Italy: The Art Of Good Living

Most people’s perception of Italy is that of style, a country whose taste for the good life is matched only by its panache. The food is full of flavour, created with a desire to serve nothing but the best.

Variety is the spice of life; kitchens all over the country try to outwit one another with new recipes, each one tastier than their neighbours.

But what drives the Italian people is their passion, their zest for life. Nowhere else is life lived with so much enthusiasm.

The boys cruise by street cafes in their open top sports cars looking cool, trying to catch the eyes of the girls. The girls drink their coffees, dressed to the nines in their Versace designer dresses and pretend not to notice. This modern day mating ritual continues endlessly.

Elsewhere in Italy, tourists flock annually to this culturally diverse country, making it the fourth most popular destination in the world.

The majority of holidaymakers fly into Rome and make a beeline for the Colosseum. Brought to life in the recent Hollywood epic ‘Gladiator’, the ancient ruin makes no less impression in real life. Built in 80 AD, this bloodthirsty arena became graveyard for many a brave soldier, thrown to the lions with no mercy.

Within the walls of Rome lies the Vatican. Though technically not part of Italy, it is in fact an independent state and the smallest country in the world. Considered by many to be Christianity’s finest Renaissance church, St Peter’s Cathedral is a magnificent piece of architecture. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is another must see, though you may have to compete with large crowds. It is advisable to book your visit beforehand.

High up in the mountains sits the beautiful little town of Assisi, overlooking Perugia. The 14th century fortress of Rocca Maggiore sits predominantly, once the sentinel guarding this proud city. It is the birthplace of St Francis and well worth a visit, provided you can negotiate the religious pilgrims.

In the north of Italy sits the vogue city of Milan, Europe. The town is famous for its fashion businesses and exquisite shopping. Indeed, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele is believed to be the oldest shopping mall in the world.

The Biblioteca Ambrosiana holds sketches by Leonardo da Vinci amid its considerable resources of books and drawings. It is one of the main libraries of European culture.

About The Author


Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks website featuring city break special offers from luxury hotels to budget accommodations. For more information please visit http://www.sargas.co.uk.

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The Ancient Sites Of Rome, Europe

For 3,000 years Rome in Europe, has stood at the forefront of civilisation. The might of the Roman Empire brought great wealth and prosperity to the city and its allies. Rome became a treasure trove of extravagant architecture and monuments.

As fortune smiled down on Rome, their riches established communities endowed with ornamental landmarks, many of which stand to this day.

At the core of the once mighty Europian Empire, The Roman Forum was the heart and soul of government. Originally a cemetery, the Forum grew with the Empire and was the nucleus of everyday life. Aristocracy would socialise and decide the course of history during lavish banquets, drinking their wine and gorging on the luscious food.

At the centre of the Forum is the Temple to Julius Caesar built by Augustus, his adopted son and first Roman Emperor. The fresh flowers signify the exact spot where Caesar was cremated.

The Colosseum is undoubtedly the most recognisable of all ancient Rome’s landmarks. Built by Jewish slaves, the amphitheatre was synonymous with blood sports.

Opened by Emperor Titus in 80 AD, the imperial thirst for bloodshed was insatiable. Gladiators became infamous overnight as battles between man and beast caught the imagination of the Roman public.

Hundreds of thousands of men and beasts were slaughtered during the course of these Roman games. The butchery continued mercilessly until these particular blood sports were outlawed in 523 AD.

The communities of the Empire held the Roman gods in high esteem; religion played a significant part in the lives of the Romans and homage was paid frequently to those in higher places.

The Pantheon was built as a temple to the gods. The original was destroyed by fire in the 1st century BC resulting in dismay amongst the communities.

During the early part of the 2nd century AD, Emperor Hadrian took it upon himself to rebuild the monument and provide his people once more with a pathway to the gods. Hadrian was an amateur architect and completed the new temple in 125 AD.

Two mammoth doors, like sentinels standing before the path to the gods guard the entrance to the temple. The doors were extensively restored during the 17th century, raising doubts whether they can ever again be classed as original.

Once inside, the unexpected scale of the interior is awe-inspiring. Marble panels grace the walls and floors; remarkably, half of the wall panels are from the original build nearly 2,000 years ago.

About The Author


Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks website featuring city break special offers from luxury hotels to budget accommodations. For more information please visit http://www.sargas.co.uk

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Avila, Spain, Europe

Madrid is a city almost without equal in Europe. If you need a break from it, you can take a day trip to Avila to catch a bit of fresh air and see some amazing sites.

Avila, Spain

Madrid has so much going on it is often hard to drag yourself away from. You will, however, eventually need a break. A day trip to Avila, a town near Madrid, is definitely worth a trip. In fact, a visit to Avila is a must if you visit Spain. The town is so popular, there are over 20 trains a day from Madrid.

