Holiday Houses Close To The Natural Parks In Sicily

A stay on the outskirts of a nature reserve could be the ideal place to discover another side of Sicily, the one with unspoilt nature, with small mountain villages full of history and culture situated in the Parco delle Madonie or on the slopes of the Mount Etna, or also to enjoy a memorable holiday exploring the unique landscape of Trapani salt pans. DiCasaInSicilia offers a great variety of accommodation in the vicinity of the regional parks and of the island’s nature reserves.

MOUNT ETNA NATIONAL PARK

Mount Etna national park is a protected nature reserve of some 60 thousand hectares that rises on the slopes of the highest volcano in Europe. The park has many natural attractions, among them are several small towns such as Trecastagni and Nicolosi and the “Grotta del Gelo” that is a cave with a perennial glacier where the temperature is always below -6 degrees even in summer.

Right in Nicolosi, a picturesque hill town situated at 700 metres above sea level, on the southern side of Mount Etna, is Casa di Filli, a typically small villa of this area surrounded by a wonderful garden with low stone walls, aromatic, ornamental plants and the local species of trees of the national park.

Just a few kilometres away, close to Ragalna, at a height of 830 metres above sea level, is situated Vigna Mascalisi, a nest for two on the slopes of Mount Etna. The house is constructed entirely from lava rock and blends perfectly into the surrounding landscape of Mount Etna with its vineyards, oak trees, olive groves and low stone walls. The dwelling is located on an estate devoted to organic produce that offers a little restaurant and a mini bed & breakfast (3 rooms). Where tastings of a whole range of regional products can be sampled and there is also the possibility to buy excellent olive oil, wine, fruit and vegetables among other tasty treats.

MADONIE

Along the northern Sicilian coast, in the Palermo province, raises the Madonie mountain chain. In order to protect the geological peculiarity and the cultural heritage of the area, the Madonie together with the Nebrodi have been given the status of National Parks

A Dream Holiday On The Lake Como

Why not spend an unforgettable holiday surrounded by the pictuesque scenery of one of Italy’s most famous lakes?

Residence Geranio, a family run tourist resort, offers attractive packages, with a varied choice of accomodation, on the shores of the beautiful and
historically interesting Lake of Como.

The residence offers many options for people wishing to spend a relaxing holiday in this fascinating area.

• The self catering appartments, more suited to young people, are modern and comfortably furnished with kitchenette, satellite TV and balconies or terraces with nice views.
• The villas, for bigger families, are divided into 2 elegantly furnished spacious apartments, both equipped with BBQ area, access to the lake for
your boats, central heating, a lock-up deposit for beach equipment and a children’s playground in front.

Whether you decide on the appartments or the villas, Residence Geranio offers a wide range of outdoor facilities such as;
• Swimming pool with hydro-massage
• Children’s pool
• Volleyball court
• Football ground
• Tabletennis
• Free wi fi internet
• Acess to private beach with bathroom facilities & beach huts

For the more adventurous holiday-makers, nearby there is also
• Windsurfing
• Catamaran
• Water skiing
• Motorboat and mountainbike rental to explore the surrounding area.

We recommend that you don’t miss the chance to experience at Residence Geranio the excitment and enchanting beauty of a lake that has long inspired poets and writers.

5 Places To Visit In Sicily, Italy

Sicily in Italy is a wonderful place to visit, not for just for its weather and great Sicilian food, but also for its cultural value and its slow and relaxed pace of life: Below 5 ideas for places to visit for a holiday or vacation in Sicily, Italy.

1. Catania is one of the largest cities in Sicily and is situate on the East coast of this Mediterranean island. Catania is situated between the ocean and the famous and active Etna volcano. Catania has an excellent fish market which you must see, if you really want to see Sicilian culture at its best and there is also an excellent day market. Catania has its own International airport which has recently been expanded and is well served by many major airlines.

