Travel To Italy And Experience Europe

by Frank Johnson




If you want to experience Europe, you need to travel to Italy. No other country on earth offers the depth, breadth, and scope of Italy. For lovers of art, history, architecture, or music Italy is unsurpassable. From the Ancient Roman Empire to the Medieval Tuscan fortress towns and the Venetian Republic, Italy's incredible historical diversity has come together to produce a country so incredible, so remarkable, so beautiful as to leave the visitor with an unquenchable desire to return again and again. The legacy of the Renaissance and its masterpieces of art, music, and architecture have left such a tangible mark on the Italian soul one can barely help being swept along in the tide of culture. If you're a lover of nature, there are majestic mountains, crystal seas, rolling hills, fertile plains, sweeping cliffs, and magical lagoons, you need to travel to Italy. More on this story

Traveling in Italy: The Amalfi Coast

Traveling in Italy: The Amalfi Coast
By Alice Flowers


If you were to make a list of the most beautiful places to visit in the world, then the Amalfi coast in Italy would have to be in the top ten category.

This is the coast which is famous for hairpin turns, breathtaking views, sweet lemons (I mean sweet) charming hotels and picturesque towns.

The Amalfi Coast is situated in the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy. The best way to visit the coast is to fly to Naples, rent a car and drive down to Sorrento. If you make Sorrento your base camp, you can spend several days visiting the jewel towns of the Amalfi Coast at your leisure.

Start in Sorrento and drive to Positano. It is best to carry a Michelin map with you to avoid getting lost.

Before you arrive in Positano, you might want to stop at Positano Belvedere; a vantage point on the road that allows you to see the town of Positano in the distance. The view is breathtaking.

When you arrive in Positano, stop and walk around town. Chances are you have seen it in commercials. Once a small fishing village, it is now popular with the international crowd and some celebrities who stay at Positano’s 4 and 5 star hotels.

Most houses look like small boxes painted white with bougainvilleas growing along the walls.

After Positano, continue to Vertica Maggiore, and then Furore del Valle, another gem of a town. Near by is the Emerald Grotto. An emerald color cave only reachable by boat. The water of the Tyrrhenian Sea, enters the cave and the sun takes care of the rest.

Continue to the town of Amalfi and Ravello. Ravello also has unforgettable views.
In Ravello, you will see white washed houses perched on the hills with gardens planted with vines, lemon and olive trees. It is a major tourist destination, the beauty of the city, and its charm, has inspired its inhabitants and guests for centuries.

Things to see:

Ravello:

Villa Rudolfo

Villa Cimbrone

Cathedral

Amalfi:

St Andrea Cathedral

Cloisters of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso)

Dining in the region:

Sorrento and the Amalfi coast are situated in the Campania region, and typical southern dishes are likely to appear on the menus. Among those are pizza, pasta, tomatoes, eggplant, mozzarella cheese, seafood and citrus fruits.

If you have ever had tomato and mozzarella salad, you will surely have it there. It is called “Insalata Caprese” named after the Island of Capri. The famous San Marzano plum tomatoes that grow in the region, together with silky soft buffalo mozzarella cheese, olive oil and basil, will surely make a delightful dish.

And let’s not forget the wines. The region is rich in volcanic soil, an ideal medium to grow grapevines, and although wines from this region are not well known internationally, they are just as good as more popular Italian varieties. Wine at lunch and dinner is usually served in small carafes, but you can also order wines by the bottle.

Don’t forget to finish your meal with a cup of dark espresso just as most Italians do.

Resources:

If you decide to go, arm yourself with a good map and a good guide book. My favorite travel guides are Frommers and Michelin. You can find them at any major bookstore.
Italians are a friendly people by nature and driving around the area should not be difficult even if you don’t speak Italian.

This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.

Alice Flowers is a former airline employee and now writes articles on travel.
Visit the author's website at: http://www.traveltips101.com

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

A Memorable Sailing Itinerary
By Isabella DeRobertis


Life on board is relaxing and it provides unforgettable experiences since reaching some of Sicily’s most beautiful cities by yacht does not provide the same sensations as when landing in by aeroplane or driving in by car. The best way to begin a sailing tour around Sicily is from the historical centre on the Island of Ortigia, Syracuse. The base port in Syracuse is situated on the eastern coast of Sicily and is one of Sicily’s main attractions due to its archaeological zone and historical testimony and also being a centre of industry and commerce.

Moreover, the broad waterfront of the Island of Ortigia, is an ideal place from which to appreciate the unique panoramic view of Porto Grande that witnessed great battles and it is ideal for a point of departure for a sailing Sicily tour. Syracuse has two ports to yachting, the main one being Porto Grande and the other one being Porto Piccolo (otherwise known as Porto Marmoreo). The most profitable thing was that the Sleep in Sicily travel agency offered us a 50% discount the night before embarkation and the night of disembarkation for the chosen bed and breakfast in its franchising.

Syracuse and its Province attract tourists for the high quality tourist services, beautiful coasts and historical remains; moreover the area’s scenery and architecture provide a spectacular backdrop. Amongst the most famous marine localities are Noto, Avola, Capo Passero, Fontane Bianche, Arenella, Marzamemi, Brucolii e Angone Bagni.

On the sailing yacht heading south from Syracuse and surpassing Cape Murro di Porco, one will arrive to the outstanding protected marine nature reserve of Plemmirio (Maddalena Peninsula). Plemmirio faces Ortigia and apart from nesting Greek remains, it boasts enchanting caves and a seabed rich in fauna typical of the Mediterranean hence making it ideal for divers. Moreover its landscape is marked by typical Mediterranean vegetation, especially by the dwarf palm tree. Proceeding coastwise, one reaches the beautiful sandy beach of Arenella, then Fonatne Bianche bay, to then proceed to Avola coast, which is the extension of the town Avola where typical prehistoric Sicilian tombs are found. The itinerary continued to Marina di Noto, which is the seaside extension of Noto, otherwise known as the Baroque City and is also listed in UNESCO world heritage. Along the coast south of Siracusa is the superb Vendicari nature reserve, which is southernmost of all Italian reserves made up of marshy areas and various sea outlets; hence it is an area rich in flora and fauna.

Proceeding along the coast, one reaches the charming and quiet seafaring village of Marzamemi (from Arab meaning harbour of doves) equipped with berthing facilities, to then proceed to visit the nearby Pachino with the Cave of Calafarina amongst its natural attractions and to taste the Mediterranean cuisine decorated with the famous Pachino tomatoes. From Pachino one can proceed to the Southeastern end of Sicily, Capo Passero that is a paradise for divers, ideal for a relaxing holiday and excellent for historical sightseeing. In front of Portopalo there is the little Island of Capo Passero and right between the isle and Sicily is the strategic point for tunny fishing and an attraction for bird watching. Furthermore, for those who wish to sail farther, at a distance of 90 km there is the beautiful Island of Malta with its archipelago to wonder about the Islands' prehistory remains, go back over the footsteps of St Paul and find out where the Knights of St John defended Christendom.

This is only a page of our onboard diary and cannot wait to embark again!


For more details on SICILY CHARTER, SAILING AROUND SICILY, SAILING YACHTS here: http://www.sicilycharter.blogspot.com/

For more details on SICILY TOUR, SICILY HOTELS, SICILY TRAVEL here: http://www.sleepinsicily.com/

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

Oil workers freed in Nigeria

ROME (AP) - Three oil workers kidnapped in Nigeria have been released, the Italian energy company Eni SPA said Friday.

Eni spokesman Gianni Di Giovanni told private TV Sky Italia that the three were...

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