Discover Italy – Page 5

Amazing and charming Gargano in the South of Italy

The Gargano! What a beautiful piece of Italy and Apulia! It is quite large and one could easily spend a week or longer here. The Gargano Promontory is located in the northeast of Puglia, and offers a different environment with fantastic beaches, a national park, (the “Foresta Umbra”) and medieval villages.

The Gargano Promontory jumps out into the Adriatic Sea and it is located in the astonishing north-east of the Puglia region, in Foggia province. The “boot’s spur”, alias the Gargano, beautifully springs out with its caves and little immaculate beaches!

The closest airport to get there? It is Bari, then take to bus to Foggia station or take the train to Manfredonia and visit Monte Sant’Angelo and the southern towns like Lucera and its castle coming from the heritage of Federico Barbarossa! You can’t miss out the small train line that runs from San Severo gently and slowly along the northern coast up to Peschici with a stop in Rodi Garganico.

But if you get a car, it will be better in order to explore the Gargano. The Gargano Peninsula counts the state Highway SS 89, which runs around from San Severo in the north to Manfredonia in the south, and all the towns on the road are easily accessible. In summer visit the pearl Rodi Garganico and Vieste!

Rodi Garganico is a good base for visiting the northern half of the peninsula and has a beautiful historic centre above the port.
Monte Sant’ Angelo is a good base for visiting the south, including the religious Padre Pio Shrine.
In Vico Garganico you can find lovely food and a really stunning sightseeing!

Late April through May will be probably the best time to visit Foresta Umbra and the coast: the scent of citrus blossoms are in the air as many species of orchids. July and August are really crowded, especially the famous beaches on the cost.

W la pizzica, the sound of the Salento peninsula

Dance and be happy to the mesmerizing sound of Pizzica, the traditional music and dance of Salento. Close to tarantella dances, the crazy dance has its root in Southern Italian superstition but also magical healing. Nowadays pizzica is being revived widely and you can see it being performed in many places.

Santa Maria di Leuca is a famous location for this kind of dancing: it is exactly the peninsula’s southern tip . Here the Ionian and Adriatic Seas kiss each other, creating also top beach destinations. Imagine white buildings in the town and the seaside promenade lined with villas and masserie. The area has a mild climate and a very popular beaches. If you are here, you should visit in the south Marina di Pescoluse: its famous white sand dunes and shallow waters are fantastic!

If you want to travel inside the Salento, you will discover the beauty of the ancient history almost untouched here.

Grecia Salentina is a group of towns (7) in the heart of Salento which creates an area pretty different for heritage and language from the other part of Salento peninsula. Here you can hear the grico, a Greek dialect mixed with the local dialect. It is and endangered languages and fully recognised on the public institutions. It is written on signs, and taught in local schools. Also architecture here has a touch from ancient Greece: the beautiful whitewashed buildings and houses are a pretty clear sign. If you are in the aerea, go and visit the interesting historic centres and churches of Grecia Salentina and do not miss to go to the impressive castle of Corigliano d’Otranto.

Manduria is the town and the core centre of the Primitivo wine, a great red wine produced in Salento. Here you can find an interesting museum dedicated to Primitivo wine, and if you go there, you can also taste the wine!

Nearby Manduria, interesting also and worth to visit is the Messapian Walls Archeology Park; an ancient fountain inside a cave and the remains of the impressive megalithic Messapian wall are in it. Outside the ancient walls you will discover a large necropolis with more than 1200 tombs dating from the 6th century BC!

From Todi to Panicale: the heart of Southern Umbria revealed

Todi, an ancient and medieval hill town in Umbria, is a walled village with good views over the countryside and it is indeed the first step of our trip in the heart of peaceful southern Umbria.

Keeping on follow the road, we will meet Gubbio, a another well-preserved and pretty famous medieval hill town. The town has been built of gray limestone and Gubbio’s town centre put together in one town a good mixture of medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance arts! Do not forget to visit the Roman amphitheatreoutside the skirt of the town. Gubbio without any doubts is a place to be and to visit this summer also for its quite scenic location: the town perches on the lower slopes of Mount Ingino and dominates the countryside.

Getting south you will pass Lake Trasimeno , one of Italy’s largest lakes with 3 islands in the middle. They can be reached by ferry and you can also sunbathes, because there are beaches around the famous lake! Castiglione del Lago with a medieval center and castle by the lake is by far one of the most romantic spots in Central Italy. The lake was wll-know also in the ancient time and saw a famous battle between Hannibal and Rome.

