october-2009

PHOTO © PHOTOLIBRARY
SCARY STREETS
AFTER MIDNIGHT
FLORENCE, ITALY
VIA DEL FORTE DI SAN GIORGIO
By day, you couldn’t fi nd a nicer spot from which to enjoy this
magical Italian city. But by night it feels remote and creepy up
here — and if you get the feeling you’re being watched, then
maybe you are. The fort you’re standing right next to is the
Belvedere, where witches were once burnt at the stake and
where countless ghosts are said to hang out.
FLY TO PISA (FLORENCE) FROM 39 DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING BARCELONA (GIRONA), CAGLIARI, DUBLIN,
DUSSELDORF (WEEZE), MEMMINGEN (MUNICH WEST), TRIESTE AND ZADAR. VISIT WWW.RYANAIR.COM
THE SHORTLISTS
Mike Peake is afraid, very afraid, it being Halloween and all
DUBLIN, IRELAND
O’CONNELL STREET
At odds with the city’s laid back vibe, Dublin’s main
thoroughfare was named in a 2003 report as the
country’s most dangerous street. Crime had risen
160% over fi ve years, and lairy drunks at night
were the biggest problem. The report said 40% of
all offences were committed in or outside pubs,
which means if you cross the road when you see a
boozer your chances of living rise considerably.
FLY TO DUBLIN FROM 77 DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING
RODEZ AND VENICE (TREVISO). VISIT WWW.RYANAIR.COM
MALAGA, SPAIN
EL CAMINITO DEL REY
OK, so it’s not a street as such, but this
treacherous, unlit path hugging the side of a
steep gorge in southern Spain is defi nitely no
place to be after midnight. Just one metre wide
and crumbling in many places, the path affords
the adventurous tourist the chance of a 1,000ft
drop into the river below. There’s no handrail for
most of it. People die there. Don’t go.
FLY TO MALAGA FROM 18 DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING
BREMEN AND EDINBURGH. VISIT WWW.RYANAIR.COM
ROME, ITALY
VIALE DELLO STADIO OLIMPICO
The main drag outside Stadio Olimpico, home to
famous clubs AS Roma and SS Lazio, has seen
its fair share of running battles over the years.
Most nights you’ll be fi ne, but wear a Napoli
shirt here after a match and you’d do well to be
holding onto a molecular transporter as well.
FLY TO ROME (CIAMPINO) FROM 28 DESTINATIONS,
INCLUDING IBIZA AND WROCLAW. VISIT WWW.RYANAIR.COM
BERLIN, GERMANY
HAUPTSTRASSE, HOHENSCHONHAUSEN
German newspaper Bild described this area in
the east of the city as the centre of a “bloody gang
war” in August after a man was shot dead in the
street. He had just switched allegiance from the
Hells Angels to a rival gang called the Bandidos, so
don’t wear your Motörhead T shirt just in case.
FLY TO BERLIN (SCHONEFELD) FROM EIGHT DESTINATIONS,
INCLUDING MILAN (BERGAMO). VISIT WWW.RYANAIR.COM
ALPS, ITALY
STELVIO PASS
Quite what you’d be doing here after midnight is
anyone’s guess, but maybe you left the campsite
a bit late, or the hotel had a really slow check out?
Descending from a height of almost 2,800m and
with 48 hairpin bends, this drive from hell at night
is actually one of the most spectacular drives in
the world by day, if only marginally less risky.
FLY TO MILAN (BERGAMO) FROM 51 DESTINATIONS,
INCLUDING BERLIN AND MADRID. VISIT WWW.RYANAIR.COM
RYANAIRMAGAZINE
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