The Mille Miglia (Thousand Miles) is an open-road endurance race that has been taking place in Italy since 1927.
Since 1977 the name was revived as the Mille Miglia Storica, a parade for pre-1957 cars that takes several days.

Every May, Brescia becomes the meeting place for the rich, famous and passionate as they prepare to do battle over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of Italian roads.

This edition of the race will start on May 14th in Brescia, will pass by Florence, Siena, Rome, Ferrara, San Marino and many other cities, coming back in Brescia in few days.

The history of the Mille Miglia is traced in all its glory at the Mille Miglia Museum in Brescia. This collection is a must for all amateurs of the automobile and its history and includes a fine collection of books and photographic works.

The Mille Miglia has the reputation of being the “the most beautiful road race in the world”, don’t miss it!

Info taken from wikipedia.

The “Museums Open Night” is an European initiative that will take place on 16 May.
Rome is the city with the highest number of museums partaking in this initiative. The Italian capital offers a wide range of events, including musical entertainment, and will open museums free of charge from sunset until two o’clock in the morning.

As regards other events, at Milan the Sforza Castle will offer guided visits to its secret passageand an exhibition of painting techniques, while Florence’s Oblate Gallery hosts “The poetry night”, a poetry reading given by both notable and emerging actors.

San Giovanni in Laterano, also known as the Basilicae of St. John Lateran, is the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, of which the Pope is bishop.

The Catholic Church has named it “The Mother of All Churches“. The cathedral is dedicated to Our Saviour, and to Sts John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.
Many people enter the church from this piazza - note that it is the back door, and you will get a very different impression of the church if you enter from the front.
The façade is flanked by two Romanesque bell-towers. Modifications to the design were made by Valadier. The benedictional loggia is by Domenico Fontana, designed in 1586. The statue in the portico is of Henry IV of France, who was a protector of the basilica.
The obelisk was originally quarried by Tuthmosis III in the Eighteenth Dynasty, but most likely erected by his son, Tuthmosis IV, at the eastern end of the temple of Amun Re in Karnak, Egypt, around 1400 BC. While St Peter saw the obelisk now at Piazza San Pietro, Moses may very well have seen this one.
It is the oldest and ranks first (being the cathedral of Rome) among the four major basilicas of Rome, and holds the title of ecumenical mother church among Roman Catholics.

The cathedral itself is located outside of the Vatican City boundaries, territorially located within the city of Rome in the Italian Republic. However it has been granted a special extraterritorial status as a property of the Holy See. This is also the case with several other buildings after the solving of the Roman Question with the Lateran Treaty.

If you want to know more about thr Roman History you have to come and visit our fantastic Capital… and for a pleasant stay in Rome, have a look of th B&B Trinity web site, a perfect accommodation solution for special Roman holidays.

Versione Italiana

Once in life everybody should go to Rome, and see all the greate artworks in the city…

If you are planning some days in Rome, here you will have some good advices for yur stay, the things to do and the places to visit!

Let’s have a brief description of one of its precious artwork, the Vatican Museum Setting, The Sistine Chapel.

“The frescoes that we are contemplating here introduce us into the world of the contents of the Revelation. The truths of our faith speak to us here from all ses. From them human genius took its inspiration undertaking to clothe them in forms of incomparable beauty” . With these words pronounced in the Homily during the Holy Mass celebrated on 8 April 1994, on the occasion of the completion of the restoration of the Last Judgement, the Holy Father John Paul II wished to place emphasis on the sacredness of the place in which the paintings, like the images of a book, serve to render the truths expressed in the Holy Scriptures more understandable.

The Sistine Chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV della Rovere (pontiff from 1471 to 1484) who had the old Cappella Magna restored between 1477 and 1480. The 15th century decoration of the walls includes: the false drapes, the Stories of Moses (south and entrance walls) and of Christ (north and entrance walls) and the portraits of the Popes (north and south and entrance walls).

