Visitors still have a few days for taking advantage of this great chance: visiting world-known masterpieces created by the greatest artists ever.

Artworks by Cézanne, Gauguin, Monet, Matisse, Renoir, Picasso, Rousseau and Van Gogh are still on display at Brera Art Gallery in Milan until 5th February 2012.

Such beautiful works come from the collections of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts of Moscow. The exhibition purpose is to celebrate the exceptional combination of two great museums dating back to 19th century on the occasion of the Cultural Year 2011 that celebrates Italy-Russia relations.

All the paintings on view belong to two great Russian collectors, Sergej Scukin and Ivan Morozov, who in the beginning of 20th century bought their paintings in the most important galleries in Paris, creating in this way unique, precious collections. They were also friends of some artists and bought pictures simply because they had a real passion for art and not because museums or collectors were interested in them.

Visitors will have the chance to marvel at works such as Water Lilies by Claude Monet, Portrait of Ambroise Vollard by Picasso, The Prison Courtyard by Van Gogh and many other masterpieces, unique pieces.

Visit Brera Art Gallery, book your tickets now with About Milan.

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Brera Art Gallery
Via Brera, 28
20121 Milano

tel. +39 02 722 63 264 – 229
fax: +39 02 720 011 40
e-mail: sbsae-mi.brera@beniculturali.it

Opening Hours

h 8.30-19.15 From Tuesday to Sunday
(Ticket office open ‘till 6.40 pm)
Close on Mondays

Tickets

€ 12,00
€ 9,00 Reduced price

A special exhibition is still taking place in Venice, from last 1st October 2011 until 22nd January 2012. An exhibition in which history, adventure, science, trade, historical events and great artworks interweave.

As well as Cleopatra seduced Caesar and later Mark Antony, the charming Egypt was able to seduce Rome and later, in the course of time, the whole West.

The exhibition, taking place in the wonderful Sala dello Scrutinio at Palazzo Ducale in Venice – symbol of the city – shows with many findings the relationships between Venice and Egypt during almost 2 thousand years (from the classic age until the opening of Suez canal, an initiative proposed by the government in the 16th century and created only in 1869 with the help of the engineer Negrelli).

Precious archaeological finds, inedited books and artworks by Venetian artists such as Giorgione, Tiziano, Tintoretto, Strozzi and Piranesi showing the history of such cultures: the transfer of the body of St Mark from Alessandria in 828, the adventures of explorers as Giambattista Belzoni, one of the founding fathers of Italian archaeology, and Giovanni Miani, the adventures of merchants and diplomats looking for goods, hidden treasures and lands, curious facts regarding scientists and humanists decoding hieroglyphics and studying pyramids and the ancient science of pharaohs.

What emerges from the 9 sections of the exhibition is a description of contiguity, familiarity, relationships between 2 different worlds: two “far” countries, different for their language, traditions, habits and customs and religions but that were able to create a “Mediterranean culture” thanks to centuries-old relationships.

Strong relationships, if it’s true that Venice is the only European city that since the year 1000 has an Arab name different form the original one: “al-bunduqiyya”.

Over 300 artworks will wonder you at Doge’s Palace in Venice. Just think that the organization of the exhibition involved about 70 experts.

If you would like to visit this exhibition, book your hotel in Venice with About Venice.

Are you looking for useful maps of Venice? Have a look at the map of About Venice.

Wanna know more about the museums in Venice? Still take a look at our online travel guide About Venice.

You have time only until January, 8th 2012 for marvelling at the wonderful exhibition “100 presepi”, an international exhibition putting on display more than 100 nativity scenes.

It’s possible to visit this traditional exhibition at Bramante Halls in Piazza del Popolo, Rome, everyday from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm – also on Sundays and public holidays

Once again, the exhibition will present over 100 nativity scenes coming from all over the world, the name “100 presepi” indicates the number of the nativity scenes during the first edition.

Every year such an event gathers nativity scenes coming from all the Italian regions and about 25 foreign countries. Such works have been created by Italian and foreign artists and craftsmen, collectors, students and children, representatives of cultural associations, national and foreign museums.

Christmas is not Christmas without a Christmas crib! So, as long as we’re on holiday, we have time to enjoy these wonderful handmade creations in the heart of Rome. A reason more to visit the city, its museums, monuments, squares and beautiful fountains. Rome will make you daydream!

If you have never been in Rome, this is a perfect moment for doing it! In Christmas time the city gets even more beautiful, decorated with colours and lights.

We wish you all a very happy new year 2012! See you in Rome!

Tickets for “100 presepi”:
Full price € 7,00
Reduced price € 5,50

If you would like to know more about:

- museums in Rome
- monuments in Rome
- Vatican museums

or you wish to

- check availability and book a hotel in Rome,

just have a look at our online travel guide to Rome, About Roma.

