Travel Tips Tag

25 Jul 5 REASONS TO VISIT TURIN

Posted at 09:04h in Destinations, Food and Wine by Italian Tours

Turin was the first capital of a united Italy in the nineteenth century and it has the feel of an important city, regal in its nature and set out to impress. The Roman town was founded in 28BC and although it became an important centre in the empire, it was never as important as Aosta up the road. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Turin was forgotten and existed as a large agricultural borough. It wasn’t until 1563 when Duke Emanuele Filiberto chose it as his capital that it was really put on the map.

Turin doesn’t have the same crowds of tourists as Rome, Florence and Milan, and that’s what makes it a great city to visit if you want to get off the beaten track!

1. The urban architecture
The ruling Savoy family wanted a capital city that was fit for their Duchy and in the 1700s, court architect Filippo Juvarra’s vision was turned into an urban environment to rival the more established European capitals. The Renaissance had already finished, so the period of refurbishment coincided with the Mannerist and Baroque period, which the town made its own — Turin is known as the baroque capital of Northern Italy. Think elegant piazze, splendid palaces and lovely churches.

The historic centre is very pleasant to wander around, well ordered and on a manageable scale. Don’t miss Palazzo Reale and Palazzo Madama on Piazza Castello and make sure you sit for an aperitivo at one of the cafes on the elegant Piazza San Carlo

2. The Mole Antonelliana and the Cinema Museum
The Mole Antonelliana is one of the enduring symbols of Turin, an oddly shaped building that was conceived as a synagogue, taken over by the Savoys as a museum of the Risorgimento and today houses the fascinating museum of cinema.

Most people know that Italians have a history and a fascination with cinema, but not many know that it all started here in Turin. It was here that the country’s first studios were set up and where the first feature length movie was produced in 1914.

If you’re a cinema buff, the museum is a must-see, if you’re not, the building itself is still worth a visit. The roof has the best vantage point of the city and on a clear day the views out towards the Alps are breathtaking.

3. The Lingotto
At the beginning of the 1900s, Fiat, Italy’s largest automotive industry, was growing and it needed a new plant. In 1916, in an area that was still farmland, they opened the Lingotto. It was considered innovative and modern and had the whole world watching. After more than 60 years of operation the plant was closed in the 1980s and the famous architect Renzo Piano was invited to convert the factory into a multipurpose centre. It’s possible to see the famous roof-top test track (as featured in the original 1969 version of The Italian Job) and the Giovanni and Marella Agnelli Art Gallery, which houses the couple’s exquisite private collection, with works by Canaletto, Tiepolo, Canova, Manet, Renoir, Matisse, Picasso and Modigliani.

Finally, the Lingotto is the home to the flagship Eataly store – the chain of upmarket providores that has taken Italy, and the world by storm. Which brings me to reason #4 …

4. The food
Food is especially important in Piedmont and the capital Turin will have foodies at its mercy. The people of Turin love their food and many follow the philosophy of the Slow Food Movement which has its headquarters just outside in the small town of Bra. The number of quality restaurants in the city and the enormous Porta Palazzo food markets are further evidence of the city’s love of food. It’s well worth spending a morning wandering through the markets and marvelling at the fresh produce — piles of aubergines, ripe tomatoes and porcini mushrooms, meat, fish, cheeses, herbs and spices and much more!

Lastly, we need to mention the Torinese obsession with both chocolate and coffee, which they have combined masterfully in the classic local drink Il Bicerin – a delicious, layered concoction of chocolate, coffee and hot milk, not to be shaken – or stirred! Try it at the historical Il Bicerin cafe where it was invented and where they have been making it since 1763.

5. The Egyptian museum
Most people haven’t heard of it, but the Museo Egizio is the second largest collection of Egyptian archaeology, anthropology and artefacts in the world, only surpassed by the museum in Cairo. It was re-opened after an extensive renovation in 2015, and now displays the collection in chronological order, from the 4th century BC to the 3rd century AD. There are numerous highlights in the collection including a spectacular tomb from 3500BC and an extensive Papyrus collection. If you’re an Egyptophile, it’s a must see and even if you’re only mildly interested in Egypt, it’s still a fascinating and well curated collection.

We adore Turin and have included it as our first base in our Tastes Tour of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta. Contact us today!

01 May AND WHAT DO TRULLI HAVE TO DO WITH TAXES?

Posted at 02:03h in Architecture, Destinations by Italian Tours

When people think of Puglia, one of the first images that springs to mind is a vision of quaint whitewashed, dome-roofed, round houses called trulli.

While the trulli architectural style dates back to pre-history, many believe that the passion for more modern trulli construction developed as an early and sophisticated means of tax avoidance. During the middle ages, landlords instructed the farmers to build the dry stones roofs of the trulli with a removable keystone in the middle and the walls without mortar. When the tax inspectors appeared the farmers would pull the keystone out, collapsing the building – thus allowing the landowners to avoid paying any taxes in what some would describe as an enduring Italian tradition!

The largest concentration of these pretty buildings is in Alberobello, but they are also common across the whole of the Valle d’Itria area, a region of farming and agriculture. In their simplest form they are used as farming sheds and are dotted amongst the fields.

The town of Alberobello is undeniably a tourist magnet but with good reason and well worth a visit. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has hundreds of trulli, many of which are original.

Today the charming rounded shapes and conical stone roofs of the Pugliese trulli are so appealing that many of them are used as restaurants and visitor accommodation.

On our The Road Less Travelled tour of Puglia we not only visit Alberobello, but stay in a beautiful hotel in the Valle d’Itria, Masseria Fumarola, where some of our lucky guests get to sleep under these typical conical roofs!

We’re running our Puglia tour later this year in September and again in 2018:

14 – 28 September 2017
14 – 28 May 2018

12 Apr 5 REASONS TO VISIT THE VALLE D’AOSTA

Posted at 06:19h in Destinations, Food and Wine by Italian Tours

Valle d’Aosta is the most mountainous region in Italy and is tucked away in the northwest corner of the country. Its capital is Aosta, known as the Rome of the Alps because of its archaeological heritage, and it lies midway between the Italian city of Turin and the Swiss city of Lausanne on Lake Leman. The area has become a glamorous ski resort in winter and an unparalleled walking destination in summer.

This beautiful area is off the beaten track for most tourists, however, we feel it’s certainly a region that bears some serious investigation for a number of reasons:

1. Roman ruins
Aosta was once a principal town on the main Roman trade route between the Italian peninsula and northern Europe. Wagons bearing cereals, wine and olive oil moved northwards while precious metals, marble and other building materials travelled south. The roads and bridges that the Romans constructed are still visible today.

Aosta itself was founded in the 1st century BC and retains an archaeological treasure trove from that time including its Roman theatre, the Arch of Augustus and a recently excavated cryptoportico (a covered portico or passageway). The bridge at Pont-Saint-Martin in the valley below was built in the same period and used for traffic right up until the 19th century. Visitors can still walk across this beautiful structure.

2. The Gran Paradiso National Park.
This was Italy’s first national park, established in 1922 on land donated by King Victor Emmanuel III that was originally part of his hunting preserve. The park measures 703 square kilometers and provides a protected area for the alpine ibex, which can sometimes be seen grazing on the lower reaches of the mountains, big-horned sheep, marmot, chamois, and the occasional rare bird such as the golden eagle.

With fifty-seven glaciers, dense forests and lovely alpine meadows, the park also offers visitors beautiful alpine scenery and excellent remote, high altitude walking with the opportunity to witness an abundance of wildlife. A small section is still used for agriculture and pasture and can also be extremely picturesque.

Combined with the neighbouring French Vanoise National Park, it represents the largest protected area in Western Europe.

3. Castles, castles, castles!
A stupendous eighty-two fortresses line the main road from the entrance of the valley at Port-Saint-Martin to Courmayeur in the far northwest at the foot of Monte Bianco – or Mont Blanc depending on where you are looking from! Many of these fortresses and castles are open to visitors and provide an insight into the lives of the aristocratic families who once controlled the territory.

Two particularly interesting sites are Fénis Castle, a mediaeval building dating back to 1242 and built by the Viscounts of Aosta, and Issogne Castle, a Renaissance castle built by different generations of the same family. Visitors can hire a car and a tour guide to visit these sites.

4. Monte Bianco/Mont Blanc
This is the highest peak in Europe and not to be missed, especially on a clear day when the views are utterly spectacular into France, Switzerland and Italy. From Courmayeur it’s possible to take a brand new cable car up through various stages to close to the summit. Adventurers can even alight and walk down onto the glacier.

5. The wines of Valle d’Aosta
There are more than twenty varieties of grapes native to the Valle d’Aosta and the real challenge is to find and sample the wine from them all! Travellers can visit dozens of small family run vineyards to sample their products and of course enjoy the unique taste of Valle d’Aosta wines at lunch and dinner. Our favourites are the Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle and the Valle d’Aosta Petite Arvine.