2. Palermo is the other main city in Sicily and is located on the West coast and close to the ocean. Palermo is famous for the Mafia and has its own way of life and some excellent and traditional restaurants. You can also fly into Palermo airport with a number of airlines.

3. Taormina located on the East coast and about an hours drive south of Catania, is one of the jewels of Sicily. Perched on top of a cliff top and with a delightful view of the Etna volcano, Taormina is a stunning village with Greek theatre and also a cable car down to the beach below. There is a film festival here annually and many starts frequent this village. Taormina is many people's favourite place in Sicily and it is not hard to see why. There are hotels and even a youth hostel in the village centre s accommodation should not be a problem for you here.

4. Siracusa is also a very popular place for tourists and locals alike. This town has a really nice town centre and is close to the coast and is a bit calmer than the two big cities Palermo and Catania in Sicily. You may have to fly into Catania and then drive dwon to Siracusa, but it is worth your while to see this lovely town down South.

5. The Aeolian Islands are simply stunning. North off of the Northern coast of the main island of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands include the islands of Stromboli and Vulcano. These islands offer you the chance to stay on a small volcanic island and are tremoundous scenically.

Verona, A City To Discover Loved From The Tourists Of All The World

Yield famous and popular all over the world from the famous tragedy of William Shakespeare " The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" , it is a coveted destination from the tourists of every corner of the world. Indeed, the capital of Veneto, offers a lot of opportunities starting from the cultural point of view, to the culinary and the entertainment.

In particolar, who wants to visit Verona for a short time (also of 2-3 days), cannot miss some fundamental appointments that characterise this laughing city in the heart of the Veneto region. In these terms, we can list what the tourist/visitor of the weekend must absolutely see and try for really living the spirit of the city:
• Arena di Verona: “small” masterpiece of the roman architecture, it is still in good conditions and is used for concerts and other manifestations
• Piazza delle Erbe(Square of the Grass): it rises where the ancient Roman Forum resided, is the heart of the city
• Palazzo del comune (Palace of the Municipality): with a nice romantic garden
• Palazzo della prefettura (Palace of the Prefecture): ancient residence of Scaligeri
• Santa Anastasia: ghotic church erected from the Dominicans
• Duomo (Dome): elegant construction dedicated to Santa Maria Matricolare
• Balcony of Giulietta: small, but somewhat evocative where also is found the famous statue of Giulietta
• Arc of the Giovi: another direct evidence of the Roman domination
• In the pauses, to be based calmly in a tavern and to savour a Recioto di Soave (typical white wine of Verona) with cold cuts and the typical polenta of Veneto region.

Where to sleep in Verona

Of course, there are many touristic structures that allow to sleep in Verona or near the city.
To such purpose, the Gardenia Hotel is situated in San Michele area, ideal for passing days or vacations around Veneto, above all for visiting Verona without having to spend the night in a hotel of the city center.
This 3 stars hotel, offers refined services like cable TV, safe in each room and air conditioning, a part from the prestigious inner restaurant.

The Gardenia Hotel has a comfortable private parking and offers cordiality and hospitality to all its customers, both to businessmen and families on vacation. Moreover, the hotel website (hotelristorantegardenia.it) offers the chance to the Internet customers to reserve on-line directly their own rooms for the night's passing also at the Hotel San Michele (at Verona periphery, near to the historical city center).

Sicily Holidays

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is a independent region of Italy. It is popular for its amazing scenic beauty which draws a lot of guests worldwide. This beautiful countryside scenery is elegantly visible on the tip of Italy"s toe and as it is surrounded by water on all the sides makes it appear more elegant which immensely satisfies the tourists and the visitors. It is a region of exclusive art, culture, food, traditions and design. It has greenery all around and gives a appearance of a countryside rural area that has considerably drawn many of tourists. Sicily is liked and respected for its natural beauty. Sicily is not just originally stunning but even has historic archeology and ancient monuments, temples and forts that add up to its beauty. If you are preparing your holidays at Sicily, it"s the best thought.

