Four interesting facts that you may or may not know
The best thing about a walking holiday or a cycling tour is that there is always a new destination to discover and explore. Even better, are the unusual facts or incredible monuments uncovered along the way. For instance:
Did you know that there are volcanoes still active in the Azores and you can enjoy a self-guided walking holiday in the Azores over craters and volcanic ash?
The island of Pico is home to the large volcano of the same name, rising 2351m above sea level, making it the highest peak in Portugal. In 1957, on the island of Faial, a volcano erupted for a whole year buring the fishing village of Capelinhos. Today, you can visit the Capelinhos volcanic site and admire its lunar landscape. The village of Furnas is to be explored on the island of Sao Miguel, home to 22 hot springs, the fumaroles often invade the village. The spirit of the volcanoes is deeply rooted in the heart of the islanders and you can assist a cooking scene of the “cozido” a traditional stew-like dish cooked with the geothermal heat from the ground. Did you also know that not a century goes by without a volcanic eruption on one of the islands of the archipelago?
Did you know that in a town in Provence, over 7 hectares of roman ruins were uncovered?
During the 20th century in the town of Vaison-la-Romaine in Provence, an excavation was carried out that uncovered 7 hectares of gallo romain ruins slap bang in the middle of the town centre! Remnants of shops, houses, spas & theatres depict life as it was back then. 2000 years of history are intertwined with modern day life, with the ruins running under the tourist office and alongside café terraces and apartments.
Did you know that the French Riviera is not all glitz and glamour, but that there is a fantastic back country just waiting to be explored on your walking holiday in the French Riviera?
Boasting jaw dropping landscapes off the tourist radar, many small and quaint villages are nestled in the mountains close to the Italian border, offering a wonderful mix of French and Italian culture. You can enjoy beautiful walking trails on forest tracks and through valleys laden with wild thyme and lavender and olive trees with the Mediterranean Sea shimmering teasingly in the distance.
Did you know that on the island of Madeira there is a 2 000km network of levadas?
For centuries the Portuguese worked tirelessly cultivating the land on the steep slopes of the island. An intricate network of canals (levadas) was then created to irrigate the terraced crops allowing almost anything to grow in the rich soil. Today, you cannot avoid the levadas as many of them make up the scenic map for your walking holiday in Madeira, leading you through tunnels, hamlets, cultivated terraces and waterfalls, showing you the best of what the island has to offer!
