RAVELLO - A MAGICAL PLACE TO VISIT
Ravello is one of the most magical towns in Italy. It had been four years since my last visit, so returning in September this year was a delight - and it reminded me just what I love about Ravello... its quaint piazza, pedestrian-only streets, the quiet and calm found nowhere else on the Amalfi Coast, beautiful villas and gardens, breathtaking views.
Unfortunately the Ravello Festival had finished a week before my visit, so I wasn't able to enjoy the incredible music this town is famous for. For anyone visiting in July and August attending an open-air performance during the festival is an absolute must-do, contact us for accommodation and festival ticket bookings. The festival is also known as the Wagner Festival, as his music is at the core of each year's programme (Wagner found inspiration in Ravello for his opera Parsifal).
Another Ravello highlight is Villa Cimbrone. For me, nothing can compete with the views from its Terrace of Infinity. Simply stunning. It is very easy to lose track of time here as you wander through the gardens - often you will see weddings in the cloisters and gardens. Ravello is a very romantic place.
Whether you choose to spend a number of relaxing days in Ravello, or just visit for the day, Ravello is a Passion For Italy highly recommended destination.
Click here to see our beautiful Ravello hotels. Click here for our Ravello cooking class.
VISITING MT ETNA
During my visit to Italy last month I spent 4 days in beautiful Taormina. From the terrace in the main square there is a fabulous view of the ever-present and, for this year at least, the ever-active Mt Etna… 18 eruptions in 2011 and counting!
On the afternoon of October 8th, Etna had a brief but violent eruption. The next morning my travelling companion and I decided to “play tourist” and drive out to Etna to take the cable-car to the top.
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TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN IN ITALY
Travelling Through Italy from Top to Bottom with Two Children by Kym Piero
You have chosen Italy for your family holiday. What a great decision and a wonderful experience for young and old. It is a beautiful country full of folklore, culture, history and fine food and wine. For all of you who are contemplating taking an overseas trip with children, a little forethought will go a long way. It is not such a daunting task although I’m sure you will ask yourself the same questions I asked myself. How will my children react to such a long journey? How will they adopt to new surroundings where everyone speaks another language? Let me put your mind at ease and allow me to give you a few tips that my husband and I found useful for our trip...
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO EAT OUT IN ITALY?
I travelled to Rome, Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Venice and Sicily on my recent visit to Italy in September and October. Over my 5 week stay, my travelling companion and I spent, on average, 40 euro between us when eating out for lunch or dinner.
We ate only in local trattoria (no fine dining experiences or Michelin Star restaurants), and normally ordered
- a pasta or main each
- a salad to share
- a large bottle of water to share
- a quarter or half litre of house wine to share (which in most cases was very enjoyable)
- a dessert to share
and more often than not the bill came to just under 40 euro, 20 euro per person – we would then normally round up the bill to leave a small tip.
Of course we sometimes splurged a little and had a dessert each, or if we were starving after a big day of sightseeing we may have had a pasta and a main each, or we had to order a second bottle of water (the weather was unseasonally hot during our visit – click here to read our blog entry for more details on travelling in Italy in Autumn), which meant the price was closer to 50 euro for the two of us.
A note on tipping:
Tipping is certainly not compulsory in Italy, although if the service and food has been good you may choose to. That said, you may see written on some menus that service isn’t included and in that case you should tip as much as the service warrants based on your dining experience.
We hope this helps with your trip planning and budgeting. When you become a Passion For Italy client we provide you with travel guides and restaurant information for all the destinations you are visiting.
CINQUE TERRE FLOODS LIGURIA
TOURISTS TO STAY AWAY FROM CINQUE TERRE
The villages of Vernazza and Monterosso, Cinque Terre in Liguria have been inundated by terrible flooding and mudslides with six people dead and now the villages are filled with mud and much damage. If you have planned a holiday in Cinque Terre in these coming weeks Passion for Italy Travel advises strongly to cancel and perhaps go to the Amalfi coast instead.
