More And More Italian People Choose A Calabria Restaurant And Hotel This Summer

calabria cirella (Photo credit: Shamballah)

By: Michele de Capitani

This year more and more tourists, Italian as well as people from other countries, seem to have discovered the potentials of the region Calabria as far as summer holidays are concerned. In the past other regions of southern Italy were perhaps most popular than Calabria Sicily and Sardinia first of all, but also Apulia and Campania with Naples as well as other regions in the northern Italy, like Veneto, Emilia Romagna or Liguria, also due to the proximity of these regions with foreign countries but little by little also Calabria has begun to emerge. There are also some interesting data that can give us a clear evidence of this:

Tuscany's Delightful Seaside Towns

Torre Matilde and the Marina of Lucca. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


By Giovanni Balboni


As the birthplace of the Renaissance, and a place that is associated with the Florentine masters, such as Leonardo and Michelangelo, you might not think that beaches and seaside towns are the things that help make it one of the best regions in Italy. But in Tuscany, villas dot the landscape both in the interior and along the coastal areas and this type of accommodation makes it much easier to be able to stay in peaceful luxury, while not being limited to staying in one city for your entire visit. While you are in the area, you should take a tour of the beachside towns and enjoy the different atmosphere each offers. Be sure to visit Viareggio, Baratti, and Elba before returning to your villa.

Cooking Pots For Giants in Northern Italy

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By Marcus Smith

Many visitors to northern Italy visit the region of Lombardy, and particularly the lakes. The best known of these lakes is called lake Como, and is usually explored from the town of Como itself. The lake is extensive, and in a lovely setting surrounded by mountains. All leisure activities are close to hand, both hiking and cycling in the surrounding area and water-based activities on the lake itself.
During your visit we suggest you take a trip about 30 kilometers to the north to visit the region around the small town of Chiavenna. Less well known than the main lake resorts, it has an interesting old town to discover and there are several fascinating and impressive natural highlights to discover nearby.

A Quick Tour of Italy - Eastern Sicily

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Author: Levi Reiss

If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. And parts of Sicily haven't yet been discovered by tourists. This short article presents eastern Sicily. A companion article presents western Sicily; another presents the capital Palermo.



Messina is Sicily's third largest city. Founded by the Ancient Greeks it often changed hands over the centuries. The University of Messina started out as the world's first Jesuit College, founded by St. Ignatius himself. In 1908 the city was virtually destroyed by an earthquake and the ensuing tsunami. Make sure to see the cathedral, the Calapaj Palace, and the Sixteenth Century lighthouse.

I Love Italian Travel - May Attractions Of Central Italy

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Part I

So you are thinking of passing your May holidays in Tuscany or elsewhere in central Italy. Don't despair; there are lots and lots of special spring events that simply aren't available in the good old summertime. Here are a few of them. Get rolling; May is almost upon us. We start our virtual tour in Tuscany on the western Tyrrhenian Sea coast and then proceed in a clockwise direction heading to The Marches on the Adriatic Sea. There are so many things to see and do in central Italy in May that this is the first of three articles.

One of Florence's best-kept secrets is the stunning Iris Garden of Florence, a former olive grove on the eastern slope of Piazzale Michelangelo, which overlooks the city. As its name indicates, this garden includes a fabulous iris collection. There are also century old trees and an unforgettable view of the city of Florence and its surroundings. This lovely garden is open to the public only from May 2 until May 20; make sure not to miss it. The city of Pescia, home to about 20 thousand, celebrates Pinocchio's Birthday on May 25th. You may choose to celebrate it at the Pinocchio Park in the city of Collodi, population about 25 thousand, named for this author who unfortunately died without an inkling of the colossal success of his children's story. On the final weekend of the month the similarly sized city of Cortona celebrates the Archidado Games, which commemorate an upper-class marriage, which took place in the late Fourteenth-Century. You'll enjoy seeing townspeople dressed in traditional costumes. On Saturday there are religious ceremonies and processions and crossbow competitions that pit neighborhood against neighborhood on the following day.

On the first Sunday in May, the town of Tolentino, with a population of approximately 20 thousand, presents their historic Le Marche Festa. This is a military pageant that recreates the Napoleonic period. The key activity takes place at the Castello della Rancia commemorating an 1815 battle which some historians and others consider to be the first battle in the war for Italian independence. Between the first and second weeks of May the town of Camerino, population 7 thousand, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of the regional capital Ancona, hosts their Fifteenth Century Le Marche Festa that just happens to coincide with the festival of the city's patron saint, San Venanzio. A major festival highlight is the Corsa alla spada in which competitors race up the town's wonderful steep alleys and streets. Another is the Giostra della Quintana (historical jousting tournament). You'll definitely enjoy the local food and wine specialties.


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Once upon a time Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books. And yet, he really prefers drinking fine Italian or other wine, with the right food and friends. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his website http://www.wineinyourdiet.com which focuses on wine, weight loss, health, and nutrition issues.


