Holidays In Italy

Portofino in Italy – Will it Tempt You?

2011-02-04T02:35:00.001-08:00

Italy is chock full of places you will have heard about from history books, travel brochures and television programmes. But there are other equally amazing places the country has to offer that aren’t anywhere near as well known.

A good example is Portofino. When you see some pictures of this delightful place you will think it was specifically put together as a contender for the prettiest location in all of Italy. This is not to exaggerate in any way either – the fishing village has been adopted somewhat by many rich and famous people and it is not hard to see why. You may not be able to afford to live here but you can certainly pay it a visit while you are holidaying in Italy.

The village is in the northern reaches of Italy, settled in the Genoa province. If you see pictures of it before you go you will still be amazed at how beautiful it is when you see it in person. Colour is a big theme here – you will witness pastel painted houses and the deep blue of the waters that flow into the small harbour. It may not be a big place but it doesn’t need to be. It has everything it could possibly need to tempt many visitors to its shores every single year. Once it captures your imagination you will find it hard to resist a repeat visit.

One of the things to do here is simply to wander around and take in the beauty of your surroundings. This should include a look at the many boats bobbing around in the harbour. There’s no telling if any of them have famous owners, but it’s certainly nice to think about the possibilities!

The curved nature of the bay lends it a cosy feel. There is nothing better than to find a chair at one of the local cafes so you can drink coffee and watch the passers by as they explore Portofino for themselves. Don’t just explore with your feet: exploring with your eyes can reveal many new places and things to delight in when you arrive in Portofino.

Why Choose Bologna As Your Italian Destination?

2011-01-06T04:07:00.001-08:00

Italy really does spoil us when you stop and think about it. It has lots of big cities to visit, including Rome, Milan and Naples, and plenty of ancient sights to see as well. But if you only visit the obvious destinations you will miss out on many of the smaller but equally well formed places you could see while you are in the country.

Take Bologna for example. Situated in Northern Italy, it is often referred to as one of the most attractive places to visit in the entire country. When you see it for yourself you will soon see why this is the case. Holidaymakers are spoiled when they arrive here to explore everything it has to offer.

There is a university here that was founded more than nine hundred years ago, so you can see there is a good degree of history to be found in Bologna itself. Even though the city is highly developed it still retains all the best parts of its past. As such it provides an amazing experience to all those who visit it – whether it is for the first time or the hundredth.

There are two squares to be found in Bologna – Piazza Maggiore and Piazza del Nettuno. Both of them are equally good places to start any exploration of the city, since they draw the crowds and provide a point from which to branch off to other areas.

Look out for such delights as the two leaning towers, which are just a short walk away from the Piazza Maggiore. Lots of people who know Bologna well recognise these as the symbols of the city. One of the best things about Bologna is that while it has plenty to offer to tourists, it is not overrun with them in the same way that many other Italian cities are. It may be a long way from Rome, but it is worth planning a weekend away in Bologna if you want to see a different and yet equally charming side of Italy. Bologna might just surprise you in more ways than one.

What Does The Amalfi Coast Hold In Store For You?

2010-12-07T06:46:00.001-08:00

Anyone planning a trip to Italy has any number of amazing destinations to choose from. For instance you might want to head for a huge place such as Rome, with its many associated sights to see.

But if you want to stay away from the blatantly obvious locations and head for the coastline instead, you can do no better than to decide to stay on the Amalfi Coast. Situated about halfway down the boot that is Italy, you will find that the Amalfi Coast hides many jewels that are well worth staying in.

Take Sorrento for example, jutting out into the sea as if it is trying to stay as far away as possible from the mainland. This is a delightful place to stay in and it also gives you good access to the rest of the Amalfi Coast.

Salerno can also be found in this part of Italy. This is really one part of the coastline that you would not base an entire holiday in, but you can still while away a few hours here quite happily enough. For instance there are signs of mediaeval times here, signs that still remain today and are just as much a part of the town as the modern bars that also take up residence here.

Positano is another town that can also be found along the Amalfi Coast. This is more expensive than many of the other locations in the area, but it is also incredibly dramatic in nature. It exists on the cliff face and you might almost expect to come along one day and find that it has given up against gravity and disappeared into the waters.

There are lots of places you can stay in while you are visiting Positano, and indeed if your budget can stand it you can make this your base for your time on the Amalfi Coast. As an ideal place for finding your seat on a boat trip to various other locations, you can see that it has everything that the Amalfi Coast is best known for.

Is Now the Best Time to See Pompeii?

2010-11-08T06:44:00.001-08:00

If you have been following the news recently you will know that one of the buildings that was left in ruins after the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 finally crumbled and fell in November 2010. The House of Gladiators succumbed to the elements in recent days and the event has made headlines around the world.

But perhaps the biggest worry here is not the consequences of losing such a notable structure dating from some two thousand years ago. It is the worry that other buildings in Pompeii may eventually follow in the same manner.

Newspapers, reporters and other experts have said that Pompeii is in desperate need of support. Despite the popularity and historical importance of the site it is known that the government does not give it too much attention – and certainly not enough. This collapse of a major landmark in Pompeii has led to more calls for support, and for the whole area to be privatised. This should bring in much needed financial support to protect the area and also to make sure it is given the respect it deserves.

So does this mean you should think about visiting Pompeii now before anything else happens?

It would certainly be a good idea. Officials have stated that the building collapsed due to heavy rain, but many have said that if the building had been properly maintained in the first place, it would not have happened. Hopefully this dreadful event will make the government sit up and take notice of the responsibility they have to protect this national monument.

Pompeii was buried along with its many inhabitants back in AD 79. It would be a shame if the ruins that have since been uncovered were allowed to succumb to mere rain storms instead of a fresh eruption by Mount Vesuvius. Hopefully things will improve but if you want to see as much of Pompeii as possible you should perhaps think about taking a trip to Italy now, instead of leaving things open to chance in the future. Hopefully Pompeii will receive the respect it deserves and the government will plough in the cash needed to protect it from another disaster – this time in the 21st century.

What Can Naples Offer You?

