The Nights of San Lorenzo – Wine, Food and Fireworks in the Squares of Italy

The nights of San Lorenzo are always a festive occasion. Sometimes it is an opportunity to take your partner out for a romantic evening in the hills of Italy gazing at the universe’s fireworks show. With a family more organized events are in order. Either way the week of August 10th is full of festivities across Italy. The traditions of San Lorenzo change from region to region, as do the festivities.

In Romagna it is custom to bathe in the sea seven times during the evening. Similar to a baptism this tradition is said to purify the soul and bring fortune. Cervia, in Romagna, celebrates the Fires of San Lorenzo with a fair on the beach. Wine tasting, local foods and artisan products are offered along with music and dancing.

Crotta d’Adda, in the province of Cremona, organizes a more futuristic style of festivities. The local astronomy group gathers in the Park of the Prince, on the shore of the river. Computerized laser shows and celestial maps accompany the shooting stars. The group provides telescopes and experts to explain the heavens.

The Wine Touring Club and the City of Wine organize wine tasting and gourmet food events in the major Italian cities where local wine producers present their newly released products.

Tags: Italian Vacations Cervia Emilia Romagna Beaches Travel Italy Summer+Vacations

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Italian Garden Gnomes go Missing – Save the Gnomes

Northern Italians are worried for the garden gnomes. Over the past couple of years they have been disappearing during the night. The thefts are propagated by an international organization dedicated to freeing the gnomes from the mediocrity of middleclass suburban gardens. Homeowners from Cuneo to Trieste are concerned for the well being of their beloved garden friends. A group of young entrepreneurs has come up with an interesting solution to stop this new form of cultural terrorism.

Seven young men from Cuneo in Piemonte will dress up as the fabled dwarves and entertain kids for an evening before camping out in people's gardens. "Our services are very cheap. We're prepared to work for the price of a dinner," said Fabio, the leader of the group. The gnomes' fees are next to nothing anyway since they're offering their services on eBay, the online auction site, for as little as one euro.

"We'll even work for free if people feed us," Fabio said.

"The Front has to be stopped".

Though never as active in Italy as other European countries, the Garden Gnome Liberation Front is still capable of striking fear into the hearts of gnome-owners. In a recent case in the northern Italian city of Bressanone, several gnomes were reported missing after a lecture in the nearby city of Brunico by a Swiss academic whose theories have sought to legitimize the Front's pranks.

The Front is devoted to saving gnomes from allegedly unnatural fates in boring middle-class gardens and restoring them to their native habitats in rugged mountaintop scenery. The Swiss professor, Fritz Friedmann, wrote a book claiming that gnomes are living beings imprisoned by man in cement because they are repositories of the wisdom of the "Great Dwarf".

Do not be surprised if your Travelocity customer service is lacking when traveling in Europe this year. It is not because they prefer the mundane over the unique instead it is rumored that security concerns for their beloved mascot have limited their presence.

Tags: Italian Vacations Piemonte Lombardia Gnomes Travel Italy Summer+Vacations

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Fantini Club - SPA and vacation destination on the Adriatic Riviera

Italy is working hard to become the prime tourist destination for the entire world. The Adriatic Coast (on the east side of the peninsula) is the primary destination for Italians. Families come to this region when children are small. Teenagers continue to come for the nightclubs. When these teenagers get married and have small kids they come back again. The area of the Adriatic coast from Venice to Pescara has remained on the forefront of destinations for Italian families because they are always innovating and creating new attractions to bring back generation after generation of Italian families. The most recent tendency is the theme beach.

Italian beaches are divided into concessions and each owner of the concession can do just about anything he wants with his portion of the beach. Fantini Club, in Cervia outside of Ravenna, has created a 24 hour multi attraction resort. The only thing they do not offer is lodging even though they can hook you up with a local hotel. Fantini Club has become one of the hot spots on the northern Adriatic coast. It is most well known for its outdoor SPA with massages performed by tanned, healthy looking, physical therapists. I think of this as an opportunity to melt from sun up to sun down. You will melt into the bed with a quick massage after breakfast, followed melting under the afternoon sun and finally melting into barstool, martini in hand.

