The ancient Palio of the Gulf is part of the many traditional events taking place in La Spezia, a town surrounded by mountains and the sea, and every year it takes place the 1st Sunday of August in front of the waterfront “Morin”.

The Palio is a challenging rowing race among 13 fishing boats handmade by local craftsmen, with peculiar features for making them faster in water.

Probably, it takes its origins from the challenge among the crews of fishing boats in the waters of the Gulf of La Spezia (or Gulf of the Poets), where there is mussels farming (or “muscoli” as the citizens call them).

In the past, such races were very important because the winner could have the priority in discharging goods and fish, rising in this way their profit.

And still nowadays, this challenge is very expected and beloved by all the citizens of La Spezia, especially by the borgate (districts and towns taking place in the competition): Porto Venere, Le Grazie, Fezzano, Cadimare, Marola, CRDD (Circolo ricreativo dipendenti difesa), Canaletto, Fossamastra, Muggiano, San Terenzo, Venere Azzurra, Lerici and Tellaro.

However, the Palio is more than a race, is the heart of the city, is culture, art and many events scheduled in the works:

On 23rd July at 8.30 pm: inauguration of Villaggio del Palio, along the waterfront Morin and the exhibition “Sommergibili nel Golfo” created by The Historical Maritime Society.

From Saturday 24th to 28th July at 9 pm: five evenings of debates dedicated to the sea for making the public aware of climate change and the safeguard of the environment. The presence of Dario Vergassola is scheduled for such evenings.

In addition, from 28th July to 1st August there will be the Summer National Games “Special Olympics” of rowing, with crews, made up of athletes with or without intellectual disability.

The Palio of the Gulf in La Spezia will start on Sunday 1st August at about 7.30 pm: two thousands meters in about 10 minutes. The day will end up with fantastic fireworks at 10.30 pm.

La Spezia in Liguria waits for you in great numbers to watch the 85th Palio of the Gulf and enjoy the several events organized by the city.

For further information about Liguria, beaches in Liguria, islands in Liguria and much more, visit our travel guide to Liguria: www.aboutliguria.com

A not-to-be-missed appointment taking place in Parco San Sebastiano in Rome, which began on the last 11th June and will continue with several events until 15th August 2010.

Parco di San Sebastiano, placed in Via di Porta San Sebastiano, will host this great event for all the lovers of this world, with a revival of the best years of dance music, offering any kind of initiative…cinema, music, theater performances, exhibition stands.

Roma Vintage edition 2010 is a world apart that schedules several appointments: live performances for enjoying dance music hits of those years again, Jazz’n Blues, sport events, cinema reviews and exhibitions. There’s everything for the lovers of 60s, 70s and 80s!

The Cine Vintage and the area “Disco e Performances” are located in the Piazzetta Vintage, the center of the event, and here it is also possible to find wine and food stands.

The area reserved for the cinema wants to promote and give value to the cinematographic culture through many thematic reviews. The area dedicated to the dance music will make visitors feel and live the emotions of those years.

Remember, magical summer nights await you at Parco di San Sebastiano in Rome until 15th August 2010, with the presence of the greatest music of 60s, 70s and 80s, and many exhibitions every day! In addition, we remind you the FREE ENTRANCE.

For further information about events in Rome please visit the online tourist guide to Rome: www.aboutroma.com

This year the event will take place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th July 2010, in the charming background of the Lagoon of Venice. On Saturday night, the scenery of San Marco dock will turn into a world of wonderful fireworks, which every year gather thousands visitors.

You will marvel at colors and light plays moving through spires, domes and bell towers of the city. The fireworks will begin at 11.30 pm and will continue until 12 pm and longer.

And as tradition says, at dusk enlightened boats decorated with colored air-balloons come in the San Marco dock and in the Giudecca Channel.

The traditional Festivity of Redentore dates back to 1577, a year reminding the end of a terrible disease, which was celebrated with the construction of the basilica of Palladio on the Giudecca Isle, where visitors nowadays can go and visit by crossing a 330 m long bridge made up of boats. Celebrations include also a religious procession.

Finally, the week-end ends up with the final regatta of gondolas.

Here are the events scheduled for the Festivity of Redentore 2010 in Venice:

SATURDAY, JULY 17th
7.00 pm Celebratory opening of the Thanksgiving Bridge, connecting the Zattere to the Church of the Redentore on the island of Giudecca

11.30 pm Fireworks in St. Mark’s Bay

SUNDAY, JULY 18th
Redentore Regattas, organized by the Municipality of Venice
4.00 pm A children’s twin-oared “pupparini” boat regatta
4.45 pm Twin-oared “pupparini” boat regatta
5.30 pm Twin-oared gondola regatta

7.00 pm
Thanksgiving Mass at the Church of the Redentore on the Giudecca presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Patriarch Angelo Scola, with the city authorities in attendance

Other Events

FRIDAY, JULY 16th
9.00 pm Concert “Mottetti per il Santissimo Redentore” by the Ensamble Barocco Il Sistro, music by Monteverdi, Cavalli, Castello and others - Church of San Salvador (San Marco 4835)

SATURDAY, JULY 17th
9.30 pm Concert by Banda Musicale di Tessera C.C.R.T., traditional venetian music - Fondamenta Zattere (Chiesa dei Gesuati)

8.00 pm Redentore at Forte Gazzera
8.30 pm Fireworks

9.00 pm Redentore in the arena of Piazza Mercato in Marghera

SUNDAY, JULY 18th
11.30 am Marinaressa Gardens opening ceremony, Riva Sette Martiri

Further information about the city of Venice and events in Venice are available on the website www.abouvenice.org

A folkloristic traditional event, which every year draws the attention of thousands visitors, experts and curious people from every corner of Italy and the world.

The picturesque Piazza del Campo, a shell-shaped square famous in the world for its particular aspect, will host once again ten of the 17 contradas of the city. In fact, we remind you that each contradas has a horse representing it in the race.

This year, the 10 contradas running in the Palio are the following:

AQUILA (Eagle)
BRUCO (Caterpillar)
GIRAFFA (Giraffe)
LEOCORNO (Unicorn)
NICCHIO (Seashell)
SELVA (Forest)
TORRE (Tower)
ONDA (Wave)
ISTRICE (Porcupine)
DRAGO (Dragon)

The Palio, an event that has become part of Siena citizens’ life, takes its origins in 1644, when the first palio with horses was held.

From tomorrow, on Tuesday June 29th, there will be four days for preparing initiatives and events for the palio. As traditions says, the burst of the firecracker will ratify the going out of the horses from the Entrone.

The horses will have to complete three laps around the picturesque square (about 1 km). The winning Contrade will be the one whose horse, with or without jockey, will get before and win the famous Drappellone or Palio, which every year is designed by a special artist.

We remind you that it is advisable to arrive at Piazza del Campo about half an our before the Historical Parade. At Piazza del Campo it is possible to watch for free the race.

For further information about Siena and other events in Siena, please visit the website www.aboutsiena.com

Such an important historical re-evocation takes place in two different moments: the battle is preceded by a Historical Parade, a sort of military parade taking place along the Arno River. Subsequently, the real Battle is set on the Ponte di Mezzo, where the ancient historical enemy Pisa areas of Mezzogiorno (south of the Arno) and Tramontana (north of the river) will challenge each other in a very exciting atmosphere.

The Tramontana “troops” represent the districts of Santa Maria, San Francesco, San Michele, Mattaccini, Calci and Sartiri, whereas the Mezzogiorno represents Sant’Antonio, San Martino, San Marco, Leoni, Dragoni and Delfini.

During the days preceding the battle, Ponte di Mezzo is carefully set: an instrument in wood, a sort of heavy trolley (seven tons) is set on fifty meters long tracks. The final victory goes to the team that wins the greater number of battles, pushing the trolley into the enemy field and knocking over the staff with the banner with the colors of the enemy team.

If you’ve never visited Pisa before, this is a perfect occasion!

Further information about the city of Pisa are available on the brand new tourist guide to Pisa, www.aboutpisa.info.

In the meantime, to increase the excitement and getting involved in the positive energy in order to help our team win, give a look to the video that collects all the goals that Italy scored during the last World Cup 2006!

Anyway, whoever the winner this year, we wish to all of them an intense and exciting World Cup….and may the best team win!!

Italy GP is scheduled from 4th to 6th June 2010, and on Sunday about 80,000 spectators are expected to be there.

This year, the circuit offers its visitors higher security and very liveable spaces by strengthening the organization more and more.

In fact, in particular at the entrance turnstiles, the number of the employees has been increased for the welcoming of the visitors and the tickets check, while the parking has been enlarged and will be able to host until 30,000 cars. In addition, special attention will be given to the outside surveillance in order to avoid people leaving their cars along the street.

And now, let’s talk about numbers. This year, the employees reach about 1,500 people, among which we find 120 employees for the medical care, 400 superintendents, 400 guards and over 300 employees for the logistic service.

In addition, there are 4 tribunes (the central indoor one located near the winning post and hosting 3000 people) and other three open-air tribunes, which can be host until 10,500 people. Nine big screens located in front of the several tribunes and in the most important points of the circuit, in order to provide an excellent view.

During the week-end the area of Mugello will be hold up by visitors, and for those who purchased a ticket valid for the entire weekend, there is the opportunity to have free access to the pit-lane and to look closely to the boxes of their idols. A good occasion for taking a picture with them!

So, you will have the chance to see great personages like Valentino Rossi, called “the Doctor”, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, Nicky Hayden, Loris Capirossi, Marco Meandri, Marco Simoncelli and the new emerging champion Ben Spies.

