Piedmont

Piedmont  offers plenty of  products  rich of exquisite delicacies, some of them  represent a unique Piedmontese heritage. That is the case of the Truffle :there are over a hundred qualities of truffles, but the most famous are the White Truffle of Piedmont, a very valuable quality. The Black Truffle you can have in Tuscany , far more widespread, is less precious and with a less intense scent. Other products well known are  cheeses like Castelmagno, Raschera, Toma, & Gorgonzola. Pepper from Carmagnola , asparagi from Santena , apples from Saluzzo. Also rice, highly caloric cereal which  contains important proteins,  is a part of the gastronomical tradition of Piedmont , it grown between Novara and Vercelli area. The best  qualities of rice are: Baldo, ideal for fish risotto and rice salads; Balilla, ideal for rice flans and cakes; Carnaroli, for risotto with vegetables; Sant'Andrea, for rice soups. When we are talking about Piedmont we absolutely need to talk about wine too: Piedmont is the region that produces the largest number of best known, noble, and world-appreciated prize-winning wines. such as Barbera, Barolo, Barbaresco, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo, Grignolino, Malvasia and Asti Spumante.

The main grape grown here is the distinguished Nebbiolo, which is the base for the well known Barolo, Barbaresco and Gattinara. Its name derives from the word “ nebbia “ ( fog ), because of a velvety, whitish coating over its berries in addition to the fact that it grows in an area where, at ripening time in September, heavy morning fog is a given and the humidity that it provides gives the grapes an ideal habitat. The white Asti Spumante well known thanks to Carlo Gancia, who learned the Champagne method in Rheims ( France) it’s a whine to taste as well.

The capital of the Piedmont is Turin, city of the Olympic game 2006, you have to stroll in  the old town centre of Turin, from the Roman times, through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque, up to the neoclassic 19th century.
Piazza Castello, the very heart of the city, has always been the key point of the political activity and of the history of Turin. Historical streets such as Via Garibaldi, Via Pietro Micca, Via Roma and Via Po originate from this square.

In Piazza San Giovanni you can admire the only example of Renaissance architecture in Turin, the Cathedral, from which you can reach the Chapel of the Holy Shroud.
Walking down Via XX Settembre you can see the oldest remnants in Turin, the archaeological area of the Teatro Romano, the remains of the Roman walls and the Porta Palatina.
If you have a sweet tooth you can taste delicacies like torrone, gianduiotti and various cakes in the ancient and charming bar.

Tuscany

Situated in the northwest of Italy, Tuscany is the region of the sweet hills, medieval villages, vineyards  & culture. A great combination for a perfect holiday.
Tuscany is also one of the most important regions for his incomparable patrimony of Art .



A visit to Florence, the jewel of the Italian Renaissance, is a must for Art Lover. Built on the site of an Etruscan settlement, Florence estimates the 60% of the world’s most important artworks in Italy, also well known for leatherwork, ceramics, art reproductions and metalware. Visit the Uffizi Gallery, home to Botticelli's mystical Birth of Venus, as well as works by Leonardo, Giotto, Michelangelo,  Raffaello and the Accademia Gallery to see Michelangelo's David.Or simply stroll to admire the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Church of Santa Croce , the Duomo the Palazzo Vecchio and the Pitti Palace, the work of great masters such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli and Michelangelo, and the adjoining Boboli Garden.

Tuscany is not just Florence, the wonders of the Tuscany countryside are innumerable...You have to think unforgettable walks in Siena, the city of the Palio, we invite you to discover the great area famous for the Chianti & Brunello wine or the wonderful and suggestive town of  San Gimignano ( the town of the towers ), Montepulciano  & Pienza gems of art and well known for its typical gastronomy shops, but also Arezzo & Lucca full of architecture are places to visit; Pisa with its Leaning Tower or Carrara with its precious marble.



The patrimony of art, architecture and the incomparable  landscape of this region which today continues to be a source of inspiration for numerous Italian and foreign artists.

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi coast is one of the most wonderful places to spend a relaxing vacation mixed with charming tours in the area full of history, culture and food.
Amalfi, Positano; Ravello, Pompeii and many other towns are the pearls of Italy.



