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Luxury Mediterranean Holidays 2008
Many Brits choose Mediterranean locations for their summer holidays; tempted by the balmy weather, sandy beaches, excellent cuisine and a rich historical heritage that has influenced other countries around the world to this day.
Greece is one of the most popular summer destinations in the world, and each year is visited by over 16 million tourists. Apart from the capital city of Athens, the most popular holiday destinations are its many islands, the most popular being Crete. Home to some of Greece’s most beautiful beaches, Crete is also a place full of warmth, vitality, hospitality and culture. One of its highlights is the ruins of the ancient Minoan civilisation in Knossos, giving birth to the legend of the Minotaur dwelling at the centre of its labyrinth. The island also offers the rugged beauty and solitude of its mountains only a few hundred metres away from the coast. Other popular islands include Kos, Rhodes and Kefalonia, each with a different feel and place in Greek history.
Turkey is also a popular tourist destination, having experienced rapid growth in the last 20 years. Its tourist industry is largely based on archaeological and historical significance of its larger cities such as Istanbul and Ankara and the seaside resorts along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Among the most popular cities is the trendy city of Bodrum, home to many of Turkey’s poets, singers and artists, and is to Turkey what Cannes is to the south of France. Apart from the shops, bars and restaurants located near the harbour, the city is home to the Castle of St Peter, one of the best world’s preserved medieval monuments and the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
Cyprus, with a heritage drawing from Turkish, Greek and British culture, is now a sovereign nation with a sizeable British ex-pat community, making it easy for British tourists to feel at home – English is a semi-official language and Cyprus is one of the 4 countries in the EU where cars drive on the left side of the road. Supposedly the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love and romance, the Rock of Aphrodite, located on the picturesque southwest coast, is now a major tourist attraction. In addition the island can boast of stunning architecture due to the different waves of invasion and delicious seafood cuisine that includes octopus in red wine, sea bass and calamari.
Bulgaria, bordering both Greece and Turkey to its south has also seen a substantial increase in tourists in the past decade. Popular amongst British and Irish tourists for its ski resorts during winter, in summer it attracts tourists to its many resort towns, the most popular being Varna. Nicknamed the Marine Capital of Bulgaria, it is a prominent seaport, home to the Bulgarian navy and a university centre. It is a lively city with a waterfront promenade featuring several beach clubs offering different types of music ranging from chalga (Bulgarian pop folk) to hip-hop and house. The city's beaches are famous for their hot, sulphuric mineral springs, known as sea baths. There are also plenty of sights to see, including the Varna Archaeological Museum and the Sea Garden, containing the Varna Aquarium, Dolphanarium, Museum of National history and other attractions.
With these great destinations and more, it is no wonder that luxury holidays in the Mediterranean are popular with tourists from all around the world.
