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Showing posts with label Milan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milan. Show all posts

About Italy Newsblog: the Italian Blog... About Italy

Author: About Italy

About Italy NewBlog collects several stories, news, suggestions, events related to Italy, and furthermore.


Actually, apart from this blog, About Italy is a non-profit sites' network which is constantly growing. Among them you can find: About Florence, About Milan, About Mugello, About Rome, About Siena, About Turin, and many others are coming.



The main purpose of this "NewsBlog" is the creation of a place where to collect all the news about Italy by taking them from the net, from real life and from this same sites' network. You will find here photo and videos, events news, historic tips, and much more about Italy. The authors of this new experiment make us know that NewsBlog is still growing: "Be prepared for graphic and structural changes. We were so impatient to start this new project...during the time we are going to adjust things that don't work".



The authors, volunteers bloggers dislocated all around Italy, also invite users to send personal comments and suggestions, and assure that "they will be well appreciated and taken into consideration".



You just have to follow the development of this project, to read, as they promised, always new and interesting posts!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/about-italy-newsblog-the-italian-blog-about-italy-184478.html


About the Author

About Italy NewBlog wants to be a new way of reading and finding news, suggestions, tips, events and much more About Italy. About Italy is a non-commerical webiste and the idea of this NewsBlog is to create a place were collect all the news about Italy, from the net and from our website’s network.

Free Travel Guide of Milan by Flashbooking for Backpackers

Milan, a northern Italian city, stands in the centre of the large Lombardy plain, between the the Po, Adda and Ticino river valleys. Like many citys of its kind located on a plain, the city radiates out,in a regular pattern from its nucleus, the ancient city centre.This large and lively city is an important financial centre, a creative fashion workshop and a place rich in artistic and cultural sights.

Flashbooking is a growing cheap hostel Milan and hotels directory specializing in budget accommodation for independent travellers, students, backpackers, families and all the ones that travel on a pocket. Flashbooking is becoming a recognized source of information and services for who loves creating a trip by him/herself and book bed nights securely online. The Piazza del Duomo, is recognised as the official centre of the city. The square is flanked by a long line of porticoes and on the square's left side, the entrance to the Vittorio Emanuele II. The two Arengario buildings facing the gallery from across the square, indicate the access point to Piazza Diaz.

Those who love travelling light, those with a sense for adventure, those who love flexibility in their trips, those who like meeting locals and travelling slow and low... those are Flashbooking happy travellers! See Flashbooking database of selected accommodations worldwide and help us enlarging the hostel offer by reporting the contacts of some accommodations, lodgings, BandB, youth hostels and budget small hotels where you personally stayed. In fact, Flashbooking policy tends to privilege small and family-run hotels in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.

The Castello Sforzesco in Milan, stands out among the city's many Renaissance buildings. The castle, built in 1368, is the site of the Civic Museum, dedicated to visual and applied art from the Medieval period to the 17th century, together with Paleo-Christian art and sections on ancient and Egyptian art. Flashbooking provides a large selection of cheap or low cost reservation offers in Milan where there are plenty of low cost solutions for backpackers in budget youth hostels, bed and breakfast Milan, family run guesthouses, cheap hotel deals.

With the monthly newsletter, Flashbooking puts at travellers, students, volunteers free disposal some useful pocket travel guides of major European cities: the Amsterdam City guide, the London City guide, the Prague City guide, the Paris City guide, the Rome City guide, the Florence City guide, and the freshly issued Milan City guide!! For the Milan travel guide Flashbooking staff efforts concentrate on making it simple to read dividing the Milan centre in different districts with their relevant amenities.

In general, Flashbooking guides have been written for giving the essential information about the most visited cities in the world and in particular for any traveller or first-time visitor. For a short visit, a week-end, a city break, these free pocket guides are useful printable and downloadable tools available online. Milan is renown for its open and friendly international people, art museums and Art Galleries, the sea, the movida and cheap lodgings, classic itineraries and a lot more to make a visit worth wise.

