Elba Island, Italy: a man-sized Paradise

It actually doesn’t take all that much travel to truly get away from it all. Those who are planning a European vacation but who want to escape the crowds and experience something more authentic should definitely consider Tuscany rather than southern Italy.

After all, just miles away from some of the most popular tourist attractions in the world is an island that has managed to remain a true relic of the past. And unlike other coastal attractions in Italy, or Spain’s most famous islands which see millions of visitors and gigantic jumbo jets, Elba is not your typical European summer vacation resort.

The biggest encouraging factor for those who are truly dying for a vacation unlike any others is the fact that, to the masses, Elba Island is not yet a buzzword. It has not been written up countless times in major publications States-side and beyond as the next rustic hideaway, (more…)

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“Piazza di Siena” Horse Show Jumping Event in Rome

In May 2010, the most expected international equestrian competition comes back in Rome: “Concorso Ippico Internazionale Piazza di Siena”.

The Concorso Ippico Internazionale “Piazza di Siena” is an equestrian race taking place yearly since 1922  in Piazza di Siena in Rome, an area located inside Villa Borghese. Since 1926, it became an international competition and now it is part of the Samsung Super League circuit, which gathers the most important eight CSIO in the world and where the best international riders take part in.

During such a competition, also other many events will take place, such as Coppa delle Nazioni, Gran Premio di Potenza, Gran Premio Roma and the Carosello dei Carabinieri.

A nearly 80 years old tradition, which at each edition gathers more and more visitors, horse races lovers or just curious people from all over the world.

The 78th edition of Rome horse show jumping will start just today 27th May and will continue ‘til Sunday 30th May. It will be the 2nd of 8 appointments that made the Meydan FEI Nations Cup™, together with similar competitions: La Baule (France), San Gallo (Switzerland), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Falsterbo (Sweden), Aquisgrana (Germany), Hickstead (Great Britain), Dublino (Ireland).

Piazza di Siena took its name from the city of origin of one of the most ancient and aristocratic families in Rome, the Borghese Princes. It was built under the will of Prince Marcantonio who, in the end of the 18th century, ordered to the architects Mario and Antonio Asprucci a new square, in order to celebrate the places of memory of the beloved Tuscan city. In fact, what he really wanted was to recall the traditions and the folkloristic events such as the palios, which took place for the Middle Ages in Siena.

A very stunning story rich of traditions belonging to two different cities like Rome and Siena, which mix together in a unique event.

So, we wait for you in Rome, from today to Sunday 30th May 2010. A perfect occasion for spending a week-end in the eternal city!

For further information about events in Rome, museums in Rome, or visiting Rome, remember the useful online tourist guide to Rome, www.aboutroma.com.

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Francisco Goya in Milan ‘til June 2010

Palazzo Reale in Milan is still waiting for you with one of its great exhibitions ongoing since March 17th 2010 and entitled “Goya e il Mondo Moderno” (“Goya and the Modern World”), which will be on display until June 27th 2010.

We are talking about a great exhibition dedicated to the influence the Spanish painter had on modern art, from Picasso to Bacon. An extraordinary collection made up of over 180 works, like paintings, drawings and engravings.

Therefore, the aim of the exhibition is to link and analyze the connections between the painter and other famous modern artists, by starting from a deep research about the themes faced by the Aragonese artist: the image of the new society, the expression of subjectivity, reactions with gestures, and violence.

Among the artists present at the exhibition, we find: Delacroix, Klee, David, Kokoschka, (more…)

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The Great Arts & Music come back in Florence: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 2010

The greatest and most expected appointment with music, dance and theatre comes back in Florence with its sweet, bitter, harrowing and trenchant notes.

Emotions come back with several performances starring great artists and titles. In fact, since last April 29th, the 73rd edition of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the festival dedicated to the art of music, ballet and opera has come back in Florence. This year, the event brings with it the charming East, in the pursuit of exotic and multi-ethnic themes, from Mozart to contemporary music, with the title “Verso Oriente” (“Toward the East”).

The Maggio Fiorentino playbill schedules great opera (more…)

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Holidays at the Elba island: sun, sea and culture!

Elba is the biggest and the most famous among the islands of the Archipelago of Tuscany. Dominated by the Mount Capanne, 1.018 mt. above sea level and called “roof of the Archipelago”,the Elba island was well known even in the past due to its beauty. It is for this reason as well that, between I° and II° century AD, luxurious noble villas were built there. Some rich - and gourmant, we add - Romans choose the isle for their otium.

Today, two thousand years away, it seems that history repeats.

In fact, the Elba island is the destination of many tourists who go there for enjoying its nature and blue waters.

