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The "Green Heart" of Italy.

Koala Viaggi co-operates with the top Italian receptive operators and top travel service companies in Italy to providetailor made first class, luxury, deluxe and standard package Tours in Italy to business travelers and visitors to Italy.Our staffs in Italy will strike to provide the best Italian tour services from easy reservation, tour enjoyment to happy departurewithyour most satisfaction during your stay in Italy. SEE YOU SOON

isknownworldwideforavari-ety of reasons. Personalities,

art, food and music are just some of the tip-of-your-tongue factspeoplewhogoonJeopardyknowalltoowell.HerearesomefastfactsaboutItalyforanyoneinterestedintheirmeccaofcul-ture.Italyhasseveralvolcanoes,andone that isstillactive even into our current century. MountVesuvius is one of three active volcanoes incontinental Europe (the other two, Etna andStromboli,arealsoinItaly); it isalsoconsideredoneofthemostfamousvolcanoesintheworld.Its name is recognized in many places, evenwhen volcanoes aren't even an after-thought.Pompeii,anItaliancity,wasdestroyedbyVesu-vius in AD 79; the city was buried under lavaand thousandsofpeopleweresweptup in themoltenmess.Can you imagine the size of the state of Ari-zona? You see it? That's just about the size ofItaly. Italy isshapedlikeapanhandle,muchlikethe state of Florida. However, unlike Florida,Italy's population has more than 20 per centover the age of sixty-five. While Florida is ahotbed of retirement, for the most part, seniorsthat move to the state are retiring there as op-posedtolivingthereforthedurationoftheirlives.TheAzzurri, Italian for lightblue, represents thenameof theirsoccer team.Though,don'tcall itsoccer overseas! In Europe, especially placeslike Italy, it's called football.Azzurri refers to thecolorofthenationalsoccerteam'shomejersey,and now fans cheer them on with colorfulchantsalluding to theblueof theirhomecoun-try.You've heard a lot in the news lately about theselection of the next Pope. Well, this conclavetakesplaceinMichelangelo'sSistineChapel,inRome. Michelangelo painted the roof of thechapelonhisback, lyinghighabovethe floors,whichcausedhimmuchdistress.Just imagine

lyingonyourback for fouryears!SpeakingofthePope,morethan97percentofItalians are Roman Catholic. Vatican City, thehomeof thePope, is located in Italybut iscon-sidered an independent city-state. They havetheirownpoliceforce,governmentandarerec-ognized worldwide as their own country. City-statesoriginated in theADWhohasn't seenpicturesof the leaningTowerof Pisa? It's one of the most well-known paperweightssittingondesksacrosstheworld,asit'san eye-catching building that everyone lovestalkingabout inconversation.However,doyouknowwhyit's leaning?Well,whenfirstbuilt, thetop soil the foundation was built on wasn't en-tirelystable,but thebuildersdidn'tknowitat thetime. They built the entire tower, and as theyearswentby, itbegantoslowlytiptooneside.It's said thateventually itmight just fall over,butthere is no timeline as to when those standingunder it should run.Italians have very small families, not includingtheMafia,ofcourse!KeepinmindthattheMafiais just an organization or a group of peoplecometogetherforacommongoal.Itdoesn'tal-ways associate itself with The Sopranos andotherillegaloperations.TheaverageItaliannu-clear family ismadeupof fivepeople,whereastheextendedfamily-suchastheMafia-canbecomprisedofhundreds.Italy is the fourth most visited country in theworld,whichmeansthere'sagoodchancethatsomeday you'll get to see all the sights andsoundsofthecountryinyourlifetime.Morethan40millionforeignerstouchdowntovisitsomeofthemostamazingplacesintheworldduringjustone year. Don't be left out, be one of them be-foreyouhangupyourpassport.Pasta, one of the world's most consumedfoods, was invented in Italy. It's also their na-tional dish! Each Italian consumes more than25 kilograms of pasta in just one year. Need-

less to say, there are not many leftovers in anItalian family's refrigerator.Milan is considered the fashion capital of theworldbydesignersandfashionistasalike.Manyflock their throughout the year for fashion linelaunches, previews and other walkway run-throughs tocatchupon the latest trends, fash-ions and other clothes hitting the stores duringthe year. Such designers as Armani, VersaceandGucciall launchclothesfromMilanatsomepointduring theirbusinessyear."Italyisademocraticrepublic,foundedonlabor,"is theofficialstatemotto.Whilenotvery robust,asmanyothermottosarethroughouttheworld,it isastatement leftoverfromtheRomanfoun-dation that is thecountry.Manybuildings,gov-ernment or otherwise, are branded with theinitials SPQR that denote that they are recog-nizedbytheImperialSenateandthepeopleofRome. Many facets of ancient Roman culturestilldwell inthecity, thoughyouwon'tseemanyspearsandshieldslyingaround,except inmu-seums.As you can see, Italy is filled with fun facts foreveryone,andmanyofthesefactsarelearnedbymanymorepeople than just thosewhoareItalian.There'sawealthof informationoutthereforanybodywhoseeksit,andItalyhassomeofthe most interesting history for those who readinto it.Five of these regions have a special au-tonomous status that enables them to enactlegislationonsomeof their localmatters,andaremarkedbyan *. It is further divided into 109 provinces(province)and8,101municipalities (comuni).TraditionalfestivalarecelebratedinmostItaliantowns and villages in commemoration of localhistorical or religious events.The most notableare listed here. The dates of many traditionalfestivalsmayvary fromyear toyear.

Italy

General Informations

Calendarof TraditionalEvents in ItalyAgrigentoALMONDBLOSSOMFESTIVALFirsthalfofFebruaryFolkfestivalofsong,dance,costumes,fireworksArezzoGIOSTRAdelSARACINO(JoustoftheSaracen)FirstSundayinSeptemberTiltingcontestofthe13thcenturywithknightsinarmorAssisiCALENDIMAGGIO(CelebrationofHolyWeek)EasterWeekCelebration of spring according to rites dating back tomedieval timesAscoli-PicenoTORNEOdellaQUINTANA(JoustoftheQuintana)FirstSunday inAugustHistoricalpageantwithpeoplein15thcenturycostumesAstiPALIO-SanSecondoMay2A700yearoldceremonywithprocessionin13thcen-turycostume.FlagThrowingPalio.ThirdSundayinSeptemberAncientfestivalwith800costumesparticipantsBariSAGRAdiSanNICOLAMay7Historicprocessionincostume.CagliariSAGRAdiSant'EFISIOMay1to4Oneofthebiggestandmostcolorfulprocessionsintheworld. Several thousand pilgrims (wearing costumesdatingbackto1657)accompanythestatueofthesaintonfoot,cartsandhorsesFirenzeSCOPPIODELCARRO(ExplosionoftheCart)EasterSundayApyramidoffireworksintheCathedralSquareissetoffbyamechanicaldovedrivenfromtheAltarduringHighMass.CALCIOFIORENTINO(SoccerMatch)June24to28Revival of a 16th century football match in medievalcostumes.June24thFireworksdisplayfromtheterracedgardensoverlook-ingthecityFolignoGIOSTRAdellaQUINTANA(JoustoftheQuintana)SecondSundayinSeptemberRevivalofa17thcen-

tury joust with 600 knights in costume, historical pro-cessionGenovaPALIOMARINAROdeiRIONIJune29thRowingraceinancientdressGenzanoINFIORATA(Flowerfestival)CorpusDominiAreligiousprocessionalongthestreetscarpetedwithflowersinmagnificentdesigns.GubbioFESTAdeiCERI(RaceoftheCandles)May15Aprocession in local costume in witch tall shrines arecarriedtothechurchonthetopofMountIngino.PALIOdeiBALESTRIERI(ThePaliooftheArchers)Last Sunday in May Medieval crossbow contest be-tween Gubbio and Sansepolcro with medieval cos-tumesandarms.LaSpeziaPALIOdelGOLFOFirstSundayofAugustRowingcontestMarostica(Vicenza)PARTITAaSCACCHIconPERSONAGGIVIVENTI (Living Chess Game) Second weekend ofSeptember in even-numbered years Chess game isplayedinthetownsquarebylivingpawnsinperiodcos-tume.NapoliFESTIVALofSanGENNAROSeptember19Areligious ceremony honoring the patron saint of thecityNolaFESTAdelGIGLIO(TheLilyFestival)SundayfollowingJune22ndAllegorical towers are carried in a colorful processioncostumeNuoroSAGRAdelREDENTORE(FeastoftheRedeemer)August27to30ColorfulprocessioninSardiniancostumesOristanoSASARTIGLIAFebruary24to26MedievalprocessionandjoustingofmaskingknightsPalermoFEASTofSantaROSALIAJuly10to15Procession,bands,fireworksinhonorofthepatronsaintof thecityPianadegliAlbanesi

CELEBRATION of theEPIPHANY from theBYZANTINERITEJanuary6PisaGIOCO del PONTE (Bat-tleoftheBridge)FirstSundayinJuneMedievalparadeandcon-testREGATTAof the GREATMARITIMEREPUBLICSThe friendly contest andhistoric regatta in whicheachoftheformermaritimerepublics (Amalfi, Genoa,PisaandVenice)raceforapriceRomaEPIPHANY FAIR at PI-

AZZANAVONAJanuary5thAfairof toys,sweetsandotherspresents takesplaceintheopenairamongThebeautifulBernini fountainsFESTADE'NOANTRIJuly19thto26thFolklore of Old Rome inTrastevere, including colorfulprocession for the Vergine del Carmine, folk dancesandsongs,carnival floatsandfireworksSansepolcroPALIOdeiBALESTRIERI(ThePaliooftheArchers)LastSundayinMayMedieval crossbow contest between Gubbio andSansepolcrowithmedievalcostumesandarms.SassariCAVALCATASARDA(SardinianCavalcade)NexttolastSundayinMayTraditional procession of more than 3,000 people inSardiniancostumesSienaPALIOJuly2ndandAugust16thProcessionandhorserace.Participantsaremembersofancientcitydistricts,competingforthebanner(Palio).Colorfulmedievalpageantry.TarantoPROCESSIONoftheMYSTERIESGoodFridayRenownedfor itscostumesandsolemnityVeneziaCARNIVALinVENICEFebruary/MarchCelebrations in costumes and masks, entertainmentinstreetsandsquares.Music,mimesandfireworks.ILREDENTORE(TheFeastoftheRedeemer)ThirdSundayinJulyProcession of gondolas commemorating the end oftheepidemicof1575HISTORICALREGATTAFirstSundayinSeptemberTraditional competition between two-oar racing gon-dolasandprocessionofceremonialboats.ViareggioCARNEVALE(Carnival)February/March.

Eating in Italy:Eating a leisurely Italian meal is one of the pleasures of travelingin Italy! Italians take food very seriously. Each region, and some-times even a city, will have regional specialties that they are veryproud of. Your expereience might be enhanced by telling yourwaiter that you want to try the specialties. Understanding howItalians traditionally eat will help you get the most out of your travelexperience.

The Italian Menu:Traditional Italian menus have five sections. A full meal usuallyconsists of an appetizer, first course and a second course with aside dish. It's not necessary to order from every course, but usu-ally people order at least two courses. Italian meals may last oneor two hours or even longer. Italians often go out for a long Sun-day lunch with their families andrestaurants will be lively. It's agood chance to experience Italianculture.

Italian Appetizers - An-tipasti:Antipasti come before the mainmeal. One choice will usually be aplate of the local cold cuts andthere will probably be some re-gional specialties. Sometimes youcan order an antipasto misto andget a variety of dishes. This is usu-ally fun and can be more foodthan you'd expect for the price! Inthe south, there are some restau-rants that have an antipasto buf-fet where you can select your ownappetizers.

The First Course - Primo:The first course is pasta, soup, orrisotto (rice dishes, especiallyfound in the north). Usually thereare several pasta choices. Italianpasta dishes may have lesssauce thanAmericans are usuallyused to. In Italy, the type of pastais often more important than thesauce. Some risotto dishes maysay minimum of 2 persons.

The Second or MainCourse - Secondo:The second course is usually meat, poultry, or fish. It doesn't usu-ally include any potato or vegetable. There are sometimes one ortwo vegetarian offerings, although if they are not on the menuyou can usually ask for a vegetarian dish.

The Side Dishes - Contorni:Usually you will want to order a side dish with your main course.This could be a vegetable (verdura), potato, or insalata (salad). I

sometimes order only a salad instead of the meat course.

The Dessert - Dolce:At the end of your meal, you will be offered dolce. Sometimesthere may be a choice of fruit (often whole fruit served in a bowlfor you to select what you want) or cheese.After dessert, you willbe offered cafe or a digestivo (after dinner drink).

Drinks :Most Italians drink wine, vino, and mineral water, acqua minerale,with their meal. Often the waiter will take the drink order beforeyour food order. There may be a house wine that can be orderedby the quarter, half, or full liter and will not cost much. Coffee is notserved until after the meal.

Getting the Bill in an ItalianRestaurant:The waiter will almost never bring the billuntil you ask for it.You may be the last peo-ple in the restaurant but the bill still doesn'tcome. When you are ready for the bill, sim-ply ask for il conto. The bill will include asmall bread and cover charge but theprices listed on the menu include tax andservice. You may leave a small tip (a fewcoins) if you want to. Not all restaurants ac-cept credit cards so be prepared with cash.

Where to Dine in Italy:If you just want a sandwich, you can go toa bar. A bar in Italy is not just a place fordrinking alcohol and there are no age re-strictions. People go to the bar for theirmorning coffee and pastry, to grab a sand-wich, and even to buy ice cream. Somebars also serve a few pasta or salad se-lections so if you just want one course,that's a good choice.Atavolo caldo servesalready prepared food. These will be fairlyfast.More formal dining establishments include:osteria - this used to be a very casual eat-ing place but now there are some more for-mal ones.trattoria - also a more casual eating placebut may be the same as a restaurant.ristorante - restaurant

Italian Meal Times:In the summer, Italians usually eat fairly

late meals. Lunch will not start before 1:00 and dinner not before8:00. In the north and in winter, meal times may be half an hourearlier while in the far south in summer you may eat even later.Restaurants close between lunch and dinner. In large touristareas, you may find restaurants open all afternoon. Nearly allshops in Italy are closed in the afternoon for three or four hours,so if you want to buy a picnic lunch be sure to do it in the morn-ing!

