Tourist Treasures Of Rome

Rome (Photo credit: ryarwood)

Author: Adam Singleton

Rome is home to many fascinating attractions and its historical significance expands beyond the birthplace of the Roman Empire. Its links to Christianity are evident around every corner in the city, and none more so than at the Vatican City. The Vatican City attracts thousands of visitors each year and it is easy to see why.
A city within a city, the Vatican is home to the Pope, the elaborate St Peter's Basilica and the beautiful Sistine Chapel; famed for its architecture and renaissance decoration by artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Sandro Botticelli. While the queue to see Michelangelo's work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel alone will take up a large proportion of the day, it will be time well spent as you eventually get to fully appreciate its attraction.

Pantheon, the Glorious Pagan Temple of Rome

Pantheon, Roma (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Author: Jacob

The Pantheon is an ancient temple in Rome. It is also known as the "temple of all gods". Astounding architectural design combined with its rich history makes it a famous tourist destination.
Very few architectural master pieces get the attention the Pantheon gets. A "temple of all gods", this work of genius has fascinated human imagination for centuries now. If you are visiting Rome don't miss visiting this pagan temple. A fine example of glorious Roman architecture, it's a reminder of the splendid days in Roman history.

Sicily And Malta Cultures - A Look At Two Mediterranean Islands

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By Paul Symonds

Sicily & Malta are two lovely islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The two islands have a lot of cultural similarities. Located on the west of the southern end of the Italian peninsula, separated from the Italian mainland by the Strait of Messina, Sicily is autonomous region of Italy. Located to the South of Sicily (Italy), the East of Tunisia, and the North of Libya, the Republic of Malta is Island country of Southern Europe.
Sicily is located just 60 miles to the north of Malta. There is great cultural affinity between Sicily & Malta. Due to their geographical closeness, there's been continuous exchange of knowledge, ideas, culture, customs and beliefs between the two islands. Many modern Maltese families trace their origins to various parts of Sicily and Southern Italy. The geographic proximity has facilitated a considerable amount of intermarriage, cross-migration, and trade between the two groups of islands.
The culture of modern Malta has been described as a "rich pattern of traditions, beliefs and practices, which is the result of a long process of adaptation, assimilation and cross fertilization of beliefs and usages drawn from various conflicting sources."

Greek Temples in Sicily

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By Marcello Arrambide

When anyone thinks of Greek temples, Greece automatically comes to mind. Many people don't consider the impact the Greeks had on history and how far their empire spanned throughout time. There are actually Greek temples that still stand today in Egypt, Turkey, and even Sicily. While Greece does hold the record for the most Greek temples the majority of them are in Ruins. Don't be mistaken with the fact that you are still able to see great temples in the city of Athens. There is another place in the world that rivals the quality of Greek Temples in Greece, the island of Sicily.

The Fountains of Rome

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By Jhon Mcnemor

Rome has over the millennia of its history, leaving to posterity a special sign of passing time: a thousand fountains, a thousand squares that recall the style and art of an amazing city like Rome. The Fountains have always been filled with wonder travelers, such as the English poet Percy B. Shelley, who wrote that "the fountains are sufficient to justify a trip to Rome."
From the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, many architects wrestled with this particular form of sculpture. One of the nicest is the one made by the master John Fontana, made between 1608 and 1612, commissioned by Pope Paul V and that is the great and monumental exhibition of the Acqua Paola. Once with five small basins, was later restored in 1690 by yet another fountain, which endowed it with one big tub, and much more spectacular effect.

Food That You Must Try When in Taormina

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By Gianni Merida

When traveling through Sicily, Italy it is important to experience the culture and food is a major part of Sicilian culture! There are several types of food that are distinctly Sicilian, and each region of Sicily is known for a specific type of food as well. In Taormina, Sicily you will have many opportunities to taste the different flavors.
If it is a warm day, and you need a quick refreshment, your first stop upon arrival at Taormina should be to pick up a Granita with Brioche. This is an amazing treat found in just about every pastry shop or gelateria in Taormina. The granita is a Sicilian invention - scooped ice shavings with a delicious flavor (I would suggest lemon). The "Brioche" is a pastry that looks similar to a croissant and creates a great balance with the ice cold treat. You must eat your Granita in true Sicilian style by tearing the top off of the brioche and using it as a spoon to scoop out the granita (ice) and then eating the entire thing. It is a bit messy at first but most foreigners get the hang of it pretty quickly!

