The city of Milan

The most important religious constructions you can admire in Milan are:

The Cathedral or Duomo

The Sant’Ambrogio Basilica

This is a beautiful Romanesque basilica dedicated to the Milan’s Patron Saint. Inside this church you can see important finds and artistic works that testify 1600 years of history of this city. This basilica is preceded by a squared porch carrying on its façade five wide arches and two lateral towers.

The Sant’Ambrogio Basilica

The Sant’Eustorgio Basilica

This is a wonderful medieval construction  built at the beginning of the XIV century for the Bishop Eustorgio who moved from Constantinople to Milan carrying the Magi’s memorabilia that are stll now preserved in the namesake Chapel.

The Sant’Eustorgio Basilica

The San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica

This church is placed in front of the Roman Columns being the unique evidence of a III century temple. This wonderful construction is characterized by many stylistic superimpositions due to the different restorations it underwent throughout time. Here you can note Paleochristian elements (like its mosaics) mixed with more recent features like its XVII century dome and its XIX century façade.  

The San Lorenzo Maggiore Basilica

The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie

This church was built during the XV century but it was successively finished by Bramante who created its wonderful Tribune, its Cloister and its Old Sacristy. In its refectory called Cenacolo Vinciano you can see the wall ornamented with “The Last Supper” painted by Leonardo da Vinci.

The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie

The other buildings that testify the history of this Italian city are:

The Sforzesco Castle

The Monumental Cemetery

This big Byzantine cemetery was constructed during the XIX century: its central part, called “Famedio”, is the burial-place of very important national and international personalities like Alessandro Manzoni, Salvatore Quasimodo, Eugenio Montale and Maria Callas. This cemetery is full of funeral monuments like statues, chapels and other artistic works made by famous Italian artists.

The Famedio

The Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale)

This is a very ancient palace placed in Duomo Square and built during the XII century. In the past it was the symbol of the political power in Milan but now it is used as a seat for temporary exhibitions. The “Sala delle Cariatidi” surely represents the most fascinating room of this palace: this is the sole neoclassic room that lived through the II World War bombings. It hasn’t been deliberately reconstructed in order to make people think about all the terrible consequences of war.

The Royal Palace

The Arco della Pace (The Peace Arch)

At the centre of the Sempione Square there is this imposing monument built during the Napoleonic period and characterized by an high of 25 meters. This is a neoclassic construction ornamented by marble statues and Corinthian columns. On its top there is the striking bronze “Sestiga” (a chariot drawn by six horses).

The Arco della Pace

The Scala Theatre

The San Lorenzo Columns

This is the sole Roman monument remained in Milan. It is made up by 16 columns placed in front of the San Lorenzo Basilica: they are the ruins of an ancient Roman temple.

The San Lorenzo Columns

Staying in Milan you can also visit several museums like:

Villa Belgioioso Bonaparte

This construction (also called “Villa Reale”) was built during the end of the XVIII century being one of the most important example of neoclassic architecture in Europe. Inside this villa there are wide halls ornamented by wonderful stuccos and decorations. You should admire the beautiful living room’ fresco titled “Parnaso” by Andrea Appiani. Outside there is a wonderful English style garden.

In this villa there is the Modern Art Gallery called “GAM – Galleria d’arte Moderna” where you can admire the best Italian artistic works made during the XIX century. In this collections there also are statues by Canova, portraits by Bossi and Appiani, and works by Hayez, Segantini and Medardo Rosso. At the end of this collection there is the very famous painting titled “Quarto Stato” by Pellizza da Volpedo.

In this Villa’s stables there is the “PAC – Padiglione dell’Arte Contemporanea“. This gallery is the seat of exhibitions dedicated to the Italian and International Contemporaneous Art.

Villa Belgioioso Bonaparte is placed in Palestro street at the entry of the “Indro Montanelli” public gardens.

Villa Belgioioso Bonaparte

The Cenacolo Vinciano

The Scala Theatre Museum

In this interesting museum you can find several collections of costumes and theatrical set designs that are very important from a cultural and a historical point of view. Some rooms are focused on the Scala Theatre’s architecture and on the life of the famous Italian music maker Giuseppe Verdi. Visiting the other rooms you can see ancient musical instruments, curtains and costumes that belonged to great artists like Maria Callas and Rudolf Nureyev.

The Brera Pinacoteca

This art gallery was built in 1809 by Napoleon becoming the ideal place to preserve a great number of  artistic works “confiscated” from churches and monasteries all around Europe. Here you can see works made from the XIV century to the XX century admiring masterpieces by Piero della Francesca, Raffaello, Mantenga, Bramante and by Caravaggio. In the courtyard there is a wonderful Canova’s statue representing Napoleon.

The Brera Pinacoteca

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

This art gallery is placed in the namesake palace placed in the very centre of Milan. This is the most ancient museum in this city containing beautiful paintings by Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello and Botticelli. Here there also is an important library containing ancient codes, manuscripts and books.

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

The Ancient Art Museum

This museum is placed in the Sforzesco Castle containing very important sculptures created between the IV and the XVI century: here you can see for example the funeral monument of Gastone di Foix and the “Pietà Rondinini” by Michelangelo.

The Museum of Science and Technique

This museum is dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci and it is placed in an ancient monastery. This is one of the most interesting scientific museums in the world: here you will find a surface of 40.000 square metres used to organize many exhibitions focused on scientific subjects like astronomy or  information technology. You should admire the samples and the machineries created according to the Leonardo da Vinci’s plans.

The Museum of Science and Technique

The Alessandro Manzoni’s Museum

This museum is precisely placed in the house where this famous Italian writer lived with his family from 1814 to 1873. His office looks exactly like it did when he died. Visiting this house you can also see all his portraits and heirlooms.

Opening days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Opening Hours: From 9:00 to 12:00 A.M. – From 14:00 to 16:00 P.M.
Free Entry.

The Alessandro Manzoni’s Museum

The Triennale

This is the veritable temple of the Italian design. In the Art Palace’s  big halls there are: the Permanent Collection of Italian Design, the Architecture’s Gallery, the Coffee Design, the Art Book (a well-provided library of design books) together with other spaces dedicated to international events and to catering. 

The Triennale

To discover the most romantic and fascinating side of Milan you should visit the characteristic Navigli zone: those called “Navigli” are some artificial canals that date back to the XII century.

The "Navigli" zone

Today the Naviglio Grande (the Big Naviglio) and the Naviglio Pavese (that connects Milan to Pavia) represent two very fascinating places because they are surrounded by old and characteristic houses, by antique stores, and by a great number of clubs and pubs.

The Naviglio Grande

The Naviglio Grande at night

In this Navigli area you can see:

The Milan‘s Exhibition Centres called FieraMilano Rho – Pero and  Fieramilano City:

Fieramilano Rho – Pero

Fieramilano is the biggest trade show in Europe and a real masterpiece of contemporaneous architecture. Rho – Pero is one of the most important exhibition areas in the world thanks to its surface of 345.000 square metres, to its excellent services, to its innovative design, materials and technologies. The Milan’s subway directly arrives into this area that will be the seat of the “EXPO 2015″.

The Fieramilano Rho - Pero

Fieramilano City

This exhibition area is placed in the urban centre being today characterized by a new futuristic, technologic and eco sustainable structure made up by 36 conference centres and by a beautiful auditorium.

The Fieramilano City

Tortona Street

This a fascinating street just like all its surrounding area that in the past was full of abandoned factories. Now this zone is the centre of creative activities like photo and design studios, theatrical laboratories and big cultural foundations. Here there are some famous places like Superstudio Più and Superstudio 13 (the seat of the Fashion Week), the Museum of Cultures and Cities and the Arnaldo Pomodoro Foundation dedicated to the famous contemporaneous sculptor.

Tortona Street

The Brera District

This is one of the most exclusive places in Milan characterized by the presence of open-air cafés and boutiques. This zone includes Brera Street, Pontaccio Street, Corso Garibaldi and Corso Como being ornamented by XVIII century palaces like the famous Brera Palace that is the seat of the “Pinacoteca”.

The Brera District

Staying in Milan you can also go for a walk in one of the beautiful public gardens of this city like:

The Parco Nord (North Park)

This park is placed in the northern part of Milan: here you can have a rest being surrounded by limes, horse chestnuts, hawthorns and hazels exploring veritable woods made up by poplars and maples. Other two beautiful parks are Parco Sempione and the Fun & Fun recreation ground especially dedicated to children.

The Parco Nord

The Parco Sempione (Sempione Park)

This park is placed behind the Sforzesco Castle with all its small lakes, its lawns, its woods and its small bridges. The most important monuments of this park are the Napoleonic Arena, the Tower planned by Giò Ponti and the Milan’s Triennale.

The Parco Sempione

The Porta Venezia Gardens

These beautiful gardens are placed between Palestro street and Porta Venezia. Here you can admire different flora species together with many monuments dedicated to important personalities of the Italian history. 

The Porta Venezia Gardens

In Milan other places that deserve your attention are:

The Vittorio Emanuele Gallery

This gallery was built in 1870 and it is called the “Milan’s drawing room”: walking through its Latin cross structure made up by glass and iron you can see ancient cafés, restaurants, boutiques and historical libraries. 

The Vittorio Emanuele Gallery

The Mercanti Square 

This square is placed near the Milan’s cathedral and it is surrounded by beautiful historical palaces belonging to different periods like the Palazzo della Ragione (1200), the Loggia degli Osii, the Scuole Palatine Palace (1600) and the Giureconsulti Palace.

The Mercanti Square

The San Babila Square

This square is placed in the very urban centre of this city being connected to the Duomo Square by the street called Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Many buildings surrounding this square were built during the fascist period.

The San Babila Square

The S. Fedele Square

This square is ornamented by two important XVI century monuments: one of them is the Church of San Fedele and the second one is the Marino Palace that today is the seat of the Milan’s municipality.

The Church of San Fedele and the Marino Palace

In Velasca Square there is a tower that is a sort of strange skyscraper that becomes larger after its 18° floor.

The tower in Velasca Square

In the square called Piazza delle Meraviglie d’Oro there is Porta Romana that was the ancient official entry of this city.

The Porta Romana

All the districts surrounding the two streets called Via Monte Napoleone and Via Della Spiga are the centre of economy and industry. Here you will find all the flagship stores of the most important fashion brands of the world. Via Monte Napoleone is the most famous and luxurious street in Milan forming together with Via della Spiga, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Pietro Verri the so-called “Fashion Quadrilateral”.

Via Monte Napoleone

The Pirelli Skyscraper

This is one of the most famous symbols of Milan. This building (also called “Pirellone”) is placed in Duca d’Aosta Square where there also is the Central Railway Station. This is an important architectonical work typical of the Italian rationalism: thanks to an high of 123 metres it is one of the highest reinforced concrete buildings in the world.

The Pirelli Skyscraper

The Giuseppe Meazza or  San Siro Stadium

The two famous local football teams are the A. C. Milan and the Inter. In this stadium you can watch important football matches with all the characteristic supporters’ choreography. In this construction, that can contain 80.000 people, there also is the unique football museum in Italy.

The Giuseppe Meazza or San Siro Stadium

For your nightlife you can choose among a long series of cafés, wine bars, pubs, clubs and discos that are mostly placed in the zones surrounding Porta Ticinese, the Navigli and Porta Romana.

