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Raphael Barberi📷

@itsrapha83

Jan 14

Leuven is a beautiful university city just 20 minutes by train from Brussels and it is small enough that most of it can be explored in a day!

It has beautiful squares, lovely churches and the world’s greatest town hall.

Here is how to spend a day in Leuven🧵

The best way to reach the city is using Belgium’s reliable train network. Leuven is very well connected with the rest of Belgium and has direct and frequent trains to most major cities in the country.

It’s also good to note that on weekends, train tickets are cheaper.

When you arrive in Leuven, you will immediately be greeted by the beautiful 19th century eclectic-style train station.

Upon exiting the station, you will be in the Martelarenplein(Martyrs’ Square in English). A major square that functions as the starting point of the Bondgenotenlaan.

Read 16 tweets

Raphael Barberi📷

@itsrapha83

Dec 17, 2024

I have visited around 30 countries in Europe, here are my 10 favourite medium-sized cities in the old continent (in no particular order)

All photos by me :))

Verona🇮🇹

I had the opportunity to visit Verona this past summer and it quickly became one of my favourite cities in the world. It feels like everywhere you look there is history. The city felt so lively and the hills that surround it offer amazing views of the old town! I did not have as much time I had hoped, so I’ll definitely be returning to this gem in the near future.

Porto🇵🇹

Porto is the city of my grandfather, so I might be a bit biased but it genuinely is one of the most amazing cities I’ve visited. The architecture, the views, the food, it’s so beautiful. I visited with a friend who’s a local and I couldn’t have asked for a better guide. The Portuguese Baroque and the azulejos are glorious and the sunset from the Jardim do Morro was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.

Read 13 tweets

Raphael Barberi📷

@itsrapha83

Dec 10, 2024

After visiting around 30 countries in Europe, here are my 10 favourite big cities in the Old Continent (in no particular order)🧵

All photos by me :))

Rome🇮🇹

This one of self explanatory. I spent a week in Rome during Christmas time last year it was impossible not to fall in love with it. The architecture, the history, the monuments, the galleries, the palazzi… everywhere you look, everywhere you turn, there is something waiting for you. Don’t even get me started on the food.

I can’t wait to return to the Eternal City as a week was barely enough to scratch the surface.

Madrid🇪🇸

Madrid is a city that actually surprised me a lot, the city center was surprisingly clean for a city so big. I went while there was a big festival going on and every square was so alive. Madrid feels incredibly livable and it’s very beautiful, and the food here is also amazing.

Next time I visit, I will have more time so I can visit all the museums and royal palaces/monasteries that surround the city.

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Raphael Barberi📷

@itsrapha83

Dec 4, 2024

An honest review of every Belgian city I have visited so far🧵

All photos by me :))

Brussels: 6/10

The capital of Belgium, as well as the unofficial capital of the EU, is a complicated city. Brussels is rich in architecture: the Grand Place(one of the most beautiful squares in the world), Palais de Justice(the largest building built in the 19th century) as well as one of the finest collections of art nouveau architecture in the world.

However, the city has too many problems that are hard to ignore, it’s dirty, there are too many ugly high rise buildings in the city centre (so much so that this phenomenon is called Brusselisation) and it has some awful neighbourhoods. The public transport isn’t great for a city with such size and wealth, and the Palais de Justice has been hidden under scaffolding for 40 years.

Despite all this, the city still has some nice museums, and lot of history, plus I have a soft spot for Art Nouveau, so it gets a 6.

Antwerp: 8.5/10

Antwerp is technically the largest city in Belgium and it was historically a very rich and incredibly powerful city, which can be seen in its architecture. The city has amazing museums, beautiful plazas, imposing churches and the world’s most stunning train station. Antwerp also has an amazing artistic heritage as the birth place of Rubens.

If the city had been better preserved, it would easily be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, that’s the only reason why Antwerp doesn’t score higher.

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Raphael Barberi📷

@itsrapha83

Sep 2, 2024

Gothic architecture is often considered as the pinnacle of Western architecture.

So allow me to share some of the most beautiful Gothic buildings I have had the privilege of photographing in my travels :)🧵

The Town Hall of Leuven

The Cathedral of Bordeaux🇫🇷

Read 20 tweets

Raphael Barberi📷

@itsrapha83

Aug 29, 2024

One of my favourite times for photography is the golden hour.
That time of the day right after sunrise and before sunset where the sky turns golden and buildings glow red, it’s pure magic. So here is a thread with some of my best Golden Hour photos :)🧵

Paris, France🇫🇷

Leuven, Belgium🇧🇪

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