North Wales really has a lot to offer visitors: wild nature, breathtaking landscapes, imposing castles, pristine beaches.
We spent a week in this beautiful region and I can say that the Welsh landscapes offer unique emotions.
Compared to the south, the northern part of the country is characterized by more rugged landscapes, which at times reminded me of the Scottish Highlands.
If you arrive by car from England, the first clue that you are in Wales will come from the bilingual road signs: Welsh first and English second.
Welsh is in fact a real language (of Celtic origin) and is spoken daily by a large part of the local population.
However, don't worry, English is spoken everywhere.
The first day we stopped at a small supermarket, I was in line at the checkout when a shop assistant addressed me in English to ask me to step aside slightly because she had to pass.
A moment later she turned to the lady in line in front of me to ask the same thing…but in Welsh.
Towns are certainly not one of the main attractions of North Wales, but if there is one that is worth visiting, it is Conwy.
The small historic center is well preserved, the castle is among the most impressive in the country, there is a pleasant walk on the ancient walls which offers wonderful views and the town offers several nice places to stop and eat.
You can try the Bara brith, a typical Welsh dessert, a sort of sweet spiced bread with raisins.
Also in Conwy, don't miss the smallest house in Great Britain, it is located on the seafront and has now become a tourist attraction.
However, it was inhabited until the early 1900s.
Not far from Conwy, don't miss the opportunity to visit the beautiful Bodnant Gardens.
Considered among the most beautiful in Great Britain, they are a succession of ponds, terraces, pergolas and enchanting woods, and offer spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
The morning of the second day was dedicated to visiting the very original village of Portmeirion.
It was built between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village.
The village is a bizarre collection of brightly colored historic buildings: it's a strange place, which seems a little out of place on the Welsh coast, but it doesn't lack a certain charm.
It's definitely an unmissable stop if you're in North Wales.
In the village there are shops and cafés but these tend to be a little expensive for the quality of the food they offer.
From Portmeirion we proceeded down the Lyin Peninsula to Porthdinllaen.
Here you have to leave the car in the car park, continue on foot up the cliff (which I recommend, you can admire wonderful views).
The location is truly spectacular, especially on a sunny day.
It is certainly a place much loved by locals and travelers alike.
Here there are beautiful beaches where you can stop and soak your feet (but not in the winter time).
On the last day we entered the heart of North Wales: Snowdonia.
Snowdonia
It is the part of the country that offers the harshest and most desolate but at the same time among the most evocative views.
Snowdonia offers different types of excursions: from the most challenging ones (in fact, the first climbers who reached the summit of Everest trained here) to the shortest and simplest.
It is possible to reach lakes, enchanted forests and vast moors and legend has it that Excalibur, King Arthur's sword, is kept in one of these lakes.
