This is a useful tourist guide which has been created in order to provide many interesting and detailed information about everything concerning the Region of Liguria, its towns, its castles, its churches, its traditions and culture, its stunning landscapes made up of sea and mountains.

Ever you ever been in Liguria?

It is a very small region located in the North-West of Italy. This thin strip of land surrounded by mountains and deep blue sea will enchant you at first sight. For your next holiday, you’d better think about it.

This is a land where it is possible to find fun, relax, nature, sport, wellness and excellent food, that is to say all visitors here can find their ideal holiday. That’s why About Liguria offers all the necessary information for planning a perfect stay. In fact, on About Liguria we have selected the most important information relating to history, culture, main sights, cities and sea resorts, natural parks, transportation, useful numbers, itineraries, accommodation and much more.

So, we decided to collect the main historical, artistic and natural features about the municipalities of Lerici, Porto Venere, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Sanremo, Sarzana, Recco, Camogli and Ventimiglia, obviously not forgetting about the regional provinces: Genoa, Savona, La Spezia and Imperia.

In addition, a special section has been entirely dedicated to the charming “five lands”, that is to say, Cinque Terre, the characteristic, stunning little villages diving into the sea, a landscape like few others: Monterosso, Corniglia, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

So…For further information about culture, traditions, cuisine, beaches and towns in Liguria, visit the brand new and always up-to-date website About Liguria, your tourist guide about Liguria.

The aim of the exhibition is to explore and look into the concept of “Infinite” in all its nuances and meanings, through the help of different issues such as art, science and philosophy belonging to different ages and cultures which confront each other.

It is a sort of spiritual travel, where man finds his limits and confronts himself with them, in a never ending journey towards knowledge, completeness and perfection which from time immemorial artists, scientists and literati have undertaken.

Therefore, the protagonists of such an important event will be just their testimony, their art and literary works, thoughts and impressions.

The event ends an exhibition cycle thought and created by Axel Vervoordt, which began in Venice in 2007 with Artempo: Where time becomes art, which looked into the relationship between time, art and their way to show, and it followed in Paris in 2008 with Academia: Qui es-tu?, which was based on the transmission of knowledge and the innate need of men to make questions and search for answers. What the three exhibitions have in common is the research about the “infinite” possibilities which the artistic expressions belonging to different times and cultures can have to relate, and their relationship with the sense of life.

At the exhibition, visitors will have the chance to marvel at several works belonging to many of those artists who during their life confronted themselves with the topic of infinite, understanding and interpreting it according to concepts and representations relative to their cultures. Among others, we remind you: Giovanni Anselmo, Pierre Bonnard, Paul Cézanne, Antonio Canova, Eugène Delacroix, Francesco Hayez, Joan Mirò, Pablo Picasso, Kazuo Shiraga, Dirk Van De Len…and many others.

A really unique and stunning exhibition to discover, full of persuasiveness, combinations and interactions between different thoughts, ideas, artistic models belonging to all the ages and continents.

For further information about this and other events in Venice, please take a look at our website www.aboutvenice.org

GENERAL INFORMATION

Where: Fortuny Museum, San Marco 3780, San Beneto, Venice

Press Opening: 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th June 2009, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Public Exhibition: 6^th June – 15^th November 2009, from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m.

Closed on Tuesday

Tickets: 9,00 euros / reduced 6,00 euros

The goals that the city of Rome wants to reach through the project “Archelogia d’Estate” are very remarkable. On this occasion in fact, both Roman citizens and foreigners are invited to observe for the first time forgotten places, but also tourists from all over the world will have the chance to put themselves in the shoes of professional archaeologists for one day in a very original way.

In addition, the event was conceived for a valid reason: it will allow in fact the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to raise the necessary funds for the reconstruction of the artistic and archeological heritage of the city of Aquila, damaged by the awful earthquake of last April.

The programme of “Archeologia d’estate” schedules many original events and it will enchant you! There will be three main themes developed during the Roman event: La Luna sul Colosseo – Notti Flavie, Il Foro Romano and the Palatino will reveal ancient frescoes and musical performances in the Roman National Museum.

If your dream is to marvel at the wonderful Roman ruins in a different atmosphere, “Archeologia d’estate” is the perfect occasion for you! Why not to spend a delightful evening at the Coliseum, which for this occasion will be enlightened by a sparkling hot-air balloon? And in addition, here tourists will have the opportunity to enjoy for the first time guided tours to the ancient art exhibition of Divus Vespasianus.

Citizens will have the chance to marvel at the ancient frescoes in the several buildings, just restored, which are located on the Palatine hill and near the Roman Forum. Among these: the beautiful Aula Isiaca, which shows decorations dedicated to Iside’s cult and it’s the first real proof of the fashion of Egyptians symbols in Rome, the ruins of Livia’s house (Augusto’s wife), the temple of Romolo and many others.

The locations of the Roman National Museum, which for the event will host musical shows with admission free, are: the Terme di Diocleziano (Diocleziano’s Thermal baths), the Massimo Palace, the Cripta Balbi and the Altemps Palace.

