EUROPE

HISTORY
It’s significant events begin during prehistoric times with the
emergence of Homo Sapiens (early man) around 40,000 years
ago.
Inhabitants during the Paleolithic age grouped together into
small societies such as bands and survived by gathering
plants and hunting for animals.
Central Asia’s climate ranged from cold in mountain regions
to extremely hot and dry in deserts affecting the Arctic winds
blowing south through Siberia.
 Geography
 Europe is the 6th largest continent that includes 47 countries and assorted
dependencies, islands and territories.
Europe’s area covers around 9,938,000 sq km or 2% of the Earth’s
surface and 6.8% of it’s land area.
 Surrounded by bodies of water and is separated from Asia by Russia’s
Ural Mountains and by the Caspian and Black Seas.
Separated from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea.
FACT:
 Europe is really not a continent but part of the peninsula of Eurasia
(Europe and Asia) but widely referred as an individual continent
 Climate
o Northern Europe- summers are cooler and winters are longer and
colder, with heavy snowfall.
o Eastern Europe- also cold in winter, but summers are frequently
hotter than in the west.
o Across Central Europe- summers are certainly warm and often hot,
while winters, although milder than the north, can be quite cold with
significant snowfall.
o Mediterranean Region- typically experiences, hot, dry and summers
and mild, wet winters. During the summer, four (4) to six (6) months
without significant rainfall is the norm, as most of the precipitation
falls during the winter months.
 General
Information
 Capital:
Tirana
Language/s:
Albanian

ALBANIA Currency:
Albanian lek
 Capital:
Andorra la Vella
Language/s:
Catalan
ANDORRA Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Vienna
Language/s:
German, Slovene,
Croatian &

AUSTRIA Hungarian
Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Minsk
Language/s:
Belarusian,
Russian
BELARUS Currency:
Belarusan Ruble
 Capital:
Brussels
Language/s:
Dutch, French
BELGIUM Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Sarajevo
Language/s:
Bosnian,
BOSNIA &
Croatian
Serbian
ERZEGOVINA
Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Sofia
Language/s:
Bulgarian
BULGARIA Currency:
Bulgarian lev
 Capital:
Zagreb
Language/s:
Croatian
CROATIA Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Prague
Language/s:
Czech
CZECH Currency:
Czech Koruna
REPUBLIC
 Capital:
Copenhagen
Language/s:
Danish
DENMARK Currency:
Danish Krone
 Capital:
Tallinn
Language/s:
Estonian
ESTONIA Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Helsinki
Language/s:
Finnish
FINLAND Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Paris
Language/s:
French
FRANCE Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Berlin
Language/s:
German
GERMANY Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Athens
Language/s:
Greek
GREECE Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Budapest
Language/s:
Hungarian
HUNGARY Currency:
Hungarian forint
 Capital:
Reykjavik
Language/s:
Dhivehi
ICELAND Currency:
Icelandic krona
 Capital:
Dublin
Language/s:
Irish
IRELAND Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Rome
Language/s:
Italian
ITALY Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Pristina
Language/s:
Albanian,
KOSOVO Serbian
Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Vaduz
Language/s:
German
IECHTENSTEIN
Currency:
Swiss franc
 Capital:
Vilnius
Language/s:
Lithuanian
LITHUANIA Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Luxembourg
Language/s:
Luxembourg
UXEMBOURG
Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Skopje
Language/s:
Macedonian
Currency:
MACEDONIA Second
Macedonian
denar
 Capital:
Valleta
Language/s:
Maltese
MALTA Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Chisinau
Language/s:
Moldovan
MOLDOVA Currency:
Moldovan leu
 Capital:
Monaco
Language/s:
French
MONACO Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Podgorica
Language/s:
Serbo-Croatian
MONTENEGRO
Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Amsterdam
Language/s:
Dutch
NETHERLANDS
Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Oslo
Language/s:
Norwegian
NORWAY Currency:
Norwegian krone
 Capital:
Warsaw
Language/s:
Polish
POLAND Currency:
Polish zloty
 Capital:
Lisbon
Language/s:
Portuguese
PORTUGAL Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Bucharest
Language/s:
Romanian
ROMANIA Currency:
Fourth Romanian
leu
 Capital:
Moscow
Language/s:
Russian
RUSSIA Currency:
Russian ruble
 Capital:
San Marino
Language/s:
Italian
AN MARINO
Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Belgrade
Language/s:
Serbian
SERBIA Currency:
Serbia dinar
 Capital:
Bratislava
Language/s:
Slovenian
SLOVAKIA Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Ljubljana
Language/s:
Slovenian
SLOVENIA Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Madrid
Language/s:
Spanish
SPAIN Currency:
Euro
 Capital:
Stockholm
Language/s:
Swedish
SWEDEN Currency:
Swedish krona
 Capital:
Berne
Language/s:
German, French
WITZERLAND
Currency:
Swiss franc
 Capital:
Kiev
Language/s:
Ukrainian
UKRAINE Currency:
Ukrainian
hryvnia
 Capital:
London
Language/s:
English
UNITED Currency:
Pound sterling

