A SCARBOROUGH travel agents will be celebrating all things Italian on Saturday.
First Choice Travel, in Westborough, is having an Italy themed day and is inviting people to go and join in the celebrations.
It will also be offering special deals for holidays or and short breaks to Italy.
Manager Laura Laycock said: "The staff will be dressing up and there will be lots of nice nibbles including bread, olives and cheese.
"We have lots of special offers available so anyone is welcome to come along at any time during the day on Saturday."
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Italian Riviera Great for Spring Travel
Le Cinque Terre, the five lands, are a group of five picturesque villages along the coast surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and woods. The villages can be reached on the train that runs between La Spezia and Genoa or by ferry from La Spezia, Portovenere, Levanto (the next village up the coast toward Genoa where there's also a train station), or other Italian Riviera villages.
There are popular hiking trails between the villages as well as in the scenic hills above them. You'll have to pay for entrance to the trails. Europe for Visitors has a good Cinque Terre hiking guide and map with pictures so you'll know what to expect when you go.
The Cinque Terre region is very popular with Americans and is very crowded in summer. Spending the night in one of the villages is a good way to experience the charm without the huge crowds since they aren't packed with hotels. My friends recommend staying in Manarola at A Casa Rooms and Apartments. Vernazza would be another good choice.
There are popular hiking trails between the villages as well as in the scenic hills above them. You'll have to pay for entrance to the trails. Europe for Visitors has a good Cinque Terre hiking guide and map with pictures so you'll know what to expect when you go.
The Cinque Terre region is very popular with Americans and is very crowded in summer. Spending the night in one of the villages is a good way to experience the charm without the huge crowds since they aren't packed with hotels. My friends recommend staying in Manarola at A Casa Rooms and Apartments. Vernazza would be another good choice.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Religious tourists keep Italy on must-see lists
ROME — While the world economic crisis forces many consumers to change spending habits, at least one of Italy's economic sectors has so far been barely touched: religious tourism.
Italy, which surrounds Vatican City, the spiritual home to the world's 1.1 billion Catholics, boasts more than 30,000 churches and sanctuaries, according to the country's Ministry of Culture. That's more churches per capita than any other major country. And according to United Nations' World Tourism Organization statistics, seven of the world's 10 most visited Christian sanctuaries are in Italy.
Official figures are hard to come by because visitors to Italy are not required to indicate whether or not their vacation is religious in nature.
Italy's Ministry of Tourism reports that overall tourism over the first two months of the year is down by a fifth over the same period last year.
Italy, which surrounds Vatican City, the spiritual home to the world's 1.1 billion Catholics, boasts more than 30,000 churches and sanctuaries, according to the country's Ministry of Culture. That's more churches per capita than any other major country. And according to United Nations' World Tourism Organization statistics, seven of the world's 10 most visited Christian sanctuaries are in Italy.
Official figures are hard to come by because visitors to Italy are not required to indicate whether or not their vacation is religious in nature.
Italy's Ministry of Tourism reports that overall tourism over the first two months of the year is down by a fifth over the same period last year.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Turin, Italy
One of the greatest joys of being a foreign expat is ditching the guide book and experiencing life as the locals do.
No longer a tourist, you are a part of the community, and privy to information and places that tourists who are only passing through rarely get to enjoy.
Turin, Italy, is the cosmopolitan capital of Piedmont where foodies, fashionistas, filmophiles and fun-seekers enjoy a city in the midst of a cultural Renaissance.
The revitalization process began with the 2006 Winter Olympics but hasn’t ceased since, and today signs of progress emerge from each portico-covered street and grand riverfront piazza.
No longer a tourist, you are a part of the community, and privy to information and places that tourists who are only passing through rarely get to enjoy.
Turin, Italy, is the cosmopolitan capital of Piedmont where foodies, fashionistas, filmophiles and fun-seekers enjoy a city in the midst of a cultural Renaissance.
The revitalization process began with the 2006 Winter Olympics but hasn’t ceased since, and today signs of progress emerge from each portico-covered street and grand riverfront piazza.
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