If you are an art lover and are curious to know an important part of Italian History, then you should hurry up and come to Genoa to visit the exhibition “Capolavori d’arte raccontano l’Italia unita” lasting until 6th January 2012!

In the fascinating district of Nervi, close to the sea, four important museums (the Modern Art Gallery, the Wolfsoniana, the Raccolte Frugone and the Museo dell’Accademia Ligustica) are hosting an impressive collection of paintings, sketches, sculptures, dresses of the 19th century.

The exhibition is divided in four areas. The visit starts from the Modern Art Gallery where some portraits of the Savoia family will show us some important aspects of the difficult path which led to the unification of Italy.

The main part of this section is undoubtedly the one concerning portraits of everyday life, with its contradictions of the industrial revolution: the working and the leading class, the complicated situation of women at the time, the countryside life and the city life, and the world of children, the rich ones and the poor ones, which have been source of inspiration for many artists.

The visit continues at the Museo dell’Accademia Ligustica where artists such as Tammar Luxuro, Ernesto Rayper and Benedetto Musso influenced by the Macchiaioli of that time will delight us with their landscape paintings.

At the Wolfsoniana, with the four statutes of the sculptor Giuseppe Carnevale, who portrayed Victor Emmanuel II, Garibaldi, the earl Cavour and Mazzini, we will have the chance to be projected into the Risorgimento’s spirit that gave life to the unification of Italy.

The visit ends at Raccolte Frugone, where you will have the opportunity to see the two important paintings of the Macchiaioli Giovanni Fattori and Telemanco Signorini “La pattuglia di cavalleggeri” and the “Artiglieria in Toscana” which are inspired by real Risorgimento military experiences lived by the gunner-painter Telemaco Signorini.

We hope you will enjoy your visit!

Some information of interest
Museums in Genoa

Modern Art Gallery
via Capolungo 3, Genova Nervi
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Sunday 10.00 am – 7.00 pm
Closed on Mondays
Tickets: € 6
Info and Booking:
Phone number 055 010 3726025
biglietteriagam@comune.genova.it

Wolfsoniana
via Serra Gropallo 4
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Sunday 10.00 am – 7.00 pm:
Closed on Mondays
Tickets: € 5
Info and Booking
Phone number: 055 010 3231329
biglietteriawolfsoniana@comune.genova.it

Raccolte Frugone
via Capolungo 9
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday 9.00 am – 7.00 pm
Saturday-Sunday 10.00 am – 7.00 pm
Closed on Mondays
Tickets: € 4
Info and booking:
Phone number: 0039-055 010 322396
raccoltefrugone@comune.genova.it
Areas for children

How to get there:
Get a train to Genova Brignole or Genova Principe and then get a regional train to Nervi.

St Mary of Health Day is celebrated every year on 21st November, in honor of Madonna of Health, to which the Basilica placed on Canal Grande is dedicated. It is a catholic event celebrated by Venetians and consists in a votive pilgrimage to the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of St Mary of Health), which was built in late 17th century for celebrating the end of a terrible period of pestilence.

In 1630 Venice experienced an unusually devastating outbreak of plague. As a votive offering for the city’s deliverance from the pestilence, the Republic of Venice vowed to build and dedicate a church to Our Lady of Health.

For this special event, still nowadays thousands Venetians cross the long temporary bridge of boats (built for the occasion on Canal Grande) to the main altar to thank and to ask the Virgin Mary to intercede for their health.

By the way, this festivity belongs especially to the children: as a matter of fact, in front of the church a fair is set up yearly with several stalls selling the typical Venetian dessert fritòle, sweeties, candies, colored balloons, toys and much more, creating a special atmosphere between the sacred and the profane.

What are you waiting for? If you have never visited Venice, this is the perfect moment!

St Mary of Health Day is waiting for you in Venice!

For further information about this and other events in Venice, please have a look at our online travel guide to Venice: About Venice.

Tuscany Feast, the yearly event celebrated on 30th November, has been instituted through a regional law in 2000, in order to remember one of the main conquest of mankind in the field of human rights: the abolition of death penalty.

It was the Grand Duke of Tuscany who first abolished death penalty on 30th November 1786 wit Leopold’s reform. He also abolished torture and limbs mutilation, defining such practices barbaric acts.

This initiative made Tuscany the first country in the world to abolish this cruel practice, changing in this way mankind history forever.

Tuscany Feast offers a good occasion for thinking of the ancient values of justice and peace characterizing for centuries this region, and trying to diffuse such principles especially to future generations.

This edition theme is “Una sotria, tante diversità” (that is: “One history, many differences”) and several cultural events are scheduled in many Tuscan cities in the days before and after 30th November.