Gastronomy

Typical Milan’s gastronomical products are the Salame di Milano (Milan’s Salami), made up by thinly minced pork and beef meat, and cheeses: among them there are the Mascarpone and the Gorgonzola with its sharp and persistent flavour. This creamy cheese characterized by its typical mould blue-veins can be also used to season first courses or to flavour the polenta (the Italian cornmeal porridge).

The Salame di Milano

The Mascarpone

The Gorgonzola

Other local cheeses are the Crescenza and the Stracchino made up by a smooth milk cream that can be spread on bread or accompaigned with raw vegetables.

The Crescenza

The Stracchino

In Milan before dinner you should usually have an aperitif because this is has become a well-established custom in this city. Among all the possible drinks you can choose there is the classical Negroni cocktail (made up by bitter aperitif, Gin, Red Martini and ice) that you can drink eating some appetizers. After that you can go to one of the several Milanese restaurants specialized in traditional food.

The Negroni cocktail

As first course you can choose the classic “Risotto alla Milanese” prepared with a full-bodied beef broth and saffron.

As second dish you can eat the classical “Cassoeula”: this is a very nourishing dish made up by different “poor” parts of pork meat (spare ribs, rinds, legs and ears) cooked with cabbage and with other vegetables. If you aren’t so courageous you can choose the traditional “Cotoletta alla Milanese” that is a veal cutlet in breadcrumbs. Another option is represented by the “Vitello Tonnato” that is veal dressed with a sauce made up by tuna, mayonnaise, anchovies and capers.

The “Vitello Tonnato”

You can better appreciate all these dishes drinking one of the most known local wine: the Barbera dell’Oltrepò Pavese.

At Christmas you can finish your meal with a delicious slice of “Panettone”: this is the typical dome-shaped cake with sultanas and candied fruit that become even more delightful if accompaigned with the traditional cream made up by mascarpone cheese.

The “Panettone”

Traditions

The “Oh bej, oh bej” Traditional Fair

The “Carnevale Ambrosiano” with its typical masks

The Magi Parade

Events:

The Scala Theatre Opera Season

Milano Capitale della Moda (Milan, Fashion Capital)

The Craftsmanship Fair (Fiera dell’Artigianato)

The International Furniture Trade Show (Fiera del Mobile)

Milano World Press Photo

Vinilmania

Giornata FAI di Primavera  (The Spring FAI Day): During the third week-end of May many Milan’s historical palaces and monuments, usually closed during the rest of the year, can be visited thanks to this special event that aims at inviting inhabitants and tourists to discover all those beautiful places that are often inaccessible.

How to arrive

By Car

Milan is connected to all the Italian highways that will lead you to the wide orbital road of this city: coming from Turin, Venice and Verona you should go through the A4 highway, coming from Bologna, Florence and Rome you should go through the A1 highway, coming from Genoa and from the Liguria region you should go through the A7 highway. You  have also to know that leaving from Milan through the A8/A9 highway you can easily reach the Como Lake and the Lake Maggiore.

The Milan’s orbital road is divided into three parts: East orbital road (Tangenziale Est), West orbital road (Tangenziale Ovest) and North orbital road (Tangenziale Nord).

By Train

Milan is at the middle of many national and international railway lines. The main railway station is which one called “Milano Centrale” that is very closed to the urban centre. Many trains leave everyday from this railway station connecting this city to all the Italian territory and to foreign nations like France, Swiss, and Germany.

From the other railway station called “Milano Cadorna” you can catch the “Malpensa Express” train that will lead you to the Malplensa Airport.

By Plain

In Milan there are two aieports:

The Intercontinental Malpensa Airport (MXP) is the main one of this city to which it is connected through the Malpensa Express train and through the buses of the Malpensa Shuttle service.

The Linate Airport (LIN) is just used for national and European flights. From this airport you can catch a bus service that will bring you to the main railway station called “Milano Centrale”. The Intercontinental Malpensa Airport and the Linate Airport are connected to each other by the Air Pullman shuttle service.

The International Airport of Orio al Serio (BGY) is the first low cost airport in Italy being 45 km far from Milan. This airport is connected to the Milan’s main railway station through a bus service carried out by the two companies called “Autostradale” and “Locatelli Air Pullman“.

…Enjoy your stay in Milan!

Verona is the city of love: it was chosen by Shakespeare as the scenario for the most famous love story in the world: the tragic relationship between Romeo and Juliet whose gothic houses can be still seen visiting this city.

However staying in Verona you can discover much more: art, history, music, theatre, nature and delicious wines and food. The well preserved historical centre of this city is very ancient and wide making Verona one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities in Italy. For all this reasons it has been firstly defined by the UNESCO as the Capital of Music and Poetry and successively, in 2001, it was included in the World Heritage List.

The city of Verona

Verona is the city of opera: in summertime its Roman amphitheatre called Arena is the seat of the most important Opera season in the world fascinating every time 16.000 international spectators.

The Verona Arena

Verona also is the city of art and history: this city’s origins date back to more than 2000 years ago. Here you can admire all the architectonical styles: the Roman, the Romanesque, the Gothic, the Renaissance, the Baroque, the Neoclassical and the Liberty one. All the local churches can be considered some veritable museums thanks to presence of several frescos, paintings and sculptures made by great Italian artists like Pisanello, Andrea Mantenga, Tiziano and Paolo Veronese. For this reason a guided tour of the city is required to better admire all its marvels.

Before touring throughout Verona by foot you can do a tour by bus to reach all those monuments that are too far from the historical centre like the church of San Zeno, Castelvecchio, the Arco dei Gavi, Porta Borsari (I century After Christ),  the church of San Giorgio, the bridge called Ponte Pietra and the Roman Theatre.  By bus you can finally reach the hills surrounding Verona called “Torricelle”: from this point you can see a wonderful landscape of this city. After that you can visit all the historical centre by foot.

The Medieval Period

The Verona’s monuments built during the Middle Age are:

The Church of San Zeno

This is a beautiful Romanesque basilica placed at the middle of the namesake square with its façade made up by tufa stones and rose-coloured marble.

The Church of San Zeno

Beside this construction there was a Benedictines’ monastery whose crenellated tower is visible still today together with its beautiful Romanesque-gothic cloister ornamented by several little red marble columns.

The Romanesque-gothic cloister

Inside this church you can admire many frescos and a wonderful wooden ceiling. On the main altar there is the Renaissance painting by Andrea Mantegna and on the main door there are beautiful bronze tiles that date back to the XII and to the XIII century. In the crypt there are the memorabilia of San Zeno who is the Verona’s Patrona Saint celebrated on the 21th of May.

San Zeno Church's beautiful frescos and wooden ceiling

This church is placed in San Zeno Square where, according to tradition, Tommaso Da Vico in 1531 gave to inhabitants a devise to organize every year a feast with dumpling, cheese and wine: this is the legendary origin of the Verona’s Carnival.

Castelvecchio

This castle was built by the Scaligeri family during the XIV century. Even if it seems to be just a single construction it is made up three perimeter walls. Its bridge is a veritable engineering masterpiece: it was built during the XIV century on a stretch of the Adige river and it is characterized by three arches. Crossing the wide courtyard of this castle you can arrive to the Museum placed inside this construction: here you can find other examples of Medieval art like Lombard’s manufactured products, Romanesque sculptures and gothic or Roman paintings. The most important work is the XIV century equestrian statue dedicated to Cangrande I della Scala.

Castelvecchio

The Church of San Lorenzo

This Romanesque church was built during the XII century: it is one of the most beautiful religious constructions in this region thanks to its bichromatic wall and to the presence of some towers on its façade. Inside this church you can admire the Main Altar’s XVI century painting and the right aisle ornamented by XIV and XVI century frescos.

During the weekdays you can visit this church from 10:00 h. A.M. to 18:00 h. P.M. and on Sunday or during public holidays from 13:00 h. A.M. to 18:00 h. P.M. Visits can’t be done during religious services.

The Church of San Lorenzo

The Verona Cathedral

The Church of Santa Anastasia

This Basilica was built during the XII century and it surely is the most relevant gothic religious monument in Verona. Externally you can see its unfinished façade with its splendid main door, its polychrome marbles, its relieves and its frescos.

The Church of Santa Anastasia

Inside this imposing church you can find 12 big white marble columns supporting gothic capitals. Its structure is based on a Latin cross divided into three aisles where there are splendid altars and wonderful chapels ornamented with paintings. Two very interesting features are the hanging grave of Cortesia di Serego and the famous “San Giorgio e la principessa” fresco by Pisanello placed above the Pellegrini Chapel.

The hanging grave of Cortesia di Serego

Many classic music concerts take place in this church thanks to its perfect acoustics.

The House of Romeo

The Arche Scaligere

The Arche Scaligere are gothic funeral monuments built during the XIV century by the Scaligeri family who wanted this construction to be noticed for its beauty and for its impressiveness.

The Arche Scaligere

Piazza dei Signori

This square is nicknamed the “Verona’s drawing room” thanks to its beauty and to the presence of many wonderful historical palaces like the Palazzo del Comune, the Loggia del Consiglio, the Palazzo del Governo. This place is also ornamented by many arches and by the statue dedicated to Dante Alighieri.

Piazza dei Signori

The Palazzo del Comune

This square’s beautiful and elegant lodge is considered the first Renaissance building of Verona. This is a veritable artistic masterpiece thanks to its sculptures and its pictorial decorations. Not so far from this monument there are the “Lion’s mouths”: the holes where, during the Venetian period, people put their secret denunciations against usurers, smugglers and plotters.

The Loggia del Consiglio

The Lamberti Tower

This tower was built in 1172 by the Lamberti family and during the next decades it reached a height of 83 meters becoming the highest tower in the city. Its internal structure is now used as a museum.

The Lamberti Tower

Piazza delle Erbe

This square covers quite completely the area of the Verona Roman Forum whose current shape dates back to the medieval recreations made by the Scaligeri family who added the Fountain of Madonna Verona, the Domus Mercatorum and the Gardello Tower. This square is surrounded by very important historical buildings and monuments like the Palazzo del Comune and the Lamberti Tower.

Piazza delle Erbe

Other features of this square are:

- The XIV century block of flats called “Case dei Mazzanti” and ornamented by frescos.

The "Case dei Mazzanti"

- The monumental Maffei Palace characterized by its terrace provided with an hanging garden full of citrus trees. You can also note this palace’s balustrade ornamented by statues.

The Maffei Palace

- The Gardello Tower provided with a bell used to beat hours.

The Gardello Tower

- The “Madonna Verona” Fountain that, with its central Roman statue, is the most ancient monument in this square.

The "Madonna Verona" Fountain

- The big white marble column supporting a Lion that was the symbol of the Venetian Domination.

Going on with your tour throughout the Medieval part of Verona you can also see:

The Juliet’s House

The Juliet’s Grave and the religious compound of San Francesco al Corso

The Church of San Fermo and Rustico

The Church of San Giovanni in Valle

This religious construction’s history is which one of three churches: the crypt dates back to the V-VI century, the second church was built by the Lombard during the VI-VII century but it was successively destroyed by the earthquake in 1117. The current Romanesque church dates back to 1120 being characterized by a simple façade, by three internal aisles, by its crypt and by a raised presbytery. At the right side of this construction there are the ruins of its beautiful Romanesque cloister and its squared bell tower. On the church’s wall there are sepulchral coats and memorial tablets. Inside this church you can admire some baroque altars of the inferior church, the main altar belonging to the superior one and a Renaissance baptistery.

In the crypt there are beautiful Greek marble sarcophaguses that date back to the early Christianity.

