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The 48th annual Golden Orange Film and Art Festival in October 2011 is a wonderful opportunity to experience the fusion of two unique cultures in a beautiful holiday setting, and even possibly spot the odd film star or two! Originally started as a series of concerts and plays at the historical Aspendos Theatre in the mid-1950s, the festival has now become one of Europe's premier film events and showcases cinema and movies from around the world. Although not as famous as Cannes, it is still regarded as an important opportunity for both new and established filmmakers to premiere their work to an appreciative audience. The event is growing in popularity every year, and is now firmly on the calendar of 'must-attend' events for both independent and major film producers.

Continue reading... Golden Orange Film and Art Festival

Greece is becoming increasingly popular with internationally acclaimed bands and groups. With flights to Crete and other destinations across the country now easily available from most UK airports, music fans can combine a holiday with the gig of a lifetime in some of the most dramatic backdrops in the world. See stars under the stars at open-air concerts across the country, and thanks to the current exchange rate, tickets and flights to Thessaloniki and other locations are now better value than ever.

Continue reading... Anathema Touring

If you've got a hen party to organise, then you'll probably be trying to create an event that's unique, memorable, affordable and has something for everyone. You also need to be sure that where you're going is going to offer sunny beaches where you can get to grips with the morning after the night before.

Continue reading... The Top Five Hen Party Destinations

There is a vast array of different festivals that are held within Mallorca. The festival that is known locally as Nit de Foc however it is also commonly known as the Night of Fire. This festival is one of the most popular events within Mallorca. A lot of people use the flights to Mallorca in order to enjoy the festivities. This festival involves a number of big bonfires and these include displays of fireworks. The festival is held every year and this is held within the resort that is known as Parc de la Mer. This festival marks the start of the summer within Mallorca and this is the start of the summer festivals within this area.

Continue reading... Nit de Foc in Mallorca

Lanzarote is located at the eastern end of the Canary Islands. There are some flights to Lanzarote and further it takes a couple of hours to reach well known areas of the Island. It accommodates a number of long sandy beaches, national parks and excursions through the volcanic ashes. This will urge you to check out the La Cueva de los Verdes that offers the largest volcanic tunnel existing in the entire world.

Continue reading... La Cueva de los Verdes

The Antalya International Piano Festival is one the major artistic events in the city, making you expect a lot from the city as your flight to Antalya lands. The event is organized every year by world renowned classical pianist from Turket, Fazil Say, under the aegis of the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. Each year the festival hosts several piano concerts by well-known artists coming from all parts of the world. The event is held at the Antalya Culture Centre.

Continue reading... Antalya International Piano Festival

Birgu is one of the oldest communities in Malta with a rich past. Being situated at a strategic location in the Grand Harbor, it was considered an ideal location for military as well as maritime activities. Due to this the city remained under foreign control for quite some time in the history, with rulers ranging from the Phoenicians to Romans and Arabs to Aragonese. Reaching Birgu is quite simple by catching flights to Malta, as it is very close to the Malta International Airport.

Continue reading... Malta Birgufest

Paragliding is probably one of the most adventurous and exhilarating sports in the world, probably close to bungee jumping. It is also one of the easiest things to learn if you are interested in adventure sports. Every year the International Paragliding Festival is organized by the Town Council of Los Realejos. The idea behind starting this festival was to promote the flight area of Los Realejos along with booting the tourism in the region. Though Tenerife is quite famous for other activities and events, most holidaymakers look to indulge in some adventure activity during their time off. Water sports are quite famous all over the world, however paragliding as an activity for foreign visitors is quite unique.

Continue reading... Paragliding Festival Tenerife

Interfest is an internationally acclaimed festival that celebrates classical music of Europe. The festival is organized from October 2nd to 12th every year. The festival generally continues for 10 days which are not only enriching but also brings a whole lot of memorabilia to the fore. This is especially true of people fond of music of the 60s and 70s. The festival welcomes renowned musicians and soloists from all over Europe to form a diverse set of musical performances.

Continue reading... Interfest Festival of Classical Music, Bitola

Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival is an extremely popular festival in Turkey. It is organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture from June 10th to July 22nd. Aspendos is around 45 kms away from Antalya airport. You can easily reach Aspendos by taking a flight from the airport at Antalya. There are several flights to Antalya, international as well as domestic.

Continue reading... Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival

The Spirit of Burgas is a festival organized to celebrate the talent among people of different cultures giving more emphasis to regional and local artists. The festival was held from Aug 13th to 15th this year and even though it is a short festival it hosts several acts by artists and has an aim of completing 100 different varieties of acts in 7 phases. The festival has also been awarded as the Best European Festival in the UK Festival Awards held during 2008. In 2009 it was recognized as the Best Overseas Festival.