Fantini Club has a full service restaurant and a self-service cafeteria. Tables are setup end to end like a local trattoria making for a great opportunity to get to know the other guests. The food is relatively good and extremely fresh. Fish is the strong point and local wines are available at a reasonable price.

Fantini Club also offers various water activities. Local instructors teach the adventurous windsurfing, scuba diving and small boat sailing. The club also has services for smaller children so parents can take off and do more adult things. Some of those adult things may include water massage, being pack in hot sand or spending a while on a salt bed. You can even check out my blog with the local WIFI access and a fresh fruit cocktail.

For those fitness minded Fantini Club has a gym with personal trainers. They do Yoga, Pilates and full cardio workout machines. If this still has not convinced you that this is a complete vacation spot, Club Fantini organizes fashion shows and various other activities. Finally as the sun goes down the entire beach becomes a low key nightclub, sometimes with live music or Italian DJs.

Fantini Club
Lungomare G. Deledda 182
48015 Cervia (Ra) - Italy
Tel: (+39) 0544 72236

Tags: Italian Vacations Cervia Emilia Romagna Beaches Travel Italy Summer+Vacations

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Papal Dungeons open for Business – From the Inquisition to the Scaffolds

The chains clank in the dimly lit corridors descending into the bowels of Rome underneath Castle Sant’Angelo. Lightly armored guard guide the prisoners of the Papal state to their dank cells while they await interrogation. Enemies of the faith and enemies of the state meet the same fate, days and sometimes months of continuous torture until they confess their crimes. No haunted house can recreate the true horrors practices in the dungeons of the powerful.

The Vatican has recently completed the 10 year renovation of the dungeons of Castle Sant’Angelo and opened to the public. The tours begin July 13, 2007 and conclude before Ferragosto. Every night at 21:30 (9:30 pm) a two hours tour guides visitors into the dank, oil-lit spaces where thousands of political and common criminals were shut away in the days that the Vatican held temporal sway over Rome and much of central Italy.

Guides will recount the tales of famous inmates such as turbulent gold-working genius Benvenuti Cellini who spent months there in 1538 on charges of embezzling the papal tiara and tried a daring escape amid fears of the noose. Heroes of the Risorgimento, the movement that eventually reunited Italy and ended the papal state, were also enclosed in the jail above Emperor Hadrian's ancient tomb - as recounted in Giacomo Puccini's famous opera Tosca.

Among the other notorious guests was Cagliostro, a Freemason and alleged occultist sent to the dungeons by the Inquisition. Inmates who met their death on the scaffold included a Roman family, the Cencis, hanged in 1599 after a shocking affair of incest, murder and revenge. Their story - and in particular the apparent innocence of daughter Beatrice - inspired writers like Shelley, Dumas and Stendhal.

This is a great opportunity to get your Halloween fix about 5 months early. I visited the dungeons during the renovation. Once you take this tour you will have a new standard for what a haunted house should be. There are no fabric ghosts floating on strung wire or fake headless bodies flailing in the shadows but the walls whisper to your subconscious mind as you observe the torture chambers and holding cells. If in Rome this summer, take the time, perhaps after a light dinner, to appreciate centuries of power gone bad.

Tags: Italian Vacations Rome Castles Lazio Travel Italy

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Castello di Compiano – Vacation at a Medieval Castle near Parma

In the hills surrounding Parma there are numerous castles. Many of these properties have been transformed into hotels while maintaining their aura of mystery. Parma is famous for its prosciutto and Parmesan cheese. These products alone are a great reason to spend a few days in the area. Parma is also a land of scenic views and Medieval towns. Castello di Compiano is the anchor of the town of Compiano, recently recognized as one of the Borghi piu’ Belli del Italia, the most beautiful towns of Italy.

The town of Compiano develops inside the walls of the castle making this a perfect destination for a 3 or 4 day stay. Local shops, restaurants and products are all within walking distance of primary unit of the castle. Only a few areas have been dedicated to lodging. The major portion of the castle is a museum. Most of the rooms are on the upper floor or in the towers creating a suggestive atmosphere and beautiful views of the surrounding area. Rock walls and original fishbone wood floors take you back to the 1100s. The rooms are filled with antique furniture completing the experience.