The Church of San Giovanni in Valle

The Church of Santo Stefano

This is one of the most ancient paleochristian basilicas in Verona because it was built during the V century. Externally it has a Romanesque structure: its XII century façade is characterized by typical bichromatic tufa stones and fire strips. Inside this church you will find three aisles full of paintings and beautiful chapels: the most important one among them is the baroque Innocenti Chapel.

The Church of Santo Stefano

The Roman Period

Verona was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire preserving still now the evidences of its glorious past: it is, in fact, the Italian city characterized by the greatest number of archaeological finds after Rome.

The Verona’s monuments belonging to the Roman period are:

The Gavi Arch (Arco dei Gavi)

This is the celebratory arch of an important Roman family and it was built during the I century after Christ. It is entirely made up by Verona white stones representing one of the rare examples of a very important Roman architectonical typology.

The Gavi Arch (Arco dei Gavi)

On the hill near Verona you can still see the tiers, the arches and the ruins of the Roman Theatre built during the I century after Christ and still used during summertime for the Opera Season called “Estate Teatrale Veronese” (“Theatrical Veronese Summer”)  and for the Verona Jazz festival’s concerts.

The Roman Theatre

The guided visit throughout the Roman part of Verona goes on into the urban centre where, watching through some circle windows of the Scaligeri’s palaces, you can admire some splendid mosaics of a Roman home. From this point you will reach Piazza delle Erbe where there was the Roman Forum destined to be successively modified during the Middle Age.

At the other side of this Roman area there are Porta dei Leoni with its double Republican and Imperial façade together with the ruins of the defensive walls. Following this ancient bastions you will reach the most important Roman monument in Verona: the Roman amphitheatre called Arena.

Porta dei Leoni

Another interesting evidence of the Roman domination also is Porta dei Corsari that was one of the two main entries of this city together with Porta dei Leoni.

The guided visit throughout the Roman side of Verona can be completed visiting these two museums:

The Archaeological Museum placed in the Roman Theatre: here you can see Greek pots, mosaics, sculptures, glass objects and ancient tools together with sacred and sepulchral inscriptions found all around this territory.

The Maffeiano Lapidary Museum: this is one of the most ancient European museums containing 650 very important finds like Greek, Latin, Arab and Jewish inscriptions.

The Venice’s Period

In 1404 Verona became part of the Venice’s Republic and so many winged lions (the symbol of Venice) were built all around this city.

The guided tourist route throughout the Venetian part of Verona starts from the Venetian walls where you can admire the Renaissance architectonical masterpieces by Michele Sanmicheli like the imposing Porta Nuova, Porta Palio and Porta San Zeno.

Porta Palio

The Verona’s monuments belonging to the Venetian period are:

The San Bernardino’s Monastery

Here you can admire the painting by Francesco Monsignori and the Pellegrini Chapel by Sanmicheli who took inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome. You can also visit the Morone Room full of frescos representing full size monks and an imposing Madonna with Child.

The San Bernardino’s Monastery

The church of San Giorgio

This church has a XVII century white marble façade carrying in its two lateral niches the statues of S. Giorgio and of S. Lorenzo Giustiniani. The rest of this construction is made up by fire and beside it there is the rebuilt striking cloister belonging to the ancient monastery. This church’s internal space is characterized by an unique nave containing many pictorial treasures.

The church of San Giorgio

The Austrian Period

After the Congress of Vienna, Verona became in 1815 part of the Austrian Empire. The Austrian engineers started to modify this city’s architectonical structure by building a formidable series of fortification.

You can visit these walls touring by bus or by foot noting how the Austrian interventions are perfectly mixed with the pre-existent Venetian structures. During this journey you can see the Neoclassical exterior of the Military Hospital and going through Porta Fura you can visit the interior of the Neoclassic Arsenal. After that you can also see the exterior of the Carli Palace: today this construction is the seat of NATO offices but in the past it was the residence of the Austrian Field Marshal Radetzky.

The Neoclassic Arsenal

Your tour throughout the Austrian part of Verona can successively go on in the urban centre arriving in the wide Bra Square characterized by the presence of many historical buildings. Here you can find a garden made up by Lebanese cedars, magnolias, firs and flowerbeds enriched by the presence of the fountain called “Fontana delle Alpi” (representing the relationship between this city and Munich) and by the statue dedicated to Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of Italy.

The Bra Square

Staying here you can visit the imposing neoclassical Barbieri Palace that was the seat of the Austrian army. Now it is the seat of the Verona’s municipality being also called “Gran Guardia Nuova”.

The neoclassical Barbieri Palace or “Gran Guardia Nuova”

In this square there also is the famous Arena and a big sidewalk called “Liston” that connects the shops’ street with the end of this square where there are the arches carrying a watch. Taking a walk on the Liston you can find many cafés and restaurants where you can have a rest tasting some delicious local dishes.

The "Liston" sidewalk

Other two features of the Austrian side of Verona are:

The San Pietro Castle

This construction dominates Verona being placed on the top of the San Pietro hill where there also is the Roman Theatre. This Neo-Romanesque castle was built for the Austrian army in 1851.

The San Pietro Castle

The Fortified Walls Park

The imposing Verona’s fortified walls extend more than 9km all around the historical centre being the biggest ones in Europe. In their completely preserved structure there are fortifications built between the XIII and the XIX century. They are divided into two parts by the Adige river being characterized by different features according to the particular nature of the soil (that is level on the right side of the river, and hill on its left side).

The Fortified Walls Park is made up by those fortifications built on the right side of the Adige river starting from the Basilica of San Zeno. Following the external perimeter of these walls you can see many ancient bastions.

The Fortified Walls Park

Other fascinating places that deserve your attention in Verona are:

The beautiful surrounding hills called “Torricelle” together with their territory where there are the forts of  San Mattia, of Santa Sofia, and of San Leonardo and the Massimiliane Towers (four Austrian towers built in 1837).

On the left side of the Adige river there are the Verona most ancient district called “Veronetta”, the monumental cemetery, the Porta Campo di Marzio and the Neo-gothic Santa Marta barracks.

The ancient “Veronetta” district

In Verona there also are many bridges and the most important ones among them are:

The Ponte Pietra (Stone Bridge)

This bridge is made up by five arches representing the sole Roman bridge survived in this city.

The Ponte Pietra (Stone Bridge)

The Ponte Scaligero (Scaligero Bridge)

This bridge (also called “Ponte di Castelvecchio“) is defined by historians as “the most admirable medieval construction in Verona”. It was built during the XIV century with a structure made up by three fire arches characterized by fortifications and battlements.

The Ponte Scaligero (Scaligero Bridge)

Public Gardens in Verona

The Giusti Garden

This is one of the most famous Italian gardens that was also visited by Cosimo de’ Medici, Goethe, and Mozart. In its inferior part there is a typical Italian garden made up by a box hedge, a labyrinth, by many cypresses, by mythological statues and by Roman epigraphs. In its superior part there is a wood where you can find rare herbs together with artificial rocks and caves. Following a path you can arrive at the top of the hill to see a wonderful landscape.

The Giusti Garden - By Thomas Frejek

Nature trails

In the past scientists called the surrounding Monte Baldo mountain range “Hortus Europae” because of the presence of an extraordinary variety of flora species. Staying in Verona you can easily reach this mountain through the new panoramic cableway. Thanks to this excursion you will discover that in this mountain territory there is an ethnic group that still preserves its own language and habits: this population is called “Cimbri”.

Reaching the Monte Baldo mountain range by cableway

The north-eastern part of this territory is part of the Lessinia Natural Park where you can visit:

the Bolca Fossils Museum: here you can find many fossils of tropical fishes found in this area;

The Veja Bridge made up by a big rocky arch recognized as a natural monument;

The Veja Bridge

The Molina Waterfalls Park where you can find wonderful waterfalls, green lakes and natural paths.

The Molina Waterfalls Park

In this plateau you can also do excursions, go mountain biking, do trekking or horse tourism.

The north-western part of this territory is delimited by the Garda Lake where you can also do many activities like sailing, windsurfing, diving or fishing. You can also do rafting on the Adige River, do paragliding on the Lessini hills and on the Monte Baldo, or you can have great fun going to all the fun fairs, the animal parks, and the golf fields that are placed very near to Verona. This city also is very closed to other beautiful Italian towns like Venice, Padova, Vicenza, and Mantova.

Finally you can also easily reach the Trentino region with its wide and magnificent Dolomites ski slopes.

Gastronomy

Staying in Verona you can drink a great variety of wines like which ones called the Amarone, the Valpolicella Superiore, the Bardolino, the Lugana, and the Soave.

There also are several typical gastronomical products like all the cheeses and cold cuts produced on the Lessini hills, the olive oil, the Garda lake’s fish and the Verona’s valleys rice.

As a first course you can choose the potatoes dumplings (gnocchi di patate), the pasta with beans or the “Pappardelle” with livers. As a second dish you can choose the boiled meat with “pearà” or the “pastissada de caval”.

The "pastissada de caval"

One of the most typical Verona’s dessert is the “Pandoro” traditionally cooked at Christmas.

Traditions

The Santa Lucia Feast

Events

The “Bacanal del Gnoco“, the Verona’s Carnival

Estate Teatrale Veronese (Theatrical Verona’s Summer)

The Verona Jazz Festival

The Nativity Sets International Exhibition in the Verona Arena

The Verona Opera Festival

The Summer concerts in the Verona’s Arena

Vinitaly

The St Valentine’s guided tour throughout Verona

TOCATI’ ! The international festival of traditional street games in Verona

The Verona’s trade fairs

How to arrive in Verona

By Plain

The Verona’s airport is called “Catullo/Villafranca” and it is 12km far from the urban centre. This airport is connected to the Verona Railway Station called “Porta Nuova” through a bus service that leaves every 20 minutes.

Thanks to several scheduled flights, Verona is connected to Milan Linate, to Rome and to the main southern and European cities.

By Train

The main railway station is which one called “Verona Porta Nuova” connected to the three railway lines Milan-Venice, Rome-Brennero and Verona-Mantova-Modena.

By Car

You can reach Verona going through these highways and free ways:

The SS11 free way called “Padana Superiore” that connects Milan to Venice crossing Brescia, Verona, Vicenza, Padova and Mestre;

The SS12 free way called “Dell’Abetone e del Brennero” that connects Brennero to Pisa crossing Bolzano, Trento, Verona, Modena, and Lucca;

The SS62 free way called “Della cisa” that conncets Verona to Parma;

The SS434 free way called “Tranpolesana” that connects Verona to Rovigo;

The A4 highway called “Serenissima” that connects Milan to Venice (you should take the Verona sud exit);

The A22 highway that connects Modena to Brennero (you should take the Verona Nord exit).

…Enjoy your stay in Verona!

The city of Naples

Naples is made up by many fascinating colours, sounds and scents that will ravish and seduce you.
The most important monuments and palaces you can see in this city are:

The magnificent Castel Nuovo or Maschio Angioino

 
The superb Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) and its Gardens

The Capodimonte Royal Palace and its Museum

The Castel dell’Ovo

This is an imposing fortified XII century construction that dominates the Naples seafront. You can visit this castle everyday : you can go for a walk inside this building admiring a striking landscape and visiting the “Room of the Columns” (Sala delle Colonne).

The Castel dell’Ovo

The Castel Sant’Elmo

This is a big star shaped construction built during the XIV century and used in the past as a prison. Being surrounded by bastions and pillboxes, it dominates all the city: from its terraces you can admire a wonderful landscape of the Naples gulf.