Continue reading... Spirit of Burgas

As summers approach you can get ready to expect a world of art and culture at Heraklion. Starting in July till late September each year, the city of Heraklion situated on a Greek island Crete hosts a small arts festival. Although it is a small scale festival but people involved in art are attracted to places that are not too loud or too noisy. If you are one of those art lovers then Crete is worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. Flights to Heraklion can be taken from any part of the world and can even be booked online. Apart from the summer arts festival, there are many places you will find interesting.

Continue reading... Heraklion Summer Festival

Before 1928, the festival known as St Johns Bonfires was celebrated just as it was celebrated in any other part of Europe. The huge gathering of people coming together to burn things such as old furniture is quite a spectacle. But, during the same year, a man from Alicante called Jose Maraa Py improvised the idea of similar nature. In a short span of 3 months the first such Bonfire was planned and organized in Daa de San Juan.

Continue reading... Alicante-St John's Bonfires

The yearly carnival is a much awaited event in Arrecife-Lanzarote. Every year the processions are held between 3rd February and 9th March in Arrecife. Arrecife, which also happens to be the capital of the island, is visited by tourists all over the world because of the various festivals celebrated with merriment and enthusiasm. The annual carnival is one of the most famous festivals of the Canary Islands. The festival has been in vogue for a very long time. It is not celebrated only by the residents of the Islands but several tourists across the globe joyfully participate in it.

Continue reading... Arrecife Lanzarote Carnival

Picturesque mountains looking down on the sun kissed beach is a typical scene in Tenerife. For an island, the city has very peculiar landscape having one of the highest mountains in Spain, the third largest volcano in the world and tropical forests. Naturally so, these are the most popular attractions of the island, pulling in more than 10 million tourists every year from all over the world. Apart from the beautiful geography, the island also offers lots of entertainment with events such as fiestas and carnivals organized all through the year.

Continue reading... Tenerife Opera Festival

Santorini is a scenic island dotted with several structures in white and blue.Built on the remains of volcanic eruptions, it is one of the most popular destinations in Greece. Apart from the beaches and places of historical interest, the island is also known for various cultural events and festivals held throughout the year.

Continue reading... Megaro Gyzi Cultural Events Santorini

Famous Apollonia Festival of Arts at Burgas If you are an arts enthusiast and wish to explore the rich heritage of Bulgarian art, Apollonio Festival of Arts is a must visit event for you. It brings together a beautiful amalgamation of performing arts, literature and art exhibitions. The event will be organized in the city of Sozopol which is only 30 Kms from Burgas. So, if you are visiting Burgas, make sure you do not miss out on the event. Now, you need not worry about commuting between Burgas and Sozopol. Burgas has an international airport. So one of the ways is to take chartered flights to Burgas Apollonia Festival of Arts, Sozopol. Alternatively, you can also take a bus from the central railway station in Burgas. The buses leave from Burgas to Sozopol every hour. Apollonia Festival of Arts will be hosted at 5 venues, three of which include Apollonia Amphitheatre, Otets Paissii Cultural Centre and the Archaeological Museum. There are a lot of activities to be done at this venue even prior to the festival.

Continue reading... Apollonia Festival of Arts

An island which is very much the epitome of Greek history, Crete offers nothing short of a continual succession of seasonal festivals and things to do over the summer months. For those who want to sample these festivals, book your flights to Crete now to catch the highly anticipated annual Music Festival in Paleohora, which takes place over the first ten days of August.

Continue reading... The Paleohora Music Festival

The Innovation Summer in the Sun dance music festival will take place on 7th August this year. This popular music event has been held each year since 2006, initially in a night club but growing in size each year. This year the event takes place at MagMa, Costa Adeje.

Continue reading... Dance Music Festival in Tenerife

Palma is the capital of Mallorca and is a fantastic place to visit, whether you are sightseeing, shopping or just taking in the sun and chilling out in one of the many bars and cafes.

Continue reading... Palma Mallorca Jazz

Music festivals are very popular on the island of Majorca and its smaller neighbour Menorca. On Mallorca it seems that even smaller towns are organising their own summer music festivals, with jazz proving to be one of the more popular styles. On Menorca, festivals are equally popular and one of the biggest is the annual Music Festival of Mahon, which features mainly classical performances. This festival may be smaller than some of its Mallorcan equivalents, but the quality of the performers is very high.

Continue reading... Music Festival in Menorca

Sousse is perhaps most famous for its annual international festival, running this year between 14th July and 8th August. The 52nd Festival International de Sousse includes around twenty different cultural events including orchestral performances, operas, jazz evenings, theatre productions, dance performances and concerts by popular Tunisian artists. Artists on the programme this summer include Taher Guizani's troupe 'Arabesque', pop group Samsa, Nawel Ghachem, and Lebanese virtuoso Marwan Khouri.

Continue reading... Sousse International Festival

The Algarve region of Southern Portugal is home to some of Portugal's best festivals and events. Book your flights to Faro in particular, and catch the mesmerizing celebration of Faros' favourite Saint at the annual Feira de Santa Iria this October.

