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Shopping in Milan Italy

Milan is the fashion center of Italy as well and also in Europe competing with Paris for the Fashion Runway of the year to which buyers flock from all over the world for the new season designs. When visiting Milano these are the main areas to go for fabulous shopping.

Piazza del Duomo

Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II – a beautiful glass-roofed arcade – is just off the piazza – here you’ll find Prada and Gucci stores, Diffusione Tessile (Max Mara outlet), as well as restaurants and bistros – walk out the other end and you will be at La Scala.

Walking away from the piazza along Corso Vittorio Emanuelle II you can make your way to Piazza San Bibila – along the way it’s worth wandering the surrounding streets for their range of stores and galleries – it’s also a nice evening passegiata.
From Piazza San Bibila turn left to Via Montenapoleone (see Quadrilatero D’Oro section).

Palazzo di Brera & Surrounds

After visiting the Palazzo head along Via Brera towards Via Fiori Chiari, taking time to explore the back streets; from Via Fiori Chiari take Via Madonnina for designer boutiques and antiques.

There is an antiques fair held on the third Saturday of each month on Via Fiori Chiari.

Quadrilatero D’Oro Shopping District

Fashionistas make a beeline for these streets north of the Duomo known as the Golden Quarter – Via Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant’Andrea and Via Montenapoleone – home to prestigious fashion designers such as Prada, Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, and Valentino.

Even if you’re not planning to make a purchase, watching people parade up and down makes for an enjoyable couple of hours. You can also enjoy the fabulous window displays which are always of exceptional stunning design.

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Rome Baths of Caracalla Summer Concerts

In the charming and enchanting scenery of the open air theater of the Terme (Baths) of Caracalla, Rome – music and history come together for a magical Opera festival experience for summer in the Eternal City.                                                    16837europera-tickets

June has an incredible line up of amazing performers and it is well worth booking to experience this historical setting that only the Italians can do so well. Previous Concerts have included wonderful operas of Giacomo Puccini – Madama Butterfly, Turandot and La Boheme – as well as international artists such as Elton John, Bob Dylan, and Ludovico Einaudi .

The baths were originally called the Termae Antoninianae build by Caracalla in 216 BC. It originally had huge marble columns, coloured Oriental marble flooring, vitreous paste mosaics and different varieties of marble sheathing the walls, painted stuccoes and hundreds of colossal statues and groups, both in the niches of the walls and in the more important halls, as well as in the gardens.

For supplying water, a special branch of the Acqua Marcia aqueduct, the Aqua Antoniniana, was created.

Category: Blog, podcast, Rome

Naples – A Fascinating City

“See Napoli and Die” – A lot of people when they see that title, they think it signifies the something more terrible. However the quotation is from “Italian Journey “by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, [1786 – 1788]; as translated by W. H. Auden and Elizabeth Mayer (1962) when Goethe was travelling in Naples. He travelled widely in Italy and loved it here.

I myself used to wonder at this saying before I understood. I now know how he felt as it has that same effect on me. When I am working and see a photo of the bay of Naples – I want to fall down on the floor and die when I am not there.

When you live on that bay for a period of time it seeps into your bones. It is almost something magical – like a spell cast over you never to be released and prehaps carried on into future lives.
The Neopolitans probably think this is normal because most of them never leave and if they do – they always return as if this spell is dragging them back like an umbilical cord.

As I am Australian, one of my friends lived in outback Queensland on a large cattle station. When he was growing up there were some Neopolitan men who had emigrated to find work in Australia on the farms in the far country. He said that at night one could hear them weeping as the wind would blow the sound for many miles in the silence of the bush.

My heart bled when I heard that . What depths of suffering they must have felt!!  To be isolated in the harsh  Australian bush with no people around …. one could not find such a contrast to Naples. It must have been torture for them. So sad  – and what courage they had to come out and leave their amazing land. Out of all the Italian immigrants to Australia that came out after the war – more than half returned after they had made their fortune. Homeward bound to the land of their hearts and love. They could not let go of the memories of that bay and people.