Many concerts, exhibitions, conferences and theatre performances are scheduled for the occasion, in order to retrace the region history since 1786 until today.

For further information about the most beautiful cities in Tuscany, please have a look at the following online travel guides: About Florence, About Pisa, About Siena, About Mugello, About Versilia.

Everyone knows the so-called “Indian Summer”, a meteorological phenomenon that takes place in Autumn.

It refers to a period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry and hazy conditions, usually after there has been a killing frost. Everywhere in the US, this period is more commonly known as the “dog days”.

In former times in Europe, “Indian summer” was called “Saint Martin’s Summer”, referring to St. Martin’s day, November 11th, when it was supposed to end.

The phrase ‘Saint Martin’s Summer’ comes from France where it is still widely used. In Italy, St Martin’s summer (Estate di San Martino) was expected and celebrated as a rural tradition with ancient origins, and is marked by a festival throughout the peninsula on November 11th.

By the ancient agriculture systems of Rural tenancy and Sharecropping the yearly rental of the lands traditionally ended just on November 11th, right at the end of the harvesting season, but still before winter. So November 11th is still considered a “moving day” because on that day farmers used to move from land to land.

Taking place in the period of good weather in the second half of November, the St Martin’s Summer is becoming more and more widespread and popular gathering many people in the cities holding celebrations and events.

The St Martin’s Summer begins on 11th November and lasts for 3 or 4 days. It is so famous and popular that in Italy there are a lot of proverbs dedicated to this period, and also several events and festivals in many Italian cities and villages. Born as a religious celebration, it has been turned into a range of wine and food events in which visitors have the chance to taste the new wine.

Many cities and villages in Italy hold food festivals, events and parties for tasting excellent, new wine and also chestnuts, mushrooms and hundreds of specialties and delicacies typical of the season: don’t miss the chance to taste such delicious products of Autumn!

The Autumn atmosphere, the days of mild temperatures, the gathering of mushrooms and chestnuts could be a perfect occasion for enjoying a wine and food itinerary in one of the cities in which this much-loved recurrence is celebrated.

Here it is a list of some villages in Italy celebrating Indian Summer.

In Ascoli Piceno there’s the tradition to stay with relatives or friends on the night of 11th November for eating roast chestnuts and grilled pork and tasting the yearly new wine.

In Castiglione in Teverina (in province of Viterbo), from 7th to 9th November, every year a wine and food events is held called “San Martino, Olio, Funghi e Vino” (“St Martin, Oil, Mushrooms and Wine” where visitors will have the chance to taste oils and wines and also the fine truffle of Valle del Tevere; everything together with music and folkloristic events. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to visit the Museum of Wine and Agricultural Science and to walk on the Strada del Vino (“Street of Wine”) of Teverina.

In Leffe (in the province of Bergamo), the basilica dedicated to St. Martin is decorated with lights and on the night of 10th November there’s a procession in the city streets. On this night, children will receive gifts.

In Quinto Vicentino, on the week-end of 11th November a country festival where many ancient jobs are shown with vintage costumes.

In Venice, children make some noise by beating lids and pots, and ask bystanders and dealers some coins singing a carol in the local dialect. With money received, they buy St Martin-shaped muffins.

In San Martino in Rio (province of Reggio Emilia) on 11th November, a historical parade takes place in the streets remembering the most significant stops of the Saint, his battles and benefactions, etc.

In Todi (in the province of Perugia), on 11th November hundreds stalls will crowd the city streets.

As you can see, you will be spoilt for choice! Just choose your favourite festival in Italy and enjoy the sweet Italian products of Autumn.

From last 17th September 2011 until 8th January 2012, the royal palace Reggia di Venaria Reale (located near Turin) will host an exhibition called Moda in Italia (Fashion in Italy), an event for celebrating 150 years of elegance.

A real journey in the Italian style and fashion from 1861 until today, from the stars of cinema to the great contemporary fashion designers. This extraordinary exhibition is one of the several celebrations scheduled in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Unity of Italy and it will present the history of Italian fashion with the most representative dresses of each epoch.

The exhibition will take place in the new Sale delle Arti at Reggia di Venaria, which has been proclaimed the fifth cultural site most visited in Italy since 2007, after a long restoration.

Such a great event will explain why fashion has always been and keeps on being still nowadays one of the main elements of contemporary Italian identity, a symbol in the world for its creativity, elegance and style, and also why fashion influences habits and customs and how it reflects society, culture and time.

The exhibition itinerary meets history and imagination, cinema, novels and current affairs by presenting authentic dresses belonged to historical personages who, with their style, influenced taste in clothes of an epoch (such as Gabriele d’Annunzio and the queens of Italy Eleonora Duse and Lina Cavalieri), but also famous cloche used in movies, like the much talked-about pretino created by the Fontana sisters for Ava Gardner and reinterpreted by Piero Gherardi for Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita, or the shoes designed by Ferragamo for Marilyn Monroe.

