Have you ever asked yourself what a trip to Italy is really like? What are the possible challenges you’ll run into while visiting it? Italy is definitely a unique place and a very easy country to travel in, but it’s absolutely a world of its own! We Italians are lovely people but we tend to be very traditional in certain habits! And even if getting out of your comfort zone is surely part of the fun of visiting a foreign country, there are some things you should know to make your trip to Italy easier. Whether you are embarking on
Pompeii finally has its Museum! Let us introduce you to the visit and the most important things on display. For the last two centuries and a half, travelers have stopped in Naples and visited its sublime Archeological Museum – Mann – to admire the find from the buried cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Now, travelers can simply enter the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and enjoy the 11 rooms of the new Pompeii Museum - Antiquarium. It was inaugurated last January 2021. The itinerary follows the history of Pompeii from its foundation during the 7th century BC to the Eruption in October
What do I need to know before a visit to Pompeii? Pompeii is indeed a very large excavation site spreading over 163 acres. A visit to Pompeii can be quite challenging if you do not know how to move around! That's the reason why we decided, after been tour-guides there for over 25 years, to share some insider travel tips so you can make the best out of it. In particular, we will provide useful information and FAQs you should know before starting your discovery of this amazing UNESCO site. HOW DO I REACH POMPEII AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Are you planning to visit Mount Vesuvius but can't find enough reliable information? Let us take care of it! Here is everything you need to know if you want to climb Mount Vesuvius to the crater’s top: travel tips, information, how to reach it and the most frequently asked questions all contained in a single article! The Mount Vesuvius was the first volcano ever described in History during the eruption “of Pompeii” on 79 AD. It is “The Volcano”. Not only: the Mt Vesuvius is considered the most dangerous volcano on planet earth due to hundreds of thousands living on
The dilemma of many travelers visiting Italy south of Rome is: should I visit Pompeii or Herculaneum? The answer seems to us easier than the more famous “to be or not to be”! As far as you have enough reliable information. For this reason, we have decided to provide all that essential information that will allow you to choose serenely which archaeological site to visit! Are you ready? Let’s get started! Both Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried during a terrific explosion of Mt Vesuvius on the 24th of October 79 AD. And both places are equally well preserved: any visitor
Rome is undoubtedly one of the most touristed cities in the world with fascinating buildings, beautiful museums, nice neighborhoods, and pieces of history and art. You'd be rather surprised that not every inch of the Eternal City has been discovered and conquered by tourists and if you know where to look hidden gems are surprisingly easy to find even in Rome! Today we want to take you to one of these hidden gems: the Galleria Doria Pamphilj, a quiet Museum far from the beaten track and the crowd of tourists, housed in a majestic Palazzo (Palace) still owned by the
After been guiding in Pompeii and Herculaneum for over 25 years, we feel like sharing with you some travel suggestions about visiting the Archaeological Areas of Pompeii and Herculaneum so you can have the best experience ever. This guide will provide you some useful information about the best time of the day to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum depending on the seasons. Pompeii is a very large excavation site spreading over 163 acres. Most travelers are surprised by the size and the state of preservation of this Ancient Roman City. An average tour can last about 2 hours during which you
A large exhibition in Rome dedicated to Raffaello Sanzio (Raphael) will be inaugurated on the 5th of March 2020 at the Scuderie del Quirinale for the worldwide celebrations of this unique talented artist: this large monographic event, the world's most comprehensive exhibition ever dedicated to the Renaissance genius simply titled “RAFFAELLO”, is the pinnacle of world celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the death of the "Prince of the arts". Realized by the Scuderie del Quirinale, the exhibition, which finds inspiration particularly in Raffaello's fundamental Roman period that consecrated him as an artist of unparalleled and legendary grandeur, will include
After entering for the first time the top ten of the most visited Italian museums of 2019, the Mann - National Archaeological Museum of Naples has been preparing for an extraordinary dive into the past. From today 31st January, and until May 31st, this majestic building will be hosting a highly faithful reproduction of the Lascaux Caves in a unique exhibit called "Lascaux 3.0". Thanks to this incredible event, for the first time in Italy visitors will finally have the privilege to admire and lose themselves in the famous cave complex of south-western France. But why are the Lascaux Caves
Close your eyes and think about a Roman amphitheatre. The first image that will appear in your mind will certainly be that of the famous Flavian Amphitheatre also called the Colosseum, the most majestic building left us by the Romans. But there are many other arenas in Italy that have hosted fierce combats over the centuries. Today we want to take you to discover an authentic wonder, unknown to the general public: let’s start our virtual tour of the famous Amphitheatre of Capua (or Anfiteatro Campano). This majestic Roman amphitheatre in the city of Capua, is indeed second only to
