Archive for 'May'

The charming town of Sestri Levante is located on the Liguria coast of Italy, built on a jutted out piece of land.

It’s extremely popular with Italian holiday makers and is a sublime tourist haven because of its surrounding views, fabulous beaches and quaint appearance.

Stay in a scenic holiday villa in Sestri Levante overlooking the glittering sea and sandy beaches that line the coast here.

Situated in the North East of Italy, the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia is a hub of activity with many exciting things here for tourists to do and see! This marvellous region is ideal for sports lovers who wish to embark on challenging mountain hikes or take off in paragliding trails from high up in the mountains!

Check out some superb villas in Friuli Venezia Giulia with guest reviews that are close to lots of attractions.

Or for those with a passion for culture, why not take a few days to go on a trail of the magnificent cities of Trieste, Udine and the UNESCO site of Aquileia. Aquileia especially is a haven of history just waiting to be discovered by you!

If you love to party then a vacation in the Italian region of Calabria would be just perfect for you! A region of colour, vibrancy and welcome, a festival or celebratory event is never far around the corner in Calabria, no matter what time of year you visit. Stay at a gorgeous villa rental in Calabria where you can relax and unwind in lavish surroundings before starting your exciting days of exploration here!

Check out the intriguing religious Festival of the Three Crosses held on May 3rd that re-enacts biblical scenes and the expulsion of the Saracens from Southern Italy.

Or witness the lively events that take place during the ‘Palio di Diana’ including tug of war, a sack race and hitting a giant piñata! The townsfolk dress up in traditional Renaissance costumes and host a superb celebration full of music, food and dancing between the main palio events. This thrilling festival takes place in the coastal town of Vibo Valentia.

The Mille Miglia is an open-road endurance race that is held in Italy.

The original race was started by Franco Mazzotti Bianchelli and Vount Aymo Maggi di Gradella after their hometown of Brescia lost the Italian Grand Pix hosting bid to the rival city of Monza.

The original track extended from Brescia to Rome in a figure-eight shape. It covered a distance of about 1,500 km, which is equivalent to 1,000 Roman miles. The route and distance of the race changed over the years. The original series lasted from 1927 to 1957.

The race was held 24 times during this period but was terminated subsequently after a fatal crash involving a 4.2 liter Ferrari, and another one with Triumph TR3. The race was again revived in 1982.

An event is happening this year in Rome that we may not see again in our lifetimes. The Beatification of Pope John Paul II is happening on May 1st, 2011 and estimates up to two million pilgrims are expected to attend. There are no tickets or admission, so do not fall for any scams that may be targeting pilgrims, though there is a special JPII Pass that includes public transportation and many other perks.

The ceremony will be held in Saint Peter's Square at 10am on May 1st. Even if you arrive late and are not able to make it into the Square itself, large video screens are supposed to be erected so you may still view the ceremony. Pope John Paul II's remains will be on display and any who wish to view the body will be allowed to, though the wait will be long. The day before a prayer vigil will be held in Rome's Circus Maximus beginning at 8pm.