From a landscape built by giants to a surfer’s dream, here are some of the most amazingly
beautiful places in Europe!
10.
Venice
There’s pretty much a zero percent chance that you haven’t heard of this stunning
Italian city.
Venice is in the northeastern part of the country in the Veneto Region.
It is made up of one hundred eighteen islands that are connected by canals and over four
hundred bridges.
All of the islands are found within the Venetian Lagoon, which is between the Piave and Po
rivers.
As of 2018, around fifty-five thousand people lived within the city.
The name “Venice” comes from an ancient group of people called the “Veneti,” who
began living in the area in the tenth century BC.
Despite these estimations, there are no historical records that directly indicate when Venice
was founded.
Like most great cities, Venice has faced adversity throughout the years.
In 1348, the Great Plague ravaged the area, and in 1575, it happened again, taking the
lives of about fifty thousand people.
Then, in 1630, the Italian plague reached Venice, and a third of the population succumbed
to the illness.
Even though portions of Venice’s past are morose, the region remains one of the most
stunning places in the world today.
The city’s waterways, gondolas, and overall romantic feel make Venice one of the most
popular tourist destinations in the world.
Approximately, twenty-two to thirty million visitors travel to Venice every year.
9.
Zlatni Rat
Also known as the Golden Cape or Golden Horn, this landmass juts out into the Adriatic Sea
near the town of Bol in Croatia.
It is a gorgeous beach with clear blue water and sandy beaches and has frequently been
named one of the best beaches in Europe.
This spit reaches out about two thousand eighty feet into the ocean, and its specific shape
and size change depending on the wind, current, and tide.
Although the water looks inviting, you should be careful if you ever decide to go swimming
here.
The current can prove dangerous if you swim too far out, and it could be difficult to
get back to shore.
Located near the beach in the pine tree grove are the remains of an ancient Roman villa
that contained a swimming pool.
Plus, if you feel like living on the wild side, several of the coves on the western
portion of the beach are clothing-optional.
So, if you want an all-over tan without the lines, then that’s the place to visit!
8.
Biarritz
Another breathtaking place in Europe is Biarritz, France.
It is located on the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic coast.
Stones that were analyzed from the area indicate that it has been inhabited since the Middle
Paleolithic era.
It was first mentioned in a manuscript, called Bayonne’s Golden book, from 1186 and was
called “Bearids.”
Many documents and records about Biarritz mention whaling, which was the primary industry
in the area since the twelfth century.
Nowadays, the city’s economy is mostly based on tourism.
People travel there for the gorgeous sights, surfing, and other sea-centric activities.
Surfing first appeared there in 1957, but the region is now known internationally for
its surfing scene.
Biarritz hosts many annual competitions, such as the Quicksilver/Roxy Jam tournament.
Some of the area’s most prominent destinations are the Asiatica Museum, St. Martin’s Church,
and the Museum of Chocolate.
The Rocks of Biarritz are another main attraction, and they erode every year by about seventy
centimeters.
7.
Amalfi Coast
This awe-inspiring destination is in Campania, Italy on the Salerno Gulf’s northern coast.
Considering its beauty, it’s not surprising that Amalfi is a popular spot for tourists,
attracting thousands of people every year.
The climate is Meditteranean, meaning mild winters and warm summers, which add to the
area’s allure.
There is only one route that runs to the Amalfi Coast which runs about twenty-five miles from
the town of Vietri Sul Mare to Positano.
One of the things this place is known best for is its limoncello production.
For those who haven’t had the pleasure of tasting it, limoncello is a lemon liqueur
that is produced in Southern Italy.
It outshines any homemade lemonade.
This is because the Amalfi Coast cultivates lemons, which are grown in gardens on terraces.
Other popular products from this area are anchovies, ceramics, and a thick paper called
“bambagina.”
6.
The Dolomites
This mountain range stretches through the Belluno, South Tyrol, and Trentino provinces
in Italy.
The Dolomites are also known as the “Pale Mountains.”
They earned their name from dolomite, a type of sedimentary carbonate rock which contains
a significant amount of the mineral that is also known as dolomite.
These mountains were formed over two hundred eighty million years ago after portions of
Europe and Africa merged together in the supercontinent we now call “Pangea.”
The earth was thrust upward, forming the Dolomite mountains, and they have weathered since then.
There are several hiking trails that run through the Dolomites which take about a week to traverse.
Numerous huts can be found along the pathways to service travelers, and camping is forbidden,
so there is plenty of accommodation along the routes as well.
The Dolomite mountains are well-known for the skiing they offer during the winter, along
with hiking, climbing, BASE jumping, and cycling.
Free climbing has been popular in these mountains since the late 1800s when a seventeen-year-old,
named Georg Winkler, climbed the first ascent of the Vajolet towers alone.
5.