From the third floor rooms a turn around the corner takes you out onto the walkway of the upper fortifications. As you stroll the sounds of battles past whisper in your ears. The breeze carries scents of the surrounding forests and agricultural lands. Castello di Compiano takes you into the times of princes and kings, sumptuous banquets with extravagant festivities and armored knights riding powerful horses. The elevators and centralized heating, while masked, somehow seem a bit out of place but after a long day of activities are greatly appreciated.

In the late summer, the swimming pool, located in the castle’s gardens, is a great way to cool off before visiting one of the trattoria. The local cuisine is heavily influenced by the bordering Emilia Romagna. Dried meats and Parmesan cheese as appetizers followed by fresh pasta and savory meats dominate the local tables. This is not a wine producing area but wines from Veneto and Tuscany are widely available as are some local farmer’s wines.

The beautiful medieval burgh, whose genuine structure may still be admired to this day, with its cobblestone streets and buildings bearing ancient friezes and sculpted architraves on the doorways. From the walls surrounding the picturesque medieval square you can admire a beautiful view on Isola's plain, across which the River Taro runs on its way down from Monte Penna.

At the end of Via Duca degli Abruzzi stands the Porta delle Monache, for centuries the main entrance to the fortified burgh, while only the foundations of the towers which once guarded the burgh still stand. Compiano is a place of exceptional beauty that has remained untouched over its 400-year history.

Castello Compiano is located about 90 miles from Milan and 90 miles from Bologna. The closest airport is Genova.

Castello di Compiano Museo e Relais
Via Marco Rossi Sidoli, 15 43053 Compiano (Parma)
Tel. 0525.825541 - Fax. 0525.811106


Tags: Italian Vacations Castles Agriturismo Parma Travel Italy

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Traveling Italy by Car

I always suggest traveling Italy by train however many will want the freedom of a rental car. There are a few rules to remember. No matter what the speed limit is, if someone wants to pass you, move to the right. On provincial roads, with only one lane most drivers will hug the right hand shoulder and faster drivers will pass in the middle of the road. Do not get mad if someone tailgates you. Slide toward the right hand side of the road.

In the cities, lanes do not mean anything. A three-lane road, at a stoplight, will fit 5 cars wide. In many cities stoplights are timing starters for the daily drag races that is the commute to and from work. Do not get caught up in this, Italians are used to driving very aggressively and expect those who engage in this activity to know the unwritten rules of the game.

Italian roads have been around for thousands of years. Many times a road was originally designed for a horse and cart. It may seem that your car will not fit but go slowly and forge ahead. Stopping in the middle of one of these roads can mean disaster. When visiting older sections of a city call a taxi.

Roundabouts yield to the vehicle arriving from the right, no matter how small that entering road may be. If you need to travel the roundabout slide toward the center and when your exit comes up, slide to the right.

It is illegal to pass on the right however scooters will do it all the time. Do not make quick moves to the right. You cannot see the scooters. If you are involved in an accident and someone is hurt you will go to jail.

On the expressway never travel in the left hand lane. Even if you are going the speed limit, traveling in the left hand lane will result in a ticket. When you see a Ferrari, Mercedes or Lancia coming up from behind, stay to the right. If a Fiat passes you aggressively do not be offended and let your road rage show. The Italians are used to driving at 120 mph in cars made to go 90.

In southern Italy do not stop to help people on the expressway. Groups target Americans to steal their money and cars. When you stop at the Autogrill make sure nothing is showing in your car. If a guy washes your window, even though you did not ask him to, give him a Euro.

During the summer months never travel on Friday evening, Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. Italians love spending their off-time in the country or at the beach. The cities empty between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. They return on Sunday afternoon. You will spend more time in traffic than actually moving. Avoid traveling around cities between 5:30-7:00 pm. I plan my trips to avoid any major metropolitan area between these times.

The Speed limit on the expressway is 130kmh or about 88 mph. The Italian police have become very efficient stopping speeders and the fines are very, very high.

Again, I suggest traveling by train or hiring a driver to run around town but if you follow these rules a rental car can be a good solution.