Eating Out in Italy - How and Where to Dine

Where To relax

Italy's richness in thermal and mineral waters,combined with the mildness of the climate and the beauty ofthe scenery, have made it a favourite venue for "health caretourism". Since the last century hotels with extensive facili-ties have grown up around spas, which have established in-ternational reputations. Abano, Salsomaggiore, Chianciano,Montecatini, Fiuggi and Ischia are just a few names amongthe many which are known throughout the world and whichattract millions of visitors every year.

Thermal waters in ItalyIn this field Italy has taken up and developed a practicewhich has been widespread through-out the peninsula sincethe time of the Romans, when thermal waters and bathswere already a typical feature of town life. Interest in the Ital-ian spas is not exclusively for health care reasons. Theirproximity to great centers of art makes the spa resorts ex-cellent bases for cultural excursions. In addition the splen-did parks surrounding the most famous spas, and theinfrastructure which has been created for leisure activities,make them ideal holiday resorts in their own right. Italianthermal spas are not only those which exploit hot water re-sources (as the literal meaning of the word "thermal" mightsuggest) since mineral water springs are now also gener-ally included in this category.

The major thermal spa regionsThe determining factor in the presence of hot water or min-eral springs is the geology of Italy, a relatively young coun-try, which is rich in volcanic phenomena and permeated, inevery sense of the word, by a dense network of groundwa-ter channels. In north-eastern Italy many spas have devel-oped on the slopes of the Euganei Hills in Veneto, volcanichighlands where numerous hot water springs gush out. Themain form of treatment is mud therapy, recommended forrheumatic illnesses and problems of the respiratory organsand the female genital organs. Abano Terme alone has al-most two million visitors a year, half of whom come fromabroad.

Moving further south, there is a series of thermal resorts inEmilia-Romagna on the foothills of the Apennines. There areabout fifteen localities, including in particular Tabiano, Sal-somaggiore, and Castrocaro, all of which have the word"Terme" (Spa) as part of their official names. The springshave chemical properties which are all very similar (pre-dominantly sulphurous, or containing sodium chloride, io-dide or bromide). They are recommended for a wide rangeof afflictions: metabolism disorders, problems of the respi-ratory system and the vascular system and skin diseases.Another Italian region with a high concentration of spas isTuscany. The exploitation of this resource also has a longtradition here. A number of springs which were already inuse in Roman times are still popular today, including Satur-nia, Roselle, Chianciano and Chiusi. In this century the Tus-can resorts have changed from being exclusive meetingplaces and holiday locations. Montecatini and Chiancianohave acquired ever greater importance and the statisticsconfirm the reputation which they have built up. Montecatinihas 1,700,000 visitors a year (a quarter of them fromabroad) while Chianciano counts 1,860 000 (180,000 for-eign).The spa resorts in Latium are linked to the volcanic activitywhich has shaped the morphology of much of the region.Bagni di Tivoli, on the outskirts of the capital and Fiuggi, fur-ther east, are especially well known. Fiuggi waters are es-pecially noted for the treatment of renal calculus and theirfame has led to the development of 250 hotels.

In southern Italy the numerous spas forming an arc aroundthe Gulf of Naples are extremely important. This is one ofthe most active volcanic zones in Italy with heat burstingthrough from a supply of magma underground. which is veryclose to the surface. Ischia has 2,400,000 visitors a year(about 700,000 of whom are foreigners); oral treatment,baths (including steam baths) and mud treatment are rec-ommended in particular for rheumatism, arthritis, obesityand metabolism disorders.

EconomyTheeconomyof Italy has changed dramatically since the end ofWorld War II. From an agriculturally based economy, it has devel-oped into an industrial country ranked by both the World Bank andthe InternationalMonetaryFundas theworld'sseventh largestecon-omy in USD exchange-rate terms and tenth largest in terms of pur-chasing power parity (PPP) by World Bank, IMF and the CIAWorldFactbook. More recently, Italy has faced sluggish economic growth

and reduced international competitiveness. However, statistics asof 2007 show signs of acceleration in GDPgrowth, estimated at 2%in 2006, a record high since 2000.The country belongs to the Group of eight (G8) industrialized na-tions; it is a member of the European Union and the OECD.Italy'seconomicstrength is in theprocessingand themanufacturingof goods, primarily in small and medium-sized family-owned firms.The country has been less successful in terms of developing worldclass multinational corporations. In addition, the small and medium-sized firms typically manufacture products that are technologicallymoderately advanced and therefore increasingly face crushing in-ternational competition.

Industrialsectorshave longbeenconcentrated innorthernareasof Piemonte, Lombardia, and Veneto.The region supplies easy ac-cess to the rest of Europe, hydroelectricity from theAlps, and work-able, flat land.TheFIATfactory, forexample, is located inTurin.MostItalian industries, often of small size, are located in the "industrial tri-angle" (Milan, Turin, Genoa) and in some centres of Northeast andEmilia Romagna. The most famous Italian wines are probably theTuscanChianti andPiedmontesePinotGrigio.Other famouswines

are Barbaresco, Barolo and Barbera (Piedmont), Brunello di Mon-talcino (Tuscany), Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Abruzzo) and Nerod'Avola (Sicily). Quality goods in which Italy specialises are oftenDOCor 'of controlledorigin'.ThisDOCcertificate,which isattributedby theEuropeanUnion,ensures that theoriginsandwork thatgoesinto a product are recognised. This certification is considered im-portant by producers and consumers alike, in order to avoid confu-

sion with low-quality mass-produced ersatz products, such asCambozola, a German copy of Gorgonzola.Italy is known also for its fashion houses, such Versace, Valentino,Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Sergio Rossi, Dolce & Gab-bana, Benetton, andArmani.FIAT is an automaker specializing in utilitarian and luxury vehicles,with thebrandsFIAT,Lancia,AlfaRomeo,Ferrari andMaserati.ThePiemontese group has struggled in recent times due to high inputcostsanddecliningmarketshare,althougharecent revivalhasseena return to profit[citation needed]. Manufacturers like Piaggio andDucati produce motorcycles.Italy has a substantial home appliance construction industry, espe-cially in Lombardy (Candy), Marche (Merloni, Indesit) and North-eastern regions.A quarterly report prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit onbehalf of Barclays Wealth in 2007 estimated that there were2,800,000 dollar millionaires in Italy.(page 7)The Time magazine reported in early 2008 that the mafia's pur-chasingpowerwasestimatedatalmost$125billion (or15centsperminute)

PiemontePiedmont (Italian: Piemonte; Piedmontese and Occitan:Piemont; French: Piémont) is one of the 20 Regions of Italy.It has an area of 25,399 km² and a population of about 4.4million. The capital is Turin. The main local dialect is Pied-montese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the so calledOccitan Valleys. The name Piemonte is a contraction of theItalian "Ai piedi del monte", meaning "At the base of themountain"Piedmont is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, includingthe Monviso (Mont Vis), where the Po rises, and the MonteRosa. It borders with France, Switzerland and the Italian re-gions of Lombardy, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna and Aosta Val-ley.

Turin owns a huge heritage represented by cultural institu-tions that operate in the most diverse fields of knowledge andare united by a great dynamism. Home of a renowned uni-versity, especially famous for its studies in history, economicsand sciences, and its world class School of Engeenering atthe Polytechnic, Turin also houses a number of cultural insti-tutions of international repute thanks to their splendid li-braries, collections of rare and ancient books and pricelessdocuments, as well as the organisation of numerous presti-

gious activities.Turin today is a dynamicreality engaged in amodernisation processunrivalled in Italy. Fromthe city of motor car to acentre of advancedtechnology and inte-grated productive sys-tems, following anoriginal redevelopmentproject. Although it is in-ternationally renownedas an industrial city anda capital of the motor carthis, for Turin, is now astereotype, an incom-plete picture. Today, itsimage is different, morediverse: the city is ori-ented towards the newhigh-tech Europe, that of advanced research.

Whatever your interests are you'll be able to find things todo in Turin. Turin is worth visiting for its piazzas alone,where cobbled streets full of architectural wonders sud-denly give way to huge open spaces, the contrast betweenthe confines of the streets with the squares quite breathtak-ing on its own, but even more splendid due to the fantasticstructures, statues and artistic treasures around.

Other things to do include visiting some of the museums.There are over one hundred museums ranging from finearts to motor cars, Egyptology and the cinema.

Tour Turin's fabulous city centre by bus, hopping on and offto get a closer look at some of the architecture, monumentsand sweeping squares that are so abundant in the city.

Suggested things to do in Turin

Museo dell' Automobile - the motor museumThe Museo dell' Automobile is one of the largest car muse-ums in the world with a collection of 170 cars. The museumcharts the progress of Turin's motor industry from its begin-nings.

La Mole AntonellianaAt over 167 metres, La Mole Antonelliana was the highestbrick building in the world at the time of its completion andremains the tallest building in Turin.

Museo Nazionale del Cinema - the cine museumTurin was once the Hollywood of Italy, home to a number of

major Italian film studios, and it is an apt host of the MuseoNazionale del Cinema.

Museu Egizio - the Egyption museumThe Museo Egizio in Turin is second only to the Museum ofCairo and remains popular among visitors to Turin.

Piazza CastelloPiazza Castello is right in the centre of Turin and the pointwhere Via Po, Via Roma and Via Garibaldi converge.

Piazza San CarloPiazza San Carlo is home to the "Caval 'd Brons" andrenowned for an imperial grandure and tranquility.

San Lorenzo churchRising above the Palazzo Reale in Piazza Castello is thechurch of San Lorenzo, dating from the second half of the16th century.

JuventusHow to find Juventus tickets and make sure you see one ofItaly's greatest football clubs.

Shopping in TurinA guide to Turin shopping, a city where you are bound tofall in love with some shop or other, from a selection thatruns from designer boutiques to discount stores.

The sightseeing busThe Turismobus Torino is ideal for Turin sightseeing as it al-lows you to see a lot of the city without having to walk fromplace to place.

Things todo

where to stay

Principi di Piemonte *****

The elegant hotel Principi di Piemonteis situated in the heart of Turin, only afew steps from the most important mu-seum and theatres, surronded by pres-tigious shops and typical cafés, and150 meters from the Porta Nuova rail-way station. The hotel features an ele-gant hall, a bar, a restaurant and aconference centre featuring state-of-the-art equipment as well as secretar-ial and translating services.

Le Meridien Turin Art+Tech *****

Welcome in the Le MeridienArt+Tech Hotel, the mostfascinating property in Turin,where modern technologyand art combine to createunique atmosphere. Thehotel features functionalamenities and exquisite dec-oration, including brightcolours, marble, glass, steeland wood. The hotel housesa brilliant restaurant,Art+Café, where guests can

relish traditional dishes in a bright setting, under the accom-paniment of music and art exhibitions. There is also a Wi-Fi Internet connection and meeting room at the disposalof our business clientele. Last but not least this futuristic property boasts superior location, so that you can fullyexperience the unique charm of the beautiful city of Turin.

Art Hotel Boston****

Situated within easy walking distance(800 metres) of Turin's Porta Nuova cen-tral station and Valentino Park, this artthemed hotel offers individual and stylishaccommodation in a central location.The rooms are adorned with many stylesof art design; from Post modern to ethnicstyle. In the common area there aremany important contemporary piecesfrom artists including Boetti, Castellani,Fontana, Mondino and Warhol.To relax you can enjoy the hotel's picturesque internal garden, or sample tradi-tional Piedmontese cuisine at the hotel's restaurant.

where to stay

Grand Hotel Sitea****

With its refined hospitality, theGrand Hotel Sitea, located in thecity centre behind Piazza SanCarlo, embodies the very best inthe Turin hotel tradition.Rooms and suites are decoratedwith taste and elegance. The warm,relaxing Carignano restaurant of-fers sophisticated international cui-sine and dishes from the famedPiedmontese tradition.

The hotel offers 24 hour, free en-trance to the new fitness centre. Charm and quality, together with personalised service and careful attentionto detail provided by the thoughtful staff, make the Sitea ideal for a comfortable stay. For business guests, thereare 4 rooms for small conferences, able to accommodate from 15 to 100 participants.

Hotel Interporto ***

The hotel offers a widerange of services for bothbusiness and leisureclients. It has 112 roomsequipped with satellite TV,air conditioning and a tele-phone. Some rooms alsohave a terrace. In additionthere are meeting roomsand a wellness area with agym and a sauna.Thisnewly built hotel offers com-

fortable accommodation with warm and friendly staff to provide a complete and efficient service.

Express by Holiday Inn Turin***

This newly built hotel offers comfortable accommodation withwarm and friendly staff to provide a complete and efficientservice.

Multilingual staff are on hand to offer information about thecity. Start your day with a tasty American hot and cold buffet,that uses fresh products. After breakfast, the hall becomes anideal place to enjoy a drink, meet people, read a newspaperor simply relax.

A daily, shuttle service runsto the city centre and Lin-gotto. Within walking dis-tance of the hotel you will

find shops, restaurants, banks, pharmacies and sports facilities.

Lombardia is the richest region of Italy. This is also wherethe Lega Nord, the ex-independence movement of the Northof Italy, has its roots. Despite the opinion of this small groupof people, Lombardia is very Italian.Milan, its capital, is also one of the leading cities in the worldof fashion. It has a large number of monuments and you canspend days just in the town of Milan.

In the North of Lombardia there are a few very pretty lakes,the Lago di Como, the Lago di Lugano, the Lago Maggiore. Alittle to the west, actually in Piemonte is the smaller butequally charming Lago d' Orta. The lakeside villages are verynice, you can take boat trips on the lakes and visit the islandsin the lakes. The city of Como is well worth a visit as well. Forcenturies is has been an important rival of Milan and it has asmuch history and as many sights as the bigger city, but with-out the traffic jams and the crowds. Also the small city ofVarese with the lake of Varese and others smaller, worth avisit specially for its Sacro Monte (Holy mountain).

