by the the Auðunnarstofa or Auðun’s House. This is a replica of an ancient Icelandic house serves today as the Hólar Bishop’s Office.
Hólar, Iceland is a small little town in the northern part of the country that has so much history and drama within its walls. No stories are probably more dramatic than that of Bishop Jón Arason, the last Catholic Bishop of Iceland.
Nestled within the small town of Hólar, Iceland, you can find the Hólar Cathedral. As part of the Church of Iceland, the Hólar Cathedral is the official church of the Bishop of Hólar and is the latest of a long line of historic churches.
