Just the Aeroporto Internazionale d’Abruzzo moved 3,300 tons cargo and 371,247 passengers during 2007, figures that help you understand why the sandy beaches of Pescara are among the favorite summer destinations in Italy, although the city’s beneficial climate makes it appropriate destination to visit all year round.

Despite its historic background, there are not ancient ruins to visit in this city because it was devastated by Nazis during the World War II, although many buildings and monuments were successfully restored after Pescara’s reconstruction in the 1960s and guided city tours can take you to discover them.

Anyway, walking through the city visitors can enjoy the unique architecture of Pescara admiring its waterfront residences, or finding the historic building that survived the war, including the Church of the Spirito Santo, the Cathedral of San Cetteo, the Church of Sant’Andrea Apostolo, or the Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Sette Dolori that dates from 1757.

When it comes to sightseeing some of the places to visit around Pescara include the Museo Cascella and Museo Ittico and the Palazzo del Governo, where past and present of Pescara have a permanent display along with sheep-raising culture that was the former activity of founder residents.

Pescara has also 21 ski areas that run from the highest region of the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea, so even in winter Pescara boos tourist activities at resorts such as Campo Imperatore, Roccaraso, and Campo Felice. When it comes to mountains, there are many others providing hiking and climbing opportunities, such as the Corno Grande, the Corno Piccolo, the Majella, Ill Calderone, and other smaller peaks.

Throughout the year, the streets of Pescara are also filled by harmonious sounds coming from folk festivals and the bustling activity around the city’s ice-cream shops and its traditional trattories. However, summer is also scenario of the annual International Jazz Festival, and the “Ennio Flaiano” prize that is awarded to the best performers and writers on theater, cinema, television, and literature.

When planning your vacations, do not forget that a large extension of land in Pescara has been designated regional and/or national parkland, including the Sirente Velino Regional Park, Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, Lago di Barrea, the Majella National Park, and the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise.

Close the Pescara, there are several Medieval and Renaissance town within the national park system, including Castel del Monte, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Pacentro, and Pescasseroli easily accessible as a day trip visit to admire a Medieval castle and two towers that the Nazi never found.

Italy propose a lot of sport hotel: from trekking hotels, to swim hotels but above all cycling hotels.

The sport lovers can choose between a lot of holiday opportunities because Italian geography is suitable for sport and nature vacations. The sport hotel are above all cycling hotels, the cycling tradition of Italy, in fact, is ancient and the cycling tourism was born to answer to the great number of cyclists that want to live a special vacation, between sport and relax.

The Adriatic Coast is suitable for cyclists, above all in Cesenatico that and has a long history begins with the sporting event that represents the city: The “Nove Colli” Race.

The race organized by Fausto Coppi Association was one of the first race in which run the young Marco Pantani in fact the cycling event was then renamed Nove Colli Marco Pantani. The stages of the race are studied for all kind of cyclists: from easier to from easier to more difficult.

The cycling in Cesenatico on the Adriatic Coast, is the most diffused tourism and the hotels in the area were structured in time to accommodate those who loves making healthy sport.

The cycling lovers found in this city a fertile ground for their training:

- Inland routes and routes between the peaks and plains
- Maps of routes
- Cycling guide
- Hotel for cyclists equipped with bicycle storage, expert guides, food for athletes
- Stay packages tailor made for sportsmen
- Energetic food for the training
- Cycling Amateurs and Elite races

The cycling passion meet the typical gastronomy of Romagna and inland walks of Cesenatico, between nature, history and tradition to live a really impressive scenario.

The cycling routes in Cesenatico are particularly suitable for those who love mountain bike: there are many itineraries ideal for those who want to enjoy a ride on a ground not perfect but very fascinating. A lot of MTB races complete the program.

Cesenatico and its hotel for cyclists for years welcome athletes from all over Europe and beyond, precisely because the hills that overlook the sea are the ideal background for lovers of sport immersed in nature.

The active holiday, the term used by industry experts, is spokesman of a new philosophy: relaxation and sport can reconcile on vacation.