The town of Messina - Sicily

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Author: Daniele Davide


Messina is a town in Sicily called "door of Sicily" and once Zancle and Messana. Located near the extreme northeast of Sicily (Capo Peloro) on the Strait that bears her name. The city has 243,030 inhabitants and is the third of the Sicilian cities, as well as the thirteenth Italian town by population. Its port is the first in Italy for number of passengers and sixth for cruise traffic. Ancient and illustrious city, Messina has had a destructive and tragic story like few others, which deleted the greatness achieved in the late Middle Ages

Discover Sicily

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Author: R. Ritchie

Sicily's prime geographic location in the centre of the Mediterranean Basin has meant that, over time, settlers and conquerors from the medieval Normans, Aragonese Spanish, Moorish North Africans, ancient Greeks, Phoenicians, and Romans have come and, except for the latter, mostly, gone. Today, Sicily's Roman ruins are rivaled only by those in Rome, and lovers of Roman archaeology will find a treasure trove of sites to explore.


To get an idea of the diversity of Sicily in ancient times and particularly the range of artifacts from the Greek and Roman colonizations of the island, visit the Museo Archeologico Regionale in Palermo. One of Italy’s greatest archaeological museums, it is filled with rare finds that put the multiple foreign occupations in perspective. As well, you’ll have a chance to compare priceless artifacts from the island’s different civilizations, including those from the Phoenician, Punic, Greek, Roman and Saracen periods. Listed here are some of the best Roman ruins in Sicily:

Gubbio - City for Exploration

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By Constance Grayson
Gubbio is one of the most beautiful cities in Umbria. It is also a perennial favorite with our guests. This city is located on the lower slope of Mount Ingino, a small mountain in the Apennine Mountain chain. Gubbio is about a thirty minute drive from our home base in Pietralunga, in the northeast corner of the region of Umbria. Very ancient, the city was inhabited prior to the Romans by the Umbrian peoples, the first tribe to inhabit the Italian peninsula. Even today, the majority of houses in the city center are 14th and 15th century and the streets wind this way and that-perfect for an adventure of exploring.
Gubbio was already occupied in the Bronze Age by the Umbrian tribe. In fact, a museum in Gubbio contains the Eugubine Tablets, the largest surviving text in the Umbrian language. Following the Umbrian occupation of Gubbio, however, the city encountered centuries of turbulent warfare with various of the other Umbrian cities. One such war led to a miraculous intervention of Gjubbio's bishop, later canonized as Saint Ubaldo and today the patron saint of Gubbio.

I Love Touring Italy - Carnevale in Molise

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Molise is a small region located in central Italy on the Adriatic Sea. Carnevale in this region tends to have somber aspects, arguably more so than in much of the rest of Italy. We'll do things a little different here than in most of our other articles of this series. We will focus on the most significant, often the darkest aspect of Carnevale as held in several Molise villages and small towns.

Castelnuovo del Volturno is a village of some 250 inhabitants. Carnevale here centers around a man in a deer costume, dressed in rough skins whose face is covered in black and sports horns. Deer Man struggles against a masked man known as "Pulcinella" and escapes looking for food. He is caught by an angry hunter who beats him. In another version Deer Man wreaks havoc among the cattle until he is stopped by the saintly Friar Martin. He is then resurrected, an act that purifies him and the entire community whose sins he symbolizes. The villages of Carpinone, Forli del Sannio, and Roccasicura put celebrate Carnevale by putting on trail a carnival puppet known as "Fantoccio". He is found guilty and burnt at the stake. In the village of Sant'Agapito his smouldering corpse is tossed off a cliff.