Continue reading... The Feira Santa Iria Festival in Faro

Because it's the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, you can expect to see a lot of these qualities in the lives of the Cypriots. This heritage especially shows when they're celebrating the Arkadia festival. In the month of August, the village of Kallepeia is packed with tourists who have come to celebrate this summer festival with the locals. If you have already booked your flights to Paphos during this month, Arkadia festival might be something to look forward to. You should not miss out on this opportunity to share in the hospitality and culture of Paphos.

Continue reading... Arkadia festival in Paphos

Very few things are more glamorous than late summer sailing whilst rubbing shoulders with royalty. Head to Palma de Mallorca in late August as, during the Copa del Rey regatta, 16th to 22nd August, the Spanish Royal family, celebrities and sailing fiends will spill out onto the bay to enjoy a week of the finest Mediterranean sailing by day and glamorous galas by night.

Continue reading... Royal Sailing in Mallorca

Fuerteventura, like every other Canary island, is famous for its love for parties and all year round festivals. Every year, from the 9th until the 18th of July, the Canary Islands host a major world-class jazz festival sponsored by Heineken. This year will be the 18th time the festival is held since inception, with a total of about thirty-eight concerts held across the islands during the event. The festival began in Gran Canaria Island in 1992 before it spread across to the islands. Fuerteventura is one of the major venues where many of the massive concerts will take place.

Continue reading... Fuerteventura International Jazz Festival

The island of Corfu is much more than a fantastic holiday destination. For many years it has been a favourite destination for British ex-pats, and has a cultural diversity that few Greek islands can match.

Continue reading... Three Months of Music in Corfu

Valldemossa is a beautiful town in the west of Mallorca, 10 miles north of Palma. It is also where the composer and pianist Frederic Chopin lived for a short period in 1838 with his partner Baroness Dudevant - better known as George Sand. His stay on the island was only 3 months long and not particularly enjoyable for the composer. His beloved French piano was delayed by the Mallorcan customs and Chopin was forced to play on a rented piano. He was not in particularly good health at the time and Mallorcan doctors feared for his life. Also, because he was not married, the deeply religious people of Mallorca made it difficult to find accommodation, which is why he found his way to Valldemossa, where he stayed in a former Monastery. Eventually, worries over his health forced Chopin to leave Mallorca, leaving behind his piano which remains in a museum in the town.

Continue reading... Chopin Piano Festival in Valldemossa

From the 10th of July to the 21st of August, Alicante will be holding its annual Musicas Del Mundo Festival, translated Music of the World Festival. Musicians from all backgrounds from around the globe will be gathering to play near the city's port area with a total of 8 concerts throughout this time. The opening of this exciting event will be by Colombian pop group Fonseca and on the final day of the Festival, the legendary Flamenco guitarist, Paco De Lucia will be closing the show. Other people playing between these dates are Mexican Pop star, Alejandro Fernandez, Puerto Rican group Calle 13, Richard Bona, Bela Fleck, Dr John and so many more acclaimed musicians. Tickets will cost between 15 and 40 Euros. Money well spent!

Continue reading... Musicas Del Mundo Festival in Alicante

Santorini is one of the most popular destinations in Greece and is known as the home of one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. With its large numbers of beautiful sandy beaches and guaranteed summer sunshine, it is the ideal destination for those looking for a relaxing break. Book flights to Santorini in time to see the world renowned International Music Festival which takes place from the end of July until the beginning of September and you won't be disappointed with what's on offer.

Continue reading... The International Music Festival of Santorini

Bodrum, formerly known as Halicarnassus, has a reputation for its unique holiday attractions with a fascinating mix of both modern and conventional qualities. This combination is responsible for many flights to Bodrum every year, making it the most visited and most attractive holiday resort on the Aegean coast of Turkey. If you are looking for more than just a beach holiday and Blue cruise, this is the best place to be.

Continue reading... Bodrum Holidays and Historical Enticements

Mallorca Rocks is the name of a brand new hotel that was opened in Magaluf earlier this month. And they couldn't have named the hotel better, for it truly makes the Spanish island rock!

Continue reading... Mallorca Rocks!

From Faro to Lagos, the Algarve just doesn't seem to slow down in August. All along this holiday coastline, there are sporting events every week to keep competitors and spectators alike happy. If you want to be part of this, it's wise to book your flights to Faro now. The warm weather doesn't put people off either with everything from athletic races to high profile motorsport events on the calendar.

Continue reading... Algarve Sports Fest during August

Pomos is a small village on the north west coast of Cyprus about 40 miles north of Paphos. Because it's such a small village with only a tiny harbour giving shelter to just a few fishing boats, it's surprising that Pomos is home to jazz festival, but during September this year the coastal town puts on several jazz concerts as part of the Paradise Jazz Festival.