If you wish to donate money to help with the clean up please see the bank accounts to donate to on this blog site: www.littleparadiso.com
GIGI PROIETTI A GRAND ITALIAN COMEDIAN
I just have to show you these three videos of my favourite Italian comedian, actor and performer - Gigi Proietti! He is very very talented in all areas and very popular in Italy and has been for 30 years. Un grand Uomo!
Click on the links below: this first one they are asking as you can see 'What is the time?" then "How can you tell the time by lifting the cow's udder?"
It says it all about Italian humour - I think it is hilarious and it is this humour that I love about the Italian people. They always make me laugh. I think I laugh more in Italy than any place in the world.
Gigi Proietti - Le Barzellete Proietti
Gigi Proietti singing Nun me Rompe Ca'
WINTER IN ITALY
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ITALY?
Spring, Summer, Autumn (Fall) or Winter?
Each season in Italy has its benefits and drawbacks – our 4-part blog will give you ideas and information on how best to enjoy Italy, no matter the season.
WINTER - INVERNO
December, January, February
My first visit to Italy was in January 1995. I came in to the country by car from Austria and within minutes I was being overtaken by a speeding Italian driver on a blind alpine bend! Benvenuti in Italia! I eventually made my way to Rome – isn’t that where all the roads lead? – and even in wet, cold mid-January, the eternal city won me over.
Winter in Italy is captivating in its own way. There are very few tourists (except those who have come for the skiing), and with the Christmas lights, festivities and traditions December can be a lovely time to visit. January is normally the coldest month in Italy, and it can be a quiet month as the festivities of Christmas, New Year and the Feast of the Epiphany (see our Festivals In Italy - January) are over and life goes back to normal – unless you like winter sports and it’s all systems go!
AUTUMN IN ITALY
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT ITALY?
Spring, Summer, Autumn (Fall) or Winter?
Each season in Italy has its benefits and drawbacks – our 4-part blog will give you ideas and information on how best to enjoy Italy, no matter the season.
Having just returned from 5 weeks in Italy it seems appropriate that we start the blog with Autumn (Fall)…
AUTUMN (FALL) – AUTUNNO
September, October, November
Traditionally these months offer pleasant temperatures and significantly fewer crowds than summer, however my visits in recent years have proven to me that September and October can sometimes be just as hot and as busy as summer...
HOLIDAY IN ITALY
Do you have a whale of a problem organising your trip to Italy?
Researching a trip to a foreign country is very time consuming. If you are time poor and your time would be better off making money in your work then that is why Passion for Italy Travel is here to do this for you.
EPIPHANY FAIR IN PIAZZA NAVONA, ROME
On January 5th, the Piazza Navona opens up to a fair of toys, sweets, and other presents among the beautiful Bernini fountains. Nearly two weeks after Christmas, celebrations are still in full swing as the Piazza becomes a huge open air market for stocking fillers for La Befana (the Italian equivalent of 'Santa Claus') when she visits on the night of the 5th January.
WORDS OF WILLIAM HENRY CHANNING
"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, to all bravely await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony."
William Henry Channing (1810-1884)
Venice Naples to Host America's Cup Sailing Races
Naples, Italy, has agreed in principle to host two stops on the America’s Cup World Series; the first will be in April 2012, the second in May 2013. Designed to expose millions more people to the sport of high-performance racing, the new professional circuit was created to bring the America’s Cup experience to top international venues.
WHY THE ITALIAN LIFESTYLE HAS GOT IT RIGHT
After working with Italians for many years, I cannot help but be jealous of their lifestyle. Every time I return from Italy I am determined to try to adapt the same routine that I practiced in Italy. The first week I am motivated and keep it up, only to go into slow decline and by the end of week two, I am back to my old Western habits of a sandwich at the computer and working 12 hour days....
Nanni Moretti Concert in Rome Sept 20111
Nanni Moretti
Franco Piersanti
con
Orchestra Nazionale dei Conservatori
musiche di
Franco Piersanti e Nicola Piovani
Saturday 24/09/2011
Sala Santa Cecilia, h 21
Auditorium Parco della Musica, Viale Pietro de Coubertin, Flaminio, Roma.