The tourist facilities that embrace this type of tourism are turning to the Italians but especially tourists of the Alps accustomed to cycling, arriving in Italy precisely because the geography of our territory is well-suited to the lovers of bike courses knows how to fanatics of mountain bikes.

The Adriatic Coast and Cesenatico were equipped for sports and vacation in Riviera is not only just sea and fun but also training and healthy diet.

This article tells you how to sift through the overwhelming choice of Italian cooking tours and find the right one for you, so you experience a feast for your senses, heart, mind and soul, a trip of a lifetime and avoid disappointments.

A cooking holiday in Italy can add up to a big investment of time and money.

Maybe you’ve been dreaming for years about a cooking school tour in Italy. Maybe it’s a special trip to celebrate a 40th, 50, 60th birthday or a big anniversary with family and friends you love.

How to choose an Italian cooking school tour that gives you the joy and value you expect? How to protect your investment in your trip?

Ask yourself these 10 questions.

1. What is important to me in my Italian cooking tour?

List what’s important to you in your cooking tour. Read tour itineraries critically with the mind of a detective. If an itinerary seems vague, ask the tour operator detailed questions.

Here are some examples of what may be important to you and what to look for in tour itineraries.

A. Lots of cooking lessons? How many lessons are in the itinerary?

B. Lots of wine visits? How many winery visits and wine tastings are in the itinerary? Where do they take place? In wineries with the producer? In wine shops with a knowledgeable staff member?

C. Lots of stimulating food visits? What kind? Cheese and olive oil producers? Truffle hunting? Make sure the itinerary has visits that make YOUR mouth water.

D. Immersing yourself in Italian life? How many different local people do you meet and how many different towns or locations do you visit?

What kind of Italian cultural experiences delight you? Meeting an artist in his ceramic studio? Cooking in a family’s home and dining with the family? Are these events in your tour?

2. What is my budget?

Prices for a six day Italian cooking tour package vary from about $2000 to 5100 Cdn or $1900 to $4800 U.S. Four day tours go from about $1200 to 3400 Cdn or $1100 to $3200 U.S. at current exchange rates.

3. What kind of accommodation is best for me?

Some people are happy in simple, clean rooms in B & Bs with minimal decor because they’re hardly ever in the room. They prefer to put their money towards special food and wine experiences. Is this you?

Others want beautiful, four star hotels or country properties with magnificent views and rooms oozing with historical charm and designer decor. Is this you?

4. What kind of excursions do I want?

Is this your first time in this particular region so you prefer sightseeing? Are you a foodie hungering for gastronomic adventures or a wine lover thirsting for winery tours? If you’d like a bit of it all, how much sightseeing and how many food and wine visits do you want?

Often cheaper tours offer mostly sightseeing where you explore and shop in medieval towns and admire beautiful country panoramas.

More expensive tours give you exclusive gastronomic visits where you watch artisan producers making cheese or tour wineries with owners who tell you all you ever wanted to know about their wines and give you special tastings.

5. When do I want to travel in Italy?

Are you keen on the wine harvest? Food lovers swarm to Italy for the wine harvest in September and October when you have a large number of cooking tour choices so reserve early.

Is warm weather important? Generally in most parts of Italy, mid May to mid October are warm to hot. July and August in some parts of Italy may be too hot for you.

Would you like a quieter time when chefs and winery owners can give you more personal attention? You’ll find a good choice of cooking tours in May and June.

In steaming mid August most Italian businesses shut for annual summer holidays. Cities empty out. Masses flock to the mountains or beaches, leaving cities like Florence to the tourists. You’ll find less cooking school choice in August.

6. How many people in my cooking class?

Six or eight? You’ll get to prepare the whole lunch or dinner menu.

Ten or more? You’ll join the “eggplant” or “tiramisu” team and not learn how to make the other dishes. But the more the merrier! A larger class also may give you demonstration style, not hands-on lessons. Which do you prefer?

7. What level of cooking teacher and class do I need?

You can savour once in a lifetime experiences with great home cooks on their farms. If you’re a gourmet cook, you may prefer more professional level cooking lessons with restaurant chefs. Check cooking teachers’ qualifications.

