Colosseum Security Update:
With the modern era and threats to areas that are highly populated, the security at the Colosseum has stepped up measures to protect its visitors and the monument. As of now, the Security control at the Colosseum is NOT allowing liquids and creams inside the monument.
The following items have been stopped by the Security and forced to be thrown away:
Water Bottles
Drinks in bottles or cups
Sun Screen Lotion
Water Spray bottles
We recommend that people visiting the Colosseum, do not bring these items on their tour when going inside the Colosseum.
Andrea Bocelli Teatro di Silenzio
I attended the Andrea Bocelli concert at his Teatro di Silenzio at Lajatico, Tuscany. It is an all day effort to get there for many of the ten thousand that attend from all over the world. Andrea gives the proceeds of this concert to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation to fund poor countries in need of essential services like unpolluted water. Terrible hey that people still do not have access to healthy water- would it not be a lovely world if we fixed these problems for all before we built false islands filled with five star hotels….! but back to the incredible Bocelli – the voice from heaven!
He sang many arias that would have been unknown to the general fans expecting renditions of his popular CDs. Myself- I loved the music being an opera buff but if you are not, I think one would have been disappointed- maybe he is trying to introduce the world to opera but I was annoyed that many people surrounding me chatted which only served to frustrate me- are people so uneducated these days to not know that you do not talk during a concert…! The woman next to me even had her mobile phone on checking messages- so offensive to both Bocelli and me but the unmannered seem to be everywhere these days!
To prehaps offset this and to keep the general masses entertained and off their mobile phones….the concert theme was “Le Cirque” acrobatic performers and dancers along the lines of Cirque de Soleil so it was a grand spectacular including laser light shows, prancing horses and two elephants graced the stage with the Songs from the opera Aida – dear graceful, big things oh if they could only be out running in the wild in Africa where they belong.
Personally, I would have preferred vintage Bocelli having seen him three times before, but as it is a concert for ten thousand people, I am sure most people were wowed. The accompanying opera singers were amazing as was the huge orchestra and choral singers from Genoa. And the money certainly goes to a good cause.
The concert is on every year the last Saturday in July. If you would like to book now for 2017 contact us and we will organise accommodation and transfers to the concert for you.
Rome – If You only have One Day
Rome, if you only have one day in my favourite city in the world, I recommend the following:-
After settling into your hotel don’t even bother to unpack – Rome is more important!
THE PANTHEON
Go straight to the Pantheon built in 118-128 AD– the glory of all buildings! And pay homage to the incredible antiquity and bow down to the fact that they stole the columns from Greece and rolled them across the seas and terra to Rome – a feat in itself!
When it rains the raindrops filter down through the hole in the dome and the water goes into the holes in the marble floor. It is beautiful to watch –if it rains in Roma race to the Pantheon to see it as it is glorious – a work of art and nature in itself.
TREVI FOUNTAIN
Then wander up the to the Trevi fountain with the other million tourists there and throw a coin in the fountain which means you will come back to Rome – if you don’t want to come back then don’t! Watch the film “La Dolca Vita” before you depart to see what the Trevi fountain looks like without the tourists!! Have a gelato there but unfortunately there are no seats. No rest for the wicked!
CAMPIDOGLIO AT SUNSET WITH VIEW OVER ROMAN FORUM.
At sunset, go straight to the Campidoglio – this is the stairwell behind the right side (facing front on the building) of the Victor Emmanuel II building – the giant white building with the bronze horses on the top, right in the center of Roma at Piazza Venezia. You will probably go past it in the taxi on the way to your hotel.
Go up the stairs and past the bronze statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius on the horse and keeping on-going through the beautiful Piazza Michaelangelo, designed by the genius and to the right there is an archway. Go through and you will come to a lookout over the Roman Forum – my favourite view in Rome. So beautiful at sunset when the lights are coming on. Ah just so lovely! Such antiquity!