Continue reading... Paradise Jazz in Cyprus

Ibiza, this small Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea, is a famous celebrity destination. If you enjoy a lot of clubbing, you are going to love every minute of your stay on this island. Ibiza is famous for its riotous nightlife, live gigs, tattoos and summer parties. Ibiza hosts numerous festivals and events throughout the year which attract thousands of tourists from all over Europe. flights to Spain are very frequent and at a very good deal too.

Continue reading... The full Spanish experience

Malta is a country with a rich and vibrant culture. If there is one thing the Maltese are known for, it is their love for cultural and religious festivals. Most of these festivals take place throughout the year. If you are a fun-loving, vivacious music-lover with an appetite for special foods, this is a good opportunity to mingle with the Maltese for these fantastic festivals.

Continue reading... Join the Maltese summer festivals

Eastern Europe has long been shrouded in mystery, and this has only added to the magic of these often forgotten lands. If you fancy a holiday in a country that resembles a lost romantic fable, a heady mix of modern and old, book yourflights to Burgas in time for the wonderful Folklore Festival in August.

Continue reading... Burgas International Folklore Festival

Paphos is one of the most visited and the most attractive cities on the west coast of Cyprus. It's boasting with big and famous hotels with their own beaches. And if you are looking for accommodations within a smaller budget, there are quite a number of affordable ones with good quality too.

Continue reading... Good reasons to visit Paphos

Nestled amongst the hills of the Grand Lisboa region of Portugal is the picturesque city of Sintra. Famed for its fairytale castles and inspiring architecture, for the last 51 years the city has also hosted the Sintra Festival. This month-long event brings together major names in chamber music and ballet from around the world. In recent years, the festival has witnessed performances by the Soprano Ann Murray and dance companies such as the Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve, the Spanish Compania Nacional de Damza and the Scottish Dance Theatre.

Continue reading... Sintra Festival

Monastir is a city in the heart of Tunisia. This beautiful city is a fusion of both modern and traditional cultures of Tunisia. You can expect a lot of golden, sandy beaches and dunes, scenic views, water parks and plenty of sun. But if you want more than just a beach holiday, then this is a good place to be. Monastir is well-known for its insightful deserts, historical sites and festivals.

Continue reading... Exotic experience in the sun and deserts of Monastir

For over forty years the Hellenic Festival of Athens has maintained Greece's status as the cultural heart of Europe. It celebrates the country's proud tradition as the birthplace of Western theatre, and is generally regarded as one of the most important events in the European cultural calendar.

Continue reading... Hellenic Festival in Athens

Malta is the place to be this weekend. If you have already booked your flight, consider yourself lucky. If not, you might want to check out our last minute flights to Malta, because from Friday the 4th of June until Sunday the 6th, the annual Ghanafest will take place in the Argotti Gardens in Floriana, within walking distance from the capital Valletta. This year's edition of the festival will be dedicated to Indri Brincat, the Maltese guitar maker and folk guitarist known as il-Pupa, who passed away on the 24th of March 2010.

Continue reading... Folk, Food and Fun in Malta

The town of Pollensa in the north of Mallorca has a dual personality. Inland lies the old town of Pollensa itself with its fine architecture, pretty market square and a choice of luxury hotels. More recent development has created the area of Puerto Pollensa, a yacht marina flanked by a sweeping sandy beach on one side and shady promenade walk on the other.

Continue reading... Two Festivals in Pollensa on Mallorca

Istanbul has always been a cultural melting pot and is traditionally known as the gateway to Asia, where East meets West. Throughout June the city truly lives up to this reputation by playing host to one of the major events in the cultural calendar, the International Istanbul Music Festival. The festival is a summer extravaganza that straddles every genre from opera and ballet to classical and traditional Turkish music.

Continue reading... Istanbul International Music Festival

If you happen to be in Spain on June 3rd then expect to get caught up in one of the major festivals of the Spanish calendar. Corpus Christi is a feast day that celebrates the Eucharist, which Catholics believe to be the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Spanish never need an excuse for a celebration, and as a country with a strong Catholic heritage it is hardly surprising that there are major festivities across the country on this day. However, what makes the festival so exciting for an outsider is that each region celebrates the day in its own unique way.

Continue reading... Corpus Christi celebrations in Spain

World Music Day is on 21st June this year and the event is being celebrated in various locations on Cyprus including Paphos.

Continue reading... Celebrate World Music Day in Paphos

The town of Bodrum and the surrounding peninsula in the south of Turkey provide a unique mix of abundant history and are a perfect holiday destination.

Continue reading... History and Tourism Hand in Hand in Bodrum

If you're tired of Glastonbury or feel too old for festivals, then maybe it's time you thought about travelling to the Greek coast for a music festival like no other. From July 1st to the 4th each year the idyllic town of Preveza plays host to the International Choral Festival. Now in its twenty seventh year, the event is unique in that it is split into two distinct parts.

Continue reading... The Soundtrack of Greece

The world of the performing arts can take many forms, from theatre and opera to classical music concerts and choral recitals, but April on Malta sees two other varieties taking centre stage.