KINGDOM
 Capital:
Vatican City
Language/s:
Latin, Italian
VATICAN Currency:
Euro
Do’s and Don’ts
F
DO’S DON’TS
R - The French take pride in - Do not sit with legs spread
A their language, and the best
way to show your respect
apart as it is considered
impolite.

N for them is to do your best - Do not complain on how

to speak French.
- Dress well as the French
long it takes for your order
in cafes.
C are very fashionable.

E
G DO’S DON’Ts
- Shake hands with everyone - Do not be late, Germans

E including children,
“Guten Tag” (good day).
say attach great importance to
punctuality.
- Learn a few common German - Do not wait to be seated at a
R words before you travel to
Germany.
German restaurant. It is
common to share tables with
- Remove your shoes before strangers.
M entering a German house, - Do not ever, under any
and present the hostess with a circumstances, show the Nazi

A bunch of flowers , but do not

give carnations (symbolizes
mourning) or lilies and
salute, shout ‘Heil Hitler’ or
show the swastikas or other
symbols of the Third Reich,
N chrysanthemums (used at
funerals).
which is a criminal offense.

Y
 DO’S DON’TS
I - Use Signore (Mr.) and - Do not be talk about
Signora (Mrs.) plus the religion, Vatican, mafia,
T family name for strangers.
- Keep both hands above the
and politics, or questions
about private family
A table when dining, even concerns.
when you are finished - Do not book long distance
eating. overnight train journeys,
L which could be dangerous
for gangs of thieves.
Y
 DO’S DON’TS
S - Pretend that you are fine - Do not complain about
with smoking. Smoking is smoking. Spaniards believe
P widely accepted in Spain.
- Prepare for a late lunch
whoever complains about
smoking is actually afraid
A dinner. of life.
- Be patient. Spaniard have a - Do not get involved with
very relaxed view of time. any drugs. The penalties
I for the possession of any
kind of drugs are severe in
N Spain.
S
W DO’S DON’TS
I - Respect traditional Swiss - Do not speak loudly in public,
greeting with three(3) kisses especially on a cellphone; nor
T on the cheek, though a make big noise, or joke
handshake is the norm on the loudly. As a rule, the Swiss do
Z first meeting. not like noise and dislike it if
- Dress conservatively and others make jokes about
E neatly. them.
R - Use fork to cut foods such as - Do not ask personal questions
salad and potatoes instead of such as salary, age, or
L a knife, and break bread with religion. The Swiss respect
your hand, but most other privacy highly.
A foods should be eaten with
utensils.
N
D
 K DO’S DON’TS
U
I
N - Stand in a line if there is a - Do not be offended when you
N queue, and wait patiently for are called by different
I your turn. affectionate names such as

G
- Never talk with food in your “dear,” “honey,” “love,”
mouth. “mate,” etc. This is quite
T - Get familiar with the word normal.
D “cheers”, which is commonly - Do not ask personal or intimate
E used instead of thank you and question.
O goodbye.

D
M
 Famous
Destinations
&
Events
Cultural
 Historical Center of Prague (Czech Republic)
 Represents a supreme
manifestation of Medieval
urbanism.
 Architectural works of the Gothic
Period (14th & 15th Century) of
the High Baroque of the 1st half
of the 18th century and of the
rising modernism after the year
1900.
 Influenced all of the European
architecture
 Prague represents one of the
most prominent world centers of
creative life in the field of
urbanism and architecture across
generations, human mentality,
 Bordeaux, Port of the Moon (France)

 Described as inhabited historic

city, an outstanding urban and
architectural ensemble, created
in the age of the Enlightenment.
 Values continued up to the first
half of the 20th century with more
protected buildings.
 Recognized for its historic role as
a place of exchange of cultural
values more than 2,000 years
since the 12th century due to
commercial links with Britain and
the Low Lands.
.
 Cologne Cathedral (Germany)

 High Gothic five (5) aisled

basilica, with a projecting
transept, and a wide tower
façade.
 The 19th century work follows the
medieval forms and techniques
faithfully, as can be seen by
comparing it with the original
medieval plan on parchment
 Acropolis (Greece)

