Italy Sightseeing... Things to See in Italy

Gondola Trips in Venice

2011-09-20T06:25:00.000-07:00

Gondola Trips in Venice can be a romantic voyage for a couple. Or it can be a fun group activity shared by 5 or 6 people. Gondola trips in Venice have a lot of flexibility - you can choose to set off in the morning, afternoon, evening or nighttime. You can also choose between long, short and in between rides and you can either go along the Grand Canal or to more out of the way locations.

There are several convenient locations to catch gondola trips in Venice. One way, popular with many, is simply to let your hotel work out the details. They will be able tpo bargain for you, or even include a gondola ride as part of the package. They can often arrange transportation for you from the hotel to your point of embarkation.

The main tourist sections are the best places to board gondola trips in Venince. There are a few of these - though it's hard to narrow them down, since the city is one giant tourist attraction. Tronchetto, the Piazzale Roma, the Doge's Palace in Piazza San Marco are all popular places to catch a Gondola.

You will also find that many of the pedestrian crossings in secondary canals will have men offering a gondola ride. If you decide to take one up on the offer, be sure to exercise caution, especially when handing out money. In general though, you will find less crowded (and slightly less expensive) gondola trips in these less populated areas.

The 2 mile stretch along the Grand Canal is the most popular place for Gondola trips in Venice, because it covers some of Venice's grandest sights, including the Basilica di San Marco, the Campanile and others. But prices here do tend to be a little higher.

Prices currently range anywhere from €80 (about $120) for 40 minutes to €150 ($220) for an hour or more. These, however, are official rates set by the city government. Many gondoliers politely ignore them. Hence, your price could be lower (rare) or higher (more common).

Bargaining for Gondola rides is normal and expected. But do remember the basic principle of supply and demand. There are a relatively small number of boats and lots of tourists. Gondoliers rarely have to do much beyond wait for the next potential customer willing to meet their price. Costs per person can be lowered by sharing a ride with up to six people.

For those who choose to, Gondola Trips in Venice are really are quite fun, though. The romantic aspect is mixed, since you'll be seen by thousands of people crowding the bridges across and streets along the canals. If you can ignore them, and only pay attention to the scenery (or each other), more power to you.

Information on Leaning Tower of Pisa

2011-09-13T06:14:00.000-07:00

If you are planning a visit to Pisa, or somewhere near by you probably want some Information on leaning Tower of Pisa.

Work on the Leaning Tower of Pisa began in 1173 AD and there has been an architectural problem almost from its beginning. As a reslt of the soft ground and a shallow foundation, the tower began to lean as early as the time the third floor was completed. This despite the over 13 foot-thick walls at the base. But engineers at the time had few resources to call on. There was no ground penetrating radar, geological science, lasers or huge cranes to right the work.

If you read any information on Leaning Tower of Pisa you'll discover that ironically, the tower is not, or more accurately was not, the main attraction of the site. It was actuually intended as a bell tower for the nearby cathedral. Both are extraordinary works of Romanesque-Gothic art and it's only because of this unfortunate engineering failure that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the most famous of these two structures.

But far from being considered a failure at the time, it was not completely unknown for buildings to be less than perfect 800 years ago. There are examples in Germany, Ireland and even not far away inside Tuscany of both towers and rectangular buildings that lean slightly. Still, visitors today will be thrilled by the view from below or above.

From the base, standing far back from the tower, one can see the round, layer-cake type facade. The base is somewhat plain, but not far up there are magnificent columns. The elaborate carving is even more amazing when one considers that the major construction effort was completed less than 200 years after beginning.

The project was stalled for about 100 years while the Pisans engaged in battles with Genoa and other Italian city-states of the period. Then, picking up in 1275 AD it stalled again in 1284 AD, just before the belfry was added. Finally, in 1360, the building topped out at 51m/167ft.

From the perspective of distance those who observe carefully can see that not only is the tower leaning (which is obvious), but that it is curved as well. Noting the lean, builders attempted to compensate by making some of the floors taller on the side opposite. The result gives the tower its slight banana shape.

Fortunately, since digging out 70 tons of earth from below the ground, the tower was reopened in 2001. Visitors in bunches of 30 can now go up inside for a 35-minute guided tour. One of the most important bits of information on the Leaning Tower of Pisa is to be sure and get tickets well in advance. It's a hugely popular attraction and often can be fully booked for most of the day. If you are there for more than one day you may want to consider buying tickets 24 hours in advance.

Lucca Italy Attractions

2011-09-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

If you are in Tuscany you don't want to miss the Lucca Italy Attractions. Lucca was once the capital of and has green rolling hills, medieval cathedrals and even a cooking school. Lucca is certainly worth a day trip to visit, but you could easily find an entire vacation's worth of things to see and do here.

One of the main Lucca Italy attractions is the city walls. These walls were built during the Renaissance and they are are over two miles long. Taking a walk along the top of the wall is a great introduction to Lucca and you can get some exercise and good views at the same time. The walls of Lucca were originally there to provide defense during the many wars between Italian city-states, but these days, they serve an entirely different purpose, giving Lucca the look of a huge, open castle.

Another Lucca Italy attraction is the Duomo di San Martino. This cathedral is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic structure and it provides visitors with lots to see. It was originally constructed in the 6th century, and it continued to evolve through to the mid-14th centurt. Inside the cathedral you will find outstanding sculptures from the early Renaissance period made of marble, including a funeral momument of Caretto, a local noblewoman.

Visitors should be sure not to miss the Via Fillungo. This wide tree-lined boulevard offers plenty of shops and restaurants as well as lots of interesting sights. An authentic medieval area, cafes along the street offer a view of the Tower of Hours and other structures of the period.

After stopping for a coffee or lunch, one of the most interesting Lucca Italy attractions is still to come. The art collection at the Villa Guinigi is the envy of the region. Once the personal property of Paolo Guinigi, ruler of the town in the 1400s, the collection has been expanded far beyond his original holdings. There are figurative arts on display ranging from the Middle Ages up through the 18th century. Sculptures, ceramic objects, gold crosses and much more are housed here.

For opera lovers, a visit to Lucca is a chance to see the birthplace of the renowned composer Puccini. Creator of Madame Butterfly and many more popular works, visitors will get a good idea of where his lush romanticism first was aroused. The family house has been preserved and it is filled with memorabilia from his youth. Scores in the master's hand, photos and even the piano on which he composed Turandot are on display.

If you are planning to be in Lucca for at least a week and you have an interest in Italian cooking you may want to consider attending classes at the renowned cooking school here. Then head over to the Bagni di Lucca spa and imagine former patrons Byron and Shelley entertaining you with a verse while you get pampered in the thermal bath.

Lucca is less than an hour away from Florence, so planning a stop here to take in all the Lucca Italy attractions will definitely be worth your while.

Piazza Navona Fountains in Rome

2011-08-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

If you are sightseeing in Rome you don't want to miss the Piazza Navona Fountains. The Piazza Navona has one of the finest examples of Bernini's fountains, built in 1651: the Fontana dei Fiumi (which means Fountain of the Four Rivers). Arrayed around the central rocky mass supporting the almost-obligatory obelisk are four large sculptures executed by his students. One of them, the Ganges, was sculpted by Claude Poussin who would later become a master under his own name.

This Piazza Navona fountain is a tour de force with a sea monster, a lion, palm tree, cacti and many other pieces woven together around the central column.

The cost of this Piazza Navona fountain was so massive that taxes were levied on bread. This prompted outcries from Roman citizens both rich and poor. However, this controversy is now a part of history, so tourists can simply relax and have a cappaccino while watching the world go by.

Another one of the great Piazza Navona Fountains is the Fountain of the Moor. This is at the opposite end of the piazza and features a Triton (one of the many gods of the sea) riding a dolphin. From this particular view point, there is a lot of opportunities for people watching, while enjoying the warm Rome sunshine.

There are dozens of merchant stalls in Piazza Navona, interspersed among the many cafes and restaurants. You could stop near one and have your portrait sketched by one of the numerous artists dotting the piazza.

There is nightlife until early in the morning, with mimes, beggars, artists and a hundreds of natives and tourists threading through the oval plaza. The piazza was constructed around one of the ancient circuses - a circular area where streets converge, not a show with animals.

Be sure to stop in at the Tre Scalini and indulge yourself in a Tartufo. Or visit the oldest extant bar in Rome nearby, the Caffe della Pace. Here you can enjoy a Campari and take in the ambiance. Confess your sins at the Church of Sant'Agnese, set not far from three of Bernini's famous fountains.

The Fontana dei Calderai (Fountain of the Coppersmiths), later renamed the Fountain of Neptune is also here. Festooned with sea figures, Neptune slaying an octopus, sea horses, dolphins and Nerieds (sea nymphs) it carries Rome's fountain-sea creature theme to the ultimate peak. The fountain is made of the same Portasanta rose marble used for St. Peter's doorjambs.

Or, you can take a short walk to the Piazza Sant'Eustachio, between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona and listen to some classical music. Or catch the bus to the Pantheon.

Don't miss an opportunity to visit these amazing Piazza Navona Fountains in Rome.

Cortona Sightseeing

2011-08-06T15:55:00.000-07:00

Cortona is a Tuscan town once little known to travelers booking for Florence. After the publication of the book Under the Tuscan Sun (and the subsequent film and follow-up books) it garnered a place on every visitor's agenda. Here are some tips on sightseeing in Cortona.

Cortona is an Italian hilltop town of 30,000 and there are more sights than a visitor could see in three vacations. Located about half-way between its much more famous neighbors of Rome and Florence this ancient city offers museums, restaurants, villas, biking tours and much more.

The founding date is unknown, but Cortona's streets were walled in by the Etruscans more than 2,600 years ago. Some of that history is still extant near the Porta Guelfa and the Porta Montanina. At the base one can spot Roman repairs made to Etruscan slabs.

Inside, looking out above the walls, visitors will find a breathtaking view of Lake Trasimeno from the square of Piazza Garibaldi. Just past the church is an entrance to a park. The fountain in the center features two bronze dolphins that will reward the effort of the short walk. Just left is an amphitheater that offers a lovely place to sit and see part of beautiful Tuscany.

The Piazza Grande, featuring the Town Hall that dates from the 6th century, is another must-visit location. If your visit to Cortona falls on the first Saturday of the month, be sure to take in the Market. Food, small artifacts and many more interesting items are offered for sale. In nearby Casali Palace there's a National Market of Ancient Furniture held in the Piazza Grande during the last two weeks of August.

From there one can also almost see the ancient burial grounds of Cetona Belvedere. Full of grottoes and caverns to explore, they're one of the many delightful excursions offered. One can also get a clear view of the tallest peak of the local mountain range. Down from the top is located another town worthy of a visit, Montepulciano.

Another worthy short trip entails a visit to the Great Cloister of the Monastero Di Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Built in 1443, tourists will want to see the frescoes depicting the life of Saint Benedict by Signorelli, painted near the end of the 15th century.

Those interested in religious architecture will also not want to miss viewing the church of Santa Maria del Calcinaio, built in 1485. This Renaissance structure is octagonal, an unusual choice for the period.

Another unusual sight within the city walls visitors can take in is the Torre del Pulcinella, a large public clock. It announces the hours by a different technique. Its chimes are a pair of clanging cymbals, rather than a bell.

Not far away is the Museo dell'Academia Etrusca. Despite the name the museum covers not just Etruscan art, but everything from ancient Egyptian artifacts to paintings of the 15th century. Also on display are books, period furniture and sculpture.

By contrast, the Museo Diocesano offers a more focused exhibit. This includes the Cortona Altarpiece from 1432 along with six predella. Predella, in painting, are small paintings that run along a frame at the bottom of an altarpiece.

However long you have for Cortona Sightseeing, an hour or a day, or even a week, time in Cortona is well spent.

Where to Shop in Florence Italy

2011-07-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

If you are planning a visit to Florence, you may be wondering where to shop in Florence Italy.

Despite its small size, Florence boasts a good variety of high quality shops, selling designer clothes, shoes, antiques, crafts, jewellery, gifts, food and wine. It’s not the place for bargain shopping, but you will definitely be spoilt for choice.

If you are looking for designer goods, all the big names such as Armani, Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino can be found in the elegant streets of Via de’ Tornabuoni and Via della Vigna Nuova. If you’re seeking bargains you may want to take a trip to the designer outlets listed in section 6.4, or do your shopping during the months of January or July when the sales are on.

If you’re looking for leather goods your best bet is to head for Santa Croce or San Lorenzo. There is a wide selection of shops selling leather jackets, handbags, wallets and shoes. If you’re a leather enthusiast you may also want to check out the leather museum near Santa Croce, where you can view work in progress and do a spot of shopping.

The street for antique shopping is Via Maggio, near Santa Spirito in the Oltrarno area. Here you’ll find everything from furniture to picture frames and vases, as well as antiques dating from the 16^th century.

If it’s jewellery you’re after, then head for the Ponte Vecchio where you’ll find many small shops offering unique jewellery.

Also, if you are wondering where toi shop in Florence Italy like the locals don’t forget to visit the markets!

Venice Lagoon Islands - Lido, Murano, Burano, Torcello

2011-07-07T03:26:00.000-07:00

If you are in Venice for a few days you may want to consider taking a boat ride to visit some of the Venice Lagoon Islands. You may find the following islands to be interesting.

Lido
If you are a beach lover and want to enjpy some sunshine and swimming during one of Venice's warm summers, then Lido is a great option. In September the Venice Film festival takes place and lots of celebrities attend. If you want a game golf you'll also find a good golf course here.

A short boat ride will take you out to Sant Erasmo. Pellestrina is another option for those looking for a quieter spot to sunbathe.

Murano

One of the most popular Lido lagoon islands is Murano. A lot of tourists come to Murano to visit the glassmakers and buy some souvenirs. The art has been practiced here for centuries. Since the late 13th century, glass artisans here have been offering their wares to rich and poor alike. Prices can range from a few dollars for a trinket to thousands for a true work of art.

The Museo Vetraio (Glass Museum) on the island continues to attract visitors by the thousands every year. A 30-minute tour provides a complete introduction to this fascinating and beautiful craft. Tourists can see an outstanding church on the island: Basilica di Santi Maria e Donato. There's also a fascinating small lighthouse worth a look.

Burano

Burano has 7,000 inhabitants, and is one of the larger islands of the area so there is a lot to see here. There are lots of lovely colourful houses in pink, yellow, lavender, green and blue

This island is famous for its lace-making industry. It was traditionally a small fishing village and it houses the Museo del Merletto displaying many samples of the wares that made the town famous.

Torcello

Finally there is Torcello. This is a nature preserve and attract animal lovers. The human population numbers fewer than 100, but there are thousands of wild birds and sea life species. There is also a lovely church, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which was built in the 7th century. The Mosaic of the Madonna is one of the main attractions.

You can easily spend a full day visiting the Venice Lagoon Islands and there is lots to do and see for everyone.

Sightseeing in Fiesole,Tuscany

2011-07-03T16:26:00.000-07:00

A sightseeing visit to Fiesole can take just an hour, after winding up the steep curvy road, or it can last a full day or an afternoon if you prefer.

Fiesole is a wonderful side trip from the bustling city of Florence below, Fiesole also offers amazing views of Florence, the River Arno and a lot more.

The town itself far predates the Roman period, and gios right back to the country's Etruscan era in the 9th century BC.

Fiesole was conquered by the Romans in 283 BC and soon became home to an outstanding school of the period. The city saw wars between Rome and the Vandals, as well, in the early 5th century AD. Its citizens fought many wars with Florence until succumbing to its more famous neighbor in 1125 AD.

If you take a sightseeing trip to Fiesole you'll find reminders of that histry scattered around the town.

The cathedral in Fiesole is a relatively plain building, but still well worth a quick visit for its orange brick and medieval tower. The Franciscan monastery is another site that may offer simple architecture, but is full of historical significance. In the Courtyard to Heaven, there is a quite interesting small column with a cross set between two short thin columns topped by a lintel.

Much more impressive is the Medici Villa, which was constructed by the famous rulers in the mid-15th century. You may also want to visit the nearby Lombard tombs, a reminder of the time the site served as a necropolis. In addition, there are outstanding examples of Greek vases, amphorae and many other artifacts that would have been well known to citizens of the day.

But unquestionably, one of the most enticing sights for sightseeing visitors to Fiesole is the Roman Theater, still in use today.

Built in the 1st century BC, it offers an amphitheater that seats 3,000 people today just as it did 2,000 years ago. The right half is original, the left portion was rebuilt in the 19th century. Sitting among sections of column, broken friezes and other remnants of the period, it's easy to imagine hearing a performance from that bygone era.

A grove of olive trees decorates the center and there are baths with outstanding arches nearby. Sitting on the curved stone bleachers one can hear the strains of Vivaldi from the 18th century while being reminded of music from much further back.

Sightseeing in Fiesole can be very rewarding, even if it is just a couple of hours spent wandering around the streets and a quick coffee in a pavement cafe.

Grand Canal Sights - Venice

2011-05-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Are you going to Venice? If so, you don't want to miss the Grand Canal Sights! Venice's Grand Canal is the main waterway through the city. It provides amazing scenery, relaxing gondola rides and much more to both visitors and

locals. As Venice's 'Main Street' the Grand Canal is something that must be seen. The Rialto Bridge and other amazing sights mean that no visit to Venice is complete without this.

A ride along the Grand Canal can easily be the highlight of a trip to Venice, and there are several ways to go about it. Grand Canal Sights along the leisurely trip include the Basilica di San Marco, the Campanile, the Doge's Palace and manu more.

Gondola rides are one of the most popular things to do on a trip to Venice, despite their expense. One way to make it more affordable is to go in a group of up to six people and split the price. You may have to do a bit og haggling to arrange a price, so if you don't want to do this try to arrange it through your hotel instead.

There are other types of vehicles that cross or navigate the Grand Canal as well. The water taxis, known as vaporetto, are small boats that travel along all of the city's canals. They are a little bit like bus routes in

cities as they are numbered and have distinct pick up and drop off points. If you get a free map when you reach Venice you'll quickly locate a route you'd like to travel.

Passenger boats, called traghetti usually go only from one side to the other, but they can still be good fun short rides. As there are not that many bridges that cross the Grand Canal along its 3km length, the traghetti can move you from one side to the other and save you long walk to one of the bridges. Since the canal ranges from 30-70m wide, your trip length can vary.

Another fun option is to take one of the water taxis to one of the nearby islands. Visitors can see famed glass works, churches and more on Murano and Burano, Lido and Torcello.

If you travel along the waterways in the evening you'll have a chance to take a look in some of the palaces that have large, well-lit arches. Many of them will be close enough to allow you to get an excellent view of the highly decorated interiors. If you are not sure which of them to visit during the day, a canal trip at night can help you to decide.

You don't have to see the Grand Canal sights by water. An alternative option to travelling via the canal option is to take a short walk and see Venice's Natural History Museum - the Fondaco dei Turchi. This museum was built in the 13th century and it provides one of the most amzing views from a gondola. Some parts of the Natural History Museum are still under construction, but there is still much to see. You'll find a section with dinosaurs, a small aquarium and the Correr Museum.

The Top 10 Sightseeing Spots in Italy

2011-05-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

Here are 10 of the Top Sightseeing Spots in Italy.
by Jonathan Williams

Italy is one of the most popular places to visit in the world. It's a favorite of millions of tourists worldwide. And who can blame them? Nobody can resist the charms of Italy's culture and architecture. This boot-shaped country was, after all, the home of the Legendary Romans and the Heroes of the Renaissance. Indeed, if you're going to go to Italy, be prepared to have your breathe taken away by the sheer beauty of the place.

1. The Coliseum
No other civilization in the world could top the Romans in terms of strength and power, and indeed, the Romans practically conquered the world. And for their entertainment, the Romans had the world. They had the Coliseum where the prizes of their conquests, lions and other exotic animals were made to battle with the gladiators. Indeed, if you stand within the walls of this gigantic complex, you can almost feel the spirit of celebration that once rang through the place.

2. Piazza Campidoglio
The Piazza Campidoglio, or the Capitoline Hill, was the seat of power of the Ancient Romans. And up until today, it still stands as Italy's center of politics. It holds the famous statue of Castor and Pollux and various structures designed by the great Michaelangelo himself like the double staircase and other buildings.

3. The Roman Forums
Also, there's nothing more exhilarating than to visit the place where democracy was born. The Roman Forums, where the Roman senate once held their heated debates discussing everything from large-scale wars to petty squabbles, are also popular tourist attractions. Here, you can find the Forum of Caesar and the Forum of Trajan, and there's also the Palatine Hill and all the other temples dedicated to the various gods and goddesses of the ancient Romans.

4. The Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the best places that you can visit in Rome. It's teeming with beautiful architecture, beautiful sculptures, and beautiful statues. This magnificent building is also the home of the grave of the famous painter, Raphael.

5. The Trevi Fountain
This world renowned fountain is famous for its sheer beauty and size, and it features several sculptures, including one of Neptune coming out from underwater, riding on a sea shell that's drawn by two horses with wings. It's featured in Dan Brown's famous novel, the Da Vinci Code. Also, toss a coin into it while facing away from it and it is said that you will be guaranteed a return to the great city.

6. The Grand Canal in Venice
There's nothing more Romantic than going on a boat ride through the famous canals of the floating city of Venice. These quixotic canals are featured in various movies and are a favorite of newlyweds all over the world. It's also a great way to take in all the sights of the beautiful city.

7. The Sistine Chapel
The Vatican, though it's considered as an independent country in itself, is still found in the heart of Italy. And, there, you'll find the great Sistine Chapel where extraordinary pieces of art can be found. There, you'll see the works of Michelangelo and Botticelli.

8. St. Peter's Basilica
Also, if you're a fan of great architecture, you will have to see the famous St. Peter's Basilica. It's the largest Catholic Church in the whole world, and it's simply teeming with beautiful paintings, frescoes, and statues. You can also see this Basilica's famous dome which is literally filled with works of art.

9. St. Peter's Square
And of course, if you're going to St. Peter's Basilica, you might as well walk a few steps to get to St. Peter's Square. This beautiful plaza is designed by the famous artist Bernini. It is also featured in Dan Brown's novels.

10. The Vatican Gardens
The Vatican Gardens as beautiful as they are large. This grand paradise is filled with beautiful sculptures, fountains, and flowers. It's a great place for sightseeing and picture-taking.

Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV - the place to share travel videos [http://www.destinationguide.tv].

Hope you enjoyed these top sightseeing spots in Italy!

Top Tuscany Sights

2010-11-29T16:32:00.000-08:00

If you are planning a trip to Italy you may be wondering what the Top Tuscany Sights are aside from Florence. Read the following article for some great suggestions.

Viva Italia! Top Five Must-Dos in Tuscany
by Beverly Frank

When traveling, it can be hard to know what sights to see, what monuments to visit, which restaurants are worth your time, and what to skip over because it is a lot of hype. This is true anywhere you visit, even Tuscany. Tuscany is a beautiful region in Italy with a lot to see and do. If you have some time to spend in Tuscany this summer, here are the top Tuscany Sights:

1. The leaning tower of Pisa. This is a huge tourist attraction, but it is also one worth seeing. While many tourist attractions are overrated, this is not one of them. It was built in the 1100s. It is a bell tower in the main Piazzas. It has since been worked on some to help correct some of the lean, making it more structurally stable. However, the lean has never been all the way corrected because it is such a big tourist attraction. Not only do you get to see one of the most famous sites in all of Tuscany, you also can enjoy wonderful cafes and bistros around the Piazzas, and enjoy the history of something built hundreds of years ago.

2. Pinocchio Park: The inventor of Pinocchio was a Tuscan writer called Carlo Collodi. The Adventures of Pinocchio was written in 1883. Now the small village where the author of Pinocchio lived boasts a beautiful little park that is a great tourist attraction. The village was named after Collodi, and the park offers thinks like literary classes, building and sculpting classes, art exhibitions, illustrations, puppet makring, and the like. Basically it is a cultural and natural park.

3. Taste wine in Chianti: One of the other things to do in Tuscany this summer is go wine tasting. There are tons of areas in Tuscany that produce world-famous wines. You can visit the most popular wine in Tuscany, Chianti. Or, you can go to some of the more southern parts of the region. You can go to Montepulciano, and taste some of the Vino Nobile. Or, you can go for a famous rich red wine from the Montalcino vineyards.

4. Roma amphitheaters in Lucca: Lucca is one of the most interesting places to visit in Tuscany. Lucca was built on top of a Roman colony, it dates back to 180 BC. You can visit all of the Roman amphitheaters, and you can see the many churches, cathedrals, piazzas, and the many historic and medieval buildings. It is a great historic city, and there are a number of fantastic coffee shops, cafes, and places to eat and enjoy your life.

5. Visit medieval Siena: This is another fantastic historic site, it gives you plenty of Italy's greatest medieval architecture and the like. You can roam through the maze like streeets and alleyways all the way to the great Piazzas del Campo, where you can sit and read and sip coffee or eat pastries at one of the sidewalk cafes.

Beverly Frank is a work-at-home writer and mom to two young kids. Visit http://www.surfnetparents.com for more parenting ideas.

Sightseeing in Bardonecchia

2010-11-10T04:56:00.000-08:00

If you are considering a trip to Bardonecchia read this article for more information about transfers, activities and sightseeing in Bardonecchia.

Bardonecchia - Italy
By Timothy Kent

Bardonecchia is located at the Italian gateway to the Frejus tunnel, in the Province of Turin, Piedmont region, western part of the Susa valley. This is one of the prominent Italian destinations during the old times, and is now a major attraction as a key skiing destination today. The resort is excellent for beginner and intermediate skiers but it also offers good areas for professional skiing and also sections for snowboarding. It has direct access to 140 km downhill run, having 49 individual pistes, some rising at 2.300 altitude. The 21 ski lifts available around the resort can accommodate up to 23,000 skiers or snowboarders as an hourly rate. Prominent ski areas are Campo Smith, for beginners and Jafferau, the higher ski area suitable for intermediate or expert skiers.

Bardonecchia is in Italy, so you can avail of flights going to the resort. Available air transfers include:

from Turin-Caselle to Bardonecchia
from Milan Malpensa to Bardonecchia
from Milan Linate to Bardonecchia
from Geneva to Bardonecchia
from Chambery to Bardonecchia
from Grenoble to Bardonecchia
from Verona to Bardonecchia

The resort is close to the city of Turin and it is only an hour and a half away from the Turin-Caselle airport, a sixty mile drive, which makes it the nearest airport from the resort. The fastest and most affordable way to go to Bardonecchia is to get those discounted flights to Turin, Chambery, or Milan airports. Coming from the city centre of Turin, you can arrive close to the slopes if you ride the TGV train with travel time of just less than an hour. You can then get off the train to the bus stops and then use buses that will bring you to any of the major accessible skiing areas of the resort. From Chambery, you can drive through N6 going to the Frejus tunnel and Turin. Passing the tunnel will get you in Bardonecchia in a short while. If you are starting your trip from Milan Linate, you can hire cars or shuttles going to Bardonecchia via the road, or, you can also choose the Torino - Bussoleno - Bardonecchia train line to arrive at Bardonecchia station, and then use buses in going to the ski areas.

Apres ski nightlife in the area is a lot more peaceful than other resorts but there are available bars, restaurants, and 3 disco houses. During the weekend, life at the resort usually get a little crowded and hectic as local Italian residents flock the area for some weekend ski break. The resort also provides a games hall, a natural ice skating rink, a sauna and a cinema and also has available amenities for activities like ice hockey, horse riding, snowboarding, hiking and even simple sightseeing.

The author offers insights and tips in getting the right ski transfers including resort information and ski transfer destinations.

How to Get Married in Italy

2010-11-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Are you considering having your wedding in Italy? If so read on to find out how to get married in Italy.

Things To Consider On Getting Married In Italy
By Kimberly Murgatroyd

Getting married in another country is a dream come true for many couples. The romance, the adventure, and the travelling create an atmosphere that is hard to resist. Today, whether you are a resident or not, many couples are legally getting married in Italy. In addition, whether the ceremony is religious or civil, it is recognized as legal.

Like with any marriage, getting legal preparations in place is necessary. For Italy, a couple must declare their intentions to marry. After declaring, the announcements are made public, and those living in Italy must post them in their Town Hall. These announcements must hang for at least eight days and no more than 180. After four days, the couple can marry. However, if neither of the couple lives or has a residency there, then the announcement doesn't need to be posted. But they still must wait at least four days after making the declaration before they can marry.

Documents will need to be legalized at the local prefecture and must include a tax stamp. Here are some of the documents required by both parties. A valid passport or residence card, a stay permit or proof of recent entry to Italy, a birth certificate, divorce decree, annulment paper or death certificate of former spouse, and if under 18, written parental consent. All foreigners must have a declaration of no impediment, which is issued by the Consulate in Italy, confirming there is no reason why one cannot marry. They also need an Atto Notorio affidavit declaring single status and freedom to marry; whereas Italians need a Certificato di Stato Libero to declare they are single and free. All documents and certificates that are not in Italian will require certified translations.