Avila is in the south of Old Castile, part of the Castile and Leon autonomous district. The city was originally known for Teresa of Avila, a Roman Catholic mystic. The cathedral in the city is also considered a masterpiece. While this is no doubt fascinating to you, the real attraction of Avilla is the defensive fortification.

Were you addicted to the Lord of the Rings movies? Enjoy reading about Camelot? Have a thing for castles? You are going to love Avila. The town is home to the second largest defensive walls in the world. Known as Las Murallas, the walls were built in the eleventh century. They are a couple miles long and average 40 feet in height. The walls are partitioned by over 80 towers that reach as high as 65 feet, the equivalent of a six-story building. There are nine gates allowing you to enter and exit the town. All and all, the Avila Walls are a site to be seen.

The amazing thing about the walls is their condition. They are in a near perfect state. If you did not know better, you would swear they were built last week. Happily, you can tromp up and down the towers and walk across the top of the walls. Looking out over the area surrounding Avila, you get a definite feel for what it must have been like for a soldier to defend the city.

Keep in mind Avila is at a high elevation. It can be cold in the winter and blazing hot in the summer.

About The Author


Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more about travel and the great outdoors.

Staying in Barcelona, Europe, for Extended Periods

If you have every visited Barcelona,Europe, you know it is a place best experienced over a few months instead of a few days. Fortunately, the people of Barcelona know it as well.

Staying in Barcelona for Extended Periods

Like a fine wine, drinking in Barcelona shouldn’t be rushed. Visit the city for two or three days and you will get only a small, rushed taste of the flavor of Barcelona. If you have time to spend weeks or months in Barcelona, you should do it. Staying in a hotel, however, isn’t particularly attractive. Don’t worry, Barcelona has a solution for you.

One of the biggest problem with staying anywhere for an extended period is the lack of accommodation. This is hardly the case in Barcelona. The city has a monstrous apartment rental industry devoted to visitors looking to stay for weeks, months or even a year.

As you might imagine, the apartments come in a variety of styles and prices. Almost universally, they come fully furnished with furniture, linen, towels and so on. Most, however, do not include cleaning, laundry, cooking and so on. Depending on how much you are willing to pay, you can get all of these.

The first step to finding weekly or monthly accommodation in Barcelona is to figure out where you want to stay. While your first thought may be to head to the most attractive, busy section of the city, you need to give it some thought. Yes, it is good to be close to everything, but Barcelona is a late night, bustling place. If you want to take a break from the fun madness, you might find the noise associated with living in the middle of the city is a bit much.

The most popular area of Barcelona is Ciutat Vella, also known as the old city. This is where the action is with nightlife and the exotic tastes of Barcelona. It has an old Roman feel, but never really seems to shut down. The old city is the central tourist destination, so finding accommodations is simple since they are very plentiful. Costs depend on quality, but you can expect to pay $100 to as much as you can splurge per night. Extremely nice places can be had for $150 to $200 a night, which isn’t a bad deal if you bring a second person with you.

Barcelona is best experienced over time. Pick up weekly or monthly accommodations and you will enjoy yourself immensely.

About The Author


Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of writing journals. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more about travel and the great outdoors.

Great Places To Visit: Prague Cafes And Castles

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic in Europe is an extraordinarily beautiful city. Standing on the banks of the river Vltava (the locals generally use the German name for it the Moldau). Few wars or natural disaster ever reach here and the architectural heritage has been beautifully preserved. It is also know as the “Hundred Spired City” due to the many churches that adorn the city streets.

Much of the street plan, in as much as there is one, is medieval. And will come as a surprise (hopefully a pleasant one) to anyone used to living in a grid pattern North American city.

The city still boasts many beautiful buildings dating from the baroque period; a sight lost to much of Europe, that suffered so much in the devastation of two world wars. The canter of the city is a pleasure to walk around. Much of it is dating from the 14th century, when Charles IV started the university and built the “New Town” area of the city.

Prague only established itself as the capital in 1918 with the creation of Czechoslovakia. It remained under Soviet control until 1989, when the “Velvet Revolution” gently broke the grip of the failing Soviet Union.

Nowadays the city has thriving cafes, clubs and shops, where the newly wealthy and the inspirational window shopper can keep themselves amused for hours on end. The boulevards contain everything from traditional Czech souvenirs to the latest hi tech modern electrical gadgetry.

Must See Prague:

• Charles Bridge: built in the 14th century, it was believed at the time, that odd numbers were lucky. The builders started work at 5:31 on the day 9/7/1352 very odd, but maybe effective, as the bridge is still standing today!