It was executed by a team of painters made up initially of Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Cosimo Rosselli, assisted by their respective shops and by some closer assistants among whom Biagio di Antonio, Bartolomeo della Gatta and Luca Signorelli stand out. On the Ceiling Pier Matteo d’Amelia painted a starry sky.

The work on the frescoes began in 1481 and was concluded in 1482. This is also the date of the following works in marble: the screen, the choir stalls (where the choristers took their places), and the pontifical coat of arms over the entrance door. On 15 August 1483, Sixtus IV consecrated the new chapel dedicating it to Our Lady of the Assumption. Julius II della Rovere (pontiff from 1503 to 1513), nephew of Sixtus IV, decided to partly alter the decoration, entrusting the work in 1508 to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who painted the Ceiling and, on the upper part of the walls, the lunettes. The work was finished in October 1512 and on the Feast of All Saints (1 November), Julius II inaugurated the Sistine Chapel with a solemn Mass. The nine central panels show the Stories of Genesis, from the Creation to the Fall of man, to the Flood and the subsequent rebirth of mankind with the family of Noah.

For a short stay in Rome, try Rome Cheap Accommodation a Bed and Breackfast in Rome near the major touristic attraction and the strategic points of interests of the Eternale City…

HAve a good stay in Rome and Rome Cheap Accommodation!

Versione Italiana

Here you can find a brief itinerary to visit the beautiful city of Rome in less than 48 hours!

Some of the most famous places all over the world, and the must to see once in Rome…

FIRST DAY
1-Piazza San Pietro – St. Peter’s Square: you’ll be immediately impressed by the size of the memorable square facing St. Peter’s, surrounded by the magnificent four-row colonnade masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The building is 136 m. high, the diameter of the Cupola, designed by Michelangelo, measures 42 m. It is possible to reach the top of the Cupola climbing 330 steps: once up there the view of the square below and of Rome is unforgettable.
2-Castel Sant’Angelo – St Angelo Castel: from St. Peter’s walking along Via della Conciliazione one can reach the second stop of our itinerary: Castel Sant’Angelo. The unique monument houses the National Museum where, besides the stuccoes, frescoes and furniture of the papal apartments, one can also admire an important collection of ancient arms.
3-Piazza Navona – Navona Square: from an air view, the arena-like shape of Piazza Navona can be easily noticed. As a matter of fact, the piazza was built on the Stadium of Domitian, whose ruins can still be admired in the adjacent church of Sant’Agnese in Agone. Traditionally, from the beginning of December till the Epiphany, this piazza is occupied by stalls selling sweets and toys.
4-Pantheon: The Pantheon is an impressive example of the exquisite architectural technique of ancient Rome. It consists of a huge cylindrical body of equal height and width, covered by a great hemispherical dome.
5-Piazza di Spagna – Spain Place: a meeting place for both Romans and tourists, Piazza di Spagna is famous for its theatrical staircase, a creation of Francesco De Sanctis, and for its fountain known as La Barcaccia, designed in 1629 by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo in the shape of a boat semisubmerged in water.

SECOND DAY

1- Il Colosseo - The Colosseum: it owes its name to a colossal bronze statue, representing the Emperor Nero, more than 35 m. tall, that used to stand in this area. Symbol of Rome worldwide, the Colosseum was built by the emperors of the Flavian dynasty between 72-80 A.D.
2-I Fori Imperiali - The Roman Forum: they are the most important archaeological area in Rome, extends from the Capitol Hill to the Palatine. As far back as the 7th century B.C., the Forum was the centre of political, commercial and religious life.
3- Il Campidoglio - The Capitol: Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo, is surrounded by three noble palaces: the central one, Palazzo Senatorio, is the seat of the Municipality whereas the two on the sides, Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo, host the treasures of the Capitoline Museums.

Have a pleasant stay… and for a comfortable accommodation near the train station and to the tube line, so that you can easily visit all the touristic attractions below, stay in Hotel il Papavero, a very nice accommodation in the heart of Rome!