Continue reading... Malta Performances

The Castle of San Jose on the island of Lanzarote is the unique setting for a series of concerts taking place over a four month period this year.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Museum Concerts

Earlier this year, the inhabitant of Madeira worked together with determination to recover quickly from the destructive storms that hit parts of the island during February. After showing so much resilience, the annual Flower Festival on Madeira during April provided an opportunity for them to put recent events behind them and look forward to another great summer.

Continue reading... Madeira's Flourishing Flower Festival

The capital of Mallorca has always taken pride in its ability to attract and showcase the best of art, culture and music and at any time of year there is always a great choice of concerts, performances and exhibitions to choose from.

Continue reading... Palma Exhibitions Open

Refreshing margaritas, Aztec ruins standing side-by-side with modern glass and steel constructions, a vibrant nightlife and a stark contrast between overwhelming wealth and excruciating poverty; that's what Mexico City is all about. It's also the most polluted, most dangerous city in the world, but that's part of the appeal. Because travelling through Mexico is a real adventure, a thrilling, wild and interesting road trip.

Continue reading... Mexico Rocks

Two contrasting styles of music were set to be performed on the island of Malta during March and April, and the culturally aware audiences on the island were bound to appreciate both.

Continue reading... Music Styles on Malta

One of the nicest settings to appreciate art on the island of Lanzarote is the International Museum of Contemporary Art (MIAC). This interesting museum is housed in the old Castle of San Jose and was opened in 1975. The building itself is an unusual semi-circular structure built over 300 years ago to protect the town from invasion from the sea. This castle is situated to the northern side of Arrecife harbour and a similar building, the Castle of San Gabriel, sits on a sea wall at the other end of the town.

Continue reading... Art and Music in March on Lanzarote

Many holiday resorts around Europe will be putting the finishing touches to their summer event plans, with several places set to hold music festivals. These multi-act events usually last several days and can attract huge audiences, especially if the mix of artists caters for a wide range of tastes.

Continue reading... Tenerife Announces April Pop Concert

During the winter period, flythomascook.com offers flights to Paphos in Cyprus from three UK airports, namely London Gatwick, Nottingham East Midlands and Manchester. Once we get to April, however, the schedule adds departures from a further seven airports and lots more flights. There are a number of ex-pats living in Cyprus, so flights from the UK are always popular, but Cyprus also makes a great destination for a winter or early spring break, particularly as the weather can be kind at that time of year.

Continue reading... Approaching Spring in Paphos

After a string of big cultural events during early January, Mallorca switched to music for the remainder of the month with a varied mix of concerts in Palma and other towns across the island.

Continue reading... Mallorca Music

If you were lucky enough to be enjoying the warmer weather on Cyprus in January then various music and motoring events may have been of interest to you.

Continue reading... Motor Show and Music Sundays in Cyprus

For many people, primarily those who have never been there, Mallorca creates the impression of being a typical beach-based resort, often filled with rowdy twenty-somethings on a cheap week away, but for those who have visited the island and ventured away from the one of two resorts that seem to make the holiday headlines, Mallorca is a real jewel in the Mediterranean.

Continue reading... Mallorca Has Hidden Charms

Beaches and nightclubs may grab most of the holiday headlines when Ibiza is mentioned but during January and March the island's Flower Power and Hippy era is centre stage at two of the island's festivals.

Continue reading... Flower Power On Ibiza

Recently we reported on a series of Flamenco concerts taking place in the Canary Islands during February. Perhaps it's that time of year but there was also a brace of Flamenco concerts which took place in Faro on the Algarve at the 6th Flamenco Festival in early February.

Continue reading... Flamenco in Faro

When Malta puts on events, they are normally very ambitious. For such a small island you do wonder where they get all this desire to host big promotions. From music concerts and sporting events to international trade fairs and cultural celebrations, things are not done by halves in Malta.

Continue reading... Chess, Opera, Jazz and Pop on Malta

Due to there location, several thousand miles from the European mainland and the balance of resident and tourist population, the islands of the Canaries rarely benefit from visiting pop stars and celebrity performers. Premier music concerts featuring big stars are few and far between on the islands. In the past performers like Rod Stewart, Gloria Estefan and Elton John have all played on Tenerife. Even Michael Jackson included Tenerife in his "Dangerous" tour during 1993, when 45,000 people watched him on stage in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Continue reading... Celebrity Musicians in Tenerife

While many towns and cities across Spain are gearing up for their annual carnivals during February and March, the island of Mallorca steals a march on them with its Fiesta of San Sebastian during January.

Continue reading... Celebrate San Sebastian in Mallorca

The Spanish music style of Flamenco is the kind of music played during traditional dances with performers dressed in stylish costume. The ladies wear long flowing skirts while the men dress in outfits that symbolise the attire normally associated with bullfighting. But in Spain, Flamenco is better known as a form of music rather than a dance. The castanets, or palillos as they are known locally, are small-hand held percussion instruments usually played in pairs.

