Valle d’Aosta
By admin | February 18, 2008
The Valle d’Aosta is one fo the most beautiful regions of Italy. It preserves its own cultural identity and feels both like Switzerland and like Italy.
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Umbria
By admin | February 18, 2008
Umbria, describing itself as ‘the Green Heart of Italy’ was overshadowed for centuries by the glories of Tuscany. Other than Assisi, which has always had many visitors for obvious reasons, and the magnificent cathedral of Orvieto, it was much less known. It still tends to be regarded as a place for a break if the glories of Tuscany have become too much.
This marks what now seems an absurd underrating. Umbria is worth more than one visit in its own right and places like Perugia, Gubbio, Spoleto and Foligno have taken their place. Yet many might prefer the ‘lesser’ places such as Spello, Todi and Trevi, not just as a break from the crowds but as some really fine hill-top villages.
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Tuscany
By admin | February 18, 2008
Tuscany, Toscana in Italian, is the best known Italian province and the name alone evokes an image of sun, dolce vita and picturesque little towns. This image is quite correct, actually. Tuscany deserves its reputation and is worth a visit both for those who just want a holiday to relax, read a book and sit in the sun as well as those going for the high brow culture. Furthermore the Tuscan region has delicious food and great wines, a combination that makes life very enjoyable under the Tuscan sun.
The Tuscan cities such as Florence, Pisa, Lucca, or Siena house many sights and all have an old historic town where you can wander around for hours.
Siena has a very interesting historic town, but is most famous for the “Palio”, a medieval horse race where different parts of town all have a horse race through the historic centre of town.
Of course there is more to Tuscany than well-known tourist areas, Lunigiana is the northern-most and almost unknown area of Tuscany, squeezed between the costal region of Liguria and the Apuan Alps. This is an area of high, rolling chestnut covered hills and mediaval villages such as Fivizzano and Fosdinovo where the travel writer Eric Newby once lived.
The Isle of Elba also has outstanding facilities for anyone on a summer holiday: hiking, going to the beach and visiting historical towns can all be done on the same day.
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Trentino Alto Adige
By admin | February 18, 2008
Trentino-Alto Adige is a region made up by two provinces: Trentino around the city of Trento, and Alto Adige, or South Tirol, around the city of Bolzano. Alto Adige is officially bilingual: both Italian and German are spoken.Trento was put on the map by the “Consiglio” of Trento the treaty between the papal power and the South german princes resulting in the contra-reformation. The local castle is a reminder of those days, with some nice murals (the best only by appointment) and boring furniture. There is also a cathedral and a diocese museum. But nicer is the modern art museum just outside the centre in a palace next to the river. It has changing exhibitions. Night life in Trento is rather boring, altough it is a university town, only few students sit around in cafes mainly on Via Verdi. The real fun they have is in the discotheques that are, strangely, located in the small villages, or along a minor roads. A car is required for these divertiti.
Bolzano has a few things more to offer. Some castles around the town, and Mr. Utschi, the glacier man, from long ago, around which a museum was build to show the life of early hunting-farming-gathering, European civilizations.
Other towns to visit are Merano, with baths, which sometimes has exhibitions at the Kurhaus, and Rovereto, with a nice pedestrian centre. First world war museums you can find in many towns, as this was the scene of a harsh mountain war in which many of the local Alpini Corp died.
But the real reason to visit Trentino-Alto Adige are the mountains, the Dolomiti, which are spectacular. It is possible to walk from May to half September, and ski from December to end March (give and take). The trains take you to Trento, Bolzano, Bressanone, etc along the main valley, but from there buses are regular and cheap, and will get you virtually everywhere, in the summer. In Trento the regional, blue buses leave from next to the train station.
If you are a bit experienced at mountain walking, you could try some via ferrata’s which are slightly more difficult walks with steel cables and ladder to secure yourself, bring a harness and perhaps a helmet.
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Sicily
By admin | February 18, 2008
Sicily is a mountainous arid island” an extension of the Apennine Mountains separated from the mainland by the Straits of Messina. Many powers have occupied this strategically important area: Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Phoenicians and of course the Mafia. Historical sites related to those powers are part of the island’s attraction. (A Mafia tour visits sites of various Family activities and the graves of infamous godfathers and victims.) But there are many other reasons to visit Sicily: water sports, beaches of rock and sand (including black sand), natural beauty, good food and friendly people.For touring the island can be roughly divided into the north-shore and south-shore areas. The north shore has reefs, olive groves, secluded coves and countless seaside resorts including Cefalu, a gorgeous Arab-Norman city with good beaches. West of center of the north coast is Palermo the ancient capital and the island’s largest city. Be sure to visit the central market and 12th-century Monreale Cathedral which is 6 mi/8 km west of town (it has impressive biblical mosaics). About 50 mi/80 km west of Palermo lies the ancient village of Erice atop a mountain: It still has remains of a temple dedicated to Venus. The southern coast has an even milder climate so there’s swimming most of the year (although it can get cold there between November and March).
Among the areas not to be missed are Agrigento (to see the Valley of the Temples); Acireale (to see puppets); Taormina (a unique beautiful town perched on cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean); and Mt. Etna (10 902 ft/3 323 m) an active volcano on the east coast—its crater is difficult to reach so bring a guide and dress warmly. In April 1987 two people were killed when Mt. Etna erupted. Among the ancient Greek and Roman ruins on the island are the Taormina Greek theatre and San Domenico Monastery near Messina the Greek theater in Siracusa the 5th-century BC Temple of Concord in Agrigento and the Casale Armerina (a jewel of a Roman villa with wonderful mosaics) in the town of Piazza Armerina near Enna. It’s also possible to visit the Pantelleria Islands, the Pelagian Islands and the Aeolian Islands from Sicily. There’s enough there to keep one busy for eight days.
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Sardinia
By admin | February 18, 2008
Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia with its app. 1.800 kilometres of coastline, is one of the most popular destinations for people who love aquatic sports and seaside holidays, not only for its natural beauty and geographical position but also for its history. In fact the Sardinian people are renowned for their spontaneous hospitality, and like all islanders thirst for contact with the external world. People who visit Sardinia discover not only one of the most beautiful and original places in the world but also have an unforgettable holiday.When approaching the island of Sardinia by boat, you’ll be impressed by the colors of its rocks, ranging from black to basalt, from silver to granite and from red to porphyry. Sardinia is a very striking island, not in the least because of its History : Every Mediterranean power has controlled the island at one time ”Romans, Phoenicians, Spaniards and even a pope. Present-day Sardinia is the favourite holiday spot of Italy’s extremely wealthy (which explains Sardinia’s high prices).
The island has a multitude of attractions: you can see wild horses, flamingos and seals. You can do some great fishing (both day and night) or go mountain climbing. Visit Roman ruins and the mysterious grottoes (the best is ‘Grotta Nuova’ near Cala Gonone on the east coast). Be the spectator of some spectacular arid scenery or relax on one of the many quiet sandy and rocky beaches where you can set off for a sailing trip, reef diving or water-skiing. Major attractions on the island include the pink sand beach at Porto Ferro, the typically Sardinian town of Nuoro, Oristano with its ruins of the Phoenician city Tharros, the Goddess of Fortune Temple in Porto Torres , Cagliari the largest city on the island with a good archaeological museum, Alghero with its strong Catalan feel and Su Nuraxi Nuraghe an impressive Nuraghic fortress 60 km north of Cagliari.
The town of Olbia is the gateway to the Emerald Coast (Costa Smeralda), one of Europe’s most important (and expensive) resort areas (it also has sites that span 3, 000 years of history).
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Puglia
By admin | February 18, 2008
Puglia (or Apulia in English) is the the heel of the Italian “boot”. Traditionally not many tourists made it this far and some of those who went there, jut did so to take the boat to Greece.Yet Puglia has many things to offer. Bari is Puglia’s largest city a town and boasts a long history and many sights where you easily spend a day or two. It is also a perfect starting points for seeing some of the charming villages of the hinterland. There are some good beaches and there is Lecce, a magnificent jewel of baroque architecture, constructed in yellow stone and marvellously preserved. Great ice cream and coffee in the main square. The houses of Alberobello are a unique sight in Italy - they look like big mushrooms.
Also visit the Itraia valley and hill towns in the area such as the baroque and unspoiled Martina Franca, whitewashed Cisternino, Locorotobdo and Ostuni.
Further South is Otranto. The old town centre is the first compulsory stop to discover beautiful spots and views striking for the southern aspect of the houses, painted in bright colors and enclosed in the wall fortifications overlooking the south bank of the harbor. There are also interesting walks along cobbled lanes where it is possible to buy typical handicrafts in terra-cotta and leccese stone.
In the north the Gargano Massif has some of the best beaches as well the Foresta Umbra the only old-growth stands. Just off the coast are the Tremiti islands a great get away but bring your own food. They are best reached from Termoli in Molise or from Rodi Garganico or Vieste. And Brindisi? Well Brindisi is a good place to take a ferry to somewhere else and that’s all we will say about it.
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Marche
By admin | February 18, 2008
Less than 10.000 sq. km., four provinces (Pesaro-Urbino, Ancona, Macerata, Ascoli Piceno), 246 municipalities each one with its own original configuration, the Marches (the only Italian region with a plural name) is truly a beautiful territory or, as politicians and economists say, one big town. It is a town where it is possible to find everything: a coast delimitating the territory lengthwise with characteristic variations of landscape, in some places composed of wide and sandy beaches, in others of rocks sheer to the sea. The plain is gentle with a varied choice of cultivations which seem to be arranged depending an their colours and many little towns testify mens active presence.
Mountains are not so high and are characterized by “dotted” human settlements. The rivers flow as if they were combing the territory, following a geometrie shape and some caves have a great geological interest. There are also many steep cliffs and one single precious lake called Pilato. This is the geographie frame. Its picture has been painted by the history and the different civilizations and their magnificence: castles, abbeys, churches, museums, buildings, squares, villas and monuments which make the Marches an intensely rich region. There are no empty spaces, everywhere there is a building to admire, a painting to appreciate, a curious event to notice. The richness of the region is constituted by the concentration of natural resources (a varied Flora, a typical fauna, one of the most impressive Italian landscapes), of architectonic remains, historical testimonies and extraordinary cultural resources.
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Piemonte
By admin | February 18, 2008
Piemonte (Piedmont) means “at the foot of the mountains” and that is just where you should look for it. Here you will find a very interesting region, with French influences, delicious food and great wines.
Turin the capital of Piemonte is very much a European city, with a very open and international atmosphere. It is also the center of a region renowned for its culture of wines and cuisine. A city of many souls, Turin is imperial, and bourgeois; it is a masterpiece of aesthetic urban design, and has immense suburban landscapes of cement; it is centered on the slow pace of the Po river, and it is enlightened by the beauty of its green hilly flanks. In the city you find the world’s most important museum of Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt. Furthermore, the Holy Shroud is back to public view.
Stresa on the Lago Maggiore is a favourite getaway for the people in Turin. It’s a lovely town on one of the most lovely lakes in the world - but it can be pretty crowded with Torinesi in the weekend. Another really charming lake is de Lago d’ Orta. The town of Orta is pretty as can be and a boat trip to the island just opposite is a must.
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Molise
By admin | February 18, 2008
Molise is a narrow strip of hilly terrain covering less than 550 square miles. For millennia it has been a natural bastion, first of the Samnites, legendary challengers who were eventually defeated by the Romans. Today its heavily forested slopes are dotted with castles, many in excellent stages of preservation. They overlook friendly medieval villagess, glorious ancient ruins and some of the most uncontaminated nature in all Europe - so pristine, in fact, that UNESCO has chosen Molise for two of its four Italian biosphere locations.
The biggest towns in Molise are Campobasso, Isernia and Termoli. They are attractive townsand provide good starting points for seeing the countryside. Termoli also ahs a good beach and is one of the best places to get a boat to the Tremiti islands.
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