Flashbooking chose to provide backpackers, students and families with a list of budget selected and independent accommodations worldwide, mostly run by locals, in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies. For this and other reasons Flashbooking is becoming a recognized source of information and services for who loves creating a trip by him/herself and book bed nights securely online.

Flashbooking cheap lodging solutions are all available for online bookings and divided by Countries. Travellers have free access to the updated list of Europe hostels and budget hotels, North and South America hostels, Caribbean and Central America hostels as well as for Asia cheap accommodations, Oceania youth hostels and Africa hostels.

Having the reservation final price is also convenient as it does give the transparency our users pretend while booking. Having the final total amount of your booking means you do not have to worry about other extra surprises! Flashbooking policy tends to privilege small and family-run hotels in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies. So mates, we are looking forward to finding you THE budget accommodation in Milan, that meets your needs and pocket for your next trip!

The beauty of Italy

Italy is a beautiful country but is one of those countries which you probably have some questions and preconceptions, before your coming to this special country. A place of olive oil, pasta, wine, mafia and sunshine, roman ruins and renaissance palaces, Italy has a lot to give its tourists. Although some of these conceptions are amazing and interesting, it would be a shame if that was the only thing you come away with. Italy is certainly much more complex and stimulating than these concepts.

Italy is a country full of interesting things for the casual tourist and the educated tourist, it has deep Roman Catholic roots. The tourists can stay weeks in important tourist centers without reason to feel bored, but it is equally simple to get off the beaten track. In the north, next to the Alps and the landscapes of the Po river, many cultural gems and highly developed industrial cities fascinate. In this exciting country the people live the "la vita Italiana".    

Lombardia is the capital of Milan, city of business organization and haute couture, the tourist can easily stay weeks without being bored. Bergamo is only an hour of distance and has an upper Old Town. On every corner you will observe something new. Venice and Verona are the most famous tourist attractions in the north-east of Italy, maybe you can think about romantic love affairs here.

The people can discover easily the beautiful landscapes of Italy, Verona province may be the more fascinating. Many persons say that the north-west of Italy is a paradise for every culinary interested traveler. For the people who adore the wine, Piemonte is related with Barolo and Barbaresco, the most famous wines made out of the Nebbiolo grape. Turin is the capital of Piemonte, this city provides more than just a starting point to visit these wine regions.

Lots of tourist attractions like museums, modern art, music and book fairs make of this city, one of the notable Italian cities concerning cultural life. At the same time it is a booming industrial and multimedia city. One of the most popular areas in Italy is Tuscany which is located in central Italy. Known for it's beautiful landscape and picturesque towns and villages including Florence, Lucca, Siena and Cortona.

Italy for Seniors Travel

It's no surprise that Italy is one of the world's top tourist destinations, with amazing sights like ancient cities, classic works of art, charming villages, majestic natural scenery and much more spread all over the country. It's also a great place for seniors travel in particular, with a large range of great historical tours, wine tastings, education and language packages and cruises tailored to overseas visitors on offer.

Senior citizens enjoy a respected status in Italy. Culturally, they are considered not old, but wise and experienced having contributed long and well to society. This great respect for seniors translates to all sorts of benefits like discounts at restaurants and all sorts of local places, so be sure to ask wherever you are. However, in terms of overall discounts to well known attractions, we have heard in some instances that seniors travel discounts do not get offered to non-EU citizens, but be sure to ask.

Avoid the queues. As anyone who's been to Rome or Florence in summertime can tell you, seeing Europe's top artistic sights is no mean feat during high season. Visitors from all over the world queue around the block, and sometimes the block after that, to see the many masterpieces on display. We are talking HOURS. If you want to see these great works without standing the sun all day, come to Italy between mid-March and May or in September and October, when the crowds are considerably smaller. Another great way to avoid a long wait at the Vatican Museum in particular is to come on the last Sunday of every month, when admission is free and the line moves considerably faster! Alternatively pre-book your entry tickets. This is a great way to avoid the terrible hassle and something I personally do before all my trips.

