MONTPELLIER, FRANCE

VIDEO OF LIFE IN MONTPELLIER BY THE OFFICE DU TOURISME

Montpellier a city in southern France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, as well as the Hérault department. Montpellier is the 8th largest city of France, and is also the fastest growing city in France over the past 25 years.

SIGHTS

• Place de la Comédie.
• Musée Fabre
• Jardin des plantes de Montpellier – oldest botanical garden in France, founded in 1593
• La Serre Amazonienne, an Amazon greenhouse
• Fourteenth century Saint Pierre Cathedral
• Porte du Peyrou, a triumphal arch
• Saint Clément Aqueduct
• Antigone District and other housing projects have been designed by the architect Ricardo Bofill from Catalonia, Spain
• Some châteaux, called follies, built by wealthy merchants surround the city

Further information about cultural and leisure activities in Montpellier

• OFFICE DU TOURISME DE MONTPELLIER
• http://www.pres-univ-montp.fr/002/cultureetsport.php
• http://www.lindic.fr/Montpellier/Loisirs/_10047_1223_.html

ITALY, CITY OF POTENZA and bari

Courses in Italy are organised in two places/regions:

UNIBAS, Potenza

IAMb, Bari

Potenza

The province of Potenza, one of the two provinces of the Basilicata region, comprises 100 municipalities, among which the city of Potenza, Italy's highest regional capital (819 m.). The province is surrounded only for a few kilometres by the Tyrrhenian Sea and is bordered by the Campania region on the west (provinces of Salerno and Avellino), Apulia on the north (provinces of Foggia, Barletta-Andria-Trani and Bari), the province of Matera on the east and Calabria on the south (province of Cosenza).
Wider than the other lucanian province (Matera), the province of Potenza is characterized by the multiplicity of environments of the area. Indeed, there are many industrial towns, such as San Nicola of Melfi, but there are also natural environments like the Lake Monticchio and the artificial lakes of Monte Cotugno, Pertusillo, Acerenza and Rendina.
Furthermore, the coast of Maratea deserves a visit, as it is the only access to the sea for the province, as well as the central area of the forest of the Basilicata, the extensive National Park of Pollino, shared with the Matera province and the Calabria region, and the wildlife reserves of the Lake Pantano di Pignola (managed by WWF) and Abetina.

Further information

http://www.officeoftourism.org/europe/italy/Basilicata/potenza.asp

http://www.comune.potenza.it/

http://www.provincia.potenza.it/provincia/home.jsp            

http://www.provincia.matera.it/Provincia/laprovincia/english

http://www.regione.basilicata.it/giunta/site/giunta/home.jsp

Bari

Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia (or, in Italian, Puglia) region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas. The city itself has a population of about 320,475, as of 2011, over 116 km2, while the fast-growing urban area counts 653,028 inhabitants over 203 km2. The metropolitan area counts 1 million inhabitants.

Bari is made up of four different urban sections. To the north is the closely built old town on the peninsula between two modern harbours, with the splendid Basilica of Saint Nicholas, the Cathedral of San Sabino (1035–1171) and the Swabian Castle built for Frederick II, which is now also a major nightlife district. To the south is the Murat quarter (erected by Joachim Murat), the modern heart of the city, which is laid out on a rectangular grid-plan with a promenade on the sea and the major shopping district (the via Sparano and via Argiro).

Further information

http://www.comune.bari.it/portal/page/portal/bari/novitaPortale/eventi 

http://www.provincia.ba.it/provinciaba/s2magazine/index1.jsp?idPagina=2  

http://www.regione.puglia.it/ 

SPAIN, CITY OF ZARAGOZA

Zaragoza, is the capital city of the Zaragoza province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It is situated on the Ebro river and its tributaries, the Huerva and the Gállego, near the centre of the region, in a valley with a variety of landscapes, ranging from desert (Los Monegros) to thick forest, meadows and mountains.

On 1 September 2010 the population of the city of Zaragoza was 701,090,^[2] within its administrative limits on a land area of 1,062.64 km2 (410.29 sq mi), ranking fifth in Spain. It is the 35th most populous municipality in the European Union. The population of the metropolitan area was estimated in 2006 at 783,763 inhabitants. The municipality is home to more than 50 percent of the Aragonese population. The city lies at an elevation of 199 metres.

Zaragoza hosted Expo 2008 in the summer of 2008, a world's fair on water and sustainable development. It was also candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2016.

The city is famous for its folklore, a renowned local gastronomy, and landmarks such as the Basílica del Pilar, La Seo Cathedral and the Aljafería Palace. Together with La Seo and the Aljafería, several other buildings form part of the Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Fiestas del Pilar are among the most celebrated festivals in Spain.

Further information about cultural and leisure activities

http://www.zaragoza.es/ciudad/turismo/default_en.htm

https://sites.google.com/site/zaragozainternationalization/english/1-cultural-attractions-in-zaragoza-museums-and-theatres

GRECE, CITY OF CHANIA

Chaniá (GR: Χανιά also transliterated as Haniá or Khaniá) is the capital of the Prefecture of the same name and the second largest town in Crete, with a population of 60.000 inhabitants.
It is the administrative, economical, commercial and cultural center of the Prefecture. It lies along the North coast of the island, about 55 km west of the city of Rethymnon and 135 km from the city of Heraklion.
Since ancient times, the city of Chania has faced many conquerors and the influences of many civilizations through time, evident on the city monuments.
The beautiful city of Chania managed to preserve its original colors and historical character, despite the fast-growing tourist industry. It is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Greece and the most picturesque city of Crete.
The city of Chania is also characterized by a rich cultural life. A plethora of cultural events are organized every year (exhibitions, festivals, theatrical and musical performances, ect.)

The old city has preserved to a great extent the distinctive atmosphere and charm of the Venetian and Turkish periods. Entire Venetian, Turkish and Jewish quarters are saved, with well preserved buildings in the narrow picturesque streets.

SIGHTS :

One of the most significant buildings is the large Venetian church of Aghios Frankiskos which today houses the Archaeological Museum of Chania.
The old city leads at the harbor, where many Venetian and Turkish buildings are preserved. At the entrance of the harbor, at its north-erst point, is the renovated fort "Firkas", built on 1629, that today houses the Maritime Museum of Chania as well as a summer theatre, where drama performances are presented.
To the west of Firkas is the restored Venetian church of San Salvadore that today houses the Byzantine collection of Chania.
Opposite the Firkas fort, is the magnificent lighthouse ("Pháros"), built on the 16th century and restored by the Egyptians. The harbor is protected by a Venetian breakwater, built of huge stones. At the center of the breakwater are the ruins of a fortress.

For further information

http://www.chania.eu/tourism/index.php?lang=en

http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/main_cities/chania