Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

Velvet

You may not need too many yards of this fine clothing, but discovering Antica Tessitura di Luigi Bevilacqua in the District of Santa Croce will enchant you with its velvet and damask produce. Let its luxurious texture adorn your chairs and footstools and bring the elegance of Italy to your home.

The Witches Mirror

This item may have been influenced by the Medieval Period when witches were believed to have roam Europe. You will find this crafted by an artisan in the Dorsoduro District. Find him and be amazed by the convex mirrors that transfix the images of those who gaze at it.

Original Venetian Beads

Do not be tricked by mass produced beads that are sold cheaply in souvenir shops. Go for the real beads of glass by visiting Anticlea Antiquatario at calle San Provolo or Paropomisa at Frezzeria, San Marco. Be more charming and the storeowner may consider showing you a glimpse of their own private collection, a rare treat given to those who are patient enough to look for the best Venetian beads in the region.

Featherweight Glasses

Technology may have improved over the decade, but the world’s lightest eyeglasses are made and created at Micromega in Venice. This would be quite a gift for those wearing eyeglasses and you will value it more since it is created by no other than Roberto Carlon, a popular and only creator of feather-weight titanium frames.

Venetian Books

Amazon and Ebay may have given opportunities for people to purchase books online, but classic guidebooks and Venice themed volumes of readings can only be purchased at specialist bookshops in Venice like Linea d’Acqua, Mare di Carta, and Libreria Acqua Alta.

It would require you to do a couple of walks and a few conversations with the locales before you find these shops; but you can always check the addresses online and find their stores addresses. If you have a friend knowledgeable of the area, then it would be a breeze finding these stores. Moreover, you may even find interesting places that are rarely explored by tourists because it is less known to the public.

About the Author:
Shaiya is a freelance writer for Venice Airport. Learn more exciting trips to enjoy in Italy by hiring cheap and affordable car hire deals in the city.

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Consider Venice

If there is a city you should not miss when in Italy, it’s Venice! Mixing up at one of Piazza San Marco cafes for a foretaste of Venice’s design as well as the sea is the first thing to do before you go ahead to Basilica San Marco, Rialto Bridge and the Doge’s Palace. If you are an art lover, head straight to Peggy Guggenheim Collection to see some contemporary paintings from the 20th century. Wrap it up with a Gondola ride or go to a famous Carnevale, if you will be in Italy in February.

Streets in Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

What about Milan?

What do you know about Milan? Are you aware of the fact that it is the home of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral, the Duomo of Milan? Not interested in cathedrals? Then you should be in a park or in a museum, such as Castello Sforzesco, to see ancient musical instruments, or the city’s famous archaeology museum, which is filled with artifacts from the pre-historical era. La Scala Opera House and Museum is not only a tribute to Opera, but it is also a formidable piece of architecture. Daily guided tours in many languages are offered.

… And the capital city, Rome?

When in Rome, you will have an opportunity to see the many beautiful monuments, old ruins, and historic architecture, which are what so many are fascinated by. Also, do not forget to pay a visit a Vatican – the Pope’s residence has much to offer and you are sure to be impressed with some artistic works by Michelangelo.

License: Image author owned

Florence is a big shopping deal

When looking for a fine shopping experience in Europe, Florence is the destination. Pick exquisite leather goods, jewelry, paper goods and almost any souvenir that comes to your mind. But Florence is not just about shopping – the famous Uffizi Gallery is a home of numerous renowned paintings by renaissance greats. The city’s cathedral is a notable sight, as well.

Tuscany

Nearby Florence lies in the beautiful region of Tuscany, the place of astonishing country lifestyle. Tuscany is the place to go if you love wine and simple but nice cuisine. It is considered to be one of the best places for honeymooners. Enjoy walking along mountain paths, visit Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano, Arezzo and Lucca. Tuscany also offers a very suitable accommodation option: the villas in Tuscany are famous for excellent service and fair pricing.

Jillian Johnson is a professional marketing content writer who blogs on a variety of topics. Follow her @MissWritey.

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Castle of San Angelo and the bridge, Rome, Italy / Photo by admin

Sightseeing

There will never be a shortage of places to go or see when visiting the city. Rome is a living and breathing tourist attraction. An old fountain or historic church will always be there to welcome any first time visitor. Thousands of years of history have filled the city with some of the world’s most beautiful structures. A simple glimpse of these places is enough to transport anyone to another time in history. The Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, Pantheon and Spanish Steps are just some of the must-see places to visit. Creating a travel plan with each of these places location in mind helps minimize travel time and lets you cover more places. Hiring a tourist guide for example helps you

Shopping

Italy is known for its designers, whether it’s the latest car design or the latest fashion trends from Milan, shoppers will find Rome to be a haven. Looking for a Bargain? Then visiting the Spanish steps or centro storico will give you a glimpse of some of the country’s biggest and upcoming names in fashion.