You can find several Hotels spread all over the isle: Portoferraio, Porto Azzurro, Marina di Campo, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Capoliveri, Lacona, Rio Marina and Procchio, as well as last minute and holiday offers for the Elba Island as a destination. Just search for them! And looking at a survey published just before summer 2010, almost an Italian each two (43% exactly) goes online to look for information and to book a holiday resort.

But, what has to offer this small isle situated between Tuscany and Corsica, and who is choosing it as a destination for spending holidays there?

On land
Before leaving for the Elba island, just let’s go to a sport store to buy a pair of shoes and everything we need (water bottle, rackets, knapsack and k-way) to go trekking (or to nordik walking).
It is possible to find several itineraries all around Elba.
Passing through the mules dispossessed of their original function, you will visit a natural landscape made of heather plants and myrtle, arbutus and broom, among holms, chestnuts and corks. To find wild animals (boars, moufflons, fauns) is not rare in this area, as well as to look at the migratory birds that choose this landscape as a place for a rest on their fly from North Europe to Africa.
And the wild orchid, then, and the numerous butterflies spread in the air from Spring to Autumn, and the fields covered by thousands of aflutter colours.
Elba & trekking really seem to represent a successful combination!

At sea
Since we are talking about an island, we can not forget all those fun and leisure activities that one can do comfortably staying in the water.
From boating sailing (you can explore, for example, all the major isles of the Archipelago: Capraia, Giannutri, Giglio, Gorgona, Montecristo and Pianosa) to windsurf (Elba West Coast is well known in the sailboard field and among surfers).
And the snorkeling and diving activities in the Elba island’s waters. And even if you never tried the immersion experience in all your life (no, those done in your personal bath at home are not valid!) do not worry too much. The schools of diving on the Elba island offer courses at all levels, also for beginners.

At this step, you just have to look for your ideal accommodation. And if you are among the 43% of Italians looking on the net in order to find their ideal destination for next holiday, well, type “hotel Elba” on the keyboard and you will find at least 481.000 search results.
Have a good choice and…a good holiday

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Saint Ranieri Luminara enlightens the city of Pisa

Still today, Pisa hedges within its ancient walls the most beautiful and magic traditions of the past loved by its citizens which every year are celebrated in a unique way.

Among the most beautiful, exiting and stunning, we find the event of Luminara, which on every 16th June takes place in Pisa in honor of the patron of the city, San Ranieir, whose memorabilia are preserved in the Chapel of Pisa Cathedral (Duomo) since 1688.

On this occasion, some days before the event, about 70,000 little lights and candles are placed on the facades of the buildings (more…)

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The Sensa Festivity 2010: a new wedding between Venice and the sea

Among the numerous events organized in the city of Venice during all the year, the Sensa Feast is surely one of the most important and interesting since it represents, more than others, the union between the city, the sea and the practice of the rowing so called “Voga alla Veneta”.

The Sensa Feast came to life as a festivity celebrated by the Venetian Republic on the Christ’s Ascension day (the meaning of the word “sensa” in Venetian dialect means exactly ascension), to commemorate two important events linked to the Serenissima’s history: 9 of May 1000, when the Doge came to rescue of the Dalmatian people who were under the Slav menace, and the signing in 1177, of the peace treaty created to put an end to the long diatribe between the papacy and the empire.

The city of Venice began to celebrate Ascension Day again in 1965, to highlight the dominion of the Serenissima over the sea, their special union and the activities linked to it. The Sensa Feast presents a program that, more than re-evocation, includes several meetings and cultural events that started yesterday (more…)

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Turin International Book Fair 2010

The great appointment with books, reading and fantasy has come back. Also this year, Turin International Book Fair comes back with its edition 2010.

The trade and exhibition center Lingotto Fiere in Turin, as usual, in May will be proud to host such an important event, which has become the greatest Italian appointment dedicated to publishing industry, reading and culture, and one of the greatest events in Europe.

At its 23rd edition, the Fair will take place from May 13th to 17th 2010, with the following opening hours: on Thursday, Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. As last year, about 300,000 visitors (more…)

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Mille Miglia Race 2010 in Italy: the Historic Motor Racing

The 83rd edition of the most beautiful and striking race in the world is ready to start once again: the Mille Miglia!

Dear cars and engine world addicted, this time you will lose your head! So let’s see some of the race numbers: this year we find 375 cars in the race preceded by 130 vintage Ferraris built since 1958 ‘til nowadays, which will run on the road from May 6th to 9th 2010.

There will certainly be the presence of the Ministers Franco Frattini and Stefania Prestigiacomo and many famous personages among the competitors such as racing car drivers, Olympic athletes, actors, entrepreneurs and…obviously fabulous cars: 51 different models from 34 different countries.

The wonderful vintage cars will be driven by famous people such as the singer Jay Kay (more…)

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