 Pheidias transformed the rocky

hill into a monument of thought
and arts after the successful fight
with the Persians.
 The most important monuments
were built during the time of the
great artists and Pheidias are: the
Parthenon (by Inctinus), the
Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the
monument entrance to the
Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles
and the small temple Athena
Nike.
 City of Verona (Italy)
 The city is situated in northern
Italy at the foot of the Lessini
Mountains on the River Adige.
 A small built up area around
fourth and fifth century BCE that
became a Roman municipium
(town or city) in the first century
BCE after it’s importance rise up
rapidly.
 During the fifth century Verona
was occupied by the Ostrogoth
Theodoric I, then by the
Lombards, and in 774 by
Charlemagne.
 In the early 12th century it
became an independent
community.
Natural
Plitvice Lakes (Croatia)
 World’s most active and iconic
volcanoes, and an outstanding
example of ongoing geological
processes and volcanic
landforms.
 Characterized as stratovolcano
that has continuous eruption
from its summit crates and
frequent lava flows.
 The exceptional volcanic activity
has been documented by
humans for almost 2,700 years
making it one of the world’s
longest documented records of
historical volcanism
Mount Etna (Italy)
 World famous for its lakes
arranged in cascades with
currently 16 lakes that can be
seen on the surface.
 These lakes are a result of the
confluence of several small rivers
and subterranean karst rivers and
we’re all connected that follows
the water flow.
 Separated by natural dams of
travertine, which is deposited by
moss, algae and bacteria. The
sensitive travertine were affected
by the interplay of water, air and
plants that which plants form a
travertine.
Swiss Alps Jungfrau- Aletsch (Switzerland)
 The Jungfrau- Aletsch-
Bietschhorn region is the most
glaciated part of the Europe Alps,
containing Europe’s largest
glacier and a range of classical
glacial features and provides an
outstanding record of geological
processes that formed the High
Alps.
 A diverse flora and fauna in
range of habitats and plant
colonization in wake of
retreating glaciers provides an
outstanding example of plant
succession.
Bialowieza Forest (Poland & Belarus)

 A large forest complex located

on the border between Poland
and Belarus.
 The forest had survived its
natural state up to this day
because of protection.
 Inscribed on the World Heritage
List from 1979 and extended to
include Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
West Norwegian Fjords (Norway)

 Situated in southwestern
Norway, these fjords are among
the world longest and deepest.
 Fjord is a Norwegian word refers
to a long, deep inlet of the sea
between high cliffs formed by
submergence of a glaciated
valley.
 These two (2) West Norwegian
fjords are considered classic and
complementary.
Festival
 Fiesta de San Fermin (Spain)

 Since the 14th century, local “locos” (also known as “Mozos”) have
run with the bulls.
 It all started when cattle herders “ran with bulls” down narrow
streets on the ways to the market.
 Mix with Spanish bravado and a dose of showmanship, and the
mere runs were transformed into competition where herders will
try to out run the bulls with bravery.
 The first official event occurred in 1591 on the 7th of July and the
rest is history.
 Oktoberfest (Germany)

 To locals, it is called “die Wiesn” after the name of Theresienwiese

Fairgrounds.
 Founded in 1810 when Oktoberfest celebrated the marriage of
Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-
Hildburghausen with a horse race.
 Until 1960, the festival had become world famous and steeped
in other traditions. It has changed over its 200- year history with
the additional of Bratwurst, electricity and glass beer stain (in
that order and importance).
 Regata Storica (Italy)

 The most important event on the rowing calendar in Venice, this

festival takes place on the first Sunday of September, annually.
 It is made up of four (4) different races with various types of boats. The
race begins with the procession of bissone, a fleet of traditional parade
boats.
 Originally, the bissone began the event for crowd-control purposes:
noblemen armed with bows aboard the boats would shoot terracotta
balote (shot) at any rowdy parade-goers, and clear the canal for the
racers.
 Although the bissone still signals the beginning of the regata today,
they are unarmed and serve only a ceremonial function.
 La Tomatina (Spain)

 A food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each

year in the town of Bunol near to Valencia in Spain.
 Thousands of people make their way from all corners of the
world to fight in this ‘World’s Biggest Food Fight’ where more
than 100 metric tons of over- ripe tomatoes are thrown in the
streets.
 London Design Festival (United Kingdom)

 Created in 2003 by two (2) of Britain’s greatest design

advocates, graphic designer Sir John Sorrell and former political
campaign consultant Ben Evans.
 This enormous, innovative festival celebrates London as the
global capital of design that is hold over nine (9) days in a wide
variety of cultural venues, public spaces, and business
establishments.
 The LDF presents over 200,000 attendees, a rich opportunity to
experience London from a prism’s worth of perspectives.
Amazing
Places to
Visit in
Europe!