Kravica Waterfalls
These gorgeous cascades are often mistakenly called “Kravice.”
They are located on the Trebizat River in Bosnia and Herzegovina about six miles south
of Ljubuski.
They reach around eighty feet high, and the lake at the base of the falls stretches approximately
three hundred ninety feet.
Kravica Waterfalls is a popular spot for picnicking and swimming.
During the summer, it is also a frequented tourist destination.
There is a rope swing, camping area, and cafe located within the vicinity.
The recommended time to visit these falls is during the spring when the cascade is flowing
in its entirety, and the landscape is bright green.
Around this time, restaurants in the area offer fresh and delicious grilled and fish
dishes.
Near Kravica is also a small grotto that contains calcium carbonate stalactites, a sailboat,
and an old mill, making the area even more beautiful.
4.
Sintra
This city is located on the Portuguese Riviera in the Greater Lisbon area of Portugal.
The earliest remains of human inhabitants were discovered in Penha Verde and dated back
to the beginning of the Paleolithic age.
After centuries of monarchy, the 1910 Portuguese Republic transformed the Sintra culture from
bohemian to a more economy-focused environment.
As agriculture and other industries increased in this area, things became urbanized, especially
at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Steps were taken in the 1920s to preserve Sintra’s heritage, and institutions were
created to protect and study the enormous amount of art the city encompassed.
Part of this region is mountainous, and the Sintra Mountains emerge out of an otherwise
flat area, marking the border between the plains and the Tagus River.
In addition to the palaces and stunning geography this place offers, the nearby Azhenas do Mar
is another exceptional tourist destination.
This breathtaking beach and villa is the perfect spot for travelers to take in the oceanic
sights while dining on fresh seafood.
Set on a steep cliff, the Azhenas do Mar’s stark white buildings and reddish roofs offer
a beautiful contrast to the bright blue water.
3.
Lapland
If you prefer a winter wonderland instead of a tropical getaway, then Lapland, Finland
is the place for you.
This is the most significant region of the country regarding its size and is also called
“Sapmi.”
It is comprised of twenty-one municipalities, including the most-populated, Rovaniemi.
This city’s name comes from a word of Saamic origin that means something similar to “forested
hill,” “forested ridge,” or “site of an old forest fire.”
It could also come from a term meaning “group of rocks” or “heap of stones.”
The demand for Lapland’s natural resources in the 1800s helped Rovaniemi grow economically,
especially the city’s logging sites.
The promise of gold also attracted people from all over.
During the Second World War, Finland signed the Moscow Armistice, which angered Germany,
which was Finland’s ally at the time.
In October 1944, the Germans were ordered to destroy all of Rovaniemi’s buildings
besides hospitals and houses - if people were present.
Ninety percent of the town’s structures were destroyed.
Today, tourism is the main source of income for the region.
There are restaurants and hotels throughout Rovaniemi.
In 2013 alone, over four hundred eighty thousand people traveled there.
2.
Giant’s Causeway
This awe-inspiring sight is located in Northern Ireland in County Antrim on the coast.
In 1986, UNESCO declared the area a World Heritage Site.
A year later, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland named it a “national
nature reserve” as well.
During the Paleocene Epoch around sixty million years ago, Antrim endured significant volcanic
activity, and molten basalt seeped through the chalk beds, creating a gigantic lava plateau.
When the magma cooled down, it contracted and fractured, forming structures similar
to pillars.
But, that doesn’t explain how this place came to be called “Giant’s Causeway.”
According to a legend, these columns were constructed by a giant named Fionn mac Cumhaill,
who is part of Gaelic mythology.
After being challenged to a fight by a Scottish giant, Fionn build the causeway to cross the
North Channel so they could meet.
There are a couple of versions of the story: one in which Fionn is victorious… and one
in which Fionn hides from the other giant after realizing he’s much larger.
Whether or not Fionn won the battle, the Giant’s Causeway remains a spectacular place to visit.
After a fire burned the original visitor center down, another was opened in 2012.
Some of the most popular places to visit are the Basalt Columns, Chimney Stacks, and the
Giant’s Boot.
1.
Plitvice Lakes National Park
This gorgeous place is in Croatia and is one of the country’s oldest and most significant
national parks.
It is internationally famous for its lakes, which are arranged in waterfalls.
There are sixteen lakes that can be viewed from the surface.
The lakes are the result of numerous small rivers coming together and are separated by
natural dams made of travertine - a type of limestone deposit.
Plitvice Lakes National Park was founded in 1949 and was named a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO in 1979.
It encompasses about seventy-three thousand acres.
The allure of this national park draws about a million tourists each year, and people must
pay to enter.
But, the money is definitely worth it as Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the amazingly
beautiful places in Europe - and, quite possibly, in the world.
What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited?
Let us know in the comment section below!