Violeta's Travel Blog | Inspiration for Independent Travelers

Churches in Rome with Caravaggio Paintings – A Self-Guided Walking Tour for Art Lovers

If you plan to travel to Rome, you probably know already that you'll find some of the most important works of Caravaggio in Galleria Borghese, in the Capitoline Museum and in the Pinacoteca of the Vatican Museum. What you may not know is that there are several...

Where to Stay in Rome

If you've ever visited the charming capital city of Italy before, you probably know by now that seeing the best of Rome involves a lot of walking. Public transport isn't the most reliable of all, so you can easily end up wasting a lot of your precious time waiting for...

Which Is the Best Mirrorless Camera for Travel?

There's this old adage that the best camera for travel is the one you have with you. This makes your smartphone the best camera for a wide range of situations. However, no matter how good, a smartphone camera will never match the low light photography performance and...

Things to Do & See in County Donegal, Ireland

Ireland is one of my favorite countries in Europe. I've covered only a small part of it: Killarney, Kenmare, and Dublin. I also found time to take a few day trips from Dublin. Located at about 250 km from Dublin, Donegal requires more than one day to explore. Until my...

A Scenic Northern Italy Itinerary with a Swiss Twist (Four Lakes, Five Towns, Two Countries)

My trips took me to Northern Italy more than once, sometimes for business, other times for leisure. I fell in love with the lakes at first sight, so I've been keen on returning ever since. My first encounter with this area took place in Lugano, Switzerland. Although...

How To Visit the Ancient Cities of Ephesus & Troy in Turkey

Turkey is one of the most surprising countries in the world. Not only is it a realm of contrasts, where the rich meets the poor, and the new meets the old in a kaleidoscope of flavors, but it is also home to some of the most important vestiges of the ancient Greek...

The Roman Baths of Caracalla – Location, Tickets & Reasons To Visit

Baths of Caracalla are the best preserved public bath complexes of ancient Rome. The construction of Baths of Caracalla, then known as Antonine Baths (Thermae Antonianae) was started under the emperor Septimius Severus, in AD 206. The construction of the baths took 10...

Baths of Diocletian in Rome – Finest Ancient Roman Architecture

Built by Emperor Diocletian in 305 AD, on the Viminal Hill, the Baths of Diocletian were the biggest thermal complex in the Ancient Rome, meant to surpass the Baths of Caracalla by being able to accommodate twice as many people at once. Public baths were common during...

5 Off-the-Beaten-Path Greek Islands You Should Visit

The beauty of the Greek islands is well known. The dazzling azure blues, the white sand-fringed bays and the breathtaking cliff-top views have long been celebrated in literature and cinema. Perhaps then, it is understandable that most tourists who flock to this part...

10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Óbidos, Portugal

Portugal is one of the countries I've had the privilege to live in for a while. I loved my life in the Algarve, and I'd go back there any time. This article, however, isn't about Sagres or Pera, but about Obidos, Portugal, a beautiful town full of history and charm....

Water Shoes – A Must-Have For Great Beach Vacations

It took me many painful beach vacations and walk-through mountain river canyons adventures to discover water shoes. They are better than sandals, because they allow the water to pass through. Besides, they are a snug fit, so they make the perfect river shoes. They'll...

Top 5 Museums in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city composed of rich history and deep culture. However, when people first think of Amsterdam, they have a certain idea of the city, but these ideas could not be further from what Amsterdam is truly like. The history and culture of the city runs deep...