2010-10-07T04:09:00.001-07:00

There are many different answers to that question, and they all take a huge step towards offering you a sensational long weekend in the city. You may find that however long you are there it simply isn’t long enough to drink in all the sights and sounds there are to see and hear.

Naples sits in between two volcanic areas, one of which is the famous (or infamous) Vesuvius. In fact if you are staying in Naples for any length of time you should definitely take the time to go out to Pompeii and Herculaneum to see evidence of what happened when Vesuvius erupted back in 79 AD.

One thing you will notice about Naples is the history that seems to seep into your surroundings wherever you go. There are thousands of years of history here, and even though Naples has been through its share of upheavals over that time, it is amazing to see how much has remained intact.

Be sure you don’t miss the main centre of Naples – the historic centre – because this has been accorded the honour of being included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The city dates back as far as 470 BC so it is not surprising that the centre should be given this status. It is perhaps more surprising that so much of the history of the city has remained until the present day.

There are many locations worth seeing in Naples. The Piazza del Plebiscito is a huge square in the city – the biggest one it has – with a church that looks much like the Pantheon in Rome. It is a place to wander and take in your surroundings, much like the rest of Naples in fact. It seems that whatever corner you walk round you will see something else you did not expect. This is why Naples draws people in just as much as other cities including Rome and Florence. It is an excellent choice for a long weekend away, especially given its proximity to Pompeii and the volcano itself.

The big question is this – how long will it be before you take a trip there yourself?

Visiting The Vatican Museums

2010-09-08T06:09:00.001-07:00

Everyone has heard of the Vatican. But how much do you really know about it? The Vatican City itself is a landlocked state and as such it is walled off from the rest of Rome.

This does not mean you cannot visit the city however, and in fact there are several significant reasons why you would want to do so. One of the main ones is the presence of the Vatican Museums.

Make no mistake – many of the world’s most famous artists have works inside these museums. Names such as Raphael, Matisse, Leonardo and Van Gogh are represented here, and their works are definitely well worth seeing. Ideally you should plan an entire day here to appreciate everything fully, particularly if you are a fan of art anyway.

Not everyone is aware that the Sistine Chapel forms part of these museums. As you make your way around the museums and their many delights, you will be able to see the chapel itself and its very famous ceiling. To give you an idea of how big the ceiling here is, Michelangelo was commissioned to paint some 12,000 square feet of it. Small wonder it took him four years to complete it – especially when you consider the amazing degree of detail it contains. Be prepared to get neck ache as you gaze up and try to take it all in.

There are many different sections in the museums themselves, and this is partly why a whole day is ideally required to see it all. On one Sunday at the close of each month, the museums open their doors to the public free of charge. You may want to avoid this date however because the queues to get in and see the works of art are phenomenal. The artists would be amazed that their work is still much in demand all these years later.

You won’t just see frescoes, paintings and ceilings during your time in the museums however. You will also see statues and busts; indeed there are separate galleries dedicated to each of these. Are you ready to be overwhelmed by the power of the Vatican Museums?

Exploring The Cathedral In Florence

2010-08-09T01:16:00.001-07:00

When something has been six centuries in the making, you know it is going to be worth seeing. And this is just such the case with Florence Cathedral in Italy. The cathedral is known here as a Duomo Cathedral, and you may well see it listed as such in some of the guidebooks you have here.

One of the reasons you should make the time to see this cathedral is because there are only two others in the world that are larger than this one is. So whichever other cathedrals you have seen before, you can be sure this one is one of the best and most impressive there is.

After six centuries of building, the structure was not actually complete until the late 19th century. From then on it has attracted plenty of visitors over time, making it one of the key sights in all of Florence and indeed Italy itself. This is quite something when you consider that the first stone to be laid as the building began was put into place way back in 1296.

The exterior of the cathedral is simply stunning in its intricate design and appeal. Make sure you spend some time taking photos and simply looking up at the façade, which is something worth noting. When you get inside you will be able to appreciate the gothic interior. The windows are as stunning as you would expect them to be inside a cathedral, and some of the stained glass dates from the mid-1400s.

In this sense the Duomo is an exploration that begins long before you even reach the front doors. You can see it from some distance away as it towers above many other structures in Florence. When you approach it you can enter inside and discover all the delights of architecture and design that lurk within. Every aspect and facet of this cathedral is notable for some reason or another. They are all quite stunning and it is no wonder that plenty of tourists visit the cathedral every single day of the week. When you visit Florence yourself, make sure you are one of them.

Try Some Real Pizza

2010-07-09T03:48:00.001-07:00

Okay so we’ve all heard of pizza and most of us have probably tried it. But if your only experience of pizza is the one you’ve had courtesy of your local pizza place, you’ve got a whole new experience yet to come.

This is all about trying pizza in its home – Italy. Proper Italian pizza may come as something of a surprise. It is familiar and yet very different from what you may have had before. As such it is absolutely unmissable.

Italy can be proud that one of its main national dishes has found its way around most of the rest of the world. But whatever you think about the pizza that you know, you can be ready for the real thing when you arrive in Italy. And no matter where you are staying you shouldn’t have to travel far to taste the authentically wonderful but incredibly simple dish that is pizza.

It might also be interesting to look back at the origins of this dish. It first began life in an age without cutlery, and while the toppings we all love so much were not in evidence back in the early days, the base was pretty much there. It started out as a basic flatbread, but as other ingredients began to arrive in Italy as the centuries wore on, they were duly added to the flatbread to start transforming it into the pizza we know and love today.

You may be forgiven for thinking that pizza is made from dough with a tomato base and plenty of cheese, with various other tasty toppings added for good measure. But it is not that simple. Italian toppings and cheeses knock anything you’ve tried at home into a cocked hat. If you have ever made your own home made pizza you will know how good it tastes. Try multiplying that by at least ten and you will get a good idea of how Italian pizza tastes.

It doesn’t matter whether you tuck into a slice as you wander around seeing the sights of Italy, or head for a restaurant and go for the whole shebang. Whatever you do, you’ll be able to enjoy one of the best dishes in the world.

What Can You See In The Uffizi Gallery?