Ask about class level. Most classes are geared to food loving tourists, ranging from gourmet cooks to rank beginners. If the thought of cooking with people who can’t separate eggs gives you nightmares, gather your own group of good cooks together for a private cooking tour or classes.

8. What kind of cooking lessons do I like?

Hands-on lessons where you put your hands in the flour, or demonstration style classes where you watch the chef’s expert moves and ask lots of questions?

Many demonstration classes tend to be large from 10 to even 20 people. Julia Childs reportedly had 40 disciples watching her in classes at the five star Hotel Cipriani in Venice and following her in a long line through the Rialto market.

9. Where do I eat on my cooking tour?

Do you want to eat in a variety of local restaurants, so you get a real flavour of different cooking styles and towns and countryside in Italy?

Or do you prefer quieter meals at your country villa or estate, where the chef feels like an Italian family member?

Less expensive cooking tours feature most meals at home, while more expensive ones take you to more restaurants.

10. What is included and not included in the price of my cooking tour?

Some tour itineraries don’t make it crystal clear what’s included. Some say “optional” excursions or lunch “on your own” which mean you pay extra. Some say “evening at leisure” which means free time and dining on your own.

11. Ask for references

If you want to feel reassured you’ve chosen the right Italian cooking tour, ask the tour operator for names of past tour clients and their e-mails. Contact them to find out first hand if the itinerary delivers on what you want to experience.

For many food and wine lovers, taking a cooking tour in Italy means a long time dream is coming true and represents a big investment of time and money.

Make sure your dream becomes a fabulous real experience. When you have a short list of tours that appeal to you, read the itineraries critically and ask yourself these 10 questions.

Buon viaggio! Buon appetito!

Many of the individual towns in Italy have their own unique Easter celebrations on Easter Sunday and during the days of Holy Week, including Good Friday. Easter Monday, also known as “la Pasquetta,” is also a notable holiday throughout the country, with schools and businesses closed and people taking to the streets to continue the celebration that began with the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ the day before.

Holy Week

In Italy, the most typical way to mark Good Friday was the day that Jesus was crucified – is by an elaborate procession, Passion play, or similar event. Again, the commemoration of this solemn day on the Christian calendar varies from town to town.

In Chieti, in the Abruzzi region of Italy, the Good Friday procession is said to be the oldest in the country and is certainly one of the most moving. Men and children parade through the torch-lit streets of the town, each wearing the colors of their home parish. They carry symbols that characterize the Stations of the Cross and one individual carries a large wooden cross. The entire procession is accompanied by the haunting sounds of about 150 violins playing Miserere by Italian composer Savario Selecchy.

In Taormina, one woman is chosen to portray Mary, the mother of Jesus. She wanders through the dark streets in search of her lost son, assisted by black-robed locals who attempt to help her find Jesus.

In Calitri, men in white hoods topped by crowns of thorns make their way through the streets carrying crosses on their shoulders. Church choirs follow them, singing hymns, psalms, and folksongs of the region.

In the Sicilian town of Enna, Good Friday traditions go all the way back to the period of Spanish domination in Italy, around the 15th to 17th centuries. About 2,000 hooded men travel through the main streets holding Vare, religious statues of the dead Christ and his mother, Mary. Others carry symbols of the crucifixion, including the thirty denarii paid to Peter to betray Christ, as well as nails and a crown of thorns.

Easter Sunday and Monday

Marking a joyous day after a very solemn week, Easter celebrations in Italy are spectacular and generally last two days, as Easter Monday is a designated national holiday for Italians.

The most notable Easter celebration is in Florence and is called Scoppio del Carro, the explosion of the cart. This tradition includes an ornate cart, dragged through the streets of the city by several white oxen. Following mass at the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, a dove-shaped rocket is aimed at the cart, igniting the fireworks within, which then explode accompanied by much fanfare and shouts of joy. A gala parade follows.