Civil ceremonies are the main way to get married. The Mayor or a delegate at the town hall performs this. You must have two witnesses present, and friends and family can of course attend. The ceremony is in Italian, but an interpreter is permitted. The couple will be told their duties and rights between spouses from the Codice Civile. After being declared married, the marriage certificate is prepared and all the details and names are entered into the marriage register. Some couples choose to follow the civil ceremony by a religious blessing ceremony.

Unlike in some European countries, like France, Catholic marriage ceremonies are legal and recognized. However, other faiths must first go through a civil ceremony. A Roman Catholic ceremony does not require a civil ceremony beforehand since the Catholic priests have the authority to perform and register marriages. All preparations are made through the church and all the documents required for a civil ceremony are still needed. A Catholic wedding also requires a baptism and confirmation certificate, as both parties must be baptized and confirmed and take a church pre-marital class.

Getting married in Italy does not have to be a dream, as many are finding out. Many countries now perform non-resident marriages that are legal and recognized all over the world. Being prepared is the main thing before getting married in Italy or anywhere else. Have your entire paperwork ready and all the right documents so that your dream come true stays a dream come true.

Kimberly Murgatroyd is the author of "How to Get Married in Positano" - compulsory reading for anyone wanting more information on having a Civil Ceremony in the Positano Town Hall. To find out more information about how you can get married in Positano town hall, visit my website about how to plan a Amalfi Coast wedding. For a FREE 10 part mini-course on "The Secrets to Getting Married in Positano Italy"! go to http://mypositanowedding.com

A Day Sightseeing in Venice

2010-10-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

Venice Italy: Our First Day
By Mark Schaaf

After spending many hours planning our Italian vacation I couldn't wait for the day to start in Venice. We arrived late in the afternoon knowing by the time we checked into our hotel we wouldn't have time to do any real sightseeing. After getting settled in we walked around the area we picked out a nice little restaurant for dinner. After which we went back to the room and double checked our plans for the next day then settled in for the remainder of the evening.

The next morning we started with breakfast at the hotel and were on our way. Since we did a little walk around the evening before we knew the water bus stop was only a couple blocks from the hotel and was the only part of the trip planning that I didn't know much about. The entire length of the city of Venice is only about 2 miles and we were headed to Saint Marks square which was about a mile away so it didn't seem far but since we had never been on a water bus we couldn't guess on the time it might take to get there. It turned out to only take about a half hour to get there however the ride was quite interesting as the boat zig zagged from one side of the Grand canal to the other making it important to know which side of the canal you wanted to go.

Once we arrived at Saint Marks square (Piazza San Marco) we walked around a little took some pictures and decided which of the 3 main sights we planned to see first. We decided to go to the top of Saint Marks square tower and get a view of the city. At first I thought we were going to have to walk to the top and was surprised to see an elevator in it. The ride only took about a minute but seemed longer because there are no windows to look out on the way. Once at the top I realized what a beautifully pristine day we had and without a speck of haze in the air we would be able to get some great pictures. We took our turn looking out each side of the tower at the view which was spectacular and took some great pictures. I kept a close look at my watch for the time because the huge bells in the tower still struck on the hour and I for one didn't want to be in the top of the tower when there were ringing.

After coming down from the tower the next place to see was saint Marks basilica which is the most famous of over 400 churches on this little island. Upon entering the church I was a little surprised with the lack of light, which I thought made it a little difficult to see the paintings and other works of art in the church. Another thing that struck me odd was not being able to take any personal property into the church, I could understand no cameras but you couldn't take in a back pack and I can't remember if a large purse was allowed in either.

After we were finished in the church we took time out from sightseeing to have a bite of lunch at a nice place right around the corner, a little pricey for me but we were on vacation and planned on going to just a few pricey places and more reasonable places the rest of the time.

The last sight we had planned on seeing this day was the Doge's palace and I suggest to anyone going to Venice as a must see sight. Entering the palace the first thing you notice are the ceilings which are all very ornate with carvings and paintings everywhere. To me it seemed like there must have 50 or more rooms in the palace and everyone had a different kind of pattern carved and painted in the ceilings.

Most of the rooms were big over 30 x 30 and a few rooms that seemed small compared to the rest but each one had either paintings or sculptures in them. There were a few rooms we found particularly interesting one being two very large side by side rooms with a giant 24 hour clock mounted in the common wall so you could see the clock from both rooms, each room being at least 120 x 75 feet.

The most impressive room in the palace was a common meeting room which I believe was used as a court room and for town meetings. I have seen very large rooms before but this place was immense at least 250 foot long 120 or more feet wide and over 60 feet high with no center support beams of any kind the entire roof was freestanding. I couldn't imagine how they could build such a span well over 400 years ago without steel.

By the time we were finished seeing the Doge's palace it was mid afternoon around 4, so we still had time to see more so we walked down to see the bridge of Sighs, probably the second most famous bridge in Venice. After which we headed back to the hotel for a short nap before going to dinner.

We were staying in a hotel about 100 feet from Rio Tera San Leonardo which is one of the major streets in Venice and will take you all the way to the train station after a few street name changes that is. Being so close to a major street made it easy to find a nice place for dinner, after which we took a nice walk to see our little part of Venice at night before turning in for the evening.

I can't believe according to what I have read that most people only stay in Venice for one day and I recommend to anyone planning a visit to Venice to stay for at least 3 days, there are just too many wonderful things to see to only stay for a day.

Mark Schaaf is an avid traveler and web site owner who enjoys sharing information with other travelers in order to help make there trip more enjoyable. You can learn how to plan your trip by visiting the planning section of the site at http://www.myitaliantravels.com/vacationplanning.html . You can visit the site and view more tips at http://www.myitaliantravels.com

Volterra Sightseeing

2010-10-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for Volterra sightseeing ideas? Read on to learn more about what Volterra has to offer.

A Great Italian Vacation in Volterra Tuscany
By Ems Aleks

When people come to Italy for a vacation or to spend the holiday, they are often drawn to Tuscany, but Tuscany is not a small place and there are many places that are concentrated tourist areas, but who knows which places are the best to go. Some people may say that San Gimignano is the more popular tourist spot in Tuscany, but other persons who are really aware of what a vacation should be like will tell you that Volterra Tuscany is the place to be.

Volterra is a hill town and is a little over 500 metres above the valley of Cecina, when you are atop you can see the horizon of the Tyrrhenian Sea which is spectacular view. This place as history and some of it is still around for you to see, one of which is the sections of the Etruscan wall that is still remaining. This wall has been around since the fourth century, when the city was known as Velathri which was a very significant city back then because it was large exporter of minerals to other countries in the Mediterranean region.

When you take vacations in Volterra Tuscany, you will not be short on entertainment especially during the holiday seasons, Volterra is not uncommon for festivities, during these festivals that depicts different aspects of their culture, you will see natives dressed in old Roman clothing at the medieval fair, where they act and dress the parts of their ancestors from the A.D era. It is a fun filled event for both tourists and locals alike.

They are not short on truffle fairs either; in April you can see the fair that hosts an all day arts and crafts display and parade, all events for that day is completely dedicated to the arts. In May, you can take in the cross bow competition and see true skills at their best in a fun environment. In July and August you can feast your ears on the cool tranquil sounds of jazz as the festivities for those two months include the Jazz festival in August and other jazz related fairs in July. I could go on and on about the different activities that takes place in each month, which do not include the day to day fun activities that will keep your vacation interesting and memorable. The fact is, there is always many things to do and places to go in Volterra, no matter what time of year you decide to visit.

Volterra is also known for its museums, one of which was the first to be developed and constructed in all of Europe. Even if you are not exactly a history buff, you will still love and appreciate the sights and narration of this ancient city and the culture that it represents. The entire collection of arts and culture will leave you in awe of what that little city (in comparison to its history) as to offer.

This Article is related to the subject of Volterra Tuscany. If you are looking for Volterra Sightseeing Holidays then http://www.volterraholidays.com/ is the greatest place for you.

Sightseeing in Lecce

2010-09-26T04:45:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of sightseeing in Lecce, Southern Italy? If so, read on for some sightseeing tips.

Visit Lecce in Italy
By Claudio Giagnoni

One of the best cities to visit in Italy is Lecce, in the Apulia region, in the south of the country. Art, history, culture are visible in every corner of Lecce and the main monuments are in the historical center of the city. Between the main touristic attractions we can reminder:

Castle of Charles V. Built by the architect Gian Giacomo dell'Acaya (1539-1549) by order of Charles V, it has a trapezoidal shape with four bastions. You can reach the defense structure, which was surrounded by a moat, filled in 1872, through two doors: one to the east, named 'False Door', and the other to the west, named ' Royal Door'. The interior has been largely changed over the years; the most ancient part is represented by the quadrangular 'mastio' dating back to the Angevins, whose hypogeum was used as a chapel, with a baroque altar inside. The other chapel in the castle is dedicated to Saint Barbara.

Church of Saint Matteo. It was built between 1667 and 1700 by the architect Carducci by command of the bishop Pappacoda. Its facade, where convex and concave volumes contrapose, recalls the Borrominian baroque. The elliptical shaped interior with a single nave shows a women's gallery along the perimeter. Noteworthy, the statues of the 12 Apostles, made in Lecce stone by the sculptor Placido Buffelli (1692), alternating with the altars.

Church of Saint Nicola. The Church (1635) with the Monastery next to it (1631) was built according to the will of the patrician Belisario Paladini from Lecce Its sober front shows on the portal the statue of the archangel Michael defeating Lucifer; the interior has a stucco-painted vault and the high altar rich with intaglios.

For your visit in the city, book hotels in Lecce.

5 Novels Set in Italy

2010-09-19T03:37:00.000-07:00

Are you planning a vacation to Italy. If so, you may want to whet your appetite for your trip by reading some novels set in Italy.

Books Set in Italy - Five Novels to Read Before You Travel
By Suzi Bianca

Finding yourself preparing for a trip to Italy is an enviable position to be in. It is a country filled with magnificent art and architecture, passionate people and the best ice cream in the world. But to truly get the most out of your visit, you will want to get behind the scenes of the country and delve beneath the surface -- and one of the best ways to do this is to read some books set in Italy. Here are a selection of novels that are guaranteed to make you want to jump on that plane straight away.

'The Agony and the Ecstasy' by Irving Stone

If you are traveling in Italy it is going to be hard to avoid some exposure to the Renaissance painter, sculptor and architect Michelangelo. And by reading this novel you will have a much great understanding of the man behind the art. It allows us to re-live Michelangelo's creative process, as we work with him on his marble sculptures and walk with him through the piazzas of Florence and Rome. If you want to make the most of the first time you see the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, then read this novel before you do it.

'When we were Romans' by Mathew Kneale

A completely different look at Rome now, through the eyes of a nine-year old child. Lawrence's mother decides to take her children from England to the Eternal City in a bid to get away from her estranged husband. As the family wear out their welcome with friends, Lawrence learns to deal with his mother's mental illness - and while this is a sad and emotionally testing novel, we do witness something of a child's joy of discovering new places and the family's adventures in the city.

'The Rossetti Letter' by Christi Phillips

Venice is one of those places where you really feel as if little has changed since the Renaissance, and this novel does a wonderful job of taking us to both the modern city and the Venice of the past. Claire is an historian who is searching for the truth about a 17th century Venetian courtesan who managed to foil a group of Spaniards attempting to take over the city. The novel moves between the perspectives of the two women, telling us much about the city and its history. And as Claire is in Venice -- there is, of course, a little bit of romance on the cards.

'A Bell for Adano' by John Hersey

Major Joppolo is an American officer put in charge of the Sicilian city of Adano after the island's US invasion in 1943. There are plenty of great characters to fill this portrait of small town Italy during the war and it is an unashamed "feel good" novel. And while it may have been a bestseller way back in 1944, it is still a great read for us today. There are several novels written on WWII occupation, and it is refreshing to find one in which compassion and humanity play a part. Hersey won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945.

'Ratking' by Michael Dibdin

This crime novel take us to the Umbrian city of Perugia, and introduces us to Police Commissioner Aurelio Zen. When a rich industrialist is kidnapped, it's decided a detective should be sent from Rome. Despite being 'out of favour' Zen is dispatched to solve the crime. The novel gives us plenty of detail about the city as well as the character of Italian society and the police system. And if you continue reading the series of Zen novels you will have the opportunity to travel to several other cities around the country.

So if you still have a few weeks or months to go before you set off on your trip, why not begin your journey straight away with these novels set in Italy? And if you are leaving soon, then throw a couple into your carry-on bag so you have something to read on the plane. Buon Viaggio!

Suzi Bianca is the founder of Packabook Travel Novels which makes it easy to find novels set in particular locations. This is a just a taste of the novels she recommends -- visit books set in Italy for many more. With Packabook's constantly updated selection of travel novels from countries all around the world, you will always be able to choose something exceptional to read.

Sightseeing in Lombardy

2010-09-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking of wine tasting and sightseeing in Lombardy, you will enjoy reading this article:

I Love Italian Travel - Wine Touring In Lombardy
by Levi Reiss

So you are planning to visit Lombardy, a region of northern Italy bordering on Switzerland, the Gulf of Taranto, and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its regional capital and largest city is Milan, the center of Italian finance, fashion, and media. Lombardy is home to La Scala, the greatest opera house in Europe, or perhaps the whole world. And the Cathedral of Milan, ooh, la, la. You will find museums galore and the massive, impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, an upscale Nineteenth Century shopping mall.

Small towns in Lombardy well worth the visit include Pavia which houses an important university, Cremona the historic center of violin making, and Mantua, where Romeo fled after killing Juliet's cousin. Its Palazzo Ducale contains 500 rooms one of which took a master seven years to paint. Save some time and money to visit the lakes. Lombardy borders no sea but it is home to Lake Maggiore, Lake Iseo, Lake Orta, Lake Como, and Lake Garda which spills over into the neighboring regions of Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. Each lake has its own special attractions, as do the lakeside towns such as Bellagio, which is considered one of the loveliest towns in Europe, and honored by a hotel of that name in Las Vegas.

Lombardy is home to three DOCG wines. Franciacorta is produced near Lake Iseo between Bergamo and Brescia. This is Italy's answer to Champagne and priced accordingly. The rosé tends to cost more than the white. Sforzato di Valtellina and Valtellina Superiore are vinified from the red Nebbiolo grape locally known as Chiavennasca. You may not be surprised that these wines comes from western Lombardy not far from Piedmont. After all, Nebbiolo is Piedmont's signature grape. Just for the record Sforzato di Valtellina is made from dried grapes and often costs more than Valtellina Superiore. The best Valtellina Superiore wines tend to come from the rocky Sassella subdistrict.

The major white grape varieties include the local Garganega (the major componenent of Soave in next-door Veneto), Trebbiano di Lugana, Riesling Renano, and its cousin, Riesling Italico. International white grape varieties include Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, the major components of Franciacorta. Regional reds include Barbera, Bonarda, Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo), and Lambrusco. Pinot Noir is found in Franciacorta and some other wines such as the high-volume Oltrepò Pavese DOC made in a wide variety of styles.

Companies selling regional wine tours include Prime Italy, Le Baccanti, Romantic Travel Destinations Getaway, and Wine Tour Italia. Regional wineries that accept visits include Berlucchi in Cortefranca, Cavalleri in Erbusco, and Sertoli Salis in Tirano. A few words of warning are in order. Make sure that you check ahead of time for opening hours and whether English is spoken. Some places may charge admission; others may expect you to buy some of their products.

About the Author:

Over the years Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet but simply prefers drinking fine Italian or other wine, with the right foods. He teaches a variety of computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website http://www.travelitalytravel.com which includes information on Italian wine and food.

Sightseeing in Brescia

2010-08-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

In this article you can learn more about sightseeing in Brescia and northern italy.

Exploring Northern Italy From Brescia Airport
By Michelle Elkins

The Lombardy region of Italy is reknown for its stunning beauty, mouth-watering cuisine and warm, temperate clime, which is why it continues to be a favourite with tourists the world over. Packed full of enchanting landscapes and breath-taking bodies of water, there is something here for every kind of holiday-maker. From those who love all action adventure to others who just like to take it easy and indulge in the pleasures in life, Lombardy is one place that can potentially deliver even more then it promises.

There are several routes by air into the area, including Verona Villafranca Airport and all three Milan Airports. However Ryanair offers low cost flights direct from Stansted to Verona Brescia Airport which is located smack bang in the middle of this fabulous locale. Brescia itself is the second largest city in Lombardy after Milan and the start and end point for the Mille Miglia, a historic car race which takes place in April/May each year and boasts some incredible examples of antique automobiles.

Within the ancient city are a range of historic buildings, museums and monuments to visit, as well as a host of other tourist-type attractions and fine eateries to take in, but for most, the great attraction about travelling here is to get away from it all and journey slightly further afield. Situated in Brescia Arrivals, Hertz is the only Verona Brescia car hire firm based within the airport and once vehicled up, it makes trips to the surrounding areas much simpler. Journey to the spectacular Lake Garda, dreamy city of Verona, cosmopolitan hub of Milan or even just nearby Ronchi. This area of unspoilt countryside offers panoramic views over the city and shows rural Italy at its best. Complete with vineyards, the Ronchi is interspersed with trattorias where visitors can take the opportunity to satiate their desire for traditional cooking.

Located 18km outside of the city centre in a place called Montichiari (which is why the airport is also sometimes known as Montichiari Airport), Brescia Airport provides other facilities for onward transportation. For a fee of EUR11 single or EUR16.00 return, shuttle buses run to the Brescia bus and Brescia train stations, from where connections can be made to the rest of the Lombardy region and further afield. These stations are next to each other and just a 15 minute walk from the centre.

If you are not planning to do much sight-seeing or are intending to stay close to your accommodation, then taxis can be hailed from outside arrivals although this option can be quite expensive. An altogether more convenient and generally more cost effective way to travel is by Brescia airport transfers. By booking in advance it can save the hassle of queueing because a driver meets and greets in the arrivals hall and ensures visitors arrive at their final destination as unruffled and unstressed as possible.

It is an ideal place to visit year round as Brescia weather tends to be mild most of the time, with temperatures never dipping much below 12ºC even during the winter months. July and August can become incredibly humid but a quick dip in Lake Garda or a swim round the pool at one of the many sensational hotels in Brescia should ensure that the clammy heat, up to 36ºC, does not become unbearable.

Michelle Elkins is a regular contributor to the Verona Airport Guide, which provides information and advice on all services to Verona Brescia Airport including Brescia Airport car hire and Brescia Airport Transfers.

Modena Sightseeing

2010-07-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

Are you wanting to find out more about Sightseeing in Modena, Italy?

Modena is a city situated in the mid north west of the Italian peninsula and is most famous for being the home town of the Ferrari but it's also right in the middle of the Italian food corridor which runs from Bologna, the father of Italian food to Parma, the home of ham and down to Modena. As well as these claims to fame Modena is also the home to one of the most beautiful Italian cathedrals and some wonderful architecture.

Modena has numerous claims to fame, not only is it the hometown of Ferrari (the Italians other great passion), it was also the hometown of the late and great world famous Italian tenor, Luciano Pavarotti and it's also one of the Emilia-Romagna region's great gastronomic cities, producer of the most beautiful vinegar in the world, balsamic among other things. If you are into your food Emilia-Romagna has to be the Italian region to visit.

But what is the real Modena like? Having visited Bologna many years ago and been overcome by its beauty I'd always promised myself I'd get to Modena one day. Other than the obvious things about Modena I knew very little about it so was looking forward immensely to finding out more about the cities Italian architecture.

As soon as I arrived in Modena for some sightseeting I headed for the main square, when ever you arrive in an Italian city for the first time the main Piazza is always a good starting point. Piazza Grande is the main Piazza in Modena, and a very grand Italian Piazza it is too, being home to the beautiful cathedral. It has to be one of the most beautiful churches anywhere in and one of the most beautiful I've seen any where in the world.

Building started on the cathedral in 1099. At the time Modena was without a bishop as the one chosen by the Pope was not approved by the locals, hence the citizens of Modena managed and paid for the cathedral to be completed, some achievement. The beautiful white stones covering the outside of the cathedral were discovered, during renovation work to be Roman tombstones, this was a surprise to the restoration workers and historians who even found inscriptions on the stones. The doorways are adorned with life-like sculptures and these really set the cathedral apart from older cathedrals that generally have flatter one dimensional sculpture's. The sculptures look magnificent in their white stone but they have a somewhat eerie appearance to them due to the use of lead as eyes, the black eyes staring down at you from the beautiful white figures is strange.

Standing proudly at either side of the main entrance to the cathedral are two magnificent Roman lions, the doorway to the Piazza Grande is also guarded by two magnificent lions, this time made from an Italian pink marble.

I could spent hours inside cathedrals just looking at the reliefs and carvings, I always feel slightly disappointed when leaving a magnificent looking cathedral that isn't regaled with historical reliefs that tell a story. I certainly wasn't disappointed in Modena. On one side of the church, beneath an arch linking it to a tower there are some wonderful carvings believed to be King Arthur and his knights as well as scenes from Aesop's fables. My favourite of all was a calendar showing the months of the year complete with an agricultural task for the Italian farmers that would be carried out in the given month. This reminded me of a similar carving I saw at the Palazzo Ducale in Venice.

A later section was added to the cathedral in the 13-14th centuries, this was made out of a beautiful Italian pink marble and is of a more Gothic appearance than the earlier parts of the cathedral but it still links nicely with the older section, rather than looking like a bolt-on.

As with all Italian cities the main Piazza is the focal point of the city and Piazza Grande is no different. Up until 1931 the Piazza held the city market but this was moved to a purpose built covered site where it is still held today. Although not the site for the market any longer the Piazza is still very much the place to meet people, take a stroll or just sit and enjoy an espresso.

Modena's buildings are a wonderful terra cotta colour, the sort of colour that lends itself wonderfully to Italian architecture, so warming and gentle on the eye. The good thing about Italy is that is still so in touch with its heritage, the citizens of Modena have to respect their heritage to the degree that the colour of all buildings must fall within local council guidelines to keep the aesthetics of the city.

Walking through the narrow atmospheric cobbled streets into the sleepy piazzas you can really get lost in the sense of Italian history that Modena exudes through its architecture.

Modena has had an up and down history. Modena flourished under Roman rule but then went into steady decline as a power hub until the end of the 16th century when the ruling d'Este family made it their home. The family saw how Modena had fallen into declined and realised that it had potential and set about modernising the city to make it one of the Italian greats.

The d'Este family built their home, the Palazzo Ducale (not to be confused with the Venetian palace of the same name) on top of Modena's existing castle. The spectacular Palazzo still stands today; still in all its original glory, the unfortunate thing is that it is now an impregnable Italian military academy with no access for to the public.

After a couple of days spent walking around the beautiful city of Modena sampling the wonderful architecture it dawned on me that I hadn't even taken the time out to look deeper into Modena's gastronomic heritage.

Modena Sightseeting followed by great food is something to look forward to.

Tuscany Sightseeing

2010-07-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for some Tuscany Sightseeing ideas? Read this article to find out some of Tuscany's most unforgettable sightseeting and holiday attractions.

Tuscany's Most Unforgettable Holiday Attractions
By Mark Scriven

That long awaited holiday has rolled around, and this time, you probably fancy doing something a little bit different, you're probably a little bit lost for ideas, and your partner's getting restless, they want a fun-packed holiday they can enjoy, whilst at the same time enjoying a nice relaxing break away from work and home.

If this sounds a lot like your current situation, then perhaps Tuscany is the perfect holiday destination for you. Unfortunately, Tuscany is not often thought of as a great couple's holiday hot-spot, but it has a lot to offer couples as well as families, and can give every partnership a memorable holiday, you just need to know the right spots to visit.

One of the main things couples partake in on a holiday is a shopping tour, displaying Italian fashion at its very best. The shopping facilities in Tuscany is an attraction in itself, offering couples designer labels such as Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Yves Saint Laurent.

This is a true shopper's paradise if you're looking for brand names at outlet prices, and it also gives you the opportunity to soak up your surroundings in the quaint cafes that are found within the area, a gorgeous way to spend an afternoon!

If you're a culture vulture, then a trip to some of Tuscany's beautiful Museums and Gardens has to be at the top of your list. For example, the Accademia Museum is a popular attraction, home to some of the world's most famous artistic pieces, such as Michelangelo's 'David'.

There are many different Michelangelo sculpture and pictures homed here, but also displayed are the epic works of Botticelli, Lorenzo di Credi, del Sarto and Perungino, the only place to be if you're interested in enjoying some really art and culture.

The Boboli Gardens is another spot often enjoyed by tourists, it offers up a beautiful place to relax, as well as some fantastic photography opportunities too. After a you've made your way through the Pitti palace, the Renaissance gardens that occupy the hill behind the museum will call out to you, you may notice the occasional touches of sculpture - the works of Baroque and Rococo, as well as some serene water fountains and some beautiful botanical gardens. You can always pay a visit to one of the nearby cafes and pick up some food and wine to enjoy out there in the sun, a perfect end to a perfect day.

Tuscany also offers up a wide range of different Thermal SPAS and Springs, in particular, the Thermal Spring of Montepulciano is a popular destination, set up in 1966, it contains a natural sulphur spring that gives therapeutic properties to all visitors to it.

The centre itself also offers services such as hydro massages, 'Scottish baths', vapour showers, pools, toning and moisturizing, lynfo drainage, face masks and many other purifying treatments. Many men think this is just a woman's treat, but it's surprising how many men visit each year, and leave feeling refreshed and completely relaxed!

Tuscany is a beautiful and tranquil region, offering up a variety of romantic and fun attractions and activities, the stunning views and peaceful surroundings can make for a memorable Italian holiday that will have you coming back time and time again.

Mark Scriven is an online marketing expert and has written many articles on business, travel and the internet. For a wide selection of holiday villas in Tuscany visit Cottages to Castles, specialists in luxury Tuscany villas.

Hopefully this will give you lots of Tuscany Sightseeing ideas!

Sightseeing in Bardolino

2010-07-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

Bardolino rests on the shores of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake. It lies about 30 kilometres northwest of the provincial capitol of Verona.

Bardolino although one one of the lesser well known resorts it is still very popular with German and British visitors. Lake Garda itself is a haven for weekend visitors. It is only just over four hours drive from the Bavarian capitol, Munich, and under two hours drive from Milan. This relatively easy commute makes the lakeshore a haven for week-end visitors and weekends do tend to to be very much busier than week days.

Sightseeing in Bardolino would not be complete without sampling the local wine - and there are various vintages of Bardolino wine to sample ranging from the cheap to the more expensive. Real wine aficionados can visit town’s wine museum plus the unofficial bodega’s purporting to be wine museums. Many of the towns wine and snack bars sell excellent wine by the glass straight out of the barrel

The harbour area of Bardolino is the hub of activity by day and by night. As well as being very picturesque it also boasts one of Italy’s finest ice cream parlours. The parlour is easy to find in the evening, simply look for a large queue of people. Although there are many fine eating places around the harbour area many of the better restaurants are a couple of streets back

Although the setting sun hides beside some of the distant mountains for the last few minutes before dipping below the horizon in the summer months the orange glow across the lakeside can still be quite spectacular particularly by the yacht club or the harbour.

Although Bardolino itself has lots of quaint restaurants, bars and small shops it retains its own character as do all the neighbouring lakeside towns. A regular ferry service as well as a frequent bus service makes visiting neighbouring towns of Garda, Malcesine, Lasize and Pescheira relatively easy. Even the most northerly town of Riva can be visited by bus with relative ease.

Sightseeing in Perugia

2010-07-04T05:42:00.000-07:00

Perugia is a medieval walled city located in the region of Umbria in Italy. It's location is on top of a hill with amazing views of the surrounding countryside. It's a great city to explire and also an excellent base for touring the rest of Umbria

If you are considering visiting Perugia here are a few top tips for sightseeing in Perugia.

Here are some of the top sights that you should be sure not to miss while in Perugia:

Duomo - this was built in the thirteenth century and you'll find it in the main square of Perugia - the Piazza IV Novembre.
Palazzo Dei Priori - inside this building you will find the national art gallery of Umbria and 3 other museums.
Fontana Maggiore - this is the main fountain in Perugia and was built and decorated in the thirteenth century
Etrucan Arch - this is the main city gate
Corso Vannucci - this pedestrianised street is filled with lots of bars, restaurants and shops.
Church of San Pietro & Medieval Garden - this is Perugia's largest church and was originally build between 1304 and 1458.

When you have finished sightseeing in Perugia you may also want to explore other parts of Umbria such as Orvieto, Lake Trasimeno, Assisi and Gubbio.

Sightseeing in Bassano del Grappa

2010-07-03T03:28:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of visiting Bassano del Grappa in Northern Italy? If so, here are a few ideas for Sightseeing in Bassano del Grappa.