Weddings in Italy: Top 3 Romantic Venues

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By Laura Frappa

If you are looking for a romantic wedding in Italy you may consider one of these cities: Venice, Rome or Florence.
Your romantic wedding in Italy could be planned to perfection by capable and talented Wedding Planners. A magical day to remember forever, special moments set in great photo services. Different kind of ceremonies can be organized in Italy: civil, protestant, catholic, Jewish or non-denominational weddings, and every kind of service (beauty, flowers, photography, music, transportation, activities ect) to make it unforgettable.
Here you can find a short description of the three best romantic venues:

Retire to Italy

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By Mitch Bowler
Ciao! That is the most common word that you will hear when you first set foot in Italy. As we, all know the capital of this country is Rome where you can find St. Peter's Basilica, located in the Vatican City. This is known as the biggest Catholic Church in the whole world.
The climate here will depend on your location. The northern part of the country has a semi tropical climate with humidity. In coastal regions they experience warm weather, arid summers and a mild winter.
If you want to retire in Italy, you must have an annual income of 8,000 Euros which is US$ 11,510, for each retiree. If you are a European Union citizen, you will not need a visa to live here. For EU citizens all you have to do is go to the police station and make yourself registered as an acknowledgment of your stay in the country and then apply a permit for residency. For those retirees who are not from the European Union you must apply for a residence visa, which means that you have plans to stay in the country for more than 3 months and you have to show a proof that you can sustain your financial needs without working since you are already considered a retiree.

Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic Italy Vacations

Image via WikipediaBy Priscila Siano
The city of Venice is often described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, making it a favorite itinerary of a lot of Italy vacation packages. This Metropolis is situated along the Adriatic Sea and extends to the river banks of the Po and Piave. The city is the home of beautiful buildings, works of art, avant-garde fashion, flavorful wines and of course the gondolas and the canals. These and more makes Venice one of Europe's most romantic cities.
The city was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and the grandeur of these periods are evident with the wonderful and fascinating Venetian cityscape. Its wealth can be seen in its marble churches and great works of art, making any vacation to Italy a memorable one. Artistic movements as well symphonic and operatic music traces its magnificent journey to this beautiful city.
Feel the romance in the air as you ride one of the city's gondolas in its grand canal. Marvel at the architectural wonders as you pass by its beautiful palaces and buildings which have diverse style and designs. You will be fascinated with its distinct Venetian Gothic architecture which brings together Gothic art and the Byzantine and Arab influences of the 14th century. Add to these are Renaissance and Baroque structures and the bridges. With sights like these, vacation packages Italy is all worth it.

Visit Lake Garda by Rail for an Unforgettable Holiday

Image via WikipediaBy Dipika Patel


Lake Garda is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world when it comes to lakes and mountains holidays - and exploring the area by rail makes it even more unforgettable.
There are two ways in which you can enjoy this part of Italy by train. You can either get on the Eurostar from London and make your way to Lake Garda via the likes of Paris, Brussels and Lake Geneva, or you can fly to Italy before boarding a train to Lake Garda.
Whichever holiday package you choose, you are sure to fall in love with Lake Garda from the moment you set eyes on it from your train carriage.
The lake is the largest in Italy and is conveniently located between Venice and Milan. Its north end is surrounded by craggy mountains offering the potential for some spectacular views over the body of water, while the south is more open and features gentler scenery.

Many a famous face has regularly visited Lake Garda over the centuries, making it even more popular among the growing crowds of tourists who flock to this part of northern Italy every year.
You will find that some of the common features of the various destinations along the shores of Lake Garda include Roman and medieval points of interest, wonderful food and wine, and plentiful opportunities to engage in all kinds of sports - particularly the water-based kind.
Specific locations that can be visited as part of rail holidays to Lake Garda include the southern peninsula of Sirmione, which is particularly picturesque thanks to the fact that it is surrounded by sparkling blue lake waters.
It is also home to a castle and numerous archaeological sites that reveal something of the how the Romans once lived in the area.
If you head west from Sirmione you'll come across Desenzano, which harbours a Roman villa built in the fourth century BC along with a beautiful 16th century cathedral.
Further north along the western shore is Gardone Riviera, an extremely popular health resort that boasts extensive shopping facilities, poet Gabriele D'Annunzio's mausoleum and tomb, a botanical garden and an open-air theatre.
When you go north from here towards the mountains, you might find yourself trying to identify a particularly sweet scent floating on the air. This is a sign that you're close to Limone sul Garda, which is world-famous for its pungent lemons.
If you head to the northernmost tip of Lake Garda you will find the town Riva del Garda, which boasts another castle along with a museum sure to be of interest to those with a passion for history.
On the eastern shore of Lake Garda, meanwhile, is Malcesine, from where you can hop in a cable car to the top of Monte Baldo for some spectacular views over the lake. The town also has a medieval castle and museum.
If you head south from here you may want to stop at Torri del Benaco and Garda, each of which have enough pleasant diversions to occupy you on your way to Bardolino.
Don't forget to sample Bardolino's world-renowned wines while in the area - and if you love sports, this is the place to get your fill of all kinds of pursuits.
All of these destinations are just those around Lake Garda itself. If you choose to head to the region by rail, you may also get the opportunity to stop at European locations such as Dijon, Stuttgart, Nuremburg and the Dolomite Mountains, along with Milan, Venice and Verona.
This is why lakes and mountains holidays to Italy by rail can be so much more appealing than simply flying straight there - not only are you able to enjoy the convenience of leisurely travelling around Lake Garda on a train, but you can also see much more of Italy and other parts of Europe than you might do otherwise.
Whichever rail Europe holiday package you choose for your trip to Lake Garda, you're sure to have the getaway of a lifetime - just make sure you choose a different route on your second journey to the region to take in even more of this stunning destination.
If you're looking into lakes and mountains holidays, why not consider holidays by rail to Lake Garda from Great Rail? You can choose from fly rail holidays and rail Europe trips, with a selection of different routes available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dipika_Patel


