text:
Central Pacific (Costa Rica)

The Central Pacific region of Costa Rica is the Nicoya Peninsula. It has spectacular coastlines and jungle landscapes, yet most of it is sparsely populated and often ignored by foreign tourists, making it an ideal destination for travelers who value seclusion and natural experiences.

By bus
You can catch a bus from the capital for US$4–5, and it will be an adventure. Be careful of pick pockets at the Coca Cola bus terminal in San José.

By plane
All major airlines fly into the capital. From there you can catch a puddle-jumper.

Otherwise the local carries Aerobell Airlines, Sansa and Skyway Airlines offer a comprehensive network.

By (rental) car
You can also rent a car. The roads are not well marked and very curvy and winding with steep cliffs at times.

On foot
Quepos is a town for walking. So is Manuel Antonio.

By bus
There are two types of buses, the express or the collectivo—they cost the same amount.

By taxi
Taxis are available, e.g. between Quepos and Manuel Antonio. They will sometimes try to charge tourists more, but if you know what to expect they will be reasonable.

Do

 * Manuel Antonio beaches: the private beach in the park is clean and gorgeous, and the public beach has bars and restaurants. Rent a "rock star" set-up with chairs and big umbrellas and have food and drinks brought from the restaurants to you (tip them, of course).
 * Herradura Beach: This used to be a Cattle Hacienda and a good spot for a one-day tour for Costa Ricans during the weekends as it was not developed. It changed when Los Suenos Resort was built. A top resort with full marina services, golf course and a Marriott Hotel. Among the services there are several condo communities which are one of the best accommodations you can get as for less from what you would pay at the hotel. You stay in a comfortable and luxury home with all the services you might need. Very close to Los Suenos Resort, there are now other condo buildings. You can also find a shopping mall nearby with one of the best supermarkets, restaurants, pharmacy, fast food, ice creams, clothing store, etc.
 * Sportfishing: you'll find one of the best fishing spots for Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Roosterfish, and other gamefish.

Eat
In Quepos there are a variety of restaurants and tons more along the road to Manuel Antonio and in Manuel Antonio.

A very filling and tasty meal can be had for US$2 in the hole-in-the-wall restaurants.

The nice hotels and resorts have all the old standards for more money.

Drink
Try the Batidas, fruit smoothies made with fresh fruit. They usually will add sugar unless you order it "sin azucar" or with 'no sugar'.

Also the pipa frio, coconut, green variety, they chop the top off and add a straw. You might not like it at first, but it grows on you and is cheap!

title: Central Pacific (Costa Rica)


text:
Central Panama

The Central Panama region includes much of Panama province and all of Colon and Cocle provinces.

Cities

 * – the Panamian capital
 * — (Cristóbal, Colón)
 * Fishing and tourist town with black and white sandy beaches
 * Shopping destination for tourists who live on the desirable sandy beach resorts.
 * Fishing and tourist town with black and white sandy beaches
 * Shopping destination for tourists who live on the desirable sandy beach resorts.
 * Fishing and tourist town with black and white sandy beaches
 * Shopping destination for tourists who live on the desirable sandy beach resorts.

Other destinations

 * - largest protected rainforest in Central America, pristine jungle, rivers, and the quiet waters of Lake Alajuela
 * - a charming little town nestled in the second biggest inhabited volcanic caldera in the world. El Valle boasts an all-year spring-like climate, amazing biodiversity, and a wide selection of hotels and restaurants among others. Located about an hour west of Panama City.
 * - Archipelago de las Perlas
 * - an island getaway close to Panama City
 * - an island getaway close to Panama City

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Central Panama


text:
Central Plains (Liaoning)

Central Plains is in Liaoning in northeastern China.

Cities

 * — the largest city in the northeast of China has a long history, but is modernizing rapidly
 * — home to the famous Qianshan Park National Park, Tangangzi Hot Spring Spa and the Jade Buddha Palace Temple
 * — a centre for heavy industrial development since the Chinese civil war
 * — famous for its birds and wildlife
 * — home of Longshou Mountain, a famous scenic spot that resembles the head of a giant dragon
 * — one of China's main coastal ports

title: Central Plains (Liaoning)


text:
Central Province (Sri Lanka)

Central Sri Lanka is a province within Sri Lanka.

Other destinations

 * — a cave temple included in the UNESCO world heritage list site.
 * — ideal for trekking.
 * — a UNESCO world heritage list site with a stone fortress and palace ruins surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens

Get in

 * Sigiriya Airport has scheduled helicopter and light aircraft flights from Colombo (mostly), Hambantota and Trincomalee.
 * Kandy is very well connected with Colombo by train. Direct trains also connect Kandy with Nuwara Eliya and Matale.

See
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka comprises the mountainous regions of rain forests, and consists of three separate wet-zone protected areas: Knuckles Mountain Range, the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, and the Horton Plains National Park. The Central Highlands is a UNESCO World Heritage site

 * Peak Wilderness Protected Area — Adam's Peak is the major attraction in the Peak Wilderness Protected Area. There is a third-class train service available from Kandy railway station to Hatton. It is better to take the bus to Hatton as the trains are usually overcrowded and take the same as the bus. The bus leaves from Kandy Bogambara bus station, takes 3 hours and costs Rs. 125. From Hatton bus station, you'll have to take another bus to Maskeliya, and from there, yet another bus to Dalhousie - the buses depart hourly. Another option is to take a tuk-tuk from Maskeliya to Dalhousie, which will cost you around Rs. 500 and take 30 minutes.
 * Dalhousie is the nearest place to Nallathanni town, which is one of the many entrances to Adam's Peak (Sri Pada). This entrance is one of the most favored by those undertaking the climb. Although this trail is the steepest, it is also approximately five kilometers shorter than any of the other trails. It is recommended to stay overnight at any hotel in Dalhousie and start climbing Adam's Peak early in the morning. There are plenty of budget hotels in Dalhousie. It will take 2-3 hours to climb up and some 90 minutes to come down depending on your fitness level and weather conditions.
 * When buying tea while climbing, ask for loose tea as they give low quality tea bags to foreigners by default. Also watch out for a Buddhist monk at the start who tries to lure you into a temple where you have to pay (you don't have to pay anything to climb up).

 * Horton Plains National Park — The World's End is a major attraction in the Horton Plains National Park, and Ohiya is the closest city. From Hatton, take the train bound for Badulla and disembark at Ohiya railway station.

Do

 * Hiking — Knuckles Mountain Range is an excellent area for hiking. Several tour operators offer anything from day trips to week-long hike and camp tours.

Go next
The North Central Province is within easy reach of Sigiriya and Dambulla.

Take the train direct from Kandy to Ella.

title: Central Province (Sri Lanka)


text:
Central Quebec

Central Quebec is the heartland of Quebec. It contains the capital of the province, Quebec City, and some of the prime agricultural land in the province.

Cities

 * — "Quebec's Capital of Expression and Traditions", with attractions focusing on culture, past and present
 * — a beautiful walled city founded in 1608 offering history, architecture, cuisine, and winter fun
 * — the main centre of the Beauce region
 * — features a theme park based on local industrial history
 * — paper-milling town at the mouth of the St. Maurice River with several historical sites to see

Other destinations

 * — an easy day-trip from Quebec City to visit the historic basilica

Get in
Jean Lesage International Airport near Québec City is the region's main airport, with flights from destinations across Canada, the United States, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe.

Quebec City has Via Rail service from Ottawa, Montréal, Moncton and Halifax,

Intercar and Orleans Express offer province-wide bus services.

By car, from Montreal, Autoroutes 40 or 20 (north and south side of the St. Lawrence, respectively) are the direct but dull routes, while Route 138, the Chemin du Roy, is a more scenic route along the north bank of the river. From the Maritime Provinces, New Brunswick's Highway 2 connects to Quebec Route 85 into the region.

Get around
The road network across the region is generally good. Intercar and Orleans Express offer bus services within the region. Train service is only useful for getting between Quebec City and Ste-Foy.

See
Quebec City is the star of the region. Its 17th-century old town, the historic city, the rougher lower town, its museums, galleries, shopping and restaurants provide a wide range of activities for visitors.

The Montmorency Falls are spectacular waterfalls east of Quebec City that are 1½ times higher than Niagara Falls. The Grosse-Île National Historic Site was a quarantine station for Irish fleeing the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. It is a National Historic Site.

The Gardens of the Four Winds (Les Quartre Vents), in La Malbaie, Charlevoix, is one of the finest residential gardens in North America.

Do
In late August, the Festival de la Poutine in Drummondville offers concerts, and celebrates poutine, a Canadian dish of Quebecois origin. The basic dish is a mess of French fries, gravy, and cheese curds.

Sugaring off in early spring in the centrepiece of the maple syrup harvest. Visit a cabane à sucre or the Festival beauceron de l'Érable (Beauce maple festival) in late March. The Chemin du Roy makes a great drive along 102 km of shoreline of the St-Lawrence from Maskinongé to Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, passing by 23 attractions and 14 points of interest.

The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières in early August is the largest motor racing event to be held on an urban circuit in the Americas.

There are lots of outdoor activities in La Mauricie National Park and the region's many other national parks, including hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, fishing.

Eat and drink
As an agricultural region, there are lots of opportunities to sample local products, especially dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables. Check the sub-regional and city articles for details. Maple syrup, sugar and other !maple products are particularly important in the Beauce region, which produces a large share of the world's maple products.

title: Central Quebec


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Central Russia

Central Russia is in the country's extreme west, but it casts the main role in Russian history and economics. Pioneer cities were established here more than 1000 years ago. During its feudal disunity this territory took the main impact of the Tartar Yoke, started in 13th century and lasted for two hundred years. Central Russia is that core area, which formed around Moscow Princedom when in 15th century it started to collect Russian feudal lands into a back single state to throw down the Tartars. That was the only period, when this region was the geographical center of Russia.

Later on, Central Russia continued to be the core of the country, proving its name for at least 700 years. 3 major battles in Russian history hit this region in 1380, 1812 and 1941. Many of famous Russians were born and lived there, including Lev Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Sergey Yesenin, Yuri Gagarin and others.

Nowadays, this tiny part of Russian territory (2.5%) concentrates about 20% of the population and plays the lead role in the country's economy and politics. The region feels the tremendous influence of Moscow metropolitan area, which pumps out human and financial resources from neighboring regions. This leads to significant dispatities between the capital and other cities, those are often looking depressive.

Huge tourist potential of Central Russia is only going to be discovered. International tourists usually visit the metropolis of Moscow, less frequently see the historic legacy of the Golden Ring, and often undeservedly skip hidden, but awesome corners of this region.

Other destinations

 * — a small village east from Vladimir, a UNESCO World Heritage site for its 12th century white stone monastery and churches.
 * (EthnoWorld) — the only tourist ethnic village in Russia. The idea is to model various traditional world cultures at the single place.
 * — one of 3 Russian primary battlefields. There, at the south-east of modern Tula Oblast, Prince Dmitry Donskoy's army for the first time defeated the Tartar Horde in 1380.
 * — a vast forested area including parts of Moscow Oblast, Ryazan Oblast and Vladimir Oblast with 2 national parks, numerous amazing lakes and endangered animals habitat.
 * — a monastery, which in the 19th century was the most important spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church and served as the model for several other monasteries. It was particularly renowned as the centre of Russian staretsdom.
 * — a protected forested habitat in the south of Moscow Oblast with the unique bison farm.
 * — the beautiful estate and museum of a famous Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, located to the south from Tula.
 * — a protected forested habitat in the south of Moscow Oblast with the unique bison farm.
 * — the beautiful estate and museum of a famous Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, located to the south from Tula.

