Things to Do in Piedmont & Liguria

Vieux Fort, as its name implies, was settled as a French fort, an installation which dates to the 17th century and can still be visited today. The town later came to prominence as the center of the agriculture industry and it remains a busy commercial center to this day.

The surrounding area is of more interest than the town itself. Start your explorations with stunning views at Saint Lucia’s southernmost point, where a lighthouse looks south towards Saint Vincent.

And on the Atlantic coast you’ll find the long Anse des Sables beach. Be prepared for bigger waves, stronger winds and fewer facilities than you’d experience in west coast resorts, but also far fewer people. The beach faces the Maria Islands, and there’s a meeting point at the southern end of the beach for expeditions to this protected off-shore habitat.

Whether it’s zipping down a water slide at the Wet N’ Wild park, or experiencing marine life underwater from a viewing platform at Sea World, uShaka Marine World is one of the largest attractions on Durban’s Golden Mile. Visit the world’s 5th largest aquarium to find dolphins, reef fish, and sharks cruise through waters designed around sunken shipwrecks, and to fly down a water slide, relax on uShaka Beach, and watch as penguins waddle around on the rocks all in an afternoon.

You can also upgrade your ticket to include snorkeling in the lagoon, or travelers with young children can visit the touch pool to feel slippery starfish and sea cucumbers. Although Viator tours do not include these activities, you can purchase separate tickets to dive in the shark tank, feed the rays, or encounter a dolphin or seal.

Portugal’s most famous and prestigious university, the University of Coimbra is one of Europe’s oldest colleges and has become a popular tourist attraction in its own right. First established in Lisbon in 1290, the university moved to its current location in 1537 and today stands proudly at the highest point of the town.

Touring the vast hilltop campus unveils an array of historic architecture, most notably the imposing 18th-century University Tower, an important landmark of the Old Town, and the renowned 18th-century Biblioteca Joanina (João V Library), an elaborately decorated National Monument. Around 300,000 ancient books grace the shelves of the famed library and the richly decorated interiors are a show-stopping display of Portuguese art and architectural design, featuring two-tiers of exotic wood shelves, gilded pillars and intricate ceiling paintings by Lisbon artists Simões Ribeiro and Vicente Nunes.

Visitors can also tour the ornate baroque Capela de São Miguel, the Sala dos Capelos (Graduates’ Hall) and the 16th-century University Church, home to a museum of sacred art. The university also runs the 18th-century Botanical Gardens, the largest in Portugal stretching over 13 hectares of the idyllic Ursulinas Valley and featuring over 1,200 exotic plant and flower varieties.

The Wacky Rollers Adventure Park is for everyone who wishes they could star in Survivor. Aerial rope walks, Tarzan jumps, ziplining across a river – Wacky Rollers presents adventurers with an extreme challenge course in the Dominican jungle.

Eco-friendly fun and safety are uppermost at Wacky Rollers, including a briefing and demonstration, harness, helmet and gloves.

Expect a workout, jungle views across the treetops from the zipline, and a welcome drink and chill-out session after your adventure.

Louis XIV, the Sun King, was not satisfied with ruling over the French people, or building the most magnificent palace in the world; at Versailles he was also determined to have mastery over water.

In 1666, building a fountain was not as easy as laying some pipes and turning on the tap – water was a scarce commodity in rural France and massive and expensive construction works were required to fulfill Louis’ dream of dancing water.

There are over 30 fountains at Versailles, the most famous being the Apollo fountain, with its horses pulling the god’s chariot, and the Neptune fountain featuring the god of the oceans with his wife, some dragons and a smattering of sea life. Neptune took over a century to complete and was therefore officially opened by the next generation, King Louis XV. Other fountains represent the four seasons: Saturn for winter, Flora for spring, Ceres for summer, and Bacchus for autumn.

During the weekends from April to October, the fountains run in full play to musical accompaniment. This Grandes Eaux fulfills Louis XIV’s ambitious dream of water at play, leading you through the expansive gardens and amazing you with the height of the jets and visionary scale of the themed fountains.

In July and August this water show also runs in the evenings with the fountains spectacularly lit. There are eight paths you can follow for different musical and visual experiences. The Sun King may finally have been satisfied.

The undulating terrain of “The Valley of 1,000 Hills” lies within easy reach of Durban and offers year-round diversions, making a particularly welcome summer getaway from the humid coast. A typical visit might find you eating exotic crocodile steaks, watching a Zulu ceremony or taking tea in the lush tropical garden of a Catholic monastery.

The heritage steam train known as the “1,000 Hills Choo Choo” departs from the town of Kloof and lets you experience the region much as it was in the 19th century after English settlers opened it up as a trading route. Horse-riding is another popular activity here, and for the particularly energetic, there are two annual marathons – the ultimate outdoor step class.