Don't bother about being modern

The Market Square is a treasure trove of many enchanting buildings.

We decided to save our energy and instead walked to the Burg, another public square.

The most famous site here is the neo-Gothic Basilica of the Holy Blood where a phial of the blood of Christ is supposedly kept.

Around the square are dozens of nicely decorated chocolate shops.

We then checked out Groeninge Museum for its excellent collection of Flemish paintings and the 13th century Church of Our Lady, where Madonna and Child by Michelangelo is one of the finest exhibits.

By mid-afternoon, we had already covered most of the well-known places. Along the route we saw many enticing sights, such as Minnewater Lake and Begijnhof in Bruges, an oasis of calmness.

Begijnhof used to be a sanctuary for women in the medieval ages. It is still used for the purpose, housing mostly Benedictine nuns. Visitors are allowed to walk in the grounds but taking photos of the nuns and making a noise is forbidden.

At the end of our day we once again downed a well-deserved bottle of Belgian brew, capped with a quiet dinner in a backstreet restaurant, while enjoying the sights and sounds of this medieval city.

Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.