Abruzzo

Region is known for the marine localities and the three large National Parks: in Abruzzo almost one third of the total surface is natural reserve. There is no place better than here for the lovers of trips, for who is fascinated with wild plants and wild animals, to admire pure landscapes and to enjoy yourself with a splendid sea. Abruzzo is a region in central Italy lying just 70 miles east of Rome and bordering Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south-west, Molise to the south-east and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Although geographically a central region, from a cultural and economical point of view it part of the Mezzogiorno or Southern Italy.

Wiki and guides

I told already about the new project we are working on: italy-wiki. We are starting to work on something else with similar goals: we are working on a new article marketing website that will be ready (we hope) for Chrismas.
We are really excited about this 2 projects because they will be both focused on Italy travel and vacation; they will both offer free resources for webmaster and (we hope) they will be usufull and used also by traveler and tourists.
Stay tuned, just 3 months and we will be ready!

Wiki for Italy

Just a short post, a small announcement for a website to be. Wiki Italy will collect travel guides available with GNU licence so contents will be available also for other websites. For the authors it will do a muche better job than italia.it, probably the worse website about italy.

Duomo di Milano

After many years spent with cleaning and restauration Duomo's marble have been taken back to its past beauty: the with church now seems to be shining in the summer of Milan.
Works are still not completed, as you can see in the picture, but almost and the view of the 3rd biggest church of christianity is worth the travel.
If you are thinking about a trip to Italy it's to consider again Milan as an important milestone.
Of course Milan is not only Duomo but really the church is wonderfull.

Italy a hot destination

The United Kingdom and France each gets more tourists from the U.S. than Italy does, according to Commerce Department statistics. Nonetheless, many travel experts say Italy is the country American travelers are most interested in learning about.

"Italy with a capital I, that's where the action is," said Mike Weingart, a Carlson Wagonlit travel agent in Houston.

AAA Travel booked more trips to Italy this year than any other destination in Western Europe, with a 9 percent growth over last year and a whopping 34 percent of all AAA bookings to the region.

"One of the top questions we have been getting is, 'Where in Italy do I go?"' said Frommer, who hosts a radio show with her father Arthur. "It seems to be very popular among first-time visitors."

Fodor's has just come out with a new guide called "Essential Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice & The Top Spots In Between." "The inspiration for the book came from just looking at our Web site and the reader comment boards," said "Essential Italy" editor Matthew Lombardi. "There were all these little headers saying, 'Rome, Florence, Venice, help me plan my itinerary."'

Americans are "more savvy now about the pleasures of contemporary Italian culture," Lombardi added. "They can go and see the Pantheon, but they also realize that great Italian food is not spaghetti and meatballs." They want to sample regional identities, cuisine and villages in places like Tuscany and Umbria.

Florence!

Florence was very much the epicentre of the Italian Renaissance and remains one of the world's top attractions for lovers of art. Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Located in the heart of Tuscany, a stunning province of hills and mountains, the Renaissance capital of the world, with famous sons like Leonardo, Dante, Machiavelli and Michelangelo, is a sight not to be missed. The world famous Duomo with the Brunelleschi cupola and the marble clad baptistry are simply stupendous, but not all the monuments are like this. The streets of the historic town centre are often narrow and dark, the palaces robust and intimidating. But have a look at the squares - wonderful Mediterranean places where you will like spending hours sitting down, having a coffee and just watching people passing by.

However, Florence is a city of incomparable pleasure concerning churches, monasteries, museums, galleries and palaces. Among the things you can't afford to miss are the Uffizi Galleries, one of the best art museums in the world, the cathedral with the baptistry, the Santo Spirito church and the Ponte Vecchio. To get a great overview of the city, head for Piazzale Michelangelo in Oltrarno (other side of river Arno) or farther up to the church of San Miniato.

Florence

When you imagine Italy, it is really Florence Italy that you are seeing. That is because Florence is at the heart of Italy. It is a place filled with passions and indulgences that awaken all the senses. Visual masterpieces are there to behold and one almost begins to salivate at the thought of the Florentine cuisine. To make the most of your visit to Florence, you can learn a little here about where to stay, what to do, and what you can expect from the locals.

A Warm Welcome

The first thing you expect from your visit to Florence is a warm and hearty welcome. The local people are lovers of people and are not afraid to show it. It is not uncommon to be greeted at your villa by a someone’s “Nona” (grandmother) with a big hug and a hot plate of food – no matter what the time is when you arrive.

Next your accommodation at any price level will be clean and pristine. The linens and furnishing may not be the most luxurious in the lower costing rentals, but they will be freshly washed and painstakingly starched. It’s just the Italian way to keep their homes extremely clean and they offer no less to their guests.

Some Choices on Where to Stay

There are some popular favourites within the city limits of Florence. The Savoy hotel, Florence, Italy is one of those. Here you will find five star accommodations within walking distance of two of Florence’s most popular attractions – the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio.

Another Florence hotel popular among tourists is the Westin Excelsior. It is also located close to the most visited and historic attractions and offers rooms and services American’s are most comfortable with. In addition to these highest rated hotels, visitors will be comfortable at such centrally located lodgings as the Hotel Rivoli or Palazzo Galletti.

For extended stays in Florence you may want to look into apartment or villa rentals. Apartments can be found within the city limits, while most villas are about 20-30 km outside the city. For travel to wine country and then back to the city, Florence car rental offices can accommodate your needs.

Apartments in Florence Italy are generally small, but efficient. You will find a small kitchen is the norm, but they provide enough space to cook simple meals. For a short term rental, they are more than adequate and provide a good home base for exploring the entire Tuscany region.

Downtown Florence Italy is one of the most historically significant cities in Italy. Here tourists come to take in the Uffizi Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio Bridge crossing the River Arno, and the St. Croce Chuch. In addition, there is the Duomo, the city’s Exhibition and Congress Centre. No visit to Florence Italy would be complete without feeding the pigeons at Boboli gardens or walking down the garden’s avenue lined with cypress trees dating back to the 1600s.

Florence is a city that needs more than a weekend to see it all. Plan on visiting during the most pleasant season between April and June and make sure you give yourself at least a week to enjoy the city and surrounding countryside.

By: Peter J. Mason -

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Concentrating on latest news in Florence hotel, Peter J. Mason pens largely for www.florence-italy-guide.com . His comments on Florence italy are found on his site .