Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for italy
Hunchback Bridge
By Linda Tancs
Nestled in Italy’s Trebbia Valley, Bobbio is a medieval village between Milan and Genoa. It’s often referred to as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy; writer Ernest Hemingway even called it the most beautiful village in the world. Framed by the Apennines, one of its most popular attractions is the abbey founded in the 7th century by Saint Colombano, home today to the City Museum and the Abbey Museum. Another focal point is the Ponte del Gobbo (Hunchback Bridge), so named for the 11 unequal arches that give it an irregular shape. First documented in 1196, the 900-foot-long bridge is an entry point to this scenic locale. The best way to arrive is via car; otherwise, the nearest train station is in Piacenza, with regular bus service.
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A Giant in Italy
By Linda Tancs
Nearly three times the actual size of its subject, the Colossus of Barletta in Italy is a bronze statue of a Roman emperor (thought to be Theodosius II) in Barletta’s city center. An icon of the city, the 16-foot-high structure is also known as “the Giant.” Legend has it that the statue was found in 1204 on a rock in the port of Barletta following the sinking of a Venetian ship returning from a crusade. The more sensible explanation for its appearance is that it was transported to Puglia from Ravenna by imperial decree to serve as an embellishment. You’ll find it in front of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher.
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The Emerald Coast
By Linda Tancs
Just like the French Riviera, Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) attracts the rich and famous. Indeed, the luxurious yachts anchored offshore attest to that. You’ll find many of them at the marina of Porto Cervo, the beating heart of this Italian island in the western Mediterranean. Created by Prince Karim Aga Khan for the jet-set, this resort community is equally accessible by the hoi polloi, who can enjoy enviable views from Stella Maris Church perched above the port. Inside, its charms include the Mater Dolorosa attributed to the Greek painter El Greco, an organ from the 17th century and local juniper wood pews. If you’re tempted to people watch, then you’ll want to be there this time of year.
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A Path Through Italy
By Linda Tancs
The Italy Trail (Sentiero Italia) is a hiker’s paradise through Italy. Encompassing around 4,300 miles, it’ll take you from the Alps in the north to the southern Apennines. In between are 20 regions, 655 passes, 360 villages, towns and hamlets and six UNESCO sites. It’s hard to imagine improving upon such a path, but a project is in the works to do just that. Known as the Path of the Parks (Sentiero dei Parchi), the route will expand the backbone provided by Sentiero Italia and connect all of Italy’s 25 national parks, including those on the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. The project’s completion is anticipated in 2033, so don’t strap on those hiking boots just yet.
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The Foliage Train
By Linda Tancs
The Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway runs 32 miles between Domodossola, Italy, and Locarno, Switzerland, passing over 83 bridges and viaducts. Just the mention of a route like that evokes scenic wonders, so imagine how colorful it gets during autumn. That’s when “the foliage train” operates, promising enchanting views enhanced by autumn’s foliage. Each train is equipped with full-length windows, too, so it’s doubtful that the journey will disappoint. You can reach the International Rail Station of Domodossola with Eurocity, interregionali and regionali trains operated by Trenitalia. On the Swiss side, Locarno can be reached by using the international railway lines Basel-Milano or Zurich-Milano, and the route is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) and GA travelcard.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Wedded Bliss in Accettura
By Linda Tancs
Call it mat-TREE-mony—that is, a wedding of the arboreal kind. That’s right: a wedding of two trees, an oak and a holly. The unusual union is celebrated this time of year in southern Italy. Il Maggio di Accettura is an ancient pagan wedding festival celebrated in Accettura, a mountain village of about 2,000 people in the region of Basilicata. In case you were wondering, the oak is the groom and the holly is the bride. They’re cut, joined together (by the trunk of the oak and the top of the holly) and hoisted by a pulley over the main square of the town, followed by a procession of women wearing tiered headdresses made of candles and flowers. This centuries-old festival is undoubtedly one of the most unusual you’ll ever experience.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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A Figure of Eight in Italy
By Linda Tancs
Castel del Monte in southern Italy strikes a perfect octagonal shape. That’s part of what makes it unique, an octagonal plan with octagonal towers at each angle. Commissioned around 1240 by German Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, this fortress on a hill is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lauded for its harmonious blending of cultural elements from northern Europe, the Muslim world and classical antiquity, its exterior limestone block is remarkably intact. Located in Andria near Bari, you can easily reach it by bus, train or car.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Rural Life in Piedmont
By Linda Tancs
Parco Naturale Valle del Ticino is a protected area in Ticino and Lake Maggiore in the Piedmont region of Italy. The park is situated in the south of Lake Maggiore, where the Ticino River flows out from the lake and reaches Lombardy. The landscape is primarily rural, dotted with mills and farmhouses. The river valley has seen its share of excitement, however, having been plumbed by gold diggers until just decades ago. These days a popular point of interest is Mulino Vecchio of Bellinzago, the only working watermill in the valley. Rebuilt in 1718, it has become a Regional Center for Environmental Education.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Beneath the Waves in Italy
By Linda Tancs
Baia is a sunken resort town in the vicinity of Naples, Italy. In the ancient Roman world, it was the epitome of hedonism, a playground for the likes of Nero and Cicero. Now one of the world’s few underwater archaeological parks, licensed scuba divers can explore the site, accompanied by one of the registered local dive shops and guides. You can also explore its sunken ruins via a glass canoe excursion that runs from April to October.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Made in Italy
By Linda Tancs
Some things are so much a part of the common experience that you forget it’s special. Take Parmesan cheese, for example, a staple of pizza and pasta dishes. The genuine article is made in Italy, embossed Parmigiano-Reggiano. It hails from Parma, a university city in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Like any well-known product, it has a museum devoted to its history, The Museum of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Located in Soragna in the Province of Parma, the venue showcases the history of the region’s famous cheese. Of course, the gift shop offers genuine Parmesan as well as tasting kits, posters, postcards and themed kitchen objects.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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