Latest news with #Pula
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The best lesser-known cities for romantic getaways in 2025
Sign up to Simon Calder's free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder's Travel email Get Simon Calder's Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice What could be more romantic than whisking your beloved away on a European city break? Naturally, the allure of couple-centric front runners – Paris, Florence and Prague – dominate the search bar for loving long weekends filled with tables for two, rose-strewn duvets and flutes of champagne amid intimate itineraries. With these can come steep price tags, swarms of sightseers and impossible restaurant reservations – all things that are sure to kill the mood. Forget the hearts and flowers heavyweights vying for the crown of the city of love – opt instead for an under-the-radar alternative for better value, fewer tourists and just as much opportunity to hold hands and stare lovingly into each other's eyes... Here's how to cheat the canals of Venice in a love affair with Annecy and trade fairy-tale Bruges for the charms of Strasbourg on your next romantic getaway. Read more: Top bakery destinations around the world and which treat to eat Swap Dubrovnik for Pula open image in gallery Pula has a historic pedigree to rival the walled cobbles of Dubrovnik ( Niels Bosman ) With a prime spot on the Mediterranean, promenades of sophisticated seafood spots and distinctive medieval architecture, the cobbles of Dubrovnik are undoubtedly a haven for lovers and the proclaimed 'Pearl of the Adriatic' welcomes hordes of visitors to its sun-kissed walls year-round. An escape to frequently neglected Pula in northern Croatia offers an amphitheatre of Roman ruins to wander, a ragged coastline for bathing and authentic tavernas to taste pours from the Istria wine region without the perpetual hustle of southern hotspot Dubrovnik. Savour sailings watching the dolphins dance, Mediterranean meals beginning with pršut ham and local olive oil, and lively nights in buzzing bars post sunset in Istria's historic main city. Where to stay Relax mere metres from the Adriatic, float hand in hand in a heated outdoor pool or stretch out during a couples massage at the stylish Boutique Hotel Valsabbion just 10 minutes from the heart of Pula. Read more: Secret heart-shaped European peninsula perfect for a foodie holiday Trade Venice for Annecy open image in gallery Medieval Venice-esque canals weave Annecy's waterways ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) Annecy in south-east France is known as the Venice of the Alps – and for good reason. This medieval canal city has several waterways running through the centre, fed by the neighbouring Lake Annecy, set to a backdrop of snow-capped mountain peaks. It also features a charming old town with cobbled streets and pastel houses; the Château d'Annecy, which looks like it fell straight out of a storybook, looms large, and is now home to a museum. The city rivals Venice for picturesque beauty and has the additional boon of the glorious lake, which visitors can explore on pleasure boats or on foot, following the trails around the water's edge. Where to stay Located on the banks of the Vassé Canal, the contemporary Le Splendid Hotel faces Lake Annecy with old-town gift shopping, the fairy tale Palais de l'Île museum and idyllic boat tours at your fingertips. Read more: The best hotels in Paris for budget-friendly breaks and luxury stays Switch Florence for Ferrara open image in gallery Ferrara is a romantic Renaissance heavyweight ( Melina Kiefer ) Florence may be the cradle of the Renaissance, but the reasons tourists flock there – world-class art, architecture, food and drink – can be found elsewhere in Italy. The oft-overlooked city of Ferrara, sat between Venice and Bologna, is a serious Renaissance art destination, plus a Unesco World Heritage Site. Its proximity to better-known cities makes it a relatively quiet option, with less competition to see the signature Castello Estense, a giant castle complete with moat in the city centre, and various palazzos boasting fine frescoes and examples of Renaissance art. Food-wise, there are plenty of trattorias serving traditional Ferrara dishes, such as cappellacci di zucca (pasta filled with pumpkin, parmigiano cheese and nutmeg) and pasticcio di maccheroni (a sweet-crust pie with macaroni, béchamel, dried mushroom and truffle filling). Where to stay With wooden beams, rich red accents and antique furnishings there's a warm ambience to the Princess Art Hotel that encapsulates a bygone era. Think cosying up by the fire, unwinding on the garden patio and making the short stroll to Este Castle. Read more: The best city breaks in Italy, from art-filled Florence to coastal Cagliari Change Bruges for Strasbourg open image in gallery Strasbourg beats Bruges as a fairy tale base ( Chan Lee ) Bruges' pretty market squares, cobbled streets and soaring church spires mimic a medieval fairy tale. The drawback? These attractions also attract huge numbers of tourists. Find a quieter yet equally charming base in Strasbourg – the underappreciated Alsace gem on the French-German border that combines the best of both. Half-timbered, colourful old buildings lining winding streets give their own take on the fairy-tale style, while cosy winstubs (traditional Alsatian taverns) welcome travellers for food and drink. Get a cultural fix at the 18th-century Palais Rohan, dubbed a 'Versailles in miniature', or go more modern with a visit to Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain, which features works by Kandinsky and Picasso. Where to stay The grand 16th-century Hôtel & Spa Le Bouclier D'or has preserved its historic splendour