Attractions in Italy

Italy rentals are very popular in the Liguria region. The Liguria region is a one of the beautiful costal regions of Italy and the smallest among all Italian regions. This is very famous among tourists for its attractive beaches, striking small towns and delicious food. World famous pesto sauce is also made in this region. The city of Genoa if the famous among all the areas of this region occupied with numerous churches. Tourists can also enjoy beautiful sceneries, nightlife and parks of Liguria.

The best hang out of this region is to explore the beaches such as Andora and Cervo. Andora is most popular among tourists for its water sports, sea food, and the ultimate sight seen. This beach is surrounded with small mountains makes it more interesting. Tourists can also the separate grass area along the sandy beaches which is suitable for the relaxation. The best feature of this beach is that it offers separate showers and changing rooms for free. People who love water sports can enjoy this beach to the fullest as it is occupied with numerous Para gliders and boats. San Lorenzo al Mare is also another beach famous for its road made with the pebbles.

Other thing that can be enjoyed in Liguria is shopping. Tourists can shop here everything that their heart desire such as clothes, bag, jewelry and precious gift items. There are various supermarkets in this region which is opens all the week as well as on public holidays. Among all the popular markets, Ventimiglia is the famous market of this region where tourists can actually feel the real culture of Liguria. In this market, tourists can get the imitative products and clothes of various big brands which make it more attractive. Specialties of Liguria such as food, clothes and hand made items of Liguria are also available in this market.

The Liguria region offers so many different things it makes it such a popular region for a self catering holiday with holiday accommodation in the towns, self catering villas on the beach and beautiful hillside rental accommodation. If you go to this region then do not miss the A Valloria Fai baldoria, a famous Italian village fair with delicious drinks and tempting food. This festival remains for six months and is also known for the hand made items made by the local villagers of this region. Tourists can also enjoy the music and dance by various artists. In this festival, tourists can also take part in the painting competition and win exciting prizes.

Other that this, in this costal region, one can explore the beautiful churches such as Santa Caterina and San Lorenzo. These churches are famous for the inescapable paintings and sculptures. These offer very peaceful and beautiful surroundings. Santa Caterina is constructed on the sea shore and famous for the beautiful candles. Tourists can also buy various beautifully designed candles for their friends and relatives.

In addition, Rio Rocca restaurant is other famous destination palce of the Liguriaa located in the hamlet "Monti". In this restaurant tourists can find cuisine made from their own crops. Tourists can also enjoy some of the famous ligurian specialties such as pesto sauce, ligurian fresh tomatoes, dried tomatoes and dishes made by olive oil. Ligurian Rio Rocca's products are cultivated on their own 10,000 square meter estate. Tourists can also purchase the olive oil and famous peato sauce of the Liguria to take back to their rental accommodation for a great alfresco meal. Couples, families and individuals come to this region of Italy to rent a self catering holiday home and use it as a base to explore Liguria.

The southern Italian region of Basilicata borders on Campania to the west, Puglia (Apulia) to the east, and Calabria to the south, and has a short coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea and another on the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea to the southeast. While it’s not the first place you might think of for a holiday in Italy, the region has a special charm that is slowly being discovered by visitors who are keen to get away from the more touristy parts of Italy.

Basilicata offers stunning arid mountain scenery and inland villages, perched on the hills, where time seems to have stood still. On the coast there are charming villages and seaside resorts such as Lido di Metaponto, with its archaeological relics, Marina di Pisticci, Lido di Scanzano, and Lido di Policoro. Remains of the Roman Era can be seen in Venosa along with medieval art. Basilicata is divided into two provinces: Potenza and Matera.

Matera and the sassi

In Matera, the Ridola National Museum holds Paleolithic relics and ceramics that date back to the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages. Just outside the city are distinctive ancient settlements, known as sassi, that have been declared a World Heritage Site. These well–preserved settlements have been cut from rock and include over 100 rock churches from Greek-Byzantine Monastic civilizations. Important sassi include Montescaglioso, with its commanding medieval Abbey of S. Angelo; Miglionico, known for its fine Norman castle;

Irsina, famous for the 12th century Monastery of S. Francesco, its crypt decorated with fine frescoes; Tricarico, with its medieval religious buildings; Pisticci, known for its rows of white houses; and Tursi, set above the Sinni River valley, and the nearby lone church of S. Maria d'Anglona. While there are good hotels in Matera, staying in the rock dwellings is a very different experience, and hotels like Hotel Sant'Angelo, made up of 16 historical dwellings that have been reformed into living areas, include all mod cons. Another accommodation alternative in the old town is one of the many B&Bs where you’ll have a chance to interact with locals and enjoy delicious home cooking.

Potenza, the capital of Basilicata, is of pre-Roman origins, and its Saint Gerard Cathedral was rebuilt at the end of the 1700s. The city’s Provincial Archeological Museum houses an important prehistoric collection, an interesting ethnographic section, and numerous Greek and Roman treasures including the Tempietto and the Statuina di Persefone.