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Italy, Dolomites – When Advent Knocks on the Door

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By: Lena Seifert

In the authentic Sarntal Valley in Italy's South Tyrol traditions are kept alive passionately.  For example, "Kloeckeln" is a tradition during the Advents time (the four weeks before Christmas) that exists here since the 16th Century and has survived until today in its special original form. 
Anyone who visits the Sarntal valley finds authentic, evolved tradition, which is kept alive naturally by the Sarners. Customs are no routine rituals here; they are authentically observed and celebrated. A special tradition is Kloeckeln, a custom at the time of Advent with pagan elements. The term "Kloekeln" is derived from "klocken", which in Sarner dialect means as much as "to knock". In former times Kloeckeln existed in the entire Alps, nowadays it is kept alive only in a few valleys – and rarely as authentically as in the Sarntal valley. The evenings for Kloeckeln are the three Thursday evenings in Advent before the winter solstice. On December 3, 10, and 17, 2009 Sarner men, parade as masked figures, noisily blowing their buck-horns in the still winter nights, knocking at the doors, and asking for gifts in the form of food and drink. In this custom these men wear hand-made masks and Sarner working-costumes, and present traditionally two songs: The Kloeckel Song, and the Thank-You Song. In these three nights of December visitors can witness this old tradition in the wintry streets of the Sarntal. 


When the Kloeckel-group, the so-called "Kutt", parades with noise from house to house, certain characters may not be absent: The "Zussler" - two men dressed as a married couple, the accordion player,  the "Lottrsackträger" as well as further "Kloecklers" using bells, buck-horns and other loud instruments. The Zussler are meant to represent in this play the dark demons of winter fighting with the bright spirits of spring. The "Zusslmandl" wears in this pageant the old Sarner costume with the red, split sword, which is beaten continuously on the hand to the beat of the Thank-You Song and the constant pursuits by the "Zussweibele". The "Weibele" wears the "Niederfeiertag"-dress of Summer and around her hips a belt with bells, that is heard already from a distance when running. While the "Kutt" presents the Kloeckel song, the couple often enters the homes and accepts served food. During the Thank-You Song the "Zussler" finally come into the village center, and dance out of respect. At the end of such a Kloeckel night, the "Kutt" take off their masks, and all Kloecklers celebrate wildly with song and dance at a farmer's place. Hearty food like dumplings, meat, and sauerkraut are not supposed to be missing. Since fasting was done previously during the time of Advent, the Kloeckler could not eat their earned gifts immediately, but had to be patient until Stephen's day (December 26th) But then the so-called "Kloeckel-Sausage-Brewing" was celebrated happily with dance and music. This tradition is alive up to today in the small mountain village Durnholz in the Northern Italian Sarntal Valley.

