They say all roads lead to Rome, which is great, because swapping busy city life for a sun-soaked Italian road trip couldn’t be easier. While it would take a lifetime to get to know all of Rome, renting a car online gives visitors complete freedom to see the rest of Italy in all its glory. Whether it’s hiking across craggy coastlines that drop away to brooding seas below, or wandering through color-splashed villages – dotted with blooming flowers – an Italian road trip can offer something for everyone.

There are two main options when setting off from Rome on a road trip – north or south? Starting with the northern option, take the E35 road – which becomes the A1 – and drive up to Florence. After a smooth two and a half hour drive, cutting through emerald green countryside, visitors will arrive at one of the world’s most beautiful cities. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known as the birthplace of renaissance art, and people from across the world flock to see Michelangelo’s Statue of David, which stands defiantly in the Accademia Gallery. Magnificent architecture waits around every corner, with the cathedral providing the highlight – with an incredible, wrinkled façade, and the world’s largest brick dome. Climb to the top for an unbeatable view over the city’s red roofs – the 414 steps also help visitors to burn off excess calories, after overindulging in pasta and dark red Chianti Classico wine.

Reluctantly leaving Florence behind, continue the road trip by driving west to Pisa, where photo opportunities with the Leaning Tower await. By this point, the jaw-dropping Cinque Terre coastline is also within easy reach. Leave the car in the town of La Spezia before hopping on the local train and trundling into the forested mountains that hide the coastline’s five famous towns. Clusters of pastel-colored buildings perch on the Cinque Terre’s stunning cliffs, and the lack of road access lends the isolated towns an authentic feel. Hikers can move between the five towns in around an hour and a half, and feel the spray from turquoise waves crashing against dramatic cliffs as they walk.

Another option is to drive south from Rome, towards the sprawling city of Naples. Sandwiched between the brewing Campi Flegrei volcano and the ominous cone of Mount Vesuvius, the city’s spectacular natural setting is only beaten by its contribution to Italian culture. Wander through the narrow streets of Europe’s largest historical city center – another World Heritage Site – before biting into a slice of simple but stunning margarita pizza, drizzled with freshly pressed olive oil, in the birthplace of the pizza.

Visitors to Naples are also perfectly placed to discover Pompeii’s volcanic history, and can walk through the eerie remains of the Roman town, which was buried under ash in 79 AD. If some sun, sea, and sand appeals, the Amalfi coast is a 30-minute drive away. The town’s crescent shaped beach is an idyllic spot to lie back with a dripping ice cream, and watch as colorful fishing boats bob gently on the water. 

Post by Luke. Thank you so much for contributing to Of Revolt! // Photography Credits: 1 and 2.

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At the heart of London is Covent Garden, a place buzzing with culture, sophistication, and innovation. Eat at one of the many restaurants here, soak up the atmosphere at one of the trendy bars, or enjoy the thrill of the opera at the Royal Opera House. It’s hard not to be swept up in the historic and artistic feel of Covent Garden and, regardless of how many times you have previously visited, there will always be new things and places to discover here. If you are planning a trip to the city, this should be firmly on your list of places to visit, and with the Travelodge by Covent Garden you can afford to stay in the very epicentre of the action for an even better experience. Here’s what’s on in Covent Garden this March:

Ballet
From the end of February through until April, the Royal Opera House is home to the Royal Ballet, as they tell the classic tale of The Sleeping Beauty. Adapted for ballet by Petipa, this is a story that adults and children alike will know inside out. Breathtakingly brought to life on the stage by these incredible ballerinas, the tale has a whole new elegant appeal. The Sleeping Beauty ballet has history here too, as it was the first ballet performed when the Company reopened following WWII – now showing again with some modern adaptations.

Art
Just a five-minute walk from Covent Garden market is the National Gallery, home to some of the most iconic works of art in the world. Since January the gallery has offered the rare opportunity to see two of the five Van Gogh Sunflower paintings in one place, as the Van Gogh Museum has kindly lent their incarnation to the National Gallery. Running until the end of April this year, this may well be the only chance art lovers get to compare and contrast these two works in the flesh.

Comedy
A new show to the comedy circuit this March is the much-anticipated Blithe Spirit written by the marvelous Noel Coward, and directed by Michael Blakemore. The story follows Charles Condomine who skeptically invites a medium to his house. Unfortunately for him, although fortunately for the audience, the ghost of his dead wife Elvira is summoned, and she takes an immediate dislike to Charles’ new wife, who of course can’t see Elvira. The result is a play that is funny, well acted and intriguing. All in all it’s a must for any comedy theatre fan.

Covent Garden is famous for many things, and there is something going on all hours of the day and night in this fabulous area of London. Accessible by all forms of transport, you can wander the market, check out the high-end boutiques and enjoy a coffee in the square by day, and by night you can have dinner and drinks before indulging in some of the most wonderful nightlife the city has to offer. If you love culture and traditional forms of entertainment such as ballet, art and the theatre then there is no better choice than Covent Garden.

Post by Catherine Lavinia in coordination with Travelodge Covent Garden. Thank you so much for contributing to Of Revolt, Catherine! // Photography Credits: 1 and 2. 

The post What’s On Around Covent Garden: March 2014 appeared first on Of Revolt.

From city life to its stunning coastline, the southeast Irish city of Waterford has plenty to offer its array of visitors from all over the world. By basing yourself at the Waterford Travelodge, you have access to all of the delights that both the city and its outskirts have, and there are plenty.

As the oldest city in Ireland, it’s no wonder that Waterford has its share of history and culture, while also providing tourists and locals alike ample modern amenities, including some stunning restaurants, boutiques and pubs to immerse yourself in.

Copper Coast Geopark
Situated between Tramore and Dungarven, the Copper Coast European Geopark is home to 25km (approx. 15.5 miles) of breathtaking coastline, which would be the perfect place to start an exploration of your trip of the southeast coast.

Waterford Museum of Treasures
Located at the Granary, the Waterford Museum of Treasures is home to some beautiful antiquities and rare artifacts that, with the help of state-of-the-art technologies, are brought to life with interactive and audio-visual elements so that visitors can truly appreciate the exhibits in all their glory.

Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre
This center is probably one of the most famous attractions of Waterford, and includes a brand new complex that is home to the largest collection of Waterford Crystal in the world as well as a retail store where you can purchase your own piece of crystal.

Comeragh Mountains
Home to a rather varied expanse of landscape, the Comeragh Mountains are perfect for the adventurous type. Whether walking and hiking is your forte or you have access to a mountain bike, the vistas and panoramas that are waiting are simply incredible.

The Viking Quarter
It’s no secret that Waterford is awash with history dating back to the Viking times. In fact, you can enjoy over 1,000 years of history – from Vikings to Victorians – within just a few paces. Take a walking tour of the area if you would like to take in as much as possible, stopping by sights such as Reginald’s Tower, Greyfriars, and Bishops Palace.

Visit Waterford this autumn and you’ll be able to flawlessly mix medieval and modern attractions to achieve an unforgettable, well-rounded break. 
Photography Credits: The Library of Congress, c. 1890-1900 // Guest post by Catherine Lavinia in coordination with Travelodge Ireland. Thanks so much for contributing to Of Revolt, Catherine!

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