Alfabookings - Blog

ROMA INCONTRA IL MONDO. outdoor concerts in the park “Villa Ada”(via di Ponte Salario) everynigth from Tuesday 16 June to Saturday 8 August a wide range of concert every day, everything from jazz to reggae and electronical, Nouvelle Vague to Patti Smith. Prices varies depending on artist, for the program have a look at : http://www.villaada.org/.

“LUGLIO SUONA BENE”. Concerts at the auditorium of Rome, everynigth from the 25th of June to the 29th of July. Tracy Chapman, Antony and the Johnsons and many, many more. Prices varies depending on artist, for the program have look here: http://www.auditorium.com/

GAY VILLAGE. from Thursday 2nd of July to Sunday 6 September, Music, theatre, cinema and nightclub(outdoors) at “Parco del Turismo” , Eur. Opening days are Thursday to Sunday.
Webpage: www.gayvillage.it

CANTA ROMA CANTA. Roman Songs, every night from 21pm, from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 23rd of August. In the Park “Giardino degli Aranci” (Via di Santa Sabina, Aventino-Trastevere) Entrance 16 €.

ROCK IN ROMA. Yearly pop/rock music festival, starting the 27th of June until the 25th of July. Located at “Hippodrome delle Capannelle”(Via Appia Nuova, 1245) Prices varies depending on artist, for the program have look here: http://www.rockinroma.com/index.html

To celebrate the International Year of Astronomy proclaimed by the United Nations for 2009, in Tuscany, (especially in Pisa, Florence and Lucca) numerous initiatives, designed to pay homage to the genius of Galileo Galilei, will take place.

Pisa, the birthplace of the scientist will host many cultural and scientific organizations in the period from March 26th to October 25th, for example “Itineraries Galileiana” (May 29th to July 18th), a route with guided tours through Piazza XX Settembre, the Cathedral of Pisa,( birthplace of Galileo), Piazza Martiri della Libertà, Piazza dei Cavalieri, Borgo Stretto, Palazzo Reale and the Domus Galilean.

From Monday June 15th to Friday September 11 “Campi Solari Scientfici”, Comune, Ludoteca Scientifica, Department of Physics.

From September 25th to October 25th Mostra “Galileo al museo degli strumenti del calcolo” Museo degli strumenti del calcolo, Via Nicola Pisano 25 (Fondazione Galielo Galilei, Department of Physics)

Florence also give rise to numerous cultural and scientific initiatives spread around the city, among the most important we would like to point out from March 13th to 30th of August “Galileo. Immagini dell’Universo dall’Antichità al telescopio” an interesting exhibition which will take place at Palazzo Strozzi, near the Duomo Uffizi.

In the historical centre of Lucca, the Italian “Museum of Comics and Images” will offer from May 2nd to 31st of December, a visual journey of more than 400 tables entitled “E lucean the stars … Travel pictures and cartoons from microcosm to macrocosm Galilean Einstein “- Exhibition of the Italian Museum of Image Comics and Lucca . Open daily 10.00-19.00 except Monday,

For information: www.regione.toscana.it

Terme di Caracalla ; outdoors theatre and ballet at the Caracalla Baths. 1st-8th of July: A midsummer nights dream (Ballet) 14th–17th, 21st-22nd , 30th of July / 4th + 6th of August : Tosca (opera in three acts) 29th of July/ 31 July – 2nd of August / 5th of August / 7th - 9th of August : Carmen.

Villa Celimontana Jazzfestival, Jazz music and resturants in the villa behind colloseo. From the 18th of June to the14th of September, prices varies depending on artist, for the program in english have a look at : http://www.villacelimontanajazz.com/eng/index.html

Roman Nights at the Marcellus Theatre “The Tempietto Concerts”(classical music) From Friday 5th of June to Sunday September 27th every evening at 8.30 p.m. In the Archeological Park of the Teatro di Marcello, in the area between the imposing structure of the Theatre and the light columns of the Temple of Apollo Sosiano and the grand Portico of Octavia. The concerts will take place even in case of rain: the beautiful Basilica of San Nicola in Carcere of the X century (Via del Teatro di Marcello, 46) will provide a shelter both for the musicians and the public.