The Castel Sant'Elmo

The Carafa di Maddaloni Palace

This is one of the most important baroque palaces in Naples. Inside this construction you can admire valuable XVII and XVIII century Naples paintings.

The Como Palace

This building is the seat of the Gaetano Filangieri Artistic Museum that contains a wide collection of artistic works.

The Como Palace

The Gravina Palace

This is the seat of the college of Architecture representing an example of the Tuscany-Roman architectonical shapes that characterized Naples during the XVI century.

The Gravina Palace

The San Carlo Theatre

This is the temple of the Naples opera: this theatre was inaugurated in 1737 and restructured during the XIX century.

The San Carlo Theatre

The Prinicipe Gallery made up by iron and glass.

The Prinicipe Gallery

The Umberto I Gallery

The most important one among its four entries is which one in front of the San Carlo Theatre being characterized by a façade ornamented by marble statues and niches.

The Umberto I Gallery

Visiting Naples you should also admire its several squares:

The Plebiscito Square

This surely is the most famous an biggest square in Naples. At its centre there are two equestrian statues by Antonio Canova representing Ferdinando I and Carlo III di Borbone. This square is delimited by four constructions: the Chruch of San Francesco di Paola, the Royal Palace, the Salerno Palace and the Foresteria Palace. The Basilica’s semi-elliptic colonnade (that recalls which one of the San Pietro Basilica in Rome) particularly characterizes the shape of this square.

The Plebiscito Square

The Trieste and Trento Square

This square is famous for being characterized by all those constructions that represent the neoclassic part of Naples: here, in fact, you can admire the San Carlo Theatre, the Umberto I Gallery, the Caffè Gambrinus and the Church of San Francesco di Paola with its imposing colonnade.

The Trieste and Trento Square

The Gesù Nuovo Square

This is one of the most striking and characteristic squares of the historical centre and it is crossed by the famous street called Spaccanapoli. The namesake church is one of the best example of the Naples baroque and it will mostly fascinate you for its beautiful façade and its three main doors connected to each one of the three internal aisles. You should admire the opulent internal decorations of this church whose walls are covered by polychrome marbles. All the altars are ornamented with precious stones like plasmas, amethysts and lapis lazuli. On the opposite side of the Church of the Gesù, going through the Benedetto Croce street, there is the gothic façade of the XIV century Church of S. Chiara and its bell tower. In this church monastery you should visit the wonderful Cloister ornamented with majolica. Two other important elements of this square are the funeral monument of Roberto I d’Angiò and the Immacolata Obelisk.

The Gesù Nuovo Square

The Gesù Nuovo Church opulent internal decorations

The Church of S. Chiara with its Cloister

The Nilo Small Square

It is placed near the famous street called Spaccanapoli at the very beginning of San Biagio dei Librai street. So you can find this small square exactly in the middle of the historical centre and in fact it is nicknamed the “Naples Body”. The main feature of this square is its statue representing the Nile god as an old bearded man carrying a cornucopia. Leaving from this square and going through San Biagio dei Librai street you will reach after some minutes the famous nativity-sets artisans street called San Gregorio Armeno.

The Nile god statue

The Dante Square

This is one of the most well-travelled places in Naples and also an important touristic destination of this city because of the presence of the Carolino Forum: a semi cycle made up by a series of monumental churches that surround this square like the church of San Michele a Port’Alba, of Santa Maria di Caravaggio and  of San Domenico Soriano. At the centre of the square there is the Dante Aligheri monument by Tito Angelini.

The Dante Square

The Bellini Square

Here you can admire a part of the ancient tufa walls of the Greek-Roman city. This square has a rectangular shape and at its centre there is the Vincenzo Bellini monument: the famous music maker that in 1819 moved from Catania to Naples to study in the San Pietro a Maiella conservatory placed near this place. This is also an appreciated meeting point for young people and intellectuals thanks to the presence of many pubs and of a literary café.

The Bellini Square

The San Domenico Maggiore Square

This is one of the most beautiful Naples square placed exactly at the middle of the ancient “Neapolis”. Its characteristic features are the polygonal apse, the staircase of the namesake Church, the big central obelisk, the XVI century Corigliano Palace, the Sangro di Casacalenda Palace and the Petrucci Palace.

The San Domenico Maggiore Square

This square’s namesake church was built during the end of the XIII century but in its internal space the severe gothic lines are hidden by the next baroque decorations. This church is in fact full of very valuable artistic works like the frescos by Caravaggio.

The San Domenico Maggiore Church

The Municipio Square

This is a wide rectangular square whose centre is ornamented by an equestrian statue representing Vittorio Emanuele III.

Another very important feature of Naples is represented by its streets:

The Spaccanapoli Street

This is one of the most famous streets in Naples where art, tradition, history and local culture are mixed together. The name of this street (made up by seven different streets) can be understood by watching an overview of the city: you will suddenly note that this street precisely divides the historical centre into two parts. Going through Spaccanapoli means crossing the Naples history admiring many artistic treasures that recall the past of this city.

An overview of the Spaccanapoli Street

The Toledo Street

This is one of the main streets of this city where you can do shopping. Going through it you will find historical buildings, noble palaces, monumental churches, theatres, cafés and famous pastry stores, and many important brands boutiques.

The Toledo Street

The Caracciolo Street

This is a part of the Naples seafront. At the beginning of it you can admire the XVII century Sebeto Fountain and going on through Caracciolo Street you can find the Mergellina small port where there are the hydrofoils (that can carry you to the Gulf’s islands like Capri and Ischia), the touristic boats and the local fishers who sell their fish on platforms or directly from their trawlers. Going on you can admire the elegant constructions placed near the Gulf and then the gardens and the trees of the Public Park where there is the Dohrn aquarium that is the most ancient one in Europe.

The Caracciolo Street

The San Gregorio Armeno Street

This is the famous street of the nativity-sets artisans well-known all over the world for their artistic creation of these little statues. All the workshops can be visited all year long : it is very hard to describe the multitude of colorful shops and stands placed in this street. Here you can find everything for your nativity-set: cork or cardboard houses, mechanical constructions like mills or waterfalls, handmade terra cotta shepherds that can also reach the height of 30 centimeters being ornamented with real dresses tailored to measure.  These are real artistic creations made by artisan families whose youngest generations are still preserving this art. Among these beautiful works there usually are also other kitschy little statues that are veritable caricatures of the most famous international and national personalities of the moment. This feature has become one of the most classic characteristic of this street where you can find all the fancy and the irony of the Naples inhabitants.

The San Gregorio Armeno Street

The hand-made statues for the nativity-set

The caricatures of Obama and its wife

The Chiaia Street

This is one of the most famous and elegant streets in Naples where you can do a lot of shopping thanks to the presence of many boutiques and typical shops surrounded by many historical buildings.

The Chiaia Street

The Via dei Tribunali (the Justice Courts streets)

Here all the skulls and the crossed shinbones recall all the activities practiced in the past in this place for the cult of the dead.

Chiaia Street skulls and crossed shinbones

The most beautiful churches you can visit in Naples are:

The Santa Maria della Sanita’ Basilica

This  Church and its bell tower were built during the XVII century. Externally you can admire its beautiful dome covered by yellow and green majolica. The high bell tower is characterized by the presence of a XVIII century majolica watch.

The Incoronata Madre del buon consiglio Basilica

This Church was built in 1960 and its structure is clearly influenced by which one of the San Pietro Basilica in Rome.

The Incoronata Madre del buon consiglio Basilica

The Church of S.Brigida

This religious construction is included in the Umberto I Gallery containing an interesting collection of XVII century paintings. 

The Church of the Holy Ghost (Chiesa dello Spirito Santo)

In this church placed in the Gesù Nuovo square you can admire many XVI century artistic works by Michelangelo Naccherino and Mario Gioffredo.

The Church of the Holy Ghost

The S. Severo Chapel

Inside this chapel there are the famous “Macchine Anatomiche” (“Anatomic Machines”) studies by Raimondo di Sangro and the enchanting “Cristo Velato” by Giuseppe Sanmartino (1753).

The Church of S. Gregorio Armeno

This is a byzantine convent completely covered by frescos. Once here you should admire its perfectly preserved cloister characterized by a central marble fountain.

The Church of S. Gregorio Armeno Cloister

The Church of San Lorenzo Maggiore

This magnificent church is very famous because it was the most important religious place during the middle age. Every Christmas in this religious construction you can admire a life-size nativity-set. Here you can also visit the archaeological excavations among Greek-Roman walls, cisterns and tunnels made up by tufa stone.

The archaeological excavations in the San Lorenzo Maggiore Church

The Cathedral Dome

This church was built at the end of the XII century and it contains the memorabilia of San Gennaro, the Naples Patron Saint.

The Cathedral Dome

The museums you can visit in Naples are:

The Archaeological National Museum:

This is the most important archaeological museum in Europe containing the collection of finds belonging to the Borbone family together with a series of bronzes, of statues and of other objects found in the Pompei and Ercolano excavations. You should admire the “Gruppo di Tirannicidi” and all the sculptures shown in the “Galleria dei Grandi Maestri“.

The Museum and Gallery of Capodimonte

In this museum there are many works created from the XII to the XVIII century belonging to the Farnese family collection. Here you should admire the “Collezione Romana” (the “Roman Collection“) made up by works by Michelangelo, Tiziano, El Greco, Raffaello and Botticelli.

The Museum and the Carthusian monastery of San Martino

The Museum of the Royal Palace (Museo di Palazzo Reale)

In this museum you can see all the furniture, the sculptures, the chinaware and the pictures belonging to the Borbone family. In its Chapel you can admire the “Arte sacra di Palazzo” exhibition.

Other attractive places you can visit in Naples are:

The Vomero District

This is an extremely relaxing district of Naples. Here you can find many museums, shops, monuments, and ancient cafés. From this place you can reach through a funicular the Montesanto hill where you can admire a wonderful landscape on Castel Sant’Elmo and on the Certosa di San Martino.

The “Quartieri spagnoli” (the “Spanish districts”).

This is one of the most fascinating places of the city being made up by a labyrinth of narrow streets. This district was created during the XVI century when the Spanish conquerors transformed this city adding new buildings, churches and streets like the beautiful Toledo street.

The “Quartieri spagnoli” (the “Spanish districts”)

The “Underground Naples” (the “Napoli  Sotterranea”)

This is a veritable ancient “city under the city”: the ancient Greeks, in fact, built  under the ground important funeral monuments while the Romans created a striking tangle of caves, cisterns, tunnels and aqueducts. Here archaeologists found objects made 5.000 years ago. Today you can visit part of this underground city through guided visits organized by these associations:

Associazione Napoli Sotterranea
San Gaetano Square N. 68, Naples

Associazione LAES, Napoli e la Città  Sotterranea
S. Anna di Palazzo Street N. 52

The “Napoli Sotterranea” entry

An underground Roman aqueduct

The Underground Borbone’s  City

Very soon there will be a new underground path that will lead you to discover the tunnel that the Borbone family built during the XIX century to connect the Plebiscito Square to the Chiaia zone. This tunnel was used by the royal family as a secret way of escape.

In Naples also nature contributes to create a special atmosphere: here, in fact, you will admire the natural scenario made up by the gulf with its rocks and the famous islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida, the Vesuvio volcano preserved in the namesake park and the Campi Flegrei Natural park where you can watch live some impressive volcanic phenomena.

The wondeful natural scenario surrounding Naples

The Naples nightlife offers many amusing alternatives : in the historical centre there are the trendiest pubs and discos.