Guide to Bassano del Grappa, Northern Italy
By Karen Bryan

Unique Points

Bassano sits in a stunning location by the River Brenta with Monte Grappa in the background. It is about 35 kilometres north east of Vicenza. The town's symbols are said to be the Palladian bridge, white asparagus, ceramics and the Grappa liqueur. I visited the town for the day in February 2005.

I really liked the location, the fresh air, the fast flowing river and the picturesque bridge. If you like to be slightly off the tourist track and would prefer a more rural setting for short break or as a base for a touring holiday, Bassano is ideal.

How to get there

The nearest airports are Treviso, used by Ryanair as it's airport for Venice and Venice Marco Polo. You could hire a car from the airport. It is possible to reach Bassano by train on the Vicenzia - Trento or Padova - Bassano lines.

History

It is often assumed that the city takes its name from the well known liqueur Grappa. This is not the case; it is named after Monte Grappa. The mountain's name is said to originate from crapp or greep, meaning crag in an ancient pre-Latin language. The liqueur Grappa's name stems
from grappolo, meaning a cluster of grapes.

Grappa liqueur has been produced in Bassano since 1779 when Bortolo Nardini bought a Grapperia on the Brenta River bank. Grappa is made from the by-products of wine making, the seeds, stems and skins. The company is still run by members of the Nardini family, accounting for around one quarter of annual grappa production.

Ponte Vecchia has become synonymous with Bassano. The bridge is first mentioned in the 11th century. The bridge has been rebuilt several times due to flooding or destruction during wars. It is still the original design by Palladio from 1569. The bridge is built of wood, making it more resilient to the fast flowing River Brenta.

There is a record of the city on St Mary's Hill from the 10th century. From the 14th to 18th century the city was under Venetian rule. It became well known for the manufacture of ceramics, wool, silk, iron and copper. The Remondini family ran one of the most up to date printing houses in Europe from the17th to the 19th century.

Grappa liqueur has been produced in Bassano since 1779 when Bortolo Nardini bought a Grapperia on the Brenta River bank. Grappa is made from the by products of wine making, the seeds, stems and skins. The company is still run by members of the Nardini family, accounting for around one quarter of annual grappa production.

The Town Hall was first constructed in1405. Bartolomeo Ferranci installed the present clock mechanism in 1743. The interior walls are adorned by frescoes of 120 coats of arms.

White asparagus was first produced in the 16th century after Bassano experienced a hailstorm which destroyed the asparagus crop. The farmers dug up the part of the plant below the earth and discovered that it was so tender and delicious that they started to grow it underground
permanently.

Parolini, a local nobleman, designed the Giardini Parolini in the early 19th century. In 1829 Parolini catalogued 3000 plant species in the garden.

During the First World War the Italians took a last stand against the Austrians in Monte Grappa where they entrenched themselves in tunnels and bunkers to repel the Austrian attackers. Over 12,000 Italian and 10,000 Austrian soldiers lost their lives in the numerous battles.

During the Second World War Italian partisans hid in Monte Grappa, organising raids on the main supply route from Germany to the German troops stationed in Italy. In 1944
the Germans took revenge by marching up the mountain behind women, children and elderly local inhabitants. Any partisans discovered or civilians suspected of assisting partisans were killed. There were public hangings and shootings with families forced to watch.

In 1946 the Italian prime minister awarded Basssano the gold medal for military valour. Every year the city commemorates these events during September.

The Museo degli Alpini was established in 1948 in memory of the Italian Alpine Troops It is located on the eastern side of the Ponte Vecchio. You have to enter it through a cafe. I found this rather confusing but the museum is down stairs to the left when you enter the cafe. Originally the collection was very small but has grown as more war relics have been gathered together.There are many original photos, uniforms and armoury.

Museo della Cermica is near the eastern side of the Ponte Vecchio. The building was constructed as the residence of Ferrari family, owners of a local silk factory. The entrance hall is adorned with a fresco by Giorgio Anseli. There are pieces of engraved ceramics from medieval times, Mainardi majolica pieces from the 17th and 18th century, along with modern pieces.

The Civic Musuem is one of the oldest in the Veneto region. It was built in1828 on the site of the convent of St Francis. It houses a collection of paintings by the Da Ponti family, Guariento and Magnasco, a collection of prints by the Remondini family. There is also an archaeological section
and pieces by Antonio Canova.

Bassano boasts several churches. San Donato was built in 1208. It is claimed that St Francis of Assisi and St Anthony of Padua both stayed here during the third decade of the 13th century. The church was a hospital, run by Benedictine nuns in the 14th century, then a Fransican monastery during the 15th century. The church was restored in 1900, including work being done on the cell which was used by the two saints.

The Church of San Francesco was started in the mid 12th century, after the return of Ezzelino 11, the Stutterer, from the Holy Land. The Church of St John the Baptist was originally built in 1308 but reconstructed in the 18th century by local architect Giovanni Miazzi. Giambattista Piazzetti made the altarpiece of John the Baptist and Orzio Marinali created the statues of angels and the bas-reliefs.

The Cathedral of Holy Mary was a 10th century parish church in the original high part of the town. The present cathedral dates from the 17th century. The high altar piece and the painting of St Stephen are the work of Leandro di Ponte, and the sculptures are by Mainali. Di Giacomo Dacci made the organ and the three ceiling paintings are by Volpata.

Where to eat

Trattoria del Borgo is a traditional restaurant with a garden, via Margan 7, tel 0424 522155

Birreria Ottone is an a 13th century palazzo. They offer a selection of Italian, Tyrolean and Austrian dishes, via Matteotti 48 - 50, tel 0424 522206.

Day trips

Marostica

Marostica is a 14th century medieval town where the original town wall stands intact.
It is best known as the "town of chess". Every second year a match, with people dressed in elaborate costumes to portray the pieces, is played on the giant chessboard below
the castle. This takes place on the second Friday, Saturday and Sunday every second year, when the year ends in an even number. This commemorates the chess match played in 1454 when the victor was to win the hand in marriage of Lianora, the daughter of the Lord of the Castle of Marostica. Two suitors, Rinaldo d'Angarano and Vieti da Vallonara, had fallen in love with Lianora and were to fight a duel to see how would marry Lianora. The Lord forbade the
duel and order decreed that the victor of the chess match would marry Lianora. However all was not lost for the defeated suitor, as he would marry Lianora's younger sister, Oldrata.
The period costumes are permanenly displayed in the Lower Castle.

Marostica holds a Cherry Festival every year during May and June. There are kiosks in the streets selling a variety of cherries including morello, roame,marostagne and sander.
There is an annual exhibition of comic cartoons in the town. Every July and August local craftsmen display their work the exhibition hall of the Lower Caste. There are some lovely walks through the surrounding hills.

Asola

Asola is a charming hilltop town, with a castle, a cathedral with a altar piece by Lorenzo Lotto and the 15th century Palazzo della Ragione. It was called the "city of one thousand horizons" by Giosue Carducci, because of all the fantastic views. It was much favoured by the Venetian nobility. Caterina Corona, the former Queen of Cyprus, lived here in the late 15th century. Robert Browning, the English poet, bought a house ere in the mid 17th century. Eleanora Duse, credited with being the greatest actress of the Italian stage was also a resident. The travel writer Freya Stark was brought up in Asolo and spent a lot of time here between her various expeditions. There is an antiques market every second weekend of the month, except duringJuly and August.

You can read the full guide to Bassano including photos and accommodation options at http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/Italy/bassano.html

Karen Bryan is a UK based independent travel consultant and writer. In her website, Europe a la Carte, http://www.europealacarte.co.uk, she promotes less well known destinations in Europe. Karen believes that you can get more of a flavour of the real country even if you venture only slightly off the well beaten tourist track

Day Tours from Rome

2010-07-02T15:33:00.000-07:00

If you are staying in Rome for a while you may want to consider taking a day tour or two while you are there. Here are 5 ideas for day tours from Rome.

Best Day Trips From Rome, Italy

By Christine Zibas

When visiting Rome, Italy, travelers should follow the example of emperors and popes and see some of the surrounding countryside. Fuori parta (beyond the gate), as Ancient Romans noted, lie great treasures. The area surrounding Rome, the region of Lazio, is one of the most beautiful areas of Italy in its own right, and those who travel beyond Rome's city gates will surely be in for a special treat.

Ostia Antica
To the east of Rome (about a half hour by train) lies Ostia Antica, a site that is considered to be "the Pompeii of Rome." Once the ancient site of Rome's port, this area lost its importance when the course of the Tiber River changed, leaving it (some 2,000 years later) a sandy, muddy wasteland.

Founded in the 4th century BC, today it is little more than a site for excavated ruins. Travelers exploring Ostia Antica, however, can gain a better understanding of what life was like in ancient times by exploring the excavations and accompanying museum.

Among the items worth exploring at the site are the mosaic floors with Neptune and the sea goddess Amphitrite at the Terme di Nattuna (Baths of Neptune), the theater built by Agrippa (original creator of the Pantheon in Rome), and the Mithraeum, in which the balconies and walls of this building are decorated with symbols from the Cult of Mithras religion. Close to the ruins of Ostia Antica is the Medieval city of Castello della Rovere, which began in 1483.

Tivoli
Another spot worth journeying to on a day trip from Rome is Tivoli. In ancient times, Tivoli was the place where emperors went to escape the heat and misery of Roman life in the summer. Large palaces and villas were created, but by the Middle Ages, this area had largely been abandoned. It was rediscovered by the elite of the Catholic Church, those cardinals and popes with abundant wealth, who revived the area by building anew.

Today, Tivoli is a beautiful and vibrant area with stunning views and cascading waterfalls. Two jewels remain from ancient times, the Temple of Vesta and the ruins of the Sanctuary of the Sibyl. Most travelers who make the journey from Rome (via bus or train), however, come to see the Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa) or the Villa d'Este's fabled gardens.

Villa Adriana/Hadrian's Villa
One of the most accomplished of the Ancient Roman emperors, Hadrian rose to power in 1178 AD, and began a construction boom in Rome (and elsewhere) that was unrivaled. His villa at Tivoli was a masterpiece created by local artisans, which incorporated ideas from Hadrian's world travels. He much admired Hellenistic (Greek) culture. His vast estate in Tivoli was a conglomerate of baths, theaters, libraries, temples, open-air gymnasiums, and guest pavilions. The most famous element at the Villa Adriana is the Canopus, an artificial pool created to emulate a canal on the Nile. Those exploring the villa would do well, when visiting, to rent the audio tour (along with it, you will receive a complimentary map to help guide your tour of the area).

Villa d'Este
At Tivoli's center lies the Villa d'Este, built by a cardinal in the 16th century. While the villa itself isn't much to see today, the main reason for visiting this special spot are its gardens. To create these beautiful water gardens, the Aniene River was diverted, and the result is breathtaking. The gardens of the Villa d'Este are a masterpiece, with sun and shade, water and stone all working together to create a truly unforgettable experience. Perhaps the most romantic time to visit the gardens is on a summer evening, when the floodlit fountains work their magic.

Castelli Romani
Contrary to what their name might imply, the castelli are not castles, but rather charming towns and villages scattered throughout the Alban Hills, which (of course) aren't really "hills," but instead remnants of extinct volcanic activity.

These picturesque towns today are surrounded by olive groves, woods full of chestnut trees, and lovely vineyards, with accompanying wine cellars. Among those towns worth exploring are Frescati, with its Villa Aldonbrandini; Castelgandolfo, where the Pope summers (Villa Pontifica); Ariccia, with the beautiful Palazzo Chigi; and Nemi, the smallest but most beautiful of them all.

Whether one travels amongst the hill towns of the Castelli Romani or takes in the stunning villas of Tivoli or takes a step back in time at Ostia Antica, it's clear that little more than an hour outside Rome (and often less), there is a beautiful Italian countryside worth exploring. Rome is a hard city to leave, but a day trip outside the city is well worth the time away.

Christine Zibas is a veteran of the think tank world, having worked in both Washington, DC, and London. She is a former travel writer, specializing in educational travel. Her last job before becoming a freelance writer was as director of publications for a nonprofit organization, based in Chicago, Illinois.

Hopefully these will give you some ideas of day tours from Rome!

Puglia Sightseeing

2010-06-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

Want to find out about Puglia sightseeing highlights? Read the article below...

What to Do on Holiday in Puglia
By Andy Gibson

Puglia is popularly referred as the "heel of Italy's boot" and is the fine assortment of baroque churches, pagan dances and fairytale cottages. This captivating terrain is full of picturesque locations that are very popular with families staying in holiday homes.

Puglia boasts about its long history and has a wide range of sightseeing attractions that are well worth a visit. Puglia is divided into six provinces making it more interesting when renting holiday villas.

Many holiday makers visit Lecce. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations of this region. Lecce is regarded as a magnificent jewel of the baroque architecture. You will find different crafts of architecture constructed using the theme of yellow colors and splendidly preserved.

Other places to visit are Bari, Taranto, Ostuni, Otranto, Alberobello, Gallipoli, Isola San Domino, Bitonto, Isola Caprara, Castellana Grotte, Rignano Garganico, Monopoli, Brindisi and Foggia. Apart from sight seeing, you can also go to the zoo safari at Fasano.

Puglia has a wide range of markets including Putignanno, Alberobello, Noci and Martina Franca. These markets have a great selection of locally made crafts and food. There is nothing better than walking through a local market and sampling locally produced wine and cheese. The area also has many shopping centers and retail outlets.

You can buy fabulous art and craft works, designer attires, fashionable accessories and hi-tech gadgets, the markets in Puglia are there to serve you for all your needs and interests.

If you are true lover of adventurous activities, then Puglia has fun and entertainment in store for you. This is because there are many beaches such as Polignano, San Vito, and Castellanetta among others. The best thing about these beaches is that you can enjoy serene landscapes and sun basking to a large extent.

Along with this, these beaches are also popular for different adventurous activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling, sea surfing, underwater swimming, fishing and splendid views of coral reefs. This will make your entire trip a memorable experience as these activities are entertained with the advance amenities so as to provide travelers with the most exciting experience.

If you are connoisseur of Mediterranean cuisine and wines, Puglia will never disappoint you as this terrain is popular for world class restaurants and eateries offering top quality and finger licking cuisine varieties made from tomatoes, courgettes, olives, chickpeas, sauces and cheese.

All these varieties are assorted with mouth watering friselle, bread rings, softened water and oregano. This way they are classically served to the people. Moreover, another attraction is its wine. You can taste all kinds of wines available in the world such as red wine, white wine and gold wine among others.

Some of the famous brands include Primitivo di Manduria, Salice Salentino and snifferes. So, travel to this terrain and enjoy all these things to a large extent and make your entire trip a rocking experience.

The relaxed way of life here combined with the abundant local foods makes renting holiday villas here so calming and easy, giving you time to explore the Puglia region with great ease.

Italy is an interesting country to visit on vacation and is full of a rich history and takes great pride in its local culture. You can stay in holiday rentals when you come here on vacation. If you bring your family you may decide to stay in a self catering holiday apartment in Puglia.

Sightseeing in Pisa

2010-06-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of doing some sightseeing in Pisa? Read this article to find out what not to miss.

Things to See and Do in Pisa
By Dennis C Wilson

Pisa in Italy is the perfect place to visit for short trip and it is also great for a long vacation. It is a city that is steeped in heritage and has a lot of history behind it's walls. Every place has a story to tell and you will be mesmerized at the sheer beauty and elegance of many of these places. There are various architectural sights that you must absolutely see when visiting Pisa.

You can start your tour of this great city at the Baptistery (Battistero), which is the largest baptistery in Italy. It dates back to the 12th century, making it a remarkable piece of European history. Designed in its round shape by the famous Deotisalvi, it has a rather large circumference of 348 feet. The construction of the lower drum was done in Romanesque style and the Gothic style upper part was added almost a hundred years later. It is famous for its huge dome, its carved front and the pulpit designed by the great Nicola Pisano.

Afterward, you can visit piazza dei Cavalieri. It was designed by Giorgio Vasari in the year 1560 and is one of the most important piazzas of Pisa. It is a curved open space that leads up to the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri. This piazza was the former seat of the Order of the Knights of St. Stephen (Ordine dei Cavalieri di Santo Stefano), who were an organized group of religious warriors who protected the city from the Turks.

For those who enjoy being close to nature, there is the Botanical Gardens (Orto Botanico di Pisa). It was built sometime in the 1540s and is claimed to be the oldest botanical gardens in all of Europe. Visitors can look forward to an amazing experience viewing various fantastic species of plants from all over the world. It has a very relaxed atmosphere and most visitors appreciate the calm and quite. It is closed on Sundays and there is no admission fee.

Any visit to Pisa is incomplete without a trip to the Leaning Tower (Torre Pendente) of Pisa. There are many people every year who make a trip to Pisa just to see this tower. It is actually the bell tower of Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Pisa). Its sand foundation caused it to lean over time and has now made it the famed monument that it is. Climbing the stairs is a unique experience.

Italy is a country with so much to explore and discover. Hiring a car in Italy may be an option worth considering particularly if you plan on traveling about and taking in some of the other wonderful locations within Italy such as Venice, Rome, Milan and Naples.

There are lots of holiday bargains to be had in Italy when it comes to flights, car hire, lodgings and other holiday necessities. Companies are fighting tooth and nail for your business. So if you fancy a value for money trip to Italy well now may be the time to start searching.

Take a look at our resource sites at car hire Pisa and car hire Venice Airport for more information.

Sicily Sightseeing

2010-06-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

Are you planning some Sicily Sightseeing? If so, read on to find out the highlights of Sicily.

The 5 Best Tours of Sicily
By Mark Scriven

When it comes to travelling in Sicily, independent travel and exploring is possible, thanks to the vast amount of tour and excursion packages which can be found on this beautiful island. These can be found and organized by either contacting your local travel agents or a tour operator once you have arrived on the island, but below is a taste of the fantastic sights you can look forward to seeing.

For the ultimate in luxury sightseeing tours, look no further than a day tour of Palermo which will take you to some of the city's most aristocratic homes. This is perfect for those history buffs who love nothing more than soaking up as much culture as possible whilst on their vacation. Many may find interest watching documentaries based on art and architecture from the Middle Ages to the Baroque era, but on this tour you can view it for yourself-providing an experience not to be missed.

This is a full day tour which includes a lunch, sampling some of the most delicious Sicilian specialties that you can find on the island. Your tour will take you to some of most breathtaking and historical monuments you can find within Europe, from Steri Castle to the Martorana Church, making this a truly cultural day out. The Golden Sicily Tour is the best tour for those who want to see the major sights within Sicily.

Beginning in either Palermo or Taormina, this 6 day tour will allow you to see all this fantastic location has to offer, rather than 'dropping' you off for a brief time at different locations. With hotel bookings made for you, you are free to enjoy the culture, history and decadent cuisine of Sicily-perfect for those who are looking to explore the main attractions within the island, whilst still allowing for your own personal time to do some exploring on your own. These tours run throughout most of the year but also have the advantage of add-on days such as gourmet cooking classes and jeep excursion and lunch.

When it comes to tours of your holiday destination, many may feel that they are provided with similar tours they have experienced before-never providing them with something new and exciting. The Best of Sicily Tours involves a mixture of hotel bookings, small guide groups and some of the best in Sicilian cuisine-in all, making your holiday what it should be.

Again, this tour allows for your own personal time to explore which is great for those who are not used to travelling with aid of a tour guide before. The Sicilian Impressions Tour looks to provide you with as much culture, history and good food as possible within the space of 5 days-allowing you to extend your vacation in Sicily for your own leisure if you've not quite had enough of this beautiful island. Crossing over from Palermo to Taormina, this is the ultimate in tours for those who love nothing more than embarking in a spot of Sicilian history and culture. Whilst enjoying the traditional food you will get to view for yourself some outstanding landmarks such as the Greek temples in Agrigento to Mount Etna. Finally, for the ultimate foodie there is Market cooking classes in Palermo.

This is the perfect way to spend your vacation for those who simply cannot part with the delicious food you will find in Sicily. These half day lessons will begin with you finding your ingredients during a trip to one of Palermo's street markets, after which you will prepare lunch under the direction of one of Palermo's finest chefs. This is not only a fantastic way to hone your cooking skills, but also allows you to take some of your experiences within Sicily back home with you.

When it comes to your holiday in Sicily, there are no limitations to the ways in which you can explore this fantastic island. Why not combine a few tours together for the ultimate experience or work your tours around the most appealing factors of the island? Whatever you decide, you are sure to be astounded and amazed by the sheer beauty which comes from all Sicily has to offer.

Mark Scriven is an online marketing expert and has written many articles on business, travel and the internet. For a wide selection of holiday villas in Sicily visit Cottages to Castles, specialists in luxury Sicily villas.

Italy Bicycle Trips

2010-06-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of taking an Italy bicycle trip? Read on to get some ideas for ideas for Italy bicycle trips.

Bicycle Tour Europe - Top 5 Cycling Regions of Italy
By Tom Oxby

One of the most visited European destinations for bicycle touring is Italy. You will not be alone as many local cyclists also fill the bicycle paths and country roads. Surprisingly, Italians are very gentle when passing cyclists so do not let their reputation for fast driving deter you.

The top 5 bicycle touring regions of Italy:

Tuscany - this region is on the must do list of everyone who bicycle tours. Although there are no signed bicycle routes in the region there are many quiet and scenic roads between the major towns which are well signed. You can expect some major climbs as you bicycle tour through the hills covered with either sunflowers or bright red poppies, depending on the season.

In the southern Tuscany your cycling is in the area between Cortona, Montepolciano and Montalcino. In central Tuscany you will be bicycle touring it is the area between Siena and Florence including San Gimignano and the wine region of Chianti. And in the north the best cycling is found in the area around Lucca. Either base yourself in a villa for daily trips or easily join the three regions in one longer journey.

Umbria - the next door neighbor to Tuscany which often combined to create a longer bicycle touring journey including both regions. Cyclists will want to head for Perugia, well known for its chocolates, the hilltop town Todi and the religious center of Assisi. Umbria, like Tuscany is a hilly region so expect many nice climbs.

Puglia - a little to the northeast of Umbria is Puglia with bicycle touring along the rugged Adriatic coastline. So you can expect excellent Italian seafood cuisine along your way.

The countryside also features olive grove plantations surrounding charming white walled villages.

Veneto - Just because the terrain of this area is mostly flat you may be surprised by the fabulous scenery and historic towns. Unlike some of the other regions there are a number of bicycle paths for the cyclist. In Bassano del Grappa taste the famous liqueur made here; in Asolo you have elegant homes and great red wines; Stra is known for its many villa which are really palaces. In Padua there are some ancient museums and one of the world's oldest universities. Of course, there is Venice, to both visit and cycle along the islands of the Lido area.

Piemonte - not as well known this northern bicycle touring region offers rolling terrain along quiet roads. The region is best known for its medieval towns surrounded by vineyards with the Alps in the background. Along your journey enjoy fine truffles, cheeses and the excellent chocolate.

The best time to go bicycle touring in any of these regions is from May to June or September to October.

So for you next European bicycle touring journey go to the land you have always dreamed about, Italy. It is everything you always imaged.

And every year Tom Oxby explores North America and Europe on while bicycle touring and hiking. He has found that proper planning is essential to get the most from your cycling adventure.

For more fascinating information about bicycle touring visit his website at http://www.easybicycletouring.com

Sorrento Sightseeing

2010-06-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few tips for Sorrento Sightseeing:

Sorrento, Italy
By Hannah Rollmaker

For visitors to Italy you will find a country which is brimming with an abundance of natural beauty, friendly native inhabitants, interesting sights to visit and a number of interesting cities and towns that you can explore to your heart's content. One such city you will enjoy exploring is that of Sorrento. You will be able to find this small city in the Campania region of Southern Italy. Due to the numerous modern amenities to be found in this city as well as the close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea Sorrento is a popular tourist destination for many people the world over.

From the city of Sorrento you can travel with ease to neighboring cities and islands as it is close to Naples, Pompeii, Capri, Ischia, Amalfi and Positano. In addition to visiting these other cities you will find Sorrento provides you with an excellent view from many places in the city of Naples which can be clearly seen across the bay. Other sights you will be entranced to see are that of the island of Capri and the still active Mount Vesuvius.

Once you have familiarized yourself with these sights which can be found both in and close to Sorrento you can take your time to visit some of the more memorable places of interesting in this city. The first item to remember as Sorrento is regarded as a holiday destination you might want to include hiking as well as lounging on the beach as part of the way to pass time enjoyably. However if you want to absorb some of the culture and history of this lovely city you may wish to visit the Archeological Museum of the Sorrentine Peninsula.

In this Archaeological Museum you will be able to look at a number of different artifacts which shows the history of southern Italy as well as Sorrento. You will have the chance of learning how the culture of this city developed into the one which the world is familiar with today. Once you have toured this museum you may like to head over to the Museo Correale di Terranova. This museum is considered to be Sorrento's primary picture gallery. Here you will be able to look at the many different paintings which have been done by artists from a number of eras.

The talents of these artists will provide you with a wonderful way of seeing the past through art. While visiting these museums is quite delightful you will also be able to learn about the history of Sorrento from its various religious buildings such as the St. Francis Monastery, the Basilica di Sant'Antonino or even looking at the Duomo which is a fabulous Cathedral that you should visit while you are in Sorrento.

The next time you are looking forward to a fabulous Italian holiday remember you can sightsee in the beautiful city of Sorrento. The memories that you will make here are ones that you can talk with friends and family for many a month to come.

Find your next Sorrento hotel, here.

Italy Sightseeing Tips

2010-06-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Are you planning an Italy Sightseeing trip? If so, here are a few facts about Italy to prepare you for your vacation.

Introduction to Italy

Italy, the birthplace of pasta and pizza provides a wide range of choices for art lovers. They have a temperate climate with very hot summers and mild winters. Sightseeing is best in spring and autumn when they have pleasant temperatures and scenic views. At that time of the year, the place isn’t crowded much and things can be enjoyed in leisure.

Italian Culture

Italian is widely spoken and is the official language. English isn’t very familiar to the locals but in popular sightseeing locations you will often find that English is spoken in shops, restaurants, hotels and at popular sights.. Family ties are of utmost importance here and hence social courtesies mean a lot to the locals. The Roman Catholic Church has a great impact on the culture here. Since Italian is spoken on a wide scale, it is highly recommended to learn few common Italian phrases which can be of great use.

Social gatherings call for formal wear, but one can dress in casuals otherwise. At some religious places, sleeveless shirt and shorts are frowned upon. So they are better avoided. Purses and wallets should be well guarded and in case of any theft, police should be informed about the incident.

Shopping

Shops in Italy are generally open from 9am to 8pm and closed for lunch.Popular items include crystals, lacework, leather good, and jewelry. Tipping of 10% is customary along with the service tax levied on the bill. Italy is famous for top designers of the world, so do buy clothes and accessories to update your wardrobe. Cruises have formal gatherings in the evening, so ensure to buy a cocktail dress or some formal wear, though casuals can be worn at other times.

Practicalities

The voltage used is 220 volts and 50 Hz frequency.

There is a high content of chlorine in tap waters, so bottled water is recommended for staying fit during the trip.

Getting there

Alitalia is the national airline of Italy. Many other flights connect to Italy from USA, UK, Canada and Australia and there is big competition to attract passengers giving a wide range of offers to travelers. Rome airport is located 26 km away from the city and it takes 45 minutes to get there from the airport. Trains connect directly to Termini Station from where one can take taxi to get to their destination. Milan has another busy airport here, which is at a distance of 45km away from the city.

Brindisi, Ancona, Naples and Venice are the major seaports of Italy. Italian State Railways connects many European cities. But, Eurostar provides the fastest train service.

If choosing to drive, don’t forget to carry international driving license and international insurance certificate. Roads connect Italy to France, Austria and Switzerland. Many coach services are provided from the neighboring countries.

Naples Sightseeing

2010-06-18T02:39:00.000-07:00

Naples Sightseeing: Italy - Naples Attractions
By Lucia Mancini

A positive outcome of the mess caused by the trash emergency is what has been called a rebirth of Naples Italy and the new and old attractions of this city. Naples has its problems, no doubt, but there are few cities in the world that have the incredible charm of Naples and its people.

Some of Naples attractions that you should not miss include:
- the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina which has been open for three years and is the result of the restoration of Palazzo Regina on Via Settembrini.

-the doll hospital called "l'ospedale delle bambole" is a delightful place where broken toys are given new life.It is on Via San Biagio dei Librai 81.

One of the best attractions includes Naples' eateries. The locals have their preferences for just about everything and will boastfully tell you where you can get the best food, drinks, etc. In fact, just about everyone will agree that the locals prefer to have their coffee at Spaccanapoli, at bar Nilo, where they say there is no comparison.

Naples is also the birthplace of fried fast food which includes "crocchette,arancini, panzerotti". Again locals will tell you the best eatery for these is at Le Belle Figliole in Forcella. For those who have a sweet tooth "la sfogliatella" is in piazza San Domenico Maggiore at Scaturchio. For dinner don't miss Cicciotto at Marechiaro. Appetizers include fried mozzarella and fried baby octopus. For happy hour "il migliore" or the best is at Bufala Cafe' at Via Luca Giordano 33 after 7 pm.

