Your 10 Favorite Wanderer's Blog Posts from 2016

The year is coming to an end and this 9 months of Chronicles couldn't be more rewarding. I'm grateful for your visits and feedback and could not finish the year without highlighting your favorite posts. So, lets hear the drums for the 10 most visited posts of 2016.



1. JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG (PARIS)

Situated between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, the Luxembourg Gardens are a haven of peace and tranquility in the middle of the city's bustle. Inspired by the Boboli Gardens and by the Pitti Palace in Florence, the Gardens and the Palace of Luxembourg were created for Queen Marie de Medici in 1612, allowing her to remember her native city. (Keep reading here)



2. STREET ART AT LX FACTORY (LISBON)

Lisbon is well known for its street art, presenting allover the city great examples of the work of both Portuguese and foreigner artists. If you appreciate street art, maybe the names of Vihls and Bordalo II are familiar to you, as they have works all over the world. While Vihls is particularly known for carving faces on building facades, Bordalo II creates amazing works of art from trash. (Keep reading here)



3. GIFT IDEAS FOR TRAVELERS

We are a week away from Christmas and for those of you that have been procrastinating gift shopping or that have run out of ideas for that friend that also loves traveling, here is some help.
Actually this is my list to Santa (hope you are reading my post dear Santa!) but I'm sharing it with you just in case it can be of any help. There are more budget friendly suggestions and some that are a little more expensive, but I'm sure that in this 10 suggestions you will find something that will make your friend or loved one really happy. (Keep reading here)



4. PLACE DES VOSGES (PARIS)

Once a swamp, the Marais (french word for marshland) district grow in importance on the fourteenth century due to its proximity to the Louvre Palace. In the seventeenth century became the favorite living place for the richest families in Paris, who built sumptuous mansions characteristic of the neighborhood. Today the Marais is a dynamic part of the city, with modern boutiques, great art galleries, upscale hotels and restaurants. (Keep reading here)



5. THE INFERNO MOVIE TOUR (FLORENCE)

In 2013, shortly after the release of Dan Brown's novel, Inferno, I visited Florence. Can't remember anymore if I read the novel before or after visiting the city, but now, that the film, based on the novel, as been released, occurred to me that could be a good idea to have a post on the main Florence locations of the movie. (Keep reading here)



6. LAS RAMBLAS (BARCELONA)

Las Ramblas is one of the main streets of Barcelona and, often, one of the first landmarks that most visitors identify with the city. This central boulevard, which cuts through the heart of the city centre,   is a vibrant and agreeable promenade of approximately 1,3 kilometers, connecting Plaza Catalunya  to Port Vell harbor. To the west it borders with El Raval area and east of Las Ramblas you can find the Barri Gòtic. (Keep reading here)



7. PALÁCIO FRONTEIRA (LISBOA)

Built in seventeenth century, as a hunting lodge, for the first Marquis de Fronteira, D. João de Mascarenhas, a hero of the Portuguese War of Restoration, this beautiful palace is located on the edge of Parque Florestal de Monsanto, in Largo de São Domingos de Benfica. The Palace was enlarged in the eighteenth century,  in a "rocaille"  style, and remains in the family to the present days. Currently, is the residence of the 13th Marquis de Fronteira, and is possible to visit some of the rooms, the library and the garden. (Keep reading here)



8. MONTMARTRE (PARIS)

A trip to Paris is not complete without a stroll through Montmartre. From the Sacré-Coeur basilica to the typical streets, reminiscent of a provincial village, it is simply lovely. The artists on the streets, the shops, the art galleries, the numerous restaurants and bistros (do not forget to eat some Moules Marinières!), the hustle and bustle of tourists (yes is a bit overcrowded!), the color and the animation, transport us to a less sophisticated Paris, to a bohemian and more irreverent city that captivates you at the first look. (Keep reading here)



9. ÎLE DE LA CITÉ (PARIS)

The history of Paris is strongly connected to the Île de la Cité, usually referred to be the original site of the Parisii tribes. In fact, when Julius Ceasar arrived there in 53 BC he only found a primitive village of fisherman. The Roman presence expanded the settlement to the left bank of the Seine. Later, the Francs conquered the city, named it Paris and made it the capital of their realm. The rest is history. (Keep reading here)



10. CASA MILÁ (BARCELONA)

In Eixample district we find Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, a true architectural landmark of Barcelona and one of the must see attractions of the city. Casa Milà is an apartment block designed by Antoni Gaudì and built between 1906 and 1912. This modernist building, inspired by nature and its organic forms, integrates the fantastic vision of Gaudi with the functional demands and comfort expectations of a rich family of the beginning of the twentieth century. Since 1984 Casa Milà  was declared an Unesco World Heritage Site due to its outstanding universal value. (Keep reading here)