Yugoslavia and Jugonostalgija
The country that once was called “Yugoslavia” disappeared from the maps at the end of the last century and after a cruel war. Outside the former Yugoslavian area, nothing of it remains on maps, just a trace on the history texts. But the “Made in Yugoslavia” Zastavas still run the roads of the new countries
Palmanova: amazing beauty throughout the history
Located in Northeastern Italy, Palmanova, the star-shaped town, is a unique destination. It is a great example of a Renaissance-era planned town meant to be used as a living area, fortress and stronghold. The star-shaped town Palmanova has the shape of a star. Right in its middle, there is a huge square, an enormous and
Discover the old times charm of Marzamemi
Marzamemi, a fishermen’s village Marzamemi is a beautiful ancient tuna fishing village in Sicily, not far from Siracusa. It was built during the Arab domination of Sicily. The name itself “Marzamemi” has an Arab root. “Marsa” in Arab means “harbour”. Also, the tuna fishery dates back to Arab domination. On the other side, the fishermen’s
Deep South and close to Africa
The island knows no other human voices, no other footprints. On the Offshore Lights, you can live any story you want to tell yourself, and no one will say you’re wrong: not the seagulls, not the prisms, not the wind. (M.L. Stedman) Down, down, down to the extreme tip of Sicily until there is no
Cappadocia: unique landscapes and villages
Finally, after hundreds of kilometres of steppe, you’ll reach a barren, uninhabited tuff rock. It might sound like an introduction to hell, but it’s just the prologue to the wonders of Cappadocia. A mix of geological and human uniqueness ignites the imagination and sparks delight. A diagrammatic landscape, all peaks and slopes, pockmarked by water,
Merry Cemetery: European Spoon River
Nested among high peaks and green valleys in Northern Romania, near the Ukrainian border, on the outskirts of the tiny village of Săpânța, lies the Merry Cemetery. An ordinary village with an extraordinary cemetery Săpânța is an ordinary village, close to the river, with the main road running through it. Like every ordinary village, Săpânța
Africa hidden secrets: the Datooga of Tanzania
It isn’t easy to get in touch with the Datooga of Tanzania, a pastoralist Nilotic population. Their huts are made of a framework of branches covered in mud with thatched roofs. And they are well camouflaged with the surrounding savannah. As a result. If you don’t know where they are located, you must follow some tracks to
Trabocchi: tailspin of the giant spiders jetting on the sea
Trabocchi are an old fishing machine. They are common along the Southeastern coast of Italy, specifically in Abruzzo and Puglia. At the extreme point of the right-hand promontory, on a bank of rocks the Trabocco stretched, a strange fishing machine, constructed entirely of beams and planks, like a colossal spider-web. (Gabriele D’Annunzio, The Triumph of
Nusco fascinating bonfires: the darkest night of the year
This is the story of a dark night —the darkest night of the year—at least, that is what they say in Nusco. It is a night litup by fascinating bonfires. Nusco Nusco lies in Campania, province of Avellino, in the green and hilly Irpinia. It sits on a windy hilltop at almost a thousand meters in
A visit to the floating section of Cesenatico Museum
A visit to the floating section of Cesenatico Museum is absolutely a must if you happen to be in the area. Multicoloured sails greet the visitors of Cesenatico every day between Easter and September. A rainbow show that cannot be missed even from the nearby main road or if you’re travelling by train. The floating
5 wonderful things to see in Krakow and around
Travel Update: Krakow is a city that constantly evolves while remaining true to its soul. I have revisited this story, originally written in 2015, and enriched it with new details to ensure that every photographic tip remains the perfect compass for your next journey to Poland (Updated: December 2025). Krakow is a beautiful city. If you
Saint Petersburg: 5 beautiful attractions to visit
Have you ever visited the Russian city of Saint Petersburg? If not, here is a list of the top 5 beautiful attractions to visit in Saint Petersburg (plus one!). Saint Petersburg is a planned city. It was not built at a crossroads of trades and cultures, but rather under the will of a Czar who had
Syria: the destruction of Palmyra
Apart from the humanitarian crisis, the destruction of the ancient site of Palmyra has been one of the worst consequences of the Syrian war. Palmyra, how it was In the photo above, you can see the beauty of Palmyra from a few years ago. An astonishingly well-preserved ancient city in an oasis in the middle of the
Italian vacations 2015
Long, hot – sometimes boring – summer days. This is a personal project I developed last summer. The whole thing is about an average Italian summer holiday, depicting typical situations and feelings.The contents are absolutely contemporary, but I tried to show that not much has changed in typical Italian vacations since my childhood. To achieve
San Pietro Infine, the centre of an epic battle
San Pietro Infine is a tiny medieval village in Southern Italy, almost halfway between Rome and Naples. It is uninhabited and completely in ruins. If you’re interested in history, you probably know what Cassino meant in WWII. But does San Pietro Infine tell you anything? Probably not, even if it lies a few kilometres south
In the footsteps of Quixote: tilting at windmills!
Do you remember the foolish stories of Don Quixote? Do you remember when he was battling against windmills? This is one of the chapters of Cervantes’s book that I like the most and have read repeatedly. At this point they came in sight of thirty forty windmills that there are on plain, and as soon as
A visit to the awesome Matera and how to get great pictures
The ancient town of Matera, with its “Sassi” district, is fascinating. It will delight all your senses. It’s located in Southern Italy. Nested in a harsh yet beautiful rocky landscape: the karst semi-arid plateau streaked with canyons called Murge. The ancient Sassi Sassi is the ancient heart of Matera. A labyrinth carved out in the slopes of
Apulia, Italy: Five Amazing Towns Worth A Visit
![Apulia, Italy: Five Amazing Towns Worth A Visit]()
Come with me discovering a hilly land covered with olive trees, where the sun shines almost 365 days per year. Come and discover a land that once was ruled by Arabs, faithful and dotted with majestic churches. Andalucia? No, not really. Read my blog and you’ll discover where is it!
The Görlitz-Zgorzelec Border Crossing
![The Görlitz-Zgorzelec Border Crossing]()
From Iron Curtain to Schengen This is the Görlitz-Zgorzelec border crossing, sitting right between Germany and Poland along the river Neisse. In fact, the river divides two nations, but it also slices a single city in two: the town on the Polish side is called Zgorzelec, while the one on the German side is Görlitz
Santiago de Compostela and Some Weird Tangles of History
![Santiago de Compostela and Some Weird Tangles of History]()
Praza da Quintana, Santiago Santiago de Compostela’s Praza da Quintana is not only a simple town square. Located at the back of the Cathedral, it’s one of the oldest and most historic squares of Santiago. The Quintana is physically divided into two parts by a large staircase. The upper part is called Quintana dos vivos. If you
