This list is in no particular order because order is irrelevant as we cannot decide on an order. We love them all.
SANTORINI, Greek Cyclades Island
There is no other place on this planet like Santorini. In season I am sure it is a hell on earth but out of season there is a magic in the air that is palpable. Even though a lot of buildings, even in villages like Oia, are modern, they are built using old techniques & styles in a harmonious way to and it is difficult to tell old from new.
Santorini is an crescent shaped archipelago of several islands. It is all that is left of a bigger volcanic island that erupted in about 1650 BC in an explosion 4 times bigger than the eruption of Krakatoa. The eruption created a crater 83 kilometers square and dust from the Santorini volcano is found all over the globe. The eruption almost certainly brought the Minoan civilization to an end on neighboring Crete. This left black volcanic cliffs, 300 m high, that are overwhelming and the little white houses of the villages along the rim of the Caldera are breathtaking especially at sunset. [ SEE SANTORINI PHOTO GALLERY ]
The Trulli of Alberobello, Southern Italy
Like Santorini, there is not another town like Alberobello on the planet. Alberobello is a magical place that has stepped straight out of a fairy tale. Its history reads like a fairy tale too with wicked Counts oppressing their tenant who are rescued by the King of Naples. Alberobello is a great town with a fascinating history which you can read in our article below. [ SEE ALBEROBELLO PHOTO GALLERY ]
The Mohacs Busójárás, Southern Hungary
Mohács is home of the Busójárás Spring Carnival parade and festivities. The Busójárás is probably one of the last truly pagan carnivals in Europe. The Busós, men dressed in Busó costume like the one in the photo, reenact a Croatian Šokci festival that probably goes back thousands of years. The Busójárás is about fertility rights and the end of winter and is performed out of pride by the people of the area with very few foreign tourists. It is a 4 day festival ending on Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras. To read a full article on the festival soon JOIN MAILING LIST to be sure to receive our future articles. [ SEE BUSOJARAS PHOTO GALLERY ]
Venice Italy
Sorry to be boring but we can never get enough of Venice. With the billions of pixels taken of Venice every year you would think that Venice has been photographed to death. This is not true though. The bulk of its visitors are day trippers who walk from the station across the Rialto bridge to St Marks Square, where the may visit the Doges Palace or Cathedral, then take the same route home. If you walk away from this route you can find a different Venice with deserted canals and squares. It not really true that there are too many tourists in Venice its just that they all visit the same few places. If you take a water bus out to the lagoon islands you will find even more bits of Venice that less tourists visit. [ SEE VENICE PHOTO GALLERY ]
Palatine Chapel, Palermo, Sicily
The Palatine Chapel in the Norman Palace in Palermo is one of the great religious works of art in Europe. It is not a large chapel because this was the private chapel of the Norman king of Sicily. The chapel has been stage managed to impress the great and good of Europe. The intimate space of the interior is covered with intricate religious scenes the effect of which are quite overwhelming. On first sight it is impossible to take in individual scenes because there is so much detail and colour to distract the eye. The Byzantine art is added to by arabic tile designs and carved roof in the style of the Abbasids. The Palatine chapel is a multi cultural work of art bringing together Christian, Jewish & Muslim traditions in one place. The extraordinary thing is that it is an eleventh century building commissioned by a Norman King in Sicily in the so called "Dark Ages". ( Read the story below) [ SEE PALATINE CHAPEL PHOTO GALLERY ]
Rome Italy
It is impossible to ignore Rome, this multifaceted city has too much to offer. From antiquity Rome has set the pace for European thinking. The Romans, then the Popes have shaped our cultures, laws and politics for 2000 years. Rome is living history where so many of the great stories of Europe happened or started. Its the Eternal City and will probably remain that way. [ SEE ROME PHOTO GALLERY ]
Grindelwald Switzerland
The Eiger Mountain has one of the great North Faces of the Alps. The North Face of The Eiger rises 1800 m ( 5,900 ft) vertically from the alpine village of Grindelwald. To see the peak the Eiger you bend backwards and look up and wonder how anyone climbed such a sheer rock face. 64 climbers have died climbing the North Face earning it the nickname "Death Wall".
