Roma wine festival 2011 for Frascati and the best of Italian wine

Held in the Citta del Gusto, the 2011 Rome wine festival takes place on the 7th and 8th of May

A professional event for wine producers, buyers and reviewers alike the Roma wine festival event is also open to the general public and offers an opportunity discover to more about Italian wine and talk to the experts.

Although the Lazio region is not a prolific producer of Italian wine it does have some special white wines including Est di Montefiascone and Frascati. Frascati is a delicious white wine founded on Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes, which is best when served cooled with aperitifs. The Roman's call it the golden wine and it has been produced in the area for over two thousand years, so they must be doing something right!

The Roma Wine Festival web site www.romawinefestival.it has more information of the Rome wine festival or you can email segreteria@romawinefestival.it

For anyone taking a holiday in the Lazio area in May then this is a great chance to do a little homework before stocking up with your favourite Italian wine.

Villas Worldwide has a fabulous selection of villas with pools in Lazio which are within an easy train ride of the marvelous city of Rome. In Lazio you can enjoy a relaxing villa holiday in one of the world's great cultural regions and brush up on the fine wines of Italy.


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Springtime Treats :: the undiscovered Sabine Hills and the great Exhibitions in Rome

Fifty kilometres north-east of Rome, following the eastern bank of the Tiber River and the Sabine Hills, lies the territory of Sabina. It is a magical land of castles, little towns connected by winding country roads, elegant restaurants and family run taverne, and breath-taking scenery wherever you go. Europe's oldest olive tree lives in the Sabina too (Canneto di Fara), at 2000 years old it still produces a heavy crop each year, not surprising as Sabina is famous for it's olive oil. Hard to believe it's only an hour from Rome...

Sabina is an appealingly undiscovered area of Italy, which - although blissfully lost in time - is an exceptionally convenient area to visit with flights into Rome and Perugia from the UK offering convenience for travellers heading to these parts. The area, in the region of Lazio, offers splendid scenery with rolling, olive-clad hills and tiny, medieval hilltop villages. This part of central Italy has preserved its original rural character, and, not withstanding its proximity to Rome, is one of the least populated parts of the country. A wonderful time to visit is in spring when the countryside explodes in a riot of colour with yellow broom and fields of poppies and sunflowers punctuating the green hills, accented by the silver green of the olive trees which produce some of Italy's finest extra virgin olive oils.

Staying in Sabina offers the ardent traveller the best of two worlds; proximity to Rome and the delights of ‘living' in the country. The journey into Rome from Sabina is made simple by a well-established railway network with a frequent train service into Rome city centre. This year, from March to July, the lucky visitor can catch some of The Great Exhibitions that are running at various venues throughout the city of Rome whilst staying in an exceptionally pretty farm steading in Sabina.

Lorenzo Lotto from 2nd March - 12th June 2011. After the major monographic exhibitions devoted to Lorenzo Lotto's work in Venice in 1963 and in Bergamo, Paris and Washington in 1998, Rome is now preparing to host a tight retrospective covering every aspect of the art of this extraordinary painter who lived in Rome. The exhibition will cover the entire life and artistic career of the painter highlighting the poetic qualities of an artist who, though born in the 15th century, managed in a thoroughly original and independent fashion to reconcile the traditional elements of the great painting of his era with certain aspects that already herald the great age of the Baroque.

Nazarenes, Romantics, Realism, Impressionism, Symbolism, Avant-Garde from the Städel Museum of Frankfurt from 1st April to 17th July 2011. This exhibition displays of one the richest and most prestigious collections of European old masters and modern art anywhere, providing an overview of European art history from the Nazarenes to the Romantics, from Realism to Impressionism, and from Symbolism to the Avant-Garde. The exhibition will include masterpieces by Tischbein, Koch, Corot, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Böcklin and Feuerbach, and then on up to Moreau, Redon, Hodler, Munch, Beckmann, Ernst, Klee and Picasso.