The main meeting points are the Mergellina seafront and the squares called Piazza dei Martiri, Piazza Amedeo, Piazza San Pasquale di Chiaia and Piazza Sannazzaro.

Gastronomy

The Naples gastronomy is famous all around the world especially for its pizza but also for other delicious recipes like special sauces used to dress pasta, fish and sweets.

You can start tasting the “mozzarella in carrozza” going on choosing a first course among the “spaghetti alla puttanesca”, the spaghetti with clams and the macaroni dressed with Naples ragù whose preparation requires many hours.

As a second course you can eat mussels in a pepper broth (Impepata di cozze) or the red mullets baked in foil (Triglie al cartoccio). After having eaten fish you can taste some delicious local cheeses like the scamorza and the caciocavallo cheese whose flavor will change according their degree of maturation.

The scamorza and the caciocavallo cheeses

In this zone there also is the production of famous wines like the Greco di Tufo DOC, the Taurasi DOCG, the Fiano di Avellino, the Lacryma Christi (that can be white, red or rosé) and the l’Aglianico del Taburno.

The typical local desserts are: the rum based Babà , the Sfogliatelle, or the “Struffoli”. You should also taste the traditional “Pastiera napoletana” made up by grain and ricotta cheese with some orange flowers essence.

The “Pastiera napoletana”

At the end of your lunch or dinner you should drink the typical Naples coffee followed by a liqueur called the “Ammazzacaffè” (“The coffee killer”).

The typical Naples coffee

You will taste one of the best coffee in the world because here inhabitants are very expert in making a unique artistic blend. The “Ammazzacaffè” can be a local liqueur like the famous limoncello produced with the infusion of the Sorrento lemons peels.

Traditions

The most important traditions in Naples are:

The Cantata dei Pastori (the Shepherds’ Cantata)

The  Miracolo di San Gennaro  (the San Gennaro  Miracle)

The “Smorfia” and the “Lotto” lottery 

The Natale a Napoli (Christmas in Naples)

Events

“Maggio dei monumenti” (“May of the monuments”) – On April, May and on June.

The San Gennaro Feast – on the 19th of September

The Pasta Show – October

The Pizza Feast – September

The Piedigrotta Feast – September

How to arrive in Naples

By Car

Coming from Rome or from the Northern part of Italy you should go through the A1 Hiaghway until Naples.

Coming from the Southern part of Italy you should entirely follow the A3 Highway until Naples.

Coming from Bari and from the Apulia region you should go through the A16 Highway until Naples.

By Train

The Naples Central Railway Station is well connected to the whole Italian territory. Today you can also use the new High Velocity Train that connects Rome to Naples. For other information you can call to this free green number: 89 20 21.

By Plain

The Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP) offers flights towards all the Italian cities and towards the main European destinations through traditional or low-cost companies. Once arrived, the “Alibus” shuttle service will bring you from this airport to the urban city of Naples.

The nearest intercontinental airport is which one of Rome Fiumicino (FCO) connected to Naples through direct flights or train lines.

By Boat

Many hydrofoils and ferries leave from the Beverello and the Mergellina pier towards the Gulf’s islands and towards the Sorrento peninsula: the hydrofoils usually are faster than ferries and this service is more frequent in summertime.

…Enjoy your stay in Naples!

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Italian Journey”

Palermo is the main city of Sicily being placed on the namesake gulf surrounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Thanks to this strategic location this city has always been a reference point for the whole Mediterranean area and for its region itself: Palermo is, in fact, the main Sicilian political, economical and cultural centre.

The Palermo Gulf

Visiting this city you will admire a great quantity of monuments belonging to four different historical moments: the Arab-Norman architecture, the Low Middle Age and the Renaissance buildings, the XVII century Baroque art and the XVIII decorative art.

The Norman period was particularly florid: Palermo was the capital of the reign and so the Normans ornamented it with wonderful constructions that characterize still today its historical centre.

Placed at the middle of the Mediterranean area, this city has always been a cultural crossroads between the Eastern and the Western world preserving in its territory all the historical evidences left by its conquerors: from the Romans to the Byzantines, from the Arabs to the Normans, from the Svevi to the French, the Spanish and the Austrian conquerors. This union of different shapes and styles (from the North-European one to the African one, from the Middle Age to the Baroque period) is at the basis of the creation of very original artistic and architectonical works.

In the historical centre you can see the Norman constructions: from Piazza del Parlamento, dominated by the Normans Palace, to the imposing cathedral. From this square you can go towards the Baroque zone of the city identified by the two main streets called Via Maqueda (ornamented by its XVI century fountain) and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. These two streets meet in the octagonal square called Piazza Vigliena also named “Quattro Canti” or “Teatro del sole” (“Sun Theatre”) because in this point sun is always visible from the sunrise to the sunset.

In the four corners of this square you can see four different XVII century palaces whose façades have a convex shape. On each one these palaces façade there also is a basin surmounted by four statues representing the four seasons. The two streets that meet in this point form the four historical Palermo districts called “Mandamenti”: the Kalsa (or Mandamento Tribunali), the Loggia (or Mandamento Castellammare), the Seralcadio (o Mandamento Monte di Pietà), the Albergheria (o Mandamento Palazzo Reale).

The four palaces convex shape

One of the four façades with its statues

Which one called Kalsa is the Arab district of Palermo: it was created near the sea in order to allow the emir to escape in case of revolt. Here there was all the Arab military detail together with their administrative and political offices and prisons. Today this is a very coloured popular district where you can still note the ancient Arab-Sicilian culture together with the strong smells of the food cooked by the several street kiosks. The centre of the Kalsa is represented by its namesake square but you should also admire the XVI century Porta dei Greci (Greeks Door) also called Porta d’Africa (African Door) through which you can watch the sea.

The Kalsa Square

Some of the most important churches you can visit in Palermo are:

The Church of Giovanni degli Eremiti

This church was built on a pre-existing religious construction during the XII century becoming one of the most important evidences of the Arabs presence in Palermo. This aspect can be first of all seen observing its red domes and its internal ogival arches. This church is placed near the Normans Palace.

The Church of Giovanni degli Eremiti

The Beautiful Assunta Cathedral

The church of Santa Maria degli Angeli or “Gancia”

The church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio or “Martorana”

The wonderful Monreale Dome

The Church of San Domenico

This baroque church was built during the XVII century while its façade dates back to the XVIII century. Its imposing internal part is made up by three aisles based on a Latin cross structure. Here you can admire many precious monumental works together with the graves of many important local personalities like Francesco Crispi whose grave is placed in the crypt. In the beautiful internal XIV century cloister there is the Museum of the Risorgimento. This church is considered one of the most important creations of the Sicilian baroque.

The Church of San Domenico

The Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia

S. Rosalia is the Palermo Patron Saint. This sanctuary was built in 1625 around the cave where her mortal remains were found. Inside the cave there is a beautiful statue of this Saint made by Gregorio Tedeschi in 1625. The cloak that covers it dates back to the 1748 because it was given by Carlo III of Borbone.

The Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia

The Church of Santa Maria dello Spasimo

This church is placed in the Kalsa district dating back to the XVI century. The peculiarity of this church is the fact that it has always been used for other aims different from the religious one. It is characterized by a fusion of different Gothic styles and now it is deconsecrated and used as a seat for meetings, concerts and theatrical shows.

The Church of Santa Maria dello Spasimo

The Church of Santa Teresa alla Kalsa

This one nave church is one of the most beautiful examples of Palermo baroque.

The Church of Santa Teresa alla Kalsa

Oratorio del Rosario in Santa Cita

This oratory was built during the XVII century near the namesake church. This is the masterpiece of Giacomo Serpotta who was the best baroque decorator of that period.

The Giacomo Serpotta creation

The most important palaces and monuments you can see in Palermo are:

The Normans Palace and its splendid Palatina Chapel

The Villa Niscemi

Villa Niscemi, placed in the namesake district of Palermo, dates back to the XVI century being characterized by a wide surrounding garden. This is a Renaissance palace even if, visiting its interior space, you can also admire artistic decorations belonging to other historical periods. This construction can be visited for free from 9:30 A.M. to 13:30 A.M. and from 15:30 P.M. to 19:30 P.M.

The Villa Niscemi

The Pretoria Fountain

This wonderful XVI century fountain is placed at the middle of the namesake square. The surrounding railings were designed by Giovan Battista Basile and created in 1858. At its lower level there are oval basins supporting four statues representing four rivers.

The Pretoria Fountain

The Zisa Castle

This is one of the most beautiful Arab-Norman constructions in Europe. Its name comes from the Arab word “al-aziz” that means “superb”. This wonderful XII century castle was built by Arab architects for king Guglielmo II d’Altavilla. Today in the beautiful ornamented rooms of this building there is the Islam Museum where you can find the evidences of the Arab culture in Sicily.

The Zisa Castle

The Cuba

This one called Cuba is the last monument created by Normans in 1180 being, together with the Zisa Castle, the most representative Arab building in Sicily. It is a rectangular construction carrying four towers at the centre of each side.

The Cuba

The Aiutamicristo Palace

This beautiful palace was built in 1490 by Guglielmo Aiutamicristo. It is a Gothic-Catalan construction characterized by relevant Renaissance elements. You should note the main door and the double lodge of the internal courtyard.

The Aiutamicristo Palace

The Chiaramonte- Steri Palace

Visiting Palermo you can also have a rest in one of its wonderful parks like:

The Real Tenuta della Favorita

This beautiful park was the game reserve of king Ferdinando IV who ordered the construction in this garden of an Oriental palace called the “Casina Cinese” (the “Chinese Small House”) that has been completely preserved until today. All around this royal residence there was this wide park admirable even today with its exotic grasses, its healing herbs, its small squares, its statues, its obelisks and its fountains. Here you can also see other buildings used as seats for cultural and social events.

The Chinese Small House

The Botanical Garden

This wonderful garden was created during the XVIII century being still today one of the most important and widest botanic parks in Europe. It extends for 11 hectares where you can admire rare and precious grasses belonging to many different countries of the world: here, in fact, there are 12.000 different plant species like tropical, aquatic, carnivorous and exotic grasses together with healing herbs. You should also note some giant ficus magnolioides. This park is the seat of the Botanical Sciences College of the Palermo University and it is placed near Villa Giulia.

The Botanical Garden

The Villa Giulia

Villa Giulia (also called Villa Flora) is a wonderful park whose structure is which one of the traditional Italian garden. Inside this construction there are precious artistic works like some busts of Palermo important personalities, like the Genius of Palermo with its XVII century wonderful fountain and like the beautiful fountain placed in the central square and surrounded by four neoclassical statues.

Villa Giulia

The Genius of Palermo

Two other many important places of Palermo are the Massimo Theatre and the Politeama Theatre

Some of the museums you can visit in Palermo are:

The International Museum of Puppets

Which one of the Puppets Theatre is a peculiar feature of the Sicilian culture. In this museum there is the most complete and important puppets collection in the world. Here there also are all the scenic equipment needed for these traditional performances. This collection is made up by 3500 puppets belonging to different countries of the world: all of them are handcrafted according to traditional ancient techniques. 

The International Museum of Puppets

The Archaeological Regional Museum 

This museum is placed in the Palermo historical centre in the ex Benedictines monastery containing a great quantity of archaeological finds belonging to the whole Sicilian territory. However here you can also admire Etruscan, Phoenician and Greek finds. This is one of the most important museums in Italy and in the Mediterranean area.