Talk
Within Moscow and at most large tourist sites, it is possible to find English speakers. At major tourist destinations, guides are available in most major world languages. The only language you are likely to hear on a daily basis, however, is Russian, and knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet plus a few key phrases will certainly make independent travel a lot easier.

Get in
See Moscow, the point of arrival for the vast majority of the region's visitors.

Get around
Rail is the most convenient method of public transportation between cities. From Moscow rail stations, there are suburban trains called электрички (eh-lehk-TREECH-kee), which will take you to smaller cities within the region.

See
The regions most popular sights by far are located within and around Red Square and the historic loop of cities comprising the Golden Ring.

Itineraries

 * Golden Ring — the classic tour of the historically and architecturally rich regions surrounding the capital
 * Trans-Siberian Railway — the most popular route begins here, in Moscow

Eat
Moscow is home to truly world class dining and some of the most expensive restaurants in the world. Outside of Moscow, choices are more limited and Russian cuisine is more predominant.

Go next
Central Russia is within easy striking distance of Belarus and Ukraine, both centers of ancient Kievan Rus. One of the world's most fabulous tourist destinations, Saint Petersburg, is just an overnight train ride from Moscow. Moscow is also the starting point for most journeys on the Trans-Siberian Railway, which takes travelers to destinations in the Volga Region, Urals, Siberia, and the Russian Far East, as well as non-Russian destinations such as Mongolia, Pyongyang, and Beijing.

title: Central Russia


text:
Central São Paulo (state)

Central São Paulo  is a region in the state of São Paulo. It is a transition area between the industrialized southeast of the state and the mostly agricultural northwest. The region does not have really famous tourist attractions, but it contains mostly pleasant and safe cities.

Cities

 * — a city with almost 200 years of history and Italian roots that developed in the early 20th century
 * — offers scenic attractions, many historical monuments, natural beauties and places to visit
 * — known as the "national capital of embroidery", the Festa do Padroeiro Senhor Bom Jesus, which is held annually in the month of August
 * — has hundreds of historic buildings built during the booming coffee days, including a beautiful cathedral
 * — the birthplace of Japanese immigration in the country
 * — considered the "Little Italy" in the State of São Paulo

title: Central São Paulo (state)


text:
Central Senegal

Central Senegal is a region in Senegal.

Cities

 * — known for the fishing north of the town, in particular shrimp fishing
 * — known for its huge covered market
 * — a quiet, rural island community
 * — has beautiful beaches
 * — a tranquil town on the Southeastern Sine-Saloum Delta amid the mangroves.
 * — destination for the Grand Magal, an annual religious pilgrimage observed by Mouride Brotherhood, one of the four Islamic Sufi orders (tariqa) in Senegal

Get in and around
Kaolack is the transport hub of the country. You can get to any point in Senegal in a day's travel, including Dakar, Thies, St. Louis, Tamba, Kolda and the Casamance.

Most people get around Senegal by sept-places (7-seat cars), but there are buses that pass through here heading from Bamako to Dakar and vice versa. There are also minicars which tend to leave only when full but are a cheaper option.

See
Kaolack has one of the biggest covered markets in West Africa. In its "gris-gris" market, vendors sell everything from skins to shells for the local charm makers. The stone circles at Wanar near Kaolack is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mar Lodj is an island in the Saloum delta where you can experience rural Senegalese life and a traditional wrestling match.

The Great Mosque of Touba is one of the largest mosques in Africa, with a capacity of 7,000.

Do
In Foundiougne, you can take a canoe trip to discover the mangroves, the birds and the islands of Saloum. There is also good fishing.

The Parc National du Delta du Saloum near Palmarin protects a patchwork delta consisting of mangrove channels, salt flats, grass lands and forest. Explore the mangrove channels by kayak, or take a fishing excursion.

In Sokone, you can take a pirogue to the islands and their communities.

Drink
Drink palm wine on the beach in Palmarin.

title: Central Senegal


text:
Central Sierra (Peru)

The Central Sierra is a mountainous region east of in the center of Peru.

Cities

 * — near the Cordillera Blanca and the famous Santa Cruz trek, it's a good place for preparing a multiday trek or doing some day hikes
 * — the capital of the Pasco region, it is one of the highest cities in the world
 * — northern gateway to the Huayhuash.
 * — near Kotosh, an archaeological site containing a temple of the Late Archaic period
 * — a great starting point for getting supplies for expeditions, and for visiting the Wari ruin of Wilcawain
 * — where the Selvamonos Music and Arts Festival is held
 * — traces of the German and Austrian settlers remain in the architecture and culture of the district
 * — close to the Mountain of Salt which pre-Columbian and colonial Peru indigenous people exploited to transported salt downriver by raft to people in the Amazon Basin

Other destinations

 * - The ruins of Chavín de Huantar are one of the earliest and best-known pre-Columbian sites - dating from 1500 to 300 BC. They are a striking complex of terraces and squares, surrounded by structures of dressed stone with zoomorphic ornamentation. It can be reached by public transportation or a tour (around S/20). The entrance is S/11 and there is a 50% discount for students. There is a small site museum.
 * — a park and that covers almost all of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, with trekking and outdoor recreation opportunities
 * — a mountain range south of the Cordillera Blanca, also popular with trekkers and climbers, best accessed from Chiquián.

title: Central Sierra (Peru)


text:
Central Slovakia

Central Slovakia is bounded by the Czech Republic and Poland to the north, and Hungary to the south.

Get in
There are regular inter-city bus and train connections available, both to Bratislava/Košice and surrounding countries.

D1 and R1 highways connect most of the biggest cities, except the mountainous area between Žilina and Liptovský Mikuláš, where work is still ongoing. Traffic jams occur there in the rush hours (mostly Friday and Sundays afternoon).

Do
The area is a great place to go hiking and skiing. Check e.g. Ružomberok or Liptovský Mikuláš.

Mountain ranges:
 * and Oravské Beskydy (Orava Beskids)
 * and Oravské Beskydy (Orava Beskids)
 * and Oravské Beskydy (Orava Beskids)
 * and Oravské Beskydy (Orava Beskids)
 * and Oravské Beskydy (Orava Beskids)

Go next
Western Slovakia | Eastern Slovakia

Hungary | Poland

title: Central Slovakia


text:
Central Slovenia

Central Slovenia (Osrednjeslovenska) is the region encompassing Slovenia's capital city of Ljubljana and the Kamniške Alps north of it. It's purely a region for statistical purposes: Slovenia has no government layer between its national government and its 122 municipalities. In 2019 this region's population was 564,527.

Towns

 * is the picturesque capital.
 * monastery is now a museum of early industry.
 * is near the fortified church of Tabor and the "Mayor's Cave".
 * has a well-preserved Cistercian abbey.
 * has a castle and a museum about the poet Prešeren.
 * has an attractive medieval centre.
 * is a scattered upland area, with the ski resort of Krvavec.
 * is a lovely medieval town at the foot of the Kamniške Alps.
 * is a scenic Alpine valley community on the border with Austria.

Other destinations

 * is the scenic gorge of the River Iška, 15 km south of Ljubljana.
 * , the Ljubljana Marshes, were a lake in prehistoric times, with ancient villages, then became wetland then farms. They're a protected habitat.

Understand
The River Sava flows out of the Alps and carves a long valley towards the southeast, a natural transport route. Several tributaries join it and in prehistory the confluence was a lake and wetland. Gradually this was infilled and drained to become farmland, and the medieval city of Laibach grew up. The city was the natural focus of the area, and morphed into Ljubljana as the country evolved from a part of Austria-Hungary then of Yugoslavia into independent Slovenia. The flat land supports agriculture and light industry but its boggy subsoil limits urban growth.

As Ljubljana is the capital of the country, naturally it dominates the region, though the airport is some way north. It has a cosmopolitan population who often speak English or German, or who can holler for someone who does.

Get in
For long-distance travel routes see Ljubljana.

is 27 km north of the city.

Get around
Transport routes radiate out from Ljubljana, following the valleys. For travel cross-country or up in the hills, you need a car.

See

 * Bistra was a monastery from 1260, suppressed in 1782 and in 1951 becoming the Technical Museum, with displays of early industry and several of Tito's cars. It's open Mar-Dec Tu-Su 09:00-17:00 (to 19:00 Sa Su and Jun-Aug), adult €6.50. Bistra means "fast-flowing river" so it's a common Balkan placename, this is the one in Vrhnika, Slovenia.
 * Medieval town centres: Ljubljana, Škofja Loka and Kamnik have the best.

Do

 * Hiking: lots of trails, see Hiking around Ljubljana for those near the city.
 * Balloon rides launch from Lljubljana and Bled.
 * Winter sports: Krvavec is the best-developed in this area.

Eat

 * Ljubljana has a cosmopolitan selection. Otherwise it's heavy Slovenian meaty fare, nice from time to time but inflicting gastric concussion when you have to eat it continually.

Drink
The tap water comes out of the limestone mountains and is safe to drink.

Slovenia's three main wine-growing regions are Primoska to the west bordering Italy, Posavje east bordering Croatia, and Podravje northeast bordering Austria, Hungary and Croatia. So it won't be from this region but it won't have come far. It's mostly white, though Primoska also produces red. The better stuff will bear the letters ZGP, meaning it's quality or premium quality vino z zaščitenim geografskim poreklom, wine with protected geographical origin.

Stay safe
Usual hazards: traffic, traffic, traffic! Take care of valuables and give the swerve to damn-fool drunks.

The mountains need standard care over clothing and footwear, and treacherous surfaces with nasty drops. Camping in summer the bugs can be a nuisance; food must be carefully sealed otherwise the bears will sniff it out and come a-calling.

Go next

 * South-west is Coast and Karst region, stretching almost to Trieste in Italy.
 * South-east are the mountains of Southeastern Slovenia.
 * East is the mountainous area of Pohorje-Savinjska, with the scenic Savinja and Šalek Valley.
 * West are the Julian Alps, where Bled is a must-see.
 * North is Carinthia in Austria, with Klagenfurt its chief city.

title: Central Slovenia


text:
Central Spain

Central Spain (Spanish Zona central de España) is in Spain.

Cities

 * — Spain's capital and largest city, it has grand avenues, plazas, buildings and monuments, and world-class art galleries and museums
 * — it us crowned by the ruins of a Moorish castle, has the powerfully armed fort of San Cristobal, and even its cathedral resembles a fortress, with massive walls
 * — a UNESCO World Heritage Site
 * — a city on the Way of St. James that has a vast cultural, historical and architectural heritage
 * — its well-preserved Roman ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site
 * — its historic centre has many Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque monuments
 * — a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage site sitting majestically above the Tagus River
 * — has the highest concentration of Romanesque art and architecture in Europe

Climate
Central Spain has a very different climate than the coastal areas. Unlike the coasts, which have a typical Mediterranean climate, the inland areas have a continental climate. The summers are very hot, regularly exceeding 35 º C. By contrast, there are very low temperatures in winter. The locals use an old Castillian saying to describe their climate as "nine months of winter and three months of hell".

