Santorini: an island where sand, water and air come together to create an atmosphere worthy of note!

June has just ended. Summer has now officially begun and with it the first summer trips to get away from the usual routine after a very busy year. Whether you love journeys in total relax on crystal-clear beaches or trips full of adventure and adrenaline, the world is full of destinations that reflect your ideal journey. Today sostravel.com focuses on the region of Provence, a gem located in the south-east of France, all worth discovering.

Provence is seen by tourists as a destination characterized by suggestive atmosphere, breathtaking views and splendid villages. A region characterized by a very mild climate thanks to the presence of the sea that warms the winters and freshens the territory during summer months and from the sun that kisses its wonderful landscapes for 12 months a year. A region known for its cultural importance conferred by authors like Dante Alighieri thanks to the numerous quotations in the Divine Comedy and to having been for about seventy years, during the fourteenth century, the home of the popes; it is precisely from the palace of the Popes of Avignon that the visit of the region can begin. A palace characterized by the presence of works of art and by immense gardens whose most characteristic location allows to relive the moments in which the court gathered to judge apostolic events.

Another characteristic of this destination is being known for the lavender fields present in its territories and the scent they give off. To savor these fragrances you cannot miss a visit to the ancient city of Arles. This city is essentially characterized by the ruins of the theater and the Roman amphitheater, once considered the fulcrum of the city, today home of numerous concerts and events in a suggestive atmosphere characterized by Provencal colors and scents. Not far from the city there are numerous lavender fields that make the area appear characterized by shades ranging from lilac to dark purple. For a full immersion in the lavender fields and to savor its scent, we recommend visiting the region in July, the month of their greatest flowering. For the most curious, Provencal lavender meets 80% of the worldwide demand of all products that come from this flower.

For tourists who want to direct their journey towards a full immersion in nature, sostravel.com recommends moving on to Roussillon. Roussillon is a place wrapped in shades of red and ocher that, in contrast with the blue or clear sky, offer its visitors wonderful landscapes to admire. The main feature of this location is how the sun decides what colors to offer its landscapes: depending on the natural light the landscapes will be characterized by a light orange or a dark red.

Thanks to all these characteristics, Provence establishes itself as a region worthy of being considered the most colorful and fragrant in Europe. A region kissed by the sun, full of spectacular natural landscapes. A small corner of paradise where you can get in touch with nature and be fascinated by the emotions transmitted.

June is almost over and sostravel.com has chosen to greet it by presenting you with a Spanish festival held in the city of Haro on this last weekend of the month: the Haro Wine Festival.

This week sostravel.com caters to all lovers of antique markets and takes you on the discovery of Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, and one of its most important local markets: the Feira na Avenida.

Lisbon is a city that from the first moment captures the heart of every tourist; a city characterized by its narrow streets where it is possible to visit taverns and shops and admire the elder people who spend their day resting the city benches. Suitable for all types of travel: from short weekends to long term holidays. A romantic city, melancholic, noisy but above all rich in landscapes, monuments and breathtaking views; a city that must be slowly enjoyed to discover its true essence. The itinerary for a perfect visit of Lisbon can start from Alfama, the oldest district of the city characterized by narrow streets and stairways that alternate between climbs and descents that will lead the tourist under the imposing castle of São Jorge located at the highest point of the city with a breathtaking view.

Thanks to its light and its colors Lisbon is a city that offers tourists a warm welcome; as Fernando Pessoa, one of the greatest Portuguese poets, said “for the traveler who arrives from the sea, Lisbon, even from afar, stands as a fascinating vision of a dream, against the bright blue of the sky that the sun colors with its gold”. The buildings of the city are characterized by colored tiles, where they are not present, the walls speak a modern language with graffiti, drawings made with spray cans that make the city a contemporary open-air museum.

It is right between the streets of the city that you can fully enjoy the everyday atmosphere of Lisbon by visiting the markets that take place in the city where you can find numerous organic and artisan products and antiques. Among the many markets it is possible to mention the Mercado do Jardim, the Mercado Biologico do Principe Real and the Feira na Avenida which is considered the most important and characteristic of the city. La Feira na Avenida takes place every month during the second weekend and the fourth Saturday of the month from May to September, in the most luxurious and sophisticated avenue of the city: Avenida da Liberdade. In this market it is possible to find numerous objects that are part of tradition and craftsmanship, antique books and collectibles, organic and gourmet products. A market that takes place every year between the flowerbeds of the Avenida beating heart of the city that stretches for 1500 meters and is known for luxury shopping.

Another feature that makes the city very tied to tradition is the presence of the vintage trams that still today cross the streets of Lisbon, giving the city a vintage charm. Among the most important and most crowded lines we find the 28, this tram allows the tourist to admire most of the city attractions in a single trip.

Visiting Lisbon means being captivated by its vintage charm and living immersed in the colors of the city, in a setting where the sun becomes the sole protagonist; not surprisingly, Lisbon is considered the city with the most sunny days in all of Europe!

For today’s appointment sostravel.com takes you to discover one of the biggest summer music festivals in Italy, every year in the city of Florence: Firenze Rocks.

Sostravel.com takes you on the discovery of the Loire Valley, a location loved by tourists from all over the world for its Renaissance charm and its history and culture.

Sostravel.com takes you on the discovery of La Réunion, a paradise island in the heart of the Indian Ocean.