Benvenutolimos

WHERE TO GO: 48 HOURS IN ITALY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 11:08:00 +0000

An though it is technically not possible traversing the whole length and breadth of the magnificent country of Italy in a short span of 2 days, still we say - why darn not try?

Instead of clumsily trying to run from one place to another, just sit down, and make a plan of visiting the most intriguing destinations that you always wanted to go to, or the place that means something to you. Maybe you are on a break journey from one place to another, or you just seem to have caught a lucky break amidst your hectic schedule. Well, whatever the reason - if you find yourself with 48 hours in the land of the best food and the most beautiful landscapes endowed with a rich historical and cultural heritage, where would you go?

We have come up with a few possibilities!

Rome -

The heartland of Renaissance and the seat of one of the most celebrated historical empires, Rome is an identity in its own,spread over seven hills and sprawled by the river Tiber meandering through it. The city speaks a thousand words with its art and the people - not to forget, the food. Set out to watch the Sistine Chapel in the morning beating the mad rush of tourists later in the day, followed by a sighting of a bird’s eye view at the summit of the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica. Then, take a tour of the old town, and see the magnificence that is the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Titus and immerse in the story of how Rome was built brick by brick. The next day, take a hike of the Colosseum built by the Flavian dynasty, followed by a little tour to the Vatican, topping it off with a dose of Roman retail therapy in the flagship designer stores of Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, Gucci etc that lines the road running from del Corso to the Spanish steps via Condotti. Also, do not forget to stuff yourself with the best of Italian Food while in Rome!

Florence-

To find the best of Italian food, art and academia all at the same time and in the same place? Florence is the answer to your queries. Pack up your bag and head over to the Tuscan capital for an easy-breezy weekend getaway. Reveal your eyes to the beautiful view of the city and the landscape surrounding it from the piazzale Michelangelo, stroll about in one of the beautiful bridges on the River Arno like Ponte alle Grazie and Ponte Vecchio. Afterwards, immerse yourself in the art and culture offered by the Uffizi gallery and the peace found among the hustle and bustle in the Duomo. When it comes to shopping though, if Rome is high-end designer, Florence is totally independent shops offering a discerned taste in beauty.

Salerno-

This one is for the adventurous at heart - those who simply want to stay outdoors and get immersed in the surroundings and the fun, rather than immerse themselves in the art and culture. The city of Salerno is one of the oldest centres of scientific learning and civilisation in Italy, and it situated at the start of Amalfi coast. A day trip to Salerno can be concluded by rounding it up at the ruins of Paestum. Start your day with Salerno shore excursions, enjoying the beachy vibe and the picturesque visuals of the Amalfi coast, then continue it with the ancient buildings dating back to the medieval benedictine monks who made the city the seat of medicine in those days. Going south west to the city across the place where the Allied troops landed during WW-II for Operation Avalanche, you will find ancient temples and architecture that are being restored, along with a hugely intact temple of the Greek goddess Hera. The National Museum of Paestum also has splendid examples of art along with ancient limestone slabs on which ancient diplomas were painted.

Sightseeing Tips for Naples Port Shore Excursions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 May 2016 10:18:00 +0000

Naples is one of the most beautiful towns of Southern Italy, where old-world charm merges with natural scenic beauty to create an ethereal experience for the eye of the beholder. A lot of travellers take the decision to traverse the length of the Neapolitan Italy by Naples cruise excursions, as they set out to explore the city, and by extent the ruins of the historical Pompeii. And the best way for cruise passengers to enjoy the experience Naples offers, is by Naples port shore excursions on a day trip or as an independent traveller.

Since long, the cruise passengers have come out of the general stereotypes of newlyweds and geriatric people and more and more tourists are finding it convenient to come aboard the cruise ships to enjoy a unique way of travel.

Read on to know how to make most of the cruise trip to Naples port shore excursions, with respect to the type of traveller you might be.

First Time Traveller

A lot of first timers to Europe up travelling by cruise ships, as they offer a lot of packages that lets them visit a lot of cities within a number of days, but without delving deep into the spirit of the place. But the magic of Naples is not enough to be absorbed within a small amount of time. Thus to enjoy uninhibited exposure to the city, that too within a limited amount of time, you can sign up for the numerous packaged Naples shore excursions by the cruise lines. Like in any other port, you will find that there are numerous ways to fulfil that choice, either by walking tours, or bus tours, guided visits to museum, ancient ruins and et cetera.

If You are a Seasoned Cruise Traveller

Cruising around in Europe makes one to be increasingly averse to spend more time ashore, as it makes the traveller more accustomed to the comfort if the serene travel and the luxury that the cruise offers. Even if you hate the walking around about to get a taste of the city and would rather enjoy another day wrapped up in the amenities onboard, you will be surely lured by the premium services that some cruise lines offer when you are docking at Naples port. These tours get you the top-tier and exclusive visits to sights like Royal Palace at Plebiscite square or the New Castle built by the French family at Anjou. The easy access to the best spots and the eloquent guidance to explore them would fit right up your alley with the comfortable tours that let Naples port shore excursions are accustomed with.

Independent Traveller

The independent traveller, though ever eager to test the waters of shipboard travelling, often finds themselves quietly frustrated with the continuous calls of the ship to return on time as the fear of being left behind on a strange land very soundly trumps the sense of uninhibited adventure. The loss of freedom while trying to scout the best places to shop for local artefacts or the unending wait for 60 odd passengers to led on to the tour bus before you might feel bad, but the experience of being whisked away from port destination and all the other amenities of meticulously planned travel with efficient itinerary and priority disembarking sure makes up for it.