The winters are often accompanied by heavy snowfall. Although it rarely rains during summer, there is often heavy rainfall in spring and autumn. The annual rainfall exceeds 500mm.

title: Central Spain


text:
Central Sudan

Central Sudan is the political, geographic, cultural, and economic center of Sudan, centered around the capital, Khartoum. It consists of the states of Al Jazirah, Khartoum and White Nile.

Cities

 * — destination number two for international visitors, Khartoum's 'Old town'
 * — a few hours by coach south of Khartoum - not much there but makes an easy excursion from the capital
 * — destination number two for international visitors, Khartoum's 'Old town'
 * — a few hours by coach south of Khartoum - not much there but makes an easy excursion from the capital

Other destinations

 * – spiritual home of the Mahdist movement

title: Central Sudan


text:
Central Sulawesi

Central Sulawesi (Sulawesi Tengah, abbreviated Sulteng) is the province at the center of the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia.

Cities

 * - the capital
 * - market town wracked by interfaith violence, especially from 1998-2006.
 * - Transit point

Other destinations

 * - Here you can see megaliths with the little features etched in in the downstairs area.
 * - Here you can see megaliths with the little features etched in in the downstairs area.

By plane
There are airports in Palu (for Lake Poso and the central highlands), and Luwuk  (for the Togian Islands, Morowali), with a reasonable number of domestic departures from Manado and Makassar.

By bus
From the south: buses leave Rantepao in Tana Toraja everyday around 09:00 (delays can be common), and stops at Tentena, Poso and Palu. The road is in a bad condition, with potholes being quite common. Therefore heavy delays can be expected. Try to get a seat on the more comfortable executive bus for this reason.

From the north: an overland bus route goes to Manado by Toli-Toli and Gorontalo, this is not very used by tourists though, as the Togian Islands is omitted on this route.

By boat
Small ferries arrive in Ampana from Wakai, the "capital" of the Togian Islands, every day apart from Sunday and Thursday. The 5-hour trip is not recommended for people prone to seasickness, but the scenery is very nice.

Eat
Standard Indonesian fare in the warungs, very few "proper restaurants". The fish, and especially the eel from Lake Poso, can be delicious.

Bat: at least a few warungs in Tentena, down by Lake Poso, sell this local delicacy. It is extremely spicy, and quite bony, but must be tried.

Drink
Delicious coffee from Sulawesi is not only from Tana Toraja. In Central Sulawesi, there are two types of delicious coffee.
 * Toratima Coffee from Pipikoro District. A fermented coffee from bats, rats, and squirrels. But unlike luwak coffee which is fermented through the digestion, this coffee is from from these animals' vomit.
 * Sojol Coffee from Donggala Regency, Arabica type coffee.

Stay safe
As of 2017, the East Indonesia Mujahideen was launching attacks in the central town of Poso. Tourists were not targeted, but there were very few visitors in the area, anyway, and the police and military presence was very heavy.

title: Central Sulawesi


text:
Central Switzerland

The five cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Lucerne surrounding the Vierwaldstättersee are the original birthplace of the Swiss Confederation and the origin of the legend of William Tell. The region offers a lot to the traveler, including outdoor recreation, great scenery, historic old cities, and steamboat rides on the lake.

Understand
Central Switzerland is regarded as the birthplace of Switzerland. The federal charter dated 1291 documents a first alliance between the people of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (split up into Ob- and Nidwalden). This document is still preserved and can be seen (together with many others) in the Museum of the Swiss Charters of Confederation in Schwyz. This region is also were the events around the life of the legendary Willhelm Tell supposedly occurred. In the 14th century, Lucerne joined the alliance, making up what is called the Vier Waldstätten (roughly translated as four forest cantons).

Public holidays
Central Switzerland is predominantly Catholic, and accordingly are most of the public holidays. These are the public holidays in addition to those observed in the whole of Switzerland:

 * St. Berchtold (2 January, observed in Lucerne)
 * Epiphany (6 January, observed in Schwyz and Uri)
 * St Joseph's Day (19 March, observed in Nidwalden, Schwyz and Uri)
 * Corpus Christi (60 days after Easter)
 * Assumption (15 August)
 * Brother Klaus festival (25 September, observed in Obwalden)
 * All Saints Day (1 November)
 * Immaculate Conception (8 December)

In the canton of Uri, 26 December is not a holiday if Christmas falls on a Monday.

title: Central Switzerland


text:
Central Taiwan

The Central Region of Taiwan.

Cities

 * (Nantou County)
 * (Nantou County)
 * (Nantou County)
 * (Nantou County)

Other destinations

 * – The second oldest town in Taiwan, famous for its traditional architecture and food.
 * – The second oldest town in Taiwan, famous for its traditional architecture and food.

Go next
台湾中西部

title: Central Taiwan


text:
Central Tamil Nadu

Central Tamil Nadu is in Tamil Nadu, India. It consists of Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Karur, Namakkal, Perambalur, Salem and Tiruchirappalli districts.

Cities

 * —

 * — former capital of the Chola Empire

 * —

 * —

 * — a small historic city

 * —

 * — Mango City of India, This city is famous for sago, textiles, silver leg chains, Magnesite ore and bauxite. Salem Steel is very famous worldwide.

 * (Trichy) — the region's largest city, on the banks of river Cauvery (Kaveri), famous for its temples and diamond merchants. It also covers Srirangam, home to Ranganathaswamy Temple.

 * (Poor Man's Ooty) — trekker country

Other destinations

 * — Hill Station near Namakkal.1,300 metres above sea level

 * — is also a place of interest which one can only trek on a full moon night

 * — is a village situated near Elampillai, a textile hub of Salem. The importance of this place is 'NEVER DRY SPRINGS' in 5 - 6 feet ponds, from herb-abundant mountain named 'Kanchamalai'. This mountain is rich with minerals and is said to be a small piece fallen from Hanuman's Sanjeevi Malai! The deity 'Siddheswarar' is a much worshipped god in and around the place. But, one should be careful with the monkeys

 * — is 20 km. from Salem and can be reached by road via Salem Steel Plant. This place is famous for its architecture dating back to around 200 years. One of the important sculptures is Vali Vatham by Rama. Rama can see Vali but Vali cannot see Rama

 * is home to many temples

title: Central Tamil Nadu


text:
Central Tanzania

Central Tanzania is in the plateau region of Tanzania, with grasslands and national parks in its south, and arable land in the north.

Cities

 * - the nominal capital
 * - between Singida and Arusha
 * - one of the largest collections of rock paintings in Africa
 * - at the crossroads of Dar Es Salaam, Dodoma, and Iringa, at the base of the Uluguru mountains
 * - to the north of Dodoma, on the way to Arusha or Mwanza
 * - to the north of Dodoma, on the way to Arusha or Mwanza

Other destinations

 * (including Nyerere National Park)
 * (including Nyerere National Park)
 * (including Nyerere National Park)

title: Central Tanzania


text:
Central Tennessee

Central Tennessee, more often called Middle Tennessee, is a region of Tennessee. Besides the obvious destinations like Nashville, there are some lesser known ones, like Carthage, for instance, the hometown of former Vice-President Al Gore.

Cities

 * - Music City U.S.A., Country music capital of the world, and the State Capitol
 * - Home to the U.S. Army's Ft. Campbell and Austin Peay State University
 * - Home of 11th U.S. President James K. Polk with many Southern antebellum homes nearby
 * - Home of Tennessee Technological University
 * - Location of the famous Civil War Battle of Franklin
 * - City by The Lake, Nashville suburb
 * - David Crockett, Southern Gospel, Amish community
 * - Home of Cracker Barrel
 * - Home of world-famous Jack Daniel's Distillery
 * - Located along the edges of the picturesque Cumberland Plateau
 * - City Between the Lakes
 * - Location of Civil War Stones River Battlefield, and also home to Middle Tennessee State University
 * - Home to the beautiful University of the South
 * - where a dead man was elected mayor
 * - Location of the NASA Arnold Engineering Center
 * - Nearby Tim's Ford Lake offers recreational activities
 * - David Crockett, Southern Gospel, Amish community
 * - Home of Cracker Barrel
 * - Home of world-famous Jack Daniel's Distillery
 * - Located along the edges of the picturesque Cumberland Plateau
 * - City Between the Lakes
 * - Location of Civil War Stones River Battlefield, and also home to Middle Tennessee State University
 * - Home to the beautiful University of the South
 * - where a dead man was elected mayor
 * - Location of the NASA Arnold Engineering Center
 * - Nearby Tim's Ford Lake offers recreational activities
 * - where a dead man was elected mayor
 * - Location of the NASA Arnold Engineering Center
 * - Nearby Tim's Ford Lake offers recreational activities
 * - Nearby Tim's Ford Lake offers recreational activities
 * - Nearby Tim's Ford Lake offers recreational activities

Other destinations

 * The crosses through Middle Tennessee. It begins in Nashville and continues south through Wayne County where it enters Alabama. The road continues all the way to Natchez, Mississippi where it ends. The stretch through Middle Tennessee is often regarded as the most beautiful portion of the road. There are numerous overlooks, hiking trails, and waterfalls in the beautiful scenery of the rolling, Tennessee hills.

See

 * Tennessee Wineries. Visit at least one of the more than 20 wineries in Tennessee. Here in Middle Tennessee are these: |Beachaven Vineyards & Winery (Clarksville), |Chateau Ross Vineyard & Winery (Springfield), |Sumner Crest Winery (Portland), |Red Barn Winery & Vineyards (Lafayette), |Beans Creek Winery (Manchester), |Tri-Star Vineyards & Winery (Shelbyville), |Keg Springs Winery (Hampshire), |Holly Ridge Winery and Vineyard (Livingston), |Highland Manor Winery (Jamestown) and |Stonehaus Winery, Inc. (Crossville)

 * , east of Hohenwald and near mile marker 389 along the Natchez Trace, grave and reconstructed inn where it is believed Meriwether Lewis took his life.

Do

 * , east of McMinnville, where you can stop to see antebellum estates like the Black House and Falcon Rest, this is the 2nd largest cave in Tennessee, with a chandelier from the Lowes Metropolitan Theater in NYC.

Drink
Visit the Microbrewery at Yazoo in Nashville. Take the tour get a growler

Go next

 * East Tennessee - The Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee with valleys and ridges plus the Allegheny Mountains
 * West Tennessee - The Western Grand Division extends west from the Tennessee River and is the northern boundary of the Mississippi Delta cultural region.

title: Central Tennessee


text:
Central Thailand

Central Thailand, also known as the Central Plains, is the low-lying central region of Thailand. It is centered around the giant urban agglomeration of Bangkok.

