Top European capitals: traveling to lesser-known places in popular cities

When we travel to Rome, London, or Madrid for the first time, we often make the same mistake. We travel along well-known routes, stop at familiar attractions, and visit our favorite places. But what about going beyond the usual and discovering something completely new and unexpected? Even the most visited cities have locations where tourists rarely set foot. We'll tell you about them below!

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Located in the province of North Holland. It is constantly compared to Venice. All because of the large number of canals. There are more than 150 of them, and there are 1200 bridges.

First, we recommend going to The Zaansche Mill. The local history museum was opened in 1928. It houses large models of industrial mills. The highlight of the attraction is the Molenpanorama, the world's largest painting of windmills. It is 11 meters wide.

Next, visit the Church of St. Nicholas, the main Roman Catholic church in the capital. In 2021, a fragment of the miracle worker's rib was brought here. You can also see an old Sauer organ from 1889.

Also go to Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder, a 17th-century house. During the Protestant Reformation, Catholics could not hold open worship services, so they set up hidden churches in their homes. Here travelers will be able to see one of these shrines.

Rome, Italy

The largest commune in Italy by territory. The city was founded in 753 BC.

We recommend visiting the Museum of Pasta. It is dedicated to the history, evolution, production, and consumption of pasta. The museum houses ancient equipment. In particular, a kneading machine and a dryer.

Also, take a walk through the fabulous Coppede neighborhood. Initially, it was planned for the middle class, but later the popularity of this place grew among the elite. Therefore, luxurious palaces and buildings were bought by wealthy citizens.

Also, go to the Villa Farnesina. It is located in the Trastevere neighborhood. The building was erected in 1506-1510 for the famous Italian banker Agostino Chigi. Today it houses the National Academy dei Lincei. By the way, you can see frescoes by Raffaello Santi on the walls of the building.

London, United Kingdom

One of the largest cities in Europe. According to historians, it is more than 2 thousand years old.

We recommend starting your trip from the St Dunstan-in-the-West. The church was first mentioned in 1185. It also survived a major fire in 1666. It was once a gift to King Henry III from Westminster Abbey. In the early nineteenth century, the religious center was demolished to widen Fleet Street. Then, in 1831, a new construction began, designed by architect John Shaw.

Also, take a walk in Kensington Gardens. The location is near the palace of the same name. Here we recommend visiting the statue of Peter Pan. It was built by playwright James Matthew Barrie in 1912. By the way, it was he who invented the famous character.

Also, go to the Dennis Severs' House. The unique museum recreates the atmosphere of the XVIII-XIX centuries. Each room in the house is a kind of "living canvas." It depicts the daily life of an imaginary family that lived in the house since 1724. The place is interesting because visitors are offered to feel the smells, sounds and learn the details of life at that time. In this way, the creator of the attraction wanted to awaken the consciousness and imagination of tourists.

Lisbon, Portugal

The westernmost capital of mainland Europe. It is also the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. Before traveling through the historic streets, we recommend that you try the traditional pastry – Pastel de nata. The dessert is made of puff pastry and custard.

Next, head to the Aqueduct of Free Waters. The engineering structure was built during the reign of João V to provide the population with water. It also withstood a major earthquake in 1755. By the way, be sure to visit in the evening, when the attraction flickers in the lights.

Also, go to the National Museum of Azulejo. It is dedicated to the unique Portuguese tile. Here, tourists can learn about the methods of tile production and its history. There are also ceramics, porcelain, and a large number of paintings.

Madrid, Spain

The city is located in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. It is one of the sunniest cities in Europe. Interesting fact: archaeological findings show that primitive people lived here about 100 thousand years ago.

First, we recommend visiting the Museum of Romanticism. It was opened in 1924. The exposition of the mansion demonstrates the daily life of the Spanish aristocracy and bourgeoisie. Furniture, paintings, and sculptures are kept here. There are also paintings by various artists. In particular, Leonardo Alenza and Antonio Carnicero.

We also recommend taking a walk in the largest public park – Casa de Campo. It used to be a royal hunting estate. There is also a zoo and aquarium on its territory – Zoo Aquarium de Madrid. It is home to more than 6 thousand animals: large pandas Bing Xing and Hua Zui Ba, koalas, and primates.

And, of course, go to the San Antonio de la Florida Chapel. Here, travelers will be able to see the frescoes of the painter Francisco Jose de Goya. By the way, the artist was buried here.

Are you ready to discover new horizons?

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