A to Z Destinations

Afghanistan’s location at the crossroads of great civilizations in history has created a stunning diversity in food, arts, languages, and traditions. This diversity is demonstrated in each city of Afghanistan.

Tourism in Albania has been growing strongly after a stall in the past decade, as the former communist regime has not developed the sector.

Andorra is a small independent principality located in the Pyrenees, between France and Spain. It is known for ski resorts and for its tax haven status, which encourages duty-free trade. The capital Andorra la Vella has boutiques and jewelers on Meritxell Avenue and various shopping centers. The ancient Barri Antic district houses the Romanesque church of Santa Coloma with a circular bell tower.

Angola is a country in southern Africa, whose varied territory includes tropical Atlantic beaches, a labyrinthine system of rivers and the sub-Saharan desert that extends to Namibia. The country’s colonial history is reflected in the cuisine, which is still affected by the Portuguese influence, and in the monuments, including Fortaleza de São Miguel, a fortress built by the Portuguese in 1576 to defend the capital, Luanda.

Anguilla, a British overseas territory in the eastern Caribbean, includes a main island and several islets. Its beaches consist of long sandy expanses such as Rendezvous Bay, which overlooks the nearby island of Saint Martin, and isolated coves accessible only by boat, such as Little Bay. Protected areas include the Big Spring cave, known for prehistoric rock carvings, and East End Pond, a site for wildlife conservation.

Tourism companies are required by the Antarctic Treaty to have a permit to visit Antarctica. Many sea cruises by cruise ships include a landing by RIB (Zodiac) or helicopter. Some land visits may include mountaineering, skiing or even a visit to the South Pole.

Antigua and Barbuda is an independent Commonwealth country made up of the two islands of the same name and several smaller islands. Located between the Atlantic and the Caribbean, it is known for beaches close to the coral reef, rainforests and resorts. English Harbor is popular with yachts and is home to the historic Nelson’s Dockyard. In the capital Saint John’s there is the national museum where you can appreciate indigenous and colonial artifacts.

Arctic has been put in focus as a new and expanding tourism destination in the past few years, due to easier accessibility allowed by warmer temperatures and an increased demand for so-called “last chance” tourism, or also “extinction tourism”, which affects also other vulnerable destinations threatened by climate change impacts, such as the Great Barrier Reef. In some Arctic areas, tourism (especially cruise tourism) is one of the fastest growing economic sectors.

L’Armenia è un’ex repubblica sovietica situata nella regione montuosa del Caucaso, a cavallo tra Asia ed Europa. Tra le prime civiltà cristiane, ospita diversi luoghi di culto, tra cui il tempio greco-romano di Garni e la cattedrale di Etchmiadzin del IV secolo, sede della Chiesa armena. Il monastero di Khor Virap è un luogo di pellegrinaggio vicino al monte Ararat, un vulcano inattivo appena oltre il confine con la Turchia.

Aruba, a small Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela, has a dry and sunny climate, golden beaches and a calm sea. The cool trade winds blow constantly, making the trees lean towards the southwest. The European influence is evident in the architecture, for example in the Dutch domes painted in pastel tropical colors, but also in the language: English, Dutch and Spanish coexist with the local language, the Papiamento.

Australia is a continent and a state, surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its main cities, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, are located on the coast. The capital, Canberra, is instead inland. The country is famous for the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, the vast desert area called Outback and the unique species of animals, such as kangaroos and platypuses.

Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic, is a state bordered by the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus, straddling Asia and Europe. The capital, Baku, is famous for the medieval fortification of the Old City, inside which are the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a royal residence dating back to the fifteenth century, and the ancient Tower of the Virgin, which dominates the city skyline.