Regions
Central Thailand can be divided into three regions:

Cities

 * — ancient capital built from red brick
 * — Thailand's largest city by far, a sprawling metropolis of wealth, squalor, culture, and sin
 * — Thailand's oldest beach resort, a royal destination since the 19th century
 * — the Bridge over the River Kwai, WWII museums and natural scenery
 * — known for its Khmer temples and crab-eating macaques
 * — Thailand's oldest city and site of the world's largest stupa
 * — the second largest city of Thailand in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region
 * — known for Khao Wang Mountain and access to national parks
 * — interesting village with the Mae Khlong Market and nearby floating markets

Other destinations

 * Amphawa — lively floating market near Samut Songkhram
 * Bang Pa-In — eccentric royal palace to the south of Ayutthaya
 * Damnoen Saduak — picture-perfect floating market on tourist steroids
 * Kaeng Krachan National Park — the fifteen-tiered Pala-u falls make a steep jungle trek
 * Erawan National Park — the beautiful seven-tiered Erawan Falls
 * Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park — visit the Phraya Nakhon Khiri cave or go bird-watching
 * Ko Kret — rustic little pottery island to the north of Bangkok

By plane
Most visitors to Thailand will arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand's largest airport 15 km (19 miles) east of Bangkok. It is roughly a 45 minutes ride from the centre of Bangkok, but heavy congestion could make that trip into 1,5 hours or more. More information about the airport can be found in the Bangkok article.

The Airport Rail Link connects Suvarnabhumi Airport with stations in the city, including Makkasan and Phaya Thai where you can interchange with city rail lines. You can also wait in line at the queue for a metered taxi at the first floor; a trip to the city costs about 250-450 baht. Always use the official taxi stand, though, and make sure the meter is turned on; otherwise, you might get in trouble later on.

By car
The Central Plains has good road connections with the east, south, north and northeast of the country.

Two main roads connect the Central Plains with Eastern Thailand. The main road is Sukhumvit Road, also known as Route 3, which starts in Bangkok and via Pattaya reaches all the way to Trat and the Cambodian border. Another route goes east to Aranyaprathet from which the border with Cambodia can be crossed to Siem Reap and Angkor Archaeological Park (but don't even think about driving on the Cambodian part).

From Phuket, Krabi Province and other destinations in Southern Thailand, take Route 4 that enters the Central Plains right after Chumphon. Passing Hua Hin, Cha-am and Samut Songkhram, the long ride reaches Bangkok.

See
There is a lot to see in the central region. Most visitors arrive in Bangkok, a true treasure house that literally has hundreds of sights. Prime sights are the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and Jim Thompson's House, but it is just a small fragment of its historical and cultural heritage. The Bangkok Metropolitan Area is less inviting for foreigners, but there are some sights you can see. Samut Prakan has some interesting museums, or you could take a boat ride north to Nonthaburi, or even better, Ko Kret.

There are many day-trips you can undertake from Bangkok. The Summer Palace at Bang Pa-In makes for a nice stop on the way to Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya has been the capital of Siam for 400 years and its historical remains should not be missed. There are literally hundreds of structures spread over and around the island, so renting a bicycle or moped is recommended. A short train ride north brings you to Lop Buri, a smaller historical town known for its macaques. Many visitors take in Lop Buri before getting onto the sleeper train to Northern Thailand.

There are endless fields of shrimp farms and rice paddies West of Bangkok, and of course the floating markets. The most popular among foreign visitors is Damnoen Saduak, but the locals prefer to visit Amphawa or Tha Kha. Samut Songkhram makes a good base for getting to the floating markets. A scenic way to get here is with the Mae Khlong Railway, a slow and rustic train that requires a boat transfer at the fishing village of Samut Sakhon. Nakhon Pathom makes a nice half-day visit for the Phra Pathom Chedi, the world's tallest stupa.

Going west, the terrain becomes more hilly as you get into the River Kwai Valleys. Kanchanaburi is another popular stop on the tourist trail for the Bridge over the River Kwai and its World War II Museums. If you have a few days to spend in this area, some of the interesting attractions include the Erawan Falls and Hellfire Pass. A popular activity is to take a train ride over the bridge, just for the heck of it. You could even go all the way to Sangkhlaburi and Three Pagodas Pass, a bus ride of four hours to the border with Myanmar.

If you're heading for the south, the Northern Gulf Coast has a lot to offer visitors. There are the beach resorts of Hua Hin, Cha-am and Ban Krut. Phetchaburi has a charming old quarter, and is often visited as a day-trip from Bangkok, Hua Hin or Cha-am. Hua Hin is also home to the waterfalls of the Kaeng Krachan National Park and the natural scenery of the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. Finally, you could continue the way to the beaches and islands of Southern Thailand.

Eat
Thai food (street food)

Go next

 * Chiang Mai
 * Khao Yai National Park
 * Pattaya
 * Sukhothai

title: Central Thailand


text:
Central Transdanubia

Central Transdanubia (Hungarian: Közép-Dunántúl) is a region in western Hungary.

Cities

 * – one of the centres of the Reformed faith in Transdanubia, with numerous ecclesiastical heritage sites and museums
 * – one of the oldest cities of Hungary
 * – one of the centres of the Reformed faith in Transdanubia, with numerous ecclesiastical heritage sites and museums
 * – one of the oldest cities of Hungary
 * – one of the oldest cities of Hungary
 * – one of the oldest cities of Hungary
 * – one of the oldest cities of Hungary
 * – one of the oldest cities of Hungary
 * – one of the oldest cities of Hungary

Other destinations

 * , Bakony - Balaton Uplands National Park
 * – Agard most important resorts of the lake, a vibrant fishing and rowing center (sailing, kayaking, canoeing).

Go next

 * Central Hungary
 * Lake Balaton
 * Southern Transdanubia
 * Western Transdanubia

title: Central Transdanubia


text:
Central Travancore

Central Travancore is in Kerala in India.

Cities

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * —

 * (Pala) —

 * —

 * —

Eat
The cuisine of Central Travancore is a meat lover's delight, with lot of emphasis on chicken, beef, mutton and pork. The domination of Kerala Christianity (Nasarani) culture has effectively created many unique dishes, many assimilated from West Asian or European culture. Since the region falls within spice belt, most of the dishes are extremely spicy and absolutely tasty.

Alrazi restaurant is situated near Mahalekshmi Silks Muthoor, Thiruvalla. They serve best Kuzhimanthi Chicken in town. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q0hPeIQZJc

title: Central Travancore


text:
Central Uganda

Central Uganda is a region of Uganda.

Cities

 * - the bustling capital
 * - the airport on the shores of Lake Victoria

Other destinations

 * - sleepy islands in Lake Victoria.

Get in
Entebbe International Airport

title: Central Uganda


text:
Central Ukraine

Central Ukraine (Ukrainian: Центральна Україна) is the region in the center north of Ukraine, and is the country's cultural, economic, and political center.

Regions near Kyiv

 * Kyivs'ka oblast' (Київська обл.) is a large area around Kyiv (Kiev), full of suburbs. Most of the people live outside the capital, and every day they go to work or to study to Kyiv (hence be aware of using crowded public transport), while some minority of the people are the wealthier citizens who live in numerous cottage suburbs, which populate the forests next to Kyiv. Chornobyl zone is at a fair distance, 130 km north of Kyiv, next to the border with Belarus. Road network is relatively fine around the region, since most major roads cross it: Kyiv-Warszaw, Kyiv-Lviv, Kyiv-Odesa, Kyiv-Chernihiv-Homel', Kyiv-Moscow, Kyiv-Kharkiv. The largest international airport in Ukraine, Boryspil, is located 20 km east of Kyiv, connected by a broad highway, so unusual to see elsewhere across the country.
 * Zhytomyrs'ka oblast' (Житомирська обл.) includes its largest city, Zhytomyr, 150 km west of Kyiv. Although less known, northern woods of Zhytomyrs'ka oblast' are also polluted with radiation after the Chornobyl disaster and sparsely populated. Southern part of region is a mix of forests and agricultural lands, with many smaller and larger towns across. It doesn't seem to be a tourist destination, rather serves as a transit area between Kyiv and the Western Ukraine.
 * Vinnyts’ka oblast' (Вінницька обл.) includes Vinnytsia and other small towns (Haisyn, Koziatyn, Nemyriv, Zhmerynka). A number of medicinal mineral water springs have been found in the oblast, they function as well as radon's water springs in the town of Khmilnyk.

Northern regions
Here you can see sparsely populated countryside (sometimes abandoned villages), many provincial towns, some forests (less than in northwest, but more than in southeastern Ukraine). Main routes from Kyiv to Belarus and Russia go across these lands.
 * Chernihivs'ka oblast' (Чернігівська обл.), which includes Chernihiv and other smaller towns (Nizhyn, Hlukhiv, Baturyn, Putyvl') of historical importance - these were the headquarters of Cossack government in 17-18th centuries. Oblast' is neighboring with infamous Chernobyl disaster area (a town of Slavutych, as an enclave of Kyivs'ka oblast' was built in late Soviet era for workers of Chernobyl nuclear power plant). But despite such the proximity, the environment is safe, it is even less polluted than the industrial east regions.
 * Sums'ka oblast' (Сумська обл.), mostly agricultural land, in close proximity to Russian border. Largest cities are Sumy, Konotop and Okhtyrka. Less to see here.

Former Cossack land on the banks of Dnipro
While Zaporizh'a was a base of Cossack army in 16-17th centuries, the historical lands where the Cossacks lived with their families were here. Kaniv, Chyhyryn, Pereyaslav, Lubny, Myrhorod, Poltava remain full of history sites since then. The region is also a motherland for many famous Ukrainians as Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Kotl'arevsky, Nikolai Gogol' and others.
 * Poltavs'ka oblast (Полтавська обл.), often referred to as Livoberezh'a (ua:Лівобережжя, meaning the left bank of Dnipro). Mostly agricultural land, however some green belts cross it north to south, associated with major rivers - Sula, Psel and Vorskla. You will ultimately cross Poltavs'ka oblast' on your way between Ukraine's two largest cities, Kyiv and Kharkiv. Most people live in Poltava and Kremenchuk, first is rich in history, latter is rich in industry. A smaller city of Komsomol'sk, a satellite of Kremenchuk, was built in the 1960s, nothing to see here except of the ferrous ore mine, one of the country's largest open pit, about 200 m depth. You may also like to visit numerous smaller towns, such as Lubny, Myrhorod, Khorol, Dykan'ka to see some authentic Ukrainian lifestyle, as well as the village of Velyki Sorochyntsi, where Sorochyns'ky yarmarok (traditional culture fair) occurs annually in August.
 * Cherkas'ka oblast' (Черкаська обл.), respectively Pravoberezh'a (ua:Правобережжя, meaning the right bank) features Cherkasy, the only large city on the bank of Kremenchuts'ke vodoskhovyshche (the largest artificial reservoir in Ukraine), historical towns of Kaniv and Chyhyryn, the town of Uman', famous for a large landscape park Sofiivka, designed for Polish landlord Potocky, and numerous villages swept across the hilly terrain.

Finally, Kirovohrads'ka oblast' (Кіровоградська обл.), in the past was known as Dyke Pole (literally, the Wild Field), a bordering land between Ukraine and nomadic Mongols and Tatars. Now it is the industrialized city of Kropyvnytskyi, and vast agricultural lands anywhere around. The geographical center of Ukraine is here, near the small town of Dobrovelychkivka. Otherwise, the region may be referred to Eastern Ukraine, not much to see here.

