ATHENS - Greece was the birthplace of European civilisation. The period from 700BC saw the rise of the great city states of Athens, Corinth and Sparta, frequently engaged in long struggles for .... more

BUCHAREST - Romania is the largest of the Balkan states, sitting at the crossroads of Europe, whose nationals are proud of being ‘an island of Latinos’ in a ‘sea of slavs’. The country has seen several empires .... more

BUDAPEST - Hungary is a country with a complex sense of identity - not generally regarding itself as Balkan or Slavic, but Western. The country’s assortment of cultures can be traced back through its .... more

CAIRO - Travellers have marvelled at Egypt’s archaeological wonders for centuries, ever since the Ancient Greeks visited the pyramids. Today, the ancient wonders attract millions of tourists each year to the pyramids ... more

MADRID - Mediterranean beaches, sangria in the sun and paella by the plateful. Southern Spain has long been a popular holiday destnation, but tourists are increasingly turning to the fascinations of another.... more

PARIS - It is nigh impossible not to like France. As the late French president Charles de Gaulle once remarked, ‘How could one describe a country which has 365 kinds of cheese? There are myriad .attractions in this ... more

PRAGUE   Part of Czechoslovakia until the ’Velvet Divorce’ in January 1993, the Czech Republic has a rich cultural heritage represented by classical composers such as Dvořák and writers like Kafkaor  ... more

ROME  Stylish, cultured, good humoured and volatile – Italy, with its golden light, stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Perhaps more than an. ... more