Norcia in southeastern Umbria is instead a town known for its delikatessen: cured meats. Norcia is enclosed by 14th century wall, has a castle to visit and the town is located in the hills by the entrance to the Monte Sibillini Park.

Narni is the geographical center of mainland Italy. An important Roman settlement, the town was part of the Papal State in the 12th – 14th centuries. Walk out of town to the 1st century Ponte Cardona, part of the Roman Aqueduct Formina.

Ready for a sci-fi attractions? Go to the mummy museum, in the little town of Ferentillo: here the bodies buried below the Church of Santo Stefano were kept preserved by a rare microfungus. It attacked the corpses and now they are….mummies!

Romantic hotspots in Southern Italy: Italians do it better (2st part)

Let’s go again to investigate all the romantic places Italy can offer! And this time we can go definitely and proudly south: we start with the Gargano Promontory which offers you a romantic environment with many interesting things to do: the sea with many golden beaches, the lovely Foresta Umbra National Park with the hiking trails, the little and exquisite lakes, all the medieval towns with the lovely historic centres, and gorgeous food. relax with your lover along the Gargano coast and smell the natural “parfume” coming from the citrus groves and olive trees.

Go on a romantic and rustic treat in one of the manifold masseria, the name for “country house” in Apulia, such a lovely place to stay over. Masserie could be rustic but also a luxurious lodging houses: working farms producing olive oil, wine, tomatoes in countryside settings.

Visit the Masseria coast, from Bari to Brindisi or in the Salento Peninsula (south of Lecce).

Then, on the opposite coast, the astonishing Campania and with Positano on the Amalfi Coast, one of Italy’s most well-known destinations. The town is literally built vertically on the face of a cliff! The views of the sea is amazing from the top, in particular on the “terrazza” of the various local little restaurants where to buy a fantastic seafood meals. And you can go to Positano all the year round!

The island of Capri is the “capital” of the romantic views, starting from its secluded caves and cliffs of a stunning beauty.

Going really south again we find a romantic island, Sicily, and Taormina, one of the top travel destinations since the 19th century thanks to the Grand Tour. We will climb on the side of Monte Tauro, to get in the town and enjoy the romantic views of the Sicilian coast! And again a unique view from Taormina shapes under your eyes: Mt. Etna volcano. Below the town exceptional, golden beaches are waiting for you. And now back to the city in the medieval quarter, to kiss happily in the castle ruins or admire a sightseeing in the Greek theater, Taormina amphitheatre, still used nowadays for summer performances.

Romantic hotspots in Northen and Central Italy: Italians do it better (1st part)

Italy: one of the most romantic countries on the planet, shows some high-rate romantic spots and destinations. Italy’s seaside towns, delicious and small villages, beautiful and historic cities are proper romantic pilgrimage for a trip to Italy.
Verona is the start point of our top ten with the sad and enchanting Shakespearean story of Romeo and Juliet. The famous balcony is almost one of the most visited place in Italy!

Visit Juliet’s house, and go rubbing the right breast of Juliet‘s statue for luck! Do not forget to take a picture of the balcony kissing your lover or your mate! What other romantic things we can do in Verona? Going to see an opera in Arena di Verona, going on a carriage ride, “flauneuring” along the river hand in hand. A deep breath and we go to…Venice! One of the most beautiful town in the world Venice is well-know for its romantic canals at nights and pretty narrow streets. With your beloved, look for one of the many small squares and churches and …kiss each other!

Still in the North of Italy? Go and visit Lake Como, embraced by its beautiful villas and its well-know resort villages. Bellagio is the pearl of the lake, and one of the most romantic villages in Italian Peninsula. Near Switzerland, you can also take the funicular from Como town to the village of Brunate and enjoy a spectacular sight of the lake and Alps.

Going in the central regions of Italy, you will find an incredible variety of romantic spots on the coast close to the famous Cinque Terre, in Liguria, try also the Gulf of Poets (Golfo dei Poeti), part of the itinerary in 18th century among the British romantic poets. Down in Umbria, we find a lovely place called…Perugia, famous medieval hill town in central Italy and recently became a chocolate amateur paradise (see Eurochocolate festival article).

Umbria and summertime: perfect match for your trip

Love to go to Central Italy, full of history, wine and oil?