among the waterside timbers of 'Petite France'. Le Bouclier d'Or even hosts a steamy hammam, moody wine bar and impressive views of Strasbourg Cathedral. Substitute Prague with Český Krumlov open image in gallery For a pint-sized Prague, visit Český Krumlov in the South Bohemia region ( Mike Swigunski ) Plentiful beer, architecture that roams from Gothic to baroque to art nouveau and a maze of pretty, cobbled streets – Prague has all you need for a romantic break. And, apparently, for a less-than-romantic stag do. Escape the morph-suit-clad crowds by travelling to Český Krumlov, a pint-sized Prague in Czechia's south. With its own Unesco status, plenty of Renaissance architecture to admire and a fairy tale castle perched above the Vltava River, this small-scale town blends the highlights of the capital with peaceful and responsible tourism. Where to stay For riverside accommodation in Český Krumlov, Garni Hotel Castle Bridge sits on the Vltava River with views that stretch to its iconic stronghold. Picture hearty breakfast platters on the banks and spacious double rooms just a stone's throw from the main square. Read more: The perfect European city Christmas market break – with a hidden spa twist Replace Paris with Bordeaux open image in gallery Ditch the bustling city of love for quiet carafes of margaux ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) Hailed as one of the world's most romantic cities, Paris attracts more than its fair share of lovebirds. But those looking for good food and wine and a chance to brush up their langage de l'amour should look further south for all the romance with less of the cliché. Bordeaux offers a compact city centre, pedestrianised boulevards and restored neoclassical architecture at every turn. Swap the Eiffel Tower for the Miroir-d'eau, the world's largest reflecting pool, take advantage of the city's illustrious wine heritage in the Cité du Vin museum, and forget Notre Dame – Bordeaux's Cathedral of Saint Andrew is a Gothic masterpiece in its own right. Where to stay A dream for couples, luxury is king at Villas Foch in downtown Bordeaux. Here, a world-class spa meets romantic Juliet balconies, indulgent pâtisserie and swirls of red in the dimly lit bar. Read more: How to do a Bordeaux wine tour by public transport
GMA Network
26-05-2025
- GMA Network
1 dead in separate shooting incidents in Capiz, Iloilo
One person was killed in separate shooting incidents in Capiz and Iloilo. In Kim Salinas' Monday report on 'Saksi,' a man wearing a helmet was seen running when he suddenly pulled out a gun and fired multiple gunshots at his target, who also returned gunshots. After the exchange of gunshots, the man left as if nothing had happened. The shooting incident along a narrow street in Roxas City, Capiz was caught on CCTV on Saturday. According to the police, the incident possibly stemmed from a conflict involving illegal drugs. There were no reported casualties. Authorities are locating the involved persons. In Pototan, Iloilo, a man was killed in a shooting incident. According to the victim's brother, alias 'Pula' entered their home looking for their father. He left when he could not find their father, but later returned with alias 'Tagi' and threatened them. The family members fled their house, but one of the suspects chased the victim and shot him in the head. His father said he had no clue why his son was shot. The family also expressed willingness to file charges against the suspects. 'Wala akong atraso sa kanila. Naninirahan lang kami sa lupa ni Tagi. Tinutulungan lang namin kung ano ang pinapagawa niya,' the father said. (I have no debts with them. We just live on Tagi's land. We just follow his orders.) Authorities are investigating the incident. Tagi surrendered to the police while Pula is still at large. Tagi refused to comment on the matter. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News
The Sun
18-05-2025
- The Sun
Croatian beach city with ‘perfect' summer temperatures gets new Jet2 flights from the UK
JET2 has launched new flights to Pula - a Croatian city said to have the perfect summer temperatures. Pula is the seventh-largest city in the country with lots of beaches and its own Colosseum that's said to be more intact than its counterpart in Rome. 4 4 Jet2 and Jet2holidays are now offering flights and trips to Pula on the Istian Coast. For anyone wanting to explore Croatia, the city is said to have the "perfect summer temperatures", according to a group of travel experts. Temperatures in Pula rarely drop below 10C in the winter, and have highs of 27C in the summer - so remains warm without going too high. Pula is found on the edge of the heart-shaped peninsula in Croatia and has been compared to Italy. Pula has its very own Colosseum, and it's the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely preserved. It's even said to be more intact than its famous counterpart in Rome. The Colosseum in Pula was constructed between 27 BC and AD 68, and is among the world's six largest surviving Roman arenas. The city isn't short on beaches either with Galebove stijene, Jamica Beach, Valsaline and has its own harbour. There's also the Arch of the Sergii, a huge triumphal arch that's the main gateway into its historic centre. It's also known as the Golden Gate and was built to honour a prominent Roman family in Pula. The pretty coastal city in Europe where you can kayak to hidden beaches has cheap easyJet flights 4 In Pula's old town there are Byzantine chapels and elegant Venetian townhouses. Anyone wanting to fly to Pula from North West can take off on the exclusive route from Manchester Airport to Pula. It offers a two two weekly services (Monday and Thursday) until 16 October 2025. The service takes two hours 30 minutes and prices start from £61. Jet2 also has routes from Birmingham and London Stansted to Pula can also look forward to flights to the Croatian region in summer 2025. Flights to Pula from East Midlands Airport are set to launch next summer. This is Croatia's largest island, with hilltop towns, sandy beaches, and its own airport with direct UK flights. And the Croatian city dubbed the 'Pearl of the Adriatic' with crystal-clear waters and world-class food. 4
