Written by on 04 September 2010
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For group booking, you will get up to 30% cash back at HotelPlanner.com. Travelocity has over 10 years of experience in the travel industry. Adding to its credit, the organisation’s website was named as World’s Leading Travel Internet Site at the 2006 World Travel Awards. It owns a range of online travel companies worldwide to meet the demands of customers across the globe.
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Written by on 02 September 2010
Italy is internationally recognized for its vast culture, art development and language production. Travel to Europe and study Italian in Italy is a great option to discover the country where the two thirds of the world’s historical heritage lies. All types of architectural styles of the west globe can be found in Italy. Discover amazing cities as the region of the Tuscany that counts with more artistic expressions than the whole of Spain. The UNESCO has declared as World Heritage Sites more than 40 regions of Italy. Discover this astonishing past while you study Italian in Italy.
The Historic Center of Florence is a huge conglomerate of constructions and expressions from the Renaissance times and the Etruscan settlements in Italy. As you study Italian in Italy enjoy in Florence impressive buildings as the Church of Santa Croce and the Uffizi and Pitti Palace. Don’t miss the incredible works of Michelangelo, Botticelli and Giotto.
You should visit Rome and discover the capital of the ancient Roman Empire and the Roman Republic. In Rome you will enjoy religious constructions as the papal buildings and monuments to old rulers like the Column of Marcus Aurelius. Study Italian in Italy as you go around the extensive mausoleums of Augusts and Hadrian, the Pantheon and Trajan’s Column.
In Lombardy you must get immersed in the mystery of the Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Study Italian in Italy and find in this chapel a marvellous architectural complexity and the masterpiece “The Last Supper” by Leonardo Da Vinci.
The city of Venice is an artistic expression in itself. While you study Italian in Italy you will encounter the major maritime power Italy ever had. Venice constructions and its intelligent display framed by water, are the most beautiful postcard Italy will confer you. Also enjoy the works of master Titian and Veronese.
A special place to visit in the region of Padua as you study Italian in Italy is the Botanical Garden created in 1945. This is the first botanical garden created in the world and it still keeps its premier layout. It also maintains its original purpose of being a scientific research center.
If you are interested in the archaeological past of the country, you must visit the province of Udine while you study Italian in Italy. In Udine you will find the greatest archaeological reserve of the kind; go around the remains of the wealthy city of Aquileia that was destroyed by Attila in the 5th C. Here you will also find the famous Patriarchal Basilica in your journey through history while you study Italian in Italy.
Italy is full of Catholic and Christian religious heritage. If you want to enjoy the biggest expression of faith in the country you should visit the Sacri Monti as you study Italian in Italy. This place portrays a group of chapels of architectural design from the 16th C, with valued paintings and statues. The chapels are perfectly integrated to the natural hilly landscape with blue lakes and pine trees. Study Italian in Italy and enjoy a country rich in culture, arts and faith.
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Written by on 02 September 2010
If you are in the mood for a European vacation, why not consider the city of Bergamo and Lake Como in the Lombardy region of northern Italy? Depending on your individual interests, this beautiful area might be an ideal vacation spot. You can savor classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. It is hardly undiscovered, but that shouldn’t stop you from going. With a little effort you should be able to find some relatively untouched spots. Be sure to read the companion articles in this series that present Milan, small town Lombardy outside of its capital Milan, and the Lake Garda district with its interesting political past.
We start our Lombardy tour at Bergamo east of the capital Milan. Then we head northeast to the shores of Lake Como and tour the lake in a counterclockwise direction exploring Bellagio, Villa Melzi, and Como at the southern tip of the lake and then head back up north stopping at the island of Isola Comacina, and then finishing our tour at Tremezzo with its centerpiece Villa Carlotta. If you so desire, continue your tour by heading west to Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. You won’t be disappointed.
Bergamo, population about 120,000, was founded by the Celts well over two thousand years ago. It is the only city mentioned here that is not on or near a lake, but really that shouldn’t stop you from visiting. This medieval city, tucked behind ancient walls, overlooks or perhaps we should say underlooks the Alps. It is divided into two sectors connected by funiculars (cable cars); the older Bergamo Alta (Upper Bergamo) and the modern Bergamo Bassa (Lower Bergamo). Can you guess which Bergamo I prefer?
The large Romanesque Church of Santa Maria Maggiore was started in the Twelfth Century but its construction went on for centuries. The Torre Civica (Bell Tower) was completed towards the end of the Fifteenth Century. The church is right on the Piazza Vecchia (Old Square) in Bergamo Alta. Climb to the top for a great view of the Old City.
Bergamo was the birthplace and home of Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), composer of some 75 operas including the famous Lucia di Lammermoor, 16 symphonies, and a multitude of other musical works. He is buried in the Santa Maria Maggiore Church. If you like opera visit the Museo Donizettiano (Donizetti Museum.)
The Cathedral of San Vincenzo and Battistero are both situated on Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square), the old heart of the medieval city and in all likelihood the heart of the Roman city way back when. Their lovelier neighbor is the Fifteenth Century Renaissance Capella Colleoni (Colleoni Chapel).
Lake Como is a glacial lake shaped like an upside Y. It is about 28 miles (54 kilometers) long and at most 2 miles (3 kilometers) wide making it the third largest lake in Italy. Lake Como is one of the deepest lakes in all Europe.