2010-06-09T05:38:00.000-07:00

Florence has been the capital of Italy since 1865, but even before then it drew plenty of visitors who wanted to see all it had to offer.

Today is no different, and one of the key highlights you should make a beeline for when visiting Florence is the Uffizi Gallery. If you are good with your Italian knowledge you should watch out for the sign that says Galleria degli Uffizi, as this will tell you that you have arrived.

There are two ways to get into the Uffizi Gallery. You can either turn up on the day to queue to get in, or you can book tickets in advance. If you go for the former you’ll probably wish you’d done the latter instead, because the gallery is immensely popular thanks to the many delights it has inside.

But once you are through the doors and inside the gallery itself, what is there to be seen here? Well there are some key art exhibits here, some of which are world famous even among those people who have no idea which painters are which. You’ve no doubt heard of the Birth of Venus for example, and this painting by Botticelli can be found inside the Uffizi Gallery.

The highlight of this gallery is actually the huge selection of Botticelli paintings they have on show. There is a single room with a lot of the paintings in, and you should definitely make sure you see this to appreciate the scale of the work.

But don’t miss out on the paintings from other well known artists here. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Raphael are just four of the names that everyone should be familiar with. How many famous paintings can you spot here in reality that you didn’t even know you knew about?

Tickets to see the Uffizi Gallery are reasonably priced and well worth buying. As mentioned above, you should definitely book in advance for the easiest possible visit you can have. If you do this online you can be safe in the knowledge you are prepared to see some of the world’s greatest artworks long before you actually arrive in Italy.

Experience Rome In All Its Glory

2010-05-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

Rome is one of the key locations in all of Italy, so it is no wonder that thousands upon thousands of people flock to see it each year. Rome is the Italian capital of course, but it is also chock full of ancient sights that never fail to amaze those who set foot in the city itself. Could one of those people be you?

Indeed, the architecture of Rome is one of the things that most defines the city. Structures such as the Colosseum give the city a majestic air that cannot be denied. And of course the city holds a few secrets not everyone is aware of – for instance the Colosseum is not round, as so many people think it is. In fact it is oval shaped, otherwise known as an elliptical shape.

The Colosseum dates back to the 1st century AD, but it is not the only building of this kind of age that Rome is home to. Let’s move across to the Pantheon for example, which was built in 126 AD. The front of this building is still in remarkably good shape, and it is the series of pillars that holds up the front of the building that are one of the most recognisable sights in all of Rome.

If you have a hankering for ancient Rome and the many structures that are still standing from this time, you can find plenty more in Rome to fulfil your curiosity. For instance there is the Roman Forum to explore, and while much of this is now in ruins there is plenty to give you the shivers as you feel yourself transported back to another time altogether. This is the most important place according to the ancient Roman civilisation, and it is where everyone would have congregated during the times of Julius Caesar and others.

As you can see Rome packs a punch when it comes to giving you a trip through history that sits slap bang in the modern day. How could you visit Italy and not give its capital a try while you are there?

Fancy Seeing Italy In Miniature?

2010-04-09T00:35:00.001-07:00

It would certainly make walking around the whole country a lot faster and easier to do, wouldn’t it? Well the good news is that you can do this if you want, and the experience is really worth fitting into your Italian holiday.

Hundreds of thousands of people visit this theme park every single year, known simply as Italy in Miniature, and when you see it for yourself it is not hard to see why it is so popular. You will have some eighty five thousand square metres to explore in a park that has now been open for some forty years. This is a firm favourite among the Italians, and visitors to the country love it just as much as well.

You can see scale models of such attractions as St Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum, regardless of whether you see the real things when you are in Italy during your stay. There is also a Mont Blanc mountain that is slightly smaller than the real thing, and even the rest of Europe gets a look in as well. They even have a detailed scale model of St Paul’s Cathedral in London, as well as sights from Germany, France, Spain and Portugal among others.

You will get some idea of the sheer scale of the project – which is still growing – when you realise that it took nine whole years to reproduce Venice in all its glory. This is no casual park – this is a dedicated and fascinating sight to see with lots of details readily put into place.

But there is more to discover than models as well. You can enjoy splashing down in the log flume ride, as well as taking a more sedate boat ride around the canals of Venice. You might even think you are actually there, but for the smaller scale of your surroundings.

This is undoubtedly a park which is good for both adults and children of all ages to enjoy. Make sure you don’t miss it and allow the whole day to make the most of everything they have to offer as well. You’ll be glad you did.

Visit The Spanish Steps

2010-03-10T04:03:00.001-08:00

Rome is one of those cities that present you with so much to see and do that you will be spoilt for choice on what to see next. However if you are budget conscious and you want to keep your costs down, you should make sure you add some free excursions and sights to your itinerary. This will enable you to stretch your budget even further than it would go otherwise.

One of the key free sights in Rome has to be the Spanish Steps. A legacy left nearly three hundred years ago was the beginning of this unique masterpiece of construction, and it solved a problem as well.

The problem was that the church at the top of the steps – the Trinita Church – could not be easily reached from the street far down below. A competition was eventually held to invite designs for how this staircase could be constructed. The winning design can be seen today as taking inspiration from the shape of a fan. Lots of tourists make a beeline for the Spanish Steps as they are well known as one of the most notable sights in Rome. They may not be as old as some of Rome’s other attractions, but they still hold a special place in many people’s hearts.

To save you the trouble of counting as you make your way from the bottom to the top, there are a total of one hundred and thirty eight steps here. Needless to say you should take your time to navigate them all, as it is quite a task. The view from the top as you turn round and see where you have come from however is quite something, so be sure you have your camera ready.

A spring trip to Rome will reveal rather less of the steps to look at, since flower sellers enjoy selling their wares from this famous spot. The flowers spill out over the steps and make a wonderful way to present them to the public. You can still enjoy the walk to the top though – just be sure to take a rest and enjoy the view once you get there.

Visit Vipiteno – Or Sterzing – In Italy

2010-02-08T01:45:00.001-08:00

Which of these two towns would you rather visit while you are in Italy? The answer is that you can visit both at the same time, because they are one and the same thing. While we may recognise the name Vipiteno it is known as Sterzing in Italian.

