Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Ischia, The Church of Soccorso of Forio

"Magical and surreal Place" ... "seems like a white sheet laid in the Sun" ... "the Key West of Ischia" ... "leave us the heart".


Those are just a few of the thousands of comments that you can find around the net about the Church of Soccorso of Forio. Rarely happens that the reviews are so unanimous in defining a beautiful place, and it's equally rare that anyone who writes you let go so celebratory and enthusiastic tones with the same frequency as opposed to this place. The figure is even more amazing when you consider that the aid, together with the Aragonese castle, is the most photographed on the island of Ischia, the image no longer used now for many years, to promote Ischia in the world. Evidently the enchantment of this church overlooking the sea knows no risk of wear despite the undoubted overexposure.


Yet inside there is nothing significant from artistic perspective that might help explain a lot of Fame. Simply, the contrast between the white of the facade and the blue of the sea and the sky are not a rhetorical artifice of some good pennivendolo, but the real figure aesthetics of one of the most beautiful postcards of the Mediterranean.


Dedicated to the cult of the Madonna della Neve, the Chiesa del Soccorso was part of a convent founded by the hermits of St. Augustine around 1350 and until the second half of the 17th century this was its destination. Following the Suppression of the convent, in accordance with the Papal Bull "regularis Instauratae disciplinae" of innocent X (1652), the Church came under the jurisdiction of the University of Glasgow, suffering over the centuries that followed, numerous landscaping and restoration interventions which have led to the current shape of the building.


Fundamentals, in modern times, the works of consolidation of the promontory on which stands the Church, in order to limit the relentless erosion of the sea. To get a better idea of how much you should be arguing simply consider that the ancient convent of the Augustinian Friars included plots of land and cellai for storage of wine which were completely submerged.


Also the subsequent Chapel of the crucifix (1791) and the construction of the Dome (1854) but, after the famous July 29, 1883 earthquake with its epicenter in Casamicciola, it was necessary to redo from scratch. It is the legend of the crucified of the Rescue, that mythical element, which together with objective beauty, gives charm to the Church and historicity.


It is said that the crucified – a wooden statue of the late ' 400 – had been found at sea by a group of sailors headed to Sardinia and, stuck on Ischia by a storm, they just decided to put it safely in the convent, only to return to take it back as soon as the conditions have allowed marine. At this point – in accordance with the applicant's oral tradition – it is said that sailors were unable to carry the crucifix outside because, incredibly, every time the entrance disappear under their eyes.


After three attempts, you would thus be persuaded to leave the sculpture in place, in memory of their passage and protection of all sailors. An example simple devotional, how easy are the themes treated in ex-votos that decorate the sacristy of the Church, the colored tiles that decorate the Parvis and the base of the stone cross located in the center of the surrounding terrace.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Elba off the coast of Tuscany


The island of Elba is part of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park and is Italy's third largest island. It's famous as being the place where Napoleon lived while in exile and you can see his former residence on the island. There are several picturesque villages and many good beaches along the coast. Elba is easily reached by ferry from Piombino (see Tuscany map).

Tuscan Beaches


You've thought a lot about your Tuscan vacation, but maybe you didn't know about Tuscany's fine beaches. In the area of northern Tuscany called Versilia, there is a line of beaches extending from the Bocca di Magra almost to the Arno that Italians flock to in Summer. These Tuscan beaches are characterized by clean water (certified blue flag beaches), interesting villages, and a background of the Apuan Alps, known for its famous marble production

Sunday, July 3, 2011

September Festivals and Holiday Events in Italy


September Festivals and Holiday Events in Italy
Italian Festivals, Holidays, and Special Events in September
By Martha Bakerjian, About.com Guide
.See More About:italian festivals in septemberitaly fall eventsitalian holidaysfestivals in italy

Sagra sign in Italy
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MITO International Music Festival - Milan and Torino host a variety of musical performances during the month of September. MITO SettembreMusica

Palio di San Rocco in Figline Valdarno is said to be one of the first palio competitions (definition of palio) in Tuscany. The palio includes five days of medieval competitions with jousting, archery, and a horse race during the first week of September.