In Palermo, women dress in the elegant costumes of the 15th century Byzantine era and make their way through the streets of the town, handing out red Easter eggs to outstretched hands. In Chieti, a pageant is staged that represents the reuniting of mother and son, Mary and Jesus.

Easter Monday is a day of much merriment, characterized by events such as the wacky “cheese roll” in the Umbrian town of Panicale. Quite simply, participants roll their large wheel of cheese around a course set up on the streets of this quaint village. Whoever is able to get their cheese through the course with the fewest number of strokes wins the game. There is also free music, free wine, and lots of free hard-boiled eggs!

Without fail, Romans recommend that the best time to travel to Rome is from mid-September to October. Yes, it might rain, but the temperatures turn out to be quite nice, even if it is getting a tiny bit chilly at night. Almost no one recommends November, but I’ve had very good luck the last few years with weather in the first half of November.

Spring Weather in Rome

May has almost the same temperatures as October, and April, while you’re likely to feel chilly at night, is almost as good.

The effects upon tourism and the tourist industry could be numerous, though I will only mention a couple. Many people complain about hotel and apartment rates increasing, not only during the summer months, but throughout the whole year. And quite right I say, when there are 300 rooms with air-conditioning systems set to -5 degrees Celsius all day, (whilst the guests themselves are stripping off beside the pool trying to soak up every last heat ray that the sun exudes). Add to that, the fact that the hotter countries, including Italy, often experience troubles such as water shortages during the summer months. One cannot travel more than 20-30 kilometers outside of the center of Rome, without spotting a water tower; ready and waiting for such emergencies.

Then again, as a frequent traveller myself, I have to admit that I am amongst those who whinge about the cost of holidays and the annoying chamber maid that turned off my air-con again. I also complain after 3 days of staying in an air-conditioned room that my asthma is playing up and find myself, throughout the remainder of my holiday, popping anti-histamine tablets and taking my inhalers to counter the side-effects of my “cutting-my-nose-off-to-spite-my-own-face” overindulgence. (But that’s part of being on holiday is it not?) I am of course trying my best to play devils advocate. But, again in favour of hotels, the hotter the weather, the more washing of sheets and towels the hotels are required to do as people sweat and consequentially shower/bathe more, (affecting the volume of water).

As far as the industry its self is concerned, yes; people do flock in their thousands, from the colder parts of the world to the heat, as soon as the summer months arrive, BUT, when you feel like the core of your body has turned into volcanic lava, are you really going to want a 10oz Sirloin Steak and all the trimmings for your dinner; or (to use Italy as an example) a 4-5 course dinner of starter, pasta dish, meat dish, dessert and coffee/spirit? I know that I personally lose 90% of my appetite for large and hot meals in the heat. Then again I do drink more, so do the restaurants and bars rely on this to make their money?

For residents, the temperatures can cause several problems. People taking time of work due to problems such as heat/sun stroke, problems with dehydration or people generally taking days off to go to the beach. Add to that, everything in Italy slows down. The Italians are well-known for being “laid-back” and “easy with time”, but the truth is that in the summer months, it’s hard to get anything done. I know that I personally find it difficult to move some days without finding myself “glowing”. Older people in Italy are told to visit supermarkets and shopping centers to help them cool down. Last year I found myself looking forward to going to a well-known Italian meat supermarket, simply because the entire store is a freezer. The only problem was, I’d feel sick as soon as I stepped outdoors, as it was like jumping from Scotland to Italy. The heat, after the extreme cool, was thick and choking. Driving your car can be a nightmare, anywhere from not being able to plug in your seat belt or touch the steering wheel because they have been heated to melting point; to getting stuck in hot, sticky, airless traffic jams. Weeds and bushes on the sides of the road have been known to set on fire, by a combination of the sun drying them out and the heat from the tarred roads setting them alight. Occasionally there are problems with power-outages in homes and shops, because the generators, wires or transition boxes have overheated. Or how do you feel about brushing your teeth in hot water? The pros of course… if like me you are to tight-pursed that you refuse to fork out for air-conditioning, your power bill in the summer months can decrease to almost nothing in Italy. Unlike the old cold summers I used to endure when I lived in Scotland, there’s no need to have your water heater on all day to take a shower or wash the dishes. No need for heating or lights on all day thanks to the light and heat of the sun. And finally, my personal favourites, you can put away your winter duvet at nights and enjoy the reduced quantity of laundry, thanks to the fact you wear less clothes and used less bed linen.