Another attraction not to miss is the best place to see the sunset! Lungomare or seaside between Mergellina and Castel dell'Ovo is the best place for this view. It is no wonder you will find a plethora of couples exchanging glances and embraces in this spot!

http://www.living-italy.blogspot.com

Umbria Sightseeing - Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto & Terni

2010-06-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

I Love Sightseeing Tours of Italy - Winter Attractions and Events In Umbria

Umbria is a landlocked region of central Italy. Its winters are relatively mild. Of course, the higher the elevation, the more snow and wind. The Perugia Antique Trade Fair runs for about a week from the end of October in Umbria's capital. Then go to the Citta di Castello Truffle and Forest Products Fair on the weekend that starts on the first Friday of November. In addition to peerless white truffles you'll find delicacies such as mushrooms, chestnuts, honey, wild-berry jams and some great oil, wine and cheeses. Towards the end of November visit the Torgiano Tasting of Italian Wines that focuses on Umbrian wine. Don't miss the local wine museum.

Perugia's Christmas market starts in early December and runs for approximately one month. It includes crafts, movies, music, family shows and food. The Soul Christmas festival of gospel music starts a few days later in the theaters and churches of Lake Trasimeno. Mount Ingino, perched above the small town of Gubbio, Umbria, boasts a huge Christmas tree, the tallest in the world with some 500 lights. It's about half a mile (800 meters) high and the star on top can be seen for almost 30 miles (50 kilometers.) The tree is lit on 7 December, the evening before the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

You may want to spend Christmas in Assisi, the home of Italy's patron saint, Francis of Assisi. Umbrian nativity scenes and holiday concerts abound; the list of towns and villages is too long to reproduce here. Citta di Castello celebrates Christmas Eve on the Tiber River. Several canoeists, each dressed as Father Christmas, wend their lighted canoes to the Porta San Florido Bridge where a crib is suspended over the water. They exit their canoes and give small presents to the children.

For several days starting in late, late December Orvieto is the site of the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival. Concerts run from noon until late at night in several locations including the Fourteenth Century Palazzo Soliano. Don't miss the New Year's Eve feast or, for a change of pace, the New Year's Day gospel concert held in the magnificent Cathedral.

The Umbrian town of Terni celebrates their patron saint, Valentino, with a jewelry exhibition and contest and a torchlight parade. On the third Sunday of February Spello hosts an Olive and Bruschetta Festival. The month of February ends with the Norcia Fair devoted to the Norcia Black Truffle and typical specialties from the Valnerina. Besides great food you'll enjoy music, dancing, crafts, folklore, and sports events.

About the Author:

Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books but he really prefers drinking fine wine with the right foods. He loves teaching computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website www.travelitalytravel.com and his global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com featuring a weekly review of $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines.

Colosseum Sightseeing Rome

2010-06-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

Are you planning a visit to Rome? If so, you don't want to miss the Colosseum when you are sightseeing.

All About the Colosseum in Rome, Italy
By Roxanne Bridger

One of the most iconic images of Rome is the colosseum. Construction began on it in 70 and 72 AD and was complete about 8 years later in 80AD. Its purpose was not only to be an amphitheatre to seat 50,000 spectators, it was also designed to impress the thousands of people who would travel far and wide to come and stare at this astonishing building. Being one of the most visited hotspots in the city means that even today, people travel miles to come and see what is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture.

The Colosseum was not thought of as being a very sacred place to begin when it was first created. However, in the 16th and 17th century this all changed and, despite some opposition, the area became synonamous with religion. It still has very strong connections with the Roman Catholic church and every year on Good Friday, the "Way of the Cross" procession starts in this area and is lead by the Pope.

The different tiers in the structure were allocated to different types of people. In the days when the amphitheatre first opened it's doors, the best seats in the house were reserved for the Emperor and other royalty as they offered the greatest views. Then there was the senatorial class's level. These were reserved for a certain type of upper class people and had amazing views as well -visitors even got to bring their own chairs. The levels above that were for the poorer visitors as the view made it a lot harder to see what was going on.

The building is in such well-preserved condition, despite a number of devastating earthquakes and people stealing the stones. Thanks to a recent €3million restoration and structural reinforcement effort, the amphitheatre is opening its doors to the public and allowing the public access from the 1st July 2010.

The access to the colosseum is very limited at the moment. You can go up to the second level and get a reasonably good view, but the third and fourth tier have been off limits to the public since the 1960's. In the past it wasn't good if you got a seat at the very top, but these days the views that are on offer are incredible and this is the level us tourists want to be.

If you do plan on visiting the newly opened areas of the colosseum, have a look at our experts recommendations of the best cheap hotels in Rome before your trip.

By Roxanne Bridger - a travel enthusiast who loves to explore the world!

Sightseeing in Piedmont

2010-06-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

Are you thinking of doing some sightseeing in Piedmont? If so, read the article below to learn more about exploring Piedmont.

Explore Piedmont, Italy's Wine Region
By Adam Singleton

Those who enjoy a nice glass of wine are sure to have heard of Piedmont. A region of Italy well known for producing some excellent boutique wines, Piedmont is also a gorgeous destination with views of grassy vistas and alpine ranges. Surrounded by the Alps on three sides, Piedmont is a gem in the Italian borders and its main city, Turin, is home to Italy's royal family, so you can rest assured there will be plenty to see and do in the region.

A trip to sample some of Piedmont's finest wines means a chance to get to grips with a beautiful, but expansive, region. Hiring a car to let you discover Piedmont's treasures at your own pace can be a great way to make sure you don't miss out.

Like Tuscany, Piedmont is a favourite destination for wine buffs - producing world-renowned selections such as Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato D'Asti. However, it's also a perfect destination for travellers hoping to enjoy some fine dining along with their drinks, and its local dishes are some celebrated throughout Italy. If you're taking a trip to Piedmont to experience some of the finer things in life, then indulging in some of Piedmont's precious white truffles is a must.

Piedmont is made up of a number of provinces, and if you're visiting to take a tour of some of its most famous wineries Langhe in Cuneo Province is the perfect destination for you. Its hills are home to some of Piedmont's most stunning vineyards and you can pay a visit to famous wine towns Monforte, Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo, La Morra and Barbaresco.

Other areas that are a must see for any discerning wine buffs include the Roero hills which are situated in the west bank of the Tanaro River. Also famous for its honey and peaches, visitors will have a chance to see the vineyards of Piedmont's Arneis wines. Monferrato is another favourite, and is well known for Barbera d'Asti wine and is home to some particularly fine truffles.

A trip to Piedmont wouldn't be complete without a stop in Turin however, and the city's grand boulevards and impressive architecture makes it an awe inspiring choice for any travellers. There are plenty of shops to peruse, as well as a number of art galleries and leafy parks. Turin car rental is also available, meaning it could be a good place to start and end your wine tasting adventure in Piedmont.

Learn more about Turin car rental. Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Palermo Sicily Sightseeing

2010-06-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

Palermo Uncovered - Things to See & Do in Palermo, Sicily
by Michelle Elkins

Like the country itself, the people of Sicily burst with colour, passion and vitality, welcoming visitors to their spectacular island with a warmth that is infectious. As the capital of Sicily, Palermo concentrates all this wonderful enthusiasm and provides a getaway for holiday-makers that is unforgettable. Although parts of it are still crumbling, much work has been done to restore the grandeur of this amazing city which is rich in medieval ancestry and the sights, sounds and flavours of the Mediterranean.

Palermo Airport, also known as Punta Raisi Airport or Falcone-Borsellino Airport is located 32km northwest of the centre. For those not organising car hire at Palermo Airport, onward transportation comes in the form of trains, buses, taxis or a Palermo Airport Transfer, which is well worth the few minutes it takes to book in advance. Direct flights to Palermo from the UK go from Stansted Airport and are provided by the low cost airline, Ryanair.

While the Piazza Pretoria equates the central point of Palermo, where the famous Pretoria Fountain complete with nude figurines takes centre stage, the Quattro Canti is at the original heart of the city. This ancient square is where the main roads of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Maqueda diverge and divided the town into quarters. It is here that one of the most impressive structures in Palermo lies, at least internally, the Palazzo dei Normanni, which is now where the Sicilian parliament resides. This Arab-Norman palace has been rebuilt significantly from the outside but inside is made spectacular by the unbelievable mosaics which cover the walls and ceiling of the Cappella Palatina and the old Royal Apartments.

Other places of interest to visit are the Museo Archeologico Regionale with its Greek and Roman artifacts, the Galleria Regionale within the Gothic-styled Palazzo Abatellis which exhibits a host of masterpieces, and for music lovers there is the Teatro Massimo. Finally finished in 1897, after 22 years of construction, it is the largest opera house in Italy.

For a truly spine-tingling treat however, the Capuchin Catacombs offer something a little more macabre. Situated under the monastery of the same name, it is home to over 8000 mummified cadavers which line the walls in a state of lifelike suspension. The effect is due to the special preservative used to freeze the corpses, although some have fared better then others. Some of the bodies date back to the 16th century, but the last person to be buried there was a 2-year-old called Rosalia Lombaro in 1920 who the locals have nicknamed "Sleeping Beauty". It is open daily between 9am-12 noon and 3pm-5pm.

After all that sight-seeing, a leisurely trip to the beach may well be in order and on the north coast of Sicily the choice is fantastic. The chance to wade in mesmerising, warm blue waters and lay out on soft, golden sands in the glorious Sicily weather is guaranteed along the north coast.. Travel west 12.2km, a journey of around 25 minutes in a Palermo hire car, and you come to the riviera-type resort of Mondello. This pretty seaside location is full of beautiful grand villas, many in the art deco style, and swaying palm trees sat cocooned between the gentle, lulling sea and the majestic mountains of Cape Gallo and Mount Pellegrini. The town has plenty of quaint cafes to find refreshment in or for something altogether swankier, there is a beach club with a restaurant located at the end of a pier which treats diners to some spectacular views. To get back to nature, the Capo Gallo National Park provides some fantastic walks with its rocky, lush green beauty and is just a further 20 minute drive north.

Travel in the other direction, 67km or 55 minutes east from Palermo by car and Cefalù offers the perfect place for a day trip. More classically Italian in spirit, Cefalù boasts a colourful beach and a plethora of traditional eateries, while the town´s Norman and medieval heritage is still very much in evidence in its narrow winding streets and architectural remnants. The Palermo-Messina trains also stop along this route and buses regularly stop here.

It would be impossible to come to Sicily though and not visit one of nature´s biggest attractions. Although Mount Etna is over a 3 hour drive from Palermo, roughly 250km, the chance to see the most active volcano in the world is unmissable. The south side of the mountain is free for all to climb but to get to the very top and stare into the eye of the volcano, a guide is necessary. Here the scenery changes from vines and wooded areas to a spartan wasteland of craters and hardened black lava, dotted with snow for much of the year. The result is akin to the conditions on Mars which is why scientists frequently use the area to test robots before they are sent there.

Although it can be done in a day, it is advisable to stop off in nearby Catania for the night and take the opportunity to visit some of the unusual black sandy beaches, a direct result of the resident volcano. Also on the list should be Siracusa, approximately 66km and an hour´s drive south. The town itself and the nearby Necropolis of Pantalica are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites, and have some amazing examples of ancient Greek and Roman archaeology.

Michelle Elkins is a regular contributor to the Sicily Airport Guide, which provides the best rates on Palermo Airport car hire and information on everything from Palermo Airport transfers to Palermo Weather.

Rimini Sightseeing

2010-06-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here are a few Rimini Sightseeing tips from Hannah Rollmaker...

Rimini Italy

In the country of Italy you will be able to find the city of Rimini. This city which is located in the Emilia-Romagna region is the capital city of the Province of Rimini. The city which is located close to the Adriatic Sea is situated between the Rivers of Ausa and Marecchia. Of the various coastal resorts you can find in Italy you will discover that Rimini along with Riccione are the most famous of the seaside coast resorts to be found on the Adriatic Riviera. While tourism plays a large role in this city you will find there are other industries which help to make Rimini a thriving and lively place. These are the traditional industries of fishing and coast navigation.

In many ways you will see how the culture and history of Rimini have been combined with the modern pleasures of a seaside resort. The many hotels, restaurants and bathing establishments that you will be able to find are some of the simple ways to unwind from the stresses of day to day modern living. The sightseeing such as statures, monuments, and interesting looking buildings will help to enhance your appreciation for the beauty of this city.

As there are numerous interesting sights you can see while you are visiting Rimini you might want to take the time to see how you can fit these sightseeing activities into shopping, relaxing on the beach and enjoying the sumptuous gourmet delights you can savor in fine Italian restaurants. Some of the interesting places that you can visit while you are in Rimini are the Archeological museum of Rimini, the bronze statue of Paul V, the church of St. John the Evangelist which is also known as St. Augustine.

Another place of interest that you will find in your exploration of Rimini is that of the Arch of Augustus. This arch which was built in 27 BC has a single gate to it. This gate stands about 9.92 meters high and it is abut 8.45 m wide. The merlons that you will see on this arch were added during the Middle Ages. By the time the 18th century arrived it was necessary for the arch to be renovated. For the renovation process Tommasso Temenza was chosen. Today you can see the beauty of this resorted arch as you explore the city of Rimini.

Another interesting place that you might like to visit while you are in Rimini is that of the church of San Giovanni Battista. This church was erected during the 12th century. As you look around this beautiful looking church you will see that it has a single nave. The nave has been richly decorated with rich stucco decoration which are from the 18th century time period.

Of course this is not the only sightseeing in Rimini. There are many more interesting and fascinating places of interest to be looked at. To see these sights and all of the others which are waiting for you, you should think about heading over to Rimini as soon as possible. With such delights as these a holiday in Rimini is one vacation to look forward to.

To find a hotel in Rimini just click here.

Italy Sightseeing - Guided Tours

2010-06-06T04:53:00.000-07:00

If you would like to go sightseeing in Italy without any worries or hassles you may want to consider a guided tour rather than travelling independently.

There are many ways to take guided tours of Italy but many of them start near the top of the country and go southward.

The tour can begin in the romantic canals of Venice or in the fashion capital of Milan.

In Venice, visitors can take a romantic gondola ride and eat in one of the many top restaurants in the city. The lovely city stretches across numerous small islands in the marshy Venetian Lagoon that opens into the Adriatic Sea in the northeast part of the country. The city conveniently lies between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers.

In Milan, a tourist on one of the guided sightseeing tours of Italy can take a few hours to shop the expensive shops in downtown Milan. Your guides might have purchased tickets for the group at the famous La Scala Theater. The Duomo in Milan is the second largest cathedral in the country.

Many guided tours of Italy then head south, through the Tuscan hills and into the ancient and beautiful city of Florence, known as “Firenze” in Italy. The River Arno runs through the city, which is also full of many fantastic museums and galleries.

Many go to Florence to see the Ponte Vecchio, a unique old bridge crossing the river that contains many quaint shops and eateries. The Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore is the magnificent domed cathedral within the city. On some guided tours of Florence, you’ll be given time to see its many lovely churches or to see the Uffizi Galleries or the Pitti Palace. Outdoors, one can see a copy of the famed statue of David by Michelangelo or the original one, in the Uffizi Gallery.

When you think you’ve seen enough churches, many guided tours of Italy take you to Rome and the Vatican—both places where the churches and cathedrals are extremely wealthy and amazing to see. You’ll also see the Coliseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon—all parts of ancient Roman times that have been somewhat preserved. You may also be able to see some catacombs, which were places where early Christians worshipped and buried their dead.

No good visit to Rome is complete without a visit to the Vatican, including the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. These are wondrous sites that make you wish it were possible to take pictures. You can take as many pictures as you wish of St. Peter’s Square and St. Paul’s Basilica.

Hopefully, you’ll be on one of the guided tours of Italy that includes Southern Italy and a visit to the very ancient village of Pompeii. Destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, it is currently a life-sized museum of what life was like in the average city a millennium ago. It may prove, in fact, to be the highlight of your guided Italy tour.

La Spezia Sightseeing

2010-05-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

La Spezia Sightseeing: La Spezia, Italy
By Hannah Rollmaker

In the district of Liguria in Italy you will find the town of La Spezia. This town is one of the four provinces that you will be able to find in Liguria. As you come closer to the town you will find the nearby sea, the town and the mountains which are almost next to the town provide you with a gorgeous welcome into the city. Upon entering this city you will see many bergamotto trees and exquisite gardens with delightful and exotic plants which are well maintained. These gardens add a splash of colour to the surrounding area. Interestingly you will find that the people who live in this town are known as Spezzini.

There are many interesting shops, restaurants and hotels where you will be able to pass your time away while you are in La Spezia. These facilities will keep you occupied in between the times when you are not sightseeing. The various sightseeing locations you will travel to will make your time here even more memorable as you will be able to see places like the Castle of San Giorgio. This castle has recently been restored to almost its former glory.

In all likelihood the Castle of San Giorgio was probably used as a watchtower. The first castle was built on this spot in 1262 by Niccolò Fieschi. The Genoese army destroyed the castle in 1273, however once all signs of war had ended the castle was rebuilt in 1371 by the podesteria of La Spezia. When the Republic of Genoa was annexed to the area of La Spezia, they chose to add a new castle to the existing one. This new castle addition was started in 1607.

From the Castle of San Giorgio you might want to switch gears and visit the Santi Giovanni e Agostino church. The name of this church in English means Saints John and Augustine. You will find this church was built during the 16th century and it has a single nave which has 18th and 19th century decorations to it. Another church that you might want to see in La Spezia is that of the Abbey church of Santa Maria Assunta known in English as Our Lady of the Assumption.

This abbey was built in the 13th century. The abbey is home to a number of artworks, some of which arrived here seeking sanctuary from other religious institutes which were being suppressed. Of these various artworks you can see ones like St Bartholomew's Martyrdom by Luca Cambiaso, the Incoronation of the Virgin by Andrea della Robbia and the Multiplication of Bread by Giovanni Battista Casoni.

As you will find when you come to La Spezia there is plenty to see and do here. These are just a few of the many sights that you can experience for yourself. There are many others like the Ubaldo Formentini which is the Civic Museum found in the Castle of San Giorgio, the Palazzina delle Arti and Museum of Seals, the Ethnographic Civic Museum, and Art Nouveau styled villas which can be found in La Spezia. For all of these reasons and the many other delights you will find in La Spezia do come and spend your next vacation in La Spezia, Italy.

For a wide selection of la spezia hotels just click here.

Florence Italy Sightseeing Highlights

2010-04-19T05:03:00.000-07:00

Florence Italy Sightseeing is one of the highlights of a trip to Italy. Whether you enjoy museums, art galleries, eating and drinking Italian food and wine, or simply wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere, you will find that Florence Italy Tourism has something for you.

Easily the most visited square in Florence is the Piazza della Signoria which is an open-air sculpture exhibit. The Loggia della Signoria is home to famous statues such as a copy of Michelangelo's David and the Fountain of Neptune. This square is in the historic center of Florence and is one of the highlights of the city.

Next on the list is the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence's most popular cathedral. The outside of the cathedral is made of green, pink, and white marble. Inside you can marvel at Brunelleschi's Dome masterpiece. Also, by purchasing a ticket you can climb the 463 steps to get to the top of the bell tower and enjoy a panoramic view of the city, which is simply breath-taking. Do note, however, that there is no air-conditioning, so bring water!

Make sure you visit the Galleria dell' Academia on your visit to Florence. This museum gallery holds some of the most important sculptures and paintings from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Here you will find many of Michelangelo's original works including the famous David. You can also see many musical instruments from the Medici family.

While in Florence you will also want to visit Italy's most crowded museum, the Galleria degli Uffizi. The gallery has one of the most prominent collections of Renaissance art in the world. You can enjoy the thousands of paintings from medieval and modern times, as well as antique sculptures and tapestries. Long lines can be a problem, so if possible buy your tickets ahead and avoid them all together.

Finally, be sure to make some time on your trip for some shopping? Many consider the Florence shopping to be the finest in Europe. From leather goods to paper goods, jewelry to art productions, Florence has it all. There are also plenty outdoor markets where you can find lots of bargains while enjoyingthe surrounding architecture.

There is no doubt that Florence has a rich history and many places that you must visit. From the Galleria dell' Academia to the open air markets, Florence Italy sightseeing offers something for everyone!

Sightseeing in Umbria

2008-12-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

Are you thinking of doing some sightseeing in Umbria? If so, read on to find out more about this amazing region.

Umbria - A Fascinating Region Of History And Culture

Umbria is located in the geographical centre of Italy, between Tuscany and Le Marche. The capital is Perugia, a city founded by the Etruscans. Umbria is the region where in a relatively confined space the visitor can enjoy the best aspects of Italian life, history and culture. Improved communications are opening up the region to new types of visitors attracted by the artistic and cultural heritage as well as the opportunities for having a second home, taking holiday breaks in peaceful country locations, or enjoying outdoor sports in attractive settings.

The hills, covered with evergreen oak, account for the traditional description of Umbria as ‘the green heart of Italy’. Between the Tiber valley and the Tuscan towns of Cortona and Arezzo there is an attractive area of wooded hills. Just west of Perugia is Lake Trasimeno, Umbria’s largest expanse of water, and scene of the battle where Hannibal and his elephants defeated the Romans in 217 BC. South of Lake Trasimeno the landscape changes, becoming gently undulating rather than hilly or mountainous and the houses are built of terracotta bricks rather than stone, which gives a different look to the countryside.

Perugia is home to the National Gallery of Umbria with a rich collection of paintings by Renaissance masters such as Duccio, Giotto, Gentile da Fabriano, Fra Angelico, Piero della Francesca and Pinturicchio. Città della Pieve to the south was the birthplace of Pietro Vannucci, the Umbrian painter also known as ‘Il Perugino’. In Assisi the Basilica of Saint Francis is famous for its amazing set of frescoes by Giotto.

For sports-oriented visitors, Monte Cucco above Gubbio, and Monte Vettore near Norcia, are centres for hang-gliding enthusiasts. Gubbio is home to an annual international Arab horse endurance riding event. White water rafting and kayaking are available in the Val Nerina near Spoleto, as well as skiing in winter. Country walking, bird and nature watching, and pony-trekking can be enjoyed almost everywhere in Umbria. There are also several golf courses in the region.

Umbria has plenty of good food and wine: there are truffles in the Val Nerina, as well as fresh and smoked trout. Wild boar are hunted every autumn and the meat is turned into prosciutto and sausages . Olives grow all over the region and Umbrian olive oil is prized for its low acidity and delicate flavour. Montefalco red wine and Grechetto white have a justly merited international reputation.

Alongside the genial and hospitable Umbrians there is now a sizeable population of resident and holidaying foreigners. Most have come for the countryside lifestyle and settle in old farmhouses. Many of these have now been restored to levels of comfort the previous inhabitants could only have dreamt of, mixing traditional building materials such as stone, terracotta and chestnut wood fittings with state of the art Jacuzzis and fitted kitchens. There is also no shortage of town houses and apartments in historic buildings in very attractive towns such as Città di Castello and Assisi.

About the Author:

Roger Coombes is a Director of Cluttons Italy, specialist Italyian Realtors and Estate Agents with particular experience of buying and selling property in Umbria.

Top 5 Cities for Sightseeing in Italy

2008-08-31T05:01:00.000-07:00

Have you decided to go on a sightseeing trip to Italy? Italy is rich with history and there are many places that are worth visiting. However, because there are so many places to visit, many people have trouble choosing the cities they plan on going sightseeing to.

1. The first city that you must visit while in Italy is Rome. Rome is the capital of Italy and it is rich in history and culture. With sights like the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Coliseum, and Vatican City, you will be able to go sightseeing in see some of the top tourist spots in the world.

2. Are you a fashion person? If so, you are going to want to visit Milan. Milan is one of the world’s capitals of fashion. There are many high fashion boutiques that are must see in Milan. If you are not into fashion, you can enjoy the nightlife or go to a football match at the San Siro.

3. How could you go to Italy and not visit Venice? Venice is the city on the water. Venice is famous for their romantic gondola rides and you can do your sightseeing through the canals of the city. You can also walk around the city, taking in the beautiful scenery.

4. Are you an artist looking for a little piece of paradise? If so, you will want to visit Verona. Verona was the setting for Romeo and Juliet. You will be able to find a variety of buildings that give you a taste of the historical importance of Verona, but the Roman amphitheater has to stand out amongst them all.

5. The last, but certainly not least, city in Italy to visit is Florence. Florence is the art and culture capital of Italy. This city is worth visiting because of its architecture and art galleries. Walking around the city you will notice the Renaissance architecture, which is second to none in the world. And, for you art fans’, taking a trip to the Uffizi Gallery is a must.

There is no doubt that Italy is rich with history and culture. It seems that each city in Italy has many places to go sightseeing and whereever you go in Italy you won't be dissapointed.

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Sightseeing in Basilicata

2008-07-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Basilicata forms the instep of the Italian boot with two small seacoasts, one on the Ionian Sea in the east and one on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west. Depending on your interests, Basilicata may be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. Basilicata is among the few regions of Italy as yet undiscovered by tourists. There's a tradeoff; you won't have to fight the crowds to see what you want to see. On the other hand, you'll have a hard time finding fancy hotels. And its roads are not always the best, hardly surprising when you consider the region's mountainous terrain.

Basilicata's population is only slightly above six hundred thousand. While quite mountainous this is the only region of Italy in which farm workers outnumber industrial workers. Up until the 1970s it steadily lost population to other Italian regions and to emigration abroad. But all is not lost. Its east coast has become an important agricultural area. And the mountainous interior with poor soil and lots of sun; what could be better for producing fine wine? Let's not forget that many consider Basilicata's native Aglianico (also found in Campania) to be Italy's third best red grape, after Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. It sounds like there could be a major breakthrough in Basilicata's wine industry.

We'll start our tour of this region in the northeast at Matera. Then we head south and east to Potenza. From there we go southeast to Aliano and then south and east to Terranova di Pollino and the Parco Nazionale. If you want a bit of seaside you could continue to the little town of Maratea on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. When driving in this part of the world, you'll need a good map and good reflexes; the roads here don't always go directly from Point A to Point B and rarely go in a straight line.

Matera, population sixty thousand, lies just south of the Apulia border. This area has been settled since Palaeolithic times, in other words for at least twelve thousand years. The Romans claimed to have founded the city in the Third Century B. C. Like so many other parts of Italy it was occupied by an almost never-ending stream of invaders. One of the proudest moments in Matera's history was in September 1943 when it rose against the German invaders, the first Italian city to do so. We'll start with the usual sights and finish with something truly unique.

Matera's Duomo (Cathedral) dates from the Thirteenth Century and was built in the Apulian-Romanesque style (Apulia is the region north of Basilicata, its architecture reflects Greek, Arab, and Norman influences.) There are frescoes and sculptures to admire. Check to see if the Thirteenth Century Romanesque Church of San Giovanni Battista has been reopened for tourists. If so, stop by. But these sights pale in comparison to Matera's unique old town in which the streets are often rooftops and the houses, churches, and chic restaurants are caves, hewn out of solid rock.

The Sassi di Matera (Stones of Matera) are caves that have been occupied continuously by human beings for an estimated nine thousand years. At twenty years per generation, (remember they didn't wait to finish law school before starting a family in those days) this works out to an incredible 450 generations possibly living in the same neighborhood. The area has been named a World Heritage Site and numerous bars and restaurants now take advantage of this unique location. What a turnaround from the days when Matera because of the Sassi was called ''la vergogna nazionale,'' Italy's shame.

Potenza with a population slightly under 70 thousand is the capital of Basilicata. Here in a famous battle Carthage definitively lost to Rome. The city has known numerous invasions and earthquakes, the latest in 1980. During the Second World War Potenza was bombed heavily by the Allies. Monuments to see include the Twelfth Century St. Gerard Cathedral, and the Eleventh Century Church of San Francesco which includes a Renaissance painting entitled Madonna del Terremoto (Our Lady of the Earthquake). The Romanesque Church St. Michael the Archangel was also built in the Twelfth Century as was the Church of St. Mary of the Sepulcher. You should also see the Castle's Tower built prior to the year 1000 and the ruins of a Norman fort, probably built on Roman and Byzantine foundations. All in all there's a lot of old stuff to see for a small provincial capital that was almost destroyed by earthquakes.

With less than twelve hundred inhabitants you might be tempted to skip the village of Aliano. Don't, it's living proof of the phrase - good things come in small packages. The scenery is spectacular; cliffs and rivers, and gullies, and local growing things include olive, peach, and citrus trees. This lovely scenery may be typical of the region. However, unlike any neighboring village Aliano is famous thanks to an involuntary visitor who stopped by more than seventy years ago. Between May, 1935 and October, 1936 Aliano was the home in exile of the well-known author Carlo Levi. Levi, a painter educated as a doctor, was a founder of an Italian anti-Mussolini movement. This explains his unintentional extended Aliano visit. Once released from exile Levi spent two years in France but returned to Italy and was imprisoned once again. After the war he wrote a book, Christ Stopped at Eboli, about his Aliano experiences. This book exposed the problem of poverty in Southern Italy to the relatively prosperous North. Levi served nine years in the Italian Senate where he continued his fight against poverty. He is buried in the village. The house where he lived is still standing; it is now the Museo Storico Carlo Levi (Carlo Levi Historical Museum).