The Umbria region is for you then: in the center of Italy, the many Etruscan sites and medieval hill towns will embrace you and your family in a relaxing and lovely journey. Umbria is Italy’s “green heart” (cuore verde) full of nature parks and reserve. Umbria also offers one of Italy’s largest lakes, Lago Trasimeno, waterfalls and it is less expensive than Tuscany! let’s start our tour from the beautiful hill town of Orvieto build on tufa stones high peak with a contryside full with Etruscan tombs and vineyards. The origin? You can trace it back to Etruscan times, milleniums ago!

The stunning cathedral shows a mosaic facade and it is a incredible building and one of the most important medieval monuments in Italy. Close to Rome, from Orvieto you can visit southern Umbria and the close-by Tuscany.

Furthermore, from Orvieto you can reach easily Assisi, the pilgrimage home town of San Francesco, the patron saint of Italy. The Basilica in Assisi has the tomb of Saint Francis together with a lot of other interesting churches, ruins, medieval sites, museums within its walled medieval center.

Spoleto is the largest towns in southern Umbria with Etruscan, Roman, and medieval sites. The medieval Rocca is above the town: a deep gorge is on one side of the Rocca, the other shows the Ponte delle Torri for a breathtaking sightseeeing. A fab Festival dei due mondi is held in Spoleto too, in late June – early July.

Perugia is Umbria’s capital and the largest town. Again an hill town with Etruscan and medieval roots famous for its University, a good Italian language school, an international jazz festival, and a jummy chocolate festival (Eurochocolate in Spring). Don’t miss out here the Chocohotel: if you love chocolate you will find a restaurant with chocolate menu!!!

Puglia medieval castles: a memory from the past

Puglia hosts numerous castles and medieval fortresses dating back to the 11th century and are a popular visit and trip among the visitors from all over the world to the southern Italy region. Castles are open to visitors often for no entrance fees as well, or they are housing art galleries or museums.

Many of Puglia’s castles are preserved and protected areas: for example the very famous Castel del Monte, open all year round and built in 1240 by Frederick II, well-known for its unusual octagonal shape and its architecture! A combination of classical Islamic and European Gothic styles, the castle is made up of a crown-like ring made of rooms and buildings. The rooms are all connected and there is a huge central octagonal courtyard.It is not a secret that this castle one of southern Italy’s UNESCO world heritage site.

The castle has a low entrance fee and it takes just an hour to visit it. The closest town? Andria with its 18 kilometers away. In the area you can visit several “masserie”, beautiful manor houses, where you can overnight.

Another gem is the Norman-Swabian castle (Castello Svevo) in Bari, the Puglia “capitale” called the Swabian Castle. Built by the Norman King Roger II in 1131 and later rebuilt by Frederik II, the castle has a working drawbridge and numerous ramparts. The Museum of Gypsum Works, sculptures and artifacts of Puglian history but also temporary art exhibitions are displayed here. This waterfront castle is near the harbor, just outside the beautiful and renovated Bari’s “citta’ vecchia”, that is the old town center. This glorious castle functioned as a guard for the city from the attacks of the pirates and the other armies.

In Bisceglie there is a 27 meter high Norman tower surrounded by walls. Built by Count Peter I in 1060, while the Normans originally constructed only the first floor, it was added later the castle as a last refuge for local inhabitants. The fisherman call the tower the Torre Maestra as it has been used by seafarers as a guide for ships. You will find now in the castle an ethnographic museum.

The Salento Peninsula in southern Puglia: the colours from the heel

The Salento Peninsula in southern Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, is a glorious place to be when the sun hits your poor head. The peninsula is known for its quality olive oil, the good and strong wine, and the km of beaches with a really transparent, clear sea. Salento also has many memorries of its glorious Greek past still present in the local language. This area has 7 towns which speak an endangered language (grico), a mixture variety between ancient Greek and local dialect (salentino).

The main city is Lecce, called the “Florence of the South” (la Firenze del Sud).

To visit Salento, you should start going in Lecce, the southeastern terminus for Italy’s national rail line and Brindisi Airport is an hour away.

Lecce was the center of barocco leccese, the baroque type of architecture peculiar to the city. Baroque monuments are spread around in a gorgeous walking centre and all over the town; Lecce is also famous for a traditional paper mache’ crafts. Plenty of bar and restaurant will make you taste the typical cuisine of southern Puglia here and in Gallipoli, beautiful seaside town on the Salento peninsula’s east coast.