Prepare for the heat. Italy is one of the hottest parts of Europe in high summer - in the capital, for example, the temperatures frequently exceed 30C during July and August. For the most comfortable trip possible come between April and June or in September and October, when temperatures will range from 18-25C. The ottobrate, or "beautiful October days", are especially well known as a great time to be in Rome. If you do come during the high season, bring plenty of water and sunscreen and wear a hat during the midday sun. It's easy to get dehydrated when there are so many fascinating sites to visit! I have also found that some of the shopping centres are not air-conditioned, you find this in France too. So at times in high heat, an escape to the shops is not an option.

Take your time. Even without the scorching sun and thronging crowds of summer, seeing all the sights of Italy can be a demanding task for anyone. In fact, most people find themselves walked out after only visiting a couple of the main historical sites in Rome such as the Roman Forum or the Coliseum. Many of the country's coastal and rural tourist sites, moreover, are difficult or inaccessible to anyone with mobility issues. The best way to get around this problem is to take it easy, prioritize which sites you're most interested in and don't try to cram in too many activities in one day. If you truly are interested in visiting the famous historical sites and museums, my advice is to allow plenty of time to do this and try not to do too much in a day.

Stand for your coffee. It is a whole lot more expensive if you take a table at a cafe for your coffee break and panini. You will see the locals standing at the coffee bar because it is cheaper. However, I personally see taking a table at a local haunt as part of the tourist attraction - watch the locals and recover your feet. But if you are on a budget, stand for your coffee.

Savour the flavor. Of course, another of Italy's top attractions is its great food. The home of pasta, ice cream and pizza has a deservedly good reputation for its delicious traditional fare - make it your business to try all three! The Trastavere food district in Rome is a good place to start. You will find great deals everywhere for food, particularly if you are willing to explore the back streets a little and get off the tourist path. A great cost saving tip is to take a set menu, generally offered at lunch time. They include a range of courses and almost certainly come with a glass of wine. So, eat your main meal during the day at lunch time like the Italians. You can walk it off in the afternoon. For the true lovers of Italian food, there are plenty of cooking courses to do. You can choose from half day courses to 2 week immersion experiences.

Enjoy wine country. For wine lovers the world over, Italy is a feast for the taste buds. Famous varietals like Chianti, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Pinot Grigio all come from here, plus dozens more you can come to know and love during your stay. Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to vineyard tours, which are dotted all around the country. If you are not staying in one of the wine regions, again, you can take day trips from some of the major destinations like Florence to Chianti. There are plenty of options from Rome, Milan and Naples too.

Rome is a City of Rich History and Ancient Ruins

Rome is the capital city of Italy as well as one of the most famous cities in the entire world. One of the things that makes it so unique from other cities is the fact that within its walls is the smallest nation in the world, the State of the Vatican City, a sovereign territory of the Holy See.

Within the Vatican City is Saint Peter's Square and Saint Peter's Basilica. Between the years 1656 and 1667, the open area in front of the basilica was redesigned so that it could accommodate the largest number of people possible during blessings given by the Pope. In addition to surrounding the Vatican, Rome has an extremely long and interesting history. The legend of its founding says that Romulus and Remus, twins who were supposedly raised by wolves, established the city. However, the archaeological evidence indicates that Rome developed out of pastoral settlements and became a city around the 8th century BC.

For around one thousand years, Rome was very important in the political world and was considered the largest and richest city in the Western world. It remained an important power even after the Roman Empire began its decline. However, it did eventually lose its status as a capital city to Milan and then to Ravenna. One of the things Rome is known for today are the ancient structures that still exist there. The Roman Colosseum has become a symbol of the Roman Empire and of Rome itself. It was the largest amphitheatre ever built by the Roman Empire and was capable of seating 50,000 people. Its original use was as a venue for staging combats between gladiators, which was a popular spectator sport of the time.