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A Quick Tour of Italy – Eastern Sicily | life-in-italy.info

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A Quick Tour of Italy – Eastern Sicily | life-in-italy.info
f you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. And parts of Sicily haven’t yet been discovered by tourists. This short article presents eastern Sicily. A companion article presents western Sicily; another presents the capital Palermo.

Messina is Sicily’s third largest city. Founded by the Ancient Greeks it often changed hands over the centuries. The University of Messina started out as the world’s first Jesuit College, founded by St. Ignatius himself. In 1908 the city was virtually destroyed by an earthquake and the ensuing tsunami. Make sure to see the cathedral, the Calapaj Palace, and the Sixteenth Century lighthouse.

The walled village of Castelmola with its ancient streets and spectacular view is only a few miles from the coast. Don’t miss it. Go to the ruins of the Thirteenth Century Castello Normanno (Norman Castle). It’s more than a kilometer above sea level and you’ll have to climb the path from the parking lot below. Actually there are two paths with two different views. If you are able you should explore both, one up and one down the mountain. What’s to see when you get to the top – the city of Taormina and the Ionian Sea are to the east, the Tyrrhenian Sea is to the north, and Mount Etna is to the west. Castelmola also boasts a Cathedral and several old churches that are worth visiting.

Taormina has been discovered by tourists. What a beautiful view, especially from the funivia (gondola). The Greek theater runs in the summer and Taormina boasts two top-of-the-line hotels.

Mount Etna is Europe’s largest and highest volcano. It is still active. Depending on the weather report you may climb part of it or take the train that runs around the mountain base. The Hotel Villa Paradiso Dell’Etna started as a bohemian hangout and is now quite pricey.

Catania at the foot of Mount Etna is Sicily’s second largest city. Its volcanic soil is great for agriculture, particularly wine. Catania was buried in lava seven times; many of its buildings are constructed from lava. Visit its cathedral.

Siracusa (Syracuse) was founded by Greek colonists. Its theater was built for 15,000 spectators and produces Greek tragedies in May and June. Make sure not to miss the Papyrus Museum, the Archeological Museum, historic churches and palaces, and the neighboring Ortygia Island, known as Citta Vecchia (Old City) with its own cathedral.

Sicilian ices are famous even if they no longer contain snow from Mount Etna. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy – Eastern Sicily for a sample menu and more information on local wines as well as an in-depth examination of its tourist attractions. Sicily is Italy’s largest wine producer. An independent Sicily would be the world’s seventh largest wine producer.

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I Love Touring Italy - Springtime In Campania

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Campania marks the beginning of southern Italy. It lies on the Tyrrhenian Sea and is truly a land of contrasts. Many areas such as parts of Napoli, Italy's third largest city and the regional capital, remain largely poverty stricken. And other areas such as the Isle of Capri and the Amalfi Coast are favorites of the jet set. Because this is southern Italy, it gets hot early in the year. So you may want to focus on spring touring. The village of Paestum, population under one thousand, near the coast in southern Campania holds a traditional celebration of the Immaculate Conception with a fair and outdoor market near the end of March.

On April fifth the town of Montoro Superiore, population about 9 thousand, further north up the coast holds a traditional pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of the Crowned Virgin. This commemorates the legend of a mad bull who was spared from slaughter via the miraculous intervention of the Crowned Virgin. On the same day Napoli celebrates the Feast of Saint Vincent Ferreri with a mix fried hot peppers and melons. Don't look for it all over Naples; this delicacy is restricted to the Stella neighborhood. Spring...in Naples - Windows in Bloom is the city's annual event dedicated to creativity. Art, architecture, design and fashion groups perform at the Castel dell'Ovo, a Twelfth Century fortress overlooking the Porto Santa Lucia in the Gulf of Naples. This location is spectacular.

The port city of Salerno, population about 150 thousand, is about 35 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of Naples. On the first weekend of May it celebrates Fieravecchia, one of Europe's oldest fairs that dates all the way back to the year 1259. This medieval pageant has been transformed into a food trade fair showcasing literally hundreds of types of local pasta (don't forget that we are in southern Italy), olive oils, salamis, canned and dried tomatoes, and wines. A major focus is limoncello, a sweet, lemon-tasting local liqueur. The festivities include a street pageant, music, artisan vendors and an unforgettable food attraction such as a 2,000 egg omelet. And let's not forget the water buffalo mozzarella cheese.

At the end of May in the town of San Andrea di Conza, population about 2000, its time for Maggiaiole (May Day Festivities). The local young girls devoutly march to Conza with their heads covered by a white handkerchief and a crown of gooseberry vines leading the populace. This manifestation effectively signifies the return of Saint Andrea's people to Conza, their place of origin.


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Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but to tell the truth, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Check out his wine website http://www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about (theory) and tasting (practice) organic and kosher wines.

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