The Archaeological Regional Museum

The Regional Gallery of Sicily

In this gallery placed in the XV century Palazzo Abatellis you can admire paintings made in Sicily between the XI and the XVII century together with Arab carved wood objects, ceramics and some marble sculptures.

The Regional Gallery of Sicily

However, to better experience the Sicilian atmosphere you should visit the characteristic street market called Vuccirìa that is the most famous one in Palermo. You can find it between Roma street and Corso Vittorio Emanuele in the ancient Loggia district. This market offers everything you need, especially food. There also is another street market called Ballarò and placed in the namesake square in the Albergheria district. This probably is the most ancient food market in Palermo.

The Vuccirìa street market

This incredible variety of artistic, historical and cultural treasures is surrounded by a wonderful natural landscape made up by a crystalline sea and by beautiful beaches that are very easy to reach. An important example is represented by the Mondello beaches.

The Mondello beach

Those who love trekking and mountains can find their ideal places visiting all the natural reserves and parks of the Palermo hinterland like the Madonie Park near Cefalù. You can also move towards Trapani to reach two veritable Sicilian marvels: the Zingaro Reserve and the ancient Segesta ruins.

Gastronomy

Among the first courses you can choose staying in Palermo there are the Spaghetti alla Norma, the bucatini with broccoli and pasta with anchovies.

As a second course you can choose among spiedini (skewers) alla Palermitana or anchovies cooked according to different recipes.

Another traditional dish is represented by the “Panelle”: rectangular appetizers made up by chickpeas flour, salt, pepper and parsley. They are fried in olive oil and sold by the street kiosks.

The “Panelle”

Other typical street appetizers are the “Sfincione” ( a sort of pizza dressed with tomatoes, anchovies and onion) and the “Pane ca meusa” ( a filled roll with lien).

The "Sfincione"

The "pane ca meusa"

As a dessert you can choose among the cassate, the granitas, the almond dough and the “Martorana” fruits (fruits shaped sweets made up by almond dough).

The “Martorana” fruits

Events

IV Workshop Grab-It from 26 October 2009 to  27 October 2009

Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Season of opera and ballet 2009  from 01 January 2009 to 31 December 2009

Palermo Summer (Palermo Estate) From June to September:

From the first days of Junes to the end of September, many music, theatrical and folkloristic performances occur in the streets of Palermo.

Verdura Theatre – From June to September:

During summer the Massimo theatre is closed and so all the performances occur in the open-air Verdura theatre placed in Viale del Fante and provided with 2200 seats.

Santa Rosalia Feast – From the 9th to the 15th of July:

During the month of July, Palermo is used to celebrate its Patron Saint: Santa Rosalia. Celebrations last one week with travelling theatrical and musical performances connected to this Saint’s life. The most important moment of this feast is represented by the striking procession of the monumental float. At the end of this religious parade there is the traditional fireworks show.

Massimo Theatre – From October to May:

The Massimo Theatre Season starts in October and ends in May with ballets and opera performances carried out by international artists.

Morgana Festival – November:

This is a festival dedicated to the Puppets Theatre that takes place in the International Museum of Puppets. Here you can watch a series of shows carried out by the most famous families of the Sicilian puppets makers. These families preserve a peculiar tradition that has been recognized by Unesco as a “Mankind Oral Heritage and Non-material Heritage Masterpiece”.

Windsurf World Festival on the Beach – May:

Every year all the most famous windsurf champions are used to come in Palermo to take a part in the important World Festival on the Beach. During the month of May the beautiful Mondello beach becomes the seat of high level performances.

How to arrive in Palermo

By Car

Coming form Taormina you should go through the A18 highway until Catania and then go on through the A19 Palermo-Catania highway until Palermo. Coming from Agrigento you should go through the main road SS189 that, crossing all the Sicilan territory, will lead you until Palermo offering you a beautiful landscape. From Siracusa you should go through the main road SS114 until Catania and then go on through the A19 Palermo-Catania highway until Palermo. Coming from the continental Italian territory you should go through the A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway until the Villa San Giovanni exit. At this point you can reach Messina by ferry. From Messina you should go through the A20 highway that will lead you to Palermo. Traffic in Palermo is very chaotic and so it would be better to leave your car in a secure parking in order to visit the city by foot or by public transports.

By Boats

This is a comfortable solution to reach Palermo carrying your car with you. There are two companies that offer this kind of trip:

- Grandi Navi Veloci carries out three lines: from Genoa there is a daily journey that lasts 20 hours; from Livorno the boat leaves three times in a week and the trip lasts 19 hours; from Rome Civitavecchia there is a daily journey that lasts 12 hours.

- The Tirrenia company connects Palermo to Naples every day and the trip lasts more or less 10 hours.

By Train

Thanks to its railway, Palermo is connected to the most important Sicilian cities like Taormina, Catania and Siracusa. From Rome there are trains that go towards Palermo via Naples even if the trip lasts more or less 13 hours.

By Plain

The “Palermo Falcone Borsellino” (PMO) airport offers direct flight connected to the main Italian airports together with low cost flights towards European cities like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cologne, London and etc. The shuttle-train called “Trinacria Express” leaves every hour from this airport leading you to the Palermo Central Railway Station. You can also catch a shuttle-bus that leaves from this airport every 30 minutes.

…Enjoy you stay in Palermo!

Panoramic view of Florence

 In this city you can admire many Medieval and Renaissance artistic works like monuments, historical palaces, museums, galleries, parks and gardens like the beautiful Giardini di Boboli (Boboli Gardens).

Among all the Florentine museums the most important one is surely represented by the Uffizi Gallery where you can find many precious and unique paintings made by the most famous Italian artists. However also the Accademia Gallery deserves your attention especially because of the presence of the famous David by Michelangelo.

This is the city of Cimabue and Giotto (the Italian painting fathers), of Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio (the Renaissance style initiators) and even of universal genius like Leonardo and Michelangelo. Their works, together with those of other big artists like Botticelli and Paolo Uccello, are collected in the several museums present in Florence.

The urban centre is divided into four historical districts: everyone of them has its own colour and takes its name from the religious monument placed in its territory. These four districts are the following ones:

• The district of Santa Maria Novella: It is placed in the north western part of the city and it is characterized by the red colour taking its name from the church of Santa Maria Novella placed very closed to the central railway station.
• The district of San Giovanni: It is the heart of Florence and it is characterized by the green colour taking its name from the Baptistery of San Giovanni that belongs to the Cathedral Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore.
• The district of Santa Croce: It is placed in the south eastern part of the city and it is characterized by the blue colour taking its name from the Church of Santa Croce. Exactly in Santa Croce Square every year there is the celebration of the Historical Florentine Soccer: this is an original and ancient competition among these four urban districts.

The church of Santa Croce

•  The district of Santo Spirito: It is placed in the south western part of Florence and it is characterized by the white colour taking its name by the Basilica of Santo Spirito.   

The Basilica of Santo Spirito

In 1982 the historical centre of Florence has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List because it collects the most important monuments of the city. Here, in fact, you can admire: the Baptistery with its mosaics, the Cathedral Dome with its sculptures, the medieval churches with their frescos like the Romanesque Church of San Lorenzo connected to the beautiful Medici’s Chapels, many historical palaces like Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), the Pitti Palace, the Medici-Riccardi Palace, the Strozzi Palace, the Davanzati Palace; the wonderful Piazza della Signoria, monasteries, cloisters and convents.

You can observe the whole historical centre from the surrounding hills especially from Forte Belvedere and from the Fiesole hill that offers one of the most striking landscapes of the Arno valley. From this point you can see all the beauty of Florence with its towers, its bell towers and its bridges like the Ponte Vecchio.

The Forte Belvedere

However, Florence is also well-known because it is the native land of Dante Alighieri (the father of the Italian literature); of Machiavelli (the initiator of the modern political science); and of Galileo (the initiator of the modern observational science).

Florence has always unified art and science and still today it is the seat of an important university that also includes many specialized institutes and a Cultural Centre for Foreigners.

Great books collections are preserved in the Central National Library and in other famous libraries like the Mediceo-Laurenziana, the Riccardiana and the Marucelliana.

The Central National Library

During the year there are in Florence a series of events like the “Maggio Musicale Fiorentino” (“Musical Florentine May”): this is an important festival of opera, concerts and of ballets. In the urban centre there are also the Italian fashion events and other traditional events like the San Giovanni Feast with its Soccer in Costume, the San Lorenzo Feast, the Float Burst, the “Mad” Oxcart and the Magi’s Cavalcade.

Another famous event is the Festival dei popoli (the Folks Festivals) : this is the first European film festival completely dedicated to the social documentary.

Another famous feature of Florence is its artistic craftsmanship with its elegant and beautiful creations like embroidery, straw works, mosaics. A very important element is the production of leather objects and the activity of the gold jewelry industry.

Moreover, this territory offers a traditional gastronomy made up by simple and genuine dishes like the famous Florentine Steak. You can also taste the various Tuscan wines whose quality is well-known all around the world.

How to arrive in Florence

It is very easy to arrive in Florence because it is placed at the centre of the most important national roads.

By Car:

• Arriving from Milan you should go through the A1 Highway (Bologna-Florence) following the indications for the urban centre.
• Arriving from Genova or from France you should go through the A12 Highway until Viareggio then you should go on through the A11 Highway until the Firenze Nord exit. Then you should go on towards the centre of Florence.
• Arriving from Rome you should go through the A1 Highway (Rome-Milan) until the Firenze Sud exit. Then you should go on towards the centre of Florence.

The A11 Highway also connects Florence to Prato, Pistoia, Montecatini and Lucca.

There also is a freeway to easily reach Siena.

By Train:

• Which one of Santa Maria Novella is the most important railway station in Florence. It is placed at the middle of the historical centre of the city. The Eurostar trains coming from Milan, Turin, Venice and Rome arrive here in this station just like the trains for Viareggio and Versilia. By arriving here you can directly visit the historical centre without needing to catch a bus or a taxy. 
• Which one of Firenze Rifredi is a small railway station placed in the Rifredi zone. It is closed to the Hospital of Careggi and to the University of Florence. It is few km far from the historical centre.
• The Firenze Campo di Marte railway station is some km far from the historical centre of the city but it is closed to the Artemio Franchi Stadium.

By Plain:

• The Florentine airport called “Amerigo Vespucci” is just 5 km far from the urban centre (Peretola Zone). There are not international planes that directly arrive to Florence but this airport covers many European routes very often trough low cost solutions. You can reach Florence by taxis, shuttles and buses. You should pay more or less 15 – 20 € to move from the airport to the historical centre in taxi.  The Shuttle bus connects this airport to the Santa Maria Novella railway station with a tariff of 3,00 – 4,00 € par person. Here there are also several car rentals and this airport can be easily reachable from many closing cities like Prato (8 km), Pistoia (24 km), Montecatini (36 km), Lucca (65 km), Siena (68 km), Arezzo (77 km), Pisa (86 km), Carrara and Massa (117 km), Grosseto (143 km), and also from the main Tuscan ports like Livorno (115 km) and Piombino (170 km).
• You can also arrive to the airport of Pisa even if it is 70km far from Florence. There is a bus that connects the Pisa airport to Florence and its ticket costs more or less 7 €. To move from this airport to Florence in taxi you should pay more or less 100€, but you can even use the train that connects this airport to the Santa Maria Novella railway station in Florence.

…Enjoy your stay in Florence!