The core of the exhibition is represented by the clothes of the historical Fondazione Tirelli Trappetti of Rome: together with them, there will be other clothes coming from prestigious museums and the creations of the main, contemporary Italian designers. Almost 200 dresses on display for telling the history of Italian fashion, a century and a half of fashion history.

The exhibition is divided into 2 main sections:

The first one concerns the period that goes from the birth of the Nationals State to the birth of Italian fashion. This section is in turn divided into 2 parts: the first telling fashion during the Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946), whereas the second one tells the 50’s and 60’s, the period in which an “Italian fashion” was born and affirmed.

The second section goes from 70’s until our days and it has been created and designed by Franca Sozzani, editor of Vogue Italia. It is the crucial period in which the phenomena of Italian style and Made in Italy came to life and imposed their influence all over the world, strongly shaping the image of the so-called Belpaese.

Finally, at the exhibit there will be several workshops conceived for the schools, organized by Servizi educativi of Venaria Reale.

Italian fashion waits for you only at Reggia di Venaria (Turin) until 8th January 2012!

Further information are available on our online Turin travel guide.

About Milan, the online tourist guide to the city of Milan, from years offers many information and useful tips about how to spend your time in Milan at best, enjoying all the cultural, artistic and architectonic treasures of the city once there and providing also many useful maps, phone numbers and addresses.

This practical travel guide to Milan also provides users a wide range of tips on guided tours and the chance to book their ideal accommodation in Milan.

In addition, users now will find a new page under the section called “Museums Tickets”, an area where it’s possible to book your tickets for visiting many important museums in Milan skipping the line without wasting your time. This new page is called “Cenacolo – Da Vinci’s Last Supper” and here – besides many historical and interesting information about Leonardo’s masterpiece – it’s possible to book tickets for marvelling at the famous painting at a small price.

As a mater of fact, Leonardo’s Last Supper is preserved at Santa Maria delle Grazie Church in Milan and booking is required, thus booking tickets online is the easiest and quickest thing to do for discovering such a masterpiece without wasting your time standing in line.

Today this striking artwork has become even more famous thanks to the book written by Dan Brown The Da Vinci Code – and later by the movie – which fascinated millions people from all over the world, who today come to Milan to visit the famous painting and try to discover the mysteries the writer talked about.

We remind you that the Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15 am to 7 pm (admission allowed until 6.45 pm). Close on Mondays, 1st January, 1st May, 25th December.

What are you waiting for? If you’re planning a trip to Milan, you can’t miss such a masterpiece! Book your tickets for visiting Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper on About Milan.

Further information on The Last Supper are available on About Milan travel guide.

From Friday 9th to Sunday 11th September 2011, the 6th edition of “Con-Vivere”, the festival of philosophy, comes back in Carrara with the main theme “Bianco, rosso e verde” (the colours of Italian flag: “White, Red and Green”). This because the whole event will focus on the Italian Unity, analyzed from every side by many journalists, historians, economists.

This year, the festival will have as usual a rich program: it schedules 14 meetings, 4 concerts, 2 painting exhibitions, besides many book shops and restaurants open and beautiful squares crowded by people.

The Italian band “Elio e le storie tese” will put an end to the event with performing in a great concert held in piazza Alberica on Sunday 11th September at 9.30 p.m. with admission charge.

The festival will collaborate with Accademia di Belle Arti in the creation of a white-marble sculpture – conceived by Luciano Massari with the marble of Cave Michelangelo – which will reproduce the image of Italy.

Isn’t enough? Carrara will welcome you with the yearly and popular Septemberfest, which began on 26th August and will end on this Saturday 10th September. The Septemberfest takes place at CARRARAFIERE exhibition center in Marina di Carrara.

The Septemberfest, born in 1976 thanks to the twinning between Ingolstadt and Carrara, has become the greatest and most important beer festival in pure German style taking place out of Germany and gathering each year more than 120,000 visitors. Its great success is due to the Bavarian originality of beer, music, performances and gastronomic specialties which together create a perfect atmosphere for such a Bavarian festival.

At the festival, you’ll find 150 Bavarian people livening up kitchens and stalls with orchestras, performances and folk music groups cooperating together with about 70 Carrara’s citizens.

In addition, you’ll find a funfair and “Tutti in fiera”, the great trade fair organized by the TC&T of Carrara hosting hundreds stalls of shops, commercial, gastronomic and textile activities, etc.

Carrara, the world-renowned city of marble, waits for you!

For further information about the city of Carrara, please have a look at the online guide About Versilia.