Amalfi is a call for tourists coming from all over the world, for its beauty and the lovely weather during all the year.
 Amalfi was surely inhabited by Romans but the origin of this town is not certain, thanks to its ability in the commerce had a privileged relation to Byzantium.
 Amalfi people invented the compass and spread its use in the Mediterranean sea in the first half of XIII century.The famous  inventor Flavio Gioia never existed even if a monument in the main square of Amalfi was dedicated to him by an artist from Cava de’ Tirreni. An ancient Amalfi tradition tells that a man, Giovanni Gioia, was the person who invented the compass. Sailors from Amalfi were able to manage commercial relations to all the towns of Mediterranean Sea.
 
Amalfi separated from the Ducat of Naples and became an autonomous town , with its own currency Commerce was very prosperous and merchants had colonies in many places on the Mediterranean Sea, this was the best period for Amalfi .
In 1039 Guaimario V, prince of Salerno, took possession of amalfi's dukedom, with the dominion of Salerno on Amalfi. Pressed by Salerno, the Amalfitans governed by Sergio IV, asked to Roberto il Guiscardo, in 1073, to help them. Salerno capitulated but Amalfitans were conquered by Normans. After Norman king's death, in 1085, Amalfi tried to be free out of Normans power. In 1135 Amalfi commercial power completely declined , the town suffered an horrible sack by Pisani, traitors, called for helping against Normans. It's from now that begins Amalfi's decadence. In 1343 a terrible sea-quake, described by Petrarca, hit the coast, the most part of the town was destroyed , the fortifications were submerged, the shipyards, nautical equipments. Five years later, the famous plague of 1348, described by Boccaccio, completed the destruction among people. Amalfi and all coast's towns, that were beautiful places, populated and fortificated, rich of beautiful places, decorated by frescoes, marbles, columns, fountains, began modest towns, without richness, coming back to the traditional economy: fishing, local handicrafts, agriculture. Only at the end of nineteenth century, tourism gave to Amalfi a very big increase, that now is the economic epicentre of all the coast that from Amalfi takes its name. Amalfi became a famous tourist destination for artists, actors and actresses, a call for tourists from all over the world for its beauty and the lovely weather during all the year.

Positano

Called one of the most picturesque towns on the Campania coast. The structure of the town is very original, the visitor will remain without words seeing the characteristic small houses of  Positano all huddling on top of each other, all  decorated with bright flowers, tidily lined up on the terraces sloping down towards the blue sea, the small artisans, shops and the restaurants specialised in fish dishes. In the characteristic “piazzette"( small square ) you can admire the super view of the beaches of Marina & Spiaggia grande.



Positano is also called the town of the Stairways thanks to its thousands hidden corners .For the structure of this city, Positano it’s completely for pedestrians, you can stroll and see the small artisans, the shops with a  lot of accessories typical of the Positano fashion and shoe makers. For all of these reasons Positano is today one of the most popular seaside and holiday resorts throughout Italy thanks also for its mild and dry climate.

Ravello

Ravello, sits high up on the mountains and located 350 metres above the sea, overlooking some of the most picturesque villages of the coast. This unforgettable landscape and its magical location has inspired important composers and authors such as Gried, Richard Wagner, Gore Vidal . The French poet, Andre Gide, mentioned Ravello in the “ Between the sky and the sea “, also painters like Miro and William Turner were inspired from the wonders of Ravello. Ravello is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the wonderful Villa Rufolo with its garden with palm trees, fountains, Mediterranean vegetation and from the wide terrace you can admire the view of the coast .Other important nineteenth century Villa to visit is Villa Cimbrone, its gardens described as the Terrace of the Infinity, tall cypresses reach heavenward, the fragrance of massed roses fills the air; pathways lead us to statues of Roman gods. Absolutely a place you have to see . In additional, Ravello has become famous all over the world for the international music festival.

Pompeii

Pompeii was destroyed in 79 A.C. by a volcanic eruption of the Vesuvio, some people of Pompeii grabbed their beasts of burden and attempted to flee the area; others perhaps chose to wait until the streets were clear of the panicked masses; still others sealed themselves up in rooms, supposing that the ashes and poisonous gasses would not harm them there. The unfortunate people who could not escape in time to avoid disaster were killed by falling buildings, overcome by the mephitic gas, or simply buried by the rapidly falling ash. This important archaeological  site , well known in all over the world,  is the testimonial of  the Roman lifestyle. Walk through the ruins and admire the fantastic mosaic in the fabulous Patrician Villas, temples, theatres, gymnasium and public bath under a perfect preservation.