Cities

 * (Київ, Kiev) – Ukraine's capital and largest city
 * (Буша)
 * (Черка́си or Черкассы, Cherkassy)
 * (Чернігів or Чернигов, Chernigov)
 * (Канів)
 * (Кропивницький, Kropyvnyc'kyj)
 * (Лубни́)
 * (Ми́ргород)
 * (Полтава)
 * (Суми)
 * (Умань)
 * (Ві́нниця)
 * (Жито́мир, Žytomyr)
 * (Жито́мир, Žytomyr)

Other destinations

 * (Чорнобиль, Chornobyl) – the 2 exclusion zone including the abandoned city of Pripyat, after the infamous Chernobyl disaster of 1986

Talk
Central Ukraine is known for speaking surzhyk, so most of the people don't speak pure Russian or pure Ukrainian, but instead regularly codeswitch between the languages. Everything else is like elsewhere in Ukraine. Virtually anyone understands both Ukrainian and Russian. English is more or less understood by younger people (who study it), and by some adults of 25–35 years who had work experience abroad. Don't expect any significant knowledge of English by officials (since they are predominantly older people, who had no opportunity, and often have no intention to study it). However most Ukrainians, even if they don't understand you, will respect you as a foreigner and make an effort to help you. Any other foreign languages are quite useless.

See
Highlights oblast by oblast

Cherkaska

 * Bakaivka: Krasnogirskyi Protection of the Virgin (Saviour and Transfiguration) monastery, 1767-19th century;
 * Buky: River Girskyi Tikych canyon,
 * Chygyryn: B.Khmelnytskyi-P.Doroshenko's fortress, 16-17th century;
 * Gorodysche: St.Michael church, 1844;
 * Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi: Lopukhins' estate, ~1787,  ~1840;
 * Kozatske: Estate of Golitsyns-Engelhardts, 1785-1840
 * Lebedyn: Saviour and Transfiguration church, 1826; Wood mill, ~1880; St.Nicolas convent, 1779;
 * Mliiv: Symyrenkos' estate, 19th century;
 * Pugachivka: Trinity church, 1761
 * Shpola: A.Abaza's estate, mid-19-early 20th century;
 * Stebliv: Ros' river, Annex of Golovynskyis' residence, 18th century
 * Subotiv: St.Elias church and bell tower, 1653;
 * Zolotonosha: Assumption of the Virgin Mary church, 1909;
 * Subotiv: St.Elias church and bell tower, 1653;
 * Zolotonosha: Assumption of the Virgin Mary church, 1909;
 * Zolotonosha: Assumption of the Virgin Mary church, 1909;

Chernihivska

 * Baturyn: K.Rozumovskyi's palace, 1799-1803
 * Gustynya: Gustynya monastery, 1614-1844
 * Kachanivka:"Kachanivka" estate, 1770-1850s
 * Korop: Ascension church, 1764
 * Kozelets: Nativity of the Virgin cathedral, 1752-1763
 * Nizhyn: Annunciation (Lady Day) monastery, 18-19th century; Presentation convent, 18-19th century; St.Michael Greek Catholic church, 1714-1731
 * Novgorod-Siverskyi: Saviour and Transfiguration monastery, 11-19th century
 * Pryluky: St.Nicolas church, 1720, 1817
 * Sedniv: Wooden church, 1850s, beautiful place (beaches on Snov river)
 * Trostyanets: Arboretum, 1850s
 * Vyshenky: O.Rumyantsev-Zadunaiskyi's palace, 1780s; Assumption church, 1787
 * Zhuklya: Protection of the Virgin church, 1913
 * Zhuklya: Protection of the Virgin church, 1913

Kyivska

 * Borodani: Resurrection church, 1800
 * Lypovyi Skytok: St.Onuphry church, 1705
 * Parkhomivka: Complex of Protection of the Virgin church, 1905
 * Pidgirtsi: St.Michael church and bell tower, 1742, 1850s
 * Rude Selo: Palace, 1820s; Trinity church, 1841
 * Scherbaky: 150-year-old chapel
 * Snitynka: Pond
 * Vasylkiv: SS.Anthony and Theodosius cathedral, 1758
 * Zgurivka: Landscape park, 1837
 * Snitynka: Pond
 * Vasylkiv: SS.Anthony and Theodosius cathedral, 1758
 * Zgurivka: Landscape park, 1837
 * Zgurivka: Landscape park, 1837

Kirovohradska

 * Bobrynets: Ascension cathedral, 1912; Synagogue, 19th century; Old market, St.Nicolas cathedral,1850; District school, mid-19th century; Synagogue, 19th century; Local history museum
 * Novomyrgorod: St.Elias church, 1786
 * Rozumivka: Exaltation of the Cross church with Raevskyis' counts family crypt, 1855
 * Rozumivka: Exaltation of the Cross church with Raevskyis' counts family crypt, 1855

Poltavska

 * Berezova Rudka: Zakrevskyis' burial vault (pyramid), 1899; Estate of Zakrevskyis, 18-19th century.
 * Chornukhy: G.Skovoroda Estate, 1722, 1972
 * Dykanka: St.Nicolas church and bell tower, 1794; Trinity church, 1780; Triumphal arch, 1820
 * Pyryatyn: Nativity of the Virgin cathedral, 1781
 * Pyryatyn: Nativity of the Virgin cathedral, 1781

Sumska

 * Kyyanytsya: Lischynskyis' estate, 1883, Lischynskyis' sugar refinery, 1866
 * Lebedyn: Protection of the Virgin church and gate, 1870s, Fire department (former town council), 1913–1915; Resurrection church, 1748; St.Nicolas church, 1890s
 * Nyzy: Kondratiev-Sukhanovs' estate, 19th century, Nativity of the Virgin church, 1903
 * Okhtyrka: Archangel Michael church, 1884, Complex of Protection of the Virgin cathedral,  1753-1825
 * Romny: Ascension church and church-belltower, 1795–1801
 * Yunakivka: St.Nicolas church, 1793–1806
 * Trostyanets: Golitsyns / L.Kenig's estate, 18th-19th century, "Unboring" landscape park, 1810–1913
 * Trostyanets: Golitsyns / L.Kenig's estate, 18th-19th century, "Unboring" landscape park, 1810–1913

Zhytomyrs'ka

 * Andrushivka: Tereschenko's estate, 1889.
 * Berdychiv: Barefoot Carmelites monastery, 16th-18th century, St.Barbara church,  1826
 * Chervone: Palace and park, 1870s
 * Korostyshiv: Nativity of the Virgin Mary church and house of priest
 * Korosten: Underground headquarters of Stalin "Rock", 1930s; Ostrovskiy municipal park
 * Lyubar: St. George Basilians monastery, 1770-1830s
 * Mezhyrichka: St.Nicolas church, 1772
 * Nova Chortoryya: estate, 1800s
 * Ovruch: St. Basil church and monastery constructions, 12th-20th century, Transfiguration cathedral, 18th century, 1993
 * Stara Kotelnya: St. Anthony of Padua church, 1786
 * Yaropovychi: Pond and ancient settlement,
 * Turchynivka: Estate, 1870s
 * Verkhivnya: Ganskyi's estate, 1720s-1810s

Vinnyts’ka

 * Brailiv: Trinity monastery, 1770s
 * Chernyatyn: Vitoslavskyi-Lvov estate, 1800s
 * Ivaniv: Choloniewskis' castle-palace, 1596-1770s
 * Khmilnyk: Estate, 1700-1900s; Beheading of John the Baptist church, 1603, 1728
 * Kozyatyn: Railway station, 1889
 * Nemyriv: Scythian ancient settlement, ~560 BC; Palace and park of duchess M.Scherbatova,  1890s, Bratslav mill and electric power station, 1890
 * Pechera: Estate, 1880s; Nativity of the Virgin church, 1762
 * Voronovytsya:	Palace and park, 1780s; St.Michael church, 1752
 * Zhmerynka: Railway station, 1899
 * Zhmerynka: Railway station, 1899

title: Central Ukraine


text:
Central Utah

Cental Utah is a region of Utah, which includes the counties of Sanpete, Sevier, and Piute, as well as the eastern (east of longitude 113W) halves of Juab, Millard, and Beaver counties.

Cities

 * — Gateway to Utah's vast western desert and nearby Little Sahara Recreation Area.
 * – Home of Snow College
 * – The Gateway to Skyline Drive. Fairview Museum.
 * – Location of the annual "Mormon Mircale Pageant"
 * – The whole city is on the National Register of Historic Places.
 * – Location of the annual "Mormon Mircale Pageant"
 * – The whole city is on the National Register of Historic Places.
 * – The whole city is on the National Register of Historic Places.
 * – The whole city is on the National Register of Historic Places.
 * – The whole city is on the National Register of Historic Places.
 * – The whole city is on the National Register of Historic Places.
 * – The whole city is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Other destinations

 * – Conglomerate rock climbing.
 * – Golf, Fish, Swim, Canoe, Camp.
 * – Utah's off-road recreation haven.
 * – Waterski, Fish, and Camp.
 * – Waterski, Fish, and Camp.

Get around
Skyline Drive is a mountain road that winds for 87 miles along the spine of the Wasatch Plateau and is perhaps one of the highest roads in the nation. From the Skyline you can often see both sides of the mountain.

The Arapeen ATV Trail System is a great family trail with plenty of advanced sections for experienced riders. The trail system ascends from 6,000 to 10,000 feet through aspen and pine forests of the Manti-LaSal National Forest and includes the Skyline Drive and trails branching off from it. The Arapeen ATV Trail can be accessed from the west by using canyon roads that intersect with Heritage Highway 89 at every town between the cities of Fairview and Mayfield in the Sanpete Valley. From the east side of the mountain the trail can be accessed by taking canyon roads along Highway 10 from Huntington to Emery. Four-wheel-drive vehicles can traverse most of the trail, however various sections are to narrow or steep and require an ATV.

Go next

 * Western Utah, which is to the west, has more desertlike country and is deeper inside the Great Basin.

title: Central Utah


text:
Central Valley

There is more than one place called Central Valley:

Costa Rica

 * Central Valley (Costa Rica) - a region containing the capital, San José (Costa Rica).

United States of America

 * Central Valley (California) - A region of California also known as San Joaquin Valley.
 * Central Valley (New York) - A town in Orange County, New York.

title: Central Valley


text:
Central Valley (Costa Rica)

Costa Rica's Central Valley is the most populated region of the country; the capital city, San José, is there and so is the Juan Santamaría airport. The Central Valley includes charming small towns, towering volcanoes, and dense jungle landscapes like the huge Braulio Carrillo National Park.

Other destinations

 * – huge protected area of mountainous rain forest, a magnet for eco-tourism
 * – huge protected area of mountainous rain forest, a magnet for eco-tourism
 * – huge protected area of mountainous rain forest, a magnet for eco-tourism
 * – huge protected area of mountainous rain forest, a magnet for eco-tourism
 * – huge protected area of mountainous rain forest, a magnet for eco-tourism

Understand
The Valley of Pérez Zeledon is one of the most intensive cultivated areas of Costa Rica. Several indigenous communities, like Terraba or Boruca, inhabit and cultivate land in this region.

Most of the factories and services industries companies are also in the area; therefore, a lot of sleeper towns and cities surround and permeate the Central Valley. Still, there are many historical sights and because of the small size of the country, this area is the starting point of the many adventures available in the rest of the country.