Terranova di Pollino is a mountain village in southern Basilicata very close to Calabria. It lies at the entrance to the Parco Nazionale del Pollino (Pollino National Park) the largest in Italy at just under 750 square miles (more than 1900 square kilometers.) Let's quote their website "With its 192,565 hectares, Pollino National Park, the largest protected area in Italy between Calabria and Basilicata, has a wealth of landscapes to offer: great areas of wilderness where the cuirassed pine -the true emblem of the park- clings to the rocky slopes as the wind shapes its twisted trunk; not far away, rolling hills and valleys, lush slopes with flowering plants in springtime, and then endless upland plains where the sheep still graze like in ancient times."

But that's not all. The park is home to a wide variety of endangered species. Many fossils have been found including a very well preserved skeleton of a giant elephant that lived between 400,000 and 700,000 years ago. Other fossils date from the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Historic churches abound in the neighboring villages. Many of these villages are home to ethnic Albanians who have kept their language and culture for over five hundred years. Look for their festivals during the spring and summer months.

What about food? Basilicata is very traditional when it comes to cooking. As expected in an economically deprived area meat consumption is limited. The major meat is pork and the locals know how to extract the maximum from their porkers. Hot peppers are popular and can be quite hot. Basilicata bread is consumed in many parts of Italy. Locals make a special pasta from wheat and lard. The Pollino mountains are known for wild mushrooms and for game.

Let's suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Zuppa di Pesce alla Santavenere (Ionian Fish and Seafood Soup). Then try Spezzatino di Agnello (Lamb stewed in an earthenware pot). For dessert indulge yourself with Frittelle alla Lucana (Doughnuts). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We'll conclude with a quick look at Basilicata wine. Basilicata ranks 17th among the 20 Italian regions for the acreage devoted to wine grapes and for total annual wine production. About 73% of the wine produced is red or rosé, leaving 27% white. The region produces two DOC wines, Aglianico del Vulture and Terre dell Alta Val d'Agri. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. Only 2.4% of Bascilicata wine carries the DOC designation.

If you like powerful wines, try the Aglianico del Vulture from a local grape that grows on the extinct Mount Vulture volcano or its surrounding hills. This wine may be cellared for up to twenty years. The sparkling version may be dry or sweet. The red Terre dell Alta Val d'Agri is made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and possibly some local red grapes. The rose version may include some local white grapes as well.

Levi Reiss has authored alone or with a co-author ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would really rather just drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website http://www.wineinyourdiet.com/ and his global wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com/

Sightseeing in Tuscany

2008-06-20T04:10:00.000-07:00

Tuscany is well known for its wine as well as being the birthplace of the Renaissance movement. This makes it a fantastic place to visit and in this article we will look at several places to visit in Tuscany, Italy.

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region and will make a great starting point for you, but there are also many places you will want to visit outside of Florence.

Getting to some of the best place to visit in Tuscany is very easy to do. You can rent a car and drive yourself, or hire a driver to do it for you. You can also take the train to various areas including Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca.

1. Many people are familiar with the leaning Tower of Pisa. Pisa is located in central Italy, 50 miles from Florence, and the bell tower really is leaning and is a sight to behold. It is just 1hr from Florence by train.

2. The greatest medieval town in Italy to see is Siena. As is true with many places to visit in Tuscany you can enjoy the culture by walking through alleyways and narrow streets. You can also climb the massive Torre del Mangia bell tower and get a stunning view of Siena and the Piazza del Campo below. With a population of 250,000 will find that people here are extremely friendly.

3. The most popular place to taste wine is Chianti, which is very well known for its world-famous red wines. You can enjoy some spectacular scenery in Chianti while visiting vineyards and taking in some of the spectacular hilltop views.

4. Another popular place to visit to Tuscany is Lucca. Here you will find many churches and other medieval buildings that are simply amazing. The Roman amphitheater is located in Lucca and is over in 1900 years old. The town centre is completely enclosed by a brick wall built in the 16th century and you can take a walk along the top of the wall, which stretches 4km. Lucca is considered to have some the best food in the Tuscany region especially the tortelli lucchese. Tortelli lucchese is bright yellow pasta, stuffed with seasoned meat and topped with a heavily meat-laden ragù that is very rich in flavor.

5. San Gimignano is a wonderful place to visit while in Tuscany. It is set on a hill over 300m high and dates back to the 10th century. San Gimignano originally had 72 tower houses, some which were as high as 50m. In their day, the towers were a symbol of wealth and there are now only 14 towers in total.

6. Another place in Tuscany that is worth a mention is Fiesole. If you are in Florence and pressed for time you can make a quick trip there as it is just 5 miles outside of Florence. You can take a local bus and enjoy the great views.

7. Last, but most definitely not least is Florence. You probably want to spend at least 3 days savouring the sights of this wonderful city. There are lots of things to see and do and you should be sure not to miss the Uffizi. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest and most famous in the world. Because of how popular it is you can wait up to 5 hours to get in so it is best to reserve a ticket in advance.

Learn more about the Florence and Tuscany sights and take a virtual tour of Florence and Tuscany.

Find out more about Tuscany Sightseeing and what the top rated activities are.

Sightseeing in Montecatini Italy

2008-01-26T08:27:00.001-08:00

Are you planning on going sightseeing in Montecatini, Italy? There are actually a few different places in Italy with the name Montecatini, so before you plan your sightseeing make sure that you are researching the right Montecatini!

Montecatini Terme is one of the most famous health resorts in Italy and is a lovely town with its own thermal springs and beautiful gardens. It is located in the province of Pistoia in Tuscany and is the most well known Montecatini. Over 2 million tourists visit Montecatini Terme every year.

Montecatini Alto which means "upper Montecatini" is an amazing hilltop village with panoramic views overlooking Montecatini Terme. You can get to Montecatini Alto by a finicular railway.

Finally Montecatini Val di Cecina is a hill town situated about 100km from Pisa and near to Volterra. It was a very prosperous town in the middle ages with lots of copper mines. These have now been turned into a museum. The town is very pleasant for sightseeing with lots of towers, little piazzas and medieval buildings.

Vatican City Sightseeing

2008-01-05T04:12:00.000-08:00

One of the most sought after sughtseeing destinations for those on a vacation to Italy is the Vatican City. Most people do not know that this is actually sovereign city-state, which means that it makes its own rules and has its own governing system, independent of the Italian system.

The Vatican City is a state within the city of Rome, surrounded by a wall. It was formed in 1929 under an agreement between the Kingdom of Italy and the Holy See and is the smallest independent state in the whole world with only a little over 100 acres. . The Holy See refers to the central governing system of the Catholic Church headed by the Pope, who is also known as the Bishop of Rome.

The Vatican City itself is home to the official residence of the Pope and is visited by millions of people each year sightseeing in Italy.

To get to the Vatican City you will first visit the famous St. Peter's square. This square is characterized by fabulous Baroque architecture from the 17th century, including symbols of the church motherly embracing its people in its arms.

St. Peter's Basilica is another place that I recommend you visit while sightseeing in the Vatican City because it is also found in St. Peter's square. It is the most distinctive building in the Vatican City and this church's dome can be seen for miles around Rome. St. Peter's Basilica seats 60,000 and is said to be the largest building in the Christian church. It is noted for being the burial site of St. Peter who is said to be the founding father of the Catholic Church by being the first Bishop of Rome. The discovery of his tomb was announced in 1950 after a decade of archeological research.

Catholic tradition says that St. Peter is buried under the altar of this Basilica and that all the Popes since then have also been buried in the Basilica the most recent being Pope John Paul II back in 2005. At the entrance to the Basilica are statues of Christ, St. John the Baptist and 11 of the 12 apostles. You can enter the Basilica for free during your Italian sightseeing vacation, but make sure you are properly dressed with no bare shoulders or knees. If you would like to attend mass you should go to the Basilica on a Sunday.

There are several other places to see here during your Italy vacation. The largest museum in the world is also found in the Vatican City. It has over 1400 rooms and galleries that represent 3000 years of art. The Sistine Chapel is also found here and is known for being the private chapel that the cardinals go to when electing a new Pope.

So what is the best way to see all the sights that the Vatican City has to offer during your Italian sightseeing vacation? There are plenty guided tours that can be taken for half a day or a full day. You can take a guided tour of only the museum or a guided tour which includes all the important places of interest in the Vatican City. This will ensure that you don't miss a thing while sightseeing in the Vatican City.

Sightseeing in Verona Italy

2007-12-06T04:04:00.000-08:00

Sightseeing in Verona Italy....

Thinking of visiting Verona for some sightseeing?

Read on to find out more about the beautiful town of Verona.

A Quick Tour Of Italy - Verona
by Levi Reiss

If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the Veneto region of northern Italy on the Gulf of Venice. Venice, its best-known city, is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Ecellent tourist attractions abound elsewhere in Veneto, and the crowds are much smaller. This article examines the Shakespearean town of Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read our companion articles on northern Veneto, southern Veneto, and the university city of Padua.

Verona boasts many vestiges from Roman times. Its Roman amphitheatre is the third largest in Italy and its interior is virtually intact. This edifice hosts fairs, theatre, opera and other public events, especially summers. The Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River was partially destroyed in World War II and rebuilt using original materials.

The Twelfth Century Romanesque Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore sits on a Fourth Century shrine to the city's patron saint, St. Zeno. Its splendid one hundred ten foot bell tower was mentioned in Dante's Divine Comedy. The vaulted crypt contains the tomb of St. Zeno and tombs of several other saints.

Verona's largest church is the Fifteenth Century Sant'Anastasia whose interior is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. Items of honor include frescoes and hunchback statues dispensing holy water.

The Fourteenth Century Castelvecchio on the banks of the Adige River probably sits on the site of a Roman fortress. Its art museum specializes in Venetian painters and sculptors. Verona's squares include the Roman Herb Square that still maintains its medieval look and some produce stalls. The Gentlemen's Square is Verona's center of activities. Next door is the Scaglieri Palace, once home to the ruling family.

Don't leave Verona without visiting those star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The Twelfth Century Casi di Giulietta (Juliet's House) long belonged to the Dal Cappello family and since Cappello sounds like Capulet perhaps... The house at Via Cappello, 23 with its courtyard probably isn't for real, but crowds come to gawk and dream. This could be the place to propose.
Verona's cuisine features typical Po Valley dishes: mixed boiled meats, nervetti (calf's foot and veal shank salad), and risotto, often cooked in Amarone wine. See our companion article I Love

Touring Italy - Verona for a sample menu and more information on regional wines plus an in-depth examination of Verona's tourist attractions. Valpolicella DOC is a world famous, often mediocre wine produced north of Verona. It can be transformed into fine wines including Valpolicella Ripasso and Amarone DOC.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian, French, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. His central website is http://www.wineinyourdiet.com/ devoted to the health and nutritional aspects of wine and its place in your weight-loss program. His global wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com/. Visit his other websites devoted to Italian wine, Italian travel, and Italian food.

Where to find Good Views in Florence

2007-10-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

There are a number of places where you can find unique and stunning views of the city of Florence.

Boboli Gardens - climb to the top of the hill for an amazing vista of the city

Fiesole – set amongst hills only 5 miles from Florence, Fiesole has a wonderful view of Florence. You can get there from Florence in less than 20 minutes by taking the number 5 bus.

The Duomo – climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome for a magnificent view of Florence or take the 414 steps to the top of Giotto’s bell tower.

San Miniato al Monte - this is a lovely little church on a hillside at the south of the city of Florence. Here you'll get fantastic views of Florence and of the Doumo. You can walk here from Florence or get the number 13 bus.

Historical Sightseeing in Italy

2007-09-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Vacation To Italy And Get A Major Dose Of History
by Will Moore

Known for its food, wine, people, culture, music, countryside and even the mafia - Italy happens to be one of the most sought after holiday destinations in the world.

Italy is where culture, history and traditions blend beautifully with modernity and fashion. What is interesting about Italy is that you will never find a single Italian flag, but they are still very particular about their culture and traditions – and of course soccer.

Whether your vacationing to Florence, Rome, Naples, Milan, or Venice your stay will be well worth the flight. Italy boasts several 5 star resort hotels that accommodate to every need you could imagine.

Italians are considered to be one of the best-looking people in the world. They are very proud of their past, their culture and for them it is all about family. Italians are very sociable.
They are friendly and will talk to anyone, what’s most appealing about them is their sense of good humor and wit. In Italy you will hear the various kinds of dialects and accents of Italian, which sound so melodious to the ear.

Italians have an ongoing love affair with food and fashion. The Italian food is famous worldwide and is a gastronomical to all the senses. Fashion is a very important part of the Italian culture, after all Milan is the fashion capital of the world, where haute couture is the word most heard.
Northern Italy is more educated, hectic and fast paced, where as South of Italy is rural and laidback. People in Italy love spending money on their expensive attire, be it clothes, watches, shoes, jewelry or their fast cars.

If you want to be understood in Italy, you will have to rely on your English-Italian dictionary or your gesturing skills, because English is not spoken or understood by many people there.
People in Italy have a gastronomical affair with food. Eating is a passion and an integral part of the culture in Italy. So when you are in Italy, expect to add a few pounds to your frame.

Italian food finds it roots back to different regions and is influenced by various factors. If you are looking for healthy and cheaper food, then you must venture into South Italy.

The world famous and supremely popular Pizza was born in Campania along with tubular pizza and the various tomato based pizza and pasta sauces. Even if you are one of those few people who do not like pizzas, you should try one.

The reason the Italian pizzas are popular is because of its simplicity and its fresh ingredients. Pizza margherita is the most popular pizza in Italy named after Queen Margherita.
If you are looking for food with Greek influence with figs, honey, aubergine and aromatic spices, then Calabria is the place to go. Sicily will give you mouthwatering, finger-licking desserts like cannoli, sweet cheese, chocolate and cassata pastries. And Italian ice-cream Gelato is oh so popular.

A typical Italian dinner would consist of an appetizer or an antipasto like bruschetta which is a type of herbed and spiced garlic bread; prosciutto which is cured ham and melon.
The primo piatto, which is the first main course, is usually a soup or pasta; the second piatto will have meat, chicken or fish with contorno, which is vegetable. The meal is then ended with dessert, fruits and coffee.

Will is the owner of TravelCheckList. Visit us today or Italy vacation deals and resources for world travelers. An Italian vacation offers something for every type of traveler. Food, scenery, museums, romance, culture, beaches, nightlife and much more can be experienced in Italy.

Wine Sightseeing in Italy

2007-09-05T00:53:00.000-07:00

Wine Tourism In Italy
by Margit Holzer

Italy is, with 98 wine routes, by far leading the top list of wine growing countries. Being wine an enormous pleasure for our palates, it becomes always more important, and Italy has set up a real system for its wine tourism by connecting different kinds of institutions and guidelines of its wine routes.

These tours give you the opportunity to customize your day in the wine country according to your taste and budget in all the wine regions of Italy. For the curious type wanting to know a bit of viticulture and the wine making process, or the novice wanting to learn how to taste and appreciate quality wines, there are plenty of opportunities. Most of the wine cellars offer guided tours where they exactly explain everything there is to know about producing wine.

The most famous wine regions in Italy obviously are Tuscany and Piedmont.

In Tuscany there are a lot of medieval little towns like Montepulciano, Montalcino, San Gimignano and of course the Chianti area. The most famous wines are Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano, Chianti classico just to name some, but there are plenty of other wine producers which have highly qualified wines like Casa alle Vacce – Accanthò.

Besides to see and to get known everything about wine, this area is very, very nice to visit, to relax, spend some romantic moments and to enjoy life. The accommodations in Tuscany are mostly typical for this region. Many country inns (agriturismi) and castles are pleased to welcome you for a fantastic break out of your every days life. To complete your trip to Tuscany, there is a wide variety of typical dishes you can enjoy, obviously accompanied by a delicious glass of wine!

In Piedmont, the most famous wine area is called Langhe. The vineyards of the Barolo DOCG zones are not extensive, but they are the most carefully charted stands of vines anywhere in Italy. The landscape is made of gently rolling hills and the vineyards surrounding pretty villages. Other than the Barolo there is the Barbaresco, the Dolcetto d’Alba and the Grignolino as a good red wine. White wines of the Piedmont are Blangè di Cerretto, Arneis del Roero, Erbaluce di Caluso and Chardonnay Pinot. Piedmont is also world famous for its truffles. There is a huge truffle exhibition every year in Alba where it is possible to taste and buy truffle and every kind of its derivates. It is most interesting to attend this exhibition, but as a good tip: if you (and you really should) go to Alba during these days, book your accommodation many months before as otherwise there is not even on bed left!

But of course there are many other regions in Italy producing great wines like Umbria, Campania, Veneto, Friuli and Sicily.

It is really worth to come to Italy for getting to know more about its wines and food and to taste them while undertaking some trips in the surrounding areas and see plenty of romantic and ancient places which are spread all over the country.

For information and booking of accommodation in Italy click Dream Destination Europe
Feel free to reproduce this article. Please keep the links intact.

Margit Holzer is an international expert for the travel industry. With a degree in Economics and being a multilingual tourism expert, she is now the CEO for http://www.dde-europe.com

Contact her on her mail m.holzer@dde-europe.com for any kind of question regarding traveling, accommodation and tourism above all in Italy.

Sightseeing, Food and Wine in Piedmont, Italy

2007-08-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

I Love Italian Wine and Food - The Piedmont Region
By Levi Reiss

Piedmont is located in the northwest of Italy. It borders on France and Switzerland and is surrounded on three sides by the Alps. The name Piedmont means the foot of the mountain. Piedmont is one of the most industrialized regions of Italy. It is considered the best organized region of Italy for wine tourism. Its population is about 4.4 million.

Piedmont was originally settled by the Celts. It was conquered by Hannibal and reconquered by the Ancient Romans. Piedmont was ruled by the French Savoy family for almost five hundred years. It was a center in the fight to unify Italy. Victor Emmanuel II, the king of Piedmont and Sardinia, became the first king of modern Italy in 1861.

Agriculturally Piedmont has it all. For example, meats include beef, kid, lamb, rabbit, and veal. Game includes hare, partridge, pheasant, and venison. Donkey meat stew is a local specialty. Another specialty is grissini, breadsticks that are a yard long. The region makes nine protected varieties of cheese. About the only food that seems to be a bit short is fresh fish, with the exception of trout.

Piedmont’s capital and largest city is Turin, a city of nine hundred thousand that is the capital of the Italian automobile industry and the site of the 2006 Winter Olympics. This city was the first capital of united Italy (from 1861 to 1865) and remains to this day the world capital of vermouth.

Piedmont devotes over one hundred forty thousand acres to grapevines, it ranks 6th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine production is about ninety million gallons, also giving it a 6th place. About 70% of the wine production is red or rosé (only a bit of rosé), leaving 30% for white. The region produces 44 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine and 7 DOCG wines. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior Almost 56% of Piedmont wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. Piedmont is home to four dozen major and secondary grape varieties, somewhat more red than white varieties.

Widely grown international white grape varieties include Muscat (in particular Moscato Bianco) and Chardonnay. The best known strictly Italian white varieties are Arneis, Cortese, and Erbaluce.

International red grape varieties are not important in Piedmont. It is the center for Nebbiolo, felt by many to be Italy’s noblest red variety, the base of Italy’s world famous Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Other Italian red varieties include Barbera, Brachetto, and Dolcetto, some of which are grown elsewhere.

Before reviewing the Piedmont wine and cheese that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Cipollata Rossa Monferrina, Spicy Robiola Cheese and Scallion Spread. For the second course try Tasca Ripiena, Veal Stuffed with Salami and Scallions. For dessert indulge yourself with Budino Freddo Gianduja, Decadent Hazelnut-Chocolate Pudding.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY While we have communicated with well over a thousand Italian wine producers and merchants to help prepare these articles, our policy is clear. All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Surì Rosso Barbera d’Asti Villa Giada 2004 Andrea-Faccio Viticoltore (Winemaker) DOC 13.5% alcohol about $10.90 plus tax

Unlike the other wines in this series, I purchased this bottle while on vacation in Seattle, Washington. Frankly I thought that I was drinking the cousin of a $40 bottle of wine. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it were the equal of some $40 bottles. While three other Italian grape red varieties are authorized to a maximum of 15% in the Barbera d’Asti DOC, this particular wine is 100% Barbera.

I found the wine very powerful, perhaps too strong for pasta. Its tastes included tobacco, leather, cherry, and black cherry. An Italian wine site states: "An imposing wine that is always rather severe but richly and exquisitely perfumed and with a flavor that couples strength with finesse.” I agree except that I didn’t find it severe. I also drank it with a marinated, barbecued rib steak. The wine cut through the steak’s grease. Once again the flavors came out well.

Gran Padano is a classic Parmesan-type cheese made for a millennium in northern Italy including the Piedmont region. It is a cylindrical, cooked, semi-fat cheese which matures slowly. It has a grainy consistency and may be sliced or grated. Its taste is fragrant and delicate. I tried this wine with grated Gran Padano cheese on toast with a somewhat spicy Moroccan tomato and pimento based dip.The combination was excellent; I felt that both the wine and cheese flavors were accentuated. The term mouth-filling came to mind.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine French or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Presently his wine websites are http://www.theworldwidewine.com and http://www.theitalianwineconnection.com

Sightseeing in Central Sardinia

2007-08-03T04:35:00.000-07:00

I Love Touring Italy - Central Sardinia
by Levi Reiss

If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the island of Sardinia, a region of southern Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. Some parts of Sardinia remain undiscovered by tourists, while other sites are favorites of Italian and international jet setters and are priced accordingly. This article presents central Sardinia. Companion articles present northern Sardinia and southern Sardinia. Before we give you our itinerary you must realize that central Sardinia is hardly flatland. Sometimes to get from point A to point B you must pass by point C; the actual distance traveled may be much further than your initial estimate. Enjoy the trip, and drive carefully (or even better let the pros drive you.)

We’ll start our tour of central Sardinia at the interior city of Su Nuraxi. Then we head to the city of Giari di Gesturi to its north. We next go southwest to the main road and then north to Oristano near the coast. Then we proceed north and west to the coastal city of Tharros (can you believe an Italian city whose name does not end in a vowel?). From Tharros we go to nearby San Salvatore, and then travel northeast to Nuoro and finally south to Fonni.

Su Nuraxi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies near the village of Barumini. It is the finest and most complete example of a nearly four thousand year old stone defensive structure called nuraghe found only in Sardinia. Nuraghe are typically shaped like a beehive, built with huge square blocks of stone, but with no foundations or cement. Yet they stand and have stood for millennia. Their name comes from the Sardinian word nurra that means both mound and cavity. They are mounds containing a cavity transformed into one or more rooms and perhaps a courtyard. Each structure may be over sixty feet (twenty meters) high. Some complexes include enough towers to englobe and protect a small village.

Sardinia is home to more than 8,000 nuraghe, all that remains of the original 30,000 plus. Few nuraghe have been studied scientifically and we are far from understanding their full meaning. But for an unforgettable experience go to Su Nuraxi and explore the nuraghe and the ruins of the surrounding Bronze-Age village.

Giari di Gesturi is a 28 square mile (45 square kilometer) basalt plateau. It’s home to dwarf wild horses and wild sheep with beautiful curved horns that have turned them into an endangered species. See these magnificent animals while there is still time.

Oristano, population thirty thousand, is the biggest town in these parts. It includes several churches worth visiting. Little remains of the original Twelfth Cathedral of Saint Mary; most of what you see comes from either the Seventeenth Century restoration or the Nineteenth Century renovation. You should also visit the French-Gothic Fifteenth Century Franciscan Church of Santa Chiara, the recently restored Fourteenth Century Gothic Church of St. Clare, and the Eighteenth Century Baroque-Piedmont Church of Carmine.

Oristano houses the Antiquarium Arborense Museum, with its important Nuraghic and Roman collection from the old cities of Tharros and Cornus. The city is not far from the Torre Grande (Large Tower) beach and resort area named for Sardinia’s tallest tower, which is now a lighthouse.

Tharros was first inhabited by the Proto-Sardinians, then by the Phoenicians before the Romans got there. Its setting Capo San Marco (Cape St. Mark) is beautiful, lying between the sea to the west and the Gulf of Oristano to the east. Tharros was first excavated during the Nineteenth Century. A lot of its artifacts were exported to the British Museum of London and the Borely Museum in Marseille. You can see some artifacts in the Archaeological Museum in Sardinia’s capital Cagliari and others in the mainland town of Cabras about six miles (ten kilometers) east. The site itself contains some ancient Roman columns, baths, and mosaics.

You’re not far from the little town of San Salvatore, the location for filming many spaghetti westerns in decades gone by. The first Saturday of September it hosts the Festa di San Salvatore (Festival of San Salvatore) in which hundreds of barefoot runners, each carrying an image of the Saviour, run five miles (eight kilometers) to commemorate saving the Cabras Church of Santa Maria Assunta’s statue of San Salvatore from Saracen raids. This church was built on an ancient Nuragic underground temple.

Nuoro, population about thirty-five thousand, overlooks the mountains. In the eyes of many the real Sardinia is found here, and not in the coastal resorts. Natives of this remote area feel a special pride that neither the Romans, nor Carthage, nor any other foreigner has ever conquered them. Traditions are very much part of the local daily life. You can see the traditional clothing during the numerous festivals and to some extent day to day in the villages.

Rural Sardinia’s traditional lifestyle seems to agree with people. Relatively many of its residents are centenarians or even supercentarians (those who live to age 110). Antionio Todde from the village of Tiana about twenty miles (thirty kilometers) southwest of Nuoro made it to three weeks short of age 113. His diet was pasta and soup with some pork or lamb each day and a glass and a half of red wine. The first time he saw television was in 1954 at age 65. Every night he would cycle thirty miles (forty-five kilometers) to see fuzzy images of dancing girls on the tiny screen. Antonio was wounded in World War I and died as the world’s oldest proven combat veteran.

Nuoro is proud of its captivating landscapes, walking and riding paths along old shepherd’s trails, and extravagantly romantic places with rare species of birds. If you’re interested in archaeological finds or in fascinating folklore and legends, you won’t be disappointed with Nuoro. Yet the city is far from an intellectual wasteland. In fact it has been called "the Sardinian Athens" because of its large number of poets, writers, and intellectuals including Grazia Deledda, the second woman to win a Nobel Prize for Literature (1926), born and raised in Nuoro.

Fonni, population about four thousand, is the highest town in Sardinia. It is a winter sports center with ski lifts but also has many spring fountains as befits its name. Be sure to see the Eighteenth Century Baroque Sanctuary of the Vergine dei Martiri with unusual paintings by local artists. Don’t miss the Eleventh Century Church of San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist) the village’s patron saint. The best day to visit is on June 24th, when in his honor the villagers are decked out in full splendor. The men wear linen trousers and black gaiters. The women wear a white chemise, a very small corselet, and finally a red jacket with blue and black velvet facings. Their accordion-pleated skirt is brown and red with a blue band between the two. Some wear two identical skirts, one above the other. The married women wear black kerchiefs and the unmarried ones wear white. This is the most traditional part of Sardinia, and consequently one of the most traditional parts of Italy and all Western Europe.

What about food? It is said that there are more than 500 types of bread in Sardinia, one for each village. The most famous is the pani carasau that resembles thin pita. It is also called carta di musica, as it supposedly rustles like a music manuscript. This bread is baked twice and consequently is quite dry. No problem, some including the shepherds moisten it with water before filling it with goodies such as the local pecorino cheese. The white kokkoi bread is considered a real treat and is proudly served at life cycle events.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Spaghetti ai Ricci (Spaghetti with Sea Urchins). Then try Quaglie Arrosto (Roasted Quail). For dessert indulge yourself with Aranzada (Candied Orange Peel and Toasted Almonds). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We’ll conclude with a quick look at Sardinian wine. Sardinia ranks eighth among the 20 Italian regions in acreage devoted to wine grapes and twelfth in total annual wine production. About 57% of its wine production is red or rosé (not very much rosé) leaving 43% for white wine. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. The region produces 19 DOC wines and one DOCG wine, Vermentino di Gallura. About 15% of Sardinian wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation.

Arborea DOC is produced in a relatively large area of west central Sardinia. The red or rosé wine is produced from the well-known Italian red Sangiovese grape. The white wine is produced from the well-known but more pedestrian Italian white Trebbiano grape and may be still or naturally fizzy. The Vernaccia di Oristano DOC wine is produced in a small area near the city of Oristano from a local white grape of that name. This wine may be dry or sweet and depending on its labeling must be aged for a minimum of 29 to 48 months. According to legend the vines come from the tears of Santa Giusta, patroness of Oristano and the wine helps fight malaria. The sweet wine resembles Sherry, quite good Sherry in the case of the best offerings.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian, French, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is www.theworldwidewine.com and his major article website is www.travelitalytravel.com

Find out more about sightseeing in Sardinia.