Now in 2007. This year, June was HOT. Very hot. By far, warmer than last year, but it followed a very wet April and May. July has been up and down. I am lucky to live north of Italy in the mountains where we get some breeze; but on a trip to the south of Rome (where I used to live also), to visit friends a few weeks ago, I realised just how lucky I really am. The change in temperature from the north to the south was uncanny. There was literally a 5-10 degree drop that day between my home in the north and my friends in the south. More shocking to me, was the change in air. Being situated in the countryside here in the north, higher up and surrounded by fields and trees etc. our air is fresh and soft on the nose and throat (terrible for any one with Hay-fever, but none the less a good clean air. In the south however; my friends live in a reasonably built up area, even the countryside full of houses and small repair garages and abandoned buildings. The air is thick, smoggy and hot. My father, on a trip to visit, once described it as holding a hair dryer in front of your face and I cannot think of a better explanation.

I cannot determine whether the increase in the temperature within Italy, or the effects; are caused by Global warming, or if we are quite simply receiving a freak weather change; but as an expat in Rome, I can say that the weather change is certainly noticeable. As for the effects, well I could be right I could be wrong, I cannot know, but I would like to hope that tourism and peoples desires to visit hotter countries such as Italy will not be affected too much, as Italy is a truly beautiful country to visit and with so much to enjoy and such easy access to low cost flights and airports and with the ease of self-booking thanks to teletext and the Internet; it would be a shame for the weather to spoil it all.

• You will need to present your passport or you will need an armed forces identification card.

• You will need a birth certificate that is less than six months old. If this is not your first marriage you will need evidence of the termination of your previous marriage.

You and your witnesses will also need to swear in front of an Italian counselor officer in your own country that under the laws of your jurisdiction you have the legal right to marry. You will also have to go your country’s embassy or counselor office in Italy and swear that you have the right to marry.

Minors under 18 years of age need the written consent of a parent or guardian before they may be married.

All paperwork must be translated into Italian by a certified translator and certain documents must have what is known as a Apostille Stamp from the Secretary of State in the state in which you live. Contact your Secretary of State’s office to find out how to obtain this stamp.

With all the paperwork in place it takes anywhere from three to four days to get permission to marry for a civil ceremony held at a town hall. A Catholic religious ceremony is possible but very difficult to arrange unless you have a civil ceremony first.

A religious marriage is not so easy for non-Italians. If you wish to marry in a non-Catholic church it is almost impossible to do so without first obtaining a civil marriage license; it is highly recommended that you have a civil ceremony first and a religious ceremony afterwards. This is even true if you are seeking a Catholic ceremony. While it is possible for non-Italians to have a Catholic wedding ceremony in Italy, the number of priests who will conduct marriage ceremonies for non-Italians is shrinking and the practice is frowned upon. If you have your heart set on a Catholic ceremony it is possible. It is recommended that you talk to your local priest or Archbishop to see if they know of a church in Italy that will perform your ceremony. At the very least you will need a formal letter on church letterhead from your local priest stating that you have fulfilled all Pre Cana procedures and further stating that your church grants permission for the ceremony. Your priest will need to obtain a similar letter from your Archbishop. An entire package, including the two letters plus a copy of your baptism, first communion and confirmation must be sent all together to the priest at the Italian church where you wish to marry. You will also need the original of the marriage encounter with all of the church seals and signatures. Even after all of this paperwork has been presented, the Italian priest may choose not to perform the ceremony.

A simpler procedure would be to hold a civil ceremony prior to any religious ceremony. A religious ceremony to confirm a civil union is much less complicated to arrange, although it is still recommended that you make all arrangements ahead of time to insure that there are no last minute surprises.