We spend 3 wonderful days exploring all the highlights of the Valle d’Aosta in our Tastes Tour which runs from the 1st to the 15th October 2017. The tour also takes in Turin, the Langhe wine region and beautiful Lake Maggiore. We still have a couple of places available for 2017 – enquire now!

07 Jan SPRING IS THE TIME TO VISIT ITALY

Posted at 04:23h in Travel Tips by Italian Tours

Springtime is a great time to visit la bella Italia – and here are five good reasons why.

Fewer tourists and temperate weather
With around 46 million people visiting Italy each year (it’s the fifth most visited country in the world), the timing of your visit can be vitally important. The vast majority of visitors to Italy come from other European countries and the peak season for their travel is July and August. You’ll find an April/May/June visit quieter, with smaller crowds and shorter queues. And the weather is warmer but without those searing summer extremes.

Good deals on airfares
Take advantage of the great value airfares that major airlines are releasing right now. For instance, Emirates is offering a spring sale this week that finishes 23 January, and other airlines including Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Qatar all have great offers for European fares.

La bella vita!
After the short days and cold weather of winter, Italians respond to the arrival of spring with what can only be described as euphoria! Almost overnight the piazze come alive as Italians emerge from their winter hibernation. It’s time for the passegiata in gorgeous new clothes, for aperitivi, for gelato and for mingling and laughter and gossip on the streets.

Fabulous festivals
All over Italy, spring is the time for a range of fascinating festivals and celebrations. If you’re joining our Milan and the Lakes tour this year for instance, why not add in some time in Milan to experience the Sagra di San Cristofero, the feast of the patron saint of travelers, that take place on the third Sunday in June? Or bookend your tour with a performance of Don Giovanni or La Boheme at La Scala?

Gorgeous spring gardens
Italy comes alive in a blaze of spring flowers – gorgeous clematis, stunning irises, luscious peony roses and vibrant azaleas, just to name a few. And you’ll see them not only in the gardens but also in planters lining the streets, tumbling out of window boxes and cascading out of the flower stalls and markets as you wander through the city streets. Just breathe in that perfume!

We have three fantastic tours that take advantage of the joys of an Italian spring, so why don’t you think about booking with us now?

The Great Gardens of Italy – 29 April – 13 May 2017
The Road Less Travelled – Puglia – 16 – 30 May 2017
Milan and the Italian Lakes – 2-16 June 2017

01 Oct TRAVEL TIPS – PACKING FOR YOUR NEXT ITALIAN ADVENTURE

Posted at 12:35h in Travel Tips by Italian Tours

There’s an old piece of advice about packing for travel – pack your bag, open it up again and take half of it out. The less you have to carry around with you, the easier your travel will be. And the more room you’ll have for shopping, particularly if you’re addicted to Italian shoes!

We’re often asked by clients what clothing they should pack and what else they might need in their suitcase, so we’ve put together a short list of some things we recommend you bring on your next trip to Italy.

CLOTHING

We suggest packing layers. In spring and autumn, when we take most of our tours to Italy, this means including short and longer sleeved shirts, a cardigan or sweater and a light jacket in case it gets cool. In the north, you may even need some warmer layers and a lightweight down jacket.

Italian streets are often paved with cobblestones so don’t plan to walk around in flimsy shoes.

And don’t forget your swimmers and a pair of soft slippers for around the hotel room after a day on your feet!

Most people like to hand wash some of their clothes during the trip and a travelling clothes line and a couple of inflatable coat hangers make drying your clothes much easier.

DOCUMENTS

Make two copies of your documents, one to carry with you and one to leave at home in case you need to ‘phone a friend’. And don’t forget your Medicare card; if you do need to see a doctor in Italy, it’s useful to have this with you.

OTHER BITS AND PIECES

You will need to bring your own European two pin adaptors so you can use your Australian electrical devices. Universal plugs can be useful, particularly if you are stopping over somewhere on the way to Europe.

Bring your own prescription medications with you; your local prescriptions are not valid in Italy. It may be useful to get a doctor’s letter listing the medications you are using and any allergies you have. Over the counter medicines are readily available throughout Italy and Italian pharmacies are excellent. although you might need to take Luca with you to help translate!

We also recommend that you bring spare glasses, sunglasses, and don’t forget the appropriate chargers for your technology.

There are many small items that may come in useful: ziplock plastic bags, spare luggage locks, a small pair of scissors (not in your carry-on bag!), earplugs, a notebook and pen, headache tablets, safety pins, antiseptic hand gel and band aids to name a few.

Finally, don’t fret about packing something for every contingency. You can pick up anything you’re short of, like an umbrella if it rains or replacement toiletries, anywhere in Italy.