Bellagio, population three thousand, sits at the center of Lake Como’s Y. It was a tourist center even in the days of the Romans. The famous composers Liszt and Schubert vacationed here, as did the writers Pliny the Elder (Classical Roman), Longfellow, and Shelley. This town is so special that Las Vegas has honored it with a hotel. I don’t need to see both Bellagios to know which one I prefer. Try to get here outside the high season of July and August.
Be sure to see the Villa Serbelloni surrounded by acres and acres of gardens laid out in a multitude of styles. It is now an international conference center for scholars and artists.
Back in 1801-1803 Count Francesco Melzi d’Eril was Vice-President of Napoleon’s Italian Republic. Several years later, perhaps to drown his sorrows over the Republic’s brevity, he built the Neo-Classical Villa Melzi in the south end of Bellagio right on the lake. Its garden, the only part of the Villa open to the public, is said to be the first example of an English garden on Lake Como. The spectacular garden includes a Japanese pond complete with waterlilies surrounded by Japanese maples and cedars, Egyptian sculptures, and Roman statues.
Como, population about sixty thousand, is situated at the very southern tip of Lake Como. Would you believe that it took Lombardy’s capital city Milan nearly a decade to defeat little Como way back in the Twelfth Century? Not very long afterwards, Frederick I, the Holy Roman Emperor, destroyed Milan and built several defensive towers ringing Como. Only the Bardadello Tower still remains. Climb up it and get a great view of the entire lake.
Like most Italian cities, Como has a fine series of old churches to tour. Here are some of them: The Duomo (Cathedral) a Fourteenth Century Renaissance-Gothic structure with statues of two of the city’s most famous residents, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger from Classical Roman times; San Fedele, an Eleventh Century Romanesque church with a beautifully carved door; and Sant’Agostino, Fourteenth Century Cistercian church proud of its old frescoes and Baroque decorations.
Italy produces over 90% of Europe’s silk and most Italian silk is produced in the Como region. Italian silk is a billion Euro (far exceeding a billion Dollar) industry. Find out more at the Museo Didacttico della Seta (Silk Museum). You can shop for fine silks at many nearby stores and warehouse outlets.
Isola Comacina (Comacina Island) is the only island in Lake Como. Do you remember the lengthy wars between Como and Milan? Well at that time the island residents sided with Milan and there was hell to pay. In the words of the then Bishop “No longer shall bells ring, no stone shall be put on stone, nobody shall be host, under pain of unnatural death.” At the start of World War I Isola Comacina was given to the King of Belgium who donated it to Italy after the war. It now hosts artists and scholars.
Head north to the resort town Tremezzo, population 1300. Its highlight is Villa Carlotta, built during a fifty some year period starting towards the end of the Seventeenth Century. When you see this villa you’ll know why it took so long to construct. The grounds are spectacular including for example more than 150 varieties of azelias and rhododendrons. Its art museum is dedicated to neoclassical art. For a change of pace, visit the Museum of Agricultural Tools located in an ancient greenhouse on the property. While the Villa Carlotta does not rent to tourists, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo is definitely quite classy.
What about food? In this part of Lombardy the cuisine is divided into three main sectors. The lake cuisine specializes in fish with some local favorites such as dried shad. The area around Tremezzo is known for vegetables such as asparagus. The mountain cuisine is based on polenta, a sort of corn bread often flavored with cheese or cheese, butter, and garlic. Other mountain specialties include free-range chickens, kid, and game. The third category is valley cuisine based on cattle and cheese, especially Taleggio and various goat milk cheeses.
Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Fettuccine con Funghi (Fettuccine with Mushrooms.) Then try Agnoni all Comasca (Lake Como Fried Fish with Anchovy Filets). For dessert indulge yourself with Torte Paradiso con Mascarpone (Sponge Cake with Mascarpone Cheese.) Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.
We conclude with a quick look at Lombardy wine. Lombardy ranks number 11 of the 20 Italian regions when it comes to acreage devoted to wine grapes and the total annual wine production. The region produces about 62% red and ros?nd 38% white wine, but there is little ros?There are 15 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Over 47% of Lombardy wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. There are three DOCG wines: the sparkling Franciacorta said to compete with French Champagne and priced accordingly, the red Sforzato di Valtellina, and the red Valtellina Superiore.
Interestingly enough no DOC wines originate in the vicinity of Lake Como, Lake Orta, or Lake Maggiore. However, Bergamo is home to two DOC wines, Valcalepio and Scanzo/Moscato di Scanzo. The Valcalepio DOC is vinified in several styles. The dry red and the dry white come from international grape varieties such as Merlot and Chardonnay. The sweet white wine comes from a local grape and has recently been classified at the Scanzo/Moscato di Scanzo DOC. I have not had the pleasure of tasting either of these wines. I have had the disappointment of tasting the sparkling Franciacorta DOCG wine made not far east of Bergamo.
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but between you and me, he prefers drinking fine German, Italian, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and the right people. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He teaches various classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com and his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com .
Tags: Bergamo, Como, Italy, Lake, Love, Touring
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Written by on 02 September 2010
For the citizens of Italy, largely a Roman Catholic people, Easter – “Pasqua” – is a very special time of year. It is, by far, the most sacred of all Christian holidays and, for most Italians, truly a reason to rejoice.
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!
Dominic Siano is president of Tour Italy Now (http://www.touritalynow.com), the largest online travel tour operator. A lover of all things Italian, Dominic has worked extensively in the Italian tourism industry. To learn more about Dominic visit his blog at http://www.domsiano.com.
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