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Dopo il grande successo di pubblico ottenuto nel passato mese di giugno, torna Nanni Moretti in palcoscenico. Un omaggio alla sua città e al suo pubblico. Per una serata, il cineasta che ha rappresentato l’Italia a Cannes, ripercorrerà dal vivo i momenti salienti del suo cammino cinematografico. Sul grande palco dell’Auditorium di Roma, la musica, le parole e le immagini dei suoi film che gli hanno regalato tanti premi, ma soprattutto un ruolo primario nella storia del cinema e del nostro Paese.
E con lui, sulla scena a dirigere l’orchestra che suonerà dal vivo ci sarà Franco Piersanti, uno dei compositori con i quali ha lavorato da sempre. Il regista interpreterà monologhi dei suoi film, mentre le musiche eseguite dall’orchestra accompagneranno i testi scelti per l’occasione e sul grande schermo scorreranno alcune sequenze dei film di Moretti.
Un evento unico, ideato dal regista con la Fondazione Musica per Roma, concepito appositamente per la grande sala Santa Cecilia.
FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2011
From the 14th December 2011 to the 15th January 2012 the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup will be held at various ski resorts in the north of Italy including; Val Gardena-Groeden, Alta Badia, Cortina d'Ampezzo and Bormio.
THE CULTURE OF FOOD IN ITALY
The culture of Food in Italy is different to other countries I have visited. Bebe Severgnini the famous Italian journalist writes more humourly and succinctly about Italians than I do because he is one. He takes you inside the Italian mind and I find myself constantly chuckling while reading them because they are so true. Here are some of his direct quotes from his book “An Italian in Italy” about Italians and their food:-
“Italians are the consummate professionals of culinary consumption. No one in Europe eats the way we do.”..For centuries, Italians have sought and usually found, consolation at the table. We don’t think that a sauce is tasty or that an olive oil is good. We know it is. We may lie, of course, out of politeness or calculation. But that too is a touch of artistry; if you think about it. Note that I’m talking about all Italians, not just a hard core of gastronomes...Read More....
BOLOGNA MOTOR SHOW
Bologna Motor Show3rd - 11th December 2011, Bologna
This year the Bologna Motor Show will take place over nine days, from the 3rd to the 11th December 2011. Over the years the Bologna Motor Show Racing Area has hosted exceptional high powered cars: From Ferrari F1 to Toyota Camry Nascar Racing, from Le Mans dominant Audi R10 TDi to drag racing with exciting acceleration contests, not to mention the beloved WRC rally cars, the Super Tourist cars, the GT exclusive cars and the Monoposto.
DAVID HENDERSON ART EXHIBITION BRISBANE
David Henderson is a Brisbane artist based in Venice and Australia. His most recent works will be showing at Graydon Galleries from 26th August to 4th September. This exhibition will include paintings, drawings and watercolours of Venice, Istanbul, the nude and interiors.
Passion For Italy clients are invited to the opening of the exhibition in Brisbane:
Friday 26th August, 6-8pm
Graydon Gallery
29 Merthyr Road, New Farm
Works will be available for purchase on the evening and throughout the duration of the exhibition, 26th August - 4th September.
To see David's work, visit www.davidhenderson.com.au
VENICE TAX - L'IMPOSTA DI SOGGIORNO
Venice is a unique city in the world, with more than 20 million visitors every year.
From the 24th of August 2011, all visitors who stay in an accommodation facility within the territory of the Municipality of Venice have to pay the “Tourist tax”. The Venetian council refers to it as an opportunity for you to become one of the city's sponsors, contributing to its safeguarding.
The collected funds will help the City improve the quality of the tourist services (services, museums, events,…) and finance works aimed at maintaining, using and salvaging the city’s cultural and architectural heritage.
THE PER PERSON TAX IS DUE ONLY FOR THE FIRST FIVE DAYS OF STAY.