In the province of Varese also you can find Malpensa Intern-tional Airport (MXP), connected to Milan by the A8 highway aswell by Malpensa Express train and to Linate Airport by busservice.

Further East is Bergamo. Bergamo Alta has one of northernItaly's loveliest centres, fresh mountain air, wanderablestreets and a lively, yet easygoing pace. It's a favourite week-end retreat for people from Milan, so if you have the choiceyou will find the place much quieter during weekdays.

All the way in the east you find the charming Lago di Garda,another very beautiful lake region with charming towns and

great looking coun-tryside.

South of Milan youfind the medievalcities of Cremona,Pavia and Mantua.Of these Mantua isthe most attractiveone.

Milan is thebiggest city ofNorth Italy. Thepowerhouse of thecountry and one ofthe most stylishcities of the planet.But it is also a city with many important museums and won-derful monuments. See the Castello Sforzesco the Church ofSanta Maria delle Grazie (which displays Leonardo’s LastSupper) the Brera Museum (Madonna and Child and Pieta byBellini) and many other museums monuments and churches.Moreover, Milan is a lively city, with several pubs, discos andnightclubs. Being a fashion capital too, you might run into atop model or designer. The best chances are in the areaaround Brera (the artist zone) or the Navigli area. And if youhave money to spend, just make a visit in via Monte-napoleone and via della Spiga where you’ll find boutiques byGucci, Ferragamo, Valentino, Armani, Ferre, Fendi and oth-ers. Look for other famous designer labels and items such asshoes, camelhair blankets and leather goods.

LOMBARDIA

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Milan is a glamorous city, but not quite in the same class asRome, Florence, or Venice. The city provides the tourist a num-ber of delightful explorations that are tightly clustered in the vicin-ity of the Duomo, Milan's ostentatious cathedral. Widely knownas a fashion center, Milan is a great place for shoppingBe sure to see the Duomo, La Scala, Castello Sforzesco andthe Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

The Piazza del Duomo

The Piazza del Duomo provides several famous sights, includ-ing the Duomo (Milan's Cathedral), the Museum of the Duomo,the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II and the Palazzo Real. The Pi-azza is a great place for pictures, if you can clear a small areaof the ever-present pigeons and "doodad" hawkers who are try-ing to sell tourists anything Milanese (curiously, most of whatthey sell is made in China). On the western end of the Piazza,there are a number of neon signs that detract from the overallbeauty of the square.

Duomo

The Duomo is an impressive site. The gothic cathedral's archi-tecture is decorated with numerous spires and more than threethousand statues. Construction started in the fourteenth cen-tury and was completed only fifty years ago. The massive cathe-dral is one of the largest in the world.

Museum of the Duomo

The Museum of the Duomo is closed for restoration.Adate fromre-opening has not yet been announced.(Most of the real treasures from the Duomo were removed forpurposes of conservation and renovation. The Museum isarranged into approximately twenty small rooms containingstatutes, paintings, columns, metalwork and a variety of im-pressive original items from the Duomo.During a visit to the museum, you can view all items up closeand appreciate the amazing artistry that went into the construc-tion and decoration of the Duomo.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

The Galleria, reputed as one of the finest shopping malls in Italy,is an extraordinary arcade that is as beautiful as it is impressive.The stores and restaurants are not of as high quality as onewould expect, but the cross-shaped Galleria provides a greatwalk-thru and shortcuts to La Scala and the Duomo, dependingon where you enter.

The well-known Savini restaurant is located in the Galleria, butthere has been increased discussion as to whether the quality ofits food still matches the steepness of its prices.

Palazzo Reale

The Palazzo has had a checkered past having been altered byseveral conquerors (including the Spanish and the Austrians)

and severely damaged in World War II. The Palazzo currentlyhouses the Museum of the Duomo and Milan's ContemporaryArt Museum.

Monumental Cemetery

Monumental Cemetery is located in an area of 250,000 mq. In-augurated in 1866, it was designed by the architect Carlo Maci-achini (1818-1899).The construction first met the hygienic and town-planning needslinked to the presence of a high number of burial places insidethe town. Moreover, the Municipality wanted to give the com-munity a representative place by joining the cult of the dead.Within its walls, Monumentale gives hospitality to graves of dif-ferent cults an religions, including the sections for non-Catholicsand Jews.

where to stay

Hotel Principe Di Savoia*****

Located between Milan’s main railway station and the historic city cen-tre, this 5-star hotel offers luxury accommodation, great services, arelaxing atmosphere and a complete wellness centre.Walk to historic monuments and designer-name shops from HotelPrincipe Di Savoia. You will be within easy reach of La Scala, theDuomo and the Brera Art Gallery.Friendly staff can assist you with city-centre transfers, and tourist andtravel information.Relax in comfortable, spacious rooms and suites. Accommodation atHotel Principe Di Savoia includes classical decorations and fine fab-rics.Hotel Principe di Savoia combines old-fashioned luxury with the latestin technology and design.

Le Méridien Gallia*****

Overlooking one of Milan's most characteristic squares, Piazza Duca d'Aosta,the hotel is well known for its vi-brant cultural surroundings, onlya short drive from the cultural andfinancial hub.Opened in 1932, Le Méridien Gal-lia features a dominant and mem-orable Art Nouveau façade, withineasy access of Milan’s main at-tractions, including the designer

shopping streets of Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga. You can also visitthe Pinacoteca di Brera, founded by Napoleon, which displays stunning Vene-tian and Lombard masterpieces and the works of Rubens and Rembrandt.The hotel benefits from excellent transport links and can be found close to thecentral railway station (Stazione Centrale) and the airport terminal, making it anideal destination for both business and leisure travellers.

Hotel Berna****

Enjoying great transport links in this convenient location just 200 metres from Milan’scentral station. Hotel Berna sets itself apart through its excellent service and its help-ful, friendly staff.With Metro stops located just a 2-minute walk away and trains and airport shuttles 5minutes away, travelling around Milan couldn’t be easier than from the Berna.Inside Hotel Berna enjoy drinks or snacks at the American bar or top up your caffeinelevels at the convenient tea andcoffee corner, where you canhelp yourself to free drinks 24hours a day.This generous hotel also givesyou free use of a non-alcoholicmini bar in your room. Use of theBerna’s internet point is also freefor up to an hour, as is the WiFiconnection.Hotel Berna’s breakfast is perfect whether you have an early start or feel like sleepingin. Served from 07:00 to 11:00 you will find a large buffet offering a huge variety of dif-

ferent options, making sure that you have a wonderful start to your day.

where to stay

Brunelleschi Hotel****

The Brunelleschi Hotel is set in the heart ofMilan, close to the Duomo and the famousLa Scala theatre, and just 50 metres fromthe Missori metro stop.This elegant hotel is located in a quiet butcentral location in the city’s financial district.It is surrounded by elegant boutiques anddesigner stores and just a short stroll awayfrom the theatre.At Hotel Brunelleschi you can enjoy a latecheck-out time of 14:00, free internet pointand room service. Relax in the lounge bar and enjoy traditional Italian cuisine in

the restaurant.

Hotel Sempione***

Hotel Sempione welcomes you to a busy yet quiet area of Milan, within walkingdistance of excellent transport links, including the central railway station and theRepubblica metro station.Hotel Sempione will strike you with its impressive traditional façade. The interioris furnished in a contem-porary style and isequipped with moderncomforts.Enjoy lightly decorated,spacious and comfortableaccommodation with cosyfurnishings and a homelyfeel.Facilities include a refined

restaurant which serves tasteful cuisine and a cosy bar.Modern meeting rooms are also available and the reception is open24 hours a day. You can also rent a car directly at Hotel Sempione.

Hotel Ariston****

The Ariston Hotel, restructured according to sustainable architec-tural principles, aims to protect you from pollution while safe-guarding the environment using natural or non toxic materials,paints, fittings, mat-tresses and fibres.The Ariston is centrally lo-cated in Milan, close tothe famous La Scala The-atre, the Cattolica Univer-sity and not far from theDuomo Cathedral.Enjoy the modern am-biance of the whole es-tablishment and the

comfort of the Ariston rooms, also offering complimentary bikes to go around thecity with less impact on the carbon emissions.Rooms: 52.

Venetohe Veneto region (pronounced with the stress on the firstsyllable) is located in the north-east of Italy, along the AdriaticSea. It's bordered by the regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia,Trentino - Alto Adige, Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and a smallstretch of Austria in the far north. Although most travellershead straight to Venice, the region also contains other popu-lar tourist destinations, such as Verona, Padua, Vicenza,Lake Garda and the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo. Thereare also many attractive towns and landscapes which areless well-known but can combine to create an enjoyable andinteresting holiday.The regional capital is Venice (Venezia), and the region is di-vided into the provinces of Venezia, Padova, Verona, Vi-cenza, Belluno, Rovigo and Treviso. Around four and a halfmillion inhabitants are spread between the cities, plains, la-goon, hills and mountains.For long stretches of its history, much of the Veneto wasunder the control of the rich and powerful Venetian Republic,and you'll see the city's emblem, the winged lion of St. Mark,all around the region.

Venice (Venezia) really needs no introduction. The Serenis-sima has been a fabled destination for centuries. Just thename Venice is enough to conjure up a host of images, evenfor those who have not yet set foot in Italy: gondoliers instriped jerseys, the Rialto and the Bridge of Sighs, maskedballs, golden barges, courtesans in gondolas and crumblingpalaces facing streets made of water. The western world'smost famous figures visited Venice, marvelled at the gold mo-saics of St Mark's, admired art in churches, explored the city'smaze of canals (or, in Byron's case, swam in them), and thenproceeded to preach Venice's wonders to those unable tomake the journey. In these days of budget airlines, however,

Venice really isopen to anyone.Both Ryanair andEasyjet run flightsto Venice, so thecity of lions anddoges has neverbeen so accessi-ble.Venice is a glo-rious cliché, moreromatic, morebeautiful and moresurprising than youcould expect. Nomatter how manyphotographs orfilms you mayhave seen, it is stilla jaw-dropping ex-perience seeing Venice's canals and palaces for the first time.That first cruise down the Grand Canal - punctuated by ex-clamations and photo-snapping - is one of life's unforgettableexperiences.Venice is composed of more than a hundred tiny islets,packed closely together around canals. The city is in a la-goon, protected from the sea by a long strip of land called theLido. Venice is famously sinking. Every year high water lev-els (acqua alta) threaten the city's fabric, and it has long beenfeared that the beautiful city will one day disappear beneaththe water. Many ideas (and funds) have been put forward toprotect the endangered heritage site, but the problem is acomplex one and 'solutions' such as those to construct agiant water-gate are controversial.

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Venice, located in northeastern Italy, is awonderful city to visit.The city has been builton piers and is slowly sinking into the water,butmeasuresarebeing taken tostop thede-cline and preserve the buildings most af-fected. Its rich history is evident as the visitorviews amazing centuries-old attractions.Here are 10 things to do and see in Venice.

PIAZZA SANMARCOSt. Mark’s Square is the main square inVenice and has long been a central meetingplace for Venetians; it serves that purposefor touristsnowalso.Thesquarehasadom-inating clock tower, the Basilica, political andreligious buildings, restaurants, bars, andshops, and is known as one of the mostbeautiful squares in the world. Café Florian,dating back from the 1700s, is a popularplace,as isCaféQuadri, alsoon thesquare.It usuallyseemsas though therearemillionsofpigeons in thesquare,and thatmanypeo-ple too; it’s difficult to really see the fine fea-turesandarchitecture thereunlessvisitingatoff-peak times.

BASILICA SANMARCOSt. Mark’s Basilica is the third building thathas been constructed on that spot on St.Mark’s Square. Two other churches werethere previously, the first built to hold thestolen bones of St. Mark, for whom thechurch isnamed.Thepresentbasilicadatesback to 1063, has a very ornate façade withthe golden winged lion,which representsSt.Mark and is the symbol of Venice, and isfilledwithamazingmosaics,domes,statues,and the HighAltar that supposedly contains

someof the remainsofSt.Mark.Thischurchis a must-see for any tourist to Venice.

DOGE’S PALACEAseriesof120DogesruledVenice,and theirincredible3-storiedpalacedatesback tobe-fore Renaissance times. The facade fea-tures beautiful arches, pink and whitemarble,and is locatedonSt.Mark’sSquare.The inside of the palace is amazing, and itcontains priceless artwork by Tintoretto, Ti-tian, Bellini, Veronese and more. Tours willtake visitors across the Bridge of Sighs,which connected the palace to the prison,and to the prison cells, one of which housedCassanova.TheGreatCouncilHall displaysthe largest oil painting in the world (Tin-toretto’s “Paradise”), and the Golden Stair-case is just amazing. The Doge’s Palace isone of the most opulent residences ever; italmost puts Versailles to shame.

MURANOMurano, located north of Venice, is famousfor its beautiful, hand-blown glass. There’s aglass museum there, and many glass-mak-ing shops; you can go into the factories andsee the glass blowers shaping the lovelypieces as they are being made. The glassblowers were moved to Murano long ago tolessen thechanceof fires inVenice,and theyhaveremained thereeversince;youcan findless expensive prices on the fine glass therethan in the Venice shops, and you can bar-gain with the shops for even lower prices.The glass factories send boats over to St.Mark’s Square to lure over customers; take

the free boat over and the vaporetto back.

