Let's Nail The World: 2015

Monday 5 October 2015

Andorra: Tourism & Tobacco

Andorra, officially the Principality of Andorra, also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, is a sovereign landlocked microstate in Southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. Created under a charter in A.D. 988, the present Principality was formed in A.D. 1278. It is known as a principality as it is a monarchy headed by two Co-Princes – the Spanish/Roman Catholic Bishop of Urgell and the President of France.

Andorra is the sixth-smallest nation in Europe, having an area of 468 km2 (181 sq mi) and a population of approximately 85,000. Its capital Andorra la Vella is the highest capital city in Europe, at an elevation of 1,023 metres (3,356 ft) above sea level. The official language is Catalan, although Spanish, Portuguese, and French are also commonly spoken.

Andorra's tourism services an estimated 10.2 million visitors annually. It is not a member of the European Union, but the euro is the de facto currency. It has been a member of the United Nations since 1993. The currency is Euro (€)(EUR).

Some interesting facts are:
1. Andorra does not have its own army therefore Spain and France defend it with their own militaries.

2. CALDEA is a large thermal spa complex located in Escaldes that provides every type of pampering treatment under the sun. It features multiple baths at different temperatures, a sauna, steam room, and hydro bar. The complex is housed in a modern building just a short walk from the center of Andorra La Vella.

3. The country of Andorra boasts of a 100% literacy rate.

4. Andorra is a duty free zone and that makes it a country free of restrictions in terms of duties. However, you will have to follow the restrictions imposed by France or Spain, if you’re leaving from either of the two countries.

5. Casa de la Val, popularly known as the ancient seat of the government is one of Andorra’s most popular tourist destinations. Apart from the ‘ancient seat of the government’, an historic 12th-century church boasts of its fair share of visitors.

6. Andorra is ranked fourth in the world when it comes to human life expectancy. The expected life span of a person in Andorra is 82 years of age.

7. By law the male head of each family in Andorra is required to own a gun in case of attack or emergency.

8. Out of each year Andorra commonly receives 300 days of sunshine.

9. The culture of Andorra is Catalan. The famous folk dances include contrapàs and marratxa.

10. Our Lady of Meritxell Day is the important national holiday in Andorra. It is celebrated annually on 8 September.

For more facts visit:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/andorra
http://everything-everywhere.com/2011/06/30/8-things-you-might-not-have-known-about-andorra/

Some beautiful places are:

For tourism details visit: +AndorraWorld +Andorra Resorts +Andorra Natural Area (Wissahickon Environmental Center)

http://visitandorra.com/en/

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Malta: The Most Concentrated Historical Areas In The World

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is a Southern European island country comprising an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. It lies 80 km (50 mi) south of Italy, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia, and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya. The country covers just over 316 km2 (122 sq mi), with a population of just under 450,000 (despite an extensive emigration program since the Second World War), making it one of the world's smallest and most densely populated countries. The capital of Malta is Valletta, which at 0.8 km2, is the smallest national capital in the European Union. Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English.

Malta's location has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base, and a succession of powers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, French and British, have ruled the islands.

Malta was awarded the George Cross by King George VI in 1942, for the country's bravery in the Second World War. The George Cross continues to appear on Malta's national flag. Under the Malta Independence Act, passed by the British Parliament in 1964, Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom, as an independent sovereign Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its Head of State, officially known from 1964 to 1974 as Queen Elizabeth of Malta, within the Commonwealth of Nations. The country became a republic in 1974, and although no longer a Commonwealth realm, remains a current member state of the Commonwealth of Nations. Malta was admitted to the United Nations in 1964 and to the European Union in 2004; in 2008, it became part of the Eurozone. The largest city is Birkirkara. The currency is Euro (€)(EUR).

Some interesting facts are:
1. Calypso Cave is said to be the cave that Homer wrote about in The Odyssey. The cave itself isn't all that great, but the views of the nearby beach are.

2. Mdina, the nation's old, walled capital, only allows cars of residents on its roads.

3. Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, an underground necropolis, was excavated around 2,500 B.C.

4. Comino, the smallest of the islands, is virtually uninhabited--save one hotel--and is carless. Blue Lagoon is its biggest attraction.

5. There are more than a few sunken WWII ships along the coastline.

6. Valletta, its current capital, is one of the most concentrated historical areas in the world, according to UNESCO.

7. San Blas Bay is a red sand beach on the northeast coast of Gozo.

8. Azure Window is Gozo's naturally flat-topped rock, which you can't walk on, but you can bathe nearby.

9. Hagar Qim, which dates back some 5,000 years, is the best preserved ancient limestone temple on Malta.

10. Maltese fishing boats are painted in bright colours. Also painted on them are a pair of eyes on each side at the front, a tradition which goes back to ancient Phoenician times. These are the Eyes of Osiris which are said to protect the fishing boats from evil spirits.

For more facts visit:
http://www.momondo.com/inspiration/11-surprising-things-about-visit-malta/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malta/things-to-do

Some beautiful places are:

For tourism details visit:
http://www.visitmalta.com/

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Vatican City: The Smallest Country In The World

Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is a walled enclave within the city of Rome. With an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of 842, it is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population.

It is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state ruled by the Bishop of Rome – the Pope. The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergy of various national origins. Since the return of the Popes from Avignon in 1377, they have generally resided at the Apostolic Palace within what is now Vatican City, although at times residing instead in the Quirinal Palace in Rome or elsewhere.