The tax varies depending on the season (high or low), and the type (5* hotel, b&b's etc) and location (Venice, Lido and the other islands, mainland) of the accommodation you are staying in. For example:
A 5* hotel in Venice - the tax is 5 euro per person per night in the high season, 2.5 euro in low season.
A 4* hotel is 4 euro per person per night in the high season, 2 euro in the low season.
A b&b in Venice in the high season is 3 euro per person per night, 1.5 euro in low season.
The taxes are cheaper for accommodation on Lido and the other islands and the mainland.
When you book accomodation with Passion For Italy we will inform you of the exact amount of the tax for your accommodation.
CHILDREN UNDER 10 YEARS OF AGE ARE EXEMPTED, JUVENILES BETWEEN 10 AND 16 YEARS OF AGE BENEFIT FROM A 50% REDUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES ARE ALSO EXEMPTED: PATIENTS UNDERGOING REHABILITATIVE THERAPIES AT HEALTH FACILITIES IN THE CITY AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS; TOUR COURIERS AND TOUR COACH DRIVERS.
IMPOSTA DI SOGGIORNO
Venezia è una città unica al mondo!Più di 20 milioni di visitatori ogni anno si meravigliano davanti allo spettacolo che la Città offre.
Ai fini di tutelarne il patrimonio artistico, dal 24 agosto 2011 il Comune di Venezia ha introdotto un'imposta di soggiorno per i visitatori che pernottano nella cittá lagunare: una piccola somma che contribuirà alla sua salvaguardia. I fondi raccolti saranno infatti utilizzati per migliorare la qualità dell’offerta turistica (servizi, musei,eventi,…) e per finanziare interventi di manutenzione, fruizione e recupero dei beni culturali ed architettonici.
L'IMPOSTA É DOVUTA SOLO NEI PRIMI 5 GIORNI DI PERMANENZA
Il suo importo varierá a seconda della stagione (alta o bassa), del tipo di struttura ricettiva (hotels, B&B, appartamenti) e dell'area in cui si pernotta (Venezia, Lido, altre isole, terraferma). Ecco alcuni esempi:
Per un Hotel a 5 stelle a Venezia, l'imposta giornaliera ammonterá a 5 euro per persona in alta stagione e 2,5 euro in bassa stagione;
Per un Hotel a 4 stelle a Venezia, l'imposta giornaliera ammonterá a 4 euro per persona in alta stagione e 2 euro in bassa stagione;
Per un B&B a Venezia, l'imposta giornaliera ammonterá a 3 euro per persona in alta stagione e 1,5 euro in bassa stagione;
Per gli alberghi e gli alloggi al Lido, nelle isole lagunari o in terraferma, l'importo giornaliero dell'imposta sará inferiore. Prenotando una struttura ricettiva con Passion for Italy, vi informeremo puntualmente sull'ammontare esatto dell'imposta prevista per la vostra sistemazione.
I BAMBINI AL DI SOTTO DI 10 ANNI SONO ESENTI. SCONTI DEL 50% SONO APPLICATI PER I GIOVANI DAI 10 AI 16 ANNI DI ETÀ. SONO INOLTRE ESENTI I MALATI IN TERAPIA RIABILITATIVA PRESSO LE STRUTTURE SANITARIE CITTADINE E I LORO FAMILIARI; GLI ACCOMPAGNATORI TURISTICI E GLI AUTISTI DI AUTOBUS TURISTICI.
MT ETNA SICILY ERUPTING 2011
Mt Etna Sicily's volcano is currently erupting and has been since May. If you are interested in volcanos it is a spectacular site to see especially at night with the red lava flowing down the side of the large mountain. If you are flying into Catania airport Passion for Italy suggests that you contact the Italian Government tourist bureau for information before you fly as well as your travel agent.
As Etna regularly errupts the locals are used to it and are rather a tad easy going about it. This is why we recommend that you do not book your own flights yourself in and out of Italy but through travel agents that know what is currently happening in Italy - otherwise you could find yourself stuck in Catania with flights delayed or cancelled. What was the name of that book - "Sleeping under a volcano"!!!
The videos are rather spectacular - have a look!