CARNEVALEThe grand Carnevale is held in Venice eachyear before Lent for 12 days, and peoplefrom all over come to celebrate. The mainpublic ball is held on St. Mark’s Square, andprivate balls are held all over the city. Ex-tremely elaborate costumes can be seen atCarnevale, and the festival dates back to1162; it used to begin the day after Christ-mas.Therearemanyshopsselling theelab-oratemasksusedbyCarnevaleparticipants,andyoucan find funny,scary,andemotionalmasks in windows all around the city anytime of the year. Artists create the masksusing materials such as porcelain, papier-mache, feathers, leather, etc., and manytourists wouldn’t consider leaving Venicewithout a Carnevale mask as a souvenir.ACQUAALTAHigh tide in Venice is known as acqua alta,and if you’re unprepared for it your feet andpantscangetwet.The localVenetiansknowwhen it’s coming and carry around their rub-ber boots to be prepared. Sometimes thewater isveryhighand floodsmostof thecity;other times only the lowest areas areflooded. It canbeaproblemfor theboats try-ing to get under the bridges also. There’s awebsite thatpredictshowhigh the tidewill befor the next few days; check it before goingto Venice if you want to stay dry. The Vene-tians are working hard to solve the floodingproblem,and it’s interesting tosee itupclose.

where to stay

Hotel Metropole*****

Overlooking the lagoon from a privileged position, HotelMetropole offers luxurious accommodations, utmost comfortand an enchanting atmosphere, just a short stroll from SaintMark’s Square.

Welcoming and intimate, the hotel is comparable to a smallmuseum. lt boasts an eclectic collection of rare visiting cardcases, antique fans and art objects. Distinguished by its per-sonality and history, Hotel Metropole occupies a fascinatingVenetian palace where great names of the past such asFreud, Marcel Proust, Thomas Mann and Vivaldi, have oncestayed.

The hotel is also preferred by contemporary celebrities suchas Lou Reed, Annie Lennox and Grace Jones.

Hotel Metropole is set in the historic centre of Venice, withineasy reach of the most important attractions in this unforget-table city. Its strategic location allows you to discover thewonders of Venice by leisurely exploring its charming streetsand canals.

Hotel Bella Venezia****

Housed in a 16th century palace, which has been carefullyrestored with respect to the original, Italian Belle Arti, thishotel faces a charming canal where gondolas pass by.

The hotel’s renovation has restored an ancient splendour tothe Venetian bedrooms, all of which offer views over thecanals, streets, and attractive roofs with Saint Mark's belltower in the background.

The hotel also has a delightful breakfast room, where a richAmerican breakfast is served daily and brunch is available onrequest.The helpful and professional staff will do their utmost to en-sure that you enjoy your stay.

Albergo Cavalletto & Doge Orseolo****Opened in 1308 the Albergo Cavalletto & Doge Orseolo isone of the oldest hotels in Italy. It is set in an unbeatable lo-cation, on St. Mark’s Square.

This elegant hotel has been host to a number of refinedguests, including Winston Churchill, in its long history. It com-bines old-world charm with modern facilities, including Wi-Fithroughout the entire hotel. Its sophisticated meeting roomsall look out onto the city’s most famous square.Start your day with a rich buffet breakfast in the dining roomoverlooking the moored gondolas. Sample some typical Ve-netian cuisine at the elegant restaurant, recommended byguide books.

The professional team of staff will be delighted to arrangetickets for concerts, opera performances and train journeys.

where to stay

Hotel Dei Dragomanni****

Occupying an excellent position in Venice, within easy reachof the city’s main attractions, the hotel is set within a 17th-cen-tury building which combines tradition and modernity.

Set in a splendid scenario, the hotel is close to the marvellousCampo S.Maurizio, famous for its antiques market (6 times ayear), the Accademia Gallery, preserving the Venetian mas-terpieces and the wonderful Piazza S.Marco.

Featuring one of the last examples of the Alla Leonardescadouble staircase, the property's central position will allow youto breathe the magical atmosphere of the city, suspended be-tween east and west, and tour the charming nearby islands ofMurano, Burano and Torcello.

Hotel Violino d'Oro***

Enjoy real Venetian accommodation in an 18th-century build-ing with traditionally decorated rooms overlooking the SanMoisé canal. Hotel Violino d’Oro is less than 5 minutes’ walkfrom Saint Mark’s Square.Enjoy characteristic Venetian views from the Violino d’Oro’sroof terrace, where you can also enjoy drinks and snacks.Watch the gondolas pass by as you gaze out over therooftops.Interiors are special at the Violino d’Oro; exposed woodenbeams, crystal chandeliers and sumptuous furnishings add tothe magic of the city’s atmosphere. Inside you will find a TVroom as well as a snack bar, and a breakfast room whichoverlooks the canal.

Hotel Dell' Opera***Next to La Fenice, Venice’s historic theatre and operahouse, Hotel Dell’Opera is a 2 minute walk from St. Mark'sSquare and only 10 minutes from Rialto Bridge.The famous Accademia, the Guggenheim Museum and CalleLarga XXII Marzo with its elegant shops are all minutes awayfrom this luxurious 3-star hotel in the centre of Venice.Here, deluxe rooms rediscover the 18th century style ofVenice, when literary figures and artists made this wonderfulcity their second home.Enjoy the comforts and services of Hotel Dell’Opera. You willhave Free Wi-Fi in every room and a roof-top terrace whereyou can enjoy drinks and stunning panoramic views.Hotel staff will help make your stay a pleasurable one. On re-quest they can arrange your airport transfers and make reser-vations for museums, tours, day trips, restaurants andcultural events.Let Hotel Dell’Opera know if you will be arriving by car: theywill be happy to make arrangements with a private garagewhere you will enjoy special rates.

TOSCANAFrom the Etruscans to the Romans to the Renaissance,Tuscany is possibly the greatest repository of art in theworld, from extraordinary paintings and sculpture to frescoesand architectural masterpieces.Visitors to Tuscany come for many reasons. Many come insearch of fine art, others to explore the extraordinary coun-tryside. Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany toenjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine. Walkersenjoy the mountain paths, cyclists the rolling hills, summervacationers the sea coast and islands. Students come tolearn the beautiful Italian language and culture.There is a lot to see and do in Tuscany, the difficulty is reallywhere to start. Certainly most should start with Florence, thencontinue on to Siena and Pisa. The roll call of città di arte,cities of art, is daunting: Arezzo, Cortona, San Gimignanoand Lucca are all striking. The more you come to know theregion, the more extraordinary Tuscany appears. Enjoy yourvisit!

Florence

Florence ( Italian: Firenze /fiˈrɛnʦe/ , Old Italian: Fiorenza,Latin: Florentia ) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tus-cany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populouscity in Tuscany and has a population of 364,779 (696,767 inthe urban area[1]).The city lies on the River Arno and is known for its historyand its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renais-sance, especially for its art and architecture. A centre of me-dieval European trade and finance, the city is oftenconsidered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance; in fact,it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.[2] It waslong under the de facto rule of the Medici family. From 1865to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.The historic centre of Florence continues to attract millions of

tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site byUNESCO in 1982.Florence is known as the “cradle of Renaissance” (la culladel Rinascimento) for its monuments, churches and build-ings. The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel ofFlorence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria delFiore, known as The Duomo. The magnificent dome wasbuilt by Filippo Brunelleschi. The nearby Campanile (partlydesigned by Giotto) and the Baptistery buildings are alsohighlights. Both the dome itself and the campanile are opento tourists and offer excellent views; The dome, 600 yearsafter its completion, is still the largest dome built in brick andmortar in the world The Ponte Vecchio bridge over the RiverArno.In 1982, the historic center of Florence (Italian: centro storicodi Firenze) was declared a World Heritage Site by the UN-ESCO for the importance of its cultural heritages. The cen-ter of the city is contained in medieval walls that were built inthe 14th century to defend the city after it became famousand important for its economic growth.At the heart of the city in Piazza della Signoria is Bar-tolomeo Ammanati's Fountain of Neptune (1563-1565),which is a masterpiece of marble sculpture at the terminus ofa still functioning Roman aqueduct.The Arno River, which cuts through the old part of the city, isas much a character in Florentine history as many of the peo-ple who lived there. Historically, the locals have had a love-hate relationship with the Arno — which alternated fromnourishing the city with commerce, and destroying it by flood.Facade and Campanile (bell tower) of Santa Mariadel Fiore. The Baptistery can be seen in the right fore-ground.One of the bridges in particular stands out as being unique— The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), whose most strikingfeature is the multitude of shops built upon its edges, held

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up by stilts. The bridge also carries Vasari's elevated corridorlinking the Uffizi to the Medici residence (Palazzo Pitti). Al-though the original bridge was constructed by the Etruscans,the current bridge was rebuilt in the 14th century It is the onlybridge in the city to have survived World War II intact.The church of San Lorenzo contains the MediciChapel, the mausoleum of the Medici family - the most pow-erful family in Florence from the 15th to the 18th century.Nearby is the Uffizi Gallery, one of the finest art museums inthe world - founded on a large bequest from the last memberof the Medici family.The Uffizi ("offices") itself is located at the corner of Piazzadella Signoria, a site important for being the centre of Flo-rence civil life and government for centuries (Signoria Palaceis still home of the community government): the Loggia deiLanzi was the set of all the public ceremonies of the republi-can government. Many well known episodes of history of artand political changes were staged here, such as:In 1301, Dante was sent into Exile from here (a plaque onone of the walls of the Uffizi commemorates the event).26 April 1478 Jacopo de'Pazzi and his retainers try to raisethe city against the Medici after the plot known as The con-giura dei Pazzi (The Pazzi conspiracy) who murdered Giu-liano di Piero de' Medici and wounded his brother Lorenzo;the Florentines seized and hanged all the members of theplot that could be apprehended from the windows of thePalace.In 1497, it was the location of the Bonfire of the Vanities in-stigated by the Dominican friar and preacher GirolamoSavonarolaOn the 23 May 1498 the same Savonarola and two followerswere hanged and burnt at the stake (a round plate in theground commemorates the very spot were he was hanged)In 1504, Michelangelo's David (now replaced by a reproduc-tion as the original was moved indoors to the Accademia del-l'Arte del Disegno), was installed in front of the Palazzo dellaSignoria (also known as Palazzo Vecchio).It is still the setting for a number of statues by other sculptorssuch as Donatello, Giambologna, Ammannati and Cellini, al-though some have been replaced with copies to preserve thepriceless originals.

Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio.

In addition to the Uffizi, Florence has other world-class mu-seums. The Bargello concentrates on sculpture, containingmany priceless works of art created by such sculptors as Do-natello, Giambologna, and Michelangelo. The Accademiadell'Arte del Disegno (often simply called the Accademia) col-lection's highlights are Michelangelo's David and his unfin-ished Slaves.Across the Arno is the huge Pitti Palace containing part ofthe Medici family's former private collection. In addition to theMedici collection the palace's galleries contain a large num-ber of Renaissance works, including several by Raphael andTitian as well as a large collection of modern art, costumes,cattiages, and porcelain. Adjoining the Palace are the BoboliGardens, elaborately landscaped and with many interestingsculptures.

The Santa Croce basilica, originally a Franciscan foun-dation, contains the monumental tombs of Galileo, Michelan-gelo, Machiavelli, Dante (actually a cenotaph), and manyother notables.Other important basilicas and churches in Florence includeSanta Maria Novella, San Lorenzo, Santo Spirito and the Or-sanmichele, and the Tempio Maggiore Great Synagogue ofFlorence.Florence has been the setting for numerous works of fictionand movies, including the novels and associated films Han-nibal, Tea with Mussolini and A Room with a View.Today, the city is so rich in art that some first time visitors ex-perience the Stendhal syndrome as they encounter its art forthe first time.

where to stay

Grand Hotel Villa Medici*****

Set in an elegant noble residence from the 18th century,this exclusive 5-star hotel offers high-quality service,suites with spectacular views, and a peaceful gardenwith outdoor pool.With Florence train station around 500 metres away andon-site parking available, you can easily explore themany sights of this magnificent city on foot. Within 20minutes you can reach impressive attractions such asthe Duomo, Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio, as well asthe shopping districts.If you would rather not leave the hotel you can relax orkeep fit in the Sina Fitness Club. Later, for some Tuscancuisine and fine wines, the hotel's Lorenzo de’ Medicirestaurant is a great choice. You can also dine in the newConservatory, set overlooking the pool, before socialis-ing or listening to live music in one of the two bars.

Montebello Splendid*****

Celebrate Tuscan style and charming Florentine tradi-tions at this 18th century villa with private garden, in thelively, warm, refined heart of the city.

Transformed into a 5-star boutique hotel, the villa’srooms are elegantly designed and equipped with up-to-date comforts. Look out across the splendid garden witha fountain of bronze cherubs, a Neoclassical temple andthe little Meridian Palace with sundial.

Surrounded by streets of delightful shops and charac-teristic artisan bottegas, the hotel is the ideal startingpoint for absorbing the city’s cultural offerings. At just 100metres from the river bank, you can reach Ponte Vec-chio, the Uffizi, and other major attractions in minutes

Hotel Pierre****

Right behind Piazza della Signoria and just a block fromPiazza del Duomo, Hotel Pierre brings you luxurious ac-commodation and exceptional service, all in the perfectlocation.Just outside your door you will find some of Florence’sbest-loved attractions, including the Ponte Vecchio andthe unmissable Uffizi Gallery. You will also be able to in-dulge in designer shopping heaven as some of the mostelegant shops in the city are close by.Occupying a stunning 13th century building, Hotel Pierreis warm and welcoming, with sumptuous furnishings andstylish décor. Rooms are spacious and equipped with allmodern comforts, including a generous courtesy kit. Andif anything you require isn’t there, there’s always roomservice – nothing is ever too much trouble for Pierre’sattentive and professional staff.

where to stay

Starhotels Tuscany***Located north of Florence, in the modern commercial areaof Novoli, this well-styled, modern hotel is a few minutesfrom Firenze Peretola Airport.Reopened in March 2005, the hotel has been completelyrenovated and fully equipped with cutting-edge technol-ogy. Rooms and common areas are characterised by de-signs reminiscent of ancient Tuscan residences.Un-plastered walls, wrought iron, old brass and antiquefurniture in carved and inlaid oak all contribute to the at-mosphere of bygone days, traditions and memories.The fireside is an ideal meeting place and focus of con-viviality, with its colours reflecting the harmony of the Tus-can countryside. For your convenience the hotel offers alarge outdoor car park, and a shuttle service to the citycentre, the station and the airport.