Due to its geographic position it has a Mediterranean climate where the summers are warm, hot and dry, winters are warm and wet as this region gets rainfall during winters. Sicily is generally a vivid land receiving a lot of sunshine mostly all through the year. This island has bright and lively sunny days and at sunset Sicily looks amazingly attractive as the sun sets behind the wonderful mountains. This scene is most pleasurable on the sparkling beaches of Sicily, La Spiagga is a popular beach where tourists enjoy the enjoyable day time and the blissful evening sunset.

Sicily is famous for its traditions and culture which can evidently depicted through the cuisine, arts and architecture and the language that the locales of Sicily speak. This island is especially noted for its cuisines and wines and thus famously called God"s Kitchen. The food variety is pure and conventional and quiet affordable too, so you won"t find a trouble in trying all types of food specialties cooked there. The cuisines of Sicily comprise a variety of dishes cooked by using fresh fruits and vegetables which are healthy and are spiced with a topping of the traditional herbs and spices of Sicily, the savor and the taste is splendid. These mouth-watering dishes include a range of fresh vegetables like tomatoes, artichokes, olives, citrus, apricots, aubergines, onions, beans, raisins along with the freshly caught sea-food which include tuna fish, sea bream, cuttlefish, sea bass, swordfish, sardines etc.. These are cooked by easy and conventional methods. Not only these, the sweet dishes like Cannoli, a variety of Doughnuts, Bucellato, Ciarduna, Pignoli, bruccellati, sesame seed cookie are also awesome, to get the true rich taste of all these unique cuisines it is excellent to visit Sicily. They use a lot of cheese and a range of spices like saffron, nutmeg, cloves, pepper and cinnamon which add taste to their food. Parsley is used in almost all the dishes. So all food lovers your search is over, enjoy the conventional food at Sicily.

Sicily is rich in arts which is revealed by its popular paintings, sculptures and several poets, musicians, philosophers who have left their identity from the Greek rule. People of Sicily are bilingual; they speak a different language called the Romance Language which originates from Indo-European language family which includes all the languages basically from Latin, an historic language from Rome. Sicily people usually speak the traditional Romance Language. Its awesome artistic hotels give you a pleasant and relaxed stay. So enjoy your holidays at Sicily.

Hence, feel the “Garden of Mediterraneana and observe Sicily"s pleasant and traditional way of living. You can land at any three airports of Sicily, the Catania-Fontanarossa Airport which is busiest of other two, Palermo International Airport which is bigger as compared to Trapani-Birgi Airport. Well the size of the airports barely matter, as far as you reach Sicily and enjoy its true tradition and natural beauty to its fullest.

Lake Como – A Cure For Ill Humour

Lake Como has a particular effect on visitors, best summed up in words like relaxing, calming, re-invigorating and even inspiring. You could describe the process as stress busting, wellness creation, holistic therapy or just plain getting your head straight.
But if we’re going to use jargon, I’d rather use the jargon of an earlier millennium. It seems to fit the place better. To be specific, I prefer to employ terminology used by the scholar Galen and say there are cures at Lake Como for all excesses of humours. That may well be a travesty of Galen’s work and achievements: but I think he’d forgive me if we ever met at Lake Como. If he wasn’t dead, that is.

Galen apparently recognised four different kinds of personality, by reference to their dominant ‘humour’ - fiery, cold, melancholic and irritable. Many of us arrive on holiday suffering from an excess of one or the other. In fact, with the complexity of life today, we could easily exhibit the signs of all four in a single day – possibly the day we set out on vacation. No problem. Lake Como can bring those humours back into equilibrium.

It can do that because Lake Como is probably the most harmonious place on earth, for two reasons. The first is the way in which the Lake, mountains and weather combine to provide a seemingly endless variety of different but equally breathtaking views. The second is the fact that humanity has not only not spoiled the environment but has actually added the finishing touches.

