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.

The post Unique Souvenir Items to Buy in Venice appeared first on Best of European Union.

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.

The post Visiting Italy? Here are 5 Places You Must Visit! appeared first on Best of European Union.

Paris

Paris is probably the most romantic city in the world, it’s as if it wants couples to be in love here, and indeed fall in love. Every street corner has a story to tell.

Paris at night, France by agaw.dilim

The Notre Dame Cathedral is a magnificent sight 81 metres high and nearly 150 metres long, with an even more impressive interior, its vaulted ceiling disappearing 38 metres into the gloom.

The building is the famous location of Victor Hugo’s tragic tale The Hunchback of Notre Dame. You’ll have a tremendous view of the whole city from the dizzying heights of the Eiffel Tower’s observation deck more than 270 metres up. Did you know than a quarter of all European visitors to the tower live in France?

Some Parisians will argue that the better view of the city is from the steps of the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur.

On a hill in the north of the city the view on a nice day is spectacular, but the district is more famous as the hangout of artists and thinkers – most notably Renoir, Toulous Lautrec, Modigliani and Picasso.

And don’t forget the most famous painting in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, with pride of place in the Louvre.

There are Metro stops everywhere, so you’ll never have to walk to each stunning location.

Venice

It just wouldn’t right to go to Venice and not to take a ride on a gondola. It might be a bit of a stereotype, but can you think of a better way to see the world’s most famous canal city?You can even have your very own personal serenade as you glide along the water.

Canal Grande, Venice, Italy by admin

Some of Italy’s most important art is in Venice with works but the city’s great masters – including Titan, Carpaccio and Tintoretto – on display at the Gallerie dell’Accademia.

The evening is a beautiful time in the city, when at certain times of year the setting sun casts a pink glow over the city, as Venetians flock to their favourite bars for an evening aperitivo before a sumptuous meal.

Duck away from the major tourist spots, where you’ll pay a fortune for a slice of pizza of plate of antipasti, and you’ll come across some hidden gems where your taste buds will love you for the rest of your life.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is hugely popular with Brits skipping through the Channel Tunnel for a long weekend. It’s a vibrant city with the perfect mix of culture to keep you busy all day, and a nightlife that will exhaust you until morning.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands by Chris Yunker

Arriving at the Central Station you are right in the heart of the city, just a few steps from Dam Square, surrounded on all sides by the city’s most important buildings – the Royal Palace (which was briefly the home Napoleon Bonaparte when Amsterdam was the Third City of the Empire); the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), one of the most visited exhibition spaces in Holland, and the National Monument to commemorate the victims of World War Two.

The most famous of these victims is Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who hid for two years in with her family and four other people.

Canal tours are the best ways to see the city, with stops that include Van Gogh Museum.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to http://www.eurostar.com

The post Top European Getaways for Couples appeared first on Best of European Union.

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 Best of European Union.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Simon Pielow

The Definition of Luxury

The operates from March to November, offering service between many major European cities. The line’s western terminus is London; passengers may also embark in Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague, Vienna, Cracow, Dresden, Istanbul, Bucharest and Budapest. Passengers travel in peerless luxury and enjoy five-star dining; the service and appointments on board the Orient Express are so legendary that for many passengers a journey aboard it is a significant part of their holiday.

Great Britain and Mainland Europe

The Orient Express is owned and operated by Orient-Express-Hotels Ltd., which uses one carriage for travel within the United Kingdom and another to reach destinations in mainland Europe. Passengers who board in London must disembark when the train reaches the English Channel; they arrive in France via the Eurotunnel Shuttle and board the Orient Express once more. The rail cars used for the British service are only used for day trips because they have no sleeping accommodations. Passengers enjoy lunch and afternoon tea; for some, this is the purpose of the journey, while others are traveling to historic castles in the British countryside. The Orient Express that operates on the mainland features sumptuous sleeping quarters. Both iterations of the Orient Express use vintage rail cars from the 1920s and 1930s.

Tour Packages

Travel aboard the Orient Express is a luxury, and priced accordingly. Some passengers plan their own route, while others take advantage of complete holiday packages offered by the railroad. One of the most popular packages offers service from London to Venice; the trip lasts five days and includes lodging at the London Ritz and three nights in Venice’s Hotel Cipriani, whose rooms overlook the adjacent lagoon. Travellers also spend one night on the Orient Express, where they enjoy private cabins with room service and a private hot and cold water supply. During the day, passengers sit on their in-cabin couch and enjoy the passing scenery. At night, the stewards unfold the couch into a roomy double bed and dress it in fine linen. Two types of cabins are available: the Double Cabin is a single room with a folding bed, and the Cabin Suites have two adjoining cabins. There are washrooms in each car.

The Pinnacle of Excellence

The Orient Express offers the finest rail travel in the world, complete with service and amenities that rival any hotel. The food is prepared by esteemed French chefs and served in the dining car, where most passengers dress formally. After their meals, many head to the nearby bar car for a nightcap; by the time they return to their cabins, the stewards have prepared the beds for a night of sweet dreams.

Martin writes for Medwelcome a Holiday Rental Property website

The post All Aboard the Orient Express appeared first on Best of European Union.

During the Carnival of Venice there are lots of people from all over the world in Venice, so you need to be prepared for the queues at the refreshment stalls. Right in the heart of Venice, you will not find any benches. They are only in front of the restaurants, where you have to order something. This is why the people sit everywhere. However, not far from the center of Venice, there is a park with benches where you can rest. The park is open till 19:00.

If you walk around Venice, you’ll meet a mask on every street corner. Some of them are very interesting but also very expensive. Domestic conceived the carnival as their holiday, so you can even meet married couples, who were dressed in festive costumes. There are also many artists who can paint the mask directly on your face and it is really very nice and funny to watch such an artist at work. Also there are many foreigners who come here to show their costumes as well.

There is a competition for the best mask. These masks will then walk through the stage.

In 2011 Carnival of Venice starts on Friday 25.2.2011 (21:30 – 1:00) with Carnival Moon Dancing and finish on 9.3.2011 at 01:00am.

View Carnival of Venice, Italy – starting 25 February 2011 – 9 March 2011 in a larger map

The post Carnival of Venice, Italy – starting 25 February 2011 – 9 March 2011 appeared first on Best of European Union.