In order to make your life simpler and to relieve yourself of the stress of making the official arrangements, it is highly recommended that you employ a wedding facilitator to take care of all the details for you. Why take the chance of trying to arrange your own wedding when a professional can guarantee to do the job right and relieve you of the headache?

Italy is one of the most beautiful countries in the world in which to marry and to honeymoon, so if your dream has been to be married in Italy, don’t let anything stand in your way. The land of “etterno amore” awaits!

Catching the right moment in wedding pictures is a fraction of a second, a dramatic difference, so if you want nice candid shot for your wedding in Italy you have to hire a wedding photojournalist. Wedding Photojournalism is often defined by people as “Capturing the moment.”The photographer gives any direction on what to do to the subjects.Another definition is, is “Telling stories with images.” For most of photographers is when the photographer does not interact with the subject in any way.He tries to capture images in such a way as to tell the viewer what was really going on and to reveal the emotion of the moment.

The difference between the two styles is dramatic. Working in a photojournalistic style is really the most difficult way for the wedding photographer. But the reward is that your pictures will have a real taste! A lot of people believe that you can not learn this style that you must have it mixed up in your eye…

Basilicata’s population is only slightly above six hundred thousand. While quite mountainous this is the only region of Italy in which farm workers outnumber industrial workers. Up until the 1970s it steadily lost population to other Italian regions and to emigration abroad. But all is not lost. Its east coast has become an important agricultural area. And the mountainous interior with poor soil and lots of sun; what could be better for producing fine wine? Let’s not forget that many consider Basilicata’s native Aglianico (also found in Campania) to be Italy’s third best red grape, after Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. It sounds like there could be a major breakthrough in Basilicata’s wine industry.

We’ll start our tour of this region in the northeast at Matera. Then we head south and east to Potenza. From there we go southeast to Aliano and then south and east to Terranova di Pollino and the Parco Nazionale. If you want a bit of seaside you could continue to the little town of Maratea on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. When driving in this part of the world, you’ll need a good map and good reflexes; the roads here don’t always go directly from Point A to Point B and rarely go in a straight line.

Matera, population sixty thousand, lies just south of the Apulia border. This area has been settled since Palaeolithic times, in other words for at least twelve thousand years. The Romans claimed to have founded the city in the Third Century B. C. Like so many other parts of Italy it was occupied by an almost never-ending stream of invaders. One of the proudest moments in Matera’s history was in September 1943 when it rose against the German invaders, the first Italian city to do so. We’ll start by visiting some typical sights and finish with something truly unique.

Matera’s Duomo (Cathedral) dates from the Thirteenth Century and was built in the Apulian-Romanesque style (Apulia is the region north of Basilicata, its architecture reflects Greek, Arab, and Norman influences.) There are frescoes and sculptures to admire. Check to see if the Thirteenth Century Romanesque Church of San Giovanni Battista has been reopened for tourists. If so, stop by. But these sights pale in comparison to Matera’s unique old town in which the streets are often rooftops and the houses, churches, and chic restaurants are caves, hewn out of solid rock.

The Sassi di Matera (Stones of Matera) are caves that have been occupied continuously by human beings for an estimated nine thousand years. At twenty years per generation, (remember they didn’t wait to finish law school before starting a family in those days) this works out to an incredible 450 generations possibly living in the same neighborhood. The area has been named a World Heritage Site and numerous bars and restaurants now take advantage of this unique location. What a turnaround from the days when Matera because of the Sassi was called ”la vergogna nazionale,” Italy’s shame.

Potenza with a population slightly under 70 thousand is the capital of Basilicata. Here in a famous battle Carthage definitively lost to Rome. The city has known numerous invasions and earthquakes, the latest in 1980. During the Second World War the Allies heavily bombarded Potenza. Monuments to see include the Twelfth Century St. Gerard Cathedral, and the Eleventh Century Church of San Francesco which includes a Renaissance painting entitled Madonna del Terremoto (Our Lady of the Earthquake). The Romanesque Church St. Michael the Archangel was also built in the Twelfth Century as was the Church of St. Mary of the Sepulcher. You should also see the Castle’s Tower built prior to the year 1000 and the ruins of a Norman fort, probably built on Roman and Byzantine foundations. All in all there’s a lot of old stuff to see for a small provincial capital that was almost destroyed by earthquakes.