Continue reading... Shake Out Your Castanets in The Canaries

There may have been a big freeze across northern Europe at the beginning of January but the attractions for tourists soaking up the sun in Gran Canaria were added to on 8th January when the Canary Islands Music Festival started in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

Continue reading... Canary Islands Music Festival Schedule

The Mediterranean resort of Antalya in Turkey claims to have grown its January tourist numbers by over 30 per cent in 2010 compared to the same month in 2009. This claim is based on the number of tourists arriving at Antalya airport during the month.

Continue reading... Antalya Tourist Numbers Climb

There is no doubt that Christmas is the theme highest on the events list for December on Tenerife with concerts and carol services being held all over the island in the run up to the Christmas break.

Continue reading... December What's On For Tenerife

In Cyprus the resort of Larnaca always does its best to make use of the great weather it benefits from. Outdoor activities are the norm here from dance festivals to concerts and theatre performances. If it can take place outdoors, then in Larnaca it always does.

Continue reading... Life in the Open Air in Larnaca

Barely a day goes by in Larnaca without some kind of cultural, artistic or sporting event taking place, even during the quieter months of the holiday season. We have already reported on the classical music concerts being performed by the island's Symphony Orchestra and the visit by one of China's best-known international dance troupes, both were in early October.

Continue reading... October Culture in Larnaca

The sun is already shining on Mallorca and the island hasn't even got to its main event of the year yet. Just like all Spanish towns, Palma's biggest festive event took place, not on 25th December, but on 6th January.

Continue reading... New Year Arts in Mallorca

The island of Mallorca and its capital Palma , like many places in Spain, prepare for a traditional Christmas and New Year that centres around four main events. Christmas Eve is important with concerts and Midnight Masses held in many churches, including the famous Seu Cathedral in Palma itself. Christmas Day is a time for relaxation and spending time with family. New Years Eve sees another excuse for celebration, with parties and fireworks displays illuminating the island's skies and then finally the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6th sees children receiving gifts in much the same way as UK children do on Christmas Day.

Continue reading... Mallorca Beyond New Year

Ibiza is one of those holiday islands that enjoys a bit of a break from September onwards. The busy summer crowds have subsided and the vast sandy beaches are more easily admired. The tourists who take their holidays in September, having waited until the school-age children have returned home, have been able to enjoy a more peaceful time on the island. Once October arrives everything eases back to a slower pace, the international nightclubs that Ibiza is famous for have had their end of season parties and the islands is given back to the locals for a few months.

Continue reading... Christmas on Ibiza

During January Tenerife hosts the Festival de Musica de Canarias, a celebration of classical music that first started in 1985.

Continue reading... Music Festival in Tenerife

When we report on big music concerts in some of the resorts we fly to, it's often the older stars that are performing. Earlier this year Rod Stewart performed in Tenerife and Alice Cooper played a concert this summer in Cyprus.

Continue reading... Tom Jones Performs Concert in Malta

There is plenty of activity to interest the tourist visiting Cyprus at this time of year. The first thing travellers to Larnaca will notice will be the improved airport facilities that were opened to the public on 10th November. Phase One of the new developments were unveiled by the company who assumed control of the airport back in 2006.

Continue reading... Cyprus During November

You are never too far away from a classical music performance in the town of Palma de Mallorca. The cultural roots of this town are deep in Mallorca and all forms of music are frequently represented on the event calendar. From the annual Chopin Piano Festival in Valldemossa to the outdoor summer concerts at the towering Bellver Castle in Palma, Mallorca has more than its share of inspirational venues too.

Continue reading... Mallorca Gets Classical

Visitors to Mallorca during the peak months of the summer more often than not stay in their resorts for the duration of their stay. But for those coming to the island during December there are plenty of reasons to take a trip into the capital Palma, to experience the sights and sounds as the Mallorcan Christmas approaches. In terms of music there are many different Christmas concerts, during the early part of the month there was also a varied choice of concerts in different musical styles, that provided something for everyone.

Continue reading... Music Variety in Mallorca During December

Whilst many European holiday resorts go through a quite spell before the start of the festive holiday period in mid December, Tenerife still has plenty of activities and events to interest visitors during November and early December.

Continue reading... Forthcoming Events on Tenerife

As a holiday island that relies on tourism for much of its commercial activity, the authorities in Mallorca have a responsibility to their business community to provide a continuing stream of events and attractions that help bring visitors to the island all year round. Mallorca has slowly developed a tried and tested seasonal shift that sees the springtime favouring the activities of cyclists and athletes, who come to the island for warm weather training. Then the long summer panders to the millions of sun and beach lovers who enjoy the island's many perfect resorts. Autumn sees a switch to sailing and also culture that brings art and music festivals to the island. At the end of the year Christmas provides a perfect bridge to the golfing season that takes over in the New Year.

Continue reading... Mallorca's Seasonal Shift

The small island of Gozo, which sits off the North Western corner of Malta, hosted its annual Festival Mediterranea at the end of October and beginning of November.