For those on a diet, you know, the Christmas season is the worst of all: dinners, lunches, happy hours, work parties…it is truly impossible not to fall off the wagon!!! The good food is indeed at the centre of this period of the year: not only gifts, lights, and decorations, but also traditional recipes, pastries, and cakes typical of each region. Our desserts, in particular, are delicious, tasty, assorted, numerous and irresistible. And from North to South it is possible to taste any kind of dessert, from flavoured biscuits to cakes filled with creams or fruit! But how to cope
Each year during the Christmas holidays, the city of Salerno organizes its unique “Luci d’Artista” event, a spectacular open-air exhibition of lights, colours, flowers, snow and stars installed in the parks, the streets, the squares of the city to create a unique magical atmosphere that attract thousands of visitors from all over the country! This year's general theme is floral arrangements: a real forest of lights works, sea waves, tropical flowers, constellations, planets, jugglers, flying bears, light sculptures, reindeer, huge trees full of bright branches, lemons of the famous ceramics of Vietri and Chandeliers of the King all together to
Rome is in turmoil because on Saturday 7th December it’s the Maritozzo Day! Now in its third edition, the event organized by Tavole Romane returns to celebrate the popular Roman dessert, from the classic cream-filled version to more adventurous creations. This unique pastry symbol of the Eternal City loved all over Central Italy and beyond, will be available for tastings in numerous pastry shops, bakeries, pizzerias in the capital and beyond! But let's take a step back… What is a “maritozzo” and where does its strange name come from? The origin of the Roman Maritozzo dates back to the dawn
Events, Lights & Traditional Markets Christmas is undoubtedly a charming moment of the year all over the world but in Florence is pure magic: lights shimmering like stardust along the narrow cobblestone alleys, pine trees and street decorations shining around every corner and unique artisanal nativity scenes to surround you with the perfect traditional Christmas spirit! Let's see in detail what the wonderful city of Florence has organized this Christmas to amaze its citizens and the many tourists that crowd its streets every year even during the Christmas Holidays! THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS The popular local F-Light Festival returns from
Looking for an unusual activity while visiting Rome? Here is a suggestion to make your Roman Holidays a unique and funny adventure! Since 2011 the famous Cinecittà Studios in Rome, where several national and international movies have been filmed, have opened to the public with the Cinecittà Shows Off project, a cultural initiative that enhances the historical and architectural heritage of the Cinecittà Studios, allowing visitors to experience in person the exhibition halls with movie costumes, pictures and objects and the permanent sets of great movies and TV shows! This unique project provides indeed public access to the Roman Dream
How To Visit Highlights And Save Money Are you planning to visit Naples and explore its surroundings for few days? If you know you’ll be packing in a lot of popular attractions into your stay, you may be able to travel on a budget by purchasing a city pass. The Campania ArteCard is indeed the local pass that allow you to save money and time while visiting the most beautiful attractions that this unique area can offer to visitors from all over the world. This city pass gives you free or discounted entries into dozens of attractions over a set
World Press Photo Exhibition has finally arrived in Naples for its 2019 edition! The location of this important photojournalistic event will be the impressive lobby of the MANN - Archaeological Museum of Naples: the choice is not at all accidental, but reflects the desire of the museum’s director Paolo Giulierini to underline the subtle bond that unites the uniqueness of the art of the past with the contemporary sensibility of the present. As stated by the Director of the Museum himself "the great world photojournalism, the courageous witness of freedom of expression even in the most difficult contexts is compared
Capri travel Tips: how to optimize your visit of the Blue Island. Famed for its natural beauty since the 1960s when celebrities like Jacqueline Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, and Sophia Loren put the island on the jet-set map, Capri is no longer so hidden. But with its wild steep cliffs rising majestically from an impossibly blue sea and its spectacular villas, it's easy to forgive Capri for being so famous and popular. The island is indeed a seductive combination of fairy-tale landscapes and fun, which over the centuries has conquered Roman emperors and Hollywood stars. With its whitewashed villas and small
Are you tired of visiting museums, historical buildings, and archaeological areas? Are you looking for something different while in town? Are you an art lover? There is a magic place in Naples, a museum famous for housing some of the most interesting events and exhibitions about contemporary art, music, photography, installations, performances, and paintings. This unique place is called PAN (Palace of the Arts of Naples) and it is located off the beaten path in the wonderful Via dei Mille, in the lovely District of Chiaja. On the 25th September has been inaugurated at the Pan a brand new exhibition
Naples can surely be defined as one of the most intriguing cities in the world. Over the centuries the fusion between the sphere of the sacred and the profane has led indeed to the stratification and consolidation of ancient religious and magical beliefs that still continue today. The history of San Gennaro (Saint Januarius), the patron saint of the city, is undoubtedly the first of these ancient local beliefs. He was bishop of Benevento and a martyr of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches during the Roman Empire. Despite the lack of official documents and accounts, it