Hotel Ginori Al Duomo**

The completely restructured Hotel Ginori Al Duomo is sit-uated in a typically Florentine noble palace of the 15thcentury, a symbol of Renaissance in the heart of the his-toric centre.The hotel is strategically located 5 minutes on foot fromthe central railway station, just in front of the San LorenzoBasilica, only 120 meters from the Duomo Cathedral andBaptistry and 200 metres from the Uffizi Gallery and PonteVecchio. In such beautiful surroundings, the Ginori boastscomforts typical of receptive structures of superior cate-gory, with particular care in offering diverse and beautifulrooms.Every room is unique in its kind, including one displayingfrescoes of the 19th century and overlooking the mainroad, one set in the mansard and displaying beams inwood and Tuscan-red bricks, one set on 2 floors and fi-nally the spacious suite with living-room.

Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci***

Set on the top floors of two Renaissance buildings, this el-egant hotel features a panoramic rooftop garden withbeautiful views over the historic centre of Florence.

Each of the guest rooms at Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci iscomplete with antique pieces, Satellite TV and air condi-tioning. Some have beautiful views of the hills surroundingFlorence.

The central location of the Tornabuoni Beacci Hotel meansyou can walk to the Uffizi Gallery and Duomo in less than10 minutes. It is located in one of the most elegant streetsin Florence; close to some of the city’s most exclusiveshops.

Relais Alla Corte del SoleRistorante L’Essenza

Località I Giorgi-Petrignano del Lago (PG) Tel. +39 0759689008 – Fax +39 0759689070http://www.cortedelsole.com" www.cortedelsole.com – mailto:info@cortedelsole.com" info@coredelsole.com

In the middle of the Trasimeno Valley, surrounded by gentle and fertile hills,Four Star Superior ’Relais Alla Corte del Sole’, a quite and peacefuloasis, is perfect for those who yearn to be entranced by traditional flavors andgreat cuisine, and the comfort and hospitality of a charming and refinedcountry residence.At our restaurant ’L’Essenza’, our guests can taste delicious dishes that are expertly cre-ated by our first-class Chefs, according to the ancient wine and gastronomic tradition ofTuscany, and in absolute observance of seasons and quality of ingredients. The presenta-tion of the dishes and the professional and careful service will further intensify the pleas-ure of all our recipes.

or those of you planning a destination wedding in Italy the selection of locations and op-tions is truly vast, regardless of the type of ceremony, wedding size and budget you might

require. Our wedding planners can handle anything from a small elopement for two to an elaborate3 day "event" wedding and everything in-between. Catholic, civil, protestant and symbolic ceremoniesare possible in Italy and the settings are truly gorgeous ranging from ancient palazzos, villas and cas-tles. To plan a wedding in Italy is to participate in one of the most exciting adventures of your life,one that will bring you many happy memories for years to come.

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Koala 1 - Via Mario Angeloni 74/F - Perugia Tel. 075/5000777 Fax 075/5155084 info@koalavaggi.itKoala 2 - Via Settevalli 133/F – Perugia Tel. 075/5010751 Fax 075/5003492 Tatiana.boco@koalaviaggi.itKoala 3 - Piazza Faloci, 10 - Foligno Tel. 0742/350311 fax 0742/699876 monica.boselli@koalaviaggi.it

Umbria

The region is mostly mountainous andhilly and presents a landscape rich inwoods and water resources. It is crossedby the Apennines, which form numerousvalleys. This region has a comparativelylarge lake: the Trasimeno.

Cities: Perugia is the regional capital.Other important cities are Assisi, Gubbio,Orvieto, Todi, Spoleto,Terni.

Art:In Umbria the traces of the Etruscan civ-ilization are remarkable, as visitors cansee in Todi, Bettona, Orvieto and Peru-gia. Spoleto has important Roman re-mains; Spello is a city, where theRomans left some impressive remains.Other important Roman works can befound in Assisi and Gubbio. The Ro-manesque architecture thrived in thinsregion at the beginning of the twelfth cen-tury: some beautiful examples are theCathedrals of Spoleto and Assisi, St. Sil-vestro and St. Michele in Bevagna. TheGothic style reached very high levels,and imposing examples are present in al-most every city. The Renaissance can beseen in magnificent monuments in Peru-gia, Gubbio, Todi, but it enjoyed a smallerdevelopment than other styles.

Museums:In Perugia there is the National Galleryof Umbria, which is one of the most im-portant exhibition of the Gothic painting,with masterpieces by Duccio di Bonin-segna, Beato Angelico, Piero dellaFrancesca. The National ArchaeologicalMuseum of Umbria houses a splendidand very rich Etruscan collection. Assisi,birthplace of St. Francis, one of the great-est figures of Christianity, has the superbBasilica of San Francesco with the worldfamous Giotto’s frescoes, showing in 28splendid paintings the life of the Saint;the Pinacoteca Civica and the Cathe-dral’s Museum. Spoleto has the Galleryof Contemporary Art. In Gubbio there isthe Civic Museum, which holds the fa-

mous “Eu-g u b i n e

tables”: seven bronze plates, from thesecond century B.C. Foligno can offerthe tourists the Archaeologic Museumand the Pinacoteca Civica.

To be visited:Rich in history and in nature, Umbria of-fers the Falls of the Marmore, which arethe highest in Italy; the sources of the Cli-tunno and Mount Subasio. The Basilicaof Santa Maria degli Angeli and theRocca Maggiore. The ancient city ofSpoleto offers the Roman Theater andDruso’s Arch. Near Perugia, people canvisit the Ipogeo del Volumni, which is anEtruscan tomb.

Perugia, the great "Guelf strong-hold"rises up in the region's heart, with its 5storical quarters closed-in by its Etruscan

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town walls. These enormous bastionsformed by cyclopic square masses,were constructed 22 centuries ago andare still visible for long stretches.When the city of Rome was little morethat an encampment of huts, one couldalready enter the etruscan Perugia Italyusing one of 7 portals, among whichone was particularly mighty, the PortaPulchra or of Augustus, dating back toEtruscan times. Entering the city viaPorta San Pietro, whose exterior wasremodelled by Agostino di Duccio in1475, you'll arrive at the basilica of St.Dominic on the right-hand side; the veryimportant National Archeological Mu-seum of Umbria is to be found in the ad-jacent cloisters and convent.Continuing along, you'll reach the Pi-azza del Sopramuro, where the 15thcentury Palace of the Old Universityand the adjacent Palace of the People'sCaptain look down on the square. Fur-ther on, after a short climb, you'll findyourself in one of Italy's most importantsquares, where you'll see the Priors'-Palace, the Cathedral and the 13th cen-tury fountain Major Fountain at thecenter. These monuments render thePiazza Grande of Perugia (now calledPiazza IV Novembre) a superb archi-tectural complex. At the extreme end ofCorso Vannucci you'll find famouspanoramic gardens built on the founda-tions of the Rocca Paolina, a strong-hold built by Pope Paul III in 1540.These foundations contain, similar tounder an enormous bell, an entire quar-ter of the old Perugia: a dead city, a sortof Medieval Pompei which has beenbrought tot light again and which is fas-cinating to visit. Perugia's ascents andstairways are usually quite steep, boththe most ancient and the most recent.

The way Via delleProme is a typicalexample. Leavingfrom the AugustusArc, this way leadto the upper pointof Perugia, whereused to be the cas-tle of Porta Sole,erected in the XIVcentury by the dalGattapone, anddestroyed later forwilling of the wholetown people. Ashort visit in Peru-

gia is definetly interesting, but is alonger visit which will reveal all the atis-tic jewels in detail. Even if you are on ashort visit, you should not miss the arch-tectural complex of St. Francesco, withthe Oratory of St. Bernardino, a mas-terpiece of Agostino di Duccio, who, incovering the facade with bas-reliefs ofenchanting grace and modelled fine-ness made it a little poem of Renais-sance sculpture.Among the most important manifesta-tions taking place in the city we shouldabsolutely mention the musical festivalUmbria Jazz and the gastronomic festi-val Eurochocolate.

Gubbio, Laying on the slopes of

Monte Ingino, Gubbio is one of the mostancient towns of Umbria, extremely wellpreserved during centuries and rich ofmonuments testifying its glorious past.Two important witnesses of the past arethe Tavole Eugubine, one of most im-portant documents referring to the an-cient people called Italici and theRoman Theatre just outside the walls ofthe town. Dominated from the top by theBasilica on which the rests of St. Ubaldoare buried, Gubbio keeps architectonicmasterpieces testifying the beauty andthe imprtance of what used to be duringthe Middle ages, a real town-state.At the beginning of the XIV century theConsuls Palace, today symbol of thetown, was constructed together with thesquare Piazza Pensile and PretorioPalace. To remind the palaces Beni, delBargello with the famous fountain, ofPeople Captain , in typical renaissancestyle, Dukes Palace by Francesco Gior-gio Martini which testity the importanceof the period on which the Montefeltro'sfamily had the administration of thetown.Very interesting are also the Cathedral(XII century), St. Maria Nuova (insidewhich one can admire the Madonna delBelvedere painted by Ottaviano Nelli on1413), Church and Convent of St.Agostino (XIII century ) with inside fres-coes of Nelli, Church and Convent of St.

Francesco (XIII century), St. Giovanni(XII century) characterised by the facadeand bell tower in romanic style, St. Peterenlarged in 1505 and St. Domenico en-larged in the XIV century.Among the most important manifesta-tions taking place in the city we shouldabsolutely mention the Racing silk of theCrossbow and the Ceri Race.

Foligno is one of the very few Umbriancities built in the plain. It rises up on thebanks of Topino river where the rivererupts into the valley in an area whereextensive drainage of the large swamp-lands took place, first during Romantimes, then during the 15th and 16th cen-turies, and finally in the 19th century.Very probably, the most significant part ofone's stay at Foligno is a visit to the Pi-azza della Repubblica and the adjoiningPiazza Duomo. The former, in its pres-ent-day appearance, with its elongatedshape and the junction of four streets atthe corners was planned according to thelay-out popular in the 12th and the 13thcenturies for many Umbrian townsquares. The Cathedral and the TownHall, erected between 1262 and 1265,the Pretorio Palace, the Orfini Palace(1515) and the Trinci Palace, which pre-serves traces of the original beautifuldecorations and some rooms with valu-able frescoes, look down on the square.More attentive tourists should not leaveFoligno without having visited the Ro-manic church of St. Mary Infraportas andthe Abbey of Sassovivo,(actually inrestoration) situated at only 6 km's dis-

tance from the city center. The former isdistinguished, other than by the frescoesdating back to to the 15th and 16th cen-turies, by its beautiful bell-tower and byits 11th century portico. You'll rememberthe latter because of its Romanic cloister(13th century), with its 128 slendercolumms and its mystical atmosphere,typical of Benedictine places of worship.Among the most important manifesta-tions taking place in the city we shouldabsolutely mention the festival Tourne-ment of the Quintana.

Spoleto, even if shows evident tracesof the Roman era even in its urban struc-ture, substantially mantains a medieval

appearance, due to the period in which itwas first a flourishing longobard Duchy,and then an important city within thePapal State.The Arch of Drusus (23 A.C.) to be foundnear the Romanic church of St. Ansano ,the Roman theater, whose constructiongoes back to the first years of the Empire,and the paleocristian basilica St. Salva-tore of the 4th century (at about 1.2 km'sdistance to the north), are testimonials ofSpoleto's earliest origins. Close by, thechurch St.Gregorio Maggiore,(12th cen-tury), characterized by its evocative apsiszone and by the elevated presbitery, aRoman bridge (also called "the Bloody")consisting of three arches in travertine

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stone blocks and the amphitheater of the2nd century A.C. can be found. Moremodern monuments which are as fasci-nating are the churches of St. Dominicand St. Ponziano, both of which werebuilt during the 12th century. The churchof St. Peter is surely of great interest be-cause of its extraordinary bas-reliefswhich decorate the facade which datesback to the 12th century.From the area found in front of thechurch of St. Peter one enjoys a widepanorama which encompasses all ofSpoleto until the mighty Bridge of theTowers (ten arches with a total height of80 meters and 230 meters long), whichconnects the Castle, which was con-structed from 1352 onwards on the or-ders of the Cardinal Egidio Albornozaccording to plans by Matteo Gattaponi,to the runners of the mountain whichdominates the city. Monteluco was, infact, the sacred mountain of the an-chorites, who having settled in this zonefrom the 7th century on, founded the con-vent of St. Francesco, to be found atabout 8 km's distance from the inhabited

area, and the church of St. Julian. With-out doubt, on the person who has thegood luck of visiting these sights, the en-tire Cathedral complex constructed dur-ing the 12th century and caracterizedapart from the richness of furnishings ofthe interior also by the mosaics in theByzantine style on its facade, and theRomanic church of St.Eufemia will makean unforgettable impression.Among the most important manifesta-tions taking place in the city we shouldabsolutely mention the festival Festival ofthe two Worlds.

Castiglione del Lago has been con-structed on a limestone cliff cape on theeast side of the Trasimeno Lake. Etruri-ans were probably the first to occupy thisarea, as confirmed by the findings oftombs in the area.After the Roman occupation, the villagebelonged respectively to the marquis ofTuscany, to the abbey of S.Germanofrom Campoleone, to Perugia, to theDuke Della Corgna until 1647, again tothe grand-duke of Tuscany and, in the

XVIII century to the Papal State. Insidethe urban center, the middle age townwalls, the Town hall and the palace ofDella Corgna Dukes are still well pre-served. The latter, probably a remake ofa preexisting structure realized by the Vi-gnola or the Alessi, has frescoes ofmithological topic painted by GiovanniAntonio Pandolfi and Salvio Salvini. Themost fascinating building of all the villageis without any doubt the castle which,with its four towers, represents one of themost remarkable examples of military artin Umbria.