Continue reading... Festival Mediterranea on Gozo

New Years Eve celebrations seem to be getting bigger and bigger every year. London now stages a major public fireworks display, centred on the London Eye on the Thames, while TV news broadcasts always show the New Year being welcomed in different parts of the world. These reports usually show fireworks displays in Edinburgh, Paris, Sydney, Copacabana beach, Hong Kong and or the million or so revelers who converge on Times Square in New York. The New York celebrations are interesting as they first started in 1904 to commemorate the opening of the New York Times' new offices, when 200,000 people came to enjoy an all-day party put on by the newspaper. It is now estimated that 1 billion people worldwide watch the Times Square celebrations.

Continue reading... New Years Eve on the Algarve

Imagine the traditional Christmas scene and snowy forests or icy lakes may spring to mind. Well the festive season on Portugal's Algarve coast is highly unlikely to feature either of those, benefitting as it does from mild, dry weather right through the months of November, December and January. Of course you may be unlucky enough to catch a stray band of rain or be subjected to one of the onshore Atlantic breezes but largely the weather will be mild and sunny.

Continue reading... Christmas on The Algarve

The Mallorca Festival of Music has now concluded, its two final concerts were held in October and November.

Continue reading... Mallorca Festival of Music

The town of Sa Pobla is one of the larger towns in Northern Mallorca, but being situated around 20 miles to the north of Palma and set inland it doesn't receive much attention from tourists visiting the island. This is a town populated largely by native Mallorcans, without the abundance of holiday homes that are a feature of some of the more picturesque parts of the island. The main industry around Sa Pobla is agriculture and the flat countryside around the town is a patchwork of well cultivated fields growing all kinds of produce.

Continue reading... Sa Pobla Autumn Fair

During October the St Peters Singers, a fifty strong chamber choir from Leeds, England performed a number of concerts during a short tour of the island of Mallorca.

Continue reading... St Peters Singers in Palma

One of the more esoteric events on Tenerife this Autumn was the Tenerife Tattoo Fest, which took place for the second time this year on the 7th and 8th November.

Continue reading... Tenerife Tattoo Fest

Mallorca's three month long Jazz Voyeur Festival continues at the Conservatori venue in Palma with four interesting concerts during November.

Continue reading... International Jazz in Palma Mallorca

A new season of concerts by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra starts in November.

Continue reading... Tenerife Symphony Orchestra Starts New Season

Music and the island of Mallorca seem to be very closely linked and the pretty port of Soller hosted its own series of concerts during September and October this year.

Continue reading... Port de Soller Festival on Mallorca

The holiday scene in Rhodes may be slightly quieter during September and a music festival follows the trend.

Continue reading... Music in Rhodes - A Classical Festival

The Canary Islands International Jazz Festival was in full swing this year kicking off with a series of great performances where the beach at Telde on Gran Canaria and Puerto de la Cruz on the north coast of Tenerife both played host for opening night concerts.

Continue reading... Gran Canaria and Tenerife Open Jazz Festival

September saw the promotion of the Kypria Festival, with events in all the major towns of Cyprus during the month.

Continue reading... Kypria Festival on Cyprus

In a move that appears to be bucking the trend experienced in other parts of Europe, the Greek Islands are seeing improved tourist figures for the first four months of the year.

Continue reading... Greeks Islands Proving Popular

Preveza is steeped in ancient history having been founded in 290BC and, due to its strategic position, the site of many conflicts and battles over the ages. One of the earliest confrontations was the Battle of Actium between Augustus and the forces of Anthony and Cleopatra. It has been under Roman, Byzantine and Bulgarian rule and then Venetian until the Ottomans took over in 1499. It remained mainly under Ottoman control until captured by the Greeks in 1912, where it has remained except for brief invasions by Italy and Germany during World War II.

Continue reading... Choral Competition in Preveza

Just 35 miles south of Monastir and within easy reach of the airport, the important Roman town of El Jem hosts an annual music festival celebrating symphony music. The concerts are certain to be high quality but it is the setting that brings people to this special event.

Continue reading... El Jem Celebrates Symphony Music

Visitors flying into Sanford Airport ahead of their annual holiday in Florida can look forward to a full events programme in August and music fans are particularly lucky.

Continue reading... August for Music in Orlando

Art and Culture lovers are well catered for in Cyprus with plenty of events being promoted all over the island to showcase music, dance, theatre and other forms. Typically the major towns of Limassol and Nicosia are home to most of the promotions with venues like the Municipal Theatre, the Medieval Castle and the Athletics Stadium, all in Limassol, being ideally suited for different sized events. The big summer concert this year at the stadium in Limassol features American rock musician Alice Cooper who comes to the island as the last date on the first European leg of his "Theater Of Death" tour. Cooper then moves onto the States and Australia in August and September, before coming to the UK in November and December.