About the Author
Lena Seifert writes for TouchingNature.co.uk, a travel destination website with many useful tools to help you plan (or at least dream…) about your next walking holiday or hiking vacation in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Italian Dolomites and South Tyrol. Visit them online at http://www.touchingnature.co.uk/italy-walking-south-tyrol.htm

(ArticlesBase SC #3746934)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Italy, Dolomites – When Advent Knocks on the Door

A Wine Lover's Weekly Guide To $10 Wines - A Chardonnay From Lazio, Italy

Image by gengish via FlickrBy: Levi Reiss
This kosher Chardonnay comes from the Lazio region of central Italy. Lazio, which also goes by the name of Latium, is home to Rome. It is often said that Latium's wines tend to be mediocre because Rome is a huge market and Romans, or perhaps the millions of tourists, will drink anything. Such sweeping statements may be dead wrong. I'm not necessarily a fan of Chardonnay, but I tend to prefer it to Latium's native white varieties, Malvasia and Trebbiano. Unless I'm forgetting something, this is my first Italian Chardonnay and one of my first wines from Lazio.

Before reviewing this wine, let me state a few things about the bottler, Cantina Sant' Andrea. This family business started on Pantelleria Island in the Mediterranean Sea between mainland Sicily and Tunisia about 150 years ago. Later the vineyards were relocated to Tunisia where they were expropriated in 1964. So the family moved to the Pontine, marshland that was reclaimed during the time of BM, Benito Mussolini.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review have been purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed Chardonnay Lazio IGT 2008 12.0% alcohol about $10
There were no marketing materials, and the label said nothing about the wine. I even looked for additional reviews on the Internet after finishing my tests but came up with nothing.
At the first sips the wine was lemony but short. Its first pairing was with smoked rainbow trout filet (alas, not as good as it may sound) and a grated red cabbage salad. The wine tasted of apples and its acidity did well with the fish's grease. With the red cabbage, the Chardonnay intensified; it was refreshing but light. There were two desserts. The fresh pineapple just overpowered the wine. But with oversweet chocolate peanut butter candy the wine was lemony and fairly long.
The next meal involved a boxed eggplant parmigiana slathered with grated Parmesan cheese. Now the Chardonnay presented great acidity; it meshed with the tomatoes. It was lemony with nice length. The dessert of a frozen chocolate pie virtually muted the wine.
My final meal was composed of an omelet garnished with fresh tomatoes. The wine showed very pleasant acidity with a lemon taste and good length. Interestingly enough the fresh tomato rendered the wine rounder. With a side of grilled artichoke dip that tasted more of mayonnaise than of the grill, the wine was perky.
I finished the tastings (but not the bottle) with two local cheeses. When paired with a marbled cheddar it came up round with light, lemony acidity. And with provolone the wine tasted of green apples.
Final verdict. I saw no reason to finish the bottle. It was OK, but not really that good. Prejudices die hard. I am not prejudiced against kosher wines; many of them are fairly good. But I am rather prejudiced against Lazio wines. While I am always ready to taste others, I have yet to encounter a fine one.

 


Author Resource:-> Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but really prefers fine Italian or other wine, with good food and company. He loves teaching computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. His global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com features a weekly review of $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines. His Italian travel website is www.travelitalytravel.com .

Article From Article Storehouse

Manarola Hotels in the Cinque Terre

Image via WikipediaThere are five villages that make up Italy's Cinque Terre, or five lands. Noted for incredible natural beauty, laid-back ambience, and good local wine, the region is no longer undiscovered. But it's still a delightful place to get away from it all and enjoy the Italian Good Life.
Manarola is one of the most attractive of the villages, especially when seen from the hiking path on the way from Corniglia. The town's pastel houses are stacked vertically against the local black rock. Beneath them, the shimmering bay is a great spot for a swim.
Manarola hotels are some of the nicest in the Cinque Terre, and most of them offer breathtaking views of the Mediterranean.
Today, you can get to Manarola by train or boat from Genoa or La Spezia. If you prefer to drive, there's a parking lot with a shuttle that will take you down to the town.

There's not a lot to do here. The local citizenry fishes, makes wine, or produces olive oil, and you can taste the fruits of their labors almost anywhere. The heart of town is the marina, and there are a couple of good beaches and places to swim, although the beaches here aren't sandy.

Piazza Capellini, the new main square, is a popular gathering spot and a good place to watch the locals. There's a small museum that describes the wine-making process. And the church in the upper part of town has a pair of Renaissance paintings and a bell tower.

During your visit, take time to walk through the surrounding vineyards and lemon groves. The hike to the old cemetery at Punta Bonfiglio is also worth it for the gorgeous views.