By bus
If coming from San Carlos (Nicaragua) a change of bus in Ciudad Quesada may be necessary.

By train
The Costa Rican railway network was never all that extensive and has suffered in the 20th century, but in the Central Valley government investment in the 21st century has helped build a small network mostly aimed at commuters.

title: Central Valley (Costa Rica)


text:
Central Valley-Harriman

Central Valley is a town in Orange County, New York.

Get in
NYS Thruway (I-87) Exit 16.

title: Central Valley-Harriman


text:
Central Vancouver Island

With coastline on two sides and mountains in the middle, Central Vancouver Island is a popular vacation and recreation area on Vancouver Island. You can take it easy with gentle strolls amongst old-growth trees, walk along wide beaches or check out some of the local museums to learn about the area. Or get the heart going and ski, bike, rent a kayak, visit a cave, do a multi-day hike or surf.

Cities
The central part of the island covers a wide area. The cities, towns and villages can be roughly broken down as follows:

Comox Valley and North Central Island

 * — Small city at the northern end of the central island region. It is known for fishing and is nicknamed the Salmon Capital of the World.
 * / — The gateway to Mt Washington, Strathcona Provincial Park and some spectacular fishing. These two towns are a beautiful place to visit in summer and winter.
 * — Village at the end of Hwy 28. It has some caves and is the gateway to Nootka Sound and the Yuquot National Historic Site.

Mid-Island

 * — A popular stop on the road to Tofino best known for the Goats on the Roof in Coombs — both an attraction in its own right and a very popular market with a number of unique and imported items — and the old growth forest at Cathedral Grove.
 * — Rural area northwest of Parksville/Qualicum Beach. Coastal communities like Qualicum Bay and Deep Bay offer quiet respite and great views. Inland, Horne Lake is an adventure center with caving and rappelling.
 * — The largest city in the region and transportation hub. Nearby Saysutshun Newcastle Island is a popular attraction with trails, lookouts and First Nations history.
 * and — A summer vacation spot about 30 minutes north of Nanaimo. Its best known for its beautiful shallow beaches where you can walk and walk and walk when the tide goes out. There are also family-friendly parks and farms to entertain the kids. The two cities make a good base to explore the Mid-Island area and have a range of accommodation options, but do fill up July and August.

West Coast

 * — Small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, renowned for fishing charters.
 * — Developed as a major forest industry town and a service town for the fishing industry, today it is a popular salmon fishing destination.
 * — Ecotourism center on the beautiful (if wet) west coast of the island. The main attractions are storm watching, whale watching, surfing and Long Beach, which is part of Pacific Rim National Park.
 * — Small town on the west coast of Vancouver Island about 30 min from Tofino. Traditionally a service center for the fishing industry, it has a growing number of resorts and accommodation options due to its proximity to Tofino and Long Beach.

Other destinations

 * — has a regular ferry service from Hornby Island and Buckley Bay (on Vancouver Island); it is known for its festivals, quiet roads, and scenery. decades.
 * — a small island between Parksville and Courtenay. It has a number of parks that are popular for hiking, biking and beaches.
 * — four season resort with more than 80 downhill runs and of cross-country ski trails in winter. In summer, there's hiking, mountain biking and the lifts are open to take in the views.
 * — surf or take a stroll on the long sweep of the aptly named Long Beach, and learn about the natural and cultural history of the area at the Kwisitis Visitor Centre. Limited camping is available close to the beach but most visitors stay in nearby Tofino or Ucluelet.
 * — a popular destination for hikers, mountain climbers, swimmers, canoeists and kayakers. The park contains the highest peaks in the Vancouver Island ranges and Della Falls, considered to be Canada's highest waterfall. Hikes range from short ambles to multi-day adventures. There are both drive-in and backcountry campsites and one lodge in the park.
 * — named Friendly Cove by James Cook, it was the site of Santa Cruz de Nuca, the first European colony in British Columbia, a Spanish settlement founded in 1789 and abandoned in 1795, today a National Historic Site.

Get in
Nanaimo is the transportation hub of the region, with road access up- and down-island, ferries to Metro Vancouver and a regional airport with flights from Canada's two main airlines. There are three other small airports in the region and Comox has a ferry connection with the Sunshine Coast.

By car
The main highways into Central Vancouver Island are Highways 1 and 19.
 * Highway 1 BC-1 (TCH).svg (Trans-Canada Highway) connects with West Vancouver (by ferry to Nanaimo) and, on the Island, south to Victoria. The drive to Victoria is about 1.5 hours.
 * Highway 19 BC-19.svg (Island Highway) heads north from Nanaimo to Campbell River, Port Hardy and North Vancouver Island.

By boat

 * Vehicle ferry routes that connect Central Vancouver Island to the Lower Mainland. Two routes arrive in Nanaimo and one arrives in Comox.
 * Vancouver (Tsawwassen) ferry terminal in Delta to Nanaimo (Duke Point) ferry terminal - 2 hours sailing with eight departures daily, departing once every 2.5 hours. Public transit at Vancouver (Tsawwassen) ferry terminal only.
 * Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) ferry terminal in West Vancouver to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) ferry terminal - 1 hour 40 minutes sailing with seven-nine departures daily. Public transit at both terminals.
 * Powell River (Westview) ferry terminal to Comox (Little River) ferry terminal ferry terminal - 1 hours 25 minutes sailing with four departures daily. Public transit at both terminals.
 * Vehicle ferry from the Southern Gulf Islands
 * Gabriola Island (Descanso Bay) ferry terminal to Nanaimo (Nanaimo Harbour) ferry terminal - 20 minutes crossing, departures every 35 to 70 minutes. Public transit near Nanaimo (Nanaimo Harbour) ferry terminal only.
 * Other vehicle ferries from islands
 * Hornby Island (Shingle Spit) to Denman Island East (Gravelly Bay) - 10 minutes crossing, departs hourly.
 * Denman Island West to Buckley Bay - 10 minutes crossing, departs every 40 to 60 minutes. Buckley Bay is on Vancouver Island. Public transit at Buckley Bay only.
 * Denman Island West to Buckley Bay - 10 minutes crossing, departs every 40 to 60 minutes. Buckley Bay is on Vancouver Island. Public transit at Buckley Bay only.

By plane

 * Campbell River - flights from Vancouver
 * Comox - flights from Calgary and Vancouver
 * Nanaimo - the largest airport in the region, flights from Calgary and Vancouver
 * Tofino - a small airport, flights from Vancouver

Seaplanes
There are seaplane facilities with scheduled commercial flights located at Nanaimo harbour. Seaplane routes connect frequently from-to downtown Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport, and Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast.

By public transit
BC Transit operates bus transit systems serving Campbell River, Comox Valley (Courtenay and Comox), Regional District of Nanaimo (Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach) and Port Alberni.

In addition, BC Transit has an intercity routes between the transit systems, which include:

 * Between Campbell River and Courtenay with a transfer at Oyster River. Campbell River Transit System bus route 6 between Campbell River and Oyster River.  Comox Valley Regional Transit System bus route 12 between Courtenay and Oyster River.  Connections between the two routes are available Monday to Saturday.
 * Between Qualicum Beach and Duncan using the following routes:
 * Between Qualicum Beach, Parksville, and Nanaimo (Woodgrove Centre) on bus route 91 *Regional District of Nanaimo Transit System), operating daily.
 * Between Nanaimo (Woodgrove Centre) and downtown Nanaimo on bus route 50 (Regional District of Nanaimo Transit System), operating daily.
 * Between downtown Nanaimo and Duncan via Ladysmith on bus route 70 (operated by Regional District of Nanaimo Transit System and Cowichan Valley Regional Transit System), which operates Monday to Saturday.

Museums and aquariums

 * There are small-scale aquariums focusing on local aquatic life in Ucluelet and Campbell River. The working marine field station at Deep Bay in Lighthouse Country has displays and touch tanks
 * Campbell River has the Maritime Heritage Center with all things nautical, including restored boats, displays on maritime history and an activity center where you can learn about knots
 * Courtenay and Comox have a couple of military themed museums with exhibits on the Canadian armed forces and air force, including an Air Park that provides an up-close view of some of the historical planes
 * The McLean Sawmill in Port Alberni is a steam-operated sawmill and has exhibits on logging machines and history
 * Many communities have local museums about the history of the area

Nature
The scenery is beautiful and some highlights are:
 * The surf beaches of Tofino and Long Beach in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
 * Parksville/Qualicum Beach is known for its wide shallow beaches where you can walk a kilometer out in some places when the tide goes out
 * Get a view of the mountains in Strathcona Provincial Park and Mount Washington Alpine Resort
 * View the giant old-growth trees in Cathedral Grove, which are a short walk from the highway in MacMillan Provincial Park near Arrowsmith Coombs Country

Do
There are plenty of outdoors things to do in Central Vancouver Island.
 * Fishing - Both Port Alberni and Campbell River make claims to be the Salmon Capital of the World. Bamfield is also known for fishing charters.
 * Hiking – There's a hike for everyone with a wide range of trails. At the difficult end, there is the multi-day West Coast Trail in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, which is considered one of the best and toughest hikes in Canada, and backcountry hiking opportunities in Strathcona Provincial Park. Many of the smaller provincial parks around the region have shorter hikes that still have some great views.
 * Kayaking – The coastline is abundant and kayaks are a great way to see it. Many towns and villages will have shops that rent kayaks. Some of the popular areas are Tofino and Parksville/Qualicum Beach.
 * Surfing – With three good surf beaches, Tofino is the center of British Columbia's surf scene. Bring a wetsuit though, because the water is chilly year-round.
 * Wildlife viewing tours – Whale watching is popular out of Tofino and Campbell River. Grizzly bear viewing tours are run out of Campbell River.

Stay safe
Earthquakes occur in British Columbia every day; luckily, most aren't felt and don't cause any damage. However, earthquakes that occur in the Pacific Ocean and along the Pacific Rim pose a tsunami risk. Many of the scenic places along the coast of Central Vancouver Island, including parts of Tofino, Ucluelet, and the Pacific Rim Natural Park are in evacuation zones. Know what to do in case of both an earthquake and tsunami warning. If you are on the beach or in the evacuation zone, the shaking is the warning — you only have several minutes to head to higher ground and won't have time to check a map or website. Roadside signs on some routes remind you when you are in a tsunami zone and some areas are served by public warning sirens. Ask your host for the specific instructions in your location as soon as you arrive.

Go next

 * Discovery Islands – Catch the ferry or water taxi, or take a float plane, from Campbell River to one of the many islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia. There's kayaking, the off the beaten path charm of Quadra Island and wildlife ranging from orcas to grizzly bears.
 * North Vancouver Island – The more remote and less touristy part of Vancouver Island, with fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking, whale watching and other wildlife viewing.
 * South Vancouver Island – Down the Trans-Canada Highway from Nanaimo, the southern part of Vancouver Island is a mix of stately charm and rugged outdoors. Victoria, the capital, has the world-class Royal British Columbia Museum and the renowned Butchart Gardens. Further afield, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Juan de Fuca Provincial Park have stunning multi-day coastal hikes.
 * Vancouver – Vibrant, multicultural and the largest city in British Columbia, Vancouver has parks, museums, trails of all types and some beautiful scenery. It's a 1.5 hour ferry ride from Nanaimo or catch a short flight from one of the region's airports.
 * Sunshine Coast – Low-key 180-km (110-mi) stretch of forest, seashore and mountains. Those who appreciate the beauty of outstanding marine parks and marshland bird sanctuaries, old growth forest and alpine peaks will find this the perfect destination. It's accessed by ferry from Comox.

title: Central Vancouver Island


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Central Vermont

Central Vermont is in center of Vermont and includes the state capital of Montpelier.

