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Sep14

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Italy Off the Beaten Path: Small Locales of Italy

Posted in: Culture, Western Hemisphere

You’re probably well familiar with Italy’s top destinations such as Venice and Rome, but what about those off the beaten path destinations? It’s often those types of cities that offer the most authentic travel experiences. Whether this is food, landmarks, or interesting history, it can often be the smaller cities that provide experiences that you don’t get from the larger cities of a country. Below, we feature some of Italy’s best off the beaten path destinations and highlight what they have to offer.

1. Parma: Cheese. That grated cheese you sprinkle on your pasta and pizza had to come from somewhere. A visit to Parma introduces travelers to some of the world’s best cheese. While Parma is bigger than most of what are considered Italy’s small cities, it’s often overlooked by the likes of Rome and Venice. Located in the region that some might call the cheese capital of Italy, Parma features some of Italy’s best food and wine festivals throughout the year.

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Jul11

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You Can’t Leave Without Trying This Dish

Posted in: Culinary and Drinks

Image to the left taken from FoodNetwork.com.

You really can’t travel without food as a major part of your experiences. For many it’s tasting new foods, savoring international classics, and finding those hole-in-the-wall places that only locals know about that makes travel fun. It’s those experiences at restaurants, street festivals, cafes, and farms that travelers wish they could take home with them. No matter where you’re traveling, there’s often that one dish that stands above all others. We’ve highlighted some of the best foodie destinations in the world and spotlighted the best dishes in each city.

1. Paris, France. French cuisine is one of the most renowned in the world. Whether it’s breakfast danishes, fresh deli meat, or chocolate crepes, Paris has so much to offer. The thing about France is that it features fresh courses that you can’t experience elsewhere, whether it’s appetizers, bread, meat, or dessert. With so many famous dishes, it’s hard to just choose one, but you won’t find too many restaurants that don’t serve bouillabaisse (depicted in the image above). The traditional French dish is a seafood stew that features various seafood and vegetables. It’s a good starter before your main entree.

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Aug13

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Italy, India, and Indonesia in a Year?

Posted in: Beach Getaways, Eastern Hemisphere, Small Group Tours

Do you have a year you can take off to simply travel? Well that is exactly what Elizabeth Gilbert does in her book “Eat, Pray, Love“. The movie based on the book comes out today in theaters. If you haven’t guessed, I’m reading the book. My goal is to finish it today or by the time I see the movie, whichever comes first.

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Jun25

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Italy ~ A Sample Itinerary of an Extraordinary Collection: Part 2

Posted in: Culinary and Drinks, Eastern Hemisphere

An extraordinary collection of sights: Continued

Tuscany Journey on…a Chianti Wine Tour

The private tour will drive along the “Wine Road” between vineyards and olive trees, to reach Greve in Chianti. In Greve stop at the enoteca “Le Cantine” to taste some of the more than 100 different wines, but also olive oil, vin santo and grappa, all produced in the Chianti area. If time permits, the guide will stop at the Bonollo grappa distillery and at Montefioralle, a small village above Greve, which still preserves its medieval architectural flavor. After Greve, depart for the magnificent Castle of Verrazzano, situated on top of a hill between Florence and Siena, in the heart of the Chianti Classico wine production area.

At the Castle, guided tours are available to see the gardens, the centuries-old aging cellars and, as a curiosity, the wild boar that breed naturally in the surrounding woods. Together with the world famous wines, all the various products of the farm can be tasted, including olive oil, salted meats, wild board sausage (I’m not sure if I want to try this) and the area’s other typical specialties. After the castle, the tour continues with a drive through the typical Tuscan countryside and small villages like Panzano and Castellina in Chianti, with an additional stop for another wine tasting at the famous “Rocca delle Macie” winery. In route back to Florence, we suggest you take the chance to admire the Medieval Fortress of Monteriggioni, with its walls and remaining towers.

When in Venice…Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, & a Gondola ride

Venice, Italy

Marco Polo is where the airport is and there are several ways to the historic city. The fastest route though is via a private water taxi. The heart of Venice is San Marco and its only square in Venice. The must see sights are The Doge’s Palace, Saint Mark’s Basilica, Saint Mark’s Square, The Clocktower, Archaeological Museum, and La Fenice Opera House. A ‘must do’ would be a gondola ride through the canals. Riding the canals in the less tourist areas will allow you to see a different view of Venice plus it won’t be bumper to bumper gondalas.

Be sure to explore the other districts of Venice, the sestiere of Castello, San Polo, Cannaregio, Santa Croce, and the sestiere of Dorsoduro. The sestiere of Santa Croce via Piazzle Roma connects Venice to the mainland. The sestiere of San Polo is where you’ll find Rialto Bridge, Palace of Camerienghi, the Goldoni House, and San Polo Square.

When in Rome…throw a coin and gain another Journey

If you’ve made it to the end of this Italy sample itinerary (Part 1 & 2) you realize there are so many areas yet to discover and experience that I did not get a chance to mention. For now, these will have to wait for another journey conversation.