Daily Maverick
24-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Patrice Motsepe's ARC delisting faces R3.6bn cross-border collision
As Patrice Motsepe's investment vehicle prepares to exit the JSE, an escalating legal battle in Tanzania threatens to follow it across borders. When African Rainbow Capital (ARC) issued a SENS statement on 18 March 2025 announcing its intention to delist from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and A2X, the message was clear: the move was reportedly about streamlining costs and correcting a mismatch between market value and actual asset worth. Several thousand kilometres to the north in Tanzania, that announcement sent alarm bells ringing. There, ARC and its affiliates — including African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), ARCH Sustainable Resources GPCo, and Motsepe himself — are facing a $195-million (about R3.6-billion) lawsuit brought by US-based investment firm Pula Group. The timing of ARC's delisting, Pula alleges, is far from incidental. Judgment day approaches The Tanzanian High Court has taken the matter seriously. After ARC and several co-defendants failed to appear in court in December 2023, Pula applied for a default judgment. A default judgment is a legal ruling made in favour of one party when the other fails to respond or appear in court. ARC and its co-defendants argued that they had been improperly served — a claim the court rejected on 12 July 2024. As a result, the Commercial Court of Tanzania is set to hear the case on 7 May 2025. The hearing comes just weeks before ARC's expected exit from the JSE and A2X, scheduled for early June. A neighbour too close for comfort Initially filed in November 2023, the lawsuit accuses ARC and its affiliates of breaching a confidentiality and non-compete agreement over a graphite project in Tanzania's mineral-rich Ruangwa District. It accuses the companies of using privileged information shared by Pula to back a competing graphite venture, Evolution Energy Minerals. In its 2024 annual report, Evolution describes ARCH as the company's 'cornerstone investor' with a 24.7% interest in the company. 'Out of more than 50 graphite projects in Africa that ARCH could have invested in, they decided to invest in the project adjacent to Pula's graphite operations,' Ambassador Charles Stith, executive chairman of Pula Group, said. The fallout, Stith claims, was strategic. 'The delisting has profound financial implications and significantly affects the profile of ARC,' he added. '[Pula] submitted to the court that the delisting materially affects that status quo.' No comment, no clarity ARC declined to respond to Daily Maverick's queries about the lawsuit or its delisting. Nor has it publicly commented on the pending mediation process ordered by the Tanzanian court. ARM only responded that it is not in a position to comment as the matter is currently before the Tanzanian court. ARCH, for its part, denied any wrongdoing or obligation. '[ARCH] was not a party and has no obligations to Pula pursuant to the terms of the confidentiality agreement,' the company said in a written statement. It further stressed that it 'did not receive any confidential information on the Pula Graphite Project from ARM.' ARCH did, however, confirm the basics of the dispute. 'ARM concluded a confidentiality agreement with [Pula] to consider a potential investment in the Pula Graphite Project,' it said. 'We understand that ARM subsequently did not proceed with the proposed investment.' Graphite, power, and precedent At stake is a resource increasingly coveted by battery manufacturers and governments alike: graphite. Tanzania's Ruangwa District is home to some of the world's top-ranked graphite deposits, and Pula holds four licences in the area. The group told Daily Maverick that it had hopes of the lawsuit setting a precedent in protecting the rights of Tanzanian mining companies competing against international counterparts. 'Seventy percent of mineral exploration in Tanzania is conducted by Australian and Canadian companies,' Pula said in a press advisory statement in November 2024. 'It is the unfair, prejudicial, and predatory practices of companies like ARM and Motsepe's associated companies that perpetuate the disparity in the mining sector.' How does this affect you? ARC's delisting may seem like a distant boardroom decision, but its implications ripple far beyond Sandton. For Africans invested in ARC, delisting means reduced transparency and fewer investor protections. Meanwhile, the Pula lawsuit raises questions about how South African firms conduct business across borders and the potential legal fallout when deals sour. If local companies can quietly pull back from public accountability while facing serious legal claims abroad, it sets a precedent that chips away at corporate transparency. A delisting with baggage ARC's reasons for delisting, detailed in its most recent circular to shareholders, centre on cost, tax inefficiencies and low market liquidity. It also noted that its international fundraising ambitions via a Mauritian structure failed to materialise, and that nearly all shareholders were South African. ARC may be preparing its corporate exit, but for now, the courtroom in Dar es Salaam might be the only place it can't quietly walk away from. DM
