UK weekly edition, Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Next month — April 25-27Split, Croatia: 121.49 pounds round trip
Fly Easyjet from London Gatwick to Split.
Start your exploration of Croatia’s second- largest city in People’s Square, a common meeting place for both locals and tourists. On the west side of the square is the 15th-century town hall, now the home of the city’s Ethnographic Museum, which includes a collection of folk costumes among its exhibits.
Also on the square you’ll find one of the many gates that welcome visitors to Diocletian’s Palace. The Peristil, the palace’s open courtyard, is a busy spot with cafes and a hotel and is often host to many festivities. On the east side of the courtyard, explore the treasury, crypts and bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Domnius.
Now walk to the lower section of the palace, the podrum, to meander through the stalls where merchants sell jewelry, crafts and souvenirs. Tourists can either exit the palace at the Bronze Gate or Silver Gate to visit Split’s promenade.
Visitors to the busy promenade can enjoy a morning coffee or an evening meal while watching the ships sail across the sea.
Two markets worth visiting in Split are the Pazar, a fruit and vegetable market, and the quite smelly fish market, where visitors can get just about anything the Adriatic Sea can offer. The Split tourist office claims visitors will be pleasantly surprised to find the market lacking in flies, a gift courtesy of the nearby sulfur springs.
Three months — June 20-22Malmö, Sweden: 59.48 pounds round trip
Fly Ryanair from London Stansted to Malmö.
A few minutes’ walk from the main train station is Stortorget, Malmö’s 12,000-meter main square and the beginning of the shopping district. Follow the lanes of cafes, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues to Lilla Torg, or Little Square.
For a trip back in time, head to Malmöhus Castle, the city museum and oldest remaining Renaissance castle in Scandinavia. There, visitors also can explore the Malmö Art Museum, Aquarium and Tropicarium.
Across the street is the Science and Technology/ Maritime Museum with exhibits of cars, trams, submarines and more. For a more picturesque view, board the sightseeing boats that ply the canals surrounding the city. Be prepared to duck your head for the many low bridges.
Visitors tired of walking can rent a car and take in magnificent views afforded by a 30-minute drive across the Oresund Bridge to Copenhagen, Denmark.
Airfare prices include taxes and are courtesy of each airlines Web site. Prices were verified as of Monday afternoon when Stripes UK went to press. Deals are not guaranteed to be available; restrictions may apply.
