Alicudi
Alicudi is a remote island in the Aeolian archipelago north of Sicily, Italy. The island was formed 150,000 years ago when Montagnola volcano erupted. It was evident the island first populated in 17th century BC when fragments of Roman artifacts were discovered. The island was once named Ericusa deriving from the Erica plant that grows on the island’s slopes. Present-day Alicudi is abundant in agriculture and fishing. Visitors can hike Alicudi’s summit, Monte Filo dell’Arpa, journey to the church of San Bartolo, the patron saint of the island and take a relaxing stroll through the grapevines and fields of olive trees.
Riyadh
Once a small desert oasis, this capital city is modern, yet it blends in well with the surrounding desert. Riyadh, which means "the gardens," is a fairly compact city, and most parts of it can be seen on foot except during the blast-furnace heat of the summer.
Allow a day to see Riyadh and another day or two for outlying destinations.
Jeddah
Although it's definitely a modern metropolis, Jeddah is also the most interesting and friendly of Saudi Arabia's big cities. Jeddah is centered on Al-Balad, the strip of buildings along its coast road and the old city directly behind them. Jeddah has some great museums, including the Municipality Museum. Located in a 200-year-old restored house built from Red Sea coral, the museum has interesting photos of the development of Jeddah, along with rooms done up in traditional style. The Museum of Abdel Raouf Hasan Khalil houses 10,000 items in 4 mock-Arab buildings. The museum is a mish-mash of kitsch exhibits, but there are a few gems among the flotsam. The Jeddah Museum is the regional museum of archaeology and ethnography. Jeddah has one of the best markets in the kingdom, the spectacular Souk Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city and is still a great place to spend hours strolling and browsing. Jeddah's 3 reconstructed old city gates are also worth a look, as are several good examples of traditional Jeddah architecture found around North City Gate.
Alicudi is a remote island in the Aeolian archipelago north of Sicily, Italy. The island was formed 150,000 years ago when Montagnola volcano erupted. It was evident the island first populated in 17th century BC when fragments of Roman artifacts were discovered. The island was once named Ericusa deriving from the Erica plant that grows on the island’s slopes. Present-day Alicudi is abundant in agriculture and fishing. Visitors can hike Alicudi’s summit, Monte Filo dell’Arpa, journey to the church of San Bartolo, the patron saint of the island and take a relaxing stroll through the grapevines and fields of olive trees.
Once a small desert oasis, this capital city is modern, yet it blends in well with the surrounding desert. Riyadh, which means "the gardens," is a fairly compact city, and most parts of it can be seen on foot except during the blast-furnace heat of the summer.
Allow a day to see Riyadh and another day or two for outlying destinations.
Although it's definitely a modern metropolis, Jeddah is also the most interesting and friendly of Saudi Arabia's big cities. Jeddah is centered on Al-Balad, the strip of buildings along its coast road and the old city directly behind them. Jeddah has some great museums, including the Municipality Museum. Located in a 200-year-old restored house built from Red Sea coral, the museum has interesting photos of the development of Jeddah, along with rooms done up in traditional style. The Museum of Abdel Raouf Hasan Khalil houses 10,000 items in 4 mock-Arab buildings. The museum is a mish-mash of kitsch exhibits, but there are a few gems among the flotsam. The Jeddah Museum is the regional museum of archaeology and ethnography. Jeddah has one of the best markets in the kingdom, the spectacular Souk Al-Alawi, which winds its way through the old city and is still a great place to spend hours strolling and browsing. Jeddah's 3 reconstructed old city gates are also worth a look, as are several good examples of traditional Jeddah architecture found around North City Gate.