The appointment awaits you all from 4th to 6th June 2010 at the Circuit of Mugello.

For further information and tips about the area of Mugello, please take a look at the online tourist guide to Mugello, www.aboutmugello.com

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, and the property value has not even skyrocketed yet as other Europeans try to figure out if it is the next hot vacation spot or not.

While Elba Island hotels are nice and accommodating, they are not trying to draw the crowd hoping for luxury cocktails in the afternoon, and they definitely don’t need to be. This is one of the few spots in Italy that is still about nature, and just a couple of days visiting Elba will have you rejuvenated, realizing that Italy is about a whole lot more than fine dining and even finer artwork.

There are a number of factors that make Elba Island special, but the truly unique qualities can be traced back to years and years of a diverse ecosystem without man-made planning around to destroy it. If you happen to venture into the inland areas of Elba Island, you are likely to come across wild boars running about, despite the fact that tourists have decided this is somewhere definitely worth visiting.

And for those who aren’t quite travel snobs, but who are always dreaming of discovering their very own paradise, this is truly the spot where it can happen. Because Elba is not yet the next big thing, you can enjoy the fact that the local culture is embracing tourism without worrying about feeling crowded while on holiday.

And for anyone who is looking for a truly relaxing and reinvigorating vacation away from the masses, is there anything more you could possibly ask for?

At the same time, it is important to understand that the true value of Elba goes beyond the fact that it is not yet the next “it” place to visit. This is, after all, an island mere moments away from Tuscany where you can truly have it all. If you’re hoping for challenging and mountainous hiking, merely head to the slopes of Mount Capanne, a popular stomping ground for local and foreign trekkers alike.

Likewise, you can also explore the eastern parts of the island, which include rolling hills and iron deposits that have been happily in existence, untouched for hundreds of millions of years.

This is a landscape that at once feels both young and old, and with picture-perfect views around every single corner, you don’t need to know the entire geographical history of Elba Island to understand that you are truly experiencing something both unique and exciting.

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 of the group Jamiroquai, a renowned cars addicted and collector, Nick Mason, the great drummer of Pink Floyd, the skier Kristian Ghedina, the actress Anna Kanakis, the royal Leopoldo of Baviera and the Prince Bernhard Lucas Emmanuel…and many others!

As usual, the arrival is scheduled in Rome for Friday May 7th 2010, a very spectacular event! The first Ferrari probably will arrive in Rome at 6.40 pm, and after a long parade at Castel Sant’Angelo, the cars will be hedged in Villa Borghese until the following morning, when they will leave again towards the city of Brescia (near Milan, Region of Lombardy) for the arrival scheduled for the evening, on Saturday May 8th.

The symbols of historic motor racing will go across all the Italian peninsula, but this time the path will undergo some variations, and the stop of Bologna will substitute Ferrara, in order to make all the cities crossed by historical Mille Miglia be protagonists in turn.

In addition, the new itinerary will reach Casal Maggiore, Manerbio, Urbino and Buonconvento, passing by the wonderful and striking city of Spoleto.

So, dear vintage cars addicted, see you soon on the Italian roads between Brescia and Rome!

For further information about events in Rome, please visit the website www.aboutroma.com

It is for this reason that the city of Siena celebrates this recurrence with an event including several fields that aim to involve all the city with many initiatives: children, adults and elderly people.

Such an event will go on until May 31st 2010…so if you are in the neighborhood of Siena or you have never visited the city, this could be a perfect chance!

In fact, the programme of the “La Città del Sì” - a periphrasis of a famous sentence by Dante Alighieri - includes many reviews, exhibitions, shows and conventions.

Every weekend – from Friday to Sunday – visitors will find many appointments and events for tourists and Siena citizens, who will proudly show to be the heirs of the prosperous Republic of the Middle Ages. Good old times!

Until May 31st 2010, visitors will find also an interesting exhibition at Santa Maria della Scala Museum entitled Libri e fotografie del fondo Giuliano Briganti e dell’Istituto d’arte, a beautiful itinerary into Siena’s art between 13th and 14th centuries (opening hours from Monday to Thursday, from 9 am to 5 pm).

In addition, on next Saturday May 1st 2010, from 10 am to 1 pm, with the initiative called “Le Contrade aprono i loro luoghi più sacri”, it will be also possible to visit (booking at Comune di Siena) the museums of Contrada Imperiale della Giraffa, Contrada Sovrana dell’Istrice, Nobile Contrada del Nicchio, Contrada Capitana dell’Onda, Contrada della Pantera e Contrada della Torre.

Events, museums, culture…for a May dedicated to fun in the medieval and wonderful city of Siena.

Further information about events in Siena are available on the useful online tourist guide to Siena, www.aboutsiena.com