Archive for 'Curiosities'

  

Monday, February 13, 2017
Pinocchio by CLET
Continuing on from our last article, we have rounded up even more activities that cost nothing and can be enjoyed while exploring Florence, in order to help your holiday budget stretch a little further and give you one less thing to concern yourself with. Wandering around the city and just taking it all in, alone, is a worthwhile way to pass the time that will leave you satisfied and feeling like you've experienced the best of Florence. However, to add to this and enhance your experience further, here are some places you can stop off and specific areas of the city that you can visit. Just find a luxury villa near Florence and get exploring its hidden nooks and crannies - you're bound to discover the most extraordinary things.

As you wander around, you should also keep an eye out for some charming works of art on the streets. CLET, a French artist living in the city, adds a sense of whimsy and fun to the streets of Florence by transforming ubiquitous city street signs into discrete works of art with his removable stickers.     Read More
Posted in: Architectural Gems, Churches & Religious Buildings, Curiosities, Florence, Localities, Must See Attractions, Tourist Attractions

  

Monday, February 13, 2017
Santa Maria Del Fiore
Holidays can be expensive things, particularly in large European cities such as Florence. Once you have found the perfect luxury villa near Florence to stay in, and have planned out all the big trips and delicious meals, you might find the pot a little light. If you want to enjoy the experience without having to worry about sticking to a budget, why not check out our list of things that you can do in the city for free so you can save a bit of money, without scrimping on the wonderful experiences that Florence has to offer?

Santa Maria del Fiore (the Cathedral of Florence, also known as the Duomo) is the main church and one of the most important buildings in the city. Begun in the 13th century in the Gothic style under the direction of Arnolfo di Cambio, it was not finished until the great Renaissance architect Brunelleschi came to create that famous and trailblazing soaring dome.     Read More
Posted in: Architectural Gems, Curiosities, Florence, History, Localities, Must See Attractions, Renaissance, Tourist Attractions

  

Thursday, February 2, 2017
Botanic Garden, Bari
Bari is a big port city on the Adriatic coast and the capital of Puglia. It is a little off the beaten track and has a slightly dubious reputation within Italy that means you'll be warned to hold onto your valuables tightly.

However, it is a lovely place to spend a few days and shouldn't hastily be skipped over in favour of the rest of the region. The charming Old Town based on a headland that reaches into the Adriatic and is easily explored on foot. It is quite easy to get lost but, so long as you are careful, there is a pleasure in this.

Some of the most important attractions in the city at large are the Pinacoteca Provinciale 'Corrado Giaquinto,' art gallery, the Archaeological Museum, the eleventh-century Romanesque Basilica di San Nicola (dedicated to Santa Claus), the Castello Svevo, the Colonna della Giustizia (where debtors were once reputedly tied and flogged) and Bari's futuristic stadium designed by Renzo Piano.     Read More
Posted in: Apulia, Curiosities, Must See Attractions, Parks & Gardens, Southern Italy, Tourist Attractions

  

Friday, January 13, 2017
Mount Etna
The charms of taking the train can often be lost in the terrors and horrors of commuting but, while on holidays or travelling, there is something quite Old World and delightful about sitting back in a train carriage and just watching the world go by.

This is particularly true of places such as Italy, where the train is both the best way to traverse the country and also happens to cut through swathes of the incredible countryside, offering you wonderful views of the beautiful surroundings and scenery.

If you were to take just a single train route while exploring Italy, however, the Circumetnea train is one keep in mind.     Read More
Posted in: Curiosities, Main Islands, Must See Attractions, Parks & Gardens, Sicily and Sardinia, Tourist Attractions

  

Friday, December 16, 2016
Rooftop test track, Fiat Lingotto
There is lots to see and do in Italy but we have rounded up a list of some particularly intriguing attractions and sights that we have dubbed the Seven Wonders of Italy and, continuing from the last article, here are some more of said wonders.

The Fiat Lingotto Factory in Turin was built in the 1920s and was the largest and most modern car manufacturing plant in Europe and second in the world at the time. It is five storeys high with a test track atop the roof and cars were moved upwards from floor to floor to be tested on the track when completed. The factory was eventually closed in 1982 but, in 1985, it was converted and made into a multi-purpose centre and is now used commercially by various companies. The exterior is largely unchanged but the interior has been drastically redesigned in order to house an exhibition centre, a conference centre and auditorium, two hotels, offices and retail space.     Read More
Posted in: Architectural Gems, Campania, Curiosities, Must See Attractions, Northwest Italy, Piedmont, Southern Italy, Tourist Attractions