One of Potenza province’s most historic towns, Rivello, set on a strategic ridge that overlooks the Noce Valley and Mount Sirino, has a fascinating mixture of Longobard and Byzantine architecture. Also worth visiting are the Convent of Sant’Antonio da Padova and Santa Barbara’s Church. The Byzantine Church of San Michele dei Greci features a Neapolitan school polyptych dating from 1614.

The Vulture area

In the north of the province of Potenza, fertile soils allow the cultivation of excellent grapes and olives. Here the two beautiful lakes of Monticchio lie within an old volcano, not far from the two castles of Frederick II of Swabia at Castel Lagopesole and Melfi. The Norman S. Lucia Church at Rapolla, Venosa, known for its famous Abbey of the Trinità, and Acerenza, with its thirteenth-century cathedral, are additional district architectural attractions.

Italy rentals are very popular in the Campania region. Campania is a beautiful region of Italy famous for its numerous tourists attractions and rich culture. This region is best known for its fertile lands and amazing landscapes. This region also offers The Vesuvius that is one of the active volcanoes of Europe located on the Gulf of Naples. Its Amalfi coast is world famous for the grottoes and high cliffs. Tourists can also enjoy shopping, nightlife and beautiful beaches of this region.

One of the best things to do in Campania is exploring its market. Here tourists can easily explore the fantastic Italy's fashion and its rich culture. The best place of shopping in Campania is Sorrento or Naples, both known for their famous clothes and jewelries. Tourists can avail designer clothes in malls as well as local shops although local shops are less expensive than the malls. Besides fashionable clothes, tourists can also shop for good bottles of wines such as red wine, which is a specialty of Campania. Also, you can enjoy the wine specialties like key chains and shot glasses. This region is also known for its unique art materials and gift items. Above all, journey to Campania is incomplete without shopping.

If you go to this region, then you should not miss the nightlife as it offers various activities such as casinos and bars. One thing which is seen in Campania often is people sitting on the road and enjoying a glass of red wine. One can also enjoy the visits to the bars and clubs. You can spend your nights in cafes and enjoy delicious drinks. This region also offers various theatres and music shows like Opera in the nights. In addition to these, live entertainment shows can be enjoyed. Tourists can also visit the local shops known as piazza and restaurants as these remain open for the whole night.

One must also visit the Pompeii town which is located at the foot of famous Mt. Vesuvius. The interesting feature of this mountain is that it is the only mountain of Europe with active volcanoes. Here, tourists can know about the histories of volcanoes with the help of hired guides. This tour also includes the historical information of Pompeii town and the events during the volcanic eruptions. Another beautiful attraction of Campania is the Amalfi Coastal road known for its long stretch that runs through the various towns of this area. 

Tourists can enjoy the long drive of this coast which involves sightseeing of various landscapes, huge cliffs and ocean view. One can either go for drives by their personal cars or rented cars which is easily available there. Last but not the least, Campania has various beautiful beaches and rivers such as Marina Piccola and Baia di Ieranto. However, the famous among all is Marina Piccola, a beach known for the adventurous water sports and volley ball. Tourists can try surfing and sailing on this beach which makes this place more exciting and amazing. 

One can also enjoy paragliding and banana boat ride as they are the common water sports of this beach. Catch a boat from Sorrento and visit the islands of Capri and Ischia for exclusive shopping and great dining not worrying what time to be back as self catering villas will give you the freedom to explore. Families and couples come to this very beautiful Campania region of Italy to rent a self catering villa, giving them the independence to sample the beautiful foods and culture with total freedom.

Wine clubs love the historic wine regions of Italy, including Campania, Basilicata, and Puglia. The wines from these regions offer a modern day wine from some very ancient vines that still produce grapes today. This article looks at these three historic wine regions along with the culture of the times when these ancient vines were originally planted.

Campania

The capital of Campania, Naples was founded by the Greeks, enlarged by the Romans, and subsequently invaded by the Normans, Hohenstaufen, French, and Spanish among others. Established by the Greeks in the 11th century BC, Naples was the earliest of a cluster of far-flung settlements throughout southern Italy.

Many important figures of the age, including Pythagoras, Archimedes, and Aeschylus lived in these settlements, and today some of the best ruins of the ancient Greek world can be found there. Along with mathematics, architecture, and drama, the ancient art of winemaking also flourished in the hills and valleys of the region as the cult of Dionysus spread. Aglianico and Greco, grapevines that the Greeks introduced, are highly priced today and prized by wine enthusiasts and wine of the month club members. The Greek historian Herodotus called this part of Italy Oenotria, the land of wine.

Basilicata

Along with Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia, Basilicata was part of Magna Graecia in the sixth century BC, when the Greeks planted one of Italy's finest grapes, the noble Aglianico. Later the Romans dominated the region, calling it "Luciana," but Basilicata derives its name from its Byzantine rulers.