Manarola hotels and places to stay.

One of the most appealing hotels in the Cinque Terre, La Torretta has 13 nicely outfitted rooms with plasma TVs, leather furniture, and tile floors. The family-run hotel occupies a 17th-century building with a tower, and many rooms have terraces. Those without still have views.

If you want to be right on the water, the best choice is the Hotel Marina Piccola, which also has a good restaurant. The fishing boats and rocky beach are practically outside your window. There are two buildings and the accommodations here are clean and comfortable.

The ten rooms at Ca d'Andrean are clean, but basic with simple furnishings and tile floors. Request a room with a balcony for the best views. You can have your breakfast in the property's pretty lemon grove.

Find more Manarola hotels, or Vernazza hotels.
 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Ottersen

Abetone Italy

Image via WikipediaBy Larry Lindley Abetone is major Appenine ski location located in the province of Pistoia, in Tuscany, Italy. It is approximately 80 kilometres Northwest of Florence and around 49 kilometres Northwest of Pistoia. The name Abetone means 'large fir' in Italian. The ski resort of Abetone is home to 51 kilometres of downhill slope skiing, in addition with 41 individual pistes, which can be accessible by its 22 lifts. The slopes of the resort spans out between the four interconnected valleys of Valle dello Scoltenna, Val di Luce, Valle di Lima and Valle del Sestalone. These slopes constitute one of the most awesome, renowned and scenic view of the Apennines. The pistes at Abetone will pose a great challenge, reaching at 1,800 metres, on a clear powder day.
Transportation going to Abetone is moderately accessible. There are also a few airports near the ski resort from which you can start your travel. From Pisa airport, you can access the motorway on going to Casa Marginetta, and from there, you can travel for another hour through a clear main road to go to Abetone. On the other hand, travel time from Venice airport going to the resort would take about three hours depending on weather and road conditions. From Florence airport, the trip would last for less than two hours. From Bologna airport, you would have to make a 70-kilometre drive before you can arrive to Abetone.
There are also various ways to get to the skiing destination. The nearest rail station to Abetone is Pracchia. Bus services are also available to transport you there if you are from Pistoia, Pisa, Florence, Modena or Luca. Rental cars, taxis and ski transfer companies, whether shared or private vehicles are also very much available from any of the airports mentioned.
The attractiveness and appeal of Abetone not only relies on its panoramic view or white-covered mountains but also in its friendly accommodations and facilities. If you are a new visitor travelling to the resort, you need to book your air trip, ski transfer, and lodgings in advance. This is the best thing to do when engaging in any ski holiday. Travelling in groups than individually can also save you money because transportations and accommodations usually come in cheap packages available for multiple visitors. If your budget could allow, you can rent a private car rather than take public transportations so that it would be more convenient for you with all the bulky gears being carried.
The author writes articles about ski travel and Geneva ski transfers including resort information and info on ski transfer destinations Austria
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Lindley

I Love Italian Travel - Wine Touring In Trentino-Alto Adige

Image via WikipediaSo you are planning a visit to Trentino-Alto Adige, a region of northeastern Italy bordering Switzerland and Austria that features the Alps and the Dolomites. Ski resorts abound as do forests. Most residents of Alto Adige designate German as their mother tongue. Let's start at Caldaro in the southwest of Alto Adige. Its town center hosts and the historic Church of Santa Caterina in the center of Caldaro; it's also home to a beautiful lake and the Museo Provinciale del Vino. Naturno is home to the Seventh Century Church of San Procolo whose ancient frescoes are among the oldest in the German-speaking world. Nearby you'll find the Thirteenth Century Castel Juval. Merano, sometimes called the city of flowers, boasts many beautiful promenades. The famous Cure Promenade splits into two, the shady Passeggiata d'Estate (Summer Promenade) and the sunny Passeggiata d'Inverno (Winter Promenade). If you're in the neighborhood be sure to see its Christmas Market. The local capital Bolzano (Bozen) has a fine Gothic cathedral, other churches worth visiting, as is South Tyrol Archeological Museum whose star attraction is Oetzi, the more than five thousand year old iceman. There's a strada del vino (Weinstrasse-wine route) that runs mostly in Alto Adige from Salarno to Bolzano.