They come in the form of grand villas and picturesque villages, beautifully posed along narrow strips of waterside or scattered like colonies of seabirds across steep hillsides. Nothing jars. You can explore Lake Como for days and come across nothing ugly. That’s got to put you in a good frame of mind.

Whether you’re planning a completely restful holiday, or lots of sightseeing and/or activities, you’re very likely to go home feeling ‘better’ in body, mind or spirit. than when you arrived – not just because of what you did but because of where you did it.

So, if you’re not in good humour, try the Lake Como cure. Unless I’m much mistaken, you’ll soon be able to bin the alternative remedies - powdered unicorn horn and dried stag’s tears - and put the leech farm into storage.

A Guide To Car Hire At Verona Villafranca Airport

Easily one of the most romantic destinations in the world and mythical home to Shakespeare´s Romeo and Juliet, Verona is an achingly beautiful and interesting city to visit throughout the year. Whether you enjoy uncovering the background of a destination through its ancient palaces and historical remains, or prefer to indulge in some serious shopping and fabulous cuisine, Verona is the place to go.


To get to Verona Villafranca Airport, it is possible to fly direct from Gatwick with British Airways and then the best option is to hire a car. This enables you to take in all the wonderful sights, from The Arena Roman amphitheater to the magnificent Lake Garda, and set your own agenda. There are 8 Verona Airport car hire companies in total based in the arrivals hall. These are Autoeuropa, Avis, easyCar, Europcar, Hertz, Italy by Car, Maggiore and Sixt.

Remember that when you arrive at the check-in desk you will need to present your full driving license, passport and a valid credit card, as a debit card will not be accepted. Even if you have already paid in advance you will need to do this as it is used to authorise your request. Many of the companies have an age restriction, such as Europcar which only allows drivers aged 21 and above to car hire at Verona Villafranca Airport. Even those of the correct age may also be changed an additional Young Driver Surcharge when hiring from certain vehicle categories.

Each of the Verona Airport car rental firms has a diverse range of vehicles. For example from Autoeuropa you can hire anything from a Smartcar to a minivan, a sports car to an off-road vehicle and even bigger trucks for removals, through to scooters. If you choose Avis Prestige, you could even indulge in a Aston Martin Vantage and really experience the Italian landscape in style. The only way to top this would be to arrange one of the chauffeur driven hire cars, a service offered by firms like Maggiore.

If you are planning to do most of the trip by foot but would like to maybe have one day of the holiday to explore the surrounding countryside and towns, then certain companies offer short-term rentals. Hertz has a scheme called Hertz 369 where you can rent a car for just 3, 6 or 9 hours. With it you get 24 hour roadside assistance and it is often a much cheaper and more convenient alternative to hiring a taxi or slumping around on buses. Plus with their Rent-It-Here/Leave-It-There option you could even rent a car to get you between destinations if you are planning a multi-trip excursion.

Rental firms will often work in partnership with the airlines to provide great deals for customers and in this case Hertz have teamed up with the AA to give all their members a 15 percent discount on their quote. Also Italy by Car, run by both Thrifty and Dollar, give those who pay by American Express a 10 percent discount. It is also possible to join up to the variety of groups or privilege card schemes on offer. By signing up to be part of Avis Preferred you get such a fast service that they guarantee if you do not receive your keys in 3 minutes from the moment you arrive at the check-in desk with your ticket, you receive £20 cash.

Most like Maggiore, provide discounted rates and promotional offers to their members, while easyCar offers exclusive discounts if you sign up to their newsletter, plus free cancellation within 7 days of booking. Insurance tends to vary between the Verona Airport Car Rental companies and you should check how much is included in the price and what you may have to pay as an additional charge. For optional extras such as child safety seats, ski racks, satellite navigation systems or even in-car DVD players in some cases, make sure to reserve in advance at the point of booking to avoid disappointment.

