Paradise on Earth

Deruta

2011-07-26T14:18:00.003-04:00

The town of Deruta, located in the hills of Umbria, is famous for its fine pottery, ceramics and majolica. The qualities of the local clay led to Deruta becoming the capital of ceramic production, particularly during the Renaissance period. To this day pottery production is still the main economic activity. The Museum of Ceramics in Deruta is internationally known, and worth a visit to learn more of the history of this wonderful town and its beautiful ceramics.

The famous bright, colorful and luminous pottery may be the principal attraction, but the old part of the town is also beautiful. Go through an ancient gateway, the Porta di S. Michele Arcangelo, to the historic centre with its winding medieval streets where you will find a number of interesting buildings, churches, galleries and museums.

Paestum

2011-07-26T12:42:00.000-04:00

Paestum is an ancient Greco-Roman city in the Campania region of southern Italy, 40 km south of Salerno, not far from the beautiful Amalfi Coast. Paestum is the Roman name of the city. The original Greek name was Poseidonia.

The modern town of Paestum, directly to the north of the archaeological site, is a popular seaside resort. In the region of Paestum there are long, sandy beaches and some of the best food in Italy.

The main reason to come to Paestum is to see the most complete Doric temples in Italy. Paestum has three: the Basilica of Hera, the Temple of Ceres, and, on the southern end of the site, the Temple of Neptune, built in 450 BC, the oldest and best-preserved of the Greek temples in Italy.

There are also ruins of ancient houses and the National Archeological Museum of Paestum which contains the painted tombs, and artifacts and statues from the temples.

Paestum makes an excellent complement to the later, and more crowded, Roman ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum and a unique Greek experience in Italy

Tuscany

2011-07-14T16:15:00.007-04:00

Tuscany is a region on Italy's west coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is one of the most popular places to visit in a country that is itself one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

There are several reasons to visit Tuscany: some of the most important ones are seeing Renaissance art in Florence, eating Tuscan food and tasting the excellent local wines, and after all this enjoying a day at the beach in Viareggio.

Tuscany has two very diverse faces - the art cities such as Florence, Siena, Lucca and Pisa on one hand, and the countryside on the other. The small towns, villages, castles, villas and vineyards of Tuscany make a welcome change from the traffic and noise of some of the larger Tuscan cities.

Besides wandering in beautiful cities and looking at Renaissance art, there are many other things you can do in Tuscany. For example, you can learn to cook or just taste Tuscan food, go trekking or play golf in the beautiful rolling hills, or enjoy the famous landscapes by retreating to a health spa.

The region is famed for its wines, most notably the Sangiovese reds Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Of these, Chianti can be anything from inexpensive, drinkable plonk to, when it comes to the best examples of Chianti Classico, a world class wine.

The wines of Montalcino and Montepulciano are generally of a high standard, and in particular Brunello regularly receives lots of awards (something reflected in the price as well). If you are not prepared to pay a fortune for your wine but would still like something a bit nicer, both Montalcino and Montepulciano have the common man's version of their wines, Rosso di Montalcino and Rosso di Montepulciano.

Florence

2011-07-14T16:03:00.005-04:00

Florence is the capital of the region of Tuscany in Italy, with a population of about 366,500. Over a million people visit every year. The city is considered a cultural, artistic and architectural gem, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Florence’s legendary artistic heritage attracts art lovers and students of art from all over the world. History and art are the most important aspects of the city, but fashion, jewellery, and gastronomy are other important attractions.

Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Politically, economically, and culturally it was the most important city in Europe for around 250 years, from some time before 1300 until the early 1500s.

Some of the most important sights in Florence are: the Uffizi Gallery- one of the world's most famous fine art museums with collections of Renaissance paintings and sculptures from classical antiquity; the Accademia Gallery - highlights are Michelangelo's David and the unfinished Slaves; The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore -also known as the Duomo di Firenze is the city's beautiful cathedral, the symbol of the city. Its dome, Brunelleschi's Dome was an engineering feat of the Renaissance. Its Baptistery is famous for bronze doors by Andrea Pisano (14th century) and Lorenzo Ghiberti (15th century); Ponte Vecchio - the oldest and most famous bridge over the Arno and the only Florentine bridge to survive WW2; Santa Croce church - contains the monumental tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Dante, and many other notables in addition to artistic decorations; Santa Maria Novella - near the train station, is a beautiful church and contains great artwork, including a recently restored Trinity by Masaccio.

Rome

2011-07-14T15:29:00.010-04:00

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

With wonderful palaces, glorious churches and basilicas, grand ancient ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. The Historic Centre of Rome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world. Some of Italy's oldest jewellery and clothing establishments were founded in the city.

Much of the attraction of Rome is in just wandering around the old city. You can quickly escape from the major tourist routes and feel as if you are in a small medieval village, not a capital city. If you can do so while watching for uneven cobblestones, keep looking upwards.