RESTAURANTS
As everyone’s tastes and budgets are different and there are so many vegans and vegetarians and gluten free eaters now as well as differing prices that I am now loath to recommend my tastes for Italian restaurants any more so check out Gambero Rosso restaurant guide which is the most prestigious in Italy and trustworthy!
However I personally never get tired of pasta and could eat it until the cows come home! Every region and every restaurant has a different sauce and different type of pasta made from different flour, so it is never ever boring! If you only eat until not quite so full like the Italians do, one does not put on weight and you walk it off in Italy.
I would print out the list and ask reception which ones are near to your hotel so you don’t have to catch a taxi home but walk!
PIAZZA NAVONA
After dinner, buy a gelato and head to Piazza Navona at night, where you will be entertained with musicians, street performers and artists thronging through the tourists. Note the fountain of the four rivers on the four continents designed by Bernini which left out Australia as it was not discovered at the time he carved it out of rock.
Enjoy La Bella Roma and remember “When in Roma do as the Romans do!”
Pompei Elton John Concert
If you happen to be in Southern Italy in July this will be a fantastic concert. 12 July 2016 at the ancient amphitheatre of Pompei at the base of Mt. Vesuvious. Elton and the bank will be playing his classic hits as well as tracks from his new album Wonderful Crazy night.
Contact Passion for Italy for accommodation and transfers from Sorrento or Naples. Booking now. No bookings taken at last minute.
Travel to Italy
While the cites of Rome, Florence and Venice are amazing, I suggest if you travel to Italy getting out to the country or seaside villages to experience the lifestyle there where the locals are not jaded by tourists. It must be very hard to be a local in those big cities when a huge tour group of fifty people come screaming towards you and you have to step off the footpath in your town where you pay the taxes.
Many tourists are not considerate of the locals and this needs to be asserted always by the tour leaders when guiding a big group. Remember always that you are a guest in their country and that shouting louder does not make them understand a foreign language. When I hear tourists doing this I want to go up and tell them to pull their head in.
Try studying a foreign language yourself and see how hard it is especially if you are older. Do not expect people to speak English and it is only the workers who are in the tourism sector that usually can and then often not too good!!. Most locals of a certain age cannot speak English. They speak their local dialect and Italian so two languages usually.
Also the Wifi in Italy can often come and go due to not enough mobile towers and the thick walls of the marble historical buildings that you are likely to stay in with Passion for Italy hotels in the historical centers. It is not the receptionist’s fault if the Wifi does not work – it is the mobile phone company’s fault. The locals often have a hard time getting basic services to work even in their own homes especially in the south of Italy.
So I would suggest use your holiday in Italy as also a holiday from electronic devices. Instead of cruising the internet in your hotel at night, get out , buy a wonderful gelato and walk in the local piazza. This is the dolce vita – the sweet life- talk to some of the local people and ask them about their town and their favourite foods. Italians love talking about food and what they ate for lunch. It is their favourite topic.
Maria Callas Exhibition Verona
Maria Callas-The Exhibition 17 March-18 Sept 2016, takes place in Palazzo Forti, Verona, Italy – the location of the AMO Arena Museo Opera. Curated by Massimiliano Capella, the exhibition marks the 40th anniversary of Maria Callas’ death (16 September 1977) and the 70th anniversary of her international début with Amilcare Ponchielli’s La Gioconda at the Arena of Verona (2 August 1947).
Through a chronological and thematic sequence, the exhibition itinerary traces a Callas Route across stage objects, costumes and jewellery, private dresses, videos, documents, letters and photographs from the archives of Italian, French, British and American theatres, as well as international private collections.
The exhibition, which includes items loaned for the first time ever, focuses in particular on the cities in which Maria Callas performed and, in certain cases, lived – from Verona to Paris.
Held under the patronage of the Comune di Verona and promoted by the Fondazione Arena di Verona, the exhibition has been produced and organised by Arthemisia Group with the fundamental contribution of AGSM Group, main sponsor of the initiative.
For more informations, visit the website https://www.mostracallas.it/