Historical Roots Of Italian Glass

In 1291 the Grand Council of Venice ordered all the glass makers out of the city onto the island of Murano, apparently out of a concern about the fire risk from the Kilns. That hardly seems the way to found the greatest glass making center the world has ever seen, and yet Venice went on to dominate European glass making for hundreds of years. The history of Italian glass is centered around the city, and it's still important today. Looking back, it seems the order of 1291 was a cornerstone in the overwhelming and enduring success of Venetian glass.

Trace back the history of fine glass making, Italian or otherwise, and you'll find it's a skill passed from generation to generation, moving with the Artisans. The art of glass making that was born in Mesopotamia around 3500 BC eventually reached Egypt. The Egyptians learnt to make hollow glass objects by wrapping molten glass around a core mould, then rolling it on a smooth surface to give it the desired shape.
In the 1st century BC the new method of glass making - glass blowing - was invented somewhere along the Mediterranean Coast and was quickly commercialized by the Romans. In this method some molten glass was attached to the end of a thin hollow tube. A glassmaker would then blow through this tube, thus producing various shapes out of the molten glass. Later this method was enhanced to blow the molten glass into a mould which allowed creation of a wide variety of hollow glass items.
As Rome fell and Europe slid into the dark ages, Venice eventually emerged as the glassmaking center of the Western world. Pretty much all Italian glass that we know of today came from Venice. The connections of the Venetian merchants with Syria and Byzantium along with Venice’s undisputed naval power on the Mediterranean and its covert participation in the crusades helped transport the glassmakers from the advanced Eastern regions into Venice.
While glass making had existed in the Venetian lagoon since the 8th century AD, the output had been practical items such as storage jars. The arrival of the merchants from the Eastern Mediterranean fueled a rapid expansion of the glass industry, and the production of all manner of decorative and artistic glass wares. The Venetians were shrewd, they'd seen how the migrating artisans had brought a new industry into their city, and they wanted to keep it there by introducing and legislating a monopoly on the production of Venetian glass. In 1291 the Venetian rulers forced the glass artisans out of the city, yet they offered them a new home on the nearby island of Murano. The island was not far from Venice, but it was isolated. It was not on the way to anywhere, no one had business to go there. It became a city of master glass workers, sealed off from the rest of the world.

The Venetians looked after their glass workers. The glass makers guild had the highest social status, its members were equal to nobles, could carry swords and marry into the most blue-blooded Venetian families. The Venetians ensured a monopoly on the finest raw materials, and Murano islanders were rarely called up for military duties. In return for all these favors, however, the law stated that members of the glass workers guild were not allowed to ever leave the Venetian Republic.

It seems barbaric by modern standards, but in those days ordinary folk didn't travel without good reason, and Murano's glass workers had little motivation to move. Venice's role as the most important trading post in Europe meant there was always a buoyant market for high quality goods. Their high status as first class citizens in a wealthy and powerful City was an enviable position. But perhaps most of all, Murano itself was an artisans heaven.

People born and bred on the island had glass making in their blood. All the activity on the island was centered around the glass making industry, focused on making the finest possible wares for the export market. Young apprentices were taught all the traditional skills, and they only had to wander around the neighborhood to work with the best glass makers in Europe. Most would be friends and relatives.

On Murano, the emphasis has always been on traditional techniques and progressive style. Nobody could become a master glass worker until they had learnt all the traditional methods, but when they had mastered the skills, they used them to produce items of beauty that followed or even challenged the latest trends and fashions. Murano masters did not just blindly learn the trade – they had continuously tried new techniques or improved existing ones, and the ideas that worked soon passed through to the rest of the community.
To this day mass production techniques are shunned in Murano, yet the best modern innovations are incorporated into the glass making process to make the results even better. Modern Murano masters use gas flames for their lampwork, kilns are regulated by electronic thermostats, but the manipulation of the glass itself is strictly done by hand, using techniques and tools perfected by their ancestors hundreds of years ago.