Tags: Italian Culture Italian Vacations Travel Italy

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Riccione Beach #137 Mojito – Sun by day, Party all night

The younger portion of my family is giving me a hard time because I wrote about the No Men Allowed beach #134 in Riccione and I have not written about anything for the young and restless. Riccione, as most of the Adriatic coast, lives off of tourism. The beach is divided into concessions. The owner takes care of the beach area, provides chairs, tables and umbrellas. In the economic battle for visitors the local entrepreneurs are doing some interesting things. Beach #137 has teamed up with a local nightclub and is offering 24 hour a day fun.

When the sun is out the traditional tanning beds and umbrellas are in full force but as soon as day turns to dusk the beach becomes one of the hottest nightspots in Riccione. Every week the theme is different and covers everything from free form fashion shows to comedians. The entertainment usually speaks Italian but the 18-30 year old visitors arrive from all over Europe. Obviously, as the name suggests, mixed drinks are available and the music is loud and pulsating.

I admit, this is not the place for me, but it may be the place for you, or perhaps your kids. Security is relatively good in these places as in most nightclubs and I would not worry about my kids being safe. It should be remembered that there is alcohol and, while I do not know this for sure, where there are teens and tweens there may be some type of prohibited substances available.

All in all it sounds like pretty clean fun with the younger crowd. If you want to get a better idea you can check out this you tube video.

Tags: Italian Vacations Riccione Emilia Romagna Adriatic Sea Italian Beaches Travel Italy

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The wine Trail of Lake Garda – Wines, Food, Entertainment, and Agriturismo

Getting off the beaten tourist path and knowing what to do, where to go and what to eat is difficult. Most of us will use the Michelin Guide, the Gambero Rosso, or some other well known published book to identify a restaurant or a hotel in an area we do not know. Because the places are published they are usually not the best deals or most interesting solutions. I have found that when living in an area for about six months the locals have their secret places. For one reason or another these places never made it on the numerous publications that can give us insight into an area.

Chatting with one of my buddies this week he mentioned that he had recently joined an association made up of small producers in the area of lake Garda. The association is made up of 80 members. Their businesses include: vineyards, olive oil, agriturismo, hotels, restaurants, artisans, cultural associations, and museums. Through the members you can find local foods and wine including: Olive oil with low acidity, cheeses, fresh water fish, dried meats, and Garda wines. Looking at the Strada dei Vini e Sapori website, I realized this is the perfect guide to find those out of the way, little known, family run places that just are not big enough to make it into the national scene but are usually the best solution for a vacation that delves into Italian life and culture.

The site is entirely in Italian but do not be put off. Navigate around the site and take note of the phone/fax numbers indicated. The association can be contacted by email and the location and contact information for each establishment is right next to a small photograph. Some places also have a write-up about the history of the location or the establishment. Getting your trip together may take a little more work, contacting individually each place but the end result will be well worth the time.

Tags: Italian Vacations Veneto Garda Food and Wine Travel Italy

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Exclusive Beach in Riccione – No Men Allowed!

The Adriatic shores of Italy are the favorite destination of Italian family vacationers. The white sand beaches span the coast and the water remains waste deep for miles into the sea. The waters are warm from late May and riptides rarely occur. This makes the Adriatic the perfect beach destination for families with small children. Rimini, Riccione and Cattolica are some of the most famous. Millions of Italians hit the coast cities during the summer vacation period. The area has also developed their infrastructures for the under 30 crowd with discotheques, nightclubs and low cost dining. Apparently this summer paradise was missing something, a beach just for women.

Beach number 134 in Riccione, run by a female entrepreneur, is open only to women. She states that she is merely filling a need just as the all female hotel in Switzerland and the German bank that only opens accounts for women. The Italian bloggers are ablaze with commentary, most of it negative. The thought is that our culture is succumbing to the puritan influences and that before we know it women will be criticized if they dress too sexy. Some have even taken it to the extreme saying that this is the first step toward a 1950s attitude toward women.

I have no problem with this type of beach. If my daughters wanted to catch some rays on an exclusively feminine beach I would not immediately think they were lesbians. I could also see how this would be a great solution for those with jealous partners. The partner may be more content thinking that his wife, girlfriend or partner will not be parading around in a hot bikini in front of 1000s of men. It is not clear if male children, or any children for that matter, are allowed.