Cities

 * - capital of Vermont, and the nation's smallest state capital

 * - home of Stowe Mountain ski resort
 * - home of Mad River Glen ski resort
 * - home of Stowe Mountain ski resort
 * - home of Mad River Glen ski resort
 * - home of Stowe Mountain ski resort
 * - home of Mad River Glen ski resort
 * - home of Stowe Mountain ski resort
 * - home of Mad River Glen ski resort
 * - home of Mad River Glen ski resort
 * - home of Mad River Glen ski resort

By plane

 * Morrisville–Stowe State Airport

By train
There are Amtrak stations in Waterbury, Montpelier, Randolph, and White River Junction.

By bus

 * Megabus. Service to Montpelier from Boston.

By bus
Regional transit agencies are Tri-Valley Transit (Addison County, Orange County) and Green Mountain Transit (Washington County).

title: Central Vermont


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Central Virginia

Central Virginia, also known as the Piedmont, is the largest region of the state of Virginia and contains the state capital, Richmond. It is marked on the east by the Fall Line, and on the west by the Appalachian Mountains. The southern part of this region, bordering on North Carolina, is generally referred to in the state as "Southside Virginia".

Understand
Richmond began as a small trading town on the James River, at the Fall Line, where ships could no longer progress inland. Cities such as Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Martinsville grew as trade centers on roads traveled by pioneers heading west through gaps in the Appalachian Mountains.

The capital of Virginia was moved from Williamsburg to Richmond during the Revolutionary War, as it was inland and was safe from the firepower of the British Navy (it was captured by the British Army at a later date). Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death," speech took place at St. John's Church.

Richmond was named the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. In the spring of 1865, the city was captured and burned by Union Forces. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House, east of Lynchburg, shortly after.

Talk
The accent is very light in areas bordering Northern Virginia but gets much stronger in the southern rural areas. The accent is typically the strongest and most southern in Southside Virginia by the North Carolina border. The dialect in Richmond is very unique that it combines elements of Urban dialects with elements of British Colonial English. However, most people in Richmond today will speak general American English.

By plane
Richmond International Airport is the largest airport in Central Virginia with flights from most of the United States. International flights to Canada and Mexico are sometimes seasonally available. This is usually the cheapest airport to fly to and from in Central Virginia.

By train
Amtrak offers several lines that run through central Virginia. The crescent originating in New Orleans Louisiana and running to New York City has stops in Danville and Lynchburg. The Staples Mill Road station in Richmond is serviced by the Silver Star and the Palmetto, providing service up and down the east coast.

By car
Central Virginia is served by two interstate highways. I 64 runs from West Virginia to the west and Norfolk to the east while I-95 runs north/south from Florida all the way up the East Coast of the United States.

Get around

 * Interstate 95 runs through the region north and south.
 * Interstate 64 runs through the region east and west.
 * Route 29 runs from Charlottesville to Lynchburg.

See

 * Appomattox Court House National Historic Park, Appomattox, Virginia. The site of the surrender of the Confederate forces, marking the end of the Civil War, is restored to tell the story of that day.
 * Fairy Stone State Park, west of Martinsville, Virginia. Located near the southern border, Fairy Stone State Park is named for the unique cross-shaped brown crystals found here. Local legends claim they guard against sickness and danger.
 * Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia. The house depicted on the back of the nickel is more than yet another Presidential residence. Monticello reflects a wide variety of third President Thomas Jefferson's interests and hobbies, including his inventions, the neo-classical architecture repeated at UVA, and mementos from the William and Clark expedition.
 * National D-Day Memorial, Bedford, Virginia. Bedford was chosen for the memorial for having lost more young men during the invasion of Normandy than any other town in America, per capita.

Do

 * Fairy Stone State Park, near Martinsville, is home to the mysterious "fairy stones", or staurolite. The stone, prevalent in the region, may have the St. Andrew's or Roman shape.
 * Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia. One of Virginia's two nationally known theme parks.
 * Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia. The other nationally known theme park.
 * Scott's Addition, Richmond, Virginia. Well known neighborhood for local craft alcohol scene of breweries, cideries, meaderies, and distilleries, all of which are walkable between each other.

Eat
If visiting the shopping district of Historic Fredericksburg, all of the restaurants on Caroline St. are popular with locals.

Drink
Central Virginia is home to a booming wine industry, centered around the Charlottesville area.
 * Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville, Virginia. A vineyard set on a historic estate in Jefferson country.
 * Buskey Cider, Richmond, Virginia. A local craft cidery serving pints in an industrial setting in the historic Scott's Addition neighborhood.

Stay safe
Richmond has some issues with crime, though you can have a perfectly safe trip if you brush up on where the sketchy neighborhoods are.

title: Central Virginia


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Central Visayas

The Central Visayas (Region VII) is one of the administrative regions of the Philippines, part of the Visayas island group. The Visayas are roughly the central third of the Philippines, so this region is approximately in the center of the whole country.

This region has some magnificent beaches, many dive spots and, in Cebu City, historic landmarks which date back to 1521. The island of Bohol has the charming Chocolate Hills and diminutive tarsiers and is popular with leisure travelers, including many Koreans and Japanese.

The pioneering Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan was killed at the Battle of Mactan, now the city of Lapu-Lapu, by local chieftain Lapu-Lapu in the year 1521. A shrine in Cebu City was built in memory of his death centuries later. The oldest urban center in the Philippines, the walled city in Cebu, was built by the Spanish colonizers in the 16th century; parts of it survive (some only as ruins) and are tourist attractions today. The walled city of Intramuros in Manila was patterned after this walled fortress.

The Sinulog Festival in January is the region's most popular religious cultural event. It is centered in Cebu City but also celebrated in many nearby areas.

Wikivoyage divides the Visayas up without using the administrative regions; see the Visayas article for details.

Provinces
The region includes three island provinces, all with plenty of beaches and dive resorts. Each consists of one main island with the same name as the province plus various smaller islands nearby. There is also one province which is only part of a large island:
 * , a major tourist draw with tarsiers (one of the world's smallest primates) and the scenic "Chocolate Hills"
 * , economic center and transport hub of the region, with much tourism in some areas
 * , a small island province whose history includes tales of witches and sorcerers
 * with the tourist town Dumaguete and diving destination Apo Island.

Cities

 * , easily the largest urban area in the Visayas, second in the country. It consists mainly of three cities:
 * - capital of Cebu province, a major tourist destination with much history and very lively nightlife
 * - with the airport and many diving resorts, mostly upscale
 * - an industrial and residential town located between Cebu and Lapu-Lapu
 * There are also many smaller suburbs; see Metro Cebu for a list.

 * - capital of Negros Oriental
 * - capital of Siquijor province
 * - capital of Bohol

Other destinations

 * — a major diving destination with a large protected reef area, south of Dumaguete
 * — an island in Cebu Province, but separate from Cebu Island, somewhat to the north. It has beaches, dive shops, and many resorts, mostly upscale
 * — an area in Cebu Province with many dive schools and many resorts, mostly at mid-range prices
 * — close to Cebu City, with a bird sanctuary, diving, and some mid-range resorts
 * — village near the southern tip of Cebu island, known for whale shark watching
 * , the main resort and diving area on Bohol

Understand
This is an overview article. For details of things to see and do, and places to eat, drink or sleep, see the lower-level articles on individual provinces, towns and islands. Links above will lead you to them.

Talk
The main language of this region, and for much of Mindanao and parts of the Eastern Visayas, is Cebuano, which is also known as Bisaya. With more than 20 million native speakers, it is the second most important local language in the Philippines. Local and regional newscasts are broadcast in Cebuano, and most local newspapers are published in English. There are variations in Cebuano - for example, the Cebuano spoken in Bohol is called Boholano - but the prestige variant is the one spoken in the "Queen City" of Cebu City.

Since before the time of Magellan's visit (1520), Sugbo (as Cebu was then known) had been a world trade centre and many speak English as a second language. Many also speak Tagalog; that language is not native to this region, but rather to Luzon, but is the basis for the official language Filipino which is taught in schools throughout the country.

Sometimes, people in this region also speak in Taglish (Tagalog + English) when they cannot find the appropriate word to use in Tagalog. Youth speaks English with a Cebuano accent, often interchanging i and e as well as o and u while ones from older generations can barely converse in Taglish. Really old people often speak excellent English from US colonial days. Some people will also understand a little of Ilonggo or Waray. The Chinese minority speak Hokkien, a minority of expatriates and immigrants speak their own languages.

When speakers of different Philippine languages meet overseas, they must determine if their conversation will work better in Tagalog or English. Most likely, it will involve both Tagalog and English, thus Taglish. Within this region there is rarely this problem since all natives of this region understand Cebuano. However, some higher officials from outside the region understand very little Cebuano and will want to switch to Taglish.

Get in
The region is well connected to the rest of the country by air or sea, and there are some buses. Most overseas visitors will enter it by air, landing at Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

By air
The main jump off point to the region is the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the island city of Lapu-Lapu, part of Metro Cebu. As of mid-2018, it is the only international airport in the Central Visayas and the busiest in the entire Visayas region. From the airport, you can easily get to Mandaue (there are two bridges), and on to the urban center of Cebu City.

The airport has flights to many cities in East and Southeast Asia, plus Dubai. It is Cebu Pacific's hub in the Visayas with connecting flights to most major cities in Mindanao and the Visayas, and to tourist destinations such as Boracay through Caticlan Airport and Palawan through Puerto Princesa. All domestic carriers have flights to Mactan-Cebu International Airport from Manila.

There are also airports in Dumaguete (in Sibulan town), and in Tagbilaran. Both Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines fly Manila-Tagbilaran and Manila-Dumaguete. Cebu Pacific also flies Cebu-Dumaguete, and Clark-Dumaguete flights were scheduled to start in June 2018. Siquijor also has a small airport; Air Juan has flights to/from Mactan-Cebu.

By sea
The Port of Cebu is the country's busiest port and a major transport hub with connections all over the Visayas region and some to Manila and Mindanao. Inter-island shipping is served by numerous shipping lines, two of them fastcraft companies which serve all the provinces in the region.

One can also enter the region via fastcraft connection from Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin to Jagna in Bohol.

By bus
Bus companies serve the Manila-Cebu and Manila-Dumaguete routes from Ali Mall terminal in Cubao, Quezon City.

By sea
The Port of Cebu is the region's main gateway. There are also ports in Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, Larena in Siquijor, and Tagbilaran, Getafe and Jagna in Bohol. Inter-island shipping is served by numerous shipping lines, two of them fastcraft companies which serve all the provinces in the region.

From either Cebu City or Dumaguete, there are boats to Bohol and Siquijor. Both fast craft and RoRos (larger, slower, cheaper ferries that can carry cars and trucks) are available.