Today Murano is still pretty much as it's always been. An small tranquil island of canals and alleyways, it's protected from motor vehicles and the hustle of modern life. These days islanders may leave the city, but it is still filled by Italian glass workers, often the descendants of the ancient ones, who are eager to have a place in the unique community that revolves entirely around fine glass making. The powerful Guild has been replaced by a Consorzio, a legally recognized trade institution that both promotes Murano glass and protects the traditions of the industry, limiting its membership to artisans trained in the traditional Murano ways.

The Pilgrim Fathers landed on Plymouth sound 390 years ago to eventually create what we now know as the U.S.A. The Roman empire lasted 500 years. The glass making community of Murano was founded 719 years ago; you can't help wondering whether the rulers of venice realized that they were creating such a venerable and unique institution.

Sicily : A Perfect Place For Travel Photography

The Island of Sicily is an autonomous region of Italy, on west of the southern end of the Italian peninsula. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, separated from the mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina. An island of great natural beauty, this is a great location for travel photography and this is discussed below.

The beautiful island of Sicily is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west and south, by the Ionian Sea on the east, and by the Tyrrhenian Sea on the north. The island is almost entirely covered by hills and mountains (continuations of the Apennines). Mt. Etna (over 3,000 meters high), in the east, is the highest point on the island. Sicily also includes the Egadi Islands, the Lipari Islands, the Pelagie Islands, the Pantelleria Island, and Ustica Island. The land area of Sicily covers 25,000 km² and hosts a population in excess of five million Sicilians. The language of the natives of Sicily is also called Sicilian; Sicilian also the name of the language - a language whose origins originates from a number of other languages including Spanish, Catalan, Latin, French and Arabic.

The beauty of Sicily and what makes it an ideal location for travel photography is a combination of the climate, locations, history and deep culture. You can take photographs high up on the Etna Volcano with the snow black (black due to the affects of colourisation from the black lava) and on the same day you can take photographs in the sunshine on the coast. There are also many classy and cute villages and sites. Hisrotical sites include Roman Ruins, while more natural sites include the rocky coast and the man made vineyards and olive farms which you can easily find. Sicily is so rich in culture that for travel photography, this is an island which gives you so much to capture on camera. It is hard not to get good pictures on this stunning Mediterranean island.

Sicily has a number of tourist attractions that offer a opportunities for travel photography. Some of the major attractions of the island include Augusta (a town north of Syracuse), Cefalu (Sicily's main beach resort), Eraclea Minoa (Greek ruins above an attractive beach), Gole dell'Alcantara (a deep impressive gorge), Milazzo (gateway to the Aeolian Islands), Monreale (impressive cathedral above Palermo), Mount Etna (impressive 3323m high active volcano), Piazza Armerina (home of impressive Roman mosaics), Ragusa (impressive baroque architecture), Segesta (greek temple and ruins), Sciacca (quite south coast port) and Selinunte (impressive greek temples).

Short City Break In Venice

The enchanting city of Venice has long been a favourite destination for couples seeking a romantic getaway. Beautiful surroundings, famous landmarks, fantastic food and the inevitable gondola rides attracts many to this Italian city to bask in the laid back Italian way of life. Venice also offers the unique experience of walking around a city that was built based on a canal system to move about, making for some interesting walking tours around this maze-like historic city.

Walking around the city is the best way to take in all of the unique architecture and character of Venice. A map is essential to tackling the winding streets of this city even though it will probably not protect against getting lost. But what better place is there to be lost in than Venice? Walking is also a great way to discover some of the lesser known neighbourhoods of this town, thus providing a more authentic experience. For those who want a true taste of Italy, those areas that lie off the beaten path also offer more authentic and tastier meals which cater less toward foreign visitors.