I can also see advantages for the shy girl not entirely comfortable with her looks preferring to visit this type of beach. Perhaps a couple of girlfriends traveling Italy not wanting to be bothered by overactive men would be attracted to this type of establishment. I do not see this as puritan, lesbian or any other thing. If that is how you are comfortable go for it.

I am not sure if it will survive or if the number of establishments will increase but for now it is an option. You can find more information about the exact location of this beach at your hotel in Riccione.

Tags: Italian Vacations Riccione Beaches Adriatic Sea Travel Italy

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Understanding Italy – Nobility, wines, food and jeans

Italy has some basic rules. Just about everyone is of noble blood or knows someone of royalty. Some areas make fantastic, complex, refined wines while others, just a few miles away traditionally produce young simple table wines. Only in the last twenty years have some producers of heirloom wines, dating back to the Roman Empire, began creating some marvelous complex wines. Just when you think you know Italian cooking you take a ½ train ride and potatoes become rice and then rice becomes pasta. Local stores no longer carry twenty types of Taleggio instead they have twenty types of fresh fish. In the home of fashion, seventy percent of Italians say that a gentleman does not wear jeans.

Italy is complex. The Italy that you know is not the Italy I know. Our families may come from the same region. We may have lived just miles apart but your traditions will not be the same as mine. This is confusing for many foreigners. They think that the only difference between Milan and Rome is the architecture. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Italy is a rather recent invention. This is not to say that the Italians have not been around for a long time just that the current Italian state is just over 100 years old. Giuseppe Garibaldi and the thousand red shirts united Italy under the reign of the King of Sardinia. Strangely enough the kingdom is Sardinia included the Island of Sardinia but was based in Piedmont.

Looking back to the XII century we see the political structure of the Italian peninsula through the XIX century. These kingdoms were not friends. They were constantly at war with each other or allied with some other European royal family. This translates to foods, wines and fashion varying significantly from region to region. Piedmont cuisine and wines are very similar to French. Lombardia traditional recipes are rich in cheeses, rice and polenta. Southern Italians do marvelous things with fish and vegetables. Friuli food is has influences of German and Austrian nobility and Emilia Romagna does marvelous things with pasta.

So why is all this important for your vacation planning. Each region you visit is a different culture. It will be impossible to appreciate the area just passing through for a day or two. It is important to spend time, shop at the local markets, eat at the trattoria and drink some local wine. This will take some time but the experience is well worth the extra attention.

Tags: Italian Culture Italian Vacations Travel Italy

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Virtual Tour of the Eternal City

Vacationing in the city of Rome is about to become much easier. Just think about wandering into the Senate, the Forum, the Pantheon and the Coliseum as they were in 320 AD. While strolling via Giulia you will overhear a private conversation between the Senators or you may meet a street vendor selling sandals. The technicians have recreated 31 monuments and 7,000 buildings. Characters have been diligently researched and personalities created to interact with the audience.

The city and several private interests have teamed up to create a virtual tour of Rome during the Roman Empire. A theater and 3D glasses are the forum for this look into Rome as it was. This project is the end result of 10 years of study and covers 19 km of ancient Rome inside the Aurelia Wall. The show is called “Rewind Rome” and can be seen starting the 21 April in the restructured theater of via Capo d’Africa.

This is a great way to see Rome for the first time. Before tracking around the city this half hour virtual tour will give great insight into what you are seeing and how it originally looked. It is also a marvelous insight into the citizens of Rome and how they see the world they live in. The show is expected to attract 12 million visitors a year and is just the first of numerous initiatives by the city of Rome to increase tourism.

Tags: Italian Vacations Rome Lazio Travel Italy

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Things to do in Venice Summer 2007 –San Lazzaro degli Armeni

The biennale of Venice gets under way this week. If you are not into sitting through numerous several hour showings of “Artistic” films you will be looking for other things to do while visiting the romantic city of Venice.

How about a ride on a motorboat to the island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni?

