Each year,
the European Commission selects a city in Europe as this year's “European
Capital of Culture”. The objective is to highlight the richness and diversity
of cultures in Europe, while stimulating the engagement of the chosen city with
the arts, and by bringing more visitors to engage in a whirlwind year of cultural
events creative.
2020 marks the 35th anniversary of the project, and the
commission has selected two cities as common European capitals of culture:
Galway, Ireland and Rijeka, Croatia. If Ireland and Croatia are considerations
for your 2020 travel plans, be sure to include Galway and Rijeka in your
itinerary! There is no better time to visit than now, when cities are imbued
with unique energy and a unique ambition to share the best of themselves with
locals and visitors.
GALWAY
County
Galway is the real heart of Western Ireland. With miles of white sandy
coastline, steep cliffs and green hills, this is a wonderful place to
experience the best of Irish scenery. The city of Galway is a great place to
base yourself for taking a dose of urban cultural festivities, while easily
venturing into the surrounding landscape.
For example,
you can get up early and head to Kinvara to see the impressive 16th-century
Dunguaire Castle, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking Galway Bay. Look for
the legendary wild Connemara ponies as you ride wind-swept heaths and rugged
mountains on some of Ireland's most beautiful hiking trails. Come back to the
city in time for a pub meal and Galway's phenomenal music scene: in 2020, more
than ever, the city will come alive with the sound of traditional and
contemporary Irish music.
"Each
arts organization will have the chance to come together and show the world what
they can do, like never before," said John Crumlish of the Galway
International Arts Festival. If you are there in March, do not miss what aims
to be the largest lit work of art in the world ever produced: Kari Kola, an
“artist of light” will bathe 6,000,000 m2 of the Connemara mountains with a
emerald green, just in time for St Le jour de Patrick.
Yugo.pk has seven fantastic guides in Galway: Peter,
Christopher, Tadgh, Carmel, Gerard, Martina and Paul. They will all be
delighted to show you the best of their city and the beautiful Irish
countryside.
RIJEKA
Arriving in
Rijeka, you are immediately struck by the color contrasts. The green wooded
hills give way to red roofs grouped around a natural harbor of sparkling blues
and green. Its strategic location at the head of a bay filled with islands
means that Rijeka has been disputed since Roman times.
The
multitude of Mediterranean maritime powers have all left their mark in the old
town of Rijeka. Stroll the narrow streets and alleys surrounding the harbor
before heading to the city's bustling open-air market. If you are inspired by
the shop window, follow the local crowd to the pedestrian street Korzo, lined
with ornate period buildings. At dinner time, consider heading to Opatija Bay
to order fresh seafood and admire the sparkling lights of Rijeka on the water.
Something you will not see? The large number of people who have descended on
Dubrovnik further south in recent years!
Rijeka's
theme for 2020 European Capital of Culture highlights its layered history and
modern culture:
"Port of diversity". The city's cultural programming
will pay close attention to migration and minority issues, and planners have
created incredible new cultural spaces in the city to focus on these issues.
The cuisine of diversity is one you won't want to miss, offering visitors an
unusual mix of music, cuisine, art and activism at the redeveloped Benčić
complex.
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