Venice Landscape

Venice proliferated on 118 little islands crossed by 150 canals often connected to each others by bridges as the well-known Ponte di Rialto and Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs). The most important canals of the city are the Canal Grande and the Canale della Giudecca.

The Bridge of Sighs

Visiting Venice it is easy to understand that this is a real unique place in the world. First of all there are no cars and just this fact upsets the classical idea of a modern city.

The historical centre, the tourists most loved area, is divided in “Sestieri”: through this term local people identify the different districts of the city. Venice is characterized by six Sestieri that are the following ones: San Marco, Cannaregio, Dorsoduro, San Polo, and Santa Croce.

The sestiere of San Marco, the smaller and, at the same time, the most important one of the city, is famous for its namesake square and basilica that are the symbols of Venice worldwide.

Other than the famous basilica, in San Marco square you can also admire the magnificent Palazzo Ducale  (Ducal Palace) and the Torre dell’Orologio (Watch Tower).  This Renaissance construction is another important symbol of Venice. Its arch dominates the Merceria, an ancient commercial street of the city, and its big astronomic watch, placed at the middle of the tower, has been beating time since more than 500 years.  At the top of the tower, on its terrace, there are the “Mori” : two bronze statues representing two shepherds who beat with a club the hours on a big bell. Venetian people call them “Mori” because of their brown colour. 

The Watch Tower

Always in this sestiere there is the La Fenice Theatre and the Church of San Moisè with its baroque façade and Palazzo Grassi.

Palazzo Grassi

The sestiere of Cannaregio is the first one of the six sestieri that you will cross arriving by train to the Santa Lucia railway station. In this sestiere you can admire the churches of San Geremia, of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, of Santi Apotoli and of Gesuiti.

The sestiere of Castello is the widest and the most populated one in Venice. This sestiere shares its borders with the sestiere of  san Marco and with which one of Cannaregio and it is famous for its basilica of San Pietro di Castello and for the dockyard of Venice, centre of the Venetian naval industry since the XIIth century. Here you can also find many churches and the Historical Naval Museum.

The sestiere of Dorsoduro includes the Canal of the Giudecca and the namesake island that is the biggest one in the lagoon. Here every year there is the spectacular Festa del Redentore (Feast of the Saviour). Here you can visit the Gallerie dell’Accademia: the most ancient and complete collection of Venetian paintings.

Gallerie dell'Accademia

Very important from an historical and cultural point of view is also Cà Rezzonico: imposing baroque construction seat of the Museum of the Venetian eighteenth century.  In this sestiere is also possible to visit the Peggy Guggenheim Museum: this collection is made up by paintings by Picasso, Duchamp, de Chirico, Gaudì, Magritte and  Dalì. Here there are also many important churches that deserve your attention like the following ones: the church of the Angelo Raffaele, of San Trovaso, of San Sebastiano and of San Nicolò.

Ca' Rezzonico

The sestiere of San Polo, at the Venice centre, is characterized by the zone of Rialto that is very famous for its bridge and for its typical market of vegetable and fruits. Here you can also admire beautiful churches like the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and the Church of San Rocco.

The bridge of Rialto (Ponte di Rialto): Among all the 400 bridges that connect Venice, it is surely the most known and loved one and so it has become one of the symbols of the city. It is a 48 metres long bridge made up by an unique arch that crosses the Canal Grande. On the sides of this bridge there are some shops and all the structure is covered by a six arches porch for every ramp and by a big arch at the centre.

The Bridge of Rialto

The sestiere of Santa Croce connects Venice to the dry land. Piazzale Roma and Tronchetto allow tourists and inhabitants to move from the dry land to Venice: Piazzale Roma is a interchange point between road and lagoon public transport and Tronchetto is an artificial island used as a car park. From this Piazzale, through the Bridge of the Constitution (Ponte della Costituzione), you can even reach by foot the Santa Croce railway station. In this sestiere there is the very important Ca’ Pesaro that is a Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Natural History.

Ca' Pesaro

The attractions in Venice aren’t just here, in those that are its most famous urban streets, but this city, with its little paths and its lagoon, offers to its tourists many other striking and historical images connected to the Serenissima’s past. Some of the islands where you can spend unforgettable hours surrounded by nature, history and tradition are Murano (this island is famous for its unique glass workmanship), Burano (full of colours and fascinating landscapes), Pellestrina (that was used in the past to defend the city), and Sant’Erasmo (dominated by the ancient and imposing Torre Massimiliana).

Venetian islands streets

Among the beautiful things in Venice, you should not forget the famous Lido di Venezia : a gild sand area divided between the Venetian lagoon and the Adriatic see. Here there is the Palace of Cinema (Palazzo del Cinema) and the Casino of Venice.

The Lido of Venice

Venice is a city full of art that, other than be visible in all the urban streets, monuments and palaces, is also fostered and shown in the several exhibitions and museums displaced in the city.

However, the charm that attracts every year in Venice many international tourists, is not only connected to its past. Many popular events like the Carnival, the Festival of Cinema, the Biennial, the Festa del Redentore (Feast of the Saviour), the Festa della Sensa (Feast of the Sensa) and the Historical Regatta enliven the city every period of the year. So Venice is a versatile place, capable of attracting tourists thanks to its romantic and naturalistic soul but also thanks to its history and its culture.

How to move in Venice

The best and most striking way of visiting Venice is surely walking through its little streets by foot. This is the best solution for tourists who want to discover the most hidden parts of the city even because Venice is not big as a city and all its monuments are easily reachable by foot.

However to make your visit more attractive, you can cross all the several canals, using the following typical public transport:

GONDOLAS:

The gondola surely is the most famous and romantic means of transporting to visit the city and it is one of the most known symbols of Venice worldwide. Visiting Venice in gondola is the romantic dream of thousands of people all around the world: this original watercraft has an ancient history that is mixed with which one of the city itself. It was created to be a luxury vessel used by high rank people to move through the urban canals and to spend some private moments in particular situations. The gondola surely isn’t the most comfortable and economic solution to move through the lagoon, but considering the great quantity of tourists who use it everyday, this is an experience that many people want to live. The cost for a tour in gondola can be haggled with the gondolier even if it is difficult to pay less than 80 euro for 30 minutes.

The Venetian Gondolas

WATER TAXIS

The water taxis service is applied through useful and rapid motorboats that are recognizable by the permission number written on a yellow band on their window. 

VAPORETTI

These ferry boats are public transport that cross the urban centre through the Canal Grande connecting it to the Lido and to Murano. Tickets are sold by tobacconists, by news kiosks, by bars, by the VE.LA. points and by the landing-stages. To help handicapped tourists in visiting the city there are some special itineraries that you can also find thanks to the InformaHandicap  that is a service of the Venice municipality.

The Venetian Vaporetto

How to arrive in Venice

By Cars and Bus:

You can arrive in Venice through the following motorways: A4 motorway leaving from Turin, Milan and Trieste; A13 from Bologna; A27 from Belluno.

Or through one of the following roads: SS 309 Romea from the Adriatic coast, SS14 from Trieste, SS 13 from Treviso, SS 11 from Padova. 

The city is only accessible from the bridge called Ponte della Libertà (it is 4 km long) that is made by up by two lanes for each direction of travel. Cars can be parked in Piazzale Roma and in the Tronchetto, even if, especially in high season, it is better to stop on the dry land or, at least, to book a park through the portal urbis limen.

Tourist buses can go through Venice only with an expensive pass issued by VESTA spa. For any information it is possible to visit the ZTL BUS website. The three accessible buses parks are the following ones: the Tronchetto (in the urban centre of Venice) and at Fusina and at San Giuliano (on the dry land). 

By Train

Venice has two railway stations: the first one is placed in Mestre on the dry land, the second one is placed in the city on the Fondamenta Santa Lucia crossing the bridge called Ponte della Libertà.  From the railway in Mestre you can reach Venice by taxi or by bus.

By Plain

The Marco Polo airport is 10 km away from Venice and it is connected to the city by several public transport. In Treviso there is also the Sant’Angelo airport that is 30 km away from Venice.

…Enjoy your stay in Venice!

From the historical point of view it represents a real unique case: here you can admire Etruscan graves, republican forums, imperial temples, paleochristian basilicas, medieval bell towers, Renaissance palaces and baroque churches.

In Rome the concentration of history, legend, and monuments coexists with the other important concentration of bureaucracy of the whole Italian state and of thousands of other associations that have here their main offices. Obviously one of the most famous institution placed in Rome is the Vatican. These “three Romes” the imperial one, the medieval one and the republican one coexist in an unique harmony.

Rome is a very wide city but the area that firstly deserves your attention is the historical centre that is relatively small and easily visitable by foot. The great part of the monuments you should visit is always near the main railway station of the city: the Termini station.

All the most important monuments are placed on the west part of the city coming from this station.

The Palatino and the Roman Forum represent the centre of the ancient Rome.

Via del Corso connects the Forum to Piazza del Popolo while to the eastern  part of this axis there is the Spanish Steps and the Fountain of Trevi. On the North-west zone of the Forum, on the other side of the Tevere, there is the Vatican.

You can eat very well by even saving money in the inns around Piazza Navona and in the Trastevere district.

If you don’t have enough time to spend in Rome, the main things you should see are: the Coliseum, the Domus Area, the Basilica of S. Giovanni, the Campidoglio, the Capitolini Museums, the Roman Forum, the Fountain of Trevi, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, The Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Museums.

Only in the historical centre of Rome there are more than 400 churches. Which one of Santa Maria Antiqua  is the most ancient church of the Forum. On the Aventino hill there is the Basilica of Santa Sabina (V century) that is considered one of the most beautiful church in Rome thanks to its cypress wood main door made up by 18 carved panels that represent biblical scenes. The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore dates back to the Vth century even if it is characterized by a baroque façade and by a Romanic bell tower. San Giovanni in Laterano is the Rome’s cathedral: this monument hedges in the heads of Saint Peter and Paul. Santa Croce in Jerusalem dates back to the IVth century but it was rebuilt according the baroque style, here there are some precious memorabilia considered to be some parts of the real cross of Christ.

The Church of San Giovanni in Laterano

Santa Maria in Cosmedin is one of the most attractive medieval churches in Rome. It is famous even because under its porch there is the “Bocca della verità” (the Mouth of Truth): this is a wide marble disc that represents the face of Triton. According to the legend who says a lie putting his/her right hand in this mouth can be bitten by Triton.

The Mouth of Truth

Squares and meeting points

Rome has a wonderful collection of squares where you can take a rest while visiting the city. The big and beautiful Piazza Navona is surrounded by baroque palaces and hosts three fountains: at the centre of them there is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (the Fountain of the Four Rivers) by Bernini. During the Reinaissance, to celebrate particular events, this square were filled with water in order to simulate false naval combats.

Piazza Navona and its fountain

One of the most loved meeting points of Rome is Piazza di Spagna where you can admire the Spanish Steps of Trinità dei Monti. Observing these Steps you can admire the Keats-Shelley Memorial.

Piazza di Spagna is the fusion of three different elements built in three different historical moments: the church of Trinità dei Monti (XVI century), the famous fountain ( XVII century), and the magnificent steps that date back to the XVIII century and that were built to connect the church with the square.

Piazza di Spagna

On the southern part of the square there is the statue representing the Holy Mary  (XIX century) placed on a base characterized by the statues of Moses, David and of the prophets Isaia ed Ezechle.

At the centre of the square you can admire the famous boat shaped fountain by Pietro Bernini. This shape is ornamented with bees and flowers that are part of the armorial bearings of the Pope Urbano VIII who wanted this monument.