Sightseeing in the Tuscan Archipelago by Bike

2007-07-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

Bicycle Tours - Italy's Tuscan Archipelago
by Luc Lacasse

The Tuscan Archipelago is actually a string of seven islands, including Capraia, Gorgona, Giglio, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri and Elba all located on the west coast of Italy.

Elba is the largest in the string with a population of about 38,000 people and easily accessible by ferry. It is a very busy touristy location not far off the Tuscan coast with a cooler climate than central Italy, but with all the same dramatic volcanic cliffs, rugged landscapes and sandy beaches. With a small data base of rental rooms and a large vacationing population, especially in the peak European holiday season, it is a must to plan ahead and avoid the panic of not finding suitable accommodation.

On these islands bicycle tours, Italy style typically takes you to the less trafficked west side of Elba Island with climbs through the central volcanic mountains with the option of challenging the peak of Monte Pomone for the more aggressive riders. Pizza’s made in volcano heated ovens are one of the key rewards for all your physical efforts.

The coastal areas offer a range of aquatic diversions from scuba diving and sailing to catching a few rays on the beautiful beaches, a great change from saddle sores and strained muscles acquired climbing the interior mountains on your bicycle tour. Italy is definitely not for the weak hearted!

There are also opportunities for horseback riding in the interior although I’m not sure that helps the rear. Guides are ready to take you on climbing expeditions or on challenging hikes if you decide to park your bike for a day.

Elba is large enough to offer some challenging rides for a number of days, with the advantage of more mild summer temperature than that found on the mainland. But after that if your agenda is not to sit and enjoy the beautiful weather and extended sandy beaches you may want to expand your geography to explore other bicycle tours of Italy on the mainland, maybe the Dolomite Mountains or Sicily a larger volcanic island further south.

Luc Lacasse is an avid cyclist with 10 years of racing motocross and mountain biking under his belt. He is the author behind myWheelsAndMore.com a website designed to share his knowledge gained as a bicycle enthusiast and mechanical engineering student.

Sightseeing in Lake Iseo, Lombardy, Italy

2007-07-05T06:17:00.000-07:00

Guide to Lake Iseo, Lombardy, Italy
by Karen Bryan

Lake Iseo, also called Lake Sebina, is the fourth largest lake in the Lombardy region of Italy. The lake was formed by the Valcamonica Glacier, and is 24 kilometres long and up to 5 kilometres wide. This width is not always obvious as the largest lake island in Europe, Monte Isola, sits in the centre of the lake. The lake is situated just north of Brescia and Bergamo, this being reflected in the fact that it is administered on the western bank by the Bergamo district council, and on the east bank by the Brescia district council. The River Oglio, flowing down from the Val Camonica and entering between Lovere and Pisogne, mainly feeds the Lake from the north. The Val Camonica has thermal spas and prehistoric rock carvings. At the southern end of the lake lies the Torbiere, a peat bog and now a nature reserve. South of this lies the Franciacorta valley, producing the best sparkling wine in Italy.

On the eastern bank, a few kilometres up from the lake, is the Natural Reserve of the Pyramids of Zone, a unique formation of pillars created by uneven glacial erosion. The sixty-kilometre perimeter lakeside is dotted with villages and towns, the main ones being Iseo, Sarnico, Lovere, Pisogne and Marone. These towns are full of historical and cultural interest, yet it is pleasant to stroll along the promenade or linger over a drink in a café. There are a variety of water sports available on the Lake and fishing is popular with the locals, tench being the prized catch. There is a good selection of walking and cycling trails, and in Winter there is skiing north of Lake Iseo in the Presolano area.

Unique points

The fact that Lake Iseo is not well known outside Italy and therefore less touristy makes it more appealing. One of its biggest attractions is Monte Isola, the largest inland lake island in Europe, which is easily reached by ferry and with no cars on the island it is very peaceful, making it ideal for walking or cycling. There are also the Pyramids of Zone, where the erosion of glacial deposits has left pinnacles of earth up to ten metres high. On the western lakeshore are the bogns of Castro and Zorzino, sheets of limestone that plunge into the lake. North of the lake in Val Camino you can see hundreds of prehistoric rock carvings at the National Park of Rock Engravings and to the south of the lake is the Torbiere peat bog and Franciacorta, the area where the renowned sparkling wine is produced.

Getting there

Nearest airports

Bergamo (Orio Serio)
Brescia
Verona
Milan (Malpensa)
Milan (Linate)

All of these airports are within reasonable travelling distance to Lake Iseo. Most international flights come into Milan Malpensa, although the low cost carrier Ryanair uses Bergamo and Brescia.

Car: travelling on the Milan Venice motorway (A4) to go to the West bank Of Lake Iseo you would come off at Sarnico junction and on to the SS649. To reach Iseo town, travelling east on the A4, you would also come off at Sarnico exit, and travelling west on the A4 you would turn off at Brescia up the SS510.

Public transport: There are regular connections by bus and train to Brescia from all the nearby airports, then connections from Brescia by bus and train to Iseo. The train continues up the east bank to Pisogne.

Once you have reached Iseo the most relaxing and picturesque option for getting around the lake is the ferry.

Guide to Lake Iseo, clockwise from Iseo town on the southern shores.

ISEO TOWN

I am really fond of Iseo town; it has a relaxed ambience, wide squares and a lovely promenade with a fantastic view of the lake and Monte Isola. It is quite lively, mainly with Italian families and couples.

Iseo was a business centre in Roman times, and it was an important port until the end of the 19th century. The hero of Italian unification, Garibaldi, is celebrated with a statue and fountain in the main square. Also on this square is the Palazzo Vantini, built in the 1833s and now used as the town hall. The Pieve di S. Andrea dates back to the 12th century, and is distinctive because of its cusped Romanesque bell tower. The 11th century Castello Oldofredi was recently restored and now houses the public library.

Just south of the town are the peat bogs; Torbiere del Sebino is now a nature reserve. Lake Iseo was around 10 metres deeper in the past, but erosion of the bed of the River Oglio at the southern outflow meant that the lake level began to drop, cutting off a shallow basin, which gradually became a large marsh with peaty deposits. During the industrialisation of the 19th century local factories began using the peat as a source of energy, eventually excavating most of the peat deposits. Imagine digging up the peat using a caged spade with a five-metre handle!

Evidence of prehistoric settlement was found during peat cutting: stone arrowheads, blades and daggers dating from 5000 BC. Now the area is of great scientific interest and home to many species of bird and fish.

The Franciacorta region, south of Iseo, has become well known for its sparkling wine. In the mid 1950s a young entrepreneur started to make sparkling wine emulating the method using in the Champagne region of France. This means that the secondary fermentation of the wine occurs in the bottle, a process which takes around two years. Now this valley produces the legally protected Franciacorta wine, assuring it has been hand made using the traditional champagne methods in one of the thirty wineries in the area. Visits to the wineries and tasting sessions can be arranged. Wine lovers may wish to visit for the three days in September for the Wine Festival, with tasting, special meals and visits to cellars.

Villa Lechi, a Palladian style villa built in the 16th century, can be visited by appointment (phone 392 706 30087 to arrange) Just west of Erbusco is the Oglio North Park, on the eastern banks of the river.

SARNICO

Sarnico is the first resort heading west from Iseo. It was originally a prehistoric stilt village, as it stands where the lakes narrows and once again becomes the River Oglio. There are frescoes dating from 1200 AD in the church San Nazario e Rocca di Castione. You can still see ruined medieval ramparts.

For some Sarnico is best known as the home of the premier speedboat company Riva. One of the most fascinating aspects of the companys story to me is the journey of Pietro Riva from his hometown of Lagio on the Lake Como to Sarnico in 1842. The young Pietro was travelling to start a new job repairing boats in Sarnico; his 70-mile journey took him two days, travelling by boat, train and coach.

His repairs were so successful that he was soon being commissioned to build boats. The boat building business grew under Pietros son, Ernesto, who began produced boats powered by piston engines.

In 1912 Ernestos son Serafino achieved a speed of 24 kilometres an hour in a speedboat. Riva became a prestigious brand, sought by the rich and famous as a status symbol. However you no longer see speedboats on Lake Iseo because they were banned for environmental reasons in 1976!

Sarnico is home to the Bellini Gallery, a picture gallery exhibiting around 150 pieces, mainly from the period between the 16th and 18th centuries. The Gallery is in the old part of the city and was formerly a nunnery. Also on display are some sculptures and furniture.

The Palazzo to Sarnico rail line winds along Oglio River. Volunteers reopened this line recently. TrenoBlu as it is known is often steam hauled. The trains run during the Summer. There are rail connections from Bergamo and Milan.

Just outside Sarnico, heading east, stands the Faccononi villa, designed by one of Italys best Art Nouveau architects, Sommaruga, for the wealthy Faccanoni family. The villa on the lakeshore exemplifies Sommarugas trademark Floreale style.

RIVA DI SOLTO

The stretch from Tavernola north constitutes the most dramatic stretch of the west bank. Just try to blot out the quarry at Tavernola! Riva is a pretty fishing hamlet, full of arches and alleys. The old centre is up the hill at Zorzino. The Zorzino Bong, with its vertical slabs of limestone plunging Mount Clemo, creates its own enclosed bay. Further north is the Castro Bogn.

LOVERE

The Lovere area was occupied by the Gauls in the Iron Age, and by the second century BC the Roman settlement began to take form.

Lovere still has ramparts remaining from its period as a medieval fortified town. The oldest church is the 12th century Capell di San Martino. The town was famous in the 15th century as Venetian textile town. Most of the output of woollen cloth was sold in Germany and Austria. At the beginning of the 16th century there was a period of turmoil, with periods of rule by the French, the Holy Roman Empire and the Spanish, which greatly disrupted the production and distribution of the cloth. There was more strife later that century with plagues and famines. By the 17th century the authorities had tackled the security problem of bandits and some Lombardy noblemen began to travel to Lovere for their holidays. The Basilica of Santa Maria dates from the 15th century and houses a 16th century organ case and frescoes. The lakeside Palazzo Tadini contains the School of Fine Arts, a gallery with paintings, sculptures and ceramics. Count Luigi Tadini began this collection in his town house in Crema. The Tadini familys only son died in Lovere in 1799 where they often took holidays. Count Tadini provided the funds to built the Palazzo, in memory of his son.

The English writer and poet Lady Mary Wortley Montagu lived in a villa on the outskirts of Lovere in the 1740s. Lady Mary is said to have written many letters to her daughter in the villa garden, and been inspired to write poetry by the beauty of her surroundings. In fact she declined an invitation to the Venice carnival saying, there are plenty things to do in this village which, by the way, is one of the most beautiful that exists. Lady Mary came to live in Italy in 1741, supposedly for health reasons, although it is thought that she no longer wanted to live with her husband. Lady Mary had travelled to Turkey as wife of the British Ambassador and there she came across the practice of inoculation against smallpox. She had her own children inoculated but was never given proper credit for introducing the practice in Britain. Lady Marys daughter married Lord Bute, who became prime minister of Britain in 1762, a year after Lady Marys death.

Lovere has another literary connection in Georges Sand, the French novelist, who wrote of Lake Iseo to a friend in London, Come, I have found a lovely place to live. Georges Sands real name was Aurore Dupin, but she had taken a mans name as it was not deemed suitable for ladies to be novelists in the 19th century, and she often dressed as a man. She had a long-standing affair with Chopin. After their break up in 1847 she wrote the novel Lucrezia Floriana. The romance between a young Italian noble and an older lady is set on Monte Isola. It is said that this novel inspired many visits by ladies seeking romance to the area!

In 1854 Lovere joined the industrial revolution, with the development of the first large steel complex in the region. Lovere prospered as an industrial centre until the 1980s, but this has left a scar on the landscape.

Valle Camonica

As you head round the north of the lake, you may wish to have a slight detour to visit the Valle Camonica. This valley is 90km long and contains 41 towns and villages, making it the longest valley in Italy. The healing powers of the waters of the spa town of Boario Terme were written about as early as 1497 by the naturalist Paracelsus. The Italian writer Manzoni was a regular visitor, living to the age of 88. Nearby at the Capo di Ponte is the National Rock Engraving Park, with prehistoric rock carvings, dating from Neolithic times through to the Iron Age. The carvings relate to the history of the Camuni tribe throughout this period. It is an amazing site, containing thousands of figures: an enormous stone history book. One of the most common carvings is that of the Camonic rose, which is now the emblem of the Lombardy region. On this site is the Archeopark, an open- air interactive park where you can try out various daily prehistoric activities e.g. lighting a fire, shooting with a bow and arrow and grinding corn and baking bread. The Archeodromo is a realistic construction of a Neolithic village with six huts perched on a rocky hill. Some school groups stay in the village for a few days to get an authentic taste of prehistoric life. Personally speaking I think Id rather go back to my hotel bed and shower. The traditional art of woodcarving continues in this area. The Cammunian Wood Handicraft Workshops in Boaria Terme, where all types of objects from religious ornaments to babies cribs are produced, can be found in the area. A fusion of modern and 16th century techniques are used to craft the goods.

PISOGNE

Pisogne was an important centre in medieval times for commerce - a large weekly market was held there. The town had a ring of walls and a system of gates but not much is left standing now. In the Market Square you would be hung in a cage suspended from the tower for non-payment of taxes due to the bishop. Tax was due on almost everything - fishing, hunting, milling, salt and iron. The bishops were forbidden to inflict any punishment that would cause loss of blood, so humiliation was the next best option to extract their dues. In 1518 eight women accused of witchcraft were imprisoned in the Widow Tower before being burned.

Just off Market Square is Santa Maria Assunta church, which contains a 150-year-old pipe organ. The facade of the Palazzo Fanzango is adorned with medallions depicting the characters from the book I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) written by Manzoni. This is an important piece of Italian literature, telling the tale of how love triumphed for two peasants despite the efforts of a local tyrant. The book also has a vivid description of the spread of the Plague in 17th century Milan.

At the end of the 17th century, Pisogne was home to the notorious bandit Giorgi Vicario. There was not much brotherly loyalty between the bandits as Vicario tracked down and killed Giuseppe Techi for a reward. Techis head was delivered on a tray decorated with bay leaves to the authorities. A double whammy, a reward and less competition locally!

Pisogne hosts the local festival of mushrooms and chestnuts on the last Sunday in September.

MARONE

Marone is situated in a beautiful spot in a green valley at the foot of Monte Guglielmo. There are ruins of a first century Roman villa, Co del Hela as you enter the town. On the lakeside is the Parrocchiale di tours, an 18th Century Baroque style church with a marble altar. Marone was well known for production of woollen cloth and felt and the quarrying of dolomite. Nowadays tourism is the main industry.

A few kilometres uphill from Marone on the road to Zone lie the Earth Pyramids. They are an amazing sight: thin spires of earth up to 30 metres high, with large granite masses perched on top almost like hats. The Pyramids are not static as they can erode, causing the boulder to fall and gradually new pyramids are created.

On the way to the Pyramids is the church of San Giorgio and on the outer sidewall are frescoes painted in the 15th century, including one of San Giorgio slaying the dragon.

Further up the hill is the village of Zone. As you ascend you can see what I initially thought was a ski lift, above the road. It is in fact suspended containers, which carry the dolomite down from the Calarusso quarry. In some respects it reminded me of a Swiss alpine village; the air was so fresh and crisp. There are two interesting churches on the Piazza Almici: The octagonal 18th century Beata Veringe di Lourdes and the 17th century Parrocchiale S Giovanii Ballista, containing wooden works of art by Andrea Falconi. The festival of honey is held in the town square at the beginning of August. From Zone there are several walking paths and, if you're feeling energetic, one to the summit of Monte Guglielmo.

MONTE ISOLA

The largest lake island in Europe is 3km long, rising to an elevation of 600m, and is sometimes referred to as the pearl of Iseo. Only public service four wheeled vehicles are allowed on the island. If you want to see more of the island you can rent a bicycle or use the local bus. There is also the option to take the gentle level walk along the southern coast from the village of Peschiera Maraglio to Sensole and return on the ferry from Sensole. If you are feeling energetic you can visit the 13th century Il Santuario della Madonna della Cerinole, which is situated at the highest point of the island.

The 14th Century Fortress Martinango is the ancestral home of the Olofredi family. It is one of the best-preserved forts in the region. It is unusual in that its highest tower is in the centre.

The population of the island is around 1700, with those not employed in tourism working as fishermen, in boatyards or making nets. In fact, the nets for the goal posts of the 1982 Football World Cup were made locally. Guess what - Italy won the Cup that year! There are still numerous naets, the typical wooden local fishing boats, to be seen. Some of the catch is left outside to dry in the sun in the traditional manner.

You can visit a traditional boatyard, Cantiere Nautico in Peschiere Maraglio, and see the construction of the handmade wooden boats.

I think that Monte Isola is a charming, tranquil place to visit, still relatively peaceful and relaxing. It is very thickly wooded, when you observe it from the shore its hard to imagine being able to reach the summit.

One of the big events on the island is the festival of Corzano, a hamlet that dates back to the 1600s. This only takes place every five years.

There are regular ferries from several towns on the lakeshore to the coastal villages in Monte Isola.

Suggested Itineraries

Day Trip:

Driving: it is possible to drive round the lake with a few stops in one day from Milan, Brescia or Bergamo and see unique sights.

Public transport: bus/train to Iseo, ferry trip from there. Trains from Brescia operate every hour, and it is a half-hour journey to Iseo, and they also go up to Pisogne, stopping at Sulzano and Sale Marsino.

Weekend/Short stay (2-3 nights) you could either be based in Iseo, spending a day visiting Monte Isola, one day visiting the west bank of the lake and one day on the east bank. An alternative would be to tour the lake in a day and spend a day either in Bergamo or Verona.

Iseo town would be a good base for day trips to the cities of Bergamo, Verona, Venice, Brescia, Vicenzia and Padova. Lake Garda and Lake Como are both nearby.

You can read to full guide to Lake Iseo at http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/Italy/iseo/

Karen Bryan is a UK based indepedent travel consultant and writer specialising in less well known destinations in Europe. In her website, Europe a la Carte, http://www.europealacarte.co.uk, she demonstrates that you can see a lot more of the real Europe if you venture, even slightly off the well beaten tourist track.

Sightseeing in Apulia

2007-06-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

I Love Touring Italy - Western Apulia
By Levi Reiss

Apulia is the heel of the Italian boot. It is located in the southeast corner of Italy on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. Apulia was frequently invaded by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Among its many rulers were the Byzantines, Goths, Lombards, Normans, Spaniards, and Turks. Its moment of greatest glory was in the Holy Roman Empire of the 13th Century, when majestic Romanesque cathedrals and palaces were built. This article presents the western and usually northern part of Apulia. A companion article presents the rest of the region.

Apulia’s administrative center is Bari, the biggest city in southern Italy, with a population of over 325 thousand. It is a major port that includes a modern city center, with its Piazza della Libertà (Freedom Plaza) and a città vecchia (old town) that is definitely worth seeing. Everywhere you turn you can see the Adriatic Sea. The pedestrian-only street Via Sparano is the site of evening strolls. The nearby Eleventh Century Bascilica di San Nicola is said to contain the remains of St. Nicholas, yes Santa Claus. According to legend local sailors stole his remains from Turkey. Funny, I always thought that Santa Claus… In any case, the Bascilica is the only building to have survived the sacking of the city by the Normans way back in 1152. Make sure to see the Cattedrale (Cathedral) built shortly afterwards. Nearby is the Castello Svevo which is undergoing restoration.

About 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Bari is the small port of Trani, which was the major Adriatic port during the Crusades. Santa Maria di Scolanova and Santa Anna are two standing medieval synagogues. The city contains several historic churches, a Swabian castle, and a Gothic Palace of the Doges of Venice, transformed into a seminary.

Of course you know that Italy is shaped like a boot. Did you know that its spur is Promontorio del Gargano (Gargano Promontory), a very popular destination for both Italian and foreign summer tourists. With a rough and ready landscape and curvy mountain roads make sure that you watch your driving, even more so than in most of Italy.

The area’s major center near the tip of the spur is the whitewashed town of Vieste known for its castle. Take a ferry from Vieste to the nearby archipelago Isole Tremiti. A word of warning before you go, the name Tremiti is associated with the word tremor. There have been earthquakes. Some of the islands are uninhabited and one of them has the interesting habit of being covered by waves. But the view is spectacular. Perhaps it was a consolation to the political prisoners exiled by Benito Mussolini during his reign.

Don’t miss the Foresta Umbra (Shady Forest) which encompasses over sixty thousand acres, hundreds of animal species and two thousand plant species including beech, maple, oak, and sycamore trees that one would expect in northern climes. How do they do it? The forest is 3,200 feet above sea level?

Monte Sant’Angelo has been a major destination for pilgrims over the last fifteen hundred years. Among them were St. Francis of Assisi and Crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. You’ll want to see the Santuario di San Michele (Sanctuary of San Michele) and the Tomba di Rotari (Tomb of Rotari), a medieval baptistery. Other sights include the ruins of a Norman castle and the old city known as Rione Junno.

You might want to finish your tour of western Apulia with a visit to the famous Castel del Monte, a mysterious eight-sided castle built in the Thirteenth Century. Unlike most medieval castles, it lacks military structures. Perhaps it was a resting place for pilgrims seeking the Holy Grail. Or maybe…

What about food? Italy has a classification process for food, roughly similar to the wine classification. Among Apulia’s classified foods are Clementines, Olives, two Cheeses, and four Olive Oils. There are so many specialties that one of these days we will have to sit down and write one or several articles on the foods of Apulia. In the meantime let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.
Start with Ciceri e tria (Chick Pea and Noodle Soup).
Then try Grata alla barese (Roasted Bream with Potatoes, Garlic, and Pecorino Cheese).
For dessert indulge yourself with Carteddate (Marsala, Honey, and Cinnamon Fried Pastry).

Let’s finish by taking a quick look at Apulian wine. Apulia ranks 2nd among the 20 Italian regions for both vineyard acreage and total wine production, about 7o% red or rosé (only a little rosé), leaving 30% for white. The region produces 25 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. Less than 4% of Apulia wine carries the DOC designation. The best known local wine is Castel del Monte DOC, which is available overseas and is frankly not that great. If you’re in western Apulia you may want to try the Cacc’e Mmitte di Lucera DOC because of its interesting name, which can be translated as ‘knock it back’. I am told that the name is quite appropriate. The word is that Moscato di Trani DOC is an excellent sweet white wine, but you may have to go to Apulia to get it. When you think about it that’s just one more reason to visit this sometimes overlooked region of Italy.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine French or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His major wine website is http://www.theworldwidewine.com and his major article website is http://www.travelitalytravel.com .

Sightseeing in Italy - the Vineyards

2007-06-17T04:50:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy wine, why not combine a sightseeing tour of Italy with a visit to some vineyards?

Winemaking in Italy
by Andre Sanchez

It might come as a surprise to many that Italy produces more wine that any other country in the world. But not to the Italians. Winemaking in Italy is an art that is handed down from generation to generation and the climate and disparity of winegrowing regions is such that there is a greater variety of grapes and wine types than anywhere else in the world.

Everybody has heard of the well-known wines such as Chianti from Tuscany, Valpolicella and Soave, but what about the marvelous Rondinella, Malvasia and Sangiovese? These are marvelous wines, and the little known Malvasia is superb. There are more different types of vine grown in Italy than any other country, and Italy can truly be awarded the accolade of winegrowing country of the world. The French, Germans and all of the New World Australian and American wine producing areas pale into insignificance when compared to Italy. At least for volume.

The Italian vines are said to have brought by the Greeks. “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts” is the saying, but if true then these gifts were welcome and did nothing but good. The success of Italian winegrowing is due to its geography and climate. The Apennines run right down the backbone of Italy, with beautiful hot Mediterranean conditions at the bottom ranging to more continental and then a fairly cold climate towards the Alps.

This geography provides every type of climate possible for growing grapes, and the cold loving vines and those larger and juicier grapes that prefer more heat are all well catered for. It never gets too dry, and never gets too wet. Were you to personally design a country and climate ideal for growing just about every variety of grapes, you would end up with Italy.

Winemaking in Italy is therefore a joy. The vines grow themselves, and all you have to do to make wine is to extract the juice. Perhaps a bit more, but not a lot! In spite of these benefits, Italians tend not to go for sweet wines, but instead prefer those with lots of body and high in tannin and acidity. Color is an important factor, and there are many more reds than whites in Italy, though few dry whites can beat a beautiful crisp Frascati from Latium, close to Rome.

Italy has 20 geographical regions, and every one of them produces wine. However, the Italian wines have never achieved the heights of the best French reds and German whites. The country appears to provide a bit of both but even so, has its adherents who prefer a good Italian wine to any expensive French chateau.

The Northeast areas of Italy have a greater technological approach to winemaking than the rest of the country, and the major customers for this area of Italy are the Germans, Swiss and French, as would be expected from its geographical location. This is where most of the DOC (Denominazione Di Origine Controllata) wines are produced. This is the Italian equivalent of the Apellation Controlee of France.

Valpolicella, Soave, and Bardolino are the best known from this area, where quality is regarded as being more important than quantity, and prices can tend to be high, at least for the better vintages. The Vinitaly wine fair of Verona with over 4000 exhibitors is something no wine lover should miss, and it is held every spring. Make sure that you visit it at least once in your life.

Freisa, the sparking Asti Spumante and the wonderful Nebiollo from which the beautiful Barolo and Barnbaresco wines are made all originate from the Piedmont and Liguria areas of Italy and the Valle d’Aosta vines display the French influence in their names such as Petit Rouge and Blanc de Valdigne.

It is beyond the scope of this article to cover every region in Italy, but it must be said that the microclimates of the regions around the Alps are perfect for wine growing. Until fairly recently it was the practice of Italian winegrowers to produce quantity at the expense of quality, but this has changed recently, with many wines being produced for laying down rather than immediate drinking, and the quality of the aging Italian wines is definitely improving.

A word to the wise about Super Tuscan wines. If you come across that term, it refers to a Tuscan wine that has not conformed to the traditional grape blending rules of the region. Chianti Classico wines, for example, must include the Sangievese grape as the dominant ingredient, but Super Tuscans can use Cabernet Sauvignon instead. This makes them ineligible for the DOC classification. They previously had to be termed vino de tavola, or ‘table wine’ because of this, even though they could be superb wines.

So do not be fooled by the term. Super Tuscans can be very good, but if you prefer the traditional Sangiovese grape in your Chianti Classico blend, avoid it.

This is just a simple example of how Italian wines are of such a great variety, and if you are looking for something different, then have a look through the Italian section of your favorite wine merchant.

This article was brought to you by http://www.CapitalistLife.com, your best resource for earning, keeping and enjoying wealth. Visit us to learn more about Wine.

Sardinia Sightseeing

2007-05-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

The Beautiful Island of Sardinia
by Kirk Friis

The majestic island of Sardinia is located off the west coast of Italy just below the island of Corsica. The second largest island in the Mediterranean it runs approximately 250 kilometres from north to south and 110 kilometres from east to west. Italian is the main language of this vastly diverse island although various regions of the island have traditional languages of their own from Catalan in the region of Alghero through to Campidanese in the south.

The landscape of this stunning island is incredibly varied, from white sandy beaches on the coast to the mountainous terrain in the central parts of the island. From cities like Cagliari in the south to old coastal towns like Alghero in the north you will find a varied array of architecture and culture. In the region of Nuoro, at the heart of Sardinia, you will find villages and towns 800 metres above sea level that have been completely untouched by the course of time. In the northeast of the island lies the famous Costa Smerelda (the emerald coast) playground of the rich and famous. The island is also peppered with a vast array of archaeological remains including the Nuraghes, (a stone tepee like structure) which are among some of the oldest constructions known to man.

The cuisine of Sardinia is just as varied as it’s terrain with an as expected abundance of seafood dishes to be found in coastal regions including what is said to be some of the finest lobster in the world. All this having been said though the traditional delicacies of Sardinia are to be found in land where your taste buds will be tantalised with wood roast suckling pig, wild boar and traditional Sardinian sausage.

Famous the world over the beaches of Sardinia are truly something that must be seen to be believed. Crystal clear waters and white sand that runs for miles, Sardinia truly is a touch of paradise in the Mediterranean. Sardinia has always traditionally been a place of holiday for Italians and a very well kept secret due to its lack of connectivity to the rest of Europe. Ryanair has changed this. Now with flights daily from London (two flights a day in the summer months) to Alghero and connections to Barcelona and Frankfurt, Sardinia has opened its doors to the rest of Europe. With a very short winter and long summer the potential for tourism throughout the year is immense. There are though strict laws in place within Sardinia to preserve the landscape and not allow the island to be over developed. For instance construction of new property on the coast line has been restricted to not allow any building within three kilometres of the sea and there are also many other stringent regulations as to the height of constructions so as not to interfere with the ambient of the terrain. All of this means that what already exists in Sardinia can be used to its full potential without the tranquillity of the island being ruined.