Rome is also home to many beautiful villas and gardens. The center of the city is surrounded by many green areas and gorgeous old villas. Among them is the Villa Borghese, which has a large, landscaped garden constructed in the 19th century naturalistic English style. The villa also has a number of buildings, museums, and other attractions. For the many tourists vacationing in Rome, there are a number of lovely places to stay, including both hotels and holiday apartments.

Examples of hotels in Rome, Italy are:

Hotel Aldrovandi Palace: This historical hotel was built in 1899 and remodeled in 2004. It is located between the Villa Borghese Gardens and the Borghese Gallery in a quiet, upscale residential area. It is also very close to the Spanish Steps. The hotel features an outdoor pool, private park, and garden dining.

Examples of holiday apartments in Rome, Italy are:

Casa Cesi: This two bedroom apartment sleeps up to six people and is located between the Vatican and the Spanish Steps. It's a spacious apartment that has been carefully decorated to make guests feel at home. The kitchen is modern and fully equipped and the master bedroom has an en suite bathroom.

Frattina Beauty: This stylishly decorated apartment has bright, cheery colors to welcome its guests. It's just minutes from the Spanish Steps in the historical centre. It's on the second floor of its building and has an elevator to get you there comfortably. The famous old structures of Rome make it an exciting place for any traveler to visit. While its sites may be ancient, its hotels and holiday apartments are comfortably modern to accommodate even the most discerning of vacationers.

Five Things To Do In Lombardy and Italian Lakes

A country of pasta and wine, sunshine and snow, renaissance palaces and roman ruins, Italy is as beautiful as it is complex, making this region of Italy so popular for people to come and have a self catering holiday here in a rental villa or a rustic rural house. Lombardy is an Italian region which occupies a major part of Po Valley.

Orobic Alps, Rhaetian and Lepontine form its northern borders and it has a hilly district having major Italian lakes from lakes of Iseo, Como and Varese to Easter slopes of the Lago Maggiore. This area is rich in water mainly because of Po and the affluents. The capital of the region is Milan and the major cities are Brescia, Bergamo, Varese, Mantua, Pavia, Cremona, Sondrio and Como.

The first thing you can do in Lombardy is to view its Romanesque architecture. Each major city of Lombardy has beautiful examples of this type of architecture and the most stunning monument from the Gothic period remains the Cathedral of Milan.

The period of Renaissance has left some sumptuous churches and splendid palaces in Lombardy that are worth seeing if you have visited the place. The Lombard paintings received their greatest splendor in the 15th century.

There are several art museums in Lombardy which include several sections dedicated to applied arts, sculpture and painting. The Brera Gallery exhibits some of the all-time painting masterpieces and the Poldi Pezzoli museum has a rich collection of paintings from great masters, art objects, fittings and jewelry. Painting masterpieces can also be seen in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana.

The second thing that you will not resist from doing in Lombardy is participating in activities such as skiing and snowboarding. Being a region of snow, these activities are an all time favorites for the visitors of Lombardy.

There are even institutes that provide instant training to people who do not know how to ski or snowboard. Other activities that you will love to do include cycling, hiking, trekking, camping and wildlife viewing.Rental accommodation can be found in the towns or a chalet in one of the sky resorts.

Shopping is the third thing you will love to do in Lombardy as a visitor. Apart from Milan, there are other places also that provide great shopping facilities for the shopper's minds. Bergamo has the biggest shopping center of Italy named as Oriocenter and it offers everything that you can shop for including foot stuff, jewelry, clothes and Italian leather goods.

Bellagio also has several stores in its central district where you can buy some expensive leather and fashion goods. Visit the Strada Nuova area of Pavia which is a major pedestrian and shopping area of the town.

Some of the major Italian lakes include Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. The fourth thing you can do here is to be on a steamer that cruises between stately gardens and resort towns. Also visiting the famous gardens of Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Borromean Islands is worth it.

The fifth thing you must do in Italian Lakes is to become a part of the film and music festivals, sporting competitions and local events that are held in the area all year through.

There are also several villas, villages and historic towns that are able to satisfy you if you are interested in exploring the culture of the area. The diversity of this region make it so accessible and easy for families to have a self catering holiday here.