The island is located in the lagoon of Venice and inhabited by Monks. In reality, the monastery is the only thing that is on the little island. The building and gardens are tediously perfect, beautiful and balanced in color and form. The monastery is open to the public from 15:00-17:00 (that is 3-5 pm for our American readers) every day and is worth a visit. It is a bit different than everything else in Venice. While the monks charge a fee to visit the monastery, the funds are used for maintenance and charitable work. The monastery is an opportunity to see Venetian architecture without the touristy, pushy atmosphere that penetrates most places in Venice.

San Lazzaro is named after St. Lazarus, the patron saint of lepers. It was a leper colony from the 12th to 16th centuries, then was abandoned until Mechitar fled his Turkish persecutors in 1715 and came to Venice. The Venetian government obligingly gave San Lazzaro to Mechitar, who founded an Armenian order on the island. Mechitar and his 17 monks built a monastery, restored the crumbling lepers' church, and quadrupled the tiny island's area (originally 7000 square meters, or about 1-3/4 acres).

It is also host to a show of XX century artists for the entire summer. Among the many exhibits timed to coincide with the start of the world-renowned contemporary art fair on Sunday, five artists are being celebrated in personal shows exploring different aspects of their work.

The ideas of prolific German artist Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) are the focus of an exhibition opening on June 10 in the Arsenale Novissimo.

Entitled Difesa della Natura - The Living Sculpture (Defending Nature - The Living Sculpture), it is based on a piece of the same name by Beuys, dedicated to promoting human harmony within the universe.

The event runs for 100 days, featuring art, video and conferences with the participation of humanitarian, social and environmental groups.

Curated by Lucrezia De Domizio Durini, the exhibit will be centred on a Living Sculpture created with people of different religious, ethnic and social backgrounds.

The influential ideas of the US conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth (b. 1945) are explored in another show opening June 10.

Entitled Il Linguaggio dell'Equilibrio (The Language of Balance), the exhibit has been designed to reflect the tranquillity of its location, the monastery island of San Lazzaro degli Armeni.

The Monastero di San Lazzaro degli Armeni has an extraordinary collection of treasures, including:

- A 150,000-volume library.

- More than 4,000 Armenian manuscripts, some nearly 1,300 years old.

- A Koran created after the death of Mohammed.

- An Indian papyrus from the 13th Century.

- A Egyptian sarcophagus and mummy from the 15th Century B.C.

- Thrones, tables, statues, paintings, tapestries, gold, silver, jewels, and other items that the monks either bought or received as gifts over the centuries.

Tags: Italian Vacations Island Vacations Agriturismo Venice Travel Italy

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The Islands of the Tuscan Coast – Isola d’Elba

The Island of Elba is the third largest Island of Italy. It is located about 10 km off the Tuscan shores in an area of 600 km of sea that makes up part of the National Park of the Arcipelago Toscano. Italian Wine Guy reminisced about times past, hiking in the Italian countryside, and living the Italian lifestyle away from the major tourist destinations. Isola d’Elba is one of those locations that foreign tourists will most likely never see. Italians love Island of Elba for its simpler environment, the beach and the sun.

The Island of Elba has been a favorite destination since before the Roman Empire. The crystal clear waters and florid forests make this island a patch of greenery in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. It became one of my favorite spots during my sailing days. One of my favorite trips was the “traversata”. The traversata is a trip from Livorno to Sardegna. The traversata is a marvelously relaxing trip. The islands just of the Tuscan coast were a great first stop for lunch even though just an hour into the voyage.

I learned that the island produces several local young wines. Two whites, two reds and sweet wine are part of the local arsenal. I cannot think of any one great restaurant because everywhere we ate was fantastic. The foods seemed to explode with flavor and while I am not a big fan of young wines, the balance was perfect. There are numerous Agriturismo in just about every port and are great place to get away from it all for a week or so. The hotels, outside of the month of August, are reasonably priced and the service is excellent.

The island’s popularity is increasing. This has had a negative impact on the vineyards as many farmers have let their vines go dedicating their resources to the tourist. The vineyards are sculpted into the hills and can be very difficult to work. These vineyards are not accessible with modern machinery so if you have the opportunity to stay at an Agriturismo with a vineyard plan on spending a day or two working the vines. It will create an appreciation for the art of winemaking.

