When one thinks of Ikaria, the lovely and remote Greek island, one thinks of pebble beaches, craggy mountainsides, and meandering roads. Tucked away, however, in the middle of the island lies a rare gem; the old, rare, and protected Randi Forest that visitors can hike to.
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.
Situated in northern Iceland about an hour and a half drive west of Akureyri, is the old “capital of the north”, Hólar, Iceland. This tiny town, which today has a population of about 100 people, was once the religious center of Iceland and served as its northern capital for over 700 years. Today, to those curious travelers, it serves as a window into the past and there is so much to see.
Nestled within the coastal city of Pula, Croatia, along the Adriatic Sea, is the famous Pula Arena. This ancient Roman amphitheater is truly one of a kind. It is the best preserved Roman amphitheater in the world and the best preserved archaeological site in Croatia. It is the only Roman amphitheater to have all four side towers with the three original Roman architectural orders (the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns) still extant.
Today, the Dublin Castle in Ireland is a government building used for official ceremonies, dinners, presidential inaugurations, and other state affairs. Historically, however, it has had a varied past and was once called home by the Vikings, Normans, English, and British. Through most of its history, it has served as the administrative seat for English and British rule in Ireland. In 1922, it was finally handed back to the people of its country and has served them ever since.
The Temple of Jupiter in Split, Croatia is a small, ancient Roman sanctuary located within the walls of Diocletian’s Palace. This marvelous little building is nestled in one of the most beautiful places in Croatia and is well worth the visit.
One of my bucket list items in life has always been to hike in the Black Forest; the very same forest where Hansel and Gretel got lost. So during our drive through this part of Germany, we spent a few days exploring the area, and hiked the Feldberg Steig trail. We were in the very same woods where Little Red Riding Hood encountered the wolf and my heart couldn’t be happier.