• St.Nicholas Church: When building work finished in 1756 Prague had one of the finest Baroque churches in Europe and it still retains that position today. There is a huge painting of St. Nicholas in the nave and a wonderful bell tower. Mozart gave a recital here and there are still frequent classical concerts throughout the week

• Prague Castle: Now the home of the president, it was previously the seat of the Czech royal family. It is surrounded by palaces and features an army museum. The changing of the guard takes place every hour and, as with some other European Capitals it is quite a spectacle. Bring a camera.

• The Old Town Square: Built before the 12th century this is the oldest and most historic square in Prague. It is made up of many interesting buildings including many from the baroque period. Many of the buildings are brightly colored and there are many pavement cafes, where you can relax and watch the world go by.

• The National Technical Museum: Although unimaginatively (though accurately) titled, this is a fascinating collection of all things technical. With everything, from a railway carriage belonging to the Archduke Ferdinand, (whose assassination sparked the outbreak of the first world war), to a working reconstruction of a working coal mine.

• Vhsyrad Castle: Over a thousand years old and a former home of the Czech nobility, this castle has an impressive pedigree. Take a stroll on top of the ramparts for a great view of the city and river. There is a wonderful gothic church, a museum and a cemetery, where the composer Dvorzac the Author of the “New World Symphony” is buried.

• Petrin Park: One of the hidden gems of Prague There is a rose garden, a maze and a gate to a well cultivated garden, but the real sight is from the tip of the hill. Take the short cable car ride to the top and there is the Petrin tower, basically a smaller copy of the Eiffel Tower. It is an outstanding viewpoint and well worth the effort.

Food and drink in Prague in Europe are both hearty (as you would expect in Eastern Europe) and affordable. You must try the dumplings and the beer is some of the finest on the continent. It is also the original home of Budweiser and they still make their own, some would say superior version.

The hotels are more expensive than they used to be, but are still affordable. Look around for the best bargains. The transport, mainly buses and trams, is very good. Although English is not as common as in many parts of Europe, a lot of the locals speak a few words. It is always worth asking directions, as they are polite and friendly people. A visit to Prague will not disappoint but don’t go in winter unless you have a good coat.

About The Author


Gerry Mason loves to travel and visit new places and pass his experience on to others. To receive free air travel please visit: http://www.flyfreeasacourier.com.

Discover Chambery France

Chambery, located in the heart of the French Alps in Europeis the once capital of Savoie. It sits just near Lac du Bourget (Bourget Lake), looked upon by the Alps that surround it. Chambery is a city that can be both visited in the winter and summer. In the winter there are a number of ski resorts within easy driving distance. In the summer those same Alps that were skied, become hiking and backpacking trails and campgrounds.

The center of Chambery is the ‘old town’ it includes a Chateau, once the residence of the dukes of Savoie, a 15th century Cathedral and a fine arts museum. There is also a ‘Fontaine des Elephants’ (Elephants Fontaine) built in honor of the Comte de Boigne, who bestowed upon the city much wealth. A large portion of his personal wealth came from India, hence the Elephant Fontaine.

The center of Chambery offers not only tourist attractions but also many shops for buying your favorite French and other goods from Europe. If you are lucky it might be market day and you can buy some fresh local produce. Like so many cities in France Chambery is not only charming, it is also small enough to be walked comfortably. You will be able to see the center without getting sore feet! But if you do have that fear there is a tourist ‘train’ that will take you through the center and let you visit with as little walking as possible.

Chambery makes a good base for exploring the French Alps especially during the winter as it is within easy driving distance of such ski resort towns as Grenoble, Albertville, La Clusaz, Courchevel, Alpe d’Huez, Chamonix and Val d’Isère. In the summer other outdoor activities are possible including hiking and camping. As Chambery is close to three national parks, Parc national de la Vanoise, Parc Naturel Régional de Chartreuse and Parc Naturel Régional du Massif des Bauges. Other close natural attractions include, Lac du Bourget and Lac d’Aiguebelette. Two other popular summer lakes are Annecy Lake, within an hour’s drive and Lake Geneva, two hours’ drive.

Getting to Chambery is easy as it has a modern Europian airport; the official name is Aéroport de Chambéry. The airport code is CMF. At the moment there are a number of ‘no thrills’ airlines like Flybe and Jet2.com that have regular service to Chambery. These ‘no thrills’ airlines fly from selected major European destinations like Amsterdam and Bruxelles along with such UK destinations as, Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester and Southampton.

Chambery can also be accessed by car from the A41 Autoroute Exit 13, Chambery Nord. Chambery is a little over an hour’s drive from Lyon and about a seven hour drive from Paris. Chambery also has train access. If you plan on coming from Paris the best thing to do is take the TGV (high speed train), it only takes about an hour and a half and then transfer to a regional train in Lyon that goes to Chambery.

Chambery can also be used as a base to visit other European cities and countries like Geneva, Switzerland and Turin in Italy. Each are within in a two hour drive.

For information on getting to Chambery see - http://www.chamberyairport.net/.