The narrow streets frequently broaden out into small or large squares, piazzas, which usually have one or more churches and palaces, a monument or a fountain or two. You can plan your trip going from piazza to piazza. There is Piazza Navona and Piazza della Rotonda (in front of the Pantheon), and the nearby Piazza della Minerva, with its unique elephant statue by Bernini, and Piazza Colonna with the column of Marcus Aurelius, and Palazzo Chigi, meeting place of the Italian Government. On the other side of Corso Vittorio Emanuele are Piazza Farnese with the Palazzo of the same name (now the French Embassy) and two interesting fountains and the flower sellers at Campo dei Fiori, scene of Rome's executions in the old days.

The enormous Piazza del Popolo in the North Centre, which provided an imposing entrance to the city when it represented the northern boundary of Rome, is well worth a visit. A short walk back towards the centre brings you to the famous Piazza di Spagna at the foot of the Spanish Steps. This area was used as backdrop for the 1953 film Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. (More recently, Rome has featured in the films Angels and Demons, Eat, Pray, Love, and Gladiator.)

On the other side of the river is, of course, the magnificent square of St Peter's at the Vatican. Further south, in Trastevere is Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, a great place to watch the world go by, either from one of the restaurants or bars that line two sides of the square or, if that is too expensive, from the steps of the central fountain. The square attracts many street entertainers.

Moving back to the Modern Centre you have to see the Trevi Fountain, surely a part of everyone's Roman holiday. Visitors are always amazed that such a big and famous fountain is tucked away in a small piazza in the middle of side streets. Take extra-special care of your possessions here. Further up the Via del Tritone you will come to Piazza Barberini, now full of traffic but the lovely Bernini fountain is not to be missed.

Ancient Roman ruins in Rome are a must-see. The main area for exploring the ruins of ancient Rome is in Rome/Colosseo on either side of Via dei Fori Imperiali, which connects the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia. Heading towards the Colosseum from Piazza Venezia, you see the Roman Forum on your right and Trajan's Forum and Market on the left. To the right of the Colosseum rises the Arch of Constantine and is the beginning of the Palatine Hill, which will eventually lead you to ruins of the Flavian Palace and a view of the Circus Maximus.

There are more than 900 churches in Rome. Probably one third would be well worth a visit! In Catholic tradition, St. Peter is said to have founded the church in Rome together with St. Paul.

A visit to Rome is not complete without a trip to the Vatican Museum. You need to go to the museum if you want to see the Sistine Chapel. Tapestries, maps and the rooms painted by Rafael are en route to the Sistine Chapel, but there is much, much more to explore, including a stunning Egyptian collection, and the Pinacoteca, which includes a Portrait of St. Jerome by Leonardo Da Vinci and paintings by Giotto, Perugino, Raphael, Veronese and Caravaggio, to name just a few.

Rome has something for everyone: museums and archeological sites, architecture and art, parks and gardens, shopping, nightlife and Italian food! Plan to spend several days in Rome.

Pompeii

2011-07-14T15:11:00.008-04:00

The modern town of Pompei (with one i), near Naples in the Campania region of Italy, is famous for the archeological site of the ancient city of Pompeii.

Pompeii has been a popular tourist destination for 250 years; it was on the itinerary of The Grand Tour. You can spend a whole day exploring this fascinating site. Be sure to plan for at least 3 or 4 hours.

The city of Pompeii, along with Herculaneum, was destroyed and completely buried during a 2-day-long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius in the year AD 79. The eruption buried Pompeii under 4 to 6 metres of ash and pumice. It was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1749. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2.5 million visitors every year.

The objects buried beneath Pompeii were remarkably well-preserved for almost two thousand years. The lack of air and moisture allowed for the objects to remain underground with little to no deterioration, which meant that, once excavated, the site had a wealth of sources and evidence for analysis, giving remarkable detail into the lives of the Pompeiians. Unfortunately, once exposed, Pompeii has been subject to both natural and man-made forces which have rapidly increased their rate of deterioration. Conservation is a constant concern.

The eruption of the volcano captured a moment in time. You will see the streets, buildings, art and graffiti, and every-day items used by the people of ancient Pompeii. And, you will even see some of those people, plaster casts of people, and animals in their last moments of life.

Herculaneum is also worth exploring, as it was a very different kind of town. Pompeii was a commercial centre, whereas Herculaneum was a resort town.

Naples

2011-07-14T14:52:00.006-04:00

Naples is the capital of the Campania region in Italy. The city is the third most populated municipality (city proper) of Italy, but the second largest metropolitan area, after Milan.

Because of its vast artistic heritage, the historic centre of Naples has earned the UNESCO World Heritage Site denomination.

Naples is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has enormous cultural heritage and unique charm. Naples is tremendously underrated by those who do not know the city. Some may find the actual conditions of many buildings and streets, and the rampant graffiti, off-putting. Others claim that "the immense character and culture of Napoli...and even the dirt and grime has its own flavour...a Neapolitan recipe for reality, and great fun". Naples' peculiarity is that the city centre is not the elegant part of the city. Do not expect the pristine conditions of the centres of many other major European cities. The historical centre in Naples, unlike in most European cities, is not the "downtown". If you want to visit the elegant part of the city, you can walk around the wonderful lungomare (seafront promenade), the Riviera di Chiaia (best sunset views of Vesuvius) or via Francesco Caracciolo.