The Spanish Steps are ornamented by many garden terraces that in spring are full of flowers.

The Spanish Steps full of flowers

The Church of Trinità dei Monti, placed at the top of the steps, is characterized by a Gothic style and by many important frescos.

From Piazza di Spagna you can go through Via Condotti the most famous street in Rome. Here you can find many boutiques and at the n.86 there is the famous Cafè Greco, the most ancient café in Rome.

One of the most known meeting point of Rome isn’t a square but a fountain: The Fountain of Trevi.

From the Quirinale square you can admire a wonderful view of Rome and of Saint Peter.

Piazza Venezia is dominated by the so-called ” Typewriter“: this is the nickname of the enormous monument dedicated to the king Vittorio Emanuele II and officially called the Vittoriano.

The Vittoriano

Campo de’ Fiori is a pleasant square where everyday (Sunday excepted) there is a picturesque street market of flowers other than of fruits and vegetables.

Beside this square there is a beautiful Renaissance building called Palazzo Farnese.

Enjoy your stay in Rome!

Panoramic view of the city

Siena is a Tuscan province and it surely is one of the most visited cities in the world by tourists coming from several parts of the planet. It is placed at the heart of the region sorrouned by the Chianti‘s green hills. This city has surprisingly preserved its medieval look with its thick network of winding tiny streets that surround Piazza Del Campo. Thanks to its urban compactness and homogeneity the historic centre of Siena is unique in the world and for this reason it has been included in The world patrimony’s list of UNESCO. Visiting Siena you will appreciate the red colour of houses made up by fire, the bell towers that overtop roofs, the tranquillity of the centre streets. The most important monuments of this city date back to the gold period of Siena from the XII and the XIII century when there were an extraordinary development of arts. The most important artists of that age worked here leaving an incredible heritage of frescos and paintings characterized by an exceptional value.

The heart and the symbol of Siena is surely Piazza del Campo with its characteristic shell shape where it is possible to admire beautiful monuments like the Palazzo Pubblico, a Gothic masterpiece, and the magnificent Torre del Mangia. Always here it is possible to visit the Civic Museum where you can admire many masterpieces such as the famous “Maestà” by Simone Martini and the cycle of frescos by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

It is also important to remember that in Piazza del Campo there are every year the most important event in Siena, the so-called “Palio di Siena“: this is an age-old feast represented by a challenge among the local seventeen quarters that fight in a real equestrian running that attracts thousand of spectators from all over the world every year. But Siena has other beautiful treasuries considering not only all its artistic works but also the wonderful landscape that surrounds it and its yummy enogastronomic products.

The following one is a list of all the monuments that you can admire visiting Siena:

PALAZZO PUBBLICO

Torre del Mangia and Palazzo Pubblico

You can find it in Piazza del Campo.  Beside the Palazzo there is the Torre del Mangia built in the XII century: it is a stone bell tower visitable after having climbed 336 steps.  At the basis of this tower you can admire the Square Chapel built in 1348 to celebrate the end of the pestilence.

PALAZZO CHIGI – SARACINI

Palazzo Chigi-Saracini

Address: Via di Città 89

This is typical Gothic stone palace built between the XII and the XIII century and restored in the XX century, it is made up by a stone tower and by an elegant façade. Today this palace is the centre of the Chigiana Musical Academy.

PALAZZO PICCOLOMINI

Address: Via Banchi di Sotto, 52

This is an imposing Renaissance palace built in the XV century.  Its stone façade is characterized by the presence of the two coats of arm of the Piccolomini family.  Today this palace is the centre of the State Archives.

LOGGE DEI PAPI

Address: Via Banchi di Sotto

These stone loggias are characterized by Corinthian columns built in 1462 for Pope Pio II.

PALAZZO PICCOLOMINI O DELLE PAPESSE

Adress: Via di Città 126

This is a typical Renaissance palace built in the XV century for Caterina Piccolomini, Pope Pio II sister. Today here there is the Contemporary Art Centre.

PALAZZO TOLOMEI

Adress: Tolomei Square

This palace was built during the XIII century and it one of the most ancient Gothic constructions in Siena.

FONTE BRANDA

This source is placed at the bottom of the hill where there is the S.Domenico church and it was built during the XI century.

PIAZZA DEL CAMPO

The famous square, centre of the civil power, is shell shaped surrounded by bricks buildings and visitable thanks to the presence of two accesses. The central section is paved with bricks and divided into nine sectors that remember the Nine Government. All the palaces that surround it date back to the XIII and the XIV century, among them we can quote the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia. In this square you can find the Fonte Gaia whose name derives from the feasts organized in Siena for the arrival of water in 1344.

OSPEDALE DI SANTA MARIA DELLA SCALA

Address: Dome Square (Piazza del Duomo)

This hospital was built during the IX century even if the current structure dates back to the XIV century. Inside this construction you can find beautiful frescos of the XIV and of the XVI century that summarize the building’s history planned by Sorore.

Basilicas and Churches in Siena

THE HOLY MARY DOME

The Holy Mary Dome

Adress: Dome Square (Piazza del Duomo)

It is one of the most charming Gothic Italian churches and it was built between the XIII and the XIV century.  It is characterized by a façade made up by polychrome marbles with three big doors and ornamented with statues that portray prophets, philosophers and patriarchs. The bell tower is very ancient and it is characterized by black and white strips. Two very important monuments are also The Chapel Chigi and the Madonna del Voto. Above the apse fresco there is circular window designed by Duccio. The Reinaissance Chapel of Saint John the Baptist hedges in frescos by Pinturicchio and the Saint bronze statue made by Donatello.

THE HOLY MARY OF SLAVES BASILICA (BASILICA DI S. MARIA DEI SERVI)

Address: Val di Montone Street

This basilica is placed on a staircase and it was built during the XIII century. It has a romanesque bell tower and visiting it you can find many interesting artistic works such as the Byzantine style of the Madonna del Bordone.

THE SAINT DOMENICO BASILICA

Address: Saint Domenico square

Inside the basilica, in the Cappella Delle Volte you can find the only portrait of Saint Katherine by Andrea Vanni. On the right wall there is the Saint Katherine Chapel ornamented with wonderful frescos by Sodoma. In the tabernacle of this Chapel altar there is a reliquary containing Saint Katherine head.

SAINT FRANCESCO BASILICA

Address: Saint Francesco square

This basilica was built in Gothic style during the XIV and the XV century, then it was distroyed by fire in 1655 and renovated during the XIX century. Here you can admire other frescos made by Pietro e Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

S.MARIA DI PROVENZANO CHURCH

Address: Salvani Square

Made up by stones, this church was built in 1594 by Flaminio del Turco and it is the unique Baroque construction in Siena. The major altar hedges in a XV century embossed picture representing the Holy Mary which the famous Palio is dedicated to.

BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI

Internal view of the Baptistery San Giovanni

Address: San Giovanni Square

This monument was built during the XIV century and its façade remained unfinished. At the middle there is the “Fonte Battesimale“, one of the most important Renaissance’s masterpieces, that is ornamented with gilt bronze panels and several statues representing San Giovanni life such as the “Speranza” and “Banchetto di Erode” by Donatello.

ORATORY OF S.BERNARDINO

Address: San Francesco Square

This oratory was built during the XV century where San Bernardino predicated. The inferior chapel dates back to the XVII century and it was ornamented by local artists, the superior chapel is characterized by wooden ceiling and walls by Ventura Turapilli and by wonderful frescos by Girolamo del Pacchia, Beccafumi e Sodoma.

Touring in Siena you can also visit many beautiful museums as the following ones:

• ARCHIVIO DI STATO (State Archives) – MUSEO DELLE TAVOLETTE DI BICCHERNA – Aderess: Banchi di Sotto Street. Here you can find 60.000 parchments, bylaws and statutes of the Siena Republic.
• MUSEO-BIBLIOTECA COMUNALE DEGLI INTRONATI – Aderess: Della sapienza Street.  Free entry – Here you can find 500.000 books  and 5.000 manuscripts.
• MUSEO-COLLEZIONI CHIGI-SARACINI – Aderess: Di città Street. Free guided tours, library.
• MUSEO-LIBRERIA PICCOLOMINI – Address: Dome Square.  Paid entry. Here you can find frescos by Pinturicchio and other works by Liberale da Verona, Sano di Pietro, Girolamo da Cremona.
• MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO NAZIONALE – Address: Dome Square. Here you can find important archaeological finds,  cinerary urns and Etruscan objects.
• MUSEO “AURELIO CASTELLI” -  Address: Dell’osservanza Street
  Guided Visits. Here you can find statues, portraits, seals, prints and other preciuos artistic works.
• MUSEO “BOLOGNA-BUONSIGNORI” – Address: Roma Street
  Free entry. Private collection made up of artistic works, portraits, furniture, wapons and ceramics.
• MUSEO CIVICO -  Address: Piazza del Campo
  Paid Entry. Rooms with several masterpieces by Domenico di Niccolò, Simone Martini, Ambrogio Lorenzetti,Jacopo della Quercia.

These are only some examples of all the museums you can visit in this beautiful city.

Moreover near Siena you can also admire several charming castles and fortresses such as: the ROCCA DI MONTALCINO, the CASTELLO DI SPALTENNA, the CITTÀ FORTIFICATA DI MONTERIGGIONI,  and the CASTELLO DI COLLE DI VAL D’ELSA.

Road and Highway Connections
Arriving from the Northern part of Italy, you should firstly going through the highway A1 where the right exit is Firenze Certosa, secondly you should continue your trip through the free way Firenze – Siena. At this point it will take more or less 40 minutes to arrive in Siena.
Arriving from the Southern part of Italy, you should firstly going through the highway A1 where the right exit is Valdichina, secondly you should continue your trip through the free way Bottole – Siena.  At this point it will take more or less 2 houres and 30 minutes to arrive in Siena.
You can even reach Siena by bus and the possible solutions are the following ones:

• From Florence: the bus station is placed exactly in front of the railway station: Santa Maria Novella. You can choose among: the LINEA RAPIDA (Rapid Line) that takes one hour and 15 minutes to arrive in Siena, and the LINEA DIRETTA (Direct Line) that takes one hour and 35 minutes to arrive in that city. Bus line TRA-IN spa. (telephone.: + 39 0577 / 204245), Bus line SITA (free phone no.: 800 – 373760).
• From Rome: Coach Station Address: Roma Tiburtina. The bus usually takes two hours and 45 minutes to arrive in Siena. SENA (free phone no.: 800 – 930960, tel.: 0577/283203).

Railway Connections

Leaving from Florence you should change at Empoli then it takes more or less one hour and 30 minutes to arrive in Siena.
Leaving from Rome you should change at Chiusi and then it takes more or less 3 hours to arrive in Siena.
Leaving from Pisa you should change at Empoli and then it takes more or less two hours to arrive in Siena.
The Siena’s railway station is 2 km away from the historical centre of this city where you can arrive in five minutes by bus.

Aerial Connections

The following ones are all the airports near to Siena:

• Florence Airport, it is 85 km away from Siena
• Pisa Airport, it is 169 km away from Siena

Both these two airports are connected to the most important Italian airports and to many European and Extra-European airports.

Siena is placed in the Italian region called Toscana and it is the main city of the namesake province. The neighbouring cities are: Monteroni d’Arbia, Sovicille, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Monteriggioni and Asciano. However, to better understand geographical position of Siena you can take a look at this map.

…Enjoy your stay in Siena!