About The Author


Jeff Steiner has created a number of sites about traveling in France. Including The Practical Guide to Chambery Airport - http://www.chamberyairport.net/ which offers more information about the Chambery Airport including airport access, car hire, bus transfer…

Paphos, Cyprus - Top 5 Places to Visit

Top 5 places to visit when staying in Paphos, Cyprus Europe,on your off season holidays. A mixture of history and pure leisure pleasure. Places normally too hot and busy to visit in the summer heat open themselves up at these perfect times of the year. Escape the cold of home and enjoy some Paphos sunshine during spring, autumn and winter holidays in Cyprus.

Paphos, Cyprus - Top 5 Places to Visit

1. Tomb of The Kings

Spread over a vast area, these impressive subterranean burial chambers were built in Paphos from 3rd Century BC to the 3rd Century AD. They are carved out of solid rock with some being decorated with Doric pillars. Put on your walking shoes and climbing pants and don't be afraid to get yourself a little dirty at this site. Fun to explore and full of some very atmospheric places.

2. Paphos Mosaics

Cyprus history proclaims Aion as the Greek God of eternity. The house of Aion has an amazing five-paneled mosaic which shows the Greek God in the unenviable position of having to judge what appears to be a beauty contest.

'Unenviable?!', I hear our modern day Gods proclaim.

The difference in this beauty contest is that his choice lies between the ordinary and smug looking Queen Cassiopeia and a number of much prettier, but unhappy looking Nereides water nymphs.

I'm sure that all of you will be able to guess who the eventual winner is!!

3. Aphrodites Rock

The most awe inspiring piece of coastline to be seen in Cyprus, when the sun is out, and I defy any couple, regardless of how young or old, to not be bewitched by it's spell. Of all ancient Greek myths, the story of Aphrodite's creation will bring water to your eyes, but the story lives on as one of the well known legends surrounding this stunning rock formation.

Cronos was begged by his mother Gaia to be released from the embraces of her husband Uranus. In order to assist his mother in her plight, Cronos castrated his father with a sickle and threw his genitals into the sea. The foam gathered around them and the Goddess rose from the sea as a fully grown woman.

4. St George Fishing Harbour

I recommend that you visit this memorable place in Paphos with someone very special to you and a camera. Arrive late afternoon and watch the fishing boats come in with their daily catch. Have a drink or two at the beach side bar but don't stay too long before securing yourself a spot on the harbour wall. Take along the camera or video and make sure you have plenty of film as this is one of those special places to catch the most romantic of sunsets in Cyprus. Enjoy!

5. Sterna Winery

Located on the outskirts of the village of Kathiskas, 15 mins drive from Paphos. Be entertained by the charismatic Cypriot owner who will treat you to free wine tasting and a tour of this very small winery. Do not miss out on their own peach schnapps - powerful enough to blow your head off and must be thrown back in one go. If you make a purchase of their very fine wines you will probably find that a complimentary bottle of schnapps is thrown in. Not recommended to light the Xmas pud with!

About The Author


Lynda Burke owns and operates the website http://www.rent-a-villa-in-paphos.com and now lives and works in Paphos, Cyprus.

Hotel Reservation Options in New York for Business Travel or Leisure

It's a big island; we're talking Manhattan, the most vibrant of the 5 districts that make up the hustle and bustle of New York City. For many it's home and for many more it's a place you simply must visit. Whether it's necessary for business travel or just for the pleasure, it's a popular destination and one that must definitely be experienced.

Finding the right hotel in Manhattan can be challenging given the sheer number of options. The island hosts everything from 3 star hotels up to some of the greatest 5 star hotels in the world. For business travelers you may be in a position to afford to stay at one of the many 5 star hotels such as the magnificent Waldorf Astoria,The Plaza or one of the Ritz Carlton hotels situated around the park. There are many 5 star hotels all of which have world-class facilities such as ballrooms, conference rooms and special venues. Most of these are available to be booked, which will be sure to impress your clients or associates if you choose to utilize them on you stay in New York.

When staying in New York as part of you vacation, you'll find any number of great hotels to stay at both 5 star hotels if you can afford, or discount hotels. The important factor to consider when choosing your hotel reservation, is what your purpose is when you are visiting Manhattan. If you want to be close to the heart of the action which is the Times Square area and theatre district, you will want to choose a hotel that is close and convenient while still in your price range. In midtown Manhattan is the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, which on 7 th avenue makes it within walking distance of all the bright lights and action. It is also not too far to central park for a relaxing day out.

There are many Brilliant Hotels in New York and hotel reservation is easy whether for business travel or vacation travel, premiere and discount hotel bookings can be easily be done on the web through many trusted providers.

So go and enjoy it, because it's one of the world's great cities.

About The Author


Matthew Hudson contributes articles at www.brillianthotels.com.

Copyright 2006 Matt Hudson