Todi There are several theories on theorigin of the name: the word Todi or fromthe etrurian "tudicolare", or even from"tutus" ("a fortified place").Beside the legends about the origins ofTodi, the town was founded by the Um-brian people on 2700 before Christ. Lateron, before the etrurians and after the ro-mans held the power of the town, andbuilding up a number of monuments,most of which can still be admired, likethe Nicchioni Romani, on Mercato Vec-

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chio square, which at the beginning wereprobably part of a basilica. On 88 b.C.Marco Crasso took for himself all thewealth of the town, and during the fall ofthe roman empire the town was robbedand destroyed. During this time bishopFortunato bacame the protecting Saint ofthe town. During the Middle Ages, Todiwas always in fight against the closeOrvieto. On the XII century it bacame freecommun, being this the onset of a verypositve period, and marvelous monu-ments like Capitain Palace, il PrioriPalace, the Dome and the very remark-able St. Fortunato Church were built. On1236 Jacopone da Todi was born here,one of the firts poets to write in italian di-alect and not in latin. On 1500, after along dark period, the town rised againunder the Renaissance influence; datedduring this time has to be found the mar-velous Consolazione Temple. Many ofthe public buildings rised during this timeare due to the bishop Angelo Cesi.

Orvieto origins go back to the Etruscancivilization: the first Etruscan settlements,going back to the 9th Century B.C., in-fact, were found inside the tufaceouscaves in the bedrock upon which todayrises the city.Annexed in the 3rd Century B.C. to theterritories of Rome, it remained under theRoman domination until the decline ofthe Western Roman Empire. Afterwhich itbecame a free municipality, and during

the struggles between Guelphs and Ghi-bellines, was a valiant opponent of Bar-barossa, remaining faithful to the Pope.Riding on the support of the Papal State,it was allowed to prosper through the en-tire Medieval Period, reaching the top ofits development in the 13th Century withthe constitution of the General Council ofthe 400 and the election of the Captainof the People.It was during this period that one saw thefervent work of erecting palaces and holybuildings among which the very famousCathedral stands out, dating back to1263, undoubtedly the most important ar-chitectural landmark of the city, with itssplendid Gothic facing and the richnessof the ornaments and internal chapels. Inthe ancient town we also find the St.Pa-trizio well, built in 1527 based on a plan ofAntonio da Sangallo ilGiovane, the Palaceof the Seven from1300, the Palace ofPeople Captain (12thCentury) inside whichtook place the meet-ings of the People'sCouncil, Saint An-drew's Church (12thCentury), SaintDomenic's Church(12th Century), SaintGiovenale's Church(11th Century), So-liano Palace (1262)

within which, one will find two museums:the Museum of the Opera del Duomoand the Museum of Modern Art. More-over we remember the Mancinelli The-atre (1866), the suggestive UndergroundCity and the Necropolis of the Crucifix ofTufo dating back to the Etruscan period.

Cascate delle MarmoreTaking theState Road "Valnerina" from Terni, you'llreach the very famous Marmore Water-falls after only 7 km.This is definitely an absolute must forwhoever decides to visit Umbria. TheWaterfalls, which are immersed in a nat-ural scenery of incomparable beauty, arean artificial work due to the Romans. Infact, at that time, the Velino river wasgreatly enlarged and had created a vastzone of stagnant waters, swampy andunhealthy. Aiming to make these watersdeflow, the consul Curius Dentatus hada canal dug which directed them in di-rection of the Marmore cliff. From there,he had them precipitate, in a total fall of165 meters, into the river-bed of the Nerariver which runs along below. In everyage, the beauty of the Waterfalls has in-spired poets and artists, among these:Virgilius, Cicero, G. Byron, and many oth-ers. For about 50 years now the waters ofthe Waterfall are used to fuel the hydro-electric power plant Galleto. Therefore,the spectacle of the Waterfalls can onlybe admired during the opening hourswhich are quoted in the table below. Itwas in fact due to the abbundance ofthese waters and the energy they gener-ate that it was possible to establish themetal-working, electrochemical and elec-tric industries at Terni.

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ORVIETO UNDERGROUND AD

WHERE TO STAY

Perugia

Brufani Palace Hotel*****

The luxury provided at the 5-star Hotel Brufani Palace in Perugia is multi-faceted, beginning with breathtaking views of the green wooded hills ofUmbria.The hotel features a fabulous Belle Epoque style of interior design. Suchbeauty does not end with the sumptuous rooms and suites of this hon-eymoon hotel in the centre of Italy.

Hotel Le Tre Vaselle*****

Enjoy your stay in this traditional 17th century building in the beautiful vil-lage of Torgiano situated between Perugia and Assisi in the heart of theUmbrian countryside.

Among the centuries-old olive trees you will find an oasis of tranquillitywhere you can relax by the outdoor pool that overlooks the valley. Foryear-round fitness, the heated indoor swimming pool with a counter cur-rent, sauna and fitness centre are also available for your use.The Faunoliving roomwith its largestone fireplacewillwelcomeyouwithawideem-brace.LeTreVaselle is theperfectplace fora relaxingholidayand iswithina fewminutes drive of world famous sites of art, history and religion.

Sangallo Palace****

Set in the historic city centre just 50 metres from the ancient fortress ofRocca Paolina, the award-winning Sangallo Palace offers modern, quietrooms with comprehensive amenities.All of the landmarks, monuments and famous churches of Perugia arewithinwalkingdistanceof thehotel’sprivileged location.Withashortstrollyou can reach the bus terminal. From there, regular lines can take you tointerestingcities inUmbriasuchasAssisiandGubbio inapproximately30minutes.For relaxingmoments,SangalloPalaceboastsan indoorpool (heatedat26°- 28°C) as well as a modern gym. For business meetings and specialevents, thehotel features7well-equippedconferenceroomsthatcanac-commodate up to 250 people.

Hotel Perusia****

Thisnewlybuilt 4-starhotel is situated inapeaceful location,not farawayfrom the historic city centre, and offers some beautiful views of the sur-rounding area from its rooftop garden.The hotel provides a contemporary, yet traditional, setting for your staywith itsmixtureofmodernandrenaissancearchitecture.Dueto thehotel’slocation in thehighestpartof thecityyouwillbeable toenjoysomesplen-didviewsof thesurroundingUmbriancountryside.Takeadip in thehotel’spool, located on the roof garden, with the stunning Tiber Valley providingthebackdrop toyourswim.Dine in theelegant restaurantwhereyoucanenjoy a taste of fine Umbrian cooking, have an aperitif on the roof gardenor unwind with a drink in the bar.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Tirrenus Perugia***

Nestled in the beautiful Italian countryside, the hotel offers tranquil ac-commodation, with easy access to the historic town of Perugia and it'smain sights.The historic centre of the town lies only 3.5 km away and can be easilyreachedbycarorpublic transport (abusstop is located just50mfromthehotel).The friendly staff are always available on the 24-hour front desk to helpmakeyourstayascomfortableaspossible, inaddition to this, thehotelhasfree parking and internet access.

Gubbio

Bosone Palace****Located a few metres from Gubbio’s Piazza della Signoria, the BosonePalace was built in the fourteenth century and housed famous guestssuch as Dante and Petrarca.Located in thehistoriccentreofGubbio, thePalace issetnear theCathe-dral, Palazzo dei Consoli and many monuments and churches. Posi-tioned in thenortheasternandverdant regionofUmbria,Gubbiooffersanideal position to discover other surrounding cities such as Perugia,Assisiand Città di Castello.Originally built for the Raffaelli family and formerly part of the RaffaelliPalace, thebuildingbecametheofficial residenceof thePatriziaEugubinaBosone family. Today the Palace is a small, charming hotel which will beremembered for its beautiful furnishings. Try one of the Renaissancesuites which features seventeenth century frescoed ceilings.

Castiglion del Lago

Hotel La Torre***

Thisboutique, family-runhotel issituated in thebeautifulancientcenterofCastiglionedelLago,acharming,picturesquevillageonTrasimenoLake,in a lush, green part of Umbria.

On theborderbetweenUmbriaandTuscanyon thebanksofLakeTrasi-meno,nearPerugia, thebeautifulmedievalvillageofCastiglionedelLagois rich in history, traditions and culture. The hotel itself is located in thepedestriancenteronlya fewsteps fromthePalazzoDucaleand thecas-tle, between the church of Santa Maria Maddalena and the 16th centurychurch of San Domenico. The hotel is in a great location for those wish-ing to enjoy a quiet, relaxing cultural holiday.The elegant, renovated en suite accommodation is perfect as a tranquil,peaceful base for a holiday or a romantic break.

Relais Alla Corte del Sole****

RelaisAlla Corte del Sole is your choice for a relaxing break in the heartof the Italian countryside, next to the beautiful Lake Trasimeno.Set on the border of 2 stunning Italian regions, Tuscany and Um-bria, the hotel is surrounded by natural beauty. This charming coun-try residence has been carefully restored to preserve its originalarchitecture.

Foligno

Villa Dei Platani****

Set in the heart of one of the most beautiful medieval Umbrian towns,Villa dei Platani is housed in a completely restored fin de siècle build-ing immersed in a context of vivid greenery and century-old trees.Mostly painted in warm tones of brown and fitted with modern, orig-inal design furniture, the hotel boasts an atmosphere that pleasantlycontrasts light and shade. Stylish yet cosy environments for relax-ation are provided by the hall, illuminated by huge windows and dec-orated in minimalist style, and by tastefully furnished common areassuch as the Cult Café and the lounge. Villa dei Platani is equippedwith the latest technology, allowing leisure and business travellers toenjoy a perfect balance between picturesque tradition and cuttingedge convenience.

Delfina Palace Hotel****

Built in they style of a 19th-century Umbrian residence, this new 4-star hotel is immersed within the lush greenery of its own privatepark, complete with olive groves, tall trees and a swimming pool.The hotel is located in Foligno, in close proximity of the Foligno Nordexit of the S.S. 75 motorway and is closely linked to the most im-portant Umbrian towns, such asAssisi, Perugia, Spello, Orvieto, andMontefalco.During your stay you can keep in contact with family, friends, andcolleagues by taking advantage of the hotel’s internet access (addi-tional cost).

Spoleto

Cavaliere Palace Hotel****

The Cavaliere Palace Hotel is located in the historic centre of Spoleto inthe 17th century Accoramboni della Valnerina Palace, adorned withsplendid frescoes.TheCavalierePalaceHotelwas recentlyandcompletely renovated,pre-serving the fascinating ambiance of this historic building.Relax in the garden, in the frescoed halls or in the typical lounges withvaulted ceilings. Enjoy easy connection to the main tourist attractionsand landmarks in town.All the rooms are very spacious, bright and equipped with all moderncomforts in order to make your stay pleasant and unforgettable.

Hotel dei Duchi****

Right in the historical centre of Spoleto, looking out onto theRoman Theatre and situated within the gardens of the AncajaniPark.The Hotel dei Duchi is the ideal location for a breathtakingwalk towards Piazza del Mercato and Via dei Duchi with its localhandicraft medieval shops, the Cathedral, the Castle and theCaio Melisso theatre. Here events for the Festival of Two Worldstake place.A private car park is available for hotel guests.

WHERE TO STAY

Todi

Fonte Cesia****

Todi is a mediaeval town set in the green heart of Umbria, full ofcharm and traditions. The town is rich in suggestive alleywaysand historic buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries, whichwill transport you to surroundings of another era. In Jacopone’stown, which has been defined as the most liveable of the year2000, you will find accommodation steeped in the warm traditionand elegance of the refined Hotel Fonte Cesia. The hotel is theresult of the careful renovation of an ancient and noble palacefrom the 17th century. It consists of 31 bedrooms, 5 junior suitesand the restaurant Le Palme. The previous church of SaintBenedetto (13th century), which adjoins the hotel is today thebeautiful frame of a lecture hall.

Residenza San Pietro Sopra Le Acque****

San Pietro sopra le Acque Historical Residence was a conventdating back to the early 1600. It offers 15 rooms completelyequipped with satellite tv, frigo bar, hydromassage and highspeed internet hookup. The hotel has been distinctly furnishedin period pieces, complementing prestigious Umbrian artisan-ship, wrought iron or wooden beds and Mastro Raphael linens.Elegance and magic in a world where comfort, nature and an-tique art are the foundation to make each moment unforgettable.The hotel is also provided with a convention hall and businesscenter apart from the elegant and refined restaurant.

Orvieto

Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini ****

Enjoy the excellent location and superior accommodation of this4-star hotel set within a renovated, medieval building in the heartof Orvieto, just metres away from The Duomo.Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini offers an enchanting atmosphere. Theinterior design features Medieval, Etruscan and Renaissance el-ements. Here you can admire the use of soft colours, terracotta-tiled floors and historic halls.Once a noble palace, Palazzo Piccolomini features cosy roomsthat successfully mix classical design with modern comforts.Here you will find fine, chestnut-wood furniture and LCD TV withsatellite channels. All rooms at Palazzo Piccolomini are air con-ditioned and most rooms are accessible to the disabled.

Hotel Corso***

In a beautiful restructured building located in the heart of Orvi-eto’s old town lies Hotel Corso, just steps away from monu-ments, museums and charming medieval streets.The hotel’s bright and cosy rooms maintain much of the build-ing’s original character, with wooden beams on the ceilings andelegant décor. Some rooms enjoy their own balconies and thehotel also has its own terrace which all guests can use.Conveniently located just 300m from the funicular which takes toyou the train station and with free car parking even closer, HotelCorso is the perfect solution for a comfortable stay in historicOrvieto.

