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Friday 2-9-12 Snow in Rome…again?

admin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:09:58 +0000

Last substantial snowfall in Rome occurred in 1986. The cold snap, with temperatures hovering at or just below the freezing point stopped visitors from entering the Colosseum, the adjacent Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. On the steep streets in the Trastevere Monteverde neighborhood near the ancient Janiculum Hill, many buses couldn’t make it up, and commuters and residents gingerly navigated the hill by foot. Cold and bad weather continued to affect the whole Italy, some areas are effectively paralyzed. Stay alert to weather the snow so that the central regions of Italy Roads Ministry has called on motorists not to travel in these areas.

San Gimignano, Tuscany

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:19:43 +0000

San Gimignano, Tuscany’s beautiful town built around the tenth century, is located in Val d’Elsa. In medieval times it became important due to the ( “Francigena road”) that passed close to the town. Today, San Gimignano, in addition to being protected by UNESCO, has important works of art. Just to name a few you can admire works by Filippino Lippi, Pinturicchio, Benozzo Gozzoli. Among many art sites are certainly worth visiting the Cathedral, where there are excellent frescoes of the Sienese school and the Florentine including Ghirlandaio, Benozzo Gozzoli, Jacopo della Quercia. Additional works of great artistic and historical importance are located within the Town Hall, the Museum of Sacred Art and Church of St. Augustine. Are also present in the Archaeological Museum, works and artefacts dating back to the Etruscan, Roman and Medieval age coming from excavations and finds in the municipality.

COME AND TASTE - Strada del Vino, Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Visits to the cellars and wine tasting in San Gimignano, Tuscany: transport by minibus from Piazza del Duomo, language help (English), a visit to the vineyards and to the cellars, guided tasting of wine, oil or grappa or vinsanto, with bruschette, pecorino cheese and Tuscan ham or salami.

Tuesday afternoon 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

to be booked by Monday by 6:00 p.m.

Thursday afternoon 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

to be booked by Wednesday by 6 p.m.

Fees: € 20,00 per person

Reduced fees for children

Accommodation:

Hotel Palazzo Mannaioni, a prestigious 4 star Hotel with roots from the 16th century…

What not to miss when in Rome:

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:44:56 +0000

Try the famous hand made ice cream. Eat the local dishes, Pasta alla Carbonara, Spaghetti all’Amatriciana, Carciofi alla Giudia, Saltinbocca and Supplì.

Museums: Galleria Borghese, Museo Massimo, Barberini, Capitoline, and Altemps.

Churches: San Crisogono, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Sant’Ignazio, Santa Susanna.

Views of Rome: Gianicolo Hill, the key hole on the Aventino Hill, Pincio Hill at Villa Borghese.

Alfa Miniguide – Vatican -

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:43:23 +0000

Vatican day

Start by visiting the biggest church in the world S.t Peter’s Basilica, and, if you want, climb the dome to get a full panorama view of the city. When done in the basilica, have lunch and then do the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Best time to visit this part is in the afternoon.
As the Vatican museum is vast, and contains a lot of interesting art, a guided tour would help you not to miss out any of the highlights. Once you done walk back passing Castel St Angelo, wander through the centre over the beautiful via dei Coronari or the via del Governo Vecchio, and reach Trastevere through the Ponte Sisto bridge.

Best days to visit the Vatican are Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sundays closed. To buy tickets: http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/

The Realism of Edward Hopper (1882-1967)

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:07:43 +0000

In Milan and Rome will hold the largest exhibition ever realized in Italy on Edward Hopper, one of the most popular American artists of the twentieth century and front figure of American Realism. In his works, mainly depicting the loneliness of human beings in contemporary society, portraits are often individuals who suffer passively surrounding environments, as overwhelmed by everyday life, of which they only marginally take part.
The exhibition, which includes over 160 works, is sponsored by the city of Milan with the collaboration of Fondazione Roma, Arthemisia of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Hermitage Foundation in Lausanne. The exhibition will begin Milan , October 15, 2009 to January 24, 2010 at the splendid setting of Palazzo Reale, at Piazza del Duomo, 12. In Rome the exhibition will be held from February 16 to June 13, 2010.

Milano 15/10/2009 – 25/01/2010
Palazzo Reale, Piazza del Duomo 12 Milano 20122
Tel +39 02 804062
http://www.comune.milano.it/palazzoreale/

Estate Romana Part 2

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:03:23 +0000

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

International Year of Astronomy 1609-2009

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:15:00 +0000

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

Estate Romana Part 1

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:57:15 +0000

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

Wireless network in Venice

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:33:30 +0000

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

Trevi Fountain Rome

admin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:44:19 +0000

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