Time Zone |
Europe/London |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+1 |
Time Zone |
Europe/Lisbon |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+1 |
Blackpool is a seaside town in Lancashire, North West England, United Kingdom, located on the east coast of the Irish Sea, about 70 kilometers from Manchester. As one of Britain's most famous seaside resorts, Blackpool is famous for its Victorian architecture, lively entertainment facilities and the iconic Blackpool Tower.
Blackpool grew rapidly in the 19th century due to the demand for workers' vacations during the Industrial Revolution and boasts some of the earliest electrically-lit streets (Illuminations) in the UK. The city retains a large number of Victorian buildings and attracts millions of visitors to its annual illuminations festival in the fall. Its cabaret traditions and year-round entertainment continue the classic charm of British seaside culture.
Blackpool Tower, at 158 meters, is the city's iconic landmark; pleasure Beach amusement park boasts the steepest wooden roller coaster in Europe; and Central Pier offers traditional rides and sea views. Blackpool Zoo, the Winter Gardens Theatre and 11km of golden sandy beaches are also popular tourist destinations.
Tourism is the backbone of Blackpool's economy and the city is connected to major cities such as Manchester and Liverpool by Blackpool Airport, rail and the M55 freeway. The conference economy has grown rapidly in recent years, with its exhibition center becoming an important events venue in the north of England.
Located in the northwestern part of the Portuguese region of Lisbon, about 30 kilometers from the capital, Mafra is a fascinating city that combines Baroque art with natural beauty. Its centerpiece, the Palácio de Mafra, is one of Portugal's most magnificent Baroque complexes, built in 1717 as a palace, convent and royal library, with a collection of 25,000 ancient books and an organ that is one of Europe's greatest treasures. The city is surrounded by the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, where you can explore the breathtaking scenery and forests of the Atlantic coast on foot or by bike. In June, the "Festival of Mazan" is a vibrant celebration of the local culture with traditional music, food and folklore events, attracting visitors to experience the unique charm of this "living history museum".