By air
It is rare to travel within the region by air; bus or ferry is generally more convenient. For example, one might fly Cebu-Tagbilaran but the ferry (see Tagbilaran) is considerably cheaper. It is likely also faster and more convenient since the ports are downtown in both cities while airports are not, and boats go direct while fliers must change planes in Manila.

The Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Metro Cebu has many domestic flights and is useful for trips further afield in the Visayas, for example to Iloilo or Tacloban, or to Mindanao.

Cebu Pacific fly from Mactan-Cebu direct to Dumaguete. There are cheaper ways to reach there (see Dumaguete), but some travellers prefer to fly.

Go next
The Eastern Visayas and Mindanao are accessible by ferry, either from the port of Cebu which is the main hub for the southern part of the country or from various smaller ports.

For Negros, the commonest route is a bus from Cebu City to Bacolod or Dumaguete. For the Western Visayas, bus to Bacolod then a ferry to Iloilo; there are buses from Iloilo to any of the provincial capitals on Panay. There are also flights from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Kalibo, the nearest airport to Boracay.

See the "Get in" sections of destination articles for details.

title: Central Visayas


text:
Central West (Brazil)

Central West (Portuguese: Região Centro-Oeste) is the only landlocked Brazilian region. The region offers excellent opportunities for eco-tourism activities such as exploring caves, rappelling down waterfalls or just trekking through the cerrado (an ecosystem similar, in some ways, to the savannah). It is also well known for the Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, close to the Brazil's western border.

Cities

 * - Brazil's surreal planned capital
 * - center of the so-called "Caribbean of the Central West", an area with incredible clear blue ponds and rivers
 * - the world's largest hydrothermal complex
 * - capital of Mato Grosso do Sul and southern gateway to the Pantanal
 * - western gateway to the Pantanal, near the border with Bolivia
 * - capital of Mato Grosso and northern gateway to the Pantanal
 * - capital of Goiás, a modern city planned during the art-deco era
 * - historic city famous for its colonial architecture and religious events
 * - old colonial city with cobblestone streets and waterfalls

Other destinations

 * in Mato Grosso
 * in Goiás
 * — UNESCO World Heritage site due to its diverse and old ecosystem
 * — estance park of Araguaia River
 * — estance park of Araguaia River

Understand
The region's economic activity is on the rise and based on agriculture and cattle raising, as well as commerce and intense government activity in Brasilia.

By plane
Cities with airports receiving the most domestic flights are Brasília, Goiânia, Cuiabá, Corumbá, and Campo Grande.

By car

 * From Bolivia - There are border crossings between Puerto Suarez, Bolivia and Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul and between San Matías, Bolivia and Cáceres in Mato Grosso.
 * From Paraguay - Mato Grosso do Sul shares a border with Paraguay, with the most important border crossing between Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay and Dourados.

Major Brazilian federal highways coming in from other regions are:

 * BR-010 into Brasília from Belém, passing through Tocantins
 * BR-040 into Brasília from Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro
 * BR-050 into Brasília from Uberlândia, Uberaba, Campinas, São Paulo, and Santos
 * BR-262 into Mato Grosso do Sul from the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais and as far east as Vitória, Espírito Santo
 * BR-364 into Mato Grosso from the states of Rondônia and Acre

title: Central West (Brazil)


text:
Central West (New South Wales)

The Central West is an inland region in the Australian state of New South Wales, with parts of it being in the great widely known Outback.

Cities
The Central West of New South Wales has three cities: The Central West also contains a number of smaller townships:

Other destinations

 * - Former gold mining town
 * – Australia's first dark-sky park
 * - Former gold mining town
 * – Australia's first dark-sky park
 * – Australia's first dark-sky park

Understand
The Central West of New South Wales contains some of the oldest cities on the inland side of the Blue Mountains. The area is known for its produce, including cold climate fruits and wines. It contains some of the best restaurants in New South Wales outside of Sydney.

The region is mainly farmland, and the main agricultural products are lamb, beef, and wheat.

The Central West includes the sub-region known as the Central Tablelands. It offers a variety of historical communities, culinary trails, outdoor art, sublime gardens and plenty of adventure-related activities.

Get in
Lithgow is at the foot of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and is accessible via either the Bells Line of road from Windsor or the Great Western Highway from Penrith. All drivers from Sydney to the area would take one of these two roads, and then travel west on the Great Western Highway and the Mitchell Highway to the other towns.

Lithgow, Orange, Bathurst and Blayney are all stops on the XPT train to Dubbo, and several flights (1 hour duration) from Sydney Airport to Dubbo operate every day.

Get around
The area has some public transport connecting most of the cities and towns. Several buses run between Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo every day, with a lesser number to the smaller towns. However, the only way to reach the many out-of-town attractions like orchards and wineries is by car.

See

 * The Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.
 * Mount Canobolas west of Orange. Mount Canobolas is the remnant of a volcanic plug, and is the highest point in the district. There are several quarter- and half-day walks on the slopes.

Eat
The area surrounding Orange is home to many orchards. The area produces cherries in summer and apples in autumn. It is the largest apple growing region in Australia. Many orchards have road-side stalls which sell in season fruit extremely cheaply. Locals buy apples by the bucket load and cherries by the crate.

In addition, because the area has much beef, many restaurants have particularly good meat dishes.

Drink

 * Bathurst is a university city and has a very active pub scene populated mainly by university students
 * The area surrounding Orange is known for its wineries.

Go next
Visitors to the Central West can travel easily to Canberra or Sydney, both of which are three or four hours away by car. Alternatively, visitors could travel further west into the Outback. The transcontinental Indian Pacific train travels through the region.

title: Central West (New South Wales)


text:
Central Wyoming

Central Wyoming is a region of Wyoming in the United States of America.

Get in
Casper–Natrona County International Airport

Byways and backways

 * California Trail - Follows the same route as the Oregon and Mormon trails. Trail ruts can be seen for more than 1,000 miles from Casper to California.
 * Cherokee Trail - In 1849 and 1850, many Cherokee Indians left their reservation in Oklahoma to head west and seek their fortunes in California's gold fields.
 * South Big Horn/Red Wall Scenic Backway - Vast prairieland gives way to red sandstone mesas on this 102-mile gravel road at the southern end of the Big Horn Mountains.

title: Central Wyoming


text:
Central Yunnan

Central Yunnan is in China.

Regions

 * Dali Prefecture
 * Chuxiong Prefecture

Cities

 * — home of the "Ancient Town of the Yi Nationality", built in the early 21st century
 * — popular with Chinese tourists on their way to visit the beautiful Tiger Leaping Gorge
 * — a city renowned for its dinosaur fossil sites, the largest of which is now a major tourist attraction. Has a dinosaur museum.
 * — a base for visiting Shibao Shan (石宝山; Stone Treasure Mountain), a fantastic nature reserve and religious site
 * — a nice city with laid-back atmosphere and lovely old pedestrian street
 * — near the Yuanmou Earth Forest, which showcases the world's geological wonders

Other destinations
The Yunnan tourist trail passes through this area.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is a popular trekking area within the region. Three parallel rivers is nearby and often reached via the region.

Understand
The western part of this area was once part of the Tibetan province of Kham. That province no longer exists and the area has been administered by Yunnan for over 300 years, but there are still many Tibetans in the region.

The area also has several other minority ethnic groups; Dali was the capital of both Yi and Bai kingdoms at different times, and Lijiang (a bit north of this region) capital of a Naxi kingdom.

Get in
There are buses to all these towns and trains to some, and a few also have airports; see the "Get in" sections of town articles. The Yunnan tourist trail passes through this region, and that article also has information on reaching the area.

Dali airport.

Get around
Most travel within the region is by bus.

Do
For trekking, and the  region are nearby.

Go next
Dali is on the Yunnan tourist trail. One might follow that route north to Lijiang and Shangrila or south to Kunming.

One might also head west, approximately along the old Burma Road, toward Ruili on the border of Myanmar (Burma). It has a lot of Burmese goods, notably jade.

title: Central Yunnan


text:
Central Zambia

The central region of Zambia includes Lusaka Province with the capital city Lusaka, and Central Province with notable towns such as Kabwe and numerous national parks.

Cities

 * — Zambia's capital and largest city has several cultural facilities
 * —  home of the Big Tree, a very large fig tree that is a National Landmark
 * — the western terminal of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway from Dar es Salaam along the Zambia Railways line from Kitwe to Lusaka and Livingstone

Other destinations

 * — herds of Kafue Lechwe are seen in the flooded areas, Sitatunga in the swamps and zebra, Reedbuck and buffalo graze the drier parts.
 * — extremely rich in animal life: hippo, crocodiles, many species of birds, elephant, Puku, Kudu, Red Lechwe, Impala, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Oribi, Blue Duiker, Burchells Zebra, Warthogs, Mongooses, Nile Monitor Lizards, Porcupine, Cerval, Civet, Terrapin, Vervet Monkeys and Bush Babies as well as Cape Buffalo, Blue Wildebeest, Lion and Leopard.
 * — 114 mammal species and more than 471 bird species have been recorded in the park including elephant, hippopotamus and sitatunga
 * — a wide variety of wildlife including elephant, hippo, buffalo, zebra, lion, and leopard, together with a great variety of birds

Talk
Lamba is spoken in towns and districts of Central Province, such as Kapiri Mposhi, Mkushi, Lufwanyama, and Ndola.

In Lusaka Province, the most spoken language in is ciNyanja, a lingua franca that is close to ciChewa, ChiNsenga, other languages of Eastern Province and notable influence from Nguni languages. In Lusaka City, "Town Nyanja" has become the common dialect. It is a hybrid language is based on Nyanja, but which incorporates vocabulary from English, Bemba, and Nsenga.

Get in
Lusaka's international Airport is well-served by flights from Johannesburg, Dubai, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Istanbul, and is the hub for domestic flights.

There are trains to Lusaka from Livingstone.

All the arterial roads lead to Lusaka.

International coach services are available, including overnight services from Johannesburg and other destinations in Southern Africa. There are also buses from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Mozambique to Lusaka.

See
The Mulungushi Rock of Authority (near Kabwe) is called "the birthplace of Zambian independence".

The Lusaka National Museum has an exhibition covering Zambia's colonial history, village life, and witchcraft.

Natural areas
Kafue National Park, the country's largest, is shared with Southern and North-Western Provinces, and other natural areas include Blue Lagoon National Park, Kasanka National Park, the Bangweulu Wetlands, South Luangwa National Park, the Lunsemfwa and Lukusashi river valleys and Lukanga Swamp.

Events
The Ikubi Lya Loongo festival celebrated in Mumbwa district during July and Ichibwela Mushi festival celebrated in Mkushi district during September are the major festivals in the Central Province.

Other festivals include the Musaka Jikubi festival celebrated in Mumbwa district by the Kaonde tribe during September, the Kulamba Kubwalo festival celebrated in Chibombo district by the Lenje tribe during October, and the Ikubi Lya Malumbe-Munyama festival celebrated in Mumbwa district by the Kaonde Ila tribe during October.

The Kulamba Kubwalo festival is attended by 250,000 people in Chibombo district annually to pay tribute to their leader and celebrate the harvest

title: Central Zambia