Continue reading... Concerts and Ballet in Cyprus

Over four days in July the Moto Club Faro holds its annual Bike Meet on the Concentration Showground right next to Faro airport.

Continue reading... Bike Meet in Faro during July

The annual summer festival in Chania, Crete showcases all kinds of traditional Cretan theatre and music, but international bands will rock the festival into life on 11th July, when rock band Scorpians headline an outdoor concert in the town.

Continue reading... Summer Festival Rocks into life in Crete

Set aside your bias about Corfu strictly being a mass market package holiday destination because in reality, this beloved Greek island has many beautiful beaches and cultural attractions for all kinds of holidaymakers in search a of a memorable getaway.

Continue reading... Corfu Part 1

Visitors to the island of Lanzarote next weekend will have the opportunity to sample the Festival of Arrecife, a series of musical events taking place at different venues around the city on Friday and Saturday.

Continue reading... Lanzarote Festival in Arrecife

Starting on the 3rd of July 2009, the 18th Canaries Jazz Festival kicks off with performances on Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote. Acts from all over the world are playing during the week long festival and on the second day concerts are taking place on 4 different islands in the group.

Continue reading... Canaries Jazz Festival

The Canary Islands are rightly proud of their residents and one of them, artist Cesar Manrique, has left a distinct impression on many of the islands but particularly on his home of Lanzarote. Manrique was sadly killed in a car accident in 1992 but his life on the islands has left behind many legacies.

Continue reading... Swim in Style on Tenerife

There are now several annual jazz festivals held on the island, and a permanent jazz club has found a home in the Hotel Saratoga, a four star hotel in the centre of Palma with views over the harbour area. The hotel hosts the Blue Jazz Club where artists play in the seventh floor bar every Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the season. The venue is perfect for some summer evening jazz as it offers outdoor areas with spectacular views over the bay and city.

Continue reading... Jazz in Mallorca

The International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus first started in 2001 and the 9th incarnation of the concert series kicked off this week in the Pasydy Auditorium in Nicosia and the Royal Manor House of Kouklia, close to Paphos. The series of concerts has gained international recognition for the quality of its performances and anyone on holiday in the area who appreciates classical music could take advantage by attending any of the eight concerts.

Continue reading... Chamber Music Concerts near Paphos

The annual Kataklysmos Fair starts on 5th June in Larnaca, Cyprus with a performance of Greek dancing and music on the seafront stage, followed by a fireworks display. The word "kataklysmos" means flood and the celebration is unique to Cyprus, coinciding with the Greek Pentacost. The celebrations are thought to link back the birth of Aphrodite who emerged from the waves and turned the ground around her into a sea of flowers. The flood is celebrated as something that cleanses mankind and enables new life, and is a event marked in a similar manner in many cultures around the world.

Continue reading... Annual Kataklysmos Fair in Larnaca

The most prominent feature of the small town of Felanitx on the island of Mallorca is certainly an imposing one. Felanitx is a thriving town in the south of the island, 12 miles north east of Palma but perched on the top of a 510m high hill on the outskirts of the town is the stunning Monastery of Sant Salvador.

Continue reading... Majorcan Monastery hosts Concerts

The features that attract people to the Greek island of Rhodes include the weather, the beaches, high quality resorts and a typically warm welcome. These are all things that other locations can claim but very few have the history of Rhodes and a place like Lindos shows that side of Rhodes very well.

Continue reading... Old Rock in Lindos Rhodes

The Rod Stewart concert, on the 16th May, is expected to be the biggest of the 3 main rock and pop events to come to Tenerife over the summer and the organisers have chosen to put on the outdoor concert at the Golf Costa Adeje resort in order to cater for the demand expected. This is easily the biggest concert to come to the island since Sir Elton John played to 20,000 people there in January 2008.

Continue reading... Tenerife Gears up for Musical Summer

The town of Larnanca in Cyprus is famous for all kinds of reasons. It has a large modern airport, is a popular destination for holidaymakers from all over Europe and also hosts a large Summer festival that features all kinds of music, dance and theatrical events. Many international performers are booked for this year's festivities.

Continue reading... Larnaca Prepares for Summer Season

The town of Bodrum in Turkey is well known as a gateway to various coastal holidays resorts that lie within reach of the town. But Bodrum itself is a fascinating town and is well worth a visit, if only for a few days, to see the sights and sounds of real Turkey. Tourism is becoming ever more important for Bodrum but the economic roots of the town lie in fishing, boat building and farming and many historical elements of those trades can still be found.

Continue reading... Bodrum Nights

Having seen the excitement caused by the UK concert series announced by Michael Jackson recently, it's interesting to see other pop stars popular with previous generations still performing at concerts around the world. The Canary Islands have attracted various stars in the past including Elton John and Rod Stewart is the latest to announce a concert date on Tenerife as part of the Canarias Live Sun Festival in May this year. The concert will take place at the Campo de Golf, Costa Adeje in Tenerife.

Continue reading... Canarias Live Sun Festival