Weekday shopping hours are from 3:30 to 7:30 pm and 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM during weekends. Italians also take their coffee breaks seriously so be ready to wait for a few minutes in the afternoon. There are also avenues in the city lined with shops selling high-fashion brand names at discount prices. Talking to a local could help you get the best bargains and inside scoop for the city’s hidden treasures.

There are also a number of flea markets for buying souvenirs. Porta Portese in Trastevere is one of the most popular hunting grounds in the city. You could also give Testaccio’s food market or Campo de’ Fiori to get a better look into what the city has to offer.

Museums

The Vatican Museum is home to the world’s most beautiful art pieces. Located at the northwest corner of the city, it showcases works by some of the best Italian artists like Raphael, Caravaggio and Michelangelo. Other notable museums to visit include the Capitoline Museum, Musei Vaticani and Galleria Borghese. The Vatican requires a dress code for visitors entering the Sistine Chapel, Basilica di San Pietro and Musei Vaticani. Be ready to allocate some of your touring day’s for visiting these museums and arrange your travel plans accordingly.

St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican / Photo by admin

Entertainment

The city is not only home to art pieces from the past but also hosts some of the best performing artists in the world. Rome by day is a sight to behold and could only be rivaled by its nightlife. There is always something for everybody. Restaurants and cafes lining the city’s streets will be a perfect backdrop for a romantic getaway. Theatres are some of the best in Europe. The Auditorium-Parco della Musica is a large venue that regularly shows live performances. Trendy bars and night clubs give visitors some of Europe’s best nightlife scenes.

This is an article by Suzzane who works for Rome Apartments.

The post A Traveler’s Must Do Guide When Visiting Rome | Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

Rome is a city steeped with rich culture and traditions. Visitors coming here can enjoy the finest culture in the world, in this city. This destination has gained a lot of popularity as a prominent destination in the entire world. Leading carriers has enhanced the number of flights to Rome serving this destination. “The Eternal City” is ready to welcome the tourists coming here with open arms. When planning to visit this city, some valuable travel tips need to be kept in mind thereby ensuring a perfect vacation. It is necessary to book cheap airline flights well in advance. Though, many international airlines ply their services to this sector, timely bookings can help avoid any inconveniences later.

Rome, Italy / Photo by admin

Spring is the best time to visit this beautiful city. The spring season continues from March through May. Another time, that is suitably appropriate for the visit is the fall season when the weather is perfect for exploring the city at leisure. Since summers are comparatively hot and humid, visitors mostly avoid these two seasons for their travel. This time, the city is full of tourist crowd, and it is difficult to get hold of preferred seats and preferred rooms in a hotel. Winters, on the other hand, are quite chilly, and it becomes difficult to venture out. Most of the time, tourists have to stay cooped up in their hotel rooms and the excitement of the vacation wanes. Although, there are some travelers who visit this city during Christmas celebrations, as, at this time of the year, joy and festivities galore, many visitors tend to avoid the holiday rush.

As soon as the flight lands at the airport, visitors can travel directly to the Station Termini instead of standing in long queues waiting for a private cab. Private taxis should only be used when visitors are carrying heavy luggage. Public transportation in the city is not only fast and efficient but highly affordable. Budget travelers mostly use this network of transportation ensuring accessibility to the tourist attractions much easier. Enjoying these attractions is convenient by booking cheap flights to Rome.

From the Spanish Steps in May, Rome, Italy / Photo by admin

In order to explore this city, the best way if enjoy a stroll around this city. Self exploration, at times, offer treasure trove of attractions spread all over the city. Pick a right pair of footwear and enjoy exploring this city at leisure. This city has made a name for offering excellent dining choices. There are several swanky restaurants and roadside cafes where visitors can enjoy a wide array of mouth watering cuisines and delicacies. One can choose best pizza, pasta and many other authentic Italian dishes. It is fascination to enjoy local dishes at the road side cafes. Availability of cheap tickets to Rome by leading carriers like Air France offers a chance to enjoy this magnificent city.

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Venetian masks, Carnival in Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

History of the Carnival

The Carnival attracted thousands of people to the city during the carnival hey day.  The streets were full of people wearing masks and people could not distinguish between the commoners and the nobility.  In the squares there would be street artists and singers.  People wanted to party in Venice and came from all over Europe.  There were theaters, cafes, restaurants, gambling dens, brothels where the visitors could spend their money.

