The Traditional Event “Festa de Noantri” in Rome

Have you ever heard about the “Festa de Noantri”?

It’s a typical summer event taking place every year in Rome in the beautiful district called Trastevere. In other words, the “festa de noantri” (“Our Feast”) is in opposition to “you, who live in other districts…”. This year, visitors will enjoy this special event from July 15th to 30th 2010.

The event takes its origins from a very ancient fact. The legend says that after a frightening storm, some fishermen found on the river Tevere’s banks a precious cedar wood statue representing the Virgin Mary. The statue was brought and safeguarded in the Church of St. Crisogono and became the Madonna procuress of Trastevere inhabitants.

Since then, every year (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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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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The XII Italian ‘Week of Culture’ is upon us!

Italy, world renound for its incredible history and dedication to the arts, is opening the doors of its countless and historically important state operated sites including museums of art and history, monuments, archaeological areas, archives and libraries … for FREE!

For the next ten days (April 16-25th) Italians and foreigners alike will enjoy this unique opportunity to experience the beauty and culture that exists within the walls of its most prestigious and visited locations without having to pay a dime.

Each city has its gems, and here’s a breif description of a few: Click on the citiy names for a more in depth description of the museums, monuments and more!

Florence: City of Renaissance art. He’re you’ll find the incredible Uffizi Gallery with its incredible collection of famous art from the middle ages all the way through the 18th century (featuring two of Botticelli`s greatest works), the Galleria dell’Academia – with Michelangelo’s famous statue of  ‘David’ …

Venice: The city of Venice is basically a museum its self, but it you’re in the area and looking to visit some interesting places, be sure to see the Peggy Guggenheim Museum which is the most important museum of European and American contemporary art in Italy …

Siena:  Looking for museums filled with fine examples of paintings and sculpture from the Romanic, Gothic and Pre-Renaissance periods? Be sure to see Siena’s wide array including the Museo Civico (Civic Museum) where a great selection of incredible frescoes are displayed…

Milan: This city has much more to offer than just fashion! When in Milan you will want to be sure and see the Brera Art Gallery - one of the greatest galleries containing several masterpieces of Italian art from the 14th to the 20th century such as: Raphael’s “Marriage of the Virgin” …

Turin: the fourth largest city in Italy, Tourin, holds within its land some incredible places to visit. Among them you will find the Museum of Contemporary Art, Castello di Rivoli (which has a permanent collection that gathers works of great European and American artists), and yearly exhibitions with prestigious and international artists.

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About Italy is on Facebook! Become our FAN!

Of course, also the original and up-to-date Blog about all the news & events in Italy and the main Italian cities is now on the most famous social network in the world: Facebook!

Now you can find all the information you need also on the page of About Italy on Facebook! It’s really easy, become our fan and you will receive real-time updating about events, exhibitions, performances, sport and cultural events in the most beautiful Italian cities: Florence, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Siena, Turin, Venice…and don’t forget about the valley of Mugello, the Versilia coast and the Region of Liguria!

Italy is full of wonderful places to discover and visit among mountains and the sea, from the North to the South…you will be spoilt for choice! In order to know the events of the week, you need just (more…)

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BLOOMING SANREMO 2010

According to a tradition, every year in Sanremo, the end of January is reserved for the fragrant floral parade “Corso Fiorito”.
The festival “bloomed” for the first time in 1904 in honor of the Goddess Flora and, since then, it started its annual edition with a brake from 1966 until 1980.
This attractive fusion of colors and scents sees every year over 60 000 visitors, not to mention those who watch it from their homes. Beside the wonderfully decorated coaches, the festival is accompanied by different music bands and folkloristic groups. (more…)

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OTTO HOFMANN. The poetics of Bauhaus

In 2009 the Bauhaus celebrated its 90th anniversary of existence. For this occasion, the Palazzo Ducale of Genoa hosts, from October 2009 until February 14th, 2010, a retrospective exhibition of one of the most important artists from this school: Otto Hofmann.
The exhibition shows us a wide historic path of life of the artist through his work which definently left its mark on the vanguard of the XX century.
Otto Hofmann tells a story of a difficult life, in a very turbulent period which started in the thirties of the XX century, during his stay at the Bauhaus of Dessau. The story continues through years of the Nazi domination and censorship when a lot of his work was confiscated and accused as degenerated art. Then follows the time of the full immersion in the War and the imprisonment in Russia. A precious collection of watercolor paintings shows us the artist’s feelings and state of mind, horrified by the chaos that was spread all over the Europe. (more…)

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Matrix Natura: the Fiber Art on display in Venice

A new expression is rising in the art world, especially among young artists from all over the world, and every year Venice pays homage to its artworks.

We are talking about Fiber Art, in other words, artworks created with textile fibers and materials of animal or vegetable origins. The exhibition is held once again at Palazzo Mocenigo in Venice, this year with a really particular title: “Matrix Natura” and it will be open to the public until August, 31^st.

54 mini textiles (this is the name of Fiber Art works) will be put on view on the first floor of the museum, created by the genius of artists coming from 51 different countries of the world.

Often the works are made up of real (more…)

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The Florence leg of Cavendish and Petacchi

The Giro d’Italia 2009 - at its 92° edition and 100° anniversary this year - Florence leg will see a special competition between an English and an Italian cyclist, both actors of this particular edition of the race.

Yes, because presented on last December at the Gran teatro La Fenice in Venice, the arrival, after 21 legs and 3,395 km, will not be in Milan this year - as usual is, starting from 1950 - but in the capital city of Rome. It could be defined as a backlinks race, from North to South and a little bit to the North again, a very hard race for sprinters taking part on it, even without the usual hard obstacle represented by Alps at the end of the path.

The Tuscan leg of the tour will see the crossover of the provinces of Lucca, Massa Carrara, Pisa and Florence. The Lido di Camaiore - Florence leg is characterized by a pretty linear way of 176Km - with just one exception represented by the Montemagno climb, just a little bit more difficult for participants - ending the race in viale Abram Lincoln in Florence, near to the historic cycle track of the Cascine area. Except for potential intrusion of Farrar, Davis and Goos, the protagonists of such leg will be with no doubt the English cyclist Cavendish and the Italian Petacchi.

Departure of the Tuscan leg will be at 1,25 p.m. and the expected arrival at about 5,00 - 5,30 p.m.

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“Museums at Night” on Saturday 16th May

“Museums at Night” is a really interesting initiative funded by the Ministry of Cultural Activities and Heritage, which will take place on Saturday 16^th May and will allow a late night opening of all national museums.

Museums at Night is an event expressly created for anyone who doesn’t have the chance to dedicate time to cultural interests and to visit the amazing exhibitions in the Italian museums during the ordinary opening hours. So, as culture belongs to everyone, the Ministry of Cultural Activities and Heritage decided to support this initiative to allow all the people who for reasons relating to work or economy, don’t have the chance to visit the extraordinary heritage hosted by our museums.

In fact, the night of Saturday 16^th May, all the national museums which will support the initiative, will stay open until 2.00 AM for free (entry allowed until 1.00 AM).

Together with the museums’ visits, there will be also a long series of other events, to encourage citizens to take part to this event.

Actually, this original initiative has its roots in 2005, in (more…)

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