Property in Sardinia is still fairly cheap compared to prices around Europe but they are on the rise. Coastal regions are among the more expensive regions to buy but have the added benefit of being a fairly certain rental investment. Inland there are many fantastic bargains to be found immersed in the tranquillity of the Sardinian countryside with the added knowledge that you are never that far away from the coast. Whether you are looking for a new home or merely the holiday of a life time, Sardinia has it all. Go scuba diving amongst the coral in Alghero, sailing in Porto Conte or even rock climbing in Barbagia here you will find a little piece of paradise for everyone.

Sardinia tourist information: http://www.sardinianconnections.com

Kirk Friis was born in London and moved to Sardinia in 2003 where he now lives with his wife and son.

Find out more about Sightseeing in Sardinia.

Milan - Italy's Ultimate City of Style and Elegance

2007-05-24T04:15:00.000-07:00

By Laurent Fabier

If the ideal destination for you is a place where history successfully meets the present and future, then Milan, Europe's creative capital is the place to go. Situated on the flat plains of the Po Valley, it is the capital of Lombardy and thoroughly enjoys its hard earned role as Italy's richest and second largest city. Wealthy and cosmopolitan, the Milanesi enjoy a reputation as successful businesspeople. Since the 1970s, the city has remained the capital of Italy's automobile industry and its financial markets, but the limelight is dominated by the fashion houses, who, in turn, have drawn media and advertising agencies to the city. Most of the year Milan is as comfortable as a cardigan: not too hot, and not too cold, either, a perfect destination for any season. Just keep in mind one thing: the city is overbooked almost all the time, so make sure you choose the best way of finding accommodation: online hotel booking with at least one month in advance. Here are some suggestions in case you are seriously considering Milan as your next destination.

Milan discount accommodation - cheap offers for quality services For discount travelers, the city is loaded with lodging offers. If you are looking for cheap hotel rates, you can choose the best of accommodation in the very heart of the city. One of the most irresistible offers is Edolo Hotel, situated within 300 meters from Milano Central Station, and the Air Terminal to Malpensa and Linate airports and at only 10 minutes by underground from the "Fiera Internazionale". This beautiful hotel offers a high standard of comfort and service. A courteous and efficient staff and a familiar management ensure to the guests a pleasant stay. Edolo Hotel is in the immediate vicinity of the famous Arciboldi Theatre. It is surrounded by a plethora of traditional pizzerias, pubs and clubs, public gardens and private parking; it's also easily reached by tram, bus and underground. Rooms are furnished with exquisite taste, are silent and with the most up-to-date facilities. Another offer, ideal for a family vacation package or from cheap corporate travels is Hotel Mac Mahon. This city hotel features a terrace and comprises a total of 24 rooms, also accessible for people with disabilities. There is also a breakfast room, a bar open around the clock and other conveniences on offer. This accommodation is the ideal place for both tourists and business travelers who wish to feel at home in a relaxing atmosphere. Located in the north of Milan, Centro Alberghiero Ornato, in the Riguarda district, near the motorway, is another widely convenient and functional tourist centre. It has 146 rooms with private bathroom, telephone and TV and there is also a conference room with a capacity for 50 people and both car park and coach park. . Also within the heart of the city, you may choose the comfortable Hotel Demidoff, very centrally located, situated only few meters away from central railway station and from piazza Lima undeground station.The Duomo is within walking distance from this hotel.

Italy’s ultimate corporate city unveils its offers For luxury corporate travelers, there are also plenty of opportunities that will give you an opportunity of knowing Milan hospitality. An useful solution is the elegant Montebianco Hotel, which is one of the best places in town for corporate meetings. All the comforts and amenities are at your disposals as well as front desk useful information for both the luxury traveler looking for information on art galleries, museums and clubs and for the corporate tourist seeking info in train or plane schedules. Large and well furnished meeting rooms are available, while for lunch and dinner or for a fast snack, you will find restaurants, pizzerias and pubs close to the hotel. A large guarded car park and laundry service are available. Centrally located in the hearth of Milan, the Hotel Mythos is very close to the Central Station, the Air Terminal and the city tube and is also a favorite location for corporate travels. The Hotel has a meeting center consisting of 10 up to 70 places congress rooms, ideal for meetings, incentives exhibitions, shows, cultural events. The Doria Grand Hotel is another luxury place which offers its guests the calm of an intimate and refined atmosphere.

While in Milan, choose living in style While in Milan and if willing to live in style, do not miss the Grand Hotel Duomo Built in 1860, this hotel is the only Italian building made with the same marble used to build the Cathedral (the famous Carrara marble) At the beginning, it was a private Palace, that became a hotel in 1950. The Grand Hotel Duomo is a place that conquests the heart, not only for its unique position, but also for the beauty of the decoration, for the works of art. Dominating the Piazza della Repubblica, the hotel Principe di Savoia is a five-star hotel that has been the natural home for international travellers and cosmopolitan society since the 1920's. Its imposing neoclassical facade hides one of the world's most luxuriously appointed hotels. With its superb location, superlative facilities and outstanding standards of service, the Hotel Principe di Savoia offers a winning combination of old-fashioned opulence combined with the latest innovations in technology and design. Easily accessed from all parts of the city and close to Milan's many attractions and elegant shopping districts, the Hotel Principe di Savoia is within 50 minutes of Milan's main airport, Malpensa.

Now that you have found suitable accommodation, keep in mind that this city is all about worldly pleasures, from shopping, which is of quasi-religious significance to clubbing and fashionable sightseeing. Apart from a few gems, the city is not renowned for its looks; it's lifestyle that counts.

Laurent Fabier is well known as a partner editor for online hotel reservation services like PlaniGo, economic and marketing sites. His experience ranges from important contributions in written media to news and online travel magazines

Turin Sightseeing

2007-04-23T02:47:00.000-07:00

Sightseeing in Turin Italy - The Piazzas
by David Leigh

Almost everything you want to see in Turin is located right in the old city centre and as the area is relatively compact it is easy to do much of your sightseeing on foot. Much of Turin's character comes from the many squares, known as piazzas in Italian, many of which are lined by arcades that provide cooling shade in the summer and shelter from the wind, rain and snow in winter.

Right in the centre of the city is Piazza Castello, a wide cobbled square that was commissioned by Carlo Emmanuele I and first designed by Ascanio Vitozzi in the 16th century. The square was the power base of the Dukes of Savoy where nowadays pedestrians, cars, buses and trams all vie for priority. The central point of the city, it is where Via Po, Via Roma and Via Garibaldi converge.

Right in the middle is the "castle" that gives the square its name - Palazzo Madama, which is a mediaeval castle built on a Roman gate and with a baroque façade. The arcades surrounding the square offer good shelter from the sun in the summer, while in the winter the square is equipped with an ice rink. Palazzo Reale, the Royal Armoury, Teatro Regio and the Royal Library all overlook it, the latter containing works by Da Vinci. Also nearby is the church of San Lorenzo, the original home of the Turin Shroud when it arrived in Turin in 1578.

In the centre of Piazza San Carlo is the "Caval 'd Brons", a bronze statue of Emanuele Filiberto, while hiding in the cooling arcades lie a variety of shops, cafés and restaurants. Two famous Torinese restaurants can be found here, Caffé Ristorante Torino and Ristorante Caval 'd Brons.

Carlo di Castellamonte was responsible for the design of the piazza in the mid 17th century, while El Caval 'd Brons was sculpted by Carlo Marocchetti in 1838. Remaining open at one end the square is flanked by an arcade-lined parade and topped by the churches of San Carlo and Santa Cristina on the southern side.

Piazza Vittorio Veneto is also another square that is as unmissable as it is unavoidable. Although the centre of the square is used for parking, there are many cafes with tables outside to enjoy one of Turin's legendary aperitifs and although the city can become unpleasantly hot in the summer, it is on the banks of the river Po and therefore good for some breeze, however gentle.

Although the city centre is small and easy to navigate on foot, it is easy to overdo it a bit and cram too much walking into one day. The Turismobus Torino is ideal for overcoming this problem as it allows you to see a lot of the city without having to do much of the in-between walking - simply hop on and off and you can see exactly what interests you most, although it currently only operates on Saturdays, between 10:00 and 18:00.

The bus departs on its circular route once an hour, and although times are published it should be noted that it is not punctual by any means.

For more information on Sightseeing in Turin see http://www.bella-torino.com, with advice on all aspects of your stay.

Sightseeing in Vicenza

2007-04-13T02:39:00.000-07:00

Guide to Vicenza, Italy

Introduction

Vicenza is situated between Padova and Verona, in the Veneto region of northern Italy. It is known as the city of Palladio. The 16th century architect Palladio, who worked in the city, is one of the most influential architects of all time. It is one of the wealthiest cities in Italy.

Unique Points

Vicenza has one the highest concentrations of historic buildings of any Italian city. The influence of Palladio is significant in the city. His best known works include the Basillica, the Tetro Olimpico, the world's oldest surviving indoor theatre, and the Villa Rotonda. However don't be put off and think that this is just a city for architecture buffs. The city centre is fairly compact and it is a pleasure just to wander round and soak up the atmosphere. The city is also famous for goldsmiths who were first referred to in the city statutes in 1339. There are around 1000 local firms producing half of Italy's goldware.

History

The town was declared a Roman municipability in 49 BC. It was referred to as the "mainland Venice" during Venetian rule between 15th and 18th century. It was occupied by the French in 1796 and the Austrians in 1797. In the period 1806 - 1813 it became part of the Italian state, then back to Austria before returning to the fold of a unified Italy in 1848. The city was the headquarters of the First Armed Gaurds in the First World War. The city was badly damaged by air raids during the Second World War, however it has been carefully restored to its former glory.

Getting there

Venice Marco Polo, Verona and Treviso are the nearest airports. Vicenza is on the main rail line from Milan to Venice, so has a frequent train service. It is easily accessible from the A4, the main Milan to Venice motorway. If you come by car, it would be better to find a hotel outside the city centre, as there are traffic restrictions around the city centre.

What to see

VIlla |Rotondo Palladio moved to Vicenza when he was 16. He was taken under the wing of Count Trissino, a great admirer of classical architecture. Trissimo even changed his protogees name from Della Gondola to Palladio in homage to the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, Pallas Athene. Wealthy Venetians coveted residences in the quiet countryside as a refuge from Venice, and Palladio was able to service this need with the construction of his magnificent villas. The Bascilica was one of Palladio's first major projects. His remit was to improve the old town hall. He achieved this by the addition of galleries around the buidling, open on one side supported by columns, known as loggia. The Palazzo Chiericati has been used as the civic museum since the 19th century. It houses an gallery dedicated to Vicentene artists. Teatro Olimpico was Palladio's last project, completed after this death by his son and Scamozzi. Palladio once again sought inspiration from the classical period when he was commissioned to design a permanent home for theatrical performances. The Olimpico is the sole suriving Renassiance theatre in the world. It is still used for performances but only during the Summer as there is not heating in the building. T

The author and poet Anthony Fogazzaro was born in Vicenza. He originally trained and practised as a lawyer. His work focused on moral issues and the conflict between reason and faith. His best known book is the Patriot published in 1895.

The artist Tiepolo painted several frescoes at villas near Vicenza. Rich Venetians loved to have their villa walls adorned with colourful mythological scenes. The frescoes are unusual in that they were painted during the construction of the villa, rather than as a later addition.

Where to eat

Baccalla a la Vicentina, dried cod cooked in milk, is the best known dish of the region. There is a website listing restuarants which serve this speciality on their menu.

If you are looking for a fast cheap meal self service, Righetti (Piazza duomo 3, tel 0444 543135) is close to the cathedral. It is very popular with locals, always a good sign.

The Agli Schioppi is close to the historic centre and offers typical Veneto cuisine.

Day trips

Bassano de Grappo is a lovely small town around 35 kms north east of Vicenza.

Verona lies approximately 60 kilometres west of Vicenza. It is easy to reacH Veron by train from Vicenza.

Treviso is a beautiful small city lying 50 kilmetres west of Vicenza.

You can the full guide with photos and a selection of accommodation at http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/Italy/vicenza.html

Karen Bryan is a UK based independent travel consultant and writer. Her website Europe a la Carte, http://www.europealacarte.co.uk, features less well known destinations in Europe. Karen believes that if you venture even slighly off the beaten tourist track that you will see more of the real Europe.

Italy Car Hire

2007-04-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to hire a car in Italy, it makes sense to shop around. There are lots of great car hire deals online.

To get the best deal visit each of the websites below and check the price for the dates that you are planning on visiting Italy, then choose the one that gives you the best price for your stay:

Be sure to read the small print and check what is included before you make a booking.

Museums and Galleries of Florence

2007-04-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

Florence is simply heaven for culture and history lovers. The city is packed full of museums and art galleries - enough to keep even the most avid art enthusiasts engrossed for a few weeks!

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most popular museums in Florence and a must for those who like paintings. It was originally designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1559 for Cosimo I de' Medici as offices of the government judiciary. The Uffizi is home to the finest collection of Renaissance paintings in the world and boasts around 1700 paintings and 300 sculptures, as well as a number of tapestries and some furniture and ceramics. There are 45 rooms containing works from famous artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Titian and Rubens.

The Vasari Corridor connects the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti and runs through the Uffizi and over the Ponte Vecchio to the other side of the River Arno. It is over 1km long and contains paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries as well as a famous collection of artist’s self-portraits. The corridor can only be visited as part of a special tour known as Percorso del Principe, starting at the Palazzo Vecchio. Tours can be booked by phoning + 39 0552654321.

The Galleria Dell’ Accademia was founded in 1784 and hosts a collection of sculptures and paintings. One of the most important works on display at the museum is David by Michelangelo (completed around 1504), which was transferred from the Piazza della Signoria in 1873. There are also other works by Michelangelo, including the Four Prisoners. Paintings on display in the museum date back to the 3rd and 4th centuries, as well as 15th and 16th centuries. There are paintings by Fra' Bartolomeo, Andrea del Sarto and Perugino from the early part of the 16th century.

You might also enjoy a visit to the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, which houses works that were originally part of the Duomo. Exhibits include tools that were used to build the Duomo, the original Baptistry doors, Donatello’s wooden sculpture of Mary Magdalene and the unfinished Pieta by Michelangelo. It will only take about an hour to go through the museum since it is relatively small.

The Palazzo Pitti is a magnificent building housing many smaller galleries and museums and is the entrance to the Boboli Gardens.

The Galleria Palatina (Palatine Gallery) is on the first floor of the Palazzo Pitti. It contains a fine collection of over 1000 paintings from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, including works by Titian, Raphael, Rubens, Pietro da Cortona and Correggio. The ticket includes entry to the lavish Royal Apartments, consisting of 14 sumptuous rooms that were home to the Medici, Lorraine and Savoy families.
The Galleria d’Arte Moderna (Gallery of Modern Art) holds paintings dating from 1784 to 1924. The Dukes of Lorraine, who formerly inhabited the rooms in the museum, originally collected many of the paintings to decorate the Palazzo Pitti. The 30 rooms house paintings from neo-classicism to the 20th century and include both works by Tuscan painters and foreign artists.
The recently renovated Galleria del Costume (Costume Gallery) is on the ground
floor of the Palazzo Meridiana and contains exhibits showing the changing fashions
from the 16th to the 20th centuries. This is the only museum of fashion in Italy and
contains over 6000 items including accessories and theatre costumes.
The Museo degli Argenti (Museum of Silver) is on the ground floor of the Palazzo Pitti in rooms that were formerly used by the Medici as their summer apartments. The collection includes a wide range of silver objects as well as ivory, glassware, clocks, crystal, amber and carpets. The former staterooms in this museum are decorated with 17th century Frescoes.
The Museo delle Porcellane (Porcelain museum) is located in the Casino del Cavaliere and can be accessed via the Rose garden at the top of the Boboli gardens. The collection of porcelain comprises mainly of tableware belonging to the royal families that ruled Tuscany, and includes many gifts from European rulers and pieces that were made for the grand ducal court.

The Bargello Museum is housed in an ancient civic palace and is home to many famous sculptures, including works such as Bachus and by Michelangelo and David by Donatello. As well as sculptures you’ll find a number of other collections including renaissance jewellery, enamels and ivories, Venetian glass and Islamic Bronzes. The building itself is three stories high and was built in 1255. It was once the home of Bargello, the Captain of Justice and then later became a prison before it was turned into a museum in 1865.

The Medici Chapels is a small museum with two main rooms: the Princes' Chapel and the Medici Tombs. The Princes' Chapel is covered with a huge dome designed by Buontalenti and contains six tombs of Grand Dukes. The tombs have elaborate designs in green and red marble. The Medici Tombs contain Michelangelo's spectacular statues Night, Day, Dawn and Dusk. Although the Medici Chapels are attached to the San Lorenzo Basilica, the entrance to the museum is from the other side in Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini.

The History of Science Museum in Florence provides an opportunity for visitors with an interest in science to see a collection of about 5,000 original scientific instruments divided into the Medici and the Lorenese collection. Some of the items on show are original Galilean instruments, including telescopes and lenses. There is a hall devoted to showing the origins and historical development of the microscope. Another section shows electrostatic and electromagnetic instruments from the eighteenth century.

It is a very good idea to buy tickets for museums in advance, especially in the peak season. The lines for tickets in Florence can be extremely long. It is better to have the ticket in advance then to be disappointed when you get there. You can Reserve your Uffizi Tickets Here

The Top Sights in Florence

2007-04-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

There are many places to visit in Florence, but here are some of the top sites which you don't want to miss on your next trip!

The Ponte Vecchio, or “Old Bridge” was built in 1345. This is the most famous and most frequently photographed bridge in Florence and the only one that wasn’t destroyed in World War II. The bridge itself houses many goldsmiths, jeweller’s shops and medieval workshops that overhang the bridge. The best time to view the bridge is at sunset, followed by a walk along the bridge after dusk, when the lights on the bridge reflect on the River Arno and everything seems almost magical.

The magnificent cathedral or Duomo is the most distinctive feature of Florence’s skyline and is the result of years of work over six centuries. The building was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio at the end of the 13th century and is located in the north end of the Piazza della Signoria. If you’re feeling fit you may want to climb the 463 steps into the dome or the 414 steps up to the adjacent bell tower to take in a fantastic view of the city.

The Piazza della Signoria is a lively square with many restaurants, bars and ice cream shops and is a must to see. The square has been the political centre of Florence for centuries and is dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio with a copy of the statue of David by Michelangelo in front of the palace. The entrance to the Uffizi Gallery is just off the square. Right next to the Piazza della Signoria is the promenade Via dei Calzaiuoli, a lively shopping street, connecting with the Duomo of Florence – a popular place in the evenings with locals and visitors alike. During the summer visitors can go on a romantic carriage ride through Florence, beginning in Piazza della Signoria.

The Palazzo Vecchio, or Old Palace is an impressive building, built by Arnolfo di Cambio during the 13th and 14th centuries. It is the main complex in the Piazza della Signoria and is so called to distinguish itself from the Palazzo Pitti, the “new” palace.Inside the Palazzo Vecchio lies the Room of the Lilies, Elenora di Toledo's Rooms and the inner courtyard with the Putto Fountain and Michelangelo's statue The Victory. Even if you don’t have time to visit Palazzo Vecchio, it is worthwhile going into the inner courtyard to see the Putto Fountain.

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most popular museums in Florence and a must for those who like paintings. It was originally designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1559 for Cosimo I de' Medici as offices of the government judiciary. The Uffizi is home to the finest collection of Renaissance paintings in the world and boasts around 1700 paintings and 300 sculptures, as well as a number of tapestries and some furniture and ceramics. There are 45 rooms containing works from famous artists such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Titian and Rubens.

Naples and Sorrento Sightseeing

2007-03-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Italy - Naples and Sorrento

Italy is really two countries in one with the wealthy, historic north dominating. To get a taste of the south, Naples and Sorrento are your destinations.

Naples
If ever there was a city with a reputation, it is Naples. Dirty, nasty, crime infested and fanatical are all words thrown around when describing. In this case, the descriptions are true and it is GREAT! The place is a madhouse and colorful beyond description. Crime is a problem, but you will be fine if you use common sense.

Naples is all about “real.” You will not get that odd touristy sensation you find in the cities to the north. Naples is about living now, now in the past. The people can be gruff, but are also a heck of lot more colorful than you will find elsewhere. If you get in trouble, just bring up the subject of football (soccer) and you’ll suddenly have friends for life.

The best way to experience Naples is just to explore it. The action is on the street, not in museums. If you’re hankering for picture opportunities, the glass dome over the Galleria Umberto I is a good spot. You can also climb above the city to take scenic pictures of the coast and madness of Naples.

If you are really pining for a tourist fix, Pompeii and the looming Mount Vesuvius are close by. Pompeii, of course, was buried in a Mount Vesuvius explosion, literally freezing everything in place. Ah, you already know the story.

Sorrento
If Naples overwhelms you, head around the bay to Sorrento. Sorrento is similar to Naples with one notable exception. It is all about the tourist and making them comfortable. Frankly, it is hard to see how Naples and Sorrento can co-exist, but they do. In Sorrento, you can stay at ancient resorts where service is the name of the game. The beaches aren’t so hot, but you can rent jet skis and such to invoke your inner tourist.

Southern Italy often gets a bad rap as a rough place riddled with crime. To some extent it is true, but seeing Italy without the gloss of the north is worth it.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles about Italy Travel and Adventure Travel.

Cinque Terra Sightseeing

2007-03-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

Cinque Terra - the unknown Italy

If you take a train north from La Spezia, a city equidistant between Pisa and Genoa, you will pass through an exceptional number of tunnels along the coast line to Rapallo. As you look out the windows between tunnels you will see little villages clinging to the sides of cliffs, like barnacles on an old freighter. This is the area known as the Cinque Terre, the Five Lands.

Each village is basically pretty much like the next, built essentially in a gully above the seashore. The Five Lands are actually five of these villages, built in the Dark Ages to hide out from marauding pirates. The villages have been declared a National Park and to preserve their historic authenticity large hotels, in fact nearly all new buildings of any kind are prohibited. The only access is by the train and the sea. There is a well kept up hiking trail joining the five villages that can best be described as climbing out of a village, then descending into the next village, then climbing out of that village and so on. But the views from the hiking trail are spectacular.

Here the coastline is running east to west and the five villages in that order are: Riomaggiore where the hiking trail starts, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare (Red Mountain by the Sea) where the trail ends for our purposes. Because of the ban on building, there are few hotels, there are B&Bs, pensiones and other small places for the light traveller.

Vernazza has a very old ruined castle overlooking its small natural harbor and it is a great place from which to explore the Cinque Terre. First day, you can catch the early ferry to Riomaggiore and start hiking through the villages back to Vernazza. It's about six to seven hours, allowing time for a wine here, a lunch there, etc., along the way.

The first stretch from Riomaggiore to Manarola is fairly level, the locals call it the Via Dell'Amore and takes about 15-20 minutes. Manarola is a good place to pick up a few things for a picnic before heading on to Corniglia. This village sits above the coastline. You can walk right through the lower part of the town and head out to the next village, if you don't pause for a moment and notice that there is more of the village well above the trail, in fact 370 steps zigzagging up the hillside to the upper level. The climb is worth it though, the fantastic view enhances the wine and the food and there are quite a few private rooms for rent.

The story is that a Roman farmer named the village after his mother, Cornelia. Corniglian was once so famous that urns of it were found in the ruins of Pompeii. Now you can follow the high trail through the vineyards and a few olive groves. Between Corniglia and Vernazza, you'll see a beach called Guvano with (in the summer) nude sunbathers reposing along it. It's the Italian version of counter-culture: pierced nipples (male and female), tattooed punks, hippies in dreadnoughts and plain exhibitionists. Not a family beach!

This part of the trail is the most interesting, with its terraced vineyards clinging to the mountain walls all along, wild flowers, the salt-lace aroma of the sea whenever a breeze blows it up the mountain side. There are a few spots for the daring to do high dives down into the sea and numerous refreshing waterfalls. This is a two hour hike if you don't press it. Eventually it descends into Vernazza.

If you have the time to linger awhile, then plan to stay another night in Vernazza and then you can visit Monterosso tomorrow. Vernazza has pretty much one street that stretches from the harbor up a slight grade to the train station and on into the vineyards beyond. There are a quite a number of fishermen who sail out of this little harbor early in the morning each day, you can count on some very fine fresh seafood in any café here. Evening entertainment for the locals is a few laps between the station and the harbor before retiring. They're in no hurry, just leisurely strolling along, chatting about heaven knows what. There's highway that roughly follows the outline of the coast but at least 5-10 kilometers away from the towns. Some brilliant engineer in Rome decided to help Vernazza join the 20th century by running a branch road over a mountain ridge and down towards the village. Alas, the villagers had other ideas and constructed barriers at the top of the ton and that's where the road still ends. No vehicles in Vernazza, thank you very much!

Next day, hike over to Monterosso. It boasts the only sandy beach in the entire Cinque Terre, the rest are all pebbles, well worn and round pebbles, but still not sand. This is a resort town, with all the cars, hotels, paddleboats and crowds under beach umbrellas that you'll find along any sandy beach from here to the Riviera. When you've had your fill, head back to Vernazza on the train. The trains run through the Cinqua Terre like Italian clockwork almost hourly. There's also a ferry that connects the five villages.

One lasting impression that you may take away with you are the church bells ringing at all hours. In olden times, the bells would call in the fishermen and the vineyard keepers from the mountain sides in the event of an emergency. They are still calling, sometimes in the middle of the night.

Before closing, I must mention the food. Fresh seafood of course, but this is also the home of pesto. Fresh basil from the mountain side gardens, cheese (half parmigiano from the cows and half pecorino from the sheep), garlic, local olive oil and ground pine nuts, poured over a generous plate of pasta. Ambrosia of the Gods!

The Cinqua Terre is a great place to lay back and let the world go by for a few days. The wine is cheap and very good, the food is simple but incomparable, inexpensive accommodation is available if you look around for it. Great scenery and the locals pretty much ignore you. What more could you ask for?

Find out more about Cinque Terra Sightseeing

Pisa Sightseeing

2007-03-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

Synonymous with Pisa is the magnificent Leaning Tower, however there is far more to this western Tuscan city than just this.

From its position on the shore of the Arno, Pisa was a dominant city in the western Mediterranean from the 11th to the 13th centuries.

The sea and its powerful navy was the source of Pisa’s strength but the sea also brought with it trading links with Spain and North Africa which in turn led to cultural and scientific advances. As a result, the Pisa of today is still full of the historic monuments and buildings from this golden time, offering authentic wonders to the tourist.

No matter how you intend on exploring the city, be it by foot or by local tour bus, a good way to begin is by visiting a tourist information office. There are several throughout Pisa - outside the main railway station, not far from the Leaning Tower on Via Cammeo and throughout the centre of the city.

Situated to the northwest of the city is the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles) within which lie four imposing yet beautiful white marble Romanesque buildings. Together the Pisa Cathedral with its Baptistery, Campanile and Campo Santo form one of the worlds most famous groups of buildings and a must see on any trip to Pisa.

The most famous of the buildings is the Campanile, more commonly known as the Leaning Tower. The construction of this magnificent bell tower began in 1173 and continued for two hundred years during which time there were significant interruptions. It is known that the tower was originally intended to be vertical, however, the tower started to incline during the protracted construction. Even without the inclination that has captured the world’s attention; the tower would still be one of Europe’s most remarkable bell towers.

Find out more about Pisa Sightseeing.

Vineyards in Tuscany

2007-02-21T14:27:00.000-08:00

Tuscany is a major wine-producing region in Italy and well known for its vineyards and world famous wines. Chianti is probably the most well known type of Italian wine, and comes from the Chianti region, which runs south of Florence towards Siena.

There are seven different wine zones in Chianti. The best wine comes from the Classico area, which starts just north of Siena and runs most of the way up to Florence. Other areas include Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini, Rufina, Montalbano and Colline Pisane.

Many of the vineyards throughout Tuscany offer wine tasting and will also sell wine direct to the public. If you are travelling through the area, just look out for signs saying “vendita diretta”.

If you wish to visit the wine regions of Tuscany as part of an organised tour, you can find out more about vineyards and order free brochures for Tuscany Cooking schools and winery tours here

Milan Sightseeing

2007-02-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

Milan Travelling

Milan is a city with diversities it offers a delightful experience for tourists with varied taste. Everything from modern art to contemporary architecture is the pride of city. In 569 A.D. Lombard’s conquered Milan and by the end of eighth century the bishops managed to compel an alliance with emperors. During the earlier half of year 1000, the most powerful political figure in northern Italy was the Archbishop of Milan. By the year 1117, Milan managed to become a municipality and was at liberty from the clutches of Archbishop. Next it developed into a “Seigneury” from 1200, and gained increased importance as a major city in world. The city has been rising since then until lately by 1861 it claimed itself a place as the Kingdom of Italy.