Events

There is a lot of entertainment during Carnival, there are food stalls and costumed characters, theatre shows, gondola and boat parades along the Grand Canal.  The main events take place around the St Mark’s Square such as the Mask parades but each Sestiere will also have their own celebrations.  There is also a Carnival for children in the Cannargio district.  The last day of Carnival there is a fireworks display in St Marks Square, but you do not have to be there to see it, you can view the fireworks from anywhere in Venice.

Accommodation

If you are thinking of heading over to Venice during the carnival, do so, just book your flights and accommodation well in advance.  Be expected to pay more for your accommodation, as hotels will be charging a higher rate.  You could also check out the cost of renting one of the apartments in Venice, it may work out cheaper if there is a large group of you going.

Masks

Masks have played an important part in the Venice carnival.  People were allowed to wear the masks between St Stephen’s day and the start of the carnival season (Shrove Tuesday). There is a new theme each year for Carnival but everyone will be wearing a mask. There are many different types, there is the bauta mask that covers the whole face, the Columbina, a half mask normally decorated with silver, gold, crystals and feathers, the Plague Doctor mask which has a long beak and is one of the most recognisable Venetian masks.

More than 30,000 people visit Venice each day during Carnival, making it one of the busiest times of the year for the city.  If you are thinking about going, it is well worth booking one of the short-term rental Venice apartments 6 to 8 months in advance. The celebrations start 40 days before Easter and last for 2 weeks.

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Europe, despite being one of the most heavily populated and developed continents in the world, still has plenty of wild areas where you can find some superb family adventure holidays. The great thing about Europe is that it offers terrain to explore and offer challenges at any time of year, from deepest winter to the baking sunshine of summer. Find the right location and the possibilities are as varied as Europe’s land and seascapes.

Czech Paradise National Park, Czech Republic / Photo by admin

Mountains, Rivers and Deep Forests

Central Europe, especially Germany, offers some of the deepest woodlands in Europe. In particular, the Black Forest, in the south west of Germany, has some wonderful facilities to offer to visitors. Bavaria’s meadows and mountain peaks are great for people who love hiking or cycling, while the water courses are ideal for those travellers who enjoy adrenaline fuelled water sports.

Southern Sun and Shorelines

Heading further south, you come to the Mediterranean countries with their spectacular coasts. The rocky Adriatic coasts of Croatia and Greece are great for people who enjoy sea-based water sports, while many of the islands in the Mediterranean are popular with people who like sailing. The beaches are also great in this part of Europe, if you need a something more restful for a while. A great way of exploring what the beaches can offer in this part of Europe is by canoe and many sailing tours offer this facility.

Beach in Pollina, Sicily, Italy / Photo by admin

Winter in the Wild

When the weather turns to snow, that does not mean things shut down in Europe. The snow comes as a boon for the skiing resorts of the Alps and the Pyrenees, while in Scandinavia, the weather is simply a part of life, influencing culture on almost every level. In countries such as Sweden and Finland, you can explore winter woodlands by skiddoo or learn to cross country ski, one of the world’s most beneficial types of exercise.

It is also possible to spot different kinds of wildlife in winter and the landscapes covered in snow form great backdrops for nature photographers. The mountain resorts of France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland really come alive in the winter months, with the adventure holidays for families available at this time are centred upon skiing and snowboarding type activities.

High Tatras National Park in Winter, Slovakia / Photo by admin

Whatever kind of adventure holidays you are seeking, from birdwatching tours to learning to water ski, Europe really can provide it all. With accessibility and transport links invariably very good by global standards, Europe answers many of the questions keen holiday makers often ask.

AUTHOR BIO: Graham Devonshire has been at home in the Alps for years. A mountain lover, whatever the weather, he write regularly about adventure holidays for families, along with other travel matters, for a range of blogs and websites. A keen skier, as well as white water rafter, his own family adventure holidays have attained an epic status in the annals of his own household, where his family attempt to keep his boundless enthusiasm for the outdoors bottled up, at least until he’s in range of the mountains.

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Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

According to a recent report, though, a combination of subsidence, tilting and sea levels rising mean that this unique cultural and architectural artefact is sinking more quickly than we thought – five times quicker, in fact!

So it could be time to make the most of Venice before it becomes a semi-mythical lost city…taking in sights such as…

The Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is truly astounding. An unwieldy geometric arc, it looks as though it should sink beneath its own weight. The whole place is full of local produce such as leather goods and authentic Venetian masks.