Palazzo Farnese: from the Renaissance collections at the French Embassy from 17th December 2010 to 27th April 2011. On display at Palazzo Farnese are 150 masterpieces of the Renaissance such as paintings, sculpture, drawings, coins, tapestries and ceramics. The exhibition aims to illustrate the building's five hundred years of history from when it was commissioned in the sixteenth century by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese to its use over the last 135 years as the seat of the French embassy in Italy.

TraditionalTuscany.co.uk


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20 Romantic Things to do In Italy

1. Walk through San Marco in the early morning… best to do this in Spring or Summer just before sunrise.  It is just you and the early morning slowly stirring.

2. Take the early morning Vatican tour and get to experience the Sistine Chapel in its full glory just you, your partner and the guide.  There may be some other people there however not the crowds.  You will definitely be moved!

3. Get yourself organized and pre-book tickets for the Accademia Gallery in Florence and get to see David in the “flesh” ……… for all you others who prefer the female form how about pre booking the Uffizi and checking out Botticelli's "The birth of Venus".

4. Watch the sunset from the terraces of Ravello over a Mimosa cocktail or even better, a Rossini!

5. Book a table for 2 with candle-light at the 2 star Michelin Villa Crespi and enjoy one of the tasting menus which have been designed with you in mind.

6. Drive from a selection of classic convertibles including Alfa Romeo duetto 1967, MG MIDGET 1968, and AC COBRA 1977 to name but a few. We highly recommend that you choose to do this on the Amalfi Coast. The leather gloves, the foulard, the soft breeze in your hair, the dramatic scenery....

7. A romantic and private boat tour for 2 on Lake Como with your chilled bottle of Italian Sparkling wine.  Admire the lakeside villas which beckon you - Villa d'Este, Villa Erba, Villa Olmo, Villa Fontanelle, Villa Cassinella, the wonderful Villa Balbianello, Villa Carlotta……

8. Enjoy chocolate cuddles in Montecatini with an anti-age “Choco Energy” face treatment followed by a slimming-energizing “Choco Minceur” body treatment based on the properties of cocoa, chocolate, black pepper and honey.  If you fancy something a little more wine based… go for a purifying rebalancing wine treatment with a Chianti Sangiovese grape must  body scrub with massage followed by an ozone bath with wine nectar (Virgin Red Grape Juice), facial muscle toning massage and gel masks with Chardonnay Grapes from Lake Garda, strawberry juice and raspberry honey.

9. Enjoy wine tasting in the Roman cellars of this excellent restaurant in Piazza Erbe in the historical centre of Verona. With over 600 labels and a total of 7000 bottles managed and cared for by qualified and highly competent staff.  Or if you fancy something a little more intimate try a candle-lit dinner for 2 in the cellar with your own personal waiter for the night.

10. Why not spend 1 night in this wonderful hotel and enjoy a bottle of the veneto's finest in the evening under Juliet's balcony, just you, your partner and the stillness of the courtyard.

11. Try something a little different and stay in this “unique” art hotel where reality and fantasy seem to coexist in every room.  For all you lovers we suggest – La Torre di Sigismondo, an art room created by the movie director Raoul Ruiz.  With a huge round bed which revolves and occupies the entire space of the tower. Guests have the opportunity of opening up the roof revealing the starry sky.

12. What about a night at the opera? With so much romance to choose from: La Boheme at La Fenice in Venice in February/March; Romeo & Juliet at La Scala in Milan in June; Madame Butterfly in Teatro Petruzzelli Bari in July.....

13. Why not take part in the Venice Carnival and dress up for the occasion. Choose from the Commedia dell'Arte (costumes of 16^thcentury Italian theatrical characters), historical costumes of the ages, 1700 Veneziano to fancy dress.  With this comes all the accessories, the masks, the hats, the gloves, the shoes…..Be part of the mystery and make it romantic.