WHERE TO STAY

CONTROLLA

LAZIOLazio is found in central Italy, located on the Tyrrhenian Sea.It borders with Tuscany, Marches, Umbria, Abruzzi, Campa-nia and Molise. In general, Lazio has a mild climate thanks tothe influence of the Mediterranean Sea.Lazio’s population accounts for about 9% of total Italian pop-ulation with 5.205.139 inhabitants divided into the 5provinces, Rome (the capital), and from the more populatedto the least populated, Latina, Frosinone, Viterbo and Rieti, intheir turn divided into 378 municipalities.Lazio offers a variety of landscapes including lakes, moun-tains and sea… and a lot of chances from the point of viewof tourism.For those who want to discover Lazio history and originsthroughout monuments, archaeological sites and ruins of an-cient populations the region offers a wide range of possibili-ties.Lazio also allows tourists to choose a different kind oftourism, discovering the oeno-gastronomic itineraries andshowing the unique traditions and peculiarities of Lazio cook-ing style.In addition to this, nature is another of the special featuresmaking our Region an ideal place for vacations and relax.And, to conclude, Lazio hosts lots of events, fairs, exhibitionsin the frame of entertainment in general, all initiatives areaimed at bettering tourist offer and making the Region at-tractive both to foreigners and Italian visitors.

Rome

No other citycomes close. Itmay no longer becaput mundi (capi-tal of the world),but Rome is anepic, bubbling-over metropolisharbouring lostempires. One visitand you’ll behooked. Rome hasa glorious monu-mentality that itwears without rev-erence. Its archi-tectural heirloomsare buzzed aroundby car and Vespaas if they were no more than traffic islands.

The city bombards you with images: elderly ladies with dyedhair chatting in Trastevere; priests with cigars strolling the Im-perial Forums; traffic jams around the Colosseum; plateloadsof pasta in Piazza Navona; sinuous trees beside the VillaBorghese; barrages of pastel-coloured scooters revving upat traffic lights as if preparing for a race.People in Rome encapsulate the spirit of the city. Pass a cen-

tral café and the tables outsideare animated with people,downing fast shots of espressoand sporting big black sun-glasses. They are neither pos-ing nor hung over. Nuns flutterthrough the streets, on the trip ofa lifetime or secondment fromthe Philippines, bustling acrossthe road before treating them-selves to an ice cream.Churches fill during Mass, andthe priests, dressed in purple,cream or red silk (right down totheir socks), read the rites to ahushed congregation (mostlyfrom out of town).

Here the national preoccupationwith the aesthetic fuses with in-credible urban scenery to makeRome a city where you feel cooljust strolling through the streets,catching the sunlight on yourface outside a café, or eating along lunch. It’s a place that al-most encourages you to takethings easy.

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Piazza del PopoloPiazza del Popolo is one of the mostpopular place for foreigners in Rome.The oval square is located near theBorghese Park and features an au-thentic obelisk from Heliopolis, Egypt.On the north side, the Porta delPopolo leads to the the Via Flaminia,aroute built 220 to connect Rome withthe Adriatic coast. During the MiddleAges, the route constituted the mainentrance to the city for pilgrims andtravelers. The obelisk of Ramses IIwas later placed in 10 BC in the cen-ter of the square by Pope Sixtus V,being the second oldest and one ofthe tallest in Rome.

The square is the intersection of thestreets: the Via del Corso in the cen-tre, the Via del Babuino on the left andthe Via di Ripetta on the right. At thejunction of the roads stand twinchurches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli(1681) and Santa Maria in Monte-santo (1679), which were commis-sioned by pope Alexander VII in 1658and designed by Carlo Rainaldi.

Many works of art are found inside theChurch of Santa Maria del Popolo:frescoes by Pinturicchio located insidetheDella Rovere chapel, sculptures bySansovino on two funeral monuments;paintings by Caravaggio inside theChapel Cerasi and finally the ChigiChapel, on project by RaffaelloSanzio. Its current aspect was givenby G.Valadier, who created two semi-cycles, arranged a slope of the terrace

of Pincio, and built four constructionson the corners of the square.

St. Angel's CastleOriginally tomb of the emperorHadrian erected in 130 A.D. as a mau-soleum for himself and his family, thecastle later became a strongholdlinked to the Vatican Palace. Thebuilding is nearly 50m high and thebase had a surface of 89m sq., thebody having a diameter of more orless 64 metres.

The name of the castle comes from anapparition during the plague of 590.The tradition says that Pope GregorioMagno, while praying, was visited byan angel who was cased the sword,gesture seen as the end for disease inthe area. This came to be known asthe savior of the people and his namewas given to the magnificent castle.

In 1277, the State of the Church takesownership of the castle and turns itinto a fortress-jail, also building theconnection to the Vatican Buildings.Theodoric, the king of Italy (493-526),also used the building as a prison.During the Middle Ages, the castlegradually turned into a fortress and afortified passage was built in order toconnect the castle to the Vaticanpalaces.

Thanks to the relative National Mu-seum of Castel Sant'Angelo, the in-side of the castle can be visited bytourists, and is made of five floors,

apart from the frescoes of the Ren-aissance and the many rooms buildin the Roman period.

The Borghese GalleryThe Borghese Gallery is a famous artgallery located in the former VillaBorghese Pinciana. Built between1613 and 1614, the house was com-missioned by Cardinal ScipioneBorghese to Flaminio Ponzio andVasanzio. The art collection con-tained by the gallery is renowned allover Europe. Napoleon even boughta large part of the collection in 1807and transferred it to the Louvre. Afternew pieces were added in the 19thcentury, the collection was bought bythe Italian state along with the entireproperty.

The gallery houses twenty roomsacross two floors, the visit takingabout 2 hours. Works by GianLorenzo Bernini can be found in thegallery and bust sculptors, two ofPope Paul V, and a portrait of his firstpatron, Cardinal Scipione Borgh-ese.The Galleria Nazionale d'ArteModerna is also located Villa Borgh-ese gardens, gallery specialized in19th- and 20th-century Italian art.

The gallery is opened 09:00am -7:00pm from Tuesdays to Sunday(except Saturday: 9:00am -11:00pm), and closed on Mondays.Prices vary between 6 Euro for per-sons between 18 and 25 years oldand 12.50 Euro for persons over 25and below 65 years old.

The ColosseumKnown as the greatest amphitheaterin the antiquity, the Roman Colos-seum was built about 1900 years agoby Vespasian. It is considered one ofthe greatest architectural achieve-ments of the Antiquity and is proof ofthe grandeur of the Roman Empire.The Colosseum was built in the placeof an artificial lake, sign of Nero'sreign. Titus, Vespasian's successor,held hundred-day hames to inaugu-rate to newly finished construction in80 AD.

Originally capable of seating 45,000–50,000 spectators, the Colosseum

was used for holding gladiator contestsand shows for the Roman people. Thecrowd watched shows involving exoticanimals, naval battle simulations andfights with lions. The most populargames held were the venationes(hunts) and the munera (gladiatorialgames).

The Colosseum is built in the shape ofan ellipse, measuring externally 188 mx 156 m, reaching a height of more than48 meter. The amphitheater has eightentrances so that spectators could ar-rive and leave easily. The Colosseumremained intact until the 8th century.After that, Pope Paul III ordered to takestones from the building in order to builthis palace.

The Colosseum remained in use forfour and a half centuries. In 217, theColosseum went through considerabledamages after a fire was started by alightning. The Colosseum suffereddamages throughout several centuries,inflicted by earthquakes or plunders. Asa result, two thirds of the original con-struction have been destroyed and the

present site is only a shadow of thegreat ancient wonder. The last battleamong gladiators was held in 404, whilethe last hunt in 523.

Today, the Colosseum is one of themost popular tourist attractions in Mod-ern Rome, being visited by millions ofvisitors every year. Even today, in aworld full of skyscrapers or other im-pressive buildings, the Colosseumstands as a glorious monument of theworld.

The Imperial ForumThe first Imperial Forum was built byJulius Caesar. He built a great fortuneto demolish the buildings on the siteand build the establishment. The mostappreciated building of the forum is thetemple dedicated in 46 BC to the god-dess Venus Genetrix, Casear claiminghe is her relative. This forum was inau-gurated in 46 BC but the constructionwas later completed by Augustus.

The temple contained statues ofCasear, Cleopatra and Venus. The Im-perial Forums hold overall 5 temples,

namely the Forum of Cae-sar, the Forum of Augustus,the Temple of Peace, theForum of Nerva and theForum of Trajan. The Forumof Caesar was constructedas an extension to theRoman Forum. The secondmonumental square, theForum of Augustus, wasadded in 2 BC. The Templeof Peace was built in 75 ADunder Vespasian, in order tocelebrate the conquest ofJerusalem.

Forum of Nerva, or the Tran-sitional Forum is the buildingwhich connects all the otherforums. After the death ofDomitian, the forum was in-augurated by Nerva, fromwhich it received its name.The forum of Trajan was lastbuilt, in between 112 and113. The construction marksthe conquest of Dacia andwas the most complicatedprocess from all the 5 fo-

rums.

The Mouth of TruthThe Mouth of Truth or La Bocca dellaVerita, located in the Church of SantaMaria in Cosmedin, is a remarkablemarble mask and a popular attractionfor many tourists. Thought to be part ofan ancient fountain, the cracked statuesrepresents an image of the river godand is well-known for its legend. Ac-cording to popular belief, any liar thatput its hand inside the mouth of thestatue can not withdraw it, the statueeating the mouth of the liar.

The Church of Santa Maria was built inthe 6th century, over the remains ofsome Roman establishments. Dedi-cated to the Virgin Mary, the Churchwas looked after by Greek monks and iswell known for its bell tower. In oldertimes, to keep the superstition alive, apriest would stick a scorpion in thecrack to sting the hands of fibbers.

The Mouth of Truth was featured in thefilm “Roman Holiday”. Gregory Peck,

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one of the main actors, stuck is hand inthe crack and, when pulling it out, jok-ingly hid his hand in his sleeve, shock-ing Audrey Hepburn. The castappreciated the scene so much thatthey featured it in the movie.

The PantheonThe Pantheon's construction began in27 BC following the orders of states-man Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and itwas originally built as a temple to theseven deities worshiped in AncientRome. The Pantheon temple, alongwith others, was destroyed in a fire inthe year 80. The Pantheon was recon-structed during Emperor Hadrian'sreign, between AD 118 and 128. Thebuilding was then repaired by Septim-ius Severus and Caracalla in 202.

Studies show that the present temple ismerely a reconstruction of the templefrom the time of Hadrian.The interior measures 43,40 meters indiameter, and the same in height. Lightand air still enter through the opening atthe top. The temple's exterior was cov-ered by bronze tiles stolen in 663 by theEmperor of East Constant II. Thebronze that covered the porticoes wasused by Pope Urban VII for the castingof cannons. The walls are 25 feet wideand the bronze entrance doors are 20

tons each.

The Pantheon was an important influ-ence for the architects of the Renais-sance, for example Brunelleschi'sdome of the Duomo of Florence, com-pleted in 1436. British Museum Read-ing Room, Thomas Jefferson's Rotundaat the University of Virginia or the LowLibrary at Columbia University, NewYork, are a few of the buildings that bur-rowed the structure of the Pantheon.

The building is regarded as one of thewonders of the Ancient period becauseof its dome and its construction, beingconsidered one of the greatest spiritualbuildings of the world. The Pantheon isopen from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mon-day to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.on Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on hol-idays that fall on weekdays except forChristmas Day, New Year's Day andMay 1, when it is closed. Admission isfree.

The Piazza NavonaThe Piazza Navona, or "Circo Agonale"is the most famous square of theBaroque Rome. A ancient wonder oflight and sculpture, the square hasthree magnificent fountains, an oldchurch and is constructed on the re-mains of the Circus Domitianus, Domit-

ian's stadium.Starting withthe reign ofDomitian, theplace wasused only forsport events,including thew e l l - k n o w nAugust re-gatta.

Fountain of theFour Rivers,one of PiazzaNavona's at-tractions wasbuilt in 1651 byGian LorenzoBernini. A pop-ular tourist at-tractions is thechurch of San-t'Agnese in

Agone, built by Francesco Borrominiand Girolamo Rainaldi. Commissionedin 1652 by Pope Innocent X, the churchwas finished in 1670 and is now visitedby milion of tourists daily. It is said thathere Agnese was exposed naked, butmiraculously covered by the prodigiousgrowth of her hair. The two fountains ofthe square were sculpted by Giacomodella Porta — the Fontana di Nettuno(1574), found in the northern area andthe Fontana del Moro (1576), in thesouthern area of the piazza.

The central and most popular of thethree fountains is he Fontana dei Quat-tro Fiumi (fountain of the four rivers). Itwas constructed between 1647 and1651, on the request of Pope InnocentX. The fountain depicts four rivers offour continents, the Nile, Ganges,Danube and Rio della Plata. Thesquare is a very active place, with manycafes open, while in the summer, artistsdraw and pain in the square for a smallfee.Vatican CityThe city was created in 1929 by the Lat-eran Treaty and is solely governed bythe Pope. Vatican City is located on theVatican hill, on the right bank of theTiber River, within the city of Rome. Thecity is known as one of the Europeanmicro states, and is the smallest sover-eign state in the world, with a surface of0.44 square kilometers.

The 558 citizens live inside the wallsand are part of the city's diplomaticcorps. Vatican City has a great culturalsignificance, especially for Catholics.St. Peter's Basilica and the SistineChapel house some of the most famousart works in the world by Botticelli,Bernini and Michelangelo. The basilicahas a double colonnade and a circularpiazza in front, with palaces and gar-dens as its borders.

Vatican Library and the collections ofthe Vatican Museums are also part ofthe world's historical and cultural inher-itance. Most famous monument withinthis small city state is of course the SanPietro Basilica. The Sistine Chapel isone of the oldest building in the city anddates from the 15th century.

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Hotel Majestic Roma*****The luxurious Hotel Majestic Roma is set right on world-famous Via Veneto. Walk to the Spanish Steps and theTrevi Fountain in under 10 minutes.Known for its hospitality and welcoming atmosphere,the hotel guarantees a personalised service. Try somedelicious Roman cuisine at the elegant restaurant.Established in 1889, the Hotel Majestic has alwaysbeen popular with an elite clientèle who wish to experi-ence Rome’s Dolce Vita.Villa Borghese and its famous art gallery are just aroundthe corner, and all monuments and landmarks of Romeare within easy reach of the hotel.Rooms: 98. Hotel Chain: The Leading Hotels of theWorld.