Are you ready to throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain? Or maybe you already have, if so, it’s time to return to Rome!
Jun22

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Italy – The Basics

Posted in: Eastern Hemisphere

The country of Italy …some journey basics

Italy, what an amazing country that covers 116,303 square miles and has a population of over 56 million people which translates to a density of approximately 487 persons per square mile. The capital is Roma which has a population of 2, 775,000 inhabitants.

Map of Italy - by Freebase

Italy is situated in Mediterranean Europe and has land frontiers with France in the Northwest, Switzerland and Austria in the north and Slovenia in the northeast. The peninsula is surrounded by the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Sicilian Sea and the Ionian Sea in the south, and the Adriatic Sea in the east. Italian is the language of the majority of the population but there are minorities speaking German, French, Slovene and Ladino. Sixty seven percent of the population lives in cities.

There is a great deal of variety in the landscape in Italy, with two mountain chains: the Alps and the Apennines. The Alpine foothills are characterized by large lakes: Lake Maggiore and the lakes of Como, Iseo and Garda. A visa is not required for a US or Canadian citizen holding a valid passport unless one is lucky enough to plan on staying for ninety (90) days or to study or seek employment. No vaccinations are required and for medical emergencies in Italy dial 118 and for 113 for police service.

Electrical Converter

Electrical current in Italy is AC – the cycle is 50Hz 220V which means you need to carry a converter to have your appliances work in Italy. Note: flat irons do not work well with converters and they may overheat or not heat at all. Italian fire regulations do not allow hotels to provide irons for guests’ use.

Italy is part of the European Union so the Euro is the currency that is used. ATM’s are abundant throughout the country and are known as Bancomat’s. Travel to Italy, northern-southern-eastern or western is always fun, enjoyable, and filled with history, great food and wonderful people.

Your Travel Expert can assist you in creating your journey of a lifetime.
Jun18

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Italy ~ A Sample Itinerary of an Extraordinary Collection: Part 1

Posted in: Culinary and Drinks

An extraordinary collection of sights:

When in Rome Journey to… Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, & St Peter’s Basilica

Visit all of the most important highlights of Vatican City with on a guided tour. Avoid the lengthy queues and explore one of the worlds most important art collections with an expert local guide on a VIP tour of the Vatican.

Tour highlights include the Sistine Chapel, Rooms of Raphael, and Ancient Roman and Greek pieces in the Belvedere Courtyard. The guides provide detailed information on the Sistine Chapel from before it was commissioned through the finishing touches.

Next it’s direct access to St Peter’s with your official tour guide. The guide will lead you through the underground level, The Vatacombs. This area of the Vatican is where tombs of the former popes are. In this tour you can view The Pieta, the Transfiguration by Raphael and the massive Baldacchino bronze sculpture by Bernini.

Rome's Colosseum by Jon Whiles

When in Rome Journey to… Ancient Rome

The tour begins with the Colosseum of the ancient Romans. This tour will take you back in time as you wander across the arena floor. You will learn the history and the making of a gladiator. Then it’s to the Via Sacra to hear about the civilized side of ancient Rome as you enter the Roman Forum. You learn about how the Roman Empire became such a super power and why it eventually collapsed.

Visit the Capitoline Hill, this piazza was designed by Michelangelo and is locally known as the Campidoglio. The piazza offers a stunning view of Piazzo Venezia – the site of the Victor Emmanuelle II monument and Mussolini’s Palazzo. Next stroll over to Piazza Navona to see the Fountains of the Four Rivers by Bernini and the Church of St Agnes by Borromini.

Stroll a little further to the Trevi Fountain. The Trevi Fountain’s name is derived from the old name for the area, Trebium. Legend has it that if you throw a coin over your shoulder into the water, you will be sure to return to Rome. After tossing your coin, it’s time for some people watching. Last but certainly not least, it’s onto the ancient pagan temple of the Pantheon.

Trevi Fountain, Rome

When outside of Rome Journey to…Tivoli and the Villa D’Este

Explore Italy’s rich history at Emperor Hadrian’s Villa and the remarkable Villa d’Este garden on a tour from Rome. The ruins of the famous villa built by Emperor Hadrian were to remind him of the monuments he’d admired during his travels in Greece and Egypt. The landscaped pools and grottoes have influenced garden designs for centuries. The journey into the past continues to the magnificent Villa d’Este at Tivoli, one of the most beautiful residences of the late Renaissance. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a masterpiece by Hadrian’ Villa.

When in Florence Journey to ……Piazzo del Duomo, Accademia, & Uffizi

Florence is the capital of Tuscany and its entire historical center is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. The important sights to see in Florence include the Piazza del Duomo, the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi, the Accademia, and the Bargello.

The Uffizi Gallery holds one the largest collections of Renaissance masterpieces. The Academy Gallery is where the original famous marble statue of Michelangelo’s David stands tall. We suggest you go to Piazzale Michelangelo and admire the breathtaking views of Florence. A panoramic night guided tour of Florence is an intriguing alternative.

Finally, you cannot skip a day of shopping in Florence along with a visit to a gelaterie to eat at least one cone of gelato.

What’s your favorite flavor of gelato?

Stay tuned for next Friday’s post, Italy ~ A Sample Itinerary of an Extraordinary Collection: Part 2