Here are just a few things you must see in Naples: Castel dell'Ovo - the ancient Egg Castle on a small peninsula overlooking Naples’ harbour (the castle currently houses the Museum of Prehistory); Piazza del Plebiscito - Naples' main square; and surrounding it you will find the Royal Palace; the Duomo - Naples' Cathedral with two luxurious chapels; and underneath it you can find excavation of a Roman site; and the Galleria Umberto, a shopping passage from the 19th Century.

Pizza comes from Naples. Look for Pizza Margherita, the original one, with tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella toppings. Eating a pizza in Florence or in Rome is not the same as eating it in Naples! In Naples every pizzeria makes a decent pizza. Many pizzerias display the official label of "Vera Pizza Napoletana," True Neapolitan Pizza (a black circle with a white figure of a Pulcinella holding a green pizza peel with a red pizza in front of a stylized red Vesuvio). This indicates that the pizzeria follows the standards of The Naples Pizza Association, AVPN.

Capri

2010-05-06T10:05:00.013-04:00

The island of Capri has been a popular resort since Roman times, and continues to attract intellectuals, artists and celebrities.

The island of Capri is divided into Marina Piccola - the small harbour - and Marina Grande - the main port of the island. The Town of Anacapri is located on the hill.
The origin of the name Capri is connected to early Greek influences. It means "wild boar".

Features of this beautiful Mediterranean island are la Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto), which is a beautiful cave with amazing turquoise sea water and a small entrance for one rowboat at the time; I Faraglioni di Capri, the Faraglioni Rocks (see the picture), also are something interesting to see, a sort of symbol of the island. The Faraglioni are 3 blocks of rock that have survived coastal landslides and all manner of atmospheric corrosion. The rocks have each been given a name: the first one is Stella, the second one is Faraglione di Mezzo and the third is Faraglioni di Fuori or Scopolo.

Another place to visit is the Piazza Umberto I also known as la Piazzetta, which from the white columned terrace opens to a fabulous view of Monte Solaro. La Piazzetta is the centre of the island of Capri for tourists and locals, where people meet for lunch, or to have a drink at the bar or simply to chat. It is the focal point of island social life.

Among the interesting museums and galleries on the island is the famous La Casa Rossa, which is all painted in Pompeian red and resembles a fortress. The house belonged to the American colonel John Clay H. MacKowen who arrived here after the civil war and resided here until 1899. He collected archeological artifacts he found on the island of Capri and displayed them in his house.

The house is now a museum and contains an amazing art collection. This collection offers visitors an image of the customs and traditions of everyday 18th and 19th century Capri. There are 32 canvases that bear the signatures of Italian and International masters such as Barret, De Montalant, Carabain, Hay, Casciaro, Vianelli, Carelli, Giordano, Federico, Brancaccio, Corrodi, Lovatti, and Bentos.

Sorrento

2010-05-05T13:57:00.031-04:00

"Do you know the land where the lemons are in flower?

In the green leaves golden oranges shine

A quiet wind blows from the blue sky

Quiet is the myrtle, serene the laurel

Do you know it well?

There, there

I would like with you, my love, to go!"

J.W.Goethe

The beauty of Sorrento has inspired many artists. Goethe was charmed by the scenes and scents of this special place. The famous song Come Back to Sorrento, sings the praises of the views of the sea and the scent of the orange groves which “goes straight to your heart”.

Sorrento overlooks the bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius and the island of Capri and is located on the peninsula of Sorrento which divides the gulf of Salerno from the gulf of Naples.

Sorrento is not only a lovely resort town, but it is also filled with historical attractions. According to a legend, the town was founded by Liparos, son of Ausone, who was the king of Ausoni, son of Ulysses and the witch Circe.

Sorrento’s early history shows a Greek influence, but until the 19^th century when it was annexed by the Italian Kingdom, Sorrento changed hands many times giving it an eclectic mix of cultures.

Sorrento`s economy has basically been based on tourism and over the years it has been a favourite destination of luminaries of European culture such as Lord Byron, Keats, Dickens, Wagner, and Goethe, who immortalized the town in poetry.

Sorrento is well known for its production of limoncello, walnuts, oranges and tomatoes. This area is particularly known for its citrus production. The cultivation of oranges and lemons has ancient traditions and it used to represent the main economic resource for the territory. A popular dish is the well-known Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, made with typical products of the Campania region.

Among the places to visit we find the Cathedral of Sorrento, the Correale di Terranova Museum - which contains examples of regional decorative art of the 15th and 16th century, including furniture, porcelains and paintings - and the Baroque Church of San Francesco known for its 14^th century cloisters, which are now used by an art school.

Shopping is another thing to do in Sorrento, since it has the best prices and the widest variety of any shopping district along the Amalfi Coast. Whether you choose to spend your days shopping or lying on the beach or hiking, you have to make a stop at Don Alfonso which is a special restaurant offering fine wines and typical creative Neapolitan dishes.