Exedra A Boscolo Luxury Hotel*****Set in an impressive, 19th century, marble building, theExedra A Boscolo Luxury Hotel, is a truly extravagantchoice for an unforgettable stay in spectacular sur-roundings.This strikingly elegant hotel is located in one of Rome’smost renowned squares, facing Rutelli’s Fountain of theNaiads and next to the ancient ruins of the DiocletianBaths and Michelangelo’s basilica. Immersed in historyand culture, this exclusive hotel has an unbeatable lo-cation close to the most popular shopping areas andfashion boutiques.Take the glass elevator up to the hotel’s private rooftopterrace and pool where you can relax with a glass offine wine and admire the stunning views of the historiccentre. Here you may also enjoy a massage or beautytreatment at the adjoining spa and wellness centre.The Exedra A Boscolo Luxury Hotel is ideal for any oc-casion. Its grand business centre combines old withnew; exposed original Roman ruins are complimentedby state-of-the-art audio-visual technology. There is achoice of 2 modern, tempting restaurants and the Taziobrassiere. This is named after the original paparazzo,Tazio Secchiaroli, whose most famous celebrity photosare displayed throughout the bar.Rooms: 238. Hotel Chain: Boscolo Luxury Hotels.

Hotel Morgana****The elegant Hotel Morgana is set in the heart of Rome,5 minutes from Termini station and links to the airports.Walk to the Coliseum in just 15 minutes.The Morgana Hotel features a comfortable tea room,bar, and conference room with a capacity of 50 people.Start your day with a rich buffet breakfast. Each of theguest rooms is comfortable and has a mix of antiquefurniture and modern technology, including free Wi-Fi.At Hotel Morgana you have excellent public transportlinks and are very close to the city’s main shopping dis-trict and the Rome Opera House (Teatro dell’Opera).The professional team of staff will be delighted to offeryou recommendations to make your stay in Rome spe-cial.

WHERE TO STAY

Starhotels Metropole****Located in the Umbertine section of Rome, near thecentral Termini station and a few steps away from theTeatro dell'Opera, the hotel is ideally located to ex-plore this historic city.

During the day you can explore the famous art sightsof Rome before unwinding in the hotel’s piano bar,with live music. Dominated by the Liberty-style sky-light, the bar is perfectly illuminated, creating an en-chanting atmosphere.

The hotel features 6 meeting rooms, which can ac-commodate up to 495 people and can be adapted forvarious meeting requirements.Rooms: 243. Hotel Chain: Starhotels.

Hotel Contilia***Only 200 metres from Termini railway station, the el-egant 3-star Hotel Contilia is the perfect location todiscover Rome.

Within a 1 km radius you can visit the Coliseum andImperial Forums. With the hotel’s immediate accessto Rome’s main lines of public transport, you canreach main attractions in minutes. This comfortablehotel offers free Wi-Fi and an extensive selection oftours of Rome, its surroundings and all of Italy.

At Hotel Contilia you can also enjoy 24-hour roomservice and a rich buffet breakfast served in an ele-gant dining hall from 07:00 until 10:00.Rooms: 55.

Eurostars Domus Aurea***The hotel enjoys a central location on a quiet and an-cient street, just 100 meters from the Termini Rail Sta-tion and the underground line A/B.

On the top floor, the hotel’s lovely roof-garden with so-larium enjoys a splendid view of Rome, including theTerme di Diocleziano and the Santa Maria degli An-geli. You can also make use of the wireless internetaccess or internet connection in public areas.

During the day you can explore the historical centreand the nearby attractions, including: DioclezianoBath; Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore; the famousVia Veneto; Via Nazionale; and the business area,with the most important government buildings, in-cluding the Ministry of Interior Affairs, Treasury, De-fence and Air Force.

Rooms: 48. Hotel Chain: Hotusa, Eurostars Hotels.

WHERE TO STAY

CampaniaEven if you have never heard of this Italian region, we'll betyou've dreamed of visiting it at least once! With Naples as itscapital, it is home to the world-renowned Amalfi Coast, theancient tragic city of Pompeii, and the romantic Isle of Capri(pronounce that CAH-pree, please!). What else is it proud of?Well, if you asked a local, the first thing he would probably tellyou is that this is the Birthplace of Pizza, Spaghetti, and Buf-falo Mozzarella. See, we were right, weren't we? You havedreamed of visiting Campania!Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, no self-respecting North-ern European aristocrat would dream of leaving Italy withoutspending a month or so in Naples. But then, after the Unifi-cation in 1870, the city fell into ill repute and, all during the20th century, it was considered dangerous and depressing.This wonderful harbor, once the third largest city on the con-tinent, still has some less-than-picturesque neighborhoods,but the entire historic center was extensively restored in the'90s, and today we think it is one of the most interesting lo-cations Italy has to offer. After all, what we foreigners usuallyremember best about our Italian vacations is the people, thelifestyle, the local color and the food - and nowhere on thepeninsula are these ingredients present in such undilutedquantities as in Naples. From dawn to midnight, the cobble-stone streets are alive with the vibrant, larger-than-life type ofcharacters we all first encountered in the films of a local girlcalled Sophia Loren. The city offers ornate Baroquechurches, a world-class Royal Palace, two massivefortresses and a pair of superb museums - all of which wehighly recommend you see - but truly, the #1 Tourist Attrac-tion in Naples is its streets, its shops, its little restaurants, itsbreathtaking bay, and the wonderful people who call themhome.When you have finished your own Grand Tour of the city, setout along the coast to discover Europe's scariest road, which

will take you to Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Vietri(the ceramic lover's mecca). Or you can take the easy wayout and travel there by ferry or hydrofoil, from the same docksthat take you to Capri, the spa island of Ischia, and Procida,where the locals go for their holidays. Just east of Naples,surrounded by the huge ranches that produce unparalleledmozzarella, is the Royal Palace of Caserta. If you like old-time regal domiciles, most of the experts think this 1200-roomtreasure trove equals or betters Versailles.Few foreigners make it south of Salerno, but those who docan treat themselves to a classic Italian beach vacation:along the cape called Palinuro the water is cleaner and thebeaches far nicer than anything on the Amalfi Coast. You caneven take in some world-class culture by visiting Paestum tosee the oldest, best-preserved and most beautiful Doric tem-ple in existence today. And if it's really the authentic Italyyou're after, just head inland to the provinces of Avellino andBenevento, abandoned a century ago by so many who wouldgo on to become Americans. Park your car in any village atall and you will receive a warm welcome. No matter what kindof blood runs in your veins, you are likely to be invited in fora sip of homemade wine and a look at the family album, in-cluding shots of faraway relatives in Buffalo or Melbourne.

Naples, Napoli in Italian, is the third most-populated city inItaly and the biggest city in Southern Italy. Its name comesfrom the Greek Neapolis meaning new city. Its close proxim-ity to many interesting sites, such as Pompeii and the Bay ofNaples, makes it a good base for exploring the area. Naplesis a lively and vibrant city, full of wonderful historical and artis-tic treasures and narrow, winding streets with small shops,making it worth at least a few days visit.

Naples’s heart is the historic city, which UNESCO declared a Cultural Heritage site. Its narrow alleyways lead to mysteri-ous churches, catacombs and underground caves. Until today, Naples’s old folk culture reveals itself to the visitor amongcraftspeople, fluttering laundry and shouting fish sellers.

The historic city is characterized by many churches. Youoften find several of them in one street among Baroquestyle palazzi of aristocratic families and antique residences.Naples’s most important church is the San Gennaro (St.Januarius) Cathedral, where each year the famous MiracleBlood ceremony takes place. The Gothic churches, SanLorenzo Maggiore and San Domenico Maggiore, as well asthe Baroque church, Gesù Nuovo , are worth a visit.

The San Severo Chapel is fascinating because of itsmysterious anatomic machines, two skeletons that are in-explicably covered with a system of fossil veins and arter-ies. In addition, you can see beautiful Baroque sculpturesfrom the 17th and 18th century.A wonderful place to take a rest is the garden of the SantaChiara Convent with its columns, little benches, andwalls that are wainscoted with beautiful colourful majolica.Vis-à-vis on Via San Sebastiano, you can find music storesthat, because of their vicinity to the conservatory, still sellmandolins. Nearby is the street of the booksellers, Port’ Alba, where you can buy delicious pizza at the street counter of thepizzeria of the same name and eat it right away.A trip to Naples’s underworld is an exciting experience: Under the city, which stands on tufa, is a labyrinth of caves some 80km long. The gate to the underworld is tucked away at the Piazza San Gaetano. The guided tours take 1.5 hours.The historic city offers numerous places to do some shop-ping, above all, for crafts, antiques, and souvenirs. Youshould definitely visit the Via San Gregorio Armeno, the fa-mous street of the nativity scene makers (neapolitan cribs,in italian presepe napoletano). During Christmas time, morethan half a million tourists come to see the shops with theoriginal miniature figurines. However, they are open all yearround and you can take your time and have a look aroundafter New Year’s.

Via Partenope is the beginning of the seafront roadwhere Castel dell’Ovo (Egg’s Castle) rises on an island thatis connected to the mainland. From the castle, you have afantastic view of the Mount Vesuvius as well as the quartersMergellina and Posillipo. At the picturesque marina you findexcellent restaurants and bars.A little further, Villa Comunale, a big park with palmtrees, chalets, and beautiful fountains, extends along thefamous seafront road, Via Caracciolo. If you are interested,you can visit the zoological station, Aquarium Dohrn,which is Europe’s oldest aquarium. The walk along theseashore to the touristic harbour of Mergellina is very ro-mantic. Close by the harbour, fishermen sell their freshlycaught fish. At the end ofVia Caracciolo, nice chalets in-vite you to have a cocktail while you are enjoying the seaview.

Tip: On Sundays, the seafront road is closed for cars andyou can walk freely, or rent a bicycle. And on some week-ends from September to May, the antique fair, Fiera Anti-quaria Napoletana, takes place in the mornings.

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WHERE TO STAY

Grand Hotel Parkers *****

Grand Hotel Parkers offers extremely luxurious accommo-dation in an excellent position in the heart of Naples, at thebeginning of residential Corso Vittorio Emanuele.

The Parkers matches the elegance of the fashion district itis set in, within walking distance from the world-renownedartistic and cultural attractions of this magnificent city.

Grasp the beauties of Neaples and then relax in the hotel'spremises, offering a bar and cigar room, spa/wellness cen-tre with various treatments (including sauna, Turkish bathand massages), and a gym.Gourmet delights await you at the George Restaurant, acosy environment on the top floor, where Chef Baciot prac-tices his talents and offers delicate perfumes and Mediter-ranean flavours. This sensational and sophisticated cuisine,offering original fruit dishes, fresh vegetables, fish andseafood (delicately marinated in a blend of spices), will guar-antee a wonderful holiday.Rooms: 82.

UNA Hotel Napoli****

n a superb location, in the ancient heart of Napoli, the hotelcombines a beautiful, historic exterior with superb, stylish,modern accommodation and interiors.

The hotel’s striking original structure dates back to the late1800s. Inside, the hotel has been completely and sensitivelyrenovated, preserving its beautiful original features whilesympathetically incorporating chic, contemporary accom-modation.In the centre of the city, all of Napoli’s magnificent sights andattractions are within walking distance and the hotel is situ-ated in the

Hotel Royal Continental****

With superb sea views out over the Bay of Naples and theCastel dell'Ovo, the Hotel Royal Continental is set in an un-beatable location on the seafront promenade.

You can relax at the hotel’s stunning rooftop swimming pooland sample typical Neapolitan dishes and international cui-sine at the restaurant while enjoying spectacular views ofthe surrounding sea and the city’s magnificent castle.

The hotel has recently been refurbished and all guest roomsare equipped with modern facilities. For business guests thehotel features an auditorium, conference and meeting roomsall with the latest audio-visual and IT services.Rooms: 403.

Albergo Palazzo Decumani ****

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Palazzo Decumani is set in an elegant early20th century Liberty building, located in the heart ofthe city in the Decumanus Inferior neighbourhood,UNESCO World Heritage area.

Right by the hotel are the impressive Palazzo deiGrandi Archivi di Stato, San Gregorio Armeno, SanBiagio dei Librai and the Monastery of Santa Chiara,just to name a few of the nearby landmarks.

Important renovation works have transformedPalazzo Decumani in a stylish urban hotel, offeringcomfortable accommodation in its spacious, elegantrooms and luxurious suites.Rooms: 28.

Art Resort Galleria Umberto****

The hotel is situated in the well known Galleria Um-berto I; a great architectonic building rich in mosaics,arching domes and Renaissance and Baroque orna-mentation.

In its interior, you can find cafès, businesses, bookshops and fashionable stores. The hotel faces someof the main streets of the city, including Via Toledoand the San Carlo’s Theatre, which is one of the mostfamous theatres in the world.

You will be able to discover the real Naples; the livelyand vibrant city full of wonderful historic and artistictreasures. Its tradition

Hotel Clarean***

The Clarean, enjoying an extremely central positionby Piazza Garibaldi, is a recently opened, modernand trendy hotel, respecting the environment and of-fering every comfort for a delightful Neapolitan expe-rience.The building was created by the Italian contemporaryarchitect Cino Zucchi, who used natural materials,vaulting stone arches, wooden attics and parquetfloors. The careful design and final decorativetouches provide a modern, refined atmosphere, idealfor a relaxing stay after pleasant days in the hustleand bustle of Naples’ streets.

Let the friendly and caring staff suggest you the bestitineraries and venues in town and around the area,take advantage of the Clarean’s proximity to all mainmeans of public transportation and you are sure toenjoy a pleasant stay.Rooms: 17.

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Besides offering a charter service, some offer ac-comodation, transfer, advice, additional equip-ment, skipper service etc. Quality of service isvery important and it depends on the employeesand their dedication to the business and clients.

Send us a simple request of a boat type, base,period and you will be informed about the boatavailability as soon as possible. If you don't haveany experience in chartering, then ask for advice

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