Historical European Cities -

Lots of people enjoy a European holiday with plenty of sun, sea and sand. However, Europe also has many alternative holiday destinations if you are looking for something a little bit different. If you are looking for a holiday with plenty of history, culture and architectural beauty, then you would definitely want to pack your luggage and EHIC (which stands for European Health Insurance Card) and take a trip to one of Europe’s amazing cities. With so many holiday options to choose from, we have compiled a list of historical European cities which you can consider for your next cultural holiday.

Rome – Italy

A city that was once at the heart of the great Roman Empire. Modern day Rome is well known for its many historical landmarks the more famous of them being The Colosseum which is thought to be the largest amphitheatre ever built. Used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles, it could hold between 50000 and 80000 people at its peak. Today it stands as a link to Rome’s ancient past.

Barcelona – Spain

A city that is over two thousand years old, Barcelona is not short of a bit of history. Its medieval roots can be witnessed in the Gothic Quarter of the old city. Barcelona is also home to Sagrada Familia a beautiful Roman Catholic church built in the nineteenth century and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Paris – France

Paris is a city just brimming with history. There is the Arc de Triumph, a structure built to honour those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and the famous Eiffel Tower which once stood as the world’s tallest man-made structure until the development of The Chrysler Building in New York in 1930.

Berlin – Germany

A city with such important historical significance, Berlin is the city where east meets west. Remains of the Berlin Wall, its destruction symbolising the end of the Cold War, still exist within the city today. Despite a recent turbulent history, Berlin’s eighteenth century Brandenburg Gate is now associated with European unity and peace.

Athens – Greece

The first settlement in Greece happened around 3000BC on the rock of Acropolis. Today the Acropolis of Athens contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance with the most recognisable of these being The Parthenon a former temple constructed in 438BC.

Vienna – Austria

Vienna, the capital city of Austria, is one of the most culturally important cities in the world. One of Vienna’s most important cultural landmarks is the Schonbrunn Palace. Constructed in the fourteenth century, The Schonbrunn Palace includes a park as well as the Vienna Zoo which is the oldest recorded zoo in the world.

Bruges – Belgium

Perhaps one of the more underrated cities on this list. Bruges in Belgium is a historical port city known for its medieval architecture and numerous canals. It is because of this that the city has been nicknamed “The Venice of the North”.