Selva Val Gardina

"You may have the universe if I may have Italy." - Giuseppe Verdi, Italian composer. At 2,681 metres strange things can happen. While we were admiring the sun glinting off the glacier of Mt Marmolada, Mr 77 got whacked in his privates with the pointy end of a Nordic walking stick. I turned to exclaim...

The Dolomites – Bring the Cattle Down from the Mountain Pasture Festival !

Deep in the Val Gardena Valley,  the enchanting town of Selva di Val Gardena nestles amongst the towering peaks of the Sella and Sassolungo mountains in the Dolomites of northern Italy.  It is a place where tradition runs deep and cows are a big deal. The spectacular scenery and my love of quirky festivals led me...

Procida – the enchanting isle!

...There are orchards and vineyards that look like imperial gardens. There are beaches of fine white sand and smaller beaches covered with pebbles and shells, hidden between great cliffs that overhang the water.  Seagulls nest in the rocks there, and wild tortoises, and in the early morning, you can hear the birds cries... On calm...

Ischia – Poetry, Passion, Pirates & Plagues

Once more, once more, Inarime*, I see thy purple hills!--once more I hear the billows of the bay Wash the white pebbles on thy shore. High o'er the sea-surge and the sands, Like a great galleon wrecked and cast ashore by storms, thy castle stands, A mouldering landmark of the Past... Birds of Passage,  Flight...

Naples – Pompeii and Herculaneum

Perhaps Mother Nature is punishing us, he thought, for our greed and selfishness. We torture her at all hours by iron and wood, fire and stone. We dig her up and dump her in the sea. We sink mineshafts into her and drag out her entrails - and all for a jewel to wear on...

10 things to do in Naples before you die !

"See Naples, and then die!' That was a proud saying, Count, which we used to hear as we cruised under lateen sails about the glorious bay that reflects from its waters the fires of Vesuvius "- William KirbyNaples is sadly often missed off a travel itinerary for Italy. Located in Southern Italy, it is the...

Rome – 1 Day Walking Itinerary of Rome- Featuring Roman Holiday, Emperors Footsteps and Rome’s oldest bridge

1 Day Walking Tour of RomeFulvia, our host from  My Rome Apartments is full of energy and information about Rome.  She is passionate about travel and well travelled herself.  She  thoughfully provides "little extras" and interesting information to guests during their stay. There are recycled guide books and brochures from the  tourist office and a book...

Rome – the First Glimpse

Italy is a country where people are known for their style and fashion.   This becomes immediately apparent when I pass through customs and the customs officer is wearing his sunglasses.Getting into Rome from the Airport is incredibly easy, there are direct trains, buses and taxis to take you to the heart of Rome and like...