So what does this town offer?

Well for starters it offers a slice of Italian life that is well worth seeing. Somehow this town is very different from the big Italian cities you will often see, and it benefits from its location close to the Italian border itself. For starters you’ve got Austria just north of Vipiteno, and in fact many people nip over to Vipiteno for the day if they happen to be staying somewhere near Innsbruck in Austria. The Brenner Pass connects the two quite easily. This also gives you the chance to explore Austria if you are staying in Italy near Vipiteno on your holiday.

Vipiteno is in itself a much sought after holiday resort for those looking for something a little different from the bigger towns and venues. It is close to various skiing opportunities in the area but it also has plenty to offer during the summer months when the weather is better.

This town has its roots back in the Middle Ages, so it has a long history to delight you with if you are fascinated by this kind of thing. And despite the fact it is so close to Austria you will find authentic Italian food around every corner. There is so much to enjoy here that a day spent wandering around the streets, shops and restaurants will provide a nice alternative from skiing, if you are in the area for that reason.

You can even hire a bike if you have the energy and explore more of the town and the surrounding area as well. Why limit yourself to seeing what you can on foot if you can head elsewhere as well? You will surely find that Vipiteno is a charming town that has plenty to offer, and what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in charm.

Leave The Car Behind In Venice

2010-01-08T02:54:00.001-08:00

When you are on holiday it’s good to really get away for a few days. But when you are in a city it can be more difficult to do this. Bustling surroundings, cars and traffic can all be just as stressful as they would be at home.

Venice in Italy doesn’t exactly conform to those problems though. For example you won’t find a car in Venice because they aren’t allowed. Its watery location means that people make good use of all the canals, and this has led to the famous image of boats and water taxis ferrying people about instead.

There’s no doubt that this is a very special city. It’s renowned for being popular among romantics, but it has so much more to offer than just being the city where you can propose. Every inch of the city is a surprise, with almost constant views of the water and plenty to explore during your stay here. You cannot fail to be bored, no matter what you expect from a holiday in Venice.

The city is particularly well known for its forays in the art world. There are plenty of galleries to explore and lots of paintings to appreciate. It had its own take on the Renaissance period as well, so you can expect to see evidence of this if you look hard enough.

But of course there is nothing better than taking a trip on the canals of the city. Venice itself is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, so not only is it crossed with canals it is surrounded by water as well.

The Grand Canal, as the name would suggest, is the biggest canal of all. It snakes right through the centre of the city in a huge meandering loop, and various offshoots of it reach many other parts of the city as well. Don’t miss your chance to hire a gondola and travel along its length. It offers the best way to see Venice from the water.

Whatever you decide to do in Venice, you’ll be amazed how the absence of cars marks it out as something really special.

Walk Through The City That Is Frozen In Time

2009-11-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

AD79 may ring a bell with you if you remember your history lessons. It is the year that two cities in Italy were buried by a volcano. Those cities – sometimes referred to as towns – were Herculaneum and Pompeii.

Even though the volcano in question, Vesuvius, erupted so long ago and caused so much devastation and damage, we know a lot about what happened now. This is due to the fact that the two lost cities were rediscovered in the mid-1700s.

Pompeii is now an exceedingly popular tourist attraction, and you can go and see what remains of the city itself now that it has been found again. The most eerie of all the sights however has to be the residents of Pompeii themselves. It is well known that plaster casts were made of the spaces where the remains of each victim were found. These figures now stand as a reminder that real people lost their lives in this disaster, as Vesuvius rained down lava and ash over two days back in AD79.

Unfortunately the people who lived in Herculaneum and Pompeii did not know then what we know now about volcanoes. Lots of residents apparently believed that if they sought shelter in their homes, they would wait out the eruption and be safe. But as we know from the skeletons and plaster casts, that was not to be the case.

Pompeii then, is essentially a city that is frozen just as it was back in AD79 when the volcano took it and covered it with ash and lava. The only solace we can take from what happened is that those who died would have done so extremely quickly.

So what is there to see at Pompeii? Whole streets, buildings, homes – and of course people – are there to be viewed. No one who sees Pompeii can fail to be moved and amazed by it. It is a window onto a day long in the past when people were surprised by the eruption of the volcano they lived in the shadow of.

And this is the reason why it is worth a visit.

German steeple pushes Pisa aside

2007-11-09T07:38:00.000-08:00

A church steeple in Germany has toppled Italy's claim to have the most tilted tower in the world.

The famous leaning tower of Pisa took over 200 years to be built, and draws hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.

"Now that the tower is the world's most tilted I can well imagine that it will have consequences on tourism and that more people will come here" - Wolfgang SchneiderIt tilts at an angle of 3.97 degrees, while the steeple in Suurhusen, a small village near Emden in northwestern Germany, is at a 5.07 degree lean.

The 15th century church tower may not be as beautiful as Pisa's, and is less than half the height - but the local mayor clearly believes it could be a money spinner.

"Now that the tower is the world's most tilted I can well imagine that it will have consequences on tourism and that more people will come here" - Mayor Wolfgang Schneider said.

The new record is scheduled to appear next autumn in the 2009 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

For more information click here

Idyllic Italian Living

2007-08-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

25 August 2007

Italy is the perfect place to snap up a hot property in the sun
DREAMING of living La Dolce Vita? A luxury home in Italy is closer and more affordable than you think. In fact, there's never been a better time to buy.

Prices start from as little as £25,000 for a refurbished and fully furnished medieval village home in Abruzzo, close to Rome, and from only £32,000 for an off-plan beachfront apartment in Calabria, in Southern Italy.

Katrina Tasker, Scottish agent for Italian property specialist Each Property Med says: "Interest in our Italian properties - especially in Calabria - has been amazing."

Each Property Med are a small independent agency who work with a number of Italian developers to sell property throughout the country, offering a full service from arranging viewing trips to furniture packages.

Katrina says: "We decided to specialise in Italy, simply because we love Italy and feel it's important to know our market inside out rather than trying to sell other countries too.

"We've found that most of our clients come to us because they are only interested in Italy and they appreciate that we know we're talking about.

"We visit every development we sell, so we can pass on first-hand knowledge to our clients."

Little over a year ago, few people had even heard of Calabria, and now hundreds of Scots have snapped up a bargain buy in this beautiful region, situated at the toe of Italy.

Calabria is known as 'Italy's best kept secret'. Italians have been holidaying there for years, and its little wonder they wanted to keep it all to themselves.

With white sandy beaches, aquamarine sea, fantastic all-year-round climate, traditional Italian towns and villages and delicious food and wine, Calabria has it all.

And the good news is that property prices are still very low, even though the secret is out. Katrina says: "One recent development - offering one-bedroom apartments from £32,000, two-bedrooms from £49,000 and three-bedrooms for just £66,000 - sold out in weeks. There are still lots of property bargains to be had, but you need to be quick.

"A great choice of properties is available, with a typical two-bedroom beach front family apartment with communal pool costing around £53,000.

Gardaland: Italy's Largest Theme Park

2007-08-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

07 August 2007

Gardaland, situated on the banks of Lake Garda in the heart of Verona, is the largest theme park in Italy, attracting more than 3m visitors every year.

Blending all the attractions of a top class water park (including an excellent dolphin park) with roller coasters, shows and family attractions, Gardaland is a perfect day out for anyone visiting the north of Italy.

Opened this year, the Gardaland Theatre hosts a number of Broadway-inspired shows while Time Voyagers takes riders on an "extra-sensorial" journey through time.

Other highlights include the Corsairs, a boat trip around a tropical island fully equipped with sea monsters and Spanish pirates and Blue Tornado, a roller coaster in which riders sit in a replica jet plane.

Space Vertigo is the requisite 40 metre free-fall rides, while the Fantasy Kingdom is a special area full of wondrous activities for smaller children. The Jungle Rapids, meanwhile, takes riders on a tour around an ancient civilisation on the side of an erupting volcano.

Italy Mulls Measures as Biggest River Dries Up

2007-05-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

24 April 2007

Italy’s government is mulling measures to replenish the country’s biggest river and curb electricity consumption as unusually hot weather raises fears of a prolonged drought and power blackouts during the summer.

The measures were discussed at a meeting between the industry ministry, the national electricity grid, regional officials and emergency services yesterday, a source who took part in the meeting told Reuters.

“From what came up today, we are moving towards declaring a state of emergency,” said the source, who asked not to be named.

One measure would be to fill up the Po river, whose levels have been dropping sharply in the past few weeks, with controlled water flows from big lakes and reservoirs in the Alps, even though that is not expected to bring it back to normal levels.

To minimise the risk of blackouts caused by millions of people cranking up air conditioners, the government may also implement accords that allow supplies to some industrial clients to be temporarily interrupted, and raising electricity imports.
Around 15% of Italy’s electricity is produced from hydro generation.

Drought fears intensified after the Po fell on Sunday to 6.53m below its normal level in the northern town of Pontelagoscuro, having dropped by 80cm in a week. The Po region accounts for about one third of Italy’s agricultural production.

At one site, the nearby Lake Garda was 50cm below its average of the past 50 years, although the levels of other lakes were not worrying for now, Italy’s biggest farmers association Coldiretti said.

Italy’s hottest winter in 200 years meant snowfall was light in the Alps, with little snow-melt to swell the Po. Then a hot, dry spring set in, with temperatures over the past few days approaching levels usually seen in June.

Farmers are looking ahead to the beginning of the farm irrigation season next month with concern.

“We are very worried for this summer because there has been very little rain during the winter and there is insufficient water in the mountains,” Fabrizio Ferro, a farmer in the city of Rovigo, on the Po delta, told Reuters.

“Some of my colleagues this year have even decided to abandon the cultivation of rice because they can already see the water in the Po is much lower,” he said.
Flowing for 650km from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, the Po has made the region it crosses Italy’s most fertile agricultural lands and helped turn the north into the country’s industrial heartland.

Its delta of 70,000sq km houses thousands of rice, maize, tomato and melon cultivators.
“The water availability of the river determines the survival of whole agricultural sectors such as rice and sugar,” Coldiretti said.

The industry ministry said rains over the next three months were expected to be in line with last year’s, when Italian farmers say they lost 500mn euros ($678.4mn) to drought.

It said temperatures were expected to be one degree above the average of recent years.

For more information visit www.gulf-times.com

Small Section of Italy Remains Untouched by Tourism, Retains Unique History

2007-05-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

Puglia has some of the brightest seas, most diverse art and architecture, most mouthwatering peasant cuisine and kindest people in all of Italy – including strangers who will go out of their way to lead you to one after another stunning beach on impossibly lapis-lazuli waters.

Puglia is the heel to Italy’s boot, and after two weeks spent touring the region, I felt grateful that charter airlines don’t disgorge hordes of tourists here. These are just some of the reasons:

Brilliant Seas: "I said put it back, this is a natural park," a stern father told his son. He was pointing to the octopus that sat with protruding eyes on the boy’s shoulders after being plucked from the crystalline waters at Natural Maritime Reserve of Torre Guaceto, just north of Brindisi.

With more than 500 miles of coast on two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian, Puglia has all sorts of gorgeous beaches. For white limestone cliffs spotted with the deep green of gnarled pine trees, try the southernmost tip of Salento.

At opposite ends of this peninsula, I swam in the fingerlike cove of Porto Badisco, where legend has it that Italy’s mythological founder, Aeneas, landed, and I dove even deeper into history at Portoselvaggio, where remains of Neanderthal men were found.

A few miles north, it’s all about sandy expanses, like Punta della Suina, where the setting sun turns the transparent water pink.

But it’s Torre Guaceto that gets my gold medal – for the baby-powder white sand, the schools of silvery fish flitting from reef-like rock formations in pools of turquoise water, and the scent of pine needles drifting from the pristine forest that borders the beach.

Living History: No other image says Puglia better than the trullo, a rural home that’s essentially a whitewashed teepee of small limestone slabs stacked without mortar, with a cone surmounted by pagan or religious symbols. They are scattered among olive groves and huge prickly pear cacti in the Valle d’Itria, inland in a triangle between Bari, Taranto and Brindisi.

Of unknown origin and unique to Puglia, they date at least from the Middle Ages. Most are still inhabited and more than 1,400 huddle in Alberobello.

The town might feel a bit too touristy for Puglia, with its souvenir shops exhibiting plastic trulli, but it only takes a look at the clotheslines in a trullo backyard to realize that real life goes on in this primitive fairytale place.

Farther inland is the Murge, scorched highlands grooved by canyons where, in the Middle Ages, people built cave dwellings as homes and churches when they fled from pirates.

The most famous dwellings of all are the Sassi in Matera, which is just across the state line in the Basilicata region. Below the modern town and built on the side of a steep ravine, two whole neighborhoods of single-room cave dwellings and rock-hewn, frescoed churches were inhabited first by hermits and then by families until the 1960s.

While some are now trendy

hotels and restaurants, they still look so authentically ancient that Mel Gibson filmed scenes here for “The Passion of the Christ.”

Cities As Art: Art is not a masterpiece in a museum, but a whole downtown, in Valle d’Itria cities like Locorotondo, or, by the coast, in Bari, Ostuni and Lecce.

Locorotondo is a round nest of a village where everything is white except for the bright splashes of red flowers that overtake its wrought-iron balconies.

Ostuni is even more blinding, though a sea breeze caresses you as you hike up and down its steep inclines and marvel at the sculpted baroque portals on its whitewashed houses.

But you haven’t seen Baroque in all its theatrical, indulgent, luxuriant excess until you’ve spent an evening among the wreaths of fruit and the pinup women sculpted on the golden limestone churches and palaces of Lecce.

By comparison, the medieval downtown of Bari is austere, centered on the Basilica di San Nicola, built between the 10th and 12th centuries to honor its patron saint.

The busy port city is trying to overcome its dangerous reputation, but the only person that chased us in the narrow alleys was a grocery store clerk with a cold bottle of water, concerned that ours had become too warm as friends and I waited for another clerk to make our sandwiches.

Art Gems: Medieval masterpieces are everywhere on the eastern coast, beginning with the inscrutable Castel del Monte. We know the octagonal castle was built by Emperor Frederick II, one of the most powerful men in the Middle Ages, in the early 13th century. But nobody quite knows why.

Isolated on a small hill, it lacks both the architecture and the location for a military fort, and it’s way too imposing to be a pleasure palace.

The most evocative hypothesis is that it was an intricate symbol, built around the magic intersection of astronomy, mathematics and the Christian faith.

Italy Hosts Tourism Fair

2007-04-16T03:21:00.000-07:00

26 March 2007

Italy has hosted its first-ever tourism fair, highlighting the attractions not just of the peninsular but the whole Mediterranean.

Held between 22 and 24 March at the New Fiera di Roma, Globe attracted 1,000 buyers showing off their products in a manner similar to its London and Berlin equivalents.

'Italy has a great potential to tap tourism. We need to think and stimulate in terms of quality,' said Angelo Balducci, head of Italy's tourism development department, during one debate.

He added that the government was currently cooperating with regions and stakeholders in tourism to ensure that these goals are met.

Other participants were there discussing everything from what makes Italy a unique tourist destination, such as its landscape, history and culture, to what kind of message gets put out by locations.

Contazo Janotti Pecci, chairman of Federturismo, added that the country projects itself as a "dream destination" and matched the positive view of Italy's tourism potential.

In addition to the main Globe exhibition, the annual Italian Art Cities Exchange also presented itself, attracting 250 participants.

India and Italy to Enhance Cooperation in Tourism and Culture

2007-02-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

India and Italy have strengthened their tourism ties in a meeting of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Culture of Italy Shri Francesco Rutelli with the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Smt. Ambika Soni held in India.

During their half an hour meeting both the leaders discussed matters of mutual understanding and cooperation in the fields of Tourism and Culture. It was noted by both the leaders that India and Italy share similarities in their tourism product with both the countries being looked upon as cultural destinations and the scope for interaction is enormous. Both countries have ancient glorious civilisation, monuments artefacts and rich legacy.

The Minister of Tourism and Culture Smt. Ambika Soni said that Italy has much to offer to India in the areas of managing cultural patrimony including architectural restoration to tourists services and infrastructures. She said the Bilateral Tourism Cooperation Agreement between two countries was signed in June, 2000 in Rome.

As a follow up of to the agreement, the first working group meeting was held in New Delhi on 5th November, 2002. She desired that Italy should finalise soon the dates of next round of Working Group Meeting to be held in Italy to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries.

Both the leaders agreed for the need of better flight connectivity between the two countries which has improved considerably over the past years with ALITALIA introducing more flights from Milan to Delhi.

During the meeting visa problems being faced by Indian tourists like delay in obtaining Italian visa were also figured. The Italian Deputy Prime Minister assured the Indian side that VISA Issue System is being streamlined in his country. The visiting guest informed the host that during the Rome Film Festival in October, 2007, India will be one of the focus country. He invited Minister of Tourism and Culture Smt. Ambika Soni to visit Italy.

Italy is one of the top ten tourists generating markets for India with eighty thousand plus tourists are coming to India from Italy annually.

Italy Steps in to Avoid Leaning Tower of Venice

2007-02-01T02:34:00.000-08:00

One leaning tower is enough for Italy, according to local authorities in Venice who plan to reinforce the foundations of St Mark’s bell tower to stop it falling down.

The 99-metre campanile which dominates Venice’s main square has long been known to contain a crack, but only now have authorities decided to act to ensure it does not get any bigger.

“When you have things like this, we can’t know exactly what’s going to happen,” said Ettore Via, who as curator of St Marks is in charge of conservation of the basilica and its bell tower whose history goes back to the 12th century.

The bell tower was built after the existing 16th century structure collapsed in 1902. But the new tower was found to contain a fissure, discovered in 1939, which is very slowly spreading. The work will involve wrapping a titanium belt around the tower’s foundations, between 1 metre and 3.5 metres below the ground, at a cost of 6 million euros. The project will start within the next 6 months and take a year and a half to finish. The tower is not the only architectural treasure in Venice under threat.

For more information visit Daily News

Destination Golf Gives EWGA Members Discounts to U.K., Ireland

2007-01-16T06:55:00.001-08:00

Discounts on great golf getaways in Ireland, Scotland and England are one of the new benefits for members of the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA). Destination Golf has become a EWGA benefits provider offering members a 10% discount on the company’s custom designed golf tours which also include land and air packages to France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

“What a valuable benefit for our members who want to experience worry-free luxury travel and golf throughout the world,” says Pam Swensen, the chief executive officer of the EWGA. “Surveys show that EWGA members annually spend thousands of dollars on golf related travel. Our relationship with Destination Golf gives them new golf opportunities to explore and enjoy.”

For more than a decade, Destination Golf’s team of travel experts in the United States and Europe has been helping clients experience their dream golf vacations. Itineraries in 2007 include Ireland Golf & Castle Tour, Women's British Open at St. Andrews and Scotland Golf Tour, Spain Golf &amp; Culture Tour and Italy Golf & Cooking Tour.

Destination Golf specializes in custom designed tours that include castles and manors as well as luxury golf and spa resorts, arranging guided and self-driven itineraries for individual travelers and groups of all sizes. For a complete summary of services see www.Destinations-golf.com

“We look forward to introducing EWGA members to our personalized travel services and helping them discover golf in Ireland, Scotland and England where more than two thirds of the world’s traditional links courses are found,” says Declan O’Brien, president of Destination Golf. “We can also introduce them to golf in Continental Europe where culture, food, wine and of course golf are abundant in France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.”

Since the EWGA started in 1991, more than 80,000 women have benefited from membership in the organization which is dedicated to providing opportunities to learn, play, and enjoy the game of golf for business and for life. There are currently 120 chapters throughout the USA and Canada.

EWGA chapters provide a wide range of golf, social and networking activities for both new and experienced golfers. A welcoming environment, golf education and player development, and organized play programs are part of the many benefits of EWGA membership, which also includes discounts on a wide array of golf, apparel, merchandise and services.

The EWGA is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. For more information about the association and membership, visit www.ewga.com.

Top 5 Italian Wedding Destinations

2006-12-18T02:05:00.000-08:00

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding in Bracciano in Italy hit the headlines thanks to its all-star guests, intriguing secrecy and charming romance of the Italian town hosting all the drama.

Though most people are unlikely to be able to have Hollywood stars flocking to their wedding, getting married in Italy is much more of a possibility.

For couples that want to get married in one of the most romantic destinations in the world, Kirker Holidays has come up with its top five wedding ideas for Italy.

1 - Venice City Hall

The Palazzo Cavalli is a 16th-century Venetian palace furnished with 18th-century paintings, furniture and ceramics and is ideal for a magical, grand wedding.

The palace has views over the Grand Canal and Venice's landmark Rialto Bridge as well as the added bonus of being in one of the world's most romantic cities.

A three-night stay at the four-star Londra Palacecosts costs £815 per person including breakfast, return scheduled flights, water taxi transfers, entrance tickets to the Doge's Palace plus Kirker's guide notes to restaurants and sightseeing.

2 - Positano town hall, Positano

Positano on Italy's Amalfi coast has been charming visitors to its spectacularly steep coastline since the 1950s. An inspirational place for writers and artists, the town makes a wonderful place for a wedding to remember.

Couples can stay in the five-star Poseidon hotel, which has its own fitness and beauty centre, ideal for preparing for the big day.

Positano town hall offers an authentic Mediterranean setting for your ceremony, and also has a great terrace to take in the sea views.

Prices start at £744 per person for three nights' accommodation including breakfast, return scheduled flights and transfers.

3 - Campidoglio, Rome

The 'Sala Rossa' on the Capitoline Hill, the smallest of Rome's seven famous hills, is a great place to soak up the magic and drama of Rome. The Sala Rossa (meaning red hall), is located on Piazza del Campidoglio, which was designed by Michaelangelo in the 16th century, and makes a perfect place for wedding photos.

Couples can stay in the elegant four-star hotel d'Inghilterra, located close to the Spanish Steps from £666 per person for three nights' accommodation including breakfast, return flights and transfers. Visitors also get Kirker's guide notes to restaurants and sightseeing in Rome.

4 - Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

The 14th-century Palazzo Vecchio in Florence is one of the most lavishly decorated places to be married in Italy.

Located close to the Ponte Vecchio, couples can stay at the four-star Degli Orafi, which offers panoramic views of the city from its fifth-floor bar.

Prices start from £598 per person for three nights' accommodation including breakfast, return flights, transfers, a ticket to the Uffizi Gallery and guide notes to restaurants and sightseeing.

5 - Castello Malcesine, Lake Garda

If like the Cruises' you find the romance and charm of a medieval castle hard to beat, Castello Malcesine, surrounded by Italian gardens and perched on a hilltop, makes a great place to get married and enjoy views over Lake Garda.

Couples can stay in the four-star hotel Sirmione overlooking Lake Garda, which also has a waterside terrace restaurant and offers thermal treatments.

Prices start from £524 per person for three nights' accommodation including breakfast and return flights and transfers.

For more information visit travelbite.co.uk

Italian government withdraws plans for tourist tax

2006-12-11T05:51:00.001-08:00

There will be no tourist tax in Italy after the government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi failed to push a measure through parliament that would have seen visitors pay between 2 and 5 euros a day to help fund services in tourist areas. The government withdrew the proposal, included in its draft 2007 budget, amid heavy criticism, including from within its own ranks.

The political opposition led by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was trumpeting the government's U-turn as a sign of weakness.

Faced with widespread protest, the government had already signalled at the weekend it might withdraw the measure.

The proposed tax had particularly raised hackles in the tourist industry.

Tourist would have had to pay the tax when settling their hotel bill, with the amount of the tax varying according to the size of their destination. Visitors in small communities would have had to pay less than tourists in Rome, Milan and Naples, for example.

The money was slated to go into the town or city's coffers and to be used to improve tourist services, but opponents warned Italy risked losing sightseers to other countries.

San Pedro Cafe Offers a Taste of Europe

2006-12-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

Think cobblestones and brick, bubbling fountains, and steaming cups of dark espresso.

Think Europe.

That's the mood San Pedro developer Ralph Galante is striving to capture at his Caffe Port Town and marketplace, an ambitious $4 million project that aims to re-create the tastes, smells and relaxed ambiance of upscale hangouts in Croatia and Italy.

It's a unique work in progress, being created in phases in one of San Pedro's historic buildings on the southeast corner of Pacific Avenue and Eighth Street, a 1928 building that began as a department store but more recently housed a ragtag indoor swap meet.

The first phase - the cafe with lots of indoor open space, tables, fountains, crepes, Italian cookies and coffee from Croatia and Italy - will open December 22. A sneak preview is planned for visitors attending this month's First Thursday event in downtown San Pedro, from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

'We're not just making one restaurant, this is a whole concept,' Galante said. 'This is a personal community that takes pride in its culture, but you can't even get a good cup of coffee.'

Galante's wife and business partner, Mary, insists, 'It's going to feel like you're in Italy or Croatia.'

When it's done, the space will grow to include small shops and boutiques - including a grocery, flower stall and hair salon - as well as room for working artists, beer and wine sales, a pizzeria with an authentic stone oven and a gelato stand.

Tables, umbrellas and trees - with wireless Internet access, of course - will give an airy feel of being outdoors. A live radio show set up to broadcast from the cafe will feature talk about local issues and, at night, classical music.

The market will fill the ground floor of Galante's Eighth Street Lofts, where he is completing eight lease-to-own condominiums on the upper floors.

Later, once escrow closes on a connected space next door, Galante said he'll finish off the project with an 'edgy' bar-lounge area.

Galante, who is half-Croatian and half-Italian, is among local developers taking a chance on what they believe are San Pedro's changing fortunes.

Italy allocates €4.3 billion to build flood barriers in Venice

2006-12-05T03:41:00.001-08:00

Rome, Nov. 22 (RBC) - A committee of state and local officials gave its go-ahead Wednesday to a €4.3 billion ($5.5 billion) project to protect Venice, one of the main tourist destinations of the country, from high tides.
The project is aimed at building moveable flood barriers to try to save Venice from high tides in the Adriatic Sea. Work on the project is timed to start in 2007 and expected to last for a few years.
The project was approved despite opposition from Italian environmentalists and Venice Mayor Massimo Cacciari, who voted against the plan.
Cacciari said the project has problems "on the technical side, on the environmental side and the economic side because the money is not enough," according to Italian news agencies.
It is worth reminding that the situation went critical when the entire center of Venice was flooded due to heavy snowfall and showers in Italy in late 2005. The water level at the world famous square San Marco was more than 50 cm.

Olive Oil Tourism on Rise in Italy

2006-12-05T03:38:00.001-08:00

The growing interest in quality olive oil has resulted in a boom in farm tourism with more than two million people a year now visiting oil mills to buy their oil straight from the source.

According to the Italian olive oil producers' consortium Unaprol, olive oil tourism this year will generate more than 1.8 billion euros (2.3 billion U.S. dollars) in business.

Unaprol attributed the popularity of this form of tourism to "the increasing interest in quality and authenticity of olive oil, which today can only be guaranteed by buying the oil at its source or with the PDO (protected designation of origin) label."

Italy currently has recognized 17 olive oil "roads" or itineraries on which tourists can find not only olive oil mills, but also olive-producing farms, restaurants and holiday farms, where guests can purchase quality oil and other local cuisine specialties.

Other sector attractions for tourists which are unique to Italy include: the 3,000-year-old olive tree in Cannetto di Sabine north of Rome; the centuries-old olive groves in the region of Puglia; the olive tree "forests" on the Gioia Tauro plain in Calabria and in the central region of Molise; and the terraced olive groves which can be found in the coastal region of Liguria, along the Amalfi coast and south of Salerno.

Italy produces around 650,000 tonnes of olive oil a year and consumes 800,000 tonnes, while exporting more than 200,000 tonnes.

In order to further guarantee the quality of oil produced and bottled in Italy, Unaprol wants Italy to make it obligatory for labels to indicate both the origin of the oil or oils used and their percentage.

"The indication of origin on labels for extra virgin olive oil must not be a option but an obligation, the same way it is for beef and poultry, tomato puree, fresh milk, honey, fruits and vegetables," Unaprol said.

For more information visit english.people.com

Fiesta Italiana Showcases the Best of Italy

2006-12-05T03:35:00.000-08:00

With more than 20,000 Indians frequenting Italy on an average every year, the Italian State Tourist Board (ENIT) on Monday launched Little Book of Italy, a publication catering only to Indians touring Italy.

"Italy has it all, be it beaches, lakes, mountains, museums or dining and wining, you name it and you find it. Fiesta Italiana is a good launch pad for Italians," food critic Rashmi Uday Singh said at the launch of the handy guide here.
Fiesta Italiana, the month long festival which started around a week ago is showcasing the best of Italy including, food, wine, culture, art and architecture, fashion and tourism destination.

"To improve Indo-Italian ties and to create brand 'Italy' in India, ENIT in collaboration with India organised the month long festival Fiesta Italiana," Salvatore Ianniello, ENIT representative in India said.

"Italy is not just about the renowned four to five cities. There is more to Italy than just Rome, Milan, Pisa, Florence. The effort is to tap the country's potential and tailor-make it for Indians," Rajiv Malhotra, Chairman, Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (northern region) told media persons.

Right from art lovers to foodies to fashion freaks, Italy has a great variety and has something or the other to offer to every individual, Salvatore added.

"One can find a plethora of wines, authentic Italian cuisine and can spice up their stay in the country by going for a cruise or booking a ski resort or just watching a soccer match," Enrico Martini, Director ENIT, Tokyo-Asia Pacific said. The festival will end on December 11.