Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre

Opening on 1 August, located near the coast of the islet Peristera, near Alonissos, this unique underwater museum has attracted the interest of people all over the world. Here, visitors can scuba dive around the site of the ship wreck labelled the "Parthenon of shipwrecks". So grab your scuba gear and get ready for a once in a lifetime experience. For everyone who cannot scuba dive, you will still be able to join in on the fun by following along with a virtual reality tour at the information centre in the main town of Alonissos. The site was discovered in 1985 by a fisherman near Alonissos. Thousands of ancient wine amphorae were found, leading to the discovery of the wreck. It is believed the ship ran into very stormy weather on its way from Peparithos (today's Skopelos) to Mendi (the ancient city of Halkidiki), two areas well known in antiquity for their excellent wine, causing it to sink there around 425 BC.  The dive site will only be open between August 1 and October...

In Roman mythology, the story of Romulus and Remus tells how the ancient city of Rome was founded. The larger than life-sized bronze statue of the she-wolf suckling the twins, La Lupa Capitolina, has since become a symbol of Rome and is now one of the most recognisable icons of ancient mythology. There are many many replicas around the world, but the original sculpture is housed in the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the Campidoglio (one of the seven hills of Rome), Rome, Italy. As legend has it, Romulus and Remus were twin boys born to the princess Rhea Silvia and Mars, the fierce Roman god of war. Seeing the possible potential threat to his rule, the king ordered the boys to be killed, leaving them abandoned on the band of the River Tiber to die. The twins were found by a she-wolf, who cared for and protected them until they were found and adopted by Faustulus, a shepherd. They grew up unaware of their true identity, tending to flocks. As they grew older, the boys became natural leaders....

Antalya / Side Museum - Photo: Gülcan ACAR With the borders remaining closed in many places around the world, the new trend of online tours is skyrocketing! Next on our list of must-sees is Turkey . Set up by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Sanal Muze (a government website) is offering amazing 3D experiences that tour some of the most well-known museums. At the moment, there are 16 virtual tour available, including the famous Ephesus Museum in Izmir. Check them out by going to the Sanal Muze website here !

Colossal red granite statue of pharaoh found close to the great temple of sunken Heracleion: Frank Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk Sunken and forgotten off the coast of Egypt, hidden beneath layers and layers of sand and silt lies the once bustling metropolis city of Thonis-Heracleion (the Egyptian and Greek names of the city), a city lost between legend and reality. The sunken civilisation that was once barely more than a legend, appearing in only a few rare inscriptions and ancient texts, was discovered by Frank Goddio and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology (IEASM) in the early 2000s while searching for Napoleon's warship remains from the Battle of the Nile in 1798. The city, that was disappeared beneath the Mediterranean Sea 1,200 years ago predated its more commonly known neighbour, Alexandria, as the main trading port of the region, built on the banks of the Nile river serving as the obligatory port of entry to Egypt for all ships coming from t...

Lago di Carezza, Dolomites: Ricardo Frantz When you hear Italy what's the first thing that comes to mind... the Colosseum, the canals and gondolas in Venice, the delicious food, pizza, pasta and gelato? Many people don't realise Italy is home to some of the most stunning national parks dotted both along the coastline with stunning water views, and inland with majestic mountainous plains. A new hiking trail is opening up to connect all 25 National Parks, including those on the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Stretching over 7,000 kilometres the Sentiero dei Parchi, or Path of the Parks, is expected to continue growing as plans continue. The path will take avid hikers through the snow-capped mountains in the Dolomites and Alps in northern Italy, along the coastlines of the famous, must-see Cinque Terre, over the rolling hills of Tuscany, to the caves and forests of Abruzzo, according to Afar magazine . Hikers can indulge in the lavish diversity of the stunning country, while re-c...

We're all itching to get back out and discover the world, so it's with great excitement that we hear Dubai is opening up to tourists and visitors from the 7th of July 2020!! This isn't without extra measures and precautions being put in placed to help ensure the spread of COVID-19 is contained. All tourists and visitors allowed to enter will be according to Dubai Airport's official flight schedules and subject to airports being operational at their departure destinations. Arrivals will also have to show their PCR test results, which are valid for 92 hours, upon their arrival to Dubai, or partake in a test at Dubai Airports. If tested positive, a mandatory 14-day quarantine will be imposed. Travellers are also required to adhere to all official measures and requirements established by the Dubai Government and other countries before travelling and after returning to Dubai. Before travelling they will have to both disclose any symptoms by filling in forms provided by...

Wondering when you will be able to get your travel fix again? Well we have exciting news to share... Greece's 2020 tourism season will begin again on June 15! On this day, the country will open seasonal hotels and also welcome back flights from abroad. Initially, flights will only be accepted into Athens, with other airports, such as Santorini and Thessaloniki, opening on July 1. Restrictions banning travel to and from islands has also been lifted. Although they are re-opening, there is a limited list of 20 approved countries that have been granted access. The list will be amended as necessary, but for now, the countries being accepted in are: Cyprus Israel Germany China Australia Japan Denmark Austria Bulgaria Serbia Romania Albania North Macedonia Bosnia and Herzegovina Czech Republic Croatia Hungary Poland Slovakia Norway Tourists will not be tested or required to quarantine upon arrival to the country, yet it has been advised that randomised tes...

Just because we can't travel the world at the moment, that isn't going to stop us from exploring some of the most breathtaking museums and landmarks from around the world. Many of Spain's most popular tourist attractions have released virtual tours for us to explore while we sit on our couch in the safety of our homes. Here are some our favourites that we found! The Picasso Museum, Barcelona This extensive virtual tour gives you three options. Tour through the rooms of the collection in the museum, the courtyards, or the houses Picasso lived and worked in and the places he frequented in Barcelona. The museum opened in 1963, and holds a broad collection of the genius artist's works, 4,251 works to be exact! The extensive collection is housed in five adjoining medieval palaces located Barcelona's La Ribera neighbourhood. The museum really highlights the intimate relationship the 20th century artist had with Barcelona, a relationship that was shaped at a you...

After being stuck at home for over two months now, we're all craving a summer vacation. If you've had Italy on the bucket list, it might be time to finally tick that one off... The Sicilian Government is offering to pay a portion of tourist's post COVID holidays. An estimated €50 million (AU$84 million) has been budgeted to help lure tourists to the stunning island located just off the coast of Italy. They are offering to pay for half of tourists airfares to and from the island, along with one in three nights accommodation. To sweeten the deal even more, they are removing fees for museums and archaeological sites, letting you explore some of the richest historical sites and still have a bit of extra cash left over for another cheeky arancini. They aim to do this by handing out vouchers through Sicily's tourism website . While they are yet to release when these will be available to the public, and whether they will be available for Australian tourists, bor...