Why Not Travel Europe off the Beaten Track?

Tired of the Paris-Rome-Venice tourist pilgrimage? How about traveling to places just outside the tourist's radar? Sure, you can pay an arm and a leg for a room in Athens and see the modern Olympics this year, but did you know you can travel a few hours and see the sites of the ancient Panhellenic games at a fraction of the cost? Here are some other suggestions:

• See the ancient Roman Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain (and eat the town's famous roast suckling pig)
• See the murals of Orgosolo in Sardinia (or go to an ancient ritual horse race in Sedilo)
• Stroll under the riverside plane trees of Portugal's Ponte de Lima.
• Strap on your hiking boots and try to catch glimses of Apennine wolves, Marsican bears, foxes, mountain goats or the rare Apennine lynx in Italy's Abruzzo.

The photo to the right is of a Sardinian "domus di Janus" or "giant's tomb." Click it to see a larger version.