Visiting away from the tourist centre can also be a nice break from the numbers of visitors that Venice receives, especially during the summer months when the city is full and the weather is hot. A gondola ride to explore some of the bordering neighbourhoods is also a good excuse to hop on a boat as these rides get considerably cheaper the farther you stray from the main tourist area.

Any time of year that you find yourself in Venice, there are some must see attractions that you will happily brave the crowds to see. The Piazza San Marco is a large public square and serves as the main meeting place in the city. The Piazza is also the location of some more must see attractions such as St Marks Cathedral, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile and several museums. Depending on what you are interested in seeing, you can choose to spend just a day touring the attractions of the Piazza or, if museums and cathedrals are your thing, you can happily spend more than a few days exploring all there is to see in this little space.

There are plenty more cathedrals and museums to see in Venice, and if you plan on visiting it is a good idea to book tickets in advance - especially if you are there during the summer months. Queues can be long and the weather will be hot, making standing in line pretty unpleasant. The same goes for booking a hotel in Venice during the peak season as accommodation fills up fast, especially at the hotels near the centre so it's best to book early.

Venice is also a good place to see some of the other islands around Venice. The quaint towns can easily be seen on a day trip or you can even go to another country like Croatia by ferry although it is advisable to take more time than just one day. Venice is a great city to get a taste of Italy's culture, but be warned, there is a great chance that it will only whet your appetite for more!

The Nightlife Of Venice

Are you a decent nightlife buff? Are you planning to set out to Venice to enjoy the beautiful city’s comely nightlife? If your answer is affirmative, you are planning absolutely right

You know, Venice is the gorgeous “Queen of the Adriatic.” It’s a beautiful city of northeast Italy built on 118 islets within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice, an arm of the Adriatic Sea.

Often dubbed as “bride of the sea,” Venice is the city with unspeakable romances hidden in her bosom. The city is widely known for is sensual romantic aroma. It’s a pleasing placid promised land eternally kissed and fondled by sea. Venetians call it “the most serene one.”

Venice, the capital of the Venice province and Veneto region, is the “city of canals.” The city has a wonderful network of canals with the Grand Canal serving as its main canal. It’s a city of gondolas and boats moving around. It’s been beautifully pictured by Shakespeare in ‘the merchant of Venice’ and ‘Othello’. Italy's major port, Venice is the industrial, financial, commercial, and cultural hub of the country.

Venice is not the destination that will offer you extremely boisterous carousing nocturnal action. However it’s the best place to enjoy sitting in moonlit bathed “Piazza San Marco” and enjoying the melodies from the cafes' outdoor orchestras, with a perfect opera set of illuminating basilica before you.

The city has long and rich tradition of classical music. You can always find musical concerts going on somewhere. There are a number of churches and confraternities, such as San Stefano, San Stae, the Scuola di San Giovanni Evangelista, and the Scuola di San Rocco hosting classical music concerts, with local and international artists performing there. The Chiesa di Vivaldi has always been the most popular venue for the music of Vivaldi and his contemporaries.

Venice offers very decent nightlife that is mainly centered in the many cafe/bars in Piazza San Marco, one of the finest pizzas of the world. Piazza San Marco is the place magnetizing most of the tourist or nightlife buffs. It’s the most opulent and the posh place to linger over a Campari or cappuccino.

On the south side of the piazza, the 18th Century reminiscent Cafe Florian (San Marco) with the most theatrical inside is extremely famous. The place offers a million-dollar romantic setting including expensive alfresco seating to enjoy alfresco melodies with your loved ones. Some of the other options include Caffè Lavena, cafe Quadri, Caffè Chioggia, etc.

Bar Dandolo is a nice place to enjoy a goblet or two of drinks in chilly inclement weather and to relish the melodies of pianist that plays from 7 to 9pm and from 10pm to 12:30am. The drinks are little expensive, so ‘checking out the rate list’ is the better idea. Green Pub, Bareto Rosso and Bar Salus are some other options available in the city.