Tickets: € 18,00 , For program and info go to : www.tempietto.it

Lungo il Tevere Roma, From the 19th of June to the 30th of August. Along the riverbank, between the Ponte Sisto bridge and the Palatino bridge, a festival offering food and cloths stands, bars, theatre and music. The festival continues on the Tiber Island ( for a Hotel Here visit WRH Trastevere Hotel )where you will also find the outdoor cinema (films in Italian) For the program in english have at : http://www.isoladelcinema.com/index.php

More events in Rome are coming soon

The municipality of Venice makes a wireless network to offer even to those who visit Venice innovative services, such as buying tickets online for public transport, access to parking and especially the entrance to public Museums, all at a price granted. Access to the hot spots, available in most areas of interest, will have a modest price for tourists. The main areas covered by the wireless network of Venice are Piazza San Marco, the area of the station at Piazzale Roma, the entire route of the Grand Canal, Campo San Polo, Campo San Zaccaria, and many others. All the hot spots are active from July 3 for citizens and for tourists in September. Reservations online for public services must be made at least 7 days prior to arrival in Venice. Fore more informations please visit veniceconnected.com

DEDICATED TO THE LOVERS

“Sonnet n° 128″ William Shakespeare

How oft when thou, my music, music play’st,

Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds

With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway’st

The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,

Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap,

To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,

Whilst my poor lips which should that harvest reap,

At the wood’s boldness by thee blushing stand!

To be so tickled, they would change their state

And situation with those dancing chips,

O’er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait,

Making dead wood more bless’d than living lips.

Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,

Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss.

The six senses of Venice

…never has the Venetian carnival been so attractive as this years festival, planned and organised for the lovers of all our senses! Each “sestiere”(quarter) is transformed into a wonderful meeting point. This years theme is the six senses… one sense for each “sestiere”! Among the several programs of the city quarter of Castello, one of them will be dedicated to “Dialogue in the dark” an exhibition taking place completely in the dark, where is will be possible to see only by using your hands. While the “sestiere” of Santa Croce will be dedicated to the sense of smell, open theatres’ will be performing enthralling plays, and with the use of special effects like “odorama”, filling the air with perfumes, you will experience an original sensation using very much your sense of smell. San Polo… “the sight”, entirely dedicated to the children, will host different attractions for the little ones, playing with make-up, offering different kind of sweets and a lot of shows. Cannaregio will be the “Kingdom of Taste” here you’ll find some of the of the world’s biggest chefs putting on a show through their culinary art, doing real demonstrations and giving lessons, furthermore al along Cannaregio sculptures of food and chocolate will be exhibited. The neighbourhood of Dorsoduro, will represent the sense of hearing, and here you will obviously find many intense music sessions. The last sense and “sestiere” is San Marco, dedicated to the thought and the power of our mind, among the many events, historical commemorations and exciting music will be taking place. And of course all the historical events of the Carnival of Venice, such as: Il Volo dell’ Angelo, Marie’s parade , il Bagno degli Ibernisti, il Volo dell’Asino, the traditional masks parades, lots and lots of music and of course the big challange.., best mask of the year . To sum it up, basicly 11 days to ejoy fully, with all your senses open wide… Have fun!

Rome, the eternal city, still today preserves many traditions, some of which are known and some are hidden. Among these we will mention a few examples from the kitchen. Many recipes and tastes are kept the same as the ones of the past, using genuine ingredients and a traditional cooking that has been transmitted until now…It’s the case of the “Caffè di Sant’Eustachio” since 1938 a coffee shop where you can taste a unique toasted coffee, it is situated in the area of Pantheon and Piazza Navona, more precisely in P.zza Sant’Eustachio n.82. “Il Gelato di San Crispino” is irresistible and unique to both smell and taste, and the manual work is irreplaceable for the excellent results of it’s ice-cream. It is located in Via della Panetteria n.42, very close to Fontana di Trevi. Not far from Campo de Fiori (in Via dei Librari n.88), you’ll find “Er Filettaro a Santa Barbara” it is a well-known restaurant, especially for it’s fried stockfish filets, which one of the most famous and ancient of the roman dishes.

Of the different areas of Rome, called “Rioni”, the Monti area is the biggest one. Stretching from Via Nazionale, to the Coliseum and all the way to the basilica San Giovanni in Laterano. Here you will find the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Opera House of Rome, and the Roman Forum, just to mention a few. The area with it’s old buildings is beautiful and typical roman, and contains a few of the most important sites of the city. The small streets surrounding Piazza Madonna dei Monti are mixed with bigger streets, such as via Cavour and via Fori Imperiali. The convenience of staying in here is that you will easily walk to the Colloseum or the roman forum and at the same time be close to the main station where all the public transport moves from. After having experienced the Colosseum, pay a visit to the medival church Santa Prassede, then leave via cavour behind you and enter the more characteristic part of the area. Apart from just admiring the beautiful buildings surrounding you, you will also find yourself in one of the oldest parts of the city which is becoming more and more interesting, small boutiques are popping up everywhere, often with young emerging designers, within clothes, furniture and handcraft. Here you will easily find restaurants of quality both economical and more expensive or if you prefer a small intimate wineries. Although the Monti area truly has many things to offer, it always seems to have a feeling of calm to it.

Photo by Maria Dahlberg