14. Enjoy a long bath and we have the perfect tub for you at this unique hotel Philippe Starck is in full swing here and the bathtub is just to die for… smooth and soft like marble allowing you to reach the height of total relaxation.  Add some essential oils to your water, rose petals and a few candles and I guarantee you will not want to come out.

15. When choosing your Italian coastal property, make sure that you opt for the room with an external Jacuzzi.

16. Stay in our candle-lit cave in the heart of Matera.

17. Hire a Vespa in Rome and discover the hidden treasures which await. Become Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn for the day.

18. In this section there are 3 things we feel will add to a romantic soiree a deux… Pizza in Naples. Particularly good pizzerias in Naples are rewarded with a vera pizza emblem. Some of the best are Brandi, the Lombardi in Via Benedetto Croce, 59, and last but not least da Pasqualino in Piazza Sannazzaro 78/9.  The Neopolitans eat their pizza with beer and when all is finished head to the Gran Caffè La Caffettiera in Piazza dei Martiri for a good cup of coffee and then end your evening with a Gelato (ice-cream)…and here are some of the best Naples has to offer…Bilancione in Via Posillipo 238, Otranto in Via Scarlatti 78, which specialises in seasonal fruit ice creams.  Chalet Ciro a Mergellina in Via Caracciolo and not forgetting Gran Bar Riviera in Riviera di Chiaia 181 and Remy Gelo in Via F. Galiani 30.

19. A balloon trip for 2 over Tuscany.

20. Head out to your own Italian island retreat.  Check out destinations like Pantelleria, Salina, Elba, Ponza, Stromboli…….. many more hidden gems.

Need a bit of romance?  A romantic break?  Want to celebrate something special?  Anniversary, honeymoon, a special moment?   Contact Rosa Spatola on 01424 728900.

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ITALY Steals the Show for Romance, Culture and Food

Flights comparison website Skyscanner.net has revealed the results of its Travel Awards 2010 as voted by more than 600 travellers and it seems the love affair with France is over as Italy snatches many of the top awards.

When it comes to love and the most romantic holiday, Rome, Venice and Lake Como has clearly outshone its neighbour in the awards, winning the title of ‘Most Romantic Country’ by far with 33% of the votes compared to just 19% from its closest competitor. 

Culture vultures also favoured Italy as it received the award for Best Destination for Culture. Italy also ran away with the award for Best Cuisine. And received ‘runner up’ for the Most Beautiful Country.

Yara Paoli, Skyscanner Italian country expert commented:

“Italy is a very popular destination for British tourists and it’s great to see Italy being recognised for what it can offer; excellent cuisine, romantic cities and a host of great cultural attractions.”
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Just you and Michelangelo

Being one of 17,000 visitors that trundle through the Vatican in the hope that by the time they reach the Sistine Chapel, the crowds would have thinned out, thus providing a much awaited spiritual moment, is a soul destroying process.

We have the answer.

It may be an expensive option but afterall, how often do you plan to visit Rome's magnificent centre piece?

Take an exclusive tour, one that is usually reserved for Royals and celebrities, now open for the public to book.  They take place before or after opening hours and yes, they are expensive costing around £230 pp (as opposed to £15 pp for standard admission) but if you don't invest in anything else in your life, this one is a no brainer.

Entering a mysteriously quiet Vatican City before all the crowds have assembled is already a privilege. To have your own private guide to navigate the 1,400 possible viewing rooms of the Vatican Museum is positively luxurious. The guides are of course extremely enthusiastic, knowledgeable Italians who illuminate all that you view.

And then when you truly believe it cant get much more exciting, you finally reach the piece de la resistance, the chapel itself. Michelangelo spent four and a half years painting the chapel by himself, and this is the closest one can get to being alone in it as he was. There are no guards loudly asking you to be quiet, no banging into thousands of other tourists who are also looking up, just pure magical silence to savour the experience and soak up the vivid blue restoration of the Last Judgment and the Separation of Light from Darkness.

Ask our ABTOI operators who can help you with your city break in Rome : http://www.loveitaly.co.uk/regions.php?id=8&r=Latium

New Year

A new year brings with it new experiences and an entire 12 months in which to explore Italy from top to bottom.

Art & Culture

2011 will see the celebration of 150 years since the unification of Italy. The Scuderie del Quirnale in Rome showcases an array of paintings reflecting political change throughout the past two centuries.
Stay in one of our beautiful properties within the Eternal City, or on the outskirts in Southern Lazio for a more peaceful vacation.

Sport
The world's top female skiers hit the slopes of Cortina d'Ampezzo in January, for the FIS World Alpine Skiing World Cup and is the most glamorous event in the skiing calendar. Stay in one of Cottages to Castles' wonderful properties on Lake Como or within Varese, just an hour drive from the cityscapes of Milan and ideal for a short visit to the ski resorts of the north.

Festivals
Italy is home to the Festa and every month is full of celebration and tradition.  This month sees the Il Palio di Sant Antonio Abate in the Tuscan town of Buti, near Pisa.  The Palio is an exciting, competitive and colourful day where a large horse race takes place representing each neighbourhood, the winner takes away the much coveted Palio.

For a full range of self catering accommodation throughout Italy visit http://www.cottagestocastles.com/.
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ITALY: Essential Tourist News You Should Know!

If you are thinking of visiting one of the great Italian cities this year, there are plenty of developing/renovation projects that may help you decide which city will be your choice for 2011.  Here are some helpful tips.

One of the most visited sites in Italy, the Colosseum, is being cleaned from top to toe as well as given permanent lighting for spectacular night time visits. The ambitious project could also open up new areas which were previously closed to visitors.

Great news that the Vatican Museum is running a very smooth online reservation system  http://mv.vatican.va/  Now you can even visit at night from April to October from 7 – 11 p.m. And after a long renovation, you can finally see the museum's Etruscan Rooms.

And not just at the Vatican Museum are visiting hours getting longer.  This year, it's getting even easier to buy Ferragamo shoes (and anything else) on Rome's fashionable Via Condotti.  No longer are shops closed for a long lunch break -  many are now staying open throughout the day — generally 10 a.m. to 7 p.m!

In Florence, the streets around the Duomo have recently been pedestrianized which is fabulous news. However, beware:  The Uffizi Gallery, famous for its fabulous Renaissance art, is undergoing a renovation, scheduled for completion this summer. Until then, its Tribune Room (with Venus de' Medici) will be closed. When it reopens, you'll view the precious marble statue of Venus through glass panels.

Again, more late opening with the Leaning Tower of Pisa opening late on summer evenings, making it possible to tour the landmark and survey the Field of Miracles from above after dark. The system for making reservations and sorting out the huge crowds that come to see and climb the tipsy tower is working well:  http://www.opapisa.it/

Venice has a new museum: The Punta della Dogana, housed in the former Customs House at the end of the Grand Canal in the Dorsoduro neighborhood. It features cutting-edge 21st-century art in spacious rooms. This isn't Picasso and Matisse, or even Pollock and Warhol — those guys are ancient history. But if you're into the likes of Jeff Koons, Cy Twombly, Rachel Whiteread, and a host of newer artists, the museum is as impressively contemporary as Venice is Old World. The displays change completely about every year, drawn from the museum's large collection. In fact, the art is spread over two locations — the triangular Customs House and Palazzo Grassi.

The Dogana traghetto, (or ferry gondola), is back, shuttling passengers across the mouth of the Grand Canal, between Harry's Bar (near St. Mark's Square) and the new Punta della Dogana art museum.

Venice's new People Mover monorail, a shuttle train fixed to a circular cable, opened in 2010 and carries passengers from the parking lot at Tronchetto to Piazzale Roma. It departs every few minutes, makes the half-mile trip in three minutes, is completely automated (no crew on board), and drops you a block from the Calatrava Bridge on Piazzale Roma, where the town center is an enchanting walk away.

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