Versione Italiana

Each year, on Labour Day there is a huge free concert in San Giovanni in Laterano square in Rome.
More than 700 artists line up the 1st of May for a turn on that stage.
This year Vasco Rossi, Giorgia, Caparezza, Nomadi, Bandabardò, Edoardo Bennato and a lot of other Italian artists will perform for free on that stage

In 2007 there were approximately 700.000 people attending the event.
The First of May concert (Concerto del Primomaggio) began in 1989 and quickly became a popular event, heavily covered by TV and the press. To get a good view of the stage you have to arrive early in San Giovanni Square.

Carciofi alla Giudia (the Italian name for Jewish Artichokes) are a typical Roman recipe.
I found it on Food Network.

Ingredients

* 12 young artichokes
* 2 fresh lemons
* Salt
* Freshly ground black pepper
* 2 cups olive oil
* Grated Pecorino Romano, for garnish

Directions

Trim the outer leaves of each artichoke and the stem to 2 inches long. Using a peeler, peel the stems of each artichoke. In a bowl, combine the artichokes and juice from the lemons. Cover with ice water and allow to sit for 2 hours. Drain well. Using your hands, flatten each artichoke to the shape of a flower.

In a large earthenware pan, over medium heat, add the olive oil. Add the artichokes, side by side and stem up. Cook the artichokes until tender, turning the artichokes several times for overall browning. Using a wooden spoon, press each artichoke firmly to the bottom of the pan so that the leaves flatten out. Continue to cook for 10 minutes.

Carefully sprinkle a little water over the artichokes, this will crisp the artichokes. Continue to cook for 2 minutes.

Place the artichokes on a large platter and serve. Garnish with grated Pecorino Romano.

If you are in Italy and you want to go to mass, preferably understanding what you hear, you have to find one in English.

Mass in English in Florence: in the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (the cathedral church)
Every Saturday at 5:00 pm

Mass in English in Rome: in S. Silvestro in Capite church at 10:00 am and 5:30 pm and
in San Patrizio a Villa Ludovisi church at 10:00 am

Mass in English in Venice: in San Zulian church at 11:30 am

These are just 3 of the main Italian cities, anyway contact me if you need further info.

A cruise is the perfect choice for those who want to travel a lot but with all the comforts. It’s so relaxing to sunbathe in the swimming pool and visit wonderful cities contemporary.

The problem is that when you land for the tours, above spending a lot of extra money, you often can’t visit everything you would like to.

That’s why I hypothesized the perfect holiday: a cruise plus private tours.
In Italy, for example, you can ask Italy Private Tour to plan a trip or rent a car with driver.
Their mission is to provide an alternative to the cruise ship’s tours. Their excursions are synchronized to your cruise ship’s schedule.

Better yet, Italy Private Tour’s shore tours often feature more variety, are usually more intimate and are generally priced below the cruise line’s offerings.

Italy Private Tour also provides in most services Mercedes-Benz Luxury Sedan and Van transportation for your Airport transfers, Excursions or Tours.

The Drivers/Guides can take you to out-of-the-way sites, and their Mercedes Benz vehicles are comfortable, brand new and always reliable.

Italian version

| Shore excursions in Rome | Private shore excursions in Rome | Limousine tours in Rome | Limousine service in Rome | Excursions in Rome |

Are you traveling in Italy? Do it in a stylish way…

You should rent a limousine with driver that takes you around.
Rome limousine touring is specialized in Limousine services, providing luxurious private cars and vans, with English speaking drivers, guides and tour escort.

Drivers and guides will bring you in historical and cultural excursions of Rome, Florence and Amalfi Coast… and any other area.

They take care of you from the airport and plan with you the travel you want to do: the service is available for small groups, individuals or couples.

Rome limousine touring also gives special care to those that need a car service with a driver, such as ceremonies, conventions and meetings.

For further info visit their website.

Italian version.

| Shore excursions in Rome | Private shore excursions in Rome | Limousine tours in Rome | Limousine service in Rome | Excursions in Rome |