With less than twelve hundred inhabitants you might be tempted to skip the village of Aliano. Don’t, it’s living proof of the phrase – good things come in small packages. The scenery is spectacular; cliffs and rivers, and gullies, and local growing things include olive, peach, and citrus trees. This lovely scenery may be typical of the region. However, unlike any neighboring village Aliano is famous thanks to an involuntary visitor who stopped by more than seventy years ago. Between May, 1935 and October, 1936 Aliano was the home in exile of the well-known author Carlo Levi. Levi, a painter educated as a doctor, was a founder of an Italian anti-Mussolini movement. This explains his unintentional extended Aliano visit. Once released from exile Levi spent two years in France but returned to Italy and was imprisoned once again. After the war he wrote a book, Christ Stopped at Eboli, about his Aliano experiences. This book exposed the problem of poverty in Southern Italy to the relatively prosperous North. Levi served nine years in the Italian Senate where he continued his fight against poverty. He is buried in the village. The house where he lived is still standing; it is now the Museo Storico Carlo Levi (Carlo Levi Historical Museum).

Terranova di Pollino is a mountain village in southern Basilicata very close to Calabria. It lies at the entrance to the Parco Nazionale del Pollino (Pollino National Park) the largest in Italy at just under 750 square miles (more than 1900 square kilometers.) Let’s quote their website “With its 192,565 hectares, Pollino National Park, the largest protected area in Italy between Calabria and Basilicata, has a wealth of landscapes to offer: great areas of wilderness where the cuirassed pine -the true emblem of the park- clings to the rocky slopes as the wind shapes its twisted trunk; close by there are rolling hills and valleys, lush slopes with flowering plants in springtime, and then endless upland plains where the sheep still graze like in ancient times.”

But that’s not all. The park is home to a wide variety of endangered species. Many fossils have been found including a very well preserved skeleton of a giant elephant that lived between 400,000 and 700,000 years ago. Other fossils date from the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Historic churches abound in the neighboring villages. Many of these villages are home to ethnic Albanians who managed to maintain their language and culture for over five hundred years. Look for their festivals during the spring and summer months.

What about food? Basilicata is very traditional when it comes to cooking. As expected in an economically deprived area meat consumption is limited. The major meat is pork and the locals know how to extract the maximum from their porkers. Hot peppers are popular and can be quite hot. Basilicata bread is consumed in many parts of Italy. Locals make a special pasta from wheat and lard. The Pollino mountains are famous for their wild mushrooms and for game.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Zuppa di Pesce alla Santavenere (Ionian Fish and Seafood Soup). Then try Spezzatino di Agnello (Lamb stewed in an earthenware pot). For dessert indulge yourself with Frittelle alla Lucana (Doughnuts). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We’ll conclude with a quick look at Basilicata wine. Basilicata ranks 17th among the 20 Italian regions for the acreage devoted to wine grapes and for total annual wine production. About 73% of the wine produced is red or ros?leaving 27% white. The region produces two DOC wines, Aglianico del Vulture and Terre dell Alta Val d’Agri. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. Only 2.4% of Bascilicata wine carries the DOC designation.

If you like powerful wines, try the Aglianico del Vulture from a local grape that grows on the extinct Mount Vulture volcano or its surrounding hills. This wine may be cellared for up to twenty years. The sparkling version may be either dry or sweet. The red Terre dell Alta Val d’Agri is made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and possibly some local red grapes. The rose version may include some local white grapes as well.

http://www.right-travel.com/index.php

Italy, a real treasure chest of culture and heritage – with Italy food, Italy wine, Italy culture and Italy history, is always on the top of a European tour list. A tour to Italy would not be complete without going to Florence. This city is in the heart of Tuscany and is sometimes considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. It is a place that is famous for its abundance of fine art and architecture and in the modern day, its fashion and leather goods.

