Going Places

van gogh museum, istock (6), glacierexpress.ch S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 | G O I N G P L A C E S 33 SIP // Port The Portuguese are proud of their Port wine, and ground zero is the hillside city of Porto, at the mouth of the Douro River – where some 40 producers make the typically sweet, red wine. SEE // Azulejos These colourful, ceramic tiles are an ancient art form, and Lisbon offers a dazzling display – from the 16th-century geometric tiles in the Sintra National Palace to those that adorn houses and restaurants. WALK // Florence For all its art and archi- tectural glories, Florence is compact, making its winding streets a joy to stroll. Head to celebrat- ed sights like the Ponte Vecchio and Duomo, with the occasional detour into a quiet piazza. EXPLORE // San Gimignano The views of olive groves and vineyards from this walled, hilltop village in Tuscany are perhaps best enjoyed from Torre Grossa, one of the 72 towers built by medieval families to showcase their wealth (only 14 still stand). RIDE // Canal boats Gliding in a glass-topped boat along Amsterdam's centuries-old canals – lined with stately, gabled homes from the Dutch Golden Age – is a magical way to explore the city. SEE // Van Gogh florals Dutchman Vincent van Gogh painted flowers throughout his career, and many of his originals – including works from his iconic Sunflowers series – hang at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam or the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo. RIDE // Glacier Express Panoramic viewing cars frame icecapped Alps, rushing streams and stone-built mountain villages on this seven-hour train ride from Davos or St. Moritz to Zermatt. GP EXPLORE // Zermatt Horses pull sleighs through this car-free hamlet of traditional chalets and sun-browned barns, all encircled by a famous ring of mountains rising overhead. The Portuguese are proud of their Port wine, and ground zero is the hillside city of Porto, at the mouth of the Douro River – where some 40 producers make the typically sweet, red wine.

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