Trentino has many sights to see including Museo Storico Italiano della Guerra (Italian Historical War Museum) in Roverto. Its capital, Trento, was the site of the historic Council of Trent that shaped the Church in the Sixteenth Century and is home to many classical churches. Don't miss the fresco collection at the Museo Provinciale d'Arte (Provincial Art Museum) situated in the Castello del Buonconsiglio (Castle of Good Counsel). Madonna di Campiglio advertises itself as Italy's number one ski resort.

The region is not home to any DOCG wines and few of the DOC wines stand out from the others. Despite being so far north, this region still produces more red than white wine. Regional wine classification is different from most of the rest of Italy. The Alto Adige DOC includes dozens and dozens of grape varieties and styles. Trentino and Alto Adige share only two designations. It's fair to say that you can't pick a wine on the basis of its name. But isn't that often the case elsewhere in Italy, and around the world?

Grape varieties abound. Let's start with the whites. Gewuerztraminer may have first come from in the Alto Adige town of Termeno (Tramin). Pinot Bianco is important as is Sauvignon Blanc often called Sauvignon. The popular German Mueller-Thurgau does quite well in Trentino. Try to find Nosiola, a Trentino native. The major local red is Schiava (Vernatsch) in both Trentino and Alto Adige. Other important local Trentino varieties include Teroldego and Marzemino. Alto Adige's second most popular local red grape is Lagrein. The popular international red grapes are Pinot Nero, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot which are also grown in Trentino. My apologies for the relative complexity of the region wine scenes.

Companies selling regional wine tours include Prime Italy, Vineria, Wine Tour Italia, and Alabaster and Clark Wine Tours Worldwide. Some of the regional wineries accepting visitors include Pojer e Sandri in Faedo, Tiefenbrunner in Bolzano, and Cantina Produttori Valle Isarco in Chiusa. A few words of warning are in order. Make sure that you check ahead of time for opening hours and whether English is spoken. Some of these places may charge admission; others may expect that you purchase some of their products.


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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.

I Love Italian Travel - Liguria Wine Tours

Image via WikipediaSo you are planning to tour Liguria. You have probably heard about the historic port of Genoa from which Christopher Columbus set out to visit "The New World". You may be familiar with the Italian Riviera, unashamed competitor to its French counterpart. Perhaps you have heard about Cinque Terre, five seaside villages that are a favorite with hikers and romantics.
If you haven't been to Liguria you may not have ever tasted Ligurian wine. Not very much is exported to North America. On a personal note, I have tasted and reviewed wines from 19 of Italy's 20 regions. Only Liguria was missing. While researching this article I found a red and a white that I ordered on-line. At lost last I have finally reviewed both in other columns.
The little town of Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages is festival land; it celebrates a Lemon Feast on the Saturday just prior to Ascension Sunday, a Flower Festival of Corpus Christi on the second Sunday after Pentecost, and a Salted Anchovy and Olive Oil Festival on the second weekend of September. Or you may prefer the upscale village of Portofino to see how the other half lives. If you love eating fish you can find a wide variety of restaurants ranging from mom and pop trattorias to fancy restaurants. Or visit the Acquario di Genova, which is Europe's largest aquarium.


The soil is poor; the slopes are steep and well-drained. Liguria has what it takes to produce fine wines. But, perhaps unfortunately, more and more of the agricultural production is going to olive groves, flowers, or housing for the numerous tourists. Ligurian grape varieties include the white Vermentino and the red Ormeasco (known as Dolcetto in neighboring Piedmont) and Rossese. They also produce some wine from one of Italy's red signature grapes, Sangiovese.



Liguria festivals include: Portofino - St. George Bonfire in April, Riomaggiore - Feast of San Giovanni in June. Casella - Historical Festival and Palio in August, Levanto - Maritime Festival in July. Pontinvrea - Cherry Festival in June, Castiglione Chiavare - Eggplant Festival in August and Bogliasco - Olive Oil Festival in August.



Companies offering wine tours of Liguria include La Dolce Vita Wine Tours, Nyala Wonder Travel, and Wine Roads. Liguria wineries that hosting visits include A Maccia Azienda Agricola in Ranzo and Terre Bianche in Dolceacqua. They are both involved in agrotourism, so you can spend a good part of your vacation on site.

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Levi Reiss wrote or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French, German, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com and his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com.



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