In general the weather is very hot and steaming in the dead of the summer. We recommend that you wear light clothing. Be sure to have sunglasses, hat and sunblock, as they are essential. Afternoon thunderstorms (brief) are common in Rome and inland cities, so you may want to consider bringing an umbrella. The most romantic wedding traditions from around the word: Italy, Spain & Egypt

If you are feeling a little tired out after a few days of sightseeing in Florence, a Florence hills tour can be a great way to relax and wind down. With a great ambience and an aura of solitude the hills of Florence are very popular and ideal for those who wish to take a break from the city.

If you only have a few hours to spare and don’t want to venture too far from Florence, then a trip to the town of Fiesole is highly recommended. Set amongst the hills, just 5 miles from Florence, Fiesole makes a pleasant half-day trip from Florence and provides a wonderful view of the city. You can get there by bus from the centre of Florence in around 20 minutes.

If you have a full day to spare there are numerous tour companies that can organise day trips by bus, walking tours or biking trips. On the other hand you can hire a car and use a map to discover the delight of the Tuscan countryside for yourself.

A guided walking tour of the Florence hills will provide you with an insider’s view of Florence & Tuscany – you can discover the hidden treasures and learn of great legends and stories, giving you a more intimate experience of the region of Tuscany. A walk through the Florence hills is invigorating and you can soak up the beauty of the surroundings as you breathe in the fresh air and bask in the warm sun. You’ll also find plenty of photo opportunities as you pass by churches, castles, hill top towns and villages, olive trees and vineyards

For more visit: – http://www.right-travel.com/index.php

Why Italy?

Before deciding on a particular region when buying property in Italy, this section elaborates upon the various lucrative factors, which places Italy as the preferred investment destination, especially for British investors. In fact the popularity is such, surveys are indicating that people facing severe implications of the credit crunch are contemplating emigration to Italy, among various other options. 

Italy is a European Union (EU) member and in comparison to other members, the prices are pretty competitive. For UK investors, it is an easily accessible land, with regular flights. Moreover, the Italian government is quite responsive towards tourism and thus making every possible effort to enhance the investment convenience.  On the economical front, investors can make optimum profits by buying property in Italy, as there are no capital gain taxes on profit from property. In fact Italy is the land symbolizing property tax reforms, with substantial VAT discounts in store. As an added feature, if the investor could acquire the country’s citizenship, the purchase costs can be considerably reduced.

Where in Italy?

There are a host of tempting locations and options in Italy, where as an investor, it would be a pleasure to buy property in Italy. Apulia is one such area. It is a part of the southern region and famous for its wine and olive oil production. Apulia, among other investment options, has the famous white property known as Trulli. The property has several domed roofs and presents an enticing landscape. In addition to this, with two coastlines surrounding the region, there are many properties in close proximity to the sea for selection.    

Tuscany is also a region which will shoot up the list of tempting property for sale in Italy. However, buying property in Italy in this region is rather expensive. As an alternate, Calabria could be checked. Calabria is the destination for the curious, and has as yet to be completely discovered. It is largely a mountainous region, with the most tantalizing hidden secrets to confer. In addition to this, the west coast of Italy presents Sardinia, the second largest island in Mediterranean Sea. The obvious fantasies, which would surround an island, accomplish their job beautifully to wrap Sardinia in an attractive package. The region is a natural mystery, with climatic extremes in store. These and additional aspects help Sardinia climb up the tourist and/or investors attractiveness ladder.

Another region, when buying property in Italy, that is popular with tourists and suitably apt for investment, is Le Marche. There are seaside resorts and beach properties for sale, and the region also brings along excellent cuisine and wine to complement. In addition the Italian investment basket also includes villas and mansions in the countryside.

The stated is just an encapsulation of what all is available under the ‘buying property in Italy’ heading, but there is definitely much more to find out. Therefore before finally deciding upon any particular location, do take a definite effort in exploring the enticing regional specialties and then decide on where you are going to buy property in Italy.