Places You Should Expect to See

On a Naples Port Shore excursion, you can expect to see the 4th century S.Restituta Basilica, the Town square, the Treasure Chapel of the cathedral, the church of St. Francesco di Paula within the city. While the tour takes you to the beautifully haunting city of Pompeii, you can enjoy picturesque views of Naples from Posillipo - the whole package taking about $125 and up for one person.a

10 Foods That You Should Definitely Try in Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Apr 2016 09:26:00 +0000

Italians love their food and so does every person who has tasted the culinary delights from this heavenly paradise. You may get Italian cuisine in your country, but nothing can beat the authentic mouthwatering delicacies that you get here. The best way to experience the food is to travel to Italy and visit the local eat out spots for a tasty treat.

We have compiled a list of the must-have foods in Italy that you should definitely try when you are visiting the country. Check it out below.

Pizza Margherita

Pizza Margherita is a traditional thin crust pizza with simple ingredients and flavors to die for. Each pizzeria or family own business has their own special sauce, basil and cheese combinations that makes it unique to them. It may seem simple, but it is full of flavors and the special sauce and cheese combo will make you forget all other pizzas.

Gelato

The texture of gelato is softer than ice-cream and it is usually made with different ingredients. The best thing about this sweet treat is that you can get it in almost every flavor and that is a lot of options to try out. Interestingly, Southern Italy founded the dairy-free gelato (sorbets) where dairy based were created in Northern Italy. The next time you visit Italy, make sure that you try the gelato.

Roman Meals

A Roman Meal is a 4-5 course meal that is created differently by each restaurant. You will not find the same combination of dishes in a Roman Meal at every restaurant. Usually the course starts with an antipasto (heavier appetizer), primo (pasta of your choice), secondo (meat with side dish), dolce (dessert) and/or a beverage. The price of a Roman Meal can range from 12 Euros to 20 Euros, depending on the restaurant and the place. You should definitely indulge in a Roman Meal when you visit Italy. It will be one of the most memorable culinary encounters that you will have in your life.

Tiramisu

Tiramisu is basically a dessert made of alternating layers of ice cream and cake. Italy is known for its flavorful Tiramisu that has many visitors coming to the country just to indulge in this amazing sweet treat. Traditionally, the Tiramisu is served as alternating layers of ice cream and cake, but a few restaurants have started a trend of serving it in ice cream bowls with bulk layers of ice cream and just a single layer of cake. Irrespective of the presentation and the preparation, this is one sweet treat to die for.

Pasta Carbonara

The combination of egg, bacon, romano and white wine tossed together with rigatoni or spaghetti noodles is the secret to a good pasta carbonara. It is unlike anything that you might have had in your country. Most people refer to this as creamy pasta. However, Italians prefer to skip the cream and stick to the rustic elements.

Italian Coffee

Italian Coffee, known as caffee, is basically a shot of espresso. The best place to indulge in this beverage is to visit a “bar” that offers traditional Italian espresso. For those who love milk, you can order a cappuccino. The dark and bold Americana will go well with those who prefer black coffee. Just remember to carry sufficient cash with you as the beverages can be priced at 4-6 Euros per unit.

Risotto

Risotto is a popular Italian dish and it is prepared with various ingredients such as seafood, chicken, etc. Seafood and mushroom risotto is a Venetian specialty. So if you are in Venice, then you have to try this culinary treat. Trust me; it doesn’t get more authentic than this. Make sure you ask around for seasonal variants as these tend to be special in their own way.

Ravioli

Raviolli is the one of the most popular dishes in Italy. Most popular raviolis are the ricotta and spinach which are probably the best vegetarian options for those who do not prefer meat in their meals. However, raviolis come in a variety of fillings that are flavorful. It does require some skill to prepare raviolis correctly or else they tend to fall apart while cooking. It would be a good idea to keep realistic expectations from the portions because the servings will be based on European preferences, i.e. 2-3 raviolis per meal.

Prosciutto

Prosciutto is basically thinly sliced meat which is either tossed in pasta or wrapped around cheese or melon. It is considered as the finest pork product and the freshest food item in the Emilia-Romagna region. The flavor is amazing and not overpowering at all. In fact, it tastes best when coupled with the right ingredients.

Gnocchi

Gnocchi are flour dumplings that are created in different flavor combinations and styles. The “pomodoro style,” sauce and cheese variant is a great vegetarian option. Meat lovers can always add meat to their Gnocchi dish.

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 09:42:00 +0000

Italy never fails to surprise people, especially tourists who visit the country to check out its exquisite beauty and to indulge in cultural experiences that are second to none. Some people feel that they know everything about this beautiful paradise. They are probably correct, but I am sure that there are few things that even they don’t know about.

Check out these 10 things which you probably don’t know about Italy.

#1: Italy has more fine art masterpieces per square mile than any other country

#2: Earthquakes are more common in Italy than any other place in Europe

#3: Italy is home to the highest peak in Europe, Monte Bianco, which stands at a mesmerizing height of 5000m and is part of the alps.

#4: At the opening of McDonalds in Rome in 1986, food purists distributed free pasta outside the outlet as a reminder of the culinary heritage.

#5: In Northern Italy, the surnames usually end with “i” while the trend in Southern Italy is surnames ending with “o”.

#6: Between 1861 and 1985, more than 26 million natives left Italy to seek a better life. Only 1 in 4 people returned to their own country later.

#7: In 1454, a real human chess game took place in Marostica, Italy. The winner of the chess game would win the hand of a beautiful girl.

#8: Tourism accounts for 63% of the country’s GDP. This is why tourism is the second most important economic contributor to Italy’s growth.

#9: Did you know that the language of music is “Italian”? The word “scale” comes from “scala”. There are many more examples. Interesting, right?

#10: The pre-dinner passeggiata (evening stroll) is one of Italy's most enduring leisure activities. Italians dress up in their best outfits and stroll around while making every attempt to get noticed.