Greek ruins, medieval abbeys, Norman castles, and a collection of hill towns grace this wild and remote region, the most mountainous in Italy with only eight percent of its surface area flat. Despite southern Italy's reputation for semi tropical weather, Basilicata's capital, Potenza, is often the coldest city in Italy, chilled by cold winds from the Balkans and the Apennine mountains. The best vineyards have developed on the high ground of Monte Vulture, both on the steep eastern side of the volcano and on the high plains around Venosa. The wines from the Basilcata region are a favorite of most wine clubs.

Puglia

Puglia, the heel and spur of the Italian boot, is rich in art and architecture that reflect the many cultures that have dominated the region over the centuries. The Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Normans, Swabians, and Spainards among others have all left their imprints there. The octagonal fortress in Castel del Monte was built by Emperor Frederick II in 1240. The towns of Otranto and Gallipoli evoke the Greeks. And much of Lecce is Baroque in style, having flourished in the 17th century.

Alberobello is the capital of the "trulli," whitewashed, circular buildings with conical roof tiles, whose origins no one is certain of. In the north, the terrain is hilly and the climate temperate. Red wines dominate but the region produces many white wines enjoyed by wine of the month club members. In the south, the traditional wines of Salento are the powerful reds Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera, and Primitivo, related to California's Zinfandel, a common favorite of many wine clubs. Salice Salentino is the most prominent zone and is noted for its rich reds and its rose. These three historic wine regions of Italy still produce wines today using these ancient grapevines, providing a taste of the past along with enjoyment for today.

You're off to Italy on a cooking school tour you've been dreaming of for years, perhaps in the magnificent Barolo wine country in Piedmont or on the east coast in Sicily with views of the Mediterranean and snow capped Mount Etna. You want to enjoy your sensual experiences in Italy to the maximum: the beauty, the countryside, food, cooking lessons, wine tastings, sightseeing excursions and visits with local people. 

Here are four detailed tips on getting all the joy possible out of your Italian cooking school tour, gleaned from my 12 years of experience creating and leading cooking tours in Italy.

1. Many cooking school tour members tell me, "I've eaten too much! There's too much food. I'm a food lover so how can I discipline myself when everything is SO delicious."

Find out what is on your lunch or dinner menu so you can pace yourself. That way you avoid eating a lot of one course only to find three more courses are coming and you don't have room for all the wonderful food. Most Italian meals for special occasions (all cooking school tour meals are special occasions) have five courses: one to five appetizers, pasta or rice, meat or fish, vegetable side dish and dessert, so pacing yourself makes a big difference in your enjoyment of your meal.

A good cooking school tour guide will list all the dishes on the menu to the group before a meal. If she doesn't, ask her to do so. Sample a little bit of everything so you experience as many flavours and dishes as possible. That's one reason you go on a cooking school tour, isn't it? Trying a bit of everything will also avoid offending your hospitable cooking teachers or chefs. Then you can smile and say, "It was absolutely wonderful, but I just don't have the space." I'm on the petite side, so this line makes perfect sense to my Italian hosts.

2. Some cooking school tour participants say, "The cooking classes were hands-on but I didn't get enough time to cook hands-on during the lesson. The chef did too much of the cooking in the class." If you want to participate more hands-on in the class, get beside the chef and jump right in. If you hang back, waiting to get asked to do something, you may wait awhile and go away feeling disappointed you didn't get a real hands-on class. Some tour guides and chefs notice who is shy and hanging back in the kitchen and encourage them to "step up to the plate", but others don't. You have to be assertive and volunteer.

3. Some cooking school students wonder, "Will I gain weight during my cooking tour with the vast quantities of irresistible food?" One woman told me she lost 10 pounds during her cooking lesson trip in Italy. No fried chicken or hamburgers, just healthy, natural, less fatty foods. Italians eat less junk food and more fresh, local foods than many North Americans. She drank water and no pop. She did much more walking than she ever does at home.

If you can find time on your cooking school tour to go for walks or hikes, you'll go home weighing the same or less, and feel much more energetic while on your cooking tour. Better still, choose cooking school tours that include some good walks perhaps along paths in the Tuscan or Piedmont wine country or along coasts in Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast or Sicily.

4. Communicate in a direct, friendly way with your tour guide about what you want. Once you're in Italy in the middle of experiencing your cooking school tour, you may want to change the tour itinerary slightly. For example, you discover many tempting leather shops in a Tuscan hill town and want to spend more time shopping and forego your spa treatments on the itinerary.

Ask your tour guide how you can change activities. Most tour guides try to be as flexible as possible. After all, their job is making sure you enjoy yourself! If there's anything you're not enjoying on your tour, take your tour guide aside, give constructive, friendly feedback and work together to make changes. Don't be like some people who say nothing about their disappointments until they fill out the tour evaluation form at the end of the tour when it's too late to help them.

If you're enjoying an activity tremendously, ask your guide how you can do more of it. "I loved that boat ride! Is there any way we can do more boat rides?" Tour guides love seeing you happy and will do all they can to delight you. In conclusion, if you pace yourself at the table, try a small amount of everything, assert yourself in the kitchen, enjoy the healthy cuisine, get some exercise and communicate well with your tour guide, your Italian cooking school tour will give you all you dreamed of and more.