Entries Tagged "italy tour"

Friday, September 03, 2010

Friday, June 04, 2010

The province of Siena, Tuscany is the home to a small little medieval hill town that is completely walled in known as San Gimignano. It is located in the north-central parts of Italy. San Gimignano has become popular because of its medieval architecture scattered throughout including the towers which people can see kilometers away.

San Gimignano is popular for its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano which has been grown in the area for many years. This is a town that not only has a sweet taste, but also a lot of history behind it.

Back in the 3rd century BC, San Gimignano was founded by the Etruscans. There are records dating back to the 10th century when it got the town name from the bishop, Saint Geminianus, who was the defender against the Attila’s Huns.

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance eras, San Gimignano became the stopping point for many Catholic pilgrims traveling to the Vatican and Rome because the town is placed on the medieval Via Francigena. The city developed further as the years continued by trading agricultural products with the fertile neighbor hills.

Until 1348 the city flourished greatly, but the plague had a massive affect on not only San Gimignano, but many other European towns which in turn led the town to submit to Florence. Not it has become a touristic and artistic hot spot for many people throughout the world and is once again becoming recognized for all the beauty many millions have missed.

Travel deep to the heart of the town where you can experience four town squares which are filled with entertainment, excitement and delicious appetizing delights. The four squares are...

Piazza della Cisterna
Piazza Duomo
Piazza Pecori
Piazza delle Erbe

Make sure that you take the time to visit all the wonders of San Gimignano, especially the four squares if you plan on traveling here. This is one place that truly holds a lot of Italian history and culture, so why not experience it?

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Imagine being transported through time as you explore San Zaccaria.  Built in the late 1400's, the church, besides its stunning architecture and frescos, was one f the rowdiest convents in Vence during the 18th century.  Most of San Zaccarias' nuns were daughters of noble families, sent there against their will to save the expense of dowries.  San Zaccaria also shows how Venetians of the 16th century would have used the services we take for granted today like drinking water, heating, lighting, transportation and food.

Written by:  Nick Coward, Tour Director for Trafalgar Tours

Friday, February 12, 2010

Italy has been witness to the birth of two of the most powerful and influential forces in not only Europe, but the Western World. The mark the Romans left on the world is not only cultural but the evidence of their highly sophisticated society is no more abundant than in the heart of the former Empire itself, Rome.

Almost 1000 years after the fall of the ancient Roman Empire, Italy again (this time with Florence leading the way) became the cultural capital of the world, the Renascence (not just an art movement, but an intellectual awakening, an explosion of science, technology and discovery that changed the way the people of Europe operated and saw themselves) flourished here.

Florence is still today the undisputed capital of Renascence Art, fueled by the Medici Family in the late 1400’s and into the 1600’s the city was host to Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and a who’s who of art science and philosophy legends . People still visit the city today to witness for themselves the beauty and perfection in painting, sculpture and architecture that was created during this time. Some of the cities most famous and visited museums include the Accademia and the Uffuzi.

Rome was never far behind Florence in this cultural awakening and is home to the Vatican City, home to the Vatican Museums and the roof of the Sistine Chapel so famously painted by Michelangelo as well as his ‘Last Judgment’. People also flock to Rome from every corner of the globe for religious pilgrimages, to St. Peters Basilica, home of the Catholic Church and the Vatican City, located in the heart of Rome.

Venice also provides a totally unique experience with it’s canals, bridges, gondolas, the Basilica of St Mark and the square, reputed to be one of the most beautiful and romantic in the world.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Starting June 5, 2010 Alitalia will restart nonstop service from Los Angeles to Rome Italy. Alitalia will be the only airline to offer a nonstop flight to Italy from the West Coast of the United States.

The new flight to/from Los Angeles will operate with 5 weekly frequencies (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) on a Boeing 777-200 with 291 seats.

Flights depart at 9:25am from Rome, Fiumicino and arrive in Los Angeles at 1:25pm (local time), after 13 hours of flight time. From Los Angeles, the flight will depart at 3:25pm (local time) and land in Rome at 12:15pm the following day, after 11 hours and 50 minutes of travel time.

The flight schedule was studied in order to provide Alitalia passengers originating from other domestic Italian and regional European cities with convenient connections from Rome, Fiumicino to Los Angeles. The afternoon departure from Los Angeles allows for connections from many cities in the Southwest.

Passengers flying to Rome from Los Angeles in Magnifica Class, Alitalia’s long haul business class, will be able to experience the new service offered in partnership with some of Italy’s finest brands: new catering featuring Italian chefs who reinterpret traditional regional recipes; the best Italian wines selected by the Italian Sommelier Association; blankets and pillows by Frette; and flatware and dishes by Richard Ginori.

With the addition of the new Los Angeles - Rome route, Alitalia will serve seven North American gateways: New York JFK, New York Newark, Chicago, Miami, Boston, Toronto and Los Angeles. Alitalia offers service from Atlanta and Detroit through codeshare with its SkyTeam partners Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines.