All about Italy: country info, destination photos, tour routes, when to go, regional food specialities, holidays and other useful facts.
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Aperol Spritz – The Perfect Aperitif to have in Venice
APEROL SPRITZ IS THE MOST COMMONLY DRUNK APERITIF IN ITALY: When strolling around St. Marks Square or around the restaurant districts of Venice, a common drink that we see people enjoying is Aperol Spritz. This almost glowing bright orange drink is the most commonly drunk apéritif in Italy, but wher
Piecing together Ravenna’s mosaic of attractions
Is Ravenna the best place to live in Italy? Despite being recently voted “Best Place to Live in Italy” by a leading newspaper Il Sole 24 ore, proud possessor of 8 UNESCO sites, burial place of Dante and home to Byron for a couple of years, Ravenna is strangely neglected by tourists. Distinctive lean
Arena di Verona – World Famous for its Spectacular Operas
Verona Arena – the Third Largest Roman Amphitheatre is Famous for its Opera Festivals: Although many tourists are drawn to Verona by the love story of Romeo and Juliet, one other Verona attraction that has had visitors flocking to it since Roman times is the Arena di Verona (Verona Arena). As you ca
Verona Arena Celebrates 100 Years of Opera with Aida
Arena di Verona Celebrates 100 Years of Opera with an Anniversary Production of Aida: 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of opera at the Arena di Verona. When operatic production was first staged at the Arena in 1913, Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece Aida was staged to mark the 100th birthday anniversary
Chiesa Evangelica Valdese – Classical Concert
Chiesa Evangelica Valdese – A Venue for Classical Music: Singing is an important part of the Waldensian church service, so it is natural that Chiesa Evangelica Valdese is a venue for classical music in Rome. At the Great Opera meets Ballet in Rome you can enjoy wonderful lyrical singers, a couple of
Portofino – A Shopper’s Paradise?
Shopping in Portofino – Portofino Has Plenty of Designer Shops: Most tourists don’t go to Portofino to shop, for the simple reason that this picturesque harbour resort town has a reputation for being expensive. Yet, around the small crowded harbour, there are so many Italian and international luxury
How to Get to Portofino
How to Get to Portofino by Air, Train, Bus and Ferry: Portofino is located about 45km east of Genoa on the eastern stretch of the Italian Riviera. Genoa is the hub for all transportation along the Italian Riviera and from Genoa to Positano travellers have a choice of travel by train or ferry. Portof
A One Night Stop at the Hotel Regina Elena
Hotel Review: Best Western Regina Elena Hotel, Santa Margherita Ligure: When our coach shot past the centre of Santa Margherita Ligure and pulled in at the Best Western Regina Elena Hotel further up the road, we were a little disappointed. We were only staying in the Italian Riviera for one night to
Portofino – The Jewel of the Italian Riviera
Nicknamed the “Pearl of the World”, Portofino is Absolutely Gorgeous: Once a humble fishing village, Portofino’s picturesque harbour is the most exclusive bay and upmarket resort in Italy. In this town, built around the small harbour, there are plenty of upmarket designer boutiques, luxury yachts an
A Visit to the Contucci Cellar in Montepulciano
Wine-tasting at the Contucci Cellar, One of Montepulciano’s Many Wine Cellars: Montepulciano is a well-known wine-producing area and its Vino Nobile is one of the oldest wines of Italy – there is written mention of this wine as early as 790. If you’re interested in Italian wines, you don’t have to l
Montepulciano – Famous for its Vino Nobile
Montepulciano – A Hill Town in Tuscany that’s Famous for its Vino Nobile: One of the pleasures of travelling in Tuscany is visiting its many charming medieval hill towns, Montepulciano being one of them. Set on a ridge of about 605 metres high, Montepulciano is one of the of the highest Tuscan hill
Villa d’Este: Live from the Water Organ in the Gardens at Tivoli
The legendary Renaissance gardens of the Villa d’Este, arguably the most important in Italy The famous fountains and gardens of Italy’s Villa d’Este made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Water Organ Fountain above the magnificent Fountain of Neptune entranced Villa D’Este’s residents and vis
Villa d’Este: live from the Gardens in Tivoli
The famous Fountains and Gardens of Italy’s Villa d’Este made it a World Heritage Site The legendary Renaissance gardens of the Villa d’Este are arguably the most important in Italy, and inspired many other gardens all over Europe. The great fountains are particularly striking, and Helen sets the sc
Portofino: Live from the luxury Ligurian Resort
Portofino has luxury designer shops, big boats and 5 euro coffees – Cinque Terre it’s not! Avoiding the Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Dior shops along the waterfront, and refraining from indulging in 5 euro coffees, Tony Page wanders past million dollar cruisers and climbs up above Portofino to give you
Montepulciano: Live from the Heart of Tuscany’s Wine Country
Montepulciano is the highest hill town in Tuscany, and renowned for its wine, the Vino Nobile Henry James drank so much Montepulciano wine he couldn’t remember much about this famous Tuscany hill town, but it’s beautifully preserved and well worth a visit, especially to taste the food – and don’t mi
Capri – Stylish and Stunningly Beautiful
Capri Was Once a Cult Destination for the Rich and Famous: With its swanky shops and legends of aristocrats, film stars and celebrities living lives of luxury and pleasure on the island, Capri is an island with a reputation for glamour and style. It was a popular destination during the Roman times
Shopping in Capri
Capri Has a Reputation for being Expensive, but There are Things to Buy Here: For the majority of visitors on day trips to Capri, shopping is not one of the reasons for coming to Capri. The island was once the playground for the rich and famous and with past wealthy guests like Sofia Loren, Jacqueli
Capri: Live from the Monte Solaro Chair-lift!
The ride up from Anacapri is open to the elements but it’s a real thrill with great views! The chair-lift up to Monte Solaro from Anacapri is an exciting and exhilarating ride – provided the weather is good! There are great views on the way up (and down) and tremendous panoramas of the Faraglioni Ro
A Bird’s-eye View of Orvieto from the Torre del Moro
Enjoy 360 Degree View of Orvieto and its Surrounds from the Top of Torre del Moro: Like many medieval hill towns in Italy, Orvieto has its share of medieval towers. For a bird’s eye view of Orvieto, go up to the top of the Torre del Moro on Corso Cavour. This 47-metre high tower from [...]The post A
Positano: Live from Spiaggia Grande Beach
The Amalfi Coast – colourful houses cascading down the cliffs – it has to be Positano Positano on the Amalfi Coast has a great reputation but does it live up to the hype? Tony and Helen Page discover colourful houses cascading down the cliffs, brown bodies lazing on the beach, unexpectedly cheap sho
A Sweltering Stay at the Hotel Aquila Bianca in Orvieto
Hotel Aquila Bianca in Orvieto has Great Location but the Air-conditioning Was Ineffective: For a central hotel in the historical heart of Orvieto, you can’t complain about the Hotel Aquila Bianca. Located in Piazza della Repubblica, the hotel is within easy reach of shops and restaurants and the Or
Things to Do in Positano
Apart from its Scenery and Beaches There are Other Things to Do in Positano: Positano town is set on the face of a small hill and its picturesque setting along the Amalfi Coast is one of its main attractions. The town has two beautiful beaches and the sun, sand, sea and scenery are enough to [...]Th
Suntan on the Ferry from Positano to Sorrento
Positano Ferries: Travel by Ferry from Positano to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast: When we visited Positano on a quick tour from Sorrento, we travelled by mini-bus. Our tour guide did not mention that we could easily return to Sorrento by ferry and so after a quick two-hour stay in Positano everyone
Lunch at La Zagara – One of the Many Positano Restaurants
La Zagara – A Restaurant With a Delicious-Looking Cakes but the Food and Service Disappointed: There are heaps of restaurants in Positano and our guide, whom we suspect is a bit of a dessert addict, suggested that La Zagara is a good place to take a break as it has the best cakes in town. [...]The p
Shopping in Positano
Positano’s Colourful Shops Break Down Even the Strongest Wills: The streets of Positano may be steep and full of steps, but they are also lined with all kinds of inviting shops that are hard to resist. Whether you’re arriving by bus at the top of the town or by ferry, you’ll soon come into contact [
How to Get to Positano
How to Get to Positano by Bus, Ferry and Road: Positano is a very popular tourist destination and each year thousands of visitors come to Positano and the Amalfi Coast during the summer vacations. The bus and ferry are the two most convenient transportation means although there are other ways to re
Venice: the “Blue Danube” Live from Piazza San Marco
The Café Florian Quintet plays Strauss’s famous Waltz in St Mark’s Square, Venice After a vigorous rendition of Ravel’s “Bolero”, the small, five-piece orchestra on the stage outside the famous Café”Florian” in Piazza San Marco strike up the opening bars of Strauss’s “Blue Danube” waltz, much to the
Positano is Picturesque, Romantic and Positively Charming
The Picturesque and Popular Town of Positano is a Gateway to the Amalfi Coast: Positano is one of the gateways to the Amalfi Coast region (Costiera Amalfitana), reputed to be one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in Italy. It also has a reputation as the playground of the rich and famous. W
Venice in Acqua Alta: Live From Piazza San Marco
High Water at High Noon: Keep Your Balance in St. Mark’s Square – or Go for a Paddle! “Acqua Alta” is Italian for “High Water“, and when a big tide comes into Venice’s lagoon, that’s exactly what you get in Piazza San Marco and many pedestrian streets. Fortunately, it usually only happens from autum
Pienza Duomo – Built for Pope Pius II’s Renaissance City
Pienza Duomo was one of the Monuments that make up Pius II’s Renaissance City: On one side of the Piazza Pio II, the main square in Pienza, sits the Pienza Duomo (or Cattedrale dell’Assunta), one of the Renaissance monuments that make up Pope Pius II’s ideal Renaissance city. Architect Bernardo Ross
Shopping in Pienza was a Pleasant Surprise
There’s More to Pienza Shopping than Just Pecorino Cheese: Pienza, we were told, is famous for its pecorino cheese, but apart from this cheesy bit of intelligence, we had no expectations of doing any shopping when we paid a visit to this Tuscan hill town. We arrived at 9:30 in the morning and the pl
Pienza – The Town that Pope Pius II Built
Pienza Was Pope Pius II’s Idea of the Perfect City: From our base in the spa town of Chianciano Terme, we took an excursion to Pienza, a small town in the Val d’Orcia in Tuscany. Pienza was Pope Pius II’s idea of the perfect Renaissance city and it is also famous for its pecorino cheeses. [...]The p
Venice: Live aboard a Gondola through the Hidden Canals
Hidden waterways, live music, gondola drag racing, Armani spotting and general mayhem Escaping from the Grand Canal, the gondolas explore the hidden canals running through the back blocks of Venice, winding their way along the narrow waterways towards Piazza San Marco. Inaccessible if the tide is hi
Venice: Live from Gondolas on the Grand Canal
Six gondolas, live musical accompaniment, and a lot of “Prosecco” – beware, tourists! Six gondolas abreast down the Grand Canal? Tony and Helen Page brave a slightly out-of-control shared gondola cruise (maybe the prosecco had something to do with it) that starts off at the Rialto Bridge and parties
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