Grindelwald nestles in a valley surrounded by high mountains in the Swiss Alps. From Grindelwald you can take funicular trains to the highest railway station in Europe, the Jungfraujoch at over 3,970 m ( 13024 ft ). From Grindelwald a network of cable cars go to the top of other mountains all of which offer spectacular views of the high Alps. In spring the alpine meadows full of spectacular flowers, in winter you can enjoy miles of ski and toboggan runs and even link up with the Wengen ski slopes. This is a classic alpine ski town in the heart of the most beautiful scenery Switzerland has to offer. [ SEE SWISS PHOTO GALLERY ]
Honfleur France
Honfleur is a Normandy port that has a character all of its own. It is a medieval port that changed hands many times between the Norman English and the Carolingian French during the 100 years war. It is characterized by its unique slate fronted houses that run around its inner harbour basin. These picturesque buildings house many restaurants serving the mussels & Oysters Normandy & Brittany are famous for. Running from the harbour are narrow cobbled streets and lanes that lead to a wood shingle parish church. Honfleur has a charm and atmosphere all of its own. It local delicacies include Normandy Cheese and Calvados, two good reasons alone to visit Honfleur. [ SEE HONFLEUR PHOTO GALLERY ]
Meteora Monasteries, Greece
There are few more startling sites in Europe than the Byzantine monasteries of the Greek Meteora Mountains clinging to the top of high isolated pillars of rock. Before steps were cut into the vertical rock faces the only way to gain entry to the Monasteries was by rope ladders or slung in a net and winched up. These Monasteries show the extremes that people will go to for religious devotions. To get the full story please read our article below. [ SEE METEORA PHOTO GALLERY ]
Villa Romana del Casale, Sicily
If you ever wondered how lavish a Roman Emperors lifestyle may have been the Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily will give you some idea. All that is left of the Villa is its floors which are covered with 3500 sq. meters of the most spectacular mosaics. Protected by a mud slide 1200 years ago the mosaics were excavated in the 1950s. They were made by African Roman artists and depict animal hunts, chariot racing at the Circus Maximus and many other ceremonial and religious depictions that give a deep insight into Imperial life. There is a room with 14 "Bikini Girls" that seems to have a very modern theme. This is a spectacular place to visit and well deserves its UNESCO World Heritage status. Read Article below.
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Magazine Article For Syndication From Our Top Ten
See our magazine articles on Greece available for syndication on line. Article syndication packages include edited article & photos to support the article. To see the full catalogue of syndication articles visit:
Santorini is a volcanic island which in 1624 BC erupted with the force of 800 Hiroshima atomic bombs. The blast was greater than the eruption of Krakatoa and volcanic ash was sent around the world, lowering the earths temperature by 1 degree centigrade. This left a crescent archipelago of islands called Santorini.
With black cliffs 300 meters high topped with villages of small white houses Santorini is one of the most dramatic islands in the world. This article explores this unique island and its iconic blue domed Orthodox Churches.
The monasteries in the Sky - Magazine Article on the Greek Meteora Monasteries.
600 word article by Paul Williams.
This article looks at the Byzantine monasteries built on the top of the rock pillars of the Meteora mountains in Greece. Find out who built them and why.[READ ARTICLE & SEE SYNDICATION PACKAGE]
Article on Alberobello Southern Italy
(mockup page layouts)
2000 word article by Paul Williams.
" Do you believe in Goblins, Elves and fairy tales? If not, take a walk at sunrise amongst the beehive shaped Truilli of Alberobello in Puglia and you will discover a fairy tale town that looks like it should be inhabited by the little people of fables. The story of Alberobello is also reads like a fairy tale with evil tax dogging feudal Counts oppressing their peasant tenants who are eventually rescued from tyranny by the King of Naples and lived happily ever after. "
The Normans In Sicily - The Palatine Chapel, Palermo
2000 word article by Paul Williams.
This article takes a looks at the unruly Normans and how they became great politicians & statesmen in Sicily. The Palatine chapel speak to Christians, Jews and Muslims and the message is tolerance. Read about the great Roger II King of Sicily. Facts & anecdotes about the buildings.
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ABOUT US
Funky Stock is a boutique library with photos by multi award winning London photographer Paul Williams. Paul has worked at the cutting edge of advertising, design and editorial in London for over 25 years. In the early days his cookery book photography won him a prestigious Glenfiddich cookery book award for a Dorling Kindersley's "Yan Kits Kitchen".
In later years Paul Williams has concentrated on big brand packaging and advertising including British household names like Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Tesco. This work earned him Gold DNAD awards in the UK, Cleo awards in the USA and a Silver Rose of Mont re au Advertising festival.
Now Paul Williams has turned his attention to stock photography and he is well on his way to achieving his ambition of producing a world class stock boutique library with creative and highly professional food and travel photos.
His goal is simply to offer the best at affordable prices. We look forward to being of service in the future.
About Paul Williams Funky Stock Pictures & Print Library
Funky Stock Pictures & print library specialises in food pictures & Images as well as European Travel photography. We have specialist collections of photos of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Images of Greek Archeological sites & Pictures of Roman Archeological sites & Museum exhibits. All photographs on this site have been taken by Paul Williams.
There are few other working food and still life photographers in the world with the experience of Paul Williams. Over the last 30 years Paul has worked on major food advertising campaigns for the UK and Europe as well as taking food pictures for packaging photography projects for nearly every major food brand in the UK.
Paul has taken pictures , photos & images for DNAD & Clio award winning campaigns. He was awarded a silver in the Polaroid European Photographer awards and won a silver Rose of Montreux for his Coca Cola TV Commercials. Paul was also awarded the coveted Glenfiddich cookery book award.
For the last 4 years Paul has also concentrated on taking location pictures & landscape photography making trips to photograph many parts of Europe. Every year over 5000 new travel pictures and food photos are added to the library.
We hope you enjoy the pictures, photos & images. [READ MORE]