The old town was built on an island! It is though connected to the mainland by a bridge with the protection of ancient medieval walls. To get lost in the maze of alleys is funny and easy as to walk out of them. The 17th century Baroque Sant’ Agata Cathedral dominate the town, while Corte Gallo is an amazing courtyard. Outside the walls the castle stands still, overlooking a lovely sandy beach, and a tourist harbor.

Otranto is another famous seaside town on the peninsula’s west coast. The whitewashed buildings remind of Greece, the medieval walls with the famous castle is a solid past and a touristical adventure in the Middle Age. The 11th century Cathedral enclosed in itsself the gorgeous 12th century floor mosaics and unusual chapel of skulls.

Much of Salento is on the coastal sides, the beaches ovelooks Africa and the weather is fantastic! Porto Cesareo is for example on the Ionian Coast: a popular beach area with thermal springs set in a nature reserve! Porto Selvaggio also is well-known and astonishing: you can find it again in a nature reserve!

Along the Griffons’ traces in Sardinian

Can’t wait to feel the sun, the beaches, the summertime in Sardinian? Well, I truly understand you! The colour and the light in this island are fantastic! But there is also some interesting itineraries to follow in particular spot of this beautiful land! Lovely is for example the Griffons’route from Alghero to Bosa along a coastal winding road
that rises up to 150 m of height, and it is ca. 45 km long. Suitable in particular for enviromentalist and families or for those which have inside a wild and indomable spirit, The Griffons’ Coast stretches from Alghero to Capo Marrargiu.

Only 50km, but an hard trip from the start!

The kingdom of the griffon-vulture, a big bird of prey that lives in this area, aren’t that easy to reach but it is totally worthy to go and visit! Griffons are visible during the first hours of the day or at sunset, in their apparently motionless and solitary flight.
The vegetation covers the overhanging reefs, dreamly shaped like stairs, because they are windswept in every season: here Griffons, buzzards and ravens make their homes.

Passed by the wildness at heart brought by the Griffons and passed Capo Marrargiu, the landscape changes and becomes softer: the sea is even accessible along paths that lead to the beaches and wonderful inlets, getting through Mediterranean maquis and forest of olive trees where you can see the flocks and the horses in an idylliac coast sightseeing!

After our relaxing bath we can drive off to Bosa, a beautiful small town placed along the river Temo as far as the sea. The smll site was an important Carthaginian trading centre and then a Roman municipium, then a feud of the Malaspina marquises: the castle they built traces back to 1112 and still there to challenge the centuries!
Where to go here? The Cathedral and the Church of San Pietro Extramuros are worth a visit. Here in Bosa you will find artisan and craftsmen specialised in manufacturing the gold filigree and the characteristic embroidery of the women from Bosa, called filet of Bosa.

Cinque Terre: Liguria gorgeous travelling and hiking

The Cinque Terre includes five small, gorgeous villages (“cinque terre” is “five lands” in Italian) which climb to the Ligurian cliffs on the Italy’s western coast. They are usually visited as a whole, mostly because they’re so close to one another!

Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia Manarola e Riomaggiore are world-famous
!

The Cinque Terre are really dedicated to the tourists. The tiny towns are really popular among American backpackers/budget travelers and German holiday makers, and also British citizens start to go there and discovering the astonishing beauty of the land.

Hiking along the cliffs from village to villages something you have to do once there. The area is almost always packed of tourists!

You could rent a room just showing up and chatting any of the women in the train stations with signs that advertise rooms for renting. Now it is almost impossible during the high season. Book ahead of time so as to avoid the crowd and unpleasent surprise of sleeping in the train station!

Funny to say, but many of the lodging options in the Cinque Terre aren’t on for booking online. Why? It is because many of the rooms in the villages are either rooms in someone’s house or entire small apartments for short-term rentals.

Beware also because sometimes hotels and hostels that aren’t really in one of the Cinque Terre towns tend to say they’re in the Cinque Terre!

Maybe it is just a short train ride from any of the five villages, but make sure where is the hotel you are going to!

The closest city is La Spezia (located south of Riomaggiore), and thi is for real a quick train ride to reach the Cinque Terre. If you’re looking at places that are anywhere other than the five Cinque Terre towns or La Spezia, check their locations on a map before you book – don’t just trust that “Cinque Terre” means the same thing to everyone