Campo Santo Stefano is good place to sit and enjoy. Bar/Gelateria Paolin and Gelateria Nico are one of the city's best ice-cream sources. Campo San Bartolomeo, Campo San Luca, Campo Santa Margherita are some popular places for hanging out for young crowd.

Although Venice boasts of a number of night clubs and discos, the city seldom gets widely bouncy at nights. Le Bistrot de Venise is popular venue for occasional evenings of live music, cabaret, or late-night relaxing.

The Devil's Forest Pub (San Marco) is popular point for relaxing, socializing over a beer, and having some nice time playing games like backgammon, chess, and Trivial Pursuit. It serves A variety of simple pasta dishes and fresh sandwiches run from 3€ to 6€ ($3.75-$7.50). El Moro Pub (Castello 4531) is great place for “Beering.” Bácaro Jazz (Rialto, San Marco) is Cocktail-bar offering drinks along with the mix of jazzy music, rough plank walls, industrial-steel tables, and a corrugated aluminum ceiling.

Paradiso Perduto (Cannaregio 2540, on Fondamenta della Misericordia) is popular for live jazz shows. Famous for offering good food at reasonable prices, it’s extremely popular with Americans and other foreign tourists. Torino@Notte (San Marco 459) is bar that makes life highly peppy after dark with live jazz nights. Harry's Bar (at the San Marco-Vallaresso Vaporetto) stop is famous for Bellini, a mix of champagne and peach juice.

Venice is often a serene city, but if you want little disco out, Piccolo Mondo (Dorsoduro 1056, near the Accademia) is a disco/pub featuring America's latest dance music and live music shows. The club is often frequented by lively tourists and young Venetians. Casanova (Near the train station on Lista di Spoagna) is another dance club/bar/restaurant that opens at 6 pm; restaurant stays open until midnight, and disco stays open until 4 am.

Located at Palazzo Vendramin Calergi, the remarkable 15th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal, Casino Municipale di Venezia offers nice gambling opportunities in Venice.

On the whole, Venice is a connoisseur’s delight. The exquisite city is stuffed with a number of beautiful sites offering nice views of ocean, elegant edifices, museums & galleries, parks, theaters, and fine hotels. You should check and book your Venice hotel before setting out forth.

Venice's Feast Of The Redeemer

One of the most interesting times to be in Venice is during the Festa del Redentore, or Festival of the Redeemer. While February’s Carnival celebration undoubtedly has its share of excitement, it is a tradition that has been recreated largely for tourists, while the Festa del Redentore, held on the third Sunday in July, is an authentically local event that holds a place of importance for Venice’s citizens.

The festival’s participants spend the day Saturday decorating their boats or rooftop terraces, preparing for the evening’s fireworks. A temporary floating bridge is strung across the Giudecca Canal, allowing people to walk across to the Church of the Redentore. The revelers begin to gather at sunset, filling up Saint Mark’s basin with their boats, festively decorated with balloons and garlands, to dine while awaiting the nighttime display. People eagerly gather and celebrate on rooftops, on boats, on the waterfront. The fireworks begin in the late evening and last for up to an hour, filling onlookers with intense emotions from the Giudecca to the Lido, where young people gather to enjoy the fireworks from afar and carry on their own festivities throughout the night. On Sunday morning locals either attend church or the Regata del Redentore, the traditional race held along the Giudecca Canal.

The Festa del Redentore originated between 1575 and 1577, during an outbreak of the plague that devastated Venice. During this brief period a full third of the city’s population or more fell victim to the killer disease, notably Venice’s great painter Titian. The Senate, urged by the Doge, Alvise Mocenigo, commissioned a majestic church dedicated to Christ the Redeemer to be built on the island of Giudecca as a plea for divine intervention. Within a year the city had become free of the plague, and the grateful citizens of Venice have celebrated the Festival of the Redeemer every year since.