Who has never dreamed to go racing in the street at night like James Dean or Marlon Brando? Well, if you are such a dreamer you really should not miss a unique event that is going to take place near Venice. The title itself is something: Roll ‘n Flat Beach Race, the famous rally of American vintage cars and motorcycles that takes place every year in Caorle (Venice). This year edition, set on the 6th and 7th September, will be not only a meeting of fans and aficionados but also a seaside hot rod race with more than a hundred
The very last day of August and the beginning of September are truly a special occasion for the cities of Amalfi and Atrani, two of the most beautiful locations that the Campania region holds in its coasts. Have you ever heard of the famous Capodanno Bizantino (Byzantine New Year)? It is a grand revival of the ancient splendour of the Maritime Republics era, when the cities of Venice, Pisa, Genova and Amalfi itself ruled the entire Mediterranean. The leading theme of this edition will be the landscape of Amalfi Coast that has been appointed a World Heritage Site by the
Pompeii continues to unveil its secrets or, better to say this time, its treasures. In these days, the news of a mysterious new finding is going all around the world indeed, since it casts a light on how the inhabitants of Pompeii were dealing with magic, omens, and superstition. The archaeologists who found this unique treasure named it the “Sorcerer’s treasure trove”: a trunk containing a stash of ancient amulets along with a vast variety of fascinating yet mysterious objects such as buttons made of bones, beetles from the Orient, dolls, miniature penis, and a tiny skull. The amulets, in
They say if you get bitten by a tarantula on a summer night then you will start to dance like a crazy, your feet will burn to the ground and yet you will not stop until you…die. Well, this is not a screenplay of a new horror movie, but a folkloristic tale about the birth of one of the most famous popular dances from South Italy, the tarantella. The term tarantella indicates a very ancient style of dancing and gathers a series of traditional dances belonging to the different regions of South Italy, such as Puglia, Campania, Calabria, and Sicily.
The eternal city, a place where you can walk among the ancient remains of one of the greatest empires that humankind has ever known, a city where you can breathe, touch and experience the essence itself of the Italian way and lifestyle. Rome with all its endless treasures ready to be discovered. But, exploring this charming city on a summer hot day can be quite a challenge for the great distances to cover and the precious little shade: for this reason several enchanting monuments and archaeological areas offer to visitors the chance to explore Rome by night: imagine yourself walking
Imagine losing yourself among the heroes made famous by Homer in his Iliad, looking at Achilles running towards the great walls of Troy or Ulysses and Diomedes playing chess, while Hector watches over his wife and child. Do you prefer maybe a more “mystical” experience? What about taking a walk with Dionysus inside the sacred forests swarming with satyrs and nymphs? Well, there is only one place where you can take such a unique chance: the MANN (Archaeological Museum of Naples), right in the heart of Naples, the city whose bones lie on one of the first Greek colonies in
Have you ever wondered how would it feel to be part of Leonardo Da Vinci’s world, losing yourselves in his creations? Well, it is possible if you are ready to enter the doors of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Florence, a place of unique wonder! Located in a welcoming and appealing historical building in Via de Servi 66 (100 meters from the Accademia Gallery) right in the heart of places most visited by Leonardo da Vinci and other key Renaissance figures, the museum is suitable for an adult audience, young adults and families willing to discover a past of
A new "illustrious guest" will finally arrive in Naples at Palazzo Zevallos for a prestigious temporary exhibit: Sandro Botticelli, one of the most representative artists belonging to the so-called Florentine School who flourished under the patronage of Lorenzo de’ Medici during Golden Age of Italian Early Renaissance, will be on display in the bustling city of the South of Italy with a unique yet controversial masterpiece. Why is the painting considered controversial? In some point of his life, Botticelli was deeply influenced by the spiritual preaching of Girolamo Savonarola in Florence, an influence that affected him to the point of
Want to experience Rome from a different point of view and keep you kids engaged? Are you ready to relive the ancient splendours of the Circus Maximus in Rome during the Imperial Age through a stunning virtual experience? A place of entertainment and an incomparable landmark, the Circus Maximus comes back to life thanks to an innovative project based on augmented (AR) and virtual reality (VR) that will grant visitors to see the building in its maximum magnificence. The Circo Massimo Experience will finally enable visitors to see life as it was in those days with all the people strolling
The Uffizi Gallery is not only the most famous museum in Florence but also one the most important museums in the world. The building dates back to 1560, it was built by Giorgio Vasari for Cosimo I de’ Medici to house the administrative and legal offices, uffizi in ancient Italian, of Florence. Giorgio Vasari completed it a few years later with the addition of a corridor, the Corridoio Vasariano, connecting the Gallery with the Pitti Palace, the new residence of the Medici family. In 1574 the works were entrusted by Francesco I de’ Medici, son of Cosimo I, to the architect Bernardo Buontalenti. Once the works were finished in 1581, Francesco I decided