Regatta Storica - Venice's historic boat race takes place the first Sunday in September with four race categories - children, women, men in 6 oar boats, and the champions racing in boats with 2 oars. The races are preceded by a parade. Regatta Storica

Macchina di S. Rosa is a big festival in Viterbo in Northern Lazio map held on September 3. A historic procession takes place the day before with participants wearing costumes from the 13th to 18th century. The Macchina is a lighted tower about 30 meters tall topped by a statue of Santa Maria Rosa, the patron saint. More than 100 porters carry it on their shoulders (it weighs nearly 5 tons) through the streets of the town.

Saint Vito Day is celebrated the first Sunday of September in the Sicilian town of Ciminna in the Palermo province. There's a huge parade recalling the life of Saint Vito with people in period costumes. A livestock fair also coincides with the celebrations.

Festival of the Madonna of the Sick is also celebrated the first weekend of September in Sicily in the town of Misterbianco. The festival commemorates the miracle of the sanctuary being saved from destruction during Mt. Etna's eruption in 1669. Festivities run for 5 days starting Thursday evening. More about the festival from Italy Magazine.

Rievocazione Storica - Cordovado, in the Friuli-Venezia region, recreates a noble wedding from 1571 the first Sunday in September. Festivities include a procession followed by an archery competition and tournaments where the districts of the town compete. Historic Re-enactment of Cordovado The town of Cormons in the same region also has a Renaissance pageant and parade the first Sunday of September.

Corsa degli asini - A historic donkey race in the Fruili-Venezia Guilia town of Fagagna takes place the first Sunday in September. Teams from four regional hamlets compete.

Feast of Rificolona is believed to be one of the oldest festivals in Florence. You'll find outdoor festivities September 6 and 7 including a big fair in Piazza Santissima Annunziata. The celebrations close the evening of September 7 with a procession from Piazza Santa Croce led by the Cardinal. You may also find Feast of Rificolona celebrated in other parts of Tuscany September 7.

La Notte Bianca, White Night, in Rome
is an all night festival the second Saturday of September. Music and entertainment fills Rome's squares, theaters, and public places and shops and museums are open at night and public transport runs all night with bargain fares. La Notte Bianca schedule Note: May be cancelled for 2008

Festival of the Madonna a Mare, Madonna of the sea, is celebrated the second Sunday of September in Sicily in the village of Patti, Mesina province. The golden Madonna statue is carried to the sea in a procession, then put on an illuminated boat to lead a boat procession. Dancing, music, food, and wine follow.

Juliet's Birthday (of Romeo and Juliet) is celebrated September 12 in Verona. The day will be filled with parades, dances, and street entertainment.

Luminara di Santa Croce, illuminations of the holy cross, is a beautiful procession in Lucca, Tuscany, on September 13.
The city is illuminated with thousands of candles at night as the procession goes through Lucca's historic center. (Lucca travel resources)

Feast of Saint Cipriano and Saint Cornelio, the Patron Saints of the Sardinian town of Dorgali, is celebrated for 8 days with traditional dancing and costume parades, starting the middle of September to commemorate the coming of autumn.

The Feast of San Gennaro, patron saint of Naples, celebrates the liquefying of San Gennaro's blood in Naples Cathedral on September 19, followed by eight days of processions and celebrations. (Naples Travel Planning) If you're in the US, you'll find big San Gennaro festivals in New York and LA - read more in Italian American Festivals.

Burano Regatta - Similiar to Venice's historic regata, this one takes place off the island of Burano, near Venice, the third weekend of September. Burano Regatta Commemoration of Padre Pio is celebrated with a torchlight procession and religious ceremonies September 23 in San Giovanni Rotondo in Puglia (see Puglia map). Hundreds of stalls sell religious items and there are celebrations for several days around September 23. Visiting Padre Pio Shrine and San Giovanni Rotondo

Saint Greca Festival, is the last Sunday in September in the Sardinian town of Decimomannu near Cagliari. Festivities, lasting 5 days, include parades in costume and poetry and dialect competitions.