Perhaps strangely, though, this striking and beautiful landmark, unique though it is, is primarily used by tourists as a place to look out across the rest of Venice.

I would suggest going against the crowd, and trying to get a spot a little further so you can really appreciate this architectural marvel.

St. Mark’s Place

The lowest point in Venice, and thus also the most threatened by rising water levels, the stunning mish-mash of gaudily ornate baroque styles on show in St. Mark’s Place truly takes the breath away.

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

Whether looked at en masse or as individual works of art, these places would make a dream find for anyone browsing the upper end of online estate agents UK citizens have access to. Of course, in reality, they are almost beyond price.

Climbing to the top of the Campanile, one becomes dizzily aware of the pressure the building is placing on the ground below it, and of the water steadily undermining and flooding the square, simultaneously. It’s an incredible experience, and the precarious balancing of all these huge and intricate buildings is a testament (albeit temporary) to human ingenuity and skill.

Murano & Burano

The “islands” of Murano and Burano sit in the Venetian Lagoon.

More accurately, they are two series of islands linked together by bridges and wishful thinking, and both are well worth a visit.

Murano is traditionally a place of great glassworks, and glass shaped there still commands a good price. Although it boasts its fair share of colourful houses as well, it is nothing compared to Burano, which has highly regimented and detailed plans explaining exactly which houses can be which colours.

Both retain their individuality by keeping in touch with their pasts, but like Venice, these island chains are under threat from rising sea levels.

Ultimately, Venice’s charm lies in part in the fact that its expensive and awe-inspiring architecture, history and culture is only here for the short term.

Whether it’s an entire city centre built on unstable ground, the enormous Rialto Bridge, or the stunning islands of Murano and Burano, the fact that the whole area appears to be sinking makes the experience of touring the area especially touching.

My advice is to visit while you can!

Louise Blake writes blog posts for eMoov, an online estate agent service. She is most interested in architecture, great cities and historical landmarks.

The post That Sinking Feeling: See The Landmarks Of Venice Before It’s Too Late! appeared first on Europe Explored.

Colosseum, Rome, Italy / Photo by admin

A Bit of Romance

If you want a bit of romance you know where to go, don’t you? Actually, the whole country is extremely good for romantic breaks but the word Venice springs instantly into the minds of most couples who want to enjoy an unforgettable break. Even if you have read a thousand stories about the place and seen hundreds of pictures of it you will still be bowled over by the setting and the atmosphere.

A Lot of Art

Art is all around you when you go to Italy and nowhere more so than in Florence. This famously beautiful city holds some of the most exciting art treasures known to man. If walking from one museum to another and looking from one stunning piece of art to another is your idea of heaven this is a fantastic choice of destination. As it is in Tuscany you can expect great food and lots of friendly hospitality.

A Whole of Sight Seeing

The only problem with Rome is that there is just so much to do there. This is fine if you have plenty of time to wander around and see the famous sights but in shorter breaks the overwhelming number of things to do can be just too much to take in. The Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican and the Pantheon are just some of the amazing tourist attractions which have fascinated visitors here for centuries. If you want to feel as though you are steeped in history while on holiday then you can’t do much better than go to Rome, as long as you have the time to enjoy it all.

A Huge Amount of Freedom

Going on a camping holiday has always been a popular choice with those people who want to enjoy a lot of freedom while they are away. This type of break is especially recommended for families and those who want to enjoy their family holidays on a relatively tight budget. Camping in Italy is increasingly common now as there are lots of top campsites across the country. A quick look at a travel site like Eurocamp or Keycamp ones will give you a good idea of what to expect once you get across there.

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Pisa, Tuscany, Italy / Photo by admin

There are many famous universities and other institutes of higher learning located in Pisa. The 12th century University of Pisa is the most famous of the institutes in the city. However, you can also find the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and the Napoleonic Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa in the Italian city of Pisa.

The city dates back to the days of the Greek Empire. There have been a number of artefacts uncovered over the years which have confirmed this. The most important of these is the discovery of an Etruscan necropolis back in 1991. This means that Pisa can be easily dated back to the 5th century B.C.

Pisa was known as an important port city for the Roman Empire. Known back in 89 B.C. as Portus Pisanus, the city played an important role in the Roman naval battles against the Carthaginians, Gauls and Ligurians. Pisa would continue to be a prosperous city and home to the Italian Naval fleets until 1284 when the Genoese fleet defeated Albertino Morosini at the Battle of Meloria.

The famous 67 meter tall leaning tower of Pisa took an amazing 344 years to build. The construction of the tower began in 1173 and by the time that the second floor was added in 1178, the tower began to sink as a result of the small foundation.

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