One can never feel isolated in Naples as everyone is so friendly and they talk to you all the time. In fact they never shut up – I have never seen such people to be able talk so fast as well with their hands as well as sing well. The Neopolitans I am sure would talk under water if given a chance.

In the beginning when I first used to stay in Naples I used to be terrified as I had heard all the stories and read the horrible Mafia books so it took me a long time to lose my nervousness and it goes to show that fear is often a fantasy appearing true. In fact, now,  I feel more safe in Naples at night than walking on my own, around the Australian cities.

I find Naples the most interesting and fascinating city in Italy. I consider the food to be to die for – the mozzarella, the coffee, the  tomatoes – oh the tomatoes are the best in the world like Grandpa used to grow….. as well as the sweet seafood and  to swim in the bay  in summer – ah – so soft and so warm and the people have hearts to match –  hearts of gold. Napoli has many hidden art treasures to discover –  and the deeper you go the greater the treasures. Come to Napoli and die!!

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International Archaeology Film Festival Italy

The International Film Festival of Archaeological Cinematography and Multimedia of Campi Flegrei –  September 2017, Rione Terra – Pozzuoli, Gulf of Naples, Campania and Castello di Baia, Baia, Gulf of Naples, Campania organised by Campi Lunghi.

Campi Flegrei is often called the Phlegrean Fields in English and is the site of many active volcanoes and incredible history and archaeology. This place is an archaeologist’s dream and so much more still to discover. The history dates back to Greek settlement at Cuma.

The International Film Festival of Archeological Cinematography and Multimedia of Campi Flegrei has two main objectives:-

1. Education and information for Archaeological research

2. To create a cultural center for the promotion of Archaeology in the Campi Flegrei of Campania.

Campi Lunghi  Scientific and Organising Committee formed by University academics, Archeologists, ICCROM, Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici, and film critics.

Event’s Partners: Journal “Archeologia Viva”, Fondazione Museo Civico di Rovereto and Corriere del Mezzogiorno.

The Events will take place at Rione Terra, Pozzuoli (NA) and the Archeological Museum of Castello Aragonese di Baia, Campi Flegrei, (NA), Campania Italy.

There will be film viewings, discussions with the producers, authors, Archaeologists, scientists as well as temporary exhibits.

At the same time other initiatives, events and guided tours specializing in Archaeology for entertainment and education will be organized in Campi Flegrei:-
Cinematography and presentations from various multimedia that will show Archaeology, history, Paleontology and Anthropology as well as works with the purpose of protection and valorization of cultural heritage are able to participate in the Event.

Two awards will be assigned: “Campi Lunghi” Award to the best movie by Audience vote and the Scientific Committee Award to the best film for promotion and protection of cultural heritage and scientific evidence.

Organizational Staff: Giovanna Burgarella-Lucio Burgarella, Rosalia Marineo- Alessia Tosi
Coordinators: Nicoa Barile – Ferdinando d’Agostino- Pietro D’orazio- Bruno Frangiapani- Antonio Tosi
Artistic Director: Corrado Ardone

For enquiries or to book and for accommodation ph Italy +39 081 03 83 409 italian language  info@infinitytopclass.com  or for english enquiries : info@pfitravel.com

Film Festival Program

Rione Terra

9.00 a.m. Opening meeting room. Information: about Flegrean Area, Events program, Guided tours and events.

9.30 a.m. Exhibit: Underwater Archaeological Photography

8.00 p.m. Scientific Committee Presentation.
Show. In between a theatrical event: Lecture on Old Satirical Texts

Rione Terra

10.30 a.m. Mediterranean Archeological Conferences:
– From Asia Minor to Magna Greece. The Samo and Focea’s refugees.
– Italian Archeological Excursions in Turkey.

Castello Aragonese di Baia

5.30 p.m. Theatrical guided tour of Museum and artifacts. Aperitif.
Entertainment: Piero Pruneti, the “Archeologia Viva” