Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Sightseeing in Milan and the Choice of Italian Accommodation

There are several types of hotels to choose from in Milan. From the larger fancy well established luxurious hotels to small boutique and budget hotels. Book well in advance, like any other holiday, if you don’t want to be disappointed as in busy periods most of the hotels are in demand due to the frequent national and international events taking place in the city, especially when the Milan fashion week is going on.

However, Milan is not only about fashion and about shopping; there are plenty of sights you do not want to miss if you are seeking culture and history. The weather in Milan is good throughout the year, so you can visit it at any time. Even if you are not sure in which city of Italy you would like to go to than be assured that the accommodation in Italy has a wide range of choice.

Nevertheless, if your choice has fallen on the beautiful city of Milan, here is a little overview of what to do, what to see and where to shop!

The famous opera house, La Scala, open since 1778, has an interesting museum next door where you can view Verdi’s death mask. The famous architect Mengoni designed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and is now a shopping avenue where you can browse its stylish cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. Santa Maria delle Grazie is a famous church and convent with Leonardo da Vinci's mural of the Last Supper. A sight you definitely do not want to miss. If you like to visit churches and cathedrals the Milan is the place to be with Duomo being the biggest cathedral in Milan and found in Central Square.

Of course, Shopping is Milan is paradise. Versace, Cartier and Prada, are just some of the names you will find in the upscale area of Quadrilatero d'Oro. If these are beyond your budget try Corso Buenos Aires with its high street prices or, for a unique and individual choice with a selection of second hand and handmade clothes shops, take a trip to Corso di Porta Ticinese.

The Polytechnic and the Accedemia di Brera are colleges of fashion and have educated designers who are now world famous household names. Many creative fashion designers have exhibited their designs in this glamorous city, some of them causing outrage and transforming the face of fashion with their own individual style. Giorgio Armani is one of those designers. Born in Piacenza and is the king of Italian fashion. His career started in Milan working as a buyer, before starting up the label Giorgio Armani in 1975. Miuccia Prada took control of the family company in 1978, which focused on bags and leather accessories. Her bags became fashionable and in high demand. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were born in the province of Palermo and Milan respectively and have to be the most famous couple in the Italian fashion world. They had their unveiling in Milan in 1985. Gianfranco Ferré was born in Milan in 1944 and gained a degree in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic. Versace was born in Reggio Calabria, moving to Milan in the 1970s to work in the fashion world. The Versace label came a few years later and since Gianni’s death in 1997 his brother and sister, Santo and Donatella, have successfully run the company.

Your choice of accommodation in Milan will depend on your budget. If money is no problemo then the fashion streets of Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Corso Emmanuele II all have smart, plush and expensive Italian hotels. To be near to the attractions and shopping areas head to Centro Storico, a historical part of the city. Amendola Fiera is a district fashionable with business visitors and tourists as hotels here are less expensive but within easy reach of the city centre. Isola and Brera have the majority of typical Milano hotels, with prosperous Brera the closest to the galleries and sophisticated boutiques. With a canal running through it, Navigli-Ticinese is a lively part of the city with jazz clubs and restaurants lining the canal banks and the site of a weekly Saturday street market.

Make sure you come to Milan with your Italian for beginners and credit cards and you will not go home disappointed!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Events in Molise

The mountainous and sparsely populated region of Molise has only been recognized since 1963. Before this, Molise was an isolated province of Apulia. Today this otherwise forgotten region is bordered by Abruzzi on the north, Lazio to the west, Campania and Apulia to the south and east. To the northeast, Molise has a small coastline bordering the Adriatic. Thus far, it seems that both tourists as well as Italians have neglected Molise, but there are many sites nestled in the mountains that are worth visiting. Molise is home to beautiful abbeys, churches and castles as well as impressive ancient ruins far off the tourist track.

January
Pignola: Palio of S. Antonio Abate.
Villa d'Agri: Befana Canterina.
Aliano: Carnival.
Rotondella: Fire Festival.
Rocchetta al Volturno, Carpinone, Capracotta: Maitinate Carolers.

February
Rapolla: San Biagio.
Cercepiccola: The Mesi Pageant.
Tufara: The Cheese Game & Devil's Procession.
Castelnuovo del Volturno: Deer Hunt Pageant.

March
Atella: Via Crucis Costumed Parade (Thursday before Easter).
Barile, Maschito & Venosa: Via Crucis Pageant (Good Friday).
Rionero in Vulture: Via Crucis Pageant (Saturday before Easter).
Garagusa: Costumed Procession.
Termoli: Good Friday Procession
.

April
Campobasso: Corpus Domini Pageant.
San Martino in Pensilis: Ox-Cart race.

May
San Pardo Festival Melfi: Feast & Tournament of the Holy Spirit.
Potenza: San Gerardo (May).
Matera-Picciano: Santa Maria di Picciano (first Sunday of May).
Policoro: Madonna of the Bridge.
Tricarico: Madonna of the Fountains (second Sunday of May).
Accettura: May Chopping Festival.

Larino: San Pardo Festival & Procession.
Ururi: The Cart Race
.

June
Moliterno: U Casiadd Local Cheese Festival.
Rotonda: Sant'Antonio & Fir Tree Festival.
Gorgoglione: Madonna of Pergamo.
S. Giorgio Lucano: Harvest Festival.

Madonna of Bruna July
Avigliano: Madonna of Carmine.
Matera: Madonna of Bruna Pageant & Procession.
Ielsi: Wheat Festival Pageant & Parade.

August
Castellagopesole: Nights of Frederick II of Swabia.
Melfi: Homage to Frederick II of Swabia.
Rapone: Sausage & Cheese Festival.
Bernalda: San Bernardo.
Matera: Crapiata.
Oliveto Lucano: San Cipriano & the Rites of May.
Pisticci: San Rocco.
Termoli: San Basso Fishing Boat Procession.
Ripalimosani: Palio Horse Race.

September
Ripacandida: Vulture Rabbit & Garlic Festival.
Viggiano: Santa Maria of the Sacred Mountain.
Sarconi: Bean Festival & Market of Local Products.
Aliano: Madonna of the Stars.
Matera-Timmari: Feast of God the Savior (first Sunday of September).
Miglionico: Dried Fig Festival.

October
Melfi: Varola Festival & Market.
Riccia: Grape Fair.

December
Paterno: Nativity Scene.
Montescaglioso: Pettole Festival.
Agnone: Docce Torchlit Procession.
Oratino: La Faglia Torch Lighting (Christmas Eve).
Guardialfiera: Living Nativity Scene.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Shopping Tours in Rome




Everyone will agree with me, Rome is a fashion paradise for many designer brands in the world, I agree, Milan is the no one. But second is Rome, Not only for clothing, there are many more things we can buy, when we go to rome. Most of visitors to Rome, will not forget to buy some thing from rome while they visit the attractions in eternal city.
There are thousands of shops and markets are in Rome and sometimes we may not know, how to do good shopping tour in Rome City. This is specail for foriegn travellers have less expereince in Rome. One good thing we can do is, get the local expert's support to do good shopping tour in Rome, Then we can save money as well as can buy some good stff. They know unique places to buy specail items at competitive rates. Some times they will show us very unkown loacl places where excellent shopping can be done. You can say your intersts to them, coz you may not be able buy all the stiff in Rome and no one like all the things, and budget as well, Then They will match the places suit to your likes and the budget. Further they are experts in most of sought-after spots in rome. Getting local experts' support is more time saving as well, no need to move here and there, they will show the correct direction

.I saw some good shopping tours in this site :http://www.romeshoppinguide.com

Friday, January 16, 2009

Milan - the capital of the Northern Italy

Milan is the second largest city in Italy and the most flourishing one. It's a capital of Italian business, finance, fashion and mass media. Milan is the main road junction in Italy, its airport is the biggest airport in Italy and the subway is considered to be the best.

It's the city full of the ancient art masterpieces. Moreover, Milan is one of leaders in the area the Italians are crazy for - football. The local football club is always among the best in Serie A championship.

Despite all its advantages, Milan isn't the most popular travel destination in Italy. The most of the tourists prefer to see the hills of Toscana and the canals of Venice. Milan is considered to be the industrial city with the very fast rhythm of life. Many find that Milan looks more like European than Italian city. The citizens of Milan gained the reputation of the reserved and cold-blooded people.
Milan long history is full of foreign invaders - Goths in 539, Romans in 1157 and the list of the French, Spanish and Austrian rulers.

The most popular Milan entertainment, attracting the significant part of tourist is shopping. From 1277 to 1500 Visconti and Sforza families ruled the city. The biggest part of the Gothic and Renaissance masterpieces were created during their rule, although both dynasties were known for their cruelty besides their love for art.

The center of the city is relatively small and very comfortable for walks, but it's better not to use car - the traffic jams are common in Milan.

The heart of the city is Piazza Duomo with the several interesting sights around it. Duomo Cathedral on the main cultural attraction in Milan. It's opened from 9.00 till 12.00 and from 14.30 till 18.00. The construction of the cathedral was begun in 1386 and was fully completed only in 1813. Duomo is one the biggest Gothic cathedrals in the world. Its magnificent beauty charms and the interior strikes with its greatness.

The monument to Vittorio Emmanuel is the centre of the square and it's the very popular meeting place among tourists.

Vittorio Emmanuel gallery begins with the Triumph Arc on the square and transforms into the glass street. Nowadays it's the centre of the cultural life of Milan - there are the famous bookstores, cafes and restaurants.

To the right of the cathedral you can see the yellow building of the Royal Palace, which once has been the Duke's Visconti palace. In 1943 it was hardly damaged but later restored. Now it houses the museum of the modern art and the Duomo museum.

The most exciting Milan entertainment, attracting the crowds of tourists, is shopping. Milan is full of the fashion boutiques mostly on Via Montenapolone. Milan is considered to be one of world's fashion capitals along with Paris, New York, Rome and London. Shopping is almost a religion here and in the season of discounts the whole city seems to go mad.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Car Hire Venice Marco Polo Airport

Venice may be a city of canals, but car hire gives you the option of escaping the candy-striped gondolas and watery sights of the city for a while. Renting a car from Venice Marco Polo Airport allows you to freedom to explore a range of fantastic sights of the Veneto region. Back in the city, though there's plenty to see and do. The following is a guide to Venice and the best ways to spend your time.

Venice Mini Guide:

Venice Marco Polo Airport is situated 12km from the city of Venice by land and 10km by water. The airport offers a number of facilities and services for passengers including bureau de change-for those last minute euro, ATMs, cafés, bars and restaurants. If driving from the airport, follow the Venice Mestre motorway.

Things To See/Do in Venice:

Venice is situated in the northeast of Italy and is the capital of the coastal Veneto region. The city of Venice is built on over one hundred separate islands. With one hundred and fifty canals flowing through the city, connected by over 400 bridges, it's easy to understand how so many tourists find themselves getting lost at some stage during their visit.

The best way to see the city is by the local water taxis, waterbuses known as 'vaporetti' or the traditional Venetian gondola. Walking is another option of course.

San Marco piazza is located in the heart of the city is a good place to start on a walking tour of the city. The square is famous for its Basilica di San Marco which dates back to the 11th century. Those with a head for heights can even climb the basilica's bell tower to achieve an unforgettable 360-degree view of the city. Not far from here is the impressive Palazzo Ducale, (Doges Palace), which is also worth a look, if even to admire the priceless works of art housed within.

Piazza San Marco offers a gateway to the city's famous Rialto market district via the Mercerie. It's here you'll find all the chic boutiques and luxury stores. Dedicated fashion followers will love calle Larga XXII Marzo, which is located to the west of the piazza. Gucci, Prada, Valentino and Fendi have all set up shop here. Meanwhile, those with an eye for antiques should head to nearby Santo Stefano, where they may be lucky enough to pick up low cost hidden treasure.

Given Venice's watery location, seafood is by far the most popular dish to be found on local menus. Generally, eating out isn't cheap, but budget bites are available, if you look past the obvious tourist haunts. Fiore Trattore, located at calle delle Botteghe on San Marco is one such low cost establishment. Thrifty budget conscious travellers are also guaranteed to pay less should they choose local specialities like pizza. Stone baked fungi at Al Nono Risorto at Santa Croce is highly recommended.

Nightlife in Venice is concentrated on the fondamenta Misericordia in Cannaregio. Here popular nightspots to check out include The Iguana and Centrale.

Accommodation in Venice offers plenty of scope for those looking to splash out on luxury. The Hotel Cipriani at Giudecca 10, certainly doesn't come cheap-room rates start at a hefty €625 per night. Thrifty backpackers will be glad to learn however that low cost lodgings are also available in the city. Venice's youth hostel, located on Fondamenta Zitelle offers attractive rates starting at €19.50 per bed per night.