If you do not have a local contact a great Agriturismo is Montefabrello just outside Portoferraio. The primary residence was built in the early 1900s and recently restructured with most of the modern comforts. Each room has a small kitchen even though the rates are “all inclusive” and the family run Agriturismo offers some very good regional dishes. They have several vineyards and will serve the house wines with local plates. For those who want to try some golf there is a truly unique 9 hole course within a couple of miles. The views are spectacular.

Tags: Italian Vacations Island Vacations Agriturismo Tuscany Travel Italy

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Women’s Fashion on the Riviera 2007 – Skin is In

Recently I wrote about the 2007 beachwear fashion tendencies promoted by the Italian designers. I truly expected to see a net move toward somewhat less revealing bathing suits and a return to colors and fabrics from the 60s. Well, the first big exodus from the cities to the beaches has come and gone and it looks like the designers have missed the season. I am definitely not complaining. The Italian Riviera reminds me of Carnival in Rio with lots of tanned skin as eye candy.

There is a difference between the beaches on the East and West coasts of Italy. The East coast, because of the shallow sea, are the favorite destinations of families and have a great nightlife for the under 21 crowd while the west coast and Sardegna are more adult. Many cities on the East coast have passed decency ordinances particularly in from Ancona to Pescara. In these areas, bring shorts and a shirt or the outfits designed to wear over the bathing suit. Even when strolling the boardwalk city officials will fine those considered to be showing too much skin.

I should also say that I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people did not mind having their pictures taken or even posing for a shot. Somehow I think this is going to be a great summer for those fortunate enough to vacation in Italy.

Tags: Women's Fashion Italian Designers Womens Spring Summer Beachwear href="http://technorati.com/tag/Fashion" rel="tag">Fashion Travel Italy

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Who’s the Politician – Concept for a new Realty TV Show

A bit of culture, a bit of fun. There is a scandal brewing in Italy. It has been simmering for about 6 months. Last year photographs of beautiful showgirls sunbathing on a yacht of the shores of Ischia with several pepper gray haired men prancing around in bathing suits, too small for their prominent bellies and sagging behinds, appeared in the local newspapers. Surely these are kindly grandfathers taking their granddaughters on a weekend cruise in the warm Mediterranean Sea. Goodness they sure are friendly.

As the paparazzo scrutinizes his freshly developed photographs, he realizes he has hit the jackpot. The kindly grandfather is none other than very high level, married, politicians and the girls, object of the gentlemen’s attention, are showgirls, models and female TV announcers. The newspaper realizes the value of these photographs and immediately begins to investigate; dirt sells! The article is published. It does not create much drama. Italians are very understanding when it comes to sins of the flesh. A prosecutor reads the story and finds it somewhat unusual that all of the women had the same agent. This agent is very powerful.

The contorted mind of a prosecutor sees malice even in the kindness these grandfathers were displaying. He investigates further, formally interrogates a few of the models and opens an investigation against unknown individuals. Strangely enough the photographs do not allow a clear identification of the politician. The charges are of prostitution, instigation of prostitution, complicity in prostitution and extortion. Apparently the all-powerful agent would offer the young and budding actresses and models 5,000 Euro and a position in a weekly television show for a certain number of encounters with powerful people. Photographs were then taken and held for just the right moment. The girls now famous or the politician that needed to change his view on some legislation were targets of the power broker.

The investigation has taken on a life of its own rivaling a Greta Van Susteren TV trial. Strangely enough the models, the agent, and the showgirls have all been interrogated and fully scrutinized by the media but the powerful politicians still have not been completely identified. This sounds so familiar to what is happening here in the US as the DC madam is being tried for the same offenses but her personal agenda containing names, dates and personal phone numbers of her clients has been sealed by the courts. Thus a new concept in reality TV came to mind.

Let us forget the Britney Spears and Anna Smiths. Who cares if Madonna speaks with an English accent or which actor is checking into the various rehabs this week? We should stick the paparazzi on the politicians. Turn the television cameras on those touting ethics while molesting male pages. Think of the ratings and who knows, we may be able to answer the question: “Who’s the politician in the photograph?”

Tags: Italian Culture Italian Vacations Travel Italy

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