Vatican City is distinct from the Holy See, which dates back to early Christianity and is the main episcopal see of 1.2 billion Latin and Eastern Catholic adherents around the globe. The independent city-state, on the other hand, came into existence in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and Italy, which spoke of it as a new creation, not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756–1870), which had previously encompassed much of central Italy. According to the terms of the treaty, the Holy See has "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" over the city-state. The currency is Euro (€) (EUR).

Some interesting facts are:
1. The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world with the smallest population. It measures 44 hectares ( 110 acres) and has a population of about 1000 people.

2. Piazza di San Pietro (St Peter's Square) and the colonnade were designed and built by Bernini (completed in 1667). At 314 meters long and 240 meters wide it is the largest square
in Rome. Bernini (with the help of his pupils) designed the 140 statues of saints which decorate the colonnade.

3. The Vatican City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the only site to encompass a whole country.

4. The Vatican Museums contain one of the largest art collections in the world, with over 9 miles of pieces, which could wrap four and half times around the Vatican walls. Its 1400 rooms, chapels, and galleries constitute former wings of the Vatican Palace.

5. St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest Catholic church in the world. In case anyone wishes to refute this fact, the Church has actually placed the measurements of the largest churches in the world in the marble of the Nave to prove that all other basilicas are able to fit within the Basilica.

6. The head of the State lives in The Lateran Palace where the Lateran Treaty was signed.

7. The Vatican is digitizing its library and making it available to everyone for free.

For more facts visit:
http://www.infoplease.com/country/vatican-city.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vatican-city

Some beautiful places are:

For tourism details visit:
http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en.html

#LetsNailedTheWorld

Italy: The World's Leaders Of Fashion & Music

Italy, officially the Italian Republic is a unitary parliamentary republic in Europe. Italy covers an area of 301,338 km2 and has a largely temperate climate; due to its shape, it is often referred to in Italy as lo Stivale (the Boot). With 61 million inhabitants, it is the 4th most populous EU member state. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino and Vatican City.

Since ancient times, Magna Graecia, Etruscan, Celtic and other cultures have flourished in the territory of present-day Italy, being eventually absorbed by Rome, that became the leading political and religious centre of Western civilisation, capital of the Roman Empire and Christianity. During the Dark Ages, the Italian Peninsula faced calamitous invasions by barbarian tribes, but beginning around the 11th century, numerous Italian city-states rose to great prosperity through shipping, commerce and banking (indeed, modern capitalism has its roots in medieval Italy).

Especially during The Renaissance, Italian culture thrived, producing scholars, artists, and polymaths such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Michelangelo and Machiavelli. Italian explorers such as Polo, Columbus, Vespucci, and Verrazzano discovered new routes to the Far East and the New World, helping to usher in the European Age of Discovery. Nevertheless, Italy would remain fragmented into many warring states, subsequently falling prey to larger European powers such as France, Spain, and later Austria. Italy would thus enter a long period of decline that lasted until the mid 19th century. The capital and largest city is Rome. The currencyis Euro (€)(EUR).

Some interesting facts are:
1. The name Italy comes from the word italia, meaning “calf land,” perhaps because the bull was a symbol of the Southern Italian tribes.

2. Italy is said to have more masterpieces per square mile than any other country in the world.

3. The University of Rome is one of the world’s oldest universities and was founded by the Catholic Church in A.D. 1303. Often called La Sapienza (“knowledge”), the University of Rome is also Europe’s largest university with 150,000 students.

4. The Shroud of Turin is an ancient piece of linen cloth believed to bear the faint imprint of a male body, perhaps Jesus Christ after he was killed. It has been in the Turin’s San Giovanni Cathedral for at least 420 years. While scientists have determined the shroud was made no earlier than the 1200s, others continue to debate when and how the shroud was created.

5. Begun in 1560 for Cosimo l de’ Medici, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence is one of the oldest museums in the world and contains famous works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and da Vinci.

6. Italy is among the world’s leaders of the fashion industry. In the 1950s, Italian designers such as Nino Cerruti and Valentino led the world in creating stylish fashions. Additionally, Armani, Versace, Gucci, and Prada have become internationally recognized. Italy is also known for fine sports cars, such as the Ferrari and Lamborghini.

7. The world’s longest land tunnel is the Lötschberg Base Tunnel, which proves a 22-mile railway link between Switzerland and Italy.

8. Venice, Italy, is one of the world's most beautiful and unusual cities. It was founded over 1,400 years ago on a collection of muddy islands in a wide and shallow lagoon. It has been sinking into the mud for centuries and is plagued by floods.

9. The Sardinian islands are famous for their “witches” who make health potions for local people. The “witches” are usually women and they use a secret language that they pass on to their daughters.

10. The world’s first operas were composed in Italy at the end of the sixteenth century. Opera reached the height of popularity in the nineteenth century, when the works of Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868), Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), and Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) became hugely popular. The late tenor Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) is a national celebrity, and Claudio Monteverdi (c. 1567-1643) is regarded as the father of the modern opera.

11. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built in 1173 and began to lean soon after, probably due to a poorly laid foundation. During WWII, the Nazi’s used it as a watch tower. After reconstruction efforts in 2008, engineers declared the tower would be stable for at least another 200 years.

12. The language of music is Italian.

13. Whatsapp is cited in nearly half of all Italian divorce proceedings.

14. In Italy, there is a submerged bronze statue of Jesus Christ of 2.5 metres tall.