Milan is well known for stupendous art and culture heritage. The most famous National Museum of Science and technology, “Leonardo da Vinci” in Milan is among world’s best scientific and technical museums. A water stretch, Navigli in Milan allows navigation from Ticino to center of Milan. Navigli Grande and Navigli Pavese join Milan to Pavia and form one of the most charismatic spots in Milan. There are numerous roadside shops and clubs on the banks of these rivers.

The place Brera in Milan gives almost the look and feel of Paris. It constitutes most fashionable spot of the city. The area is full of open-air shops that exhibit loads of apparels, all of which seem to be a sculpture on its own. The area includes Via Brera, Via Pontaccio, Corso Garibaldi and Corso Como, these places are also known as “luxury Bohemian”.

A perfect place to pass free time in the laps of nature is a large fascinating park having meadows, little bridges and lakes located behind Castello Sforzesco. Another place of interest is the Milan Lounge “Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Walking around the arms of this lounge provides a view of restaurants, boutiques, bookshops and old-coffee stops.

Milan’s platter has witnessed a lot of changes. It offers every kind of taste ranging from Chinese cooking to Indian, African, Japanese and Middle Eastern cooking styles. Recently there has been increased demand for Milan’s original traditional food. A trip to Milan is almost incomplete without trying typical native food of the place. A classical Negroni is one of the many aperitifs that can be served with some snacks. Some of all time favorite conventional dishes of the place are Risotto alla Milanese, Cassouella and a specific Milan cutlet that has a very pleasing flavor.

Milan is an ultimate for fashion freaks and a paradise for shoppers. The popular Fashion Quadrilatero form the magnificent shopping area. The place contains top showrooms and boutiques in world crammed with articles boosting of best designs. All eminent brands and labels on earth constituting of Chanel, Armani, Prada, D & G, Valentino, Cartier and many more have their magnificent outlets at this place. The streets Via Sant’Andrea, Via Della Spiga, Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni along with others boosts of having warehouses clustered in that area. Milan offers a never say enough attitude for every flavor of life and is a remains a hot favorite among tourists around the globe.

Mansi AGGARWAL writes about Milan traveling. Learn more at http://www.milanvisitor.com

Lucca Sightseeing

2007-02-07T04:13:00.000-08:00

Lucca, the capital of the Province of Lucchesia is a town rich in tradition and culture and was once a colony of ancient Rome.

It has a unique town centre that is completely enclosed by a massive brick wall dating back to the 16th century. A good way to find your way around Lucca is to follow the 4km path around the top of the city wall.

The town has plenty of churches, monuments and the gardens to visit - enough to keep you busy for a day. In the centre of town, just to the east of the main Piazza Napoleone, on Piazza San Martino you’ll find the splendid cathedral of San Martino, dating from the 11th century.

In the Piazza San Michele you’ll find the impressive Church of San Michele in Foro - probably the most photographed church in Lucca. It has a huge Romanesque style marble façade, with 5 rows of elaborately carved marble columns, all of which are different from one another. Inside the church you’ll find an interesting collection of artwork from the 12th-15th centuries.

At Via di Poggio, you’ll find Casa di Puccini, the 15th century home of the composer Giacomo Puccini. This is now a school of music with a small museum, featuring the Steinway piano on which he composed his last opera Turandot.

At the end of the street in Via Galli Tassi is the seventeenth-century Palazzo Mansi, home to Lucca's National Picture Gallery. Inside there are some splendid tapestries, frescoes, and other decorations, as well as artwork by Agnolo Bronzino, Domenico Beccafumi and Luca Giordano.

For the best views of the city, head to the 130 foot high Torre Guinigi and climb to the top for beautiful views of the rooftops of Lucca.

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Lake Como, Italy's finest Lake

2007-02-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

At the base of the Alps to the west and not far from the Dolomites to the east, the Italian lake district has numerous lakes, but only two of any size that are frequented by tourists to any degree. These are Maggiore, with Locarno at its northwestern tip and Como the larger of the two and by almost any tourist standard, the more scenic of the two.

Lake Como (Lago di Como) stretches from the north to its southern limit at the city of Como on its longest branch - just under a hundred miles and about sixty miles on the shorter eastern arm. Como is the lake to visit if you have a limited number of days in Italy and want to see all you can fit in. Europeans and southern Italians who can afford it have long summered in the Lakes region. The shores are populated with pink villas of all shapes and sizes, hotels grand and small, quaint little villages, from the city of Como north to Menaggio.

If you're driving and approaching Lake Como from the north, perhaps from St. Moritz or Innsbruck, an excellent place to stop is Varenna. It's on the east side of the widest part of the lake where it splits into two branches and forms a near perfect triangle with Bellagio at the centre of the fork and Menaggio on the west side of the lake.

So park your car, check into your hotel or B and B for two or three days and soak up some Italian small town atmosphere. Varenna is actually on the quieter side of the lake, with a small harbour, a romantic promenade, narrow lanes and its own villa. There's benches along the promenade, so bring along something to munch on, watch the lovers walking up and down the "passerella" (lakeside walk) at dusk and watch the ferries and ubiquitous motorboats (and regrettably speed boats too) churning up and down the lake.

Next day, take a ferry south to Bellagio. Go anywhere you want around Lake Como, but go by ferry. There's lots of them, they're not that expensive and it really adds to your holiday here. Driving along the shores of Como is just not worth it. It's one small town after another, so most of the time you crawl along at 10-20 mph. And you can see very little of the lake, what you do see is a lot of fences, high walls, etc. and signs in many languages that all translate into one phrase: "Keep Out!" It was that way the first time I came here in 1960-61 and it has only gotten worse. Word from the wise whether you come by car, or by train from Milano, travel by ferry after you get here.

Bellagio, the "Pearl of the Lake" is a combination of class, Old World elegance and affluence. Lots of shops and stalls, selling high priced items for the most part. If you must buy something, shop up the hill where the locals shop. Some lovely lakeside cafes. As I was once told "A nice place to see, an expensive place to be".

When you have tired of Bellagio, then take the ferry to Menaggio. This puts you across the lake and just a short ferry ride back to your base in Varenna. It's also only eight miles as the crow flies from Lugano on the Swiss border. Menaggio is a lower priced smaller edition of Bellagio and my favorite of the two. Lake Como is too dirty to swim in but if you are in the mood to take a dip, Menaggio has a nice public pool. Take advantage of it, good public pools are few and far between in most parts of Italy.

If you can spend another day in this area, then next day take the ferry again to Bellagio, but stay on it (or change to another - it depends on the schedule) and get off across the lake at Tremezzo. If you are interested in Grand Hotels, this is the spot. The rich and famous have been staying here for two centuries, even Best Western is here, but where we want to go is the Villa Carlotta.

Built by a Marquis in the eighteenth century, later modified by a Count, with gardens designed by several Dukes. you get the picture; here you walk among the ghosts of royalty. There's a Botanical Garden well worth the visit by itself, but in addition there is a museum with marble statuary, famous paintings and a large collection of seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century furniture. Some parts of the Villa itself have been open in the past to guided tours, mostly at the whim of whoever is the current owners and how badly they need the money for upkeep. It's hard to do this place justice with only word pictures. The Villa itself is an imposing building fronted by a series of ivy-draped marble colonnades facing onto the lake.

So there you have it, a fine three day restful holiday on one small section of Lake Como. Enjoy!

Oh and by the way, if you see George Clooney relaxing at his villa south of Bellagio on the west side of the lake, give him a wave for me.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Tourism

A Florence Hills Tour

2007-02-05T13:33:00.000-08:00

Italy, a veritable treasure chest of culture and heritage - with its food, wine, culture and history, is always on the top of a European tour list. A tour to Italy wouldn't be complete without a visit to Florence. This city is in the heart of Tuscany and is sometimes considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. It is a place that is famous for its abundance of fine art and architecture and in the modern day, its fashion and leather goods.

If you're feeling a little tired after days of sightseeing and visiting museums in Florence, a Florence hills excursion can be a great way to relax and wind down. With a great ambience and an aura of solitude the hills of Florence are very popular and ideal for those who wish to take a break from the city.

If you only have a few hours to spare and don't want to venture too far from Florence, then a trip to the town of Fiesole is highly recommended. Fiesole is set amongst the hills, just 5 miles from Florence. It makes a pleasant half-day trip from the city and you'll be rewarded with wonderful views of Florence. You can get there by bus from the centre of Florence in around 20 minutes.

If you're feeling more energetic or have a little more time to spare you can walk from the centre of Florence to Fiesole in around 2 hours. Once in Fiesole you can easily spend a few hours wandering round, taking in the breathtaking views of Florence and the valley below. Sights include a Roman Amphitheatre and baths dating from 1 BC, the Duomo and a number of small museums.

If you have a full day to spare there are many tour companies that can organise day trips by bus, walking tours or biking trips. Alternatively you can hire a car and use a map to discover the delights of the Tuscan countryside for yourself.

A guided walking tour of the Florence hills will provide you with an insider's view of Florence & Tuscany - you can discover the hidden treasures, legends and stories and gain a much more intimate experience of the region of Tuscany. A walk through the Florence hills is invigorating and you can soak up the beauty of the surroundings as you breathe in the fresh air and bask in the warm sun. You'll also find plenty of photo opportunities as you pass by churches, castles, hill top towns and villages, olive trees and vineyards

If you're reasonably fit and have cycling experience you may want to take a Florence Hills Excursion by bike. There are many tour companies that offer guided biking expeditions of the area. With these tours you will cover more ground than the walking tours and you will see many of the different terrains and landscapes that the Florence hills have to offer. Be sure to find out as much information as possible about the cycling route before you go, as many excursions of the Florence hills by bike can be tough because of the steep climbs that you have to make.

If you want to make the most of the peace and quiet and spend a few more days enjoying the countryside you may want to book a stay in one of the many bed and breakfasts, hotels or villas in the Tuscan hills. Hiring a car will allow you to venture just that little bit further afield and visit some of the beautiful Tuscan hill towns such as San Gimignano, Colle Val D'Elsa and Monteriggioni.

Regardless of how much time you have to spend there, an excursion to the hills surrounding Florence will give you a taste of the Tuscan countryside that will help to make your trip just that little bit more special.

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Sicily Travel Guide

2007-02-02T05:43:00.000-08:00

Sicily has made an indelible mark on the European traveling scene. Is it because of the Volcano that is still burning, or is it because of the rich cultural heritage that the city carries? The European experience has been adorned by the Italian influence. The Greek domination has left such marks on the settlements around Rome and rest of Italy including Greece and Sicily that it has become next to impossible to miss it. The roman leftovers are grand enough to attract the historians as well as the tourists.

Sicily is one of the most sought after destinations in Italy. The tourism advantage that Sicily can give is just an added feature. The reason for this is that it is essentially a culturally charged city. The city has in itself treasured the exploits of the second Great War as well as the ancient historical facts that a significant part of world history. The city holds a distinct aura as differentiable as its language, which is a mixture of many nearby languages. The Mediterranean influence on the place can be felt by the cuisine that is served in its lavishly decorated restaurants.

Sicily holds a unique history that is flanked by the exploits and rule of many dynasties. The geographical location of the place gives a very wrong picture of it being part of the Italian rule. Though it is now a part of Italy but its origin and history is different from that of Italy. The main land of Sicily is separated from the Italian land and thus it finds many indigenous people living in it. How ever it has been a favorite of almost all the empires. The Carthage, the Greeks and the Normans fought over the land too much and it saw the changing the hands. Rome was finally the victor and they ruled it for a long time. Then in the late 19th century Italy took over the control. However the impact of mafia on the island is too much and large part of the land is still under its influence. The city also has the honor of perpetrating the mafia concept.

The Greek and the roman influence on the city can be seen by the architecture that is seen around the city. The enormous size of the cathedrals and platforms dazzles the mind of the visitors. The Sicilian backdrop has been used by many film makers and performers. The sheer grandeur of the roman and Greek constructions makes it one of the most sought after destination in southern Europe.

Mount Etna is one of the volcanoes that is still active apart from being the tallest in Europe. The rich thick forest cover around the Etna region is an added attraction to the tourists. Apart from the seldom traffic problems and delays in flights and trains, the city offers a vista of traveling experiences.

The city is easy to approach, as it is a part of most of eastern and southern European tours. The individual visit can also be a good idea. From romanticism of the mafia to the raw power of nature Sicily has it all.

Mansi aggarwal writes about Sicily travel. Learn more at http://www.destinationsicily.com

Volterra Sightseeing

2007-01-29T06:19:00.000-08:00

The Etruscan city of Volterra is situated on a high plateau and thought by many to be one of Tuscany's best hill towns, a place where you capture the real Italian hill town experience. Here you’ll find a small, but rich array of ruins and architecture from different historical periods.

The ruins of the Etruscan walls mark the perimeter of the Parco Archeologico, a garden that occupies the highest point in the city, offering views over the surrounding countryside.

At one end of the Parco Archeologico you’ll find the old Etruscan gate to the city, next to a fortress built by Lorenzo the Magnificent. At the opposite end of the park is Piazza Martiri della Libertà, the best place to take in views of the Cecina Valley.

From the park, take a stroll to Piazza dei Priori and you’ll find one of the finest medieval town squares in

Italy

. The Square is dominated by the oldest town hall in Tuscany, the Palazzo dei Priori. This dates back to 1208 and is said to have been the model for the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

At the other end of the square is the Porcellino tower, built in the 13^th century and named after the pig, which is carved at its base.

A short walk away in the Piazza San Giovanni you’ll find Volterra’s Duomo, open daily.

You’ll usually find that the streets of Volterra are deserted, especially compared to nearby hill towns such as San Gimignano. If you want to linger a little longer than a day, you’ll also find that it offers a very good choice of hotels and restaurants. If you decide to eat out here don’t forget to try the local specialty of salami or pasta made with wild boar.

Be sure to save some time to sit and relax in Volterra and savour its memories and its history – a memory you are unlikely to forget.

Find out more about Volterra Sightseeing.

Venice Sightseeing

2007-01-19T04:30:00.000-08:00

Venice is a quite a sight to behold, built around 1,500 years ago on a series of mudflats in the middle of a quiet lagoon; it is one of the most visually stunning cities in the world. Lord Byron referred to it as a “fairy city of the heart”. And in a place that contains so much art and history and where there are so many grand buildings and palaces he may just be right.

In Venice the roads are actually waterways and everything from the “lovers ponderous gondola” to high speed ambulances are afloat.

These islands in the middle of the Po river delta were probably first settled by the peoples of the Vento plains around the 6th century AD. They originally made a living by trading with the merchants and helping with fishing boats who used to frequent the waters. From these humble beginnings rose a great city that grew to be a major power, both economically and politically to rival many much bigger centers in the western world.

Venice became a city-state and international power in its own right after the 4th crusade when the troops succeeded in capturing the previously hugely powerful Constantinople. After this, the city wielded a huge influence across both the west and parts of east Europe and the Mediterranean, where it acquired territories in the Greek isles and Turkey.

Venice today is a very different place. Although still busy, sometimes to the point of distraction, it is now tourists rather than artists, politicians and merchants who crowd the squares and palaces of this ancient and beautiful city. And the main sound is of a thousand cameras clicking as they take pictures of some of the most fascinating cityscapes anywhere in the world.

The city these days is easily accessible by road, rail and air and is one of the busiest tourist destinations in Europe. But don't let this put you off. It is a sight not to be missed. And there are still quiet corners to be discovered and areas of calm in the middle of this frantic city. You can also avoid the main crowds by going in spring or fall when it is much quieter.

Venice Sightseeing:

· Ponte di Rialto: Originally built in the 16th century, this is the main, and possibly the most picturesque bridge across the main canal (the Canal Grande). There are also many shops on the bridge mostly selling tourist souvenirs. A good place to stand and watch the people and water taxis going by and a great place to take a photo.

· St Marks Square: Probably one of the best known landmarks in Venice. A large square, it is surrounded by beautiful buildings including the Doges Palace. There are many cafes and pizza places, some of which are quite good, all of which are a little highly priced though. But it may be worth it, if you can get a pavement table.

· Basilica di San Marco: A wonderful place to get a good overall view of Venice. It is a replica of the original that was built in the 15th century and the place where Galileo first showed off his telescope. There is a lift to the top. Go in the morning or evening as it can get a little crowed.

· Collezione Peggy Guggenheim: The gallery is owned and run by the Guggenheim Foundation and is a wonderful collection of work by some very well known artists. It contains the best assembly of early 20th century work in Italy including, Picasso, Kandinsky, and Pollock.

· Venice Film Festival: The home of one of the top film festivals in the world and also the oldest surviving film festival in the world. Usually staged around the end of August and the beginning of September it is a great place for star spotting, if you can get past the paparazzi.

· Museo Correr: A beautiful museum dedicated to art and the history of Venice. Principally based on the collection of Teodoro Correr it now contains a large and varied collection. The neo-classical rooms have sculptures by Antonio Canova. The museum is at the western corner of St.Mark’s Square.

· Chiesa di S. Stefano: hermits reputedly built this lovely little church in the 13th century. There is a beautiful bell tower and a painting by the artist Tintoretto. The church still holds regular services every Saturday and Sunday.

Although a beautiful city, Venice can be very crowded in the high season. If you can go in spring or fall then so much the better. In a town so tourist focused, language is never really going to be a barrier. There will always be someone who can help.

The food is generally pricey, but is of a high standard. Even near the main attractions the food is good, though you will pay a premium. It is possible, as in any city, to find the back street cafes, where the locals eat. But you may have to look a little harder than in other cities. The ice cream has to be tasted to be believed; well it is Italy after all!

Although it is busy, the locals are generally friendly, used as they are to dealing with holidaymakers (the tourists themselves can be another matter!). And you should have no trouble in finding your way around the city. The vapporetto’s, or waterbuses can be useful and a good way to see the city from another angle, but can also get crowded.

There is a great deal to see and do in Venice, and it is definitely a great place to go. Whether as part of a full European tour, or a holiday in its own right will be a vacation to remember.

Find out more about Venice Sightseeing

Sightseeing in Rome

2007-01-13T14:50:00.000-08:00

Rome is the bustling heart of Italy. A modern capital in every sense of the word yet steeped in history, with a wealth of art, architecture and religion to suit every holidaymaker, traveler, academic or pilgrim.

Over 2,000 years of history have left their mark in all parts of this stylish metropolis. Tradition has it, that the city was founded by Romulus on Palatino one of the 7 hills on which Rome is built. The city stands near the Tevere river, which guarantees that wherever you are, you are never far from a stunning view of the city.

The most essential thing in Rome is good shoes! Good comfortable ones for your walks around the town and a few stylish pairs for evening promenades. Rome is one of the best places in Europe to buy some great designer shoes.

The whole place is like a huge, vibrant, open-air museum. Italians are a friendly people. Expect to be offered help if you are standing on a street corner with a map in your hand and a puzzled look on you face. Style is the order of the day when out in Rome. Good strong, but not bright colors, a scarf flicked fashionably over and a smart bag over your shoulder. No fanny packs please, they do spoil the line of your Gucci you know!

Avoid eating in the tourist cafes around the main spots such as St.Mark’s square as they are overpriced and very often with poor food and service. Go back a couple of streets to the small cafes frequented by the locals and you will get better, cheaper food and also get to dine and chat with the real Romans.

Here are the tops spots for sightseeing in Rome:

Colosseum - this is probably the most famous landmark in Rome is a huge open-air stadium that could hold up to 50,000 Romans. Built by the Emperor Titus in AD80 it hosted games, gladiatorial combats and even could be flooded with water to provide a setting for reconstructions of famous navel battles.

Sistene Chapel - Situated at the far and of the Vatican museum, which is a day out in itself. The chapel was in need of a little decoration so in 1508 Michelangelo was brought to paint the 10,000 sq foot ceiling, single-handedly! The resulting work took over 4 years to complete and is considered to be on of the finest works of art in the world.

Trevi fountain - this is a huge and stunning eighteenth century fountain designed by Nicola Salvi. It is said that if you throw a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder you will one day return to Rome.

Pantheon - a huge temple built by the Emperor Hadrian around AD120 it had, until 1960, the largest dome in the world. It also still has the original doors, now nearly 1,900 years old. A fascinating and magnificent building.

Piazza Navona - this square takes its strange shape from the original arena built there for displays of horsemanship. It is now a busy, fun place packed with stalls and eateries in the daytime and portrait and caricature artists at night.

Trastevere - although this is not the main tourist center of Rome, it a fascinating area full of winding lane and small shops selling interesting and unusual things. Great nightlife, food and a huge Sunday market. It is also home to what is said to be the oldest church in Rome. The beautiful Santa Maria the oldest part of which is said to date from the 3rd century AD.

Villa Borghese - this is the largest area of parkland in Rome, it is a wonderful place to get away from the noise of the city for a while. It has wonderful trees, quiet walks, a lake where you can rent a boat, and a wonderful art gallery. It also holds outdoor concerts of classical music every July.

There are also many walking tours on offer and these are a great way to see the highlights of the city with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. Beware of over enthusiastic street traders in popular tourist spots such as the Trevi fountain.

AlthoughRome is a fairly safe city it is best to avoid the back streets at night. Stick to the main thoroughfares, which are usually a sight in themselves, as the stylishly dressed inhabitants go out for a stroll and a good meal. This can be a great time for “people watching”, especially if you are at one of the pavement tables that many restaurants and cafes have.

But the main focus of any holiday in Rome should always be on the architecture and history which is like nowhere else in the world.

Florence Sightseeing

2007-01-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

Overflowing with art, history and culture, Florence is a city that’s very difficult to do justice to in a single day. A visit to the Uffizi museum alone could easily eat a day or two into any itinerary.

If you’re lucky enough to visit the city of Florence for the first time, but unfortunate enough to have only a single day to savour the delights of this Florence, you will need to ensure that you have a plan.

So let me be your tour guide for the day and take you on a whistle stop walking tour of the sights and sounds of Florence. I can’t promise you the Uffizi in a day, but hopefully at the end of the tour you’ll feel like you’ve seen the best of the city. Your only problem will be deciding when to come back for more!

The first thing you’ll need to do before you start your tour is get yourself a map of the city. The centre of Florence is relatively compact, so the best way to see it, without missing a thing is by foot. If you don’t have a map or a guidebook and you’re not the type that enjoys aimless wandering, make your first stop of the day one of the tourist offices where you can pick up a free map of Florence.

Starting off in the main Piazza, you’ll easily spot the famous Duomo, with its magnificent terracotta coloured cupola. If you are there early enough to avoid the crowds and feel you can face the 463 steps I’d recommend starting off your tour with a climb up into the dome for a spectacular view of the city. The Duomo is probably the most distinctive feature of Florence’s skyline and is the result of years of work spanning six centuries.

Once you’ve taken in the view, catch your breath with a leisurely stroll around the streets surrounding the Duomo, and then take a walk to the nearby Piazza della Signoria. Here you’ll find a unique outdoor gallery of sculptures, including Neptune’s Fountain and a copy of the famous Statue of David. You’ll also find the Palazzo Vecchio (the Old Palace) here. This was built in the early 14th century and is still used today for its original purpose, as a Town Hall.

Just beside the Palazzo you’ll find the Uffizi museum, with its unrivalled collection of Renaissance art. If you’re an art lover, you don’t want to miss the Uffizi, but it’s not something that can be easily covered in a short 2-hour visit!

Alongside the Uffizi you’ll find the River Arno, with its many bridges. If you take a right turn you’ll arrive at the Ponte Vecchio, the famed bridge that houses a multitude of goldsmiths and jewellery shops, with its medieval workshops overhanging the bridge. The bridge itself was built in 1345 and is the only bridge on the Arno that wasn’t destroyed in World War II.

Once you’ve crossed the bridge, you’ll arrive in the area called Oltrano, which literally means “Over the Arno”. Here you’ll find the Palazzo Pitti – a large 16th century palace. The palace was originally home to the Medici family who ruled Florence almost continuously between 1434 and 1743 and it now houses several important museums and galleries.

You may want to finish your day by taking a relaxing stroll in the Boboli gardens, which can be accessed through the Palazzo Pitti. These gardens were laid out in 1550 for the Medici a year after they bought the Palazzo Pitti and were opened to the public in 1766. Many parts of the gardens give stunning vistas over Florence and make a welcome retreat after a day of walking round the city.

If you have the time, it’s worth returning to view the Ponte Vecchio at sunset, followed by a walk along the bridge after dusk, when the lights on the bridge reflect on the River Arno and everything seems almost magical.

Finally, don’t forget to take a well earned break from your sightseeing – stop for lunch or a drink in a pavement café, take some time to soak up the atmosphere and do a spot of people watching.

Find out more about Florence Sightseeing

Sightseeing in Siena

2007-01-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

The Piazza Del Campo (see the photo below) is quiet, the early morning sun slowly lighting the storefronts and medieval palaces that line the fan shaped plaza. The piazza, the heart of Siena is best known as the location of Polio, a horse race run twice a year, in July and August, for the glory of the 17 districts that make up the city. This is a city that is well worth exploring.

While you vacation in Siena Italy, you will see that this city is built for walking and the city is circular. None of Siena’s streets, many with dancing fountains, are level, and the city sprawls on a series of hills, surrounded be luscious vistas of the Tuscan countryside. Most of the predominantly Gothic homes and buildings that line the narrow streets bear the reddish brown hues known as burnt Siena. Each dwelling’s exterior must be maintained in colors regulated by the city. The shutters may only be painted grey, green, or Terra di Siena red; facades must be ocher, pink, brick red, or marble white.

The people of Siena, a city founded by Roman emperor Augustus, are warm and friendly, quick to answer a stranger’s question. Otherwise, they calmly go about their business, stopping to chat with friends as if they were the only ones standing in the center of ancient streets. They speak in low voices in a language many believe is the purest form of Italian. A vacation to this part of Italy can be a real treat for travelers looking for authentic art, food, music and architecture.

Today, while traveling in Siena Italy for vacation, you will see that it’s one of the rare beauties of Europe, a medieval city that stubbornly exists within the confines of a modern world. Most homes display one of 17 flags, each distinguished by a different color and animal design and signifying one of Siena’s 17 districts. Each district is actually a small city hidden inside a larger one.

Siena is also one of the richest cities in Italy. Restaurants are crowded year-round and the shops are filled with wonders from oak barrel-aged wine to fine silverware and furniture to exotic meats and cheeses.

There’s virtually no crime, and other than traffic and crowd control, the police seem to have little to do. The population is among Italy’s best educated, and a first rate medical school draws students worldwide. For a true Italian travel experience, a vacation to Siena Italy can be a magical.

Find out more about Siena Sightseeing.

Southern Italy Travel Tips

2007-01-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

International Airline services fly to Rome, Naples and Palermo in southern Italy. Transportation links within the region are generally slower than in the north, particularly inland and on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Coastal road and rail links are good, however, especially those linking to Rome and Naples, the region’s main transportation hubs. Two trans-Apennine highways offer the quickest cross-country routes for traveling.

If you are traveling to Sicily orSardinia, you can use ferries that operate to Sicily from Naples to Villa San Giovanni. Further travel connections include boats from Malta and Tunisia. Ferries run to Sardinia from several mainland ports, notably from Genoa.

While traveling to Rome by road you can use highway links that approach Rome from Naples, Pescara, and Florence. All the roads feed into the city’s ring road, the Grande Raccordo Anulare.

Northern Italy Travel Tips

2007-01-07T12:37:00.001-08:00

Airline connections link the rest of Europe with the cities of Milan, Turin, Bologna, Pisa, Florence, Verona, and Venice. Major roads and railroads also provide excellent links to cities all over Europe. Transport services are very efficient, with highways and railroads along both coasts, and across the area’s main east to west axis at the foot of the Alps. Milan, Verona, and Bologna are the key transportation hubs, while Florence forms the focus of links to the south.

Florence has good fast roads that link to Pisa to the west, Rome and Siena to the south, and Bologna to the north. If you are traveling to Venice by road, you will see that Venice is joined to the mainland by a causeway. This provides easy access to highway links with Verona and Padua while traveling around northernItaly.

Welcome to the Italy Sightseeing Blog

2007-01-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to the Italy Sightseeing blog. Here you'll find lots of information, photos, advice and sightseeing tips about the different regions and towns of Italy. Including Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan, Siena and much more.

Italy has drawn people in search of culture and romance for many centuries. Few countries can compete with its classical origins, its art, architecture, musical and literary traditions, its scenery or food and wine. This makesItaly a fantastic vacation destination. Italy has climbed into the top ten world economies, yet at its heart it retains many of the customs, traditions and agricultural heritage.

Travel to Italy and you will notice there in not a single culture identity. From northern snow capped peaks of the Alps, to the rugged southern shores of Sicily, lies a plethora of distinctive regions of many different types of people. Politically, Italy is a young country. It did not exist as a unified nation state until 1861, and its 21 regions have maintained their cultural individuality. Travelers to Italy are often pleasantly surprised be the diversity of its dialects, cuisines and architecture.