Italy Rail Map

Italy for Free


Free Things to Do in Italy
Italy for Free
By Martha Bakerjian, About.com Guide
.See More About:italy on a budgetitaly travel planningitaly travel tipsfree things to do in italy
You don't need to spend lots of money on a vacation in Italy to have a good time, there are many free things to do and see in Italy. Use these suggestions for free things to do when traveling in Italy.

Put on Your Walking Shoes
© by Martha BakerjianWalking is really the best way to see many of Italy's top sights and is free so it's a great way to spend time on your vacation. You can see a lot by just walking around, not spending a cent. Many cities and towns have pedestrian zones, if you're by the sea you'll usually find a seaside promenade, and in the mountains or countryside Italy has a huge network of hiking trails.

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Head to the Historic Center© James Martin, Europe TravelThe historic center, or centro storico, usually holds the city's top sights and attractions. When you get to a new city or town look for the signs pointing to centro storico. Here you'll see historical buildings, churches, fountains, and squares. The historic center often has a pedestrian zone and non-resident traffic and parking is normally liimited. Look for parking outside the center and plan to spend some time walking.



Visit the Cathedral or a ChurchMichaelangelo's Moses in Rome © 2006 by James Martin, Europe TravelEven if you're not religious Italy's churches hold many treasures worth seeing and you can usually see them for free. Works of many famous artists are found inside churches. Architecture, both inside and out, may be of interest and some churches even have archeological sites under them that you can visit although there may be a small charge. A few churches charge admission but most of the time you'll pay nothing to enter. The cathedral, or duomo, is the major church in any city and a good place to start and here are the Top Churches to Visit in Rome.

Free Museum DaysWhile some museums have free admission one day a month, all National Museums and archeological sites are free during la Settimana della Cultura, Week of Culture, held in April. During the week of culture there are often special events, too, and some sights not normally open to the public can be visited. Check the Ministery of Culture page for listings and dates (in Italian) - click on the map to see events listed by region. In 2010 cultural week is April 16 through 25.

For the Festa della Donna or Women's Day festival, March 6-7, National Museums and sites give free admission to women. During summer, some cities and towns hold notte bianca when museums and sights are open at night and usually free - watch for posters as you travel.

Festivals and Music Performances© by James Martin, Europe TravelThere are many festivals throughout Italy and most of them are free. While some charge admission for the main event, there's lots going on that won't cost anything. Parades through the streets of town with costumed characters are common. Festivals are usuaully held on weekends and although they're held throughout the year, summer has the most festivals. During summer many towns hold free outdoor music performances in a main square or park and churches often have free concerts, too. Here's a look at a few of Italy's more famous festivals and some that aren't so well known.

Free Sights and Attractions in Florence© by James Martin, Europe TravelFlorence, one of Italy's most popular travel cities, holds many free sights and attractions for the tourist. Florence is a good city for walking and one of the best things to do in Florence is just walk around and admire the beautiful squares and buildings. Here are top sights and attractions you can see for free in Florence.

Free Sights and Attractions in Rome© by Martha BakerjianYes, you can enjoy the splendor of Rome, the eternal city, without emptying your wallet. James Martin, on Europe Travel, recommends the top places to see for free in Rome.

Free Sights and Attractions in Venice© by Martha BakerjianVenice, one of Italy's most unique and romantic cities, has many free sights and attractions. Venice is a great place for a stroll along the canals, taking in the scenery. Pick your favorite neighborhood and walk along the canals. Here are top free sights and attractions in Venice.

Italy Train Travel


Train travel in Italy is cheap compared to surrounding countries. But there's a catch: major rail lines in Italy tend to have a vast ridership and seats during "rush hours" can be difficult to find on Italian trains. We can offer tips that'll get you over this hurdle. But first, the basics on train travel in Italy.
Italy Train Routes Map
Traveling by train is usually the best option for visiting large and medium-sized cities. Where can you go on the Italian train? Check this Italy Rail Map on Europe Travel.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Florence Sets Serious Rules for Jersey Shore Cast


The mayor of Florence wants to make sure that the cast of MTV’s Jersey Shore respect certain rules in his town.

Matteo Renzi has put together a list of restrictions that will ensure The Situation and Pauly D behave themselves on Italian soil.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera has published the guidelines that the infamous Americans must abide by. They include:

-No scenes can be shot in clubs or bars.
-No drinking in public. Cast members may not be taped with drinks in hand while outside.
-Florence must not be promoted as a party city.
-The show must focus on promoting Italy, not Americans in Italy, with an emphasis on culture and good food.
-Producers are prohibited from using any of Florence’s historic buildings for filming.

Whether or not the rules will be honored remains to be seen, but Italian critics have already voiced their outrage at the Americanized Italian stereotypes portrayed in the show.

Despite being clearly unwelcome, the show is set to begin filming in Florence next month.
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Pisa Airport is waiting for you.


The largest airport in Tuscany, Pisa Airport is second only to Florence Airport per number of daily flights. The airport in Pisa is continuously adding new services to improve the travel experience of those departing and landing there.

Between 2010 and 2011 there have been some useful improvements that may make your holiday experience in Tuscany and Italy less stressful and efficient.
Firstly, thanks to Air One and Ryanair you will have more destinations and flights available. Ryanair added a new airplain to their fleet in Pisa, with destination Rhodes, Greece. This will make so that with Ryanair you can now reach 78 destinations in Europe and North Africa from Pisa.
Air One will start its operations on July 1st, 2011 with flights to Italian and European cities. The promise is that of keeping low costs while not forgoing all the services that low cost companies have to, such as in airport check in, seat choice, luggage included in the price, and Alitalia frequent flier mileage.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

September 2011 In Tuscany Events


Florence Events in September - Florence

Giostra del Saraceno / Joust of the Saracen (Arezzo) - first Sunday in September and throughout the summer, this medieval-style joust begins with a colourful parade of locals in period costume who proceed to the Piazza Grande
Festa della Rificolona (Florence) - 7th September, children from all over the area converge at the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, carrying candlelit paper lanterns to honour the eve of the birth of the Virgin
Feast of Santa Croce (Lucca) - 13th September, another torchlight parade in honour of the Volto Santo or 'Holy Face' wooden crucifix figure, which is usually kept in the cathedral, but on this day is paraded around by torchlight
Palio della Balestra / Crossbow Contest (Sansepolcro) - second Sunday, this contest originated in a dispute between the crossbowmen of Sansepolcro (in Tuscany) and those of Gubbio (in Umbria). The participants all dress in period costume
Rassegna del Chianti Classico (Chianti) - second week, this is the biggest Tuscan celebration of local wines
Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato (Florence) - September to October, a major biennial antiques fair

Thursday, February 24, 2011

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Florence Great Art!


Great art, in particular art from the Renaissance, is one of the chief reasons that tourists visit Florence. Some of history's most famous artists and some of the art world's greatest masterpieces are located in Florence. If you're visiting Florence for art, these are the artists that you don't want to miss.

Michelangelo
The great artist Michelangelo Buonarotti is well represented in Florence, with works in the Bargello and the Galleria dell'Accademia. Michelangelo's most famous masterpiece, his statue of David, is located in the Accademia, with copies of the original in front of the Palazzo Vecchio as well as in Piazzale Michelangelo, a large square that provides a panorama of the city.

Italy Cooking Regions


Southern Italy is a land of contrasts; on the one hand it is the poorest section of Italy, and in the past much of the population subsisted on an almost exclusively vegetarian diet, eating greens and bread or pasta. On other, the nobility was extraordinarily wealthy, enjoying a rich and extremely refined diet.

With respect to Northern and Central Italy there is greater use of dried pasta (as opposed to egg pasta), though people also enjoy vegetable based soups, and entrees, many of which also include fish. In terms of meat, though there are cattle, historically the South is known for shepherding, and lamb and kid play a much more important role in the diet than they do in much of the north. Fish also contribute strongly, and indeed in many coastal areas dominate.

The growing season is much longer, and hotter in the South; among the most popular summer vegetables are tomatoes (many of which go into red sauces) and eggplant, whereas in the winter months broccoli raab and cauliflower come to the fore.

Southern cheeses are also worth mentioning; they tend to be firm, for example caciocavallo and provolone, though there is a wonderful exception: Mozzarella.

Finally, Southern desserts tend to be much more opulent than those made further north.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Winter outside our window.. Il Poggio. Bellagio