Those who are enchanted by archaeology can’t miss this wonderful mix of music and art offered by this stunning event. So…Roman citizens and foreigners, “Archeologia d’Estate” awaits you in great numbers!

For further information about the artistic and cultural heritage of Rome, please visit our website www.aboutroma.com

Nottarno

Yes! As all the great cities, also Florence enjoys its Sleepless Night and awaits you all in great numbers for a long night full of events and shows.

Nottarno, commonly known as Diladdarno, is an extraordinary event which every year tries to increase the value of the ancient district of Florence, Oltrarno, in order to make it know to the world public.

For a whole night, really everyone, from the museums to the craftsmen workshops, from the cafes to the restaurants will stay open to the public in order to celebrate with Florentines and foreigners, this magic sleepless night made up of art, music, wonderful walks and much much fun.

So guys…what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, come to Florence and on Saturday 27^th June, prepare yourself for staying up late!

For all the information about the city of Florence, accommodation and things to see, please visit the website www.aboutflorence.com, your online tourist guide about the city.

NABA (New Academy of Fine Arts) with its Design Summer Courses in Milan

, offers a fully new educational product just conceived for the incoming summer.

Naba’s summer programme proposes a variety of courses addressed to students whose desire is to work in the field of Italian fashion, and they represent a complete and high quality training able to satisfy any participant’s need.

Naba’s summer courses are 2-weeks programmes that develop on three levels, starting from Introduction and passing through Intermediate and Advanced level, in order to guarantee deep and full learning of all subjects.

We mention here some of the most attractive among Summer Courses supported by Naba for summer 2009. For who loves fashion for example, an Introduction for Fashion Accessories Course has been conceived, a very special course with focus on accessories, that have turned into real objects of worship today. Students enrolled to such course will study the history of accessories, their creation and production and will realize by themselves a women shoes or bag’s collection.

Again, students engaged in the field of fashion will have the possibility to complete or develop their knowledge thanks to the Fashion Textiles and Fibres Studio, a detailed course conceived to teach about fashion products’ composition.

In addition, for people particularly attracted by the aristic and graphic aspect of fashion, among its 2009 Summer Courses Naba created some special ones dedicated to students who are interested in fashion photography - Graphic Art Design for Fashion Studio and Fashion Photography Studio - in order to train skilled freelancers who will be then able to create wonderful fashion photography campaigns.

Last but not least and always staying in the field of photography, it is possible to find the Photography and the Moving Image for Beginners Course, for emerging photographers or simple photography lovers who will learn to express all their creativity by using simple techniques for the creation and processing of moving images.

Naba’s summer courses are open to students with a high school diploma and from first and second year of university. Students who wish to study in Italy have a wide range of courses to choose among, that will give them the possibility to take their favourite path and enter the working world easily.

Choose a different way of spending the incoming summer, bring out your passion and creativity and enter one of the Design Summer Courses offered by Naba. 2009 Italian summer will be full of design and fashion!

NABA’s way of teaching integrates traditional disciplines of visual representation with the new digital technologies and the critical-project culture of Italian Design. Generally speaking, such courses want to introduce students to the world of fashion, design and graphic design whatever the type of artistic expression. These courses will concentrate on experimentation within the creative design process.

All Summer Courses are divided into three levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. These courses are open to students with a high school diploma and from first and second year of university.

In addition, for student who also wish to learn Italian language, the Leonardo da Vinci Italian Language School offers a special Italian Language course for who will enroll to Fashion, Design and Graphic design Summer Courses organized by NABA.

Further information about Design Summer Courses in Milan are available on “Art courses in Italy” website.

This is the general idea which Erasmus students have about Italian system. Infact, according to a survey made by “Studenti Magazine” (”Students Magazine”) and by the association “Erasmus Student network Italia”, tested on about 1500 guys who come from 28 different countries and who chose to study in about 27 Italian cities, these students are deeply disappointed by Italian welcome.

As the students sustain, the “Belpaese” disappoints all their expectations.

Therefore, we are talking about high cost of living, accomodations in ruin, and about a Italy which speak just a little bit of “bad English”… but the worst critic was given to the University system, which disappointed all expectations especially referring to the teachers. In this way Italy appears different from what the students expected to see, because of the world-famous history and culture of Italy.

According to the Erasmus students in Italy, it is possible to learn Italian language, but you have to make it on your own, because you cannot trust istitutions or teachers.

From time immemorial, it’s our fame which lead thousands of students from all over the world to come here to study, because in spite of everything, Italy remains a lively and charismatic country, rich in resources which however it’ s not able to exploit, because it seems that only 60% would come back to Itlay for the second time.

It is difficult to put up with the idea which foreign students have about our country, and it’s more difficult to admit they’re right.

However, we have to remind them and many other students who want to try Erasmus experience, that studing in Italy can still be wonderful, because there are cities like Rome, Milan, Florence and Siena which can offer many opportunities of a good study of Italian language and culture, and the chance of seeing some of the most famous artistic and architectural treasures in the world!

Milan, Rome, Florence and Siena are all cities rich in art, and represent the way Italians live, but most of all, they are seat of the most prestigious athenaeum in italy which house thousands of Erasmus students who come from all over the world.

It can be beautiful and amusing to study in italy, you just need someone who’s able to give you all the information you need to make your stay in our country nice and simple.

Our duty is to inform Erasmus students in our country about Erasmus organization in Italy, precisely in Milan, Rome, Florence and Siena, by giving information about University, about istitutions and courses of Italian language teaching.

Students have also the chance to visit our websites dedicated to the cities, a complete guide which helps students to choose the places to study, to eat, to sleep and to have fun, informing them about everything nice in our country.

So…Would you like to come to Italy for your Erasmus experience?? Then visit now our websites dedicated to Milan, Rome and Florence, where you can find useful information for your stay in Italy.
In addition, even the most disappointed students say it…. Italy is still and remains the famous “Belpaese”!

Experience a real Italian language class from your home. It is not a new e-learn software or a DVD language course, neither an Audio Couse nor a home tuition!

What is it then? Log in Second Life, come to our Italian Campus Classes and enter one of the first experiment of Italian language courses held by Scuola Leonardo. The Italian language lessons will be hosted at the “Second Life Festival” by the Official Island of Tuscany during the “Festival della Creatività” (Creativity Festival) organized from 25th to 28th October.

This is a testing organised by Sigmasei in collaboration with Scuola Leonardo da Vinci, the leading italian language school in Italy, which counts more than 30 years of experience and is officially authorized by the Italian Ministry of Education.

SIGMA SEI S.a.s. is a society specialized in the field of consulting and it has introduced its own project concerning the development of a virtual Italian language learning Campus on Second Life which is addressed to foreign students.

The Scuola Leonardo da Vinci experience and desire of innovation bring to this new test to give everybody the chance to learn Italian directly from your home thanks to innovative platforms like the 3D world of Second Life.

We invite all the interested people to come visit us, to have an Italian language lesson or just a visit of the Tuscany island, where you can see the famous Tower of Pisa, enter the Duomo of Florence, or just have a look at the famous “Scoppio del Carro”. All around, you will find Italian people or teachers available to speak with you.

Are you ready? If you want to partecipate, just log in to Second Life and subscribe to our SL group (called “I love italian language“) and come to one of our language courses starting every day from 12.00 till 13.30.

We are waiting for you!

More information and updates: http://secondlife.scuolaleonardo.com/en

In Italy Christmas time goes from the 8th of December to the 6th of Genuary, and it is characterized by many strange and particular traditions which make this feast unique.

In this period, in fact, all the Italian people decorate their houses in a special way: they are dedicated to the preparation of the typical Presepe Napoletano’s but especially they spend a lot of time by preparing typical candies and a typical Italian menu for Christmas lunch and dinner, composed by a large number of dishes which usually vary in the different areas of the country.

The aim of this course is to offer to students a panoramic vision on the Italian habits during Christmas time, suggesting a lot of interesting activities like gastronimic laboratories, guided visits to the typical shops for Christmas home design and pratical lesson on how cooking a delicius Italian menu for Christmas lunch.

This is a very interesting course, that gives to all the partecipants the opportunity to study while having fun and to meet a lot of new friends.

The “Christmas Special Course” takes place in the Leonardo da Vinci School in Milan and Rome and lasts one week during the month of December, from 17th to 21st and it is dedicated to the students of the school and to all people who are currently in Italy and would like to try living Christmas in the Italian way.

If you are interested in attend at this course and desires more information, visit our pages “Christmas Course Rome” and “Christmas Course Milan”.

The University of Milan (Università degli studi, UNIMI) is one of the larger universities in Italy, with about 60,000 students. The main university systems are represented by the “Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore”, the “Bocconi University” and the “Politecnico of Milan”, offering also several specializations and master tracks. Do you want to read more about its history and the various faculties and courses it is possible to attend in Milan? Visit www.aboutmilan.com, where you can find an entire section dedicated to Universities in Milan, and a new really interesting page about Erasmus in Milan, full of useful information for foreign students who decide to spend their Erasmus time in one of the most attarctive cities in Italy.

Because of sometimes it is not so easy to find all the answers to your questions about burocratic problems related to documents necessary for your permanence in Italy, www.aboutmilan.com furthermore gathers in its new section dedicated to Erasmus in Milan, all the information about the documents required and which are the offices where you can get them.

Again, Milan is one of the most attractive Italian cities (especially for young people) thanks to its famous nightlife. It is a city full of restaurants, pubs, discos and clubs of any kind which will help you to enjoy your permanence while studying in Milan’s university.
www.aboutmilan.com tries to support you in this way, through its section about nightlife in Milan, where you’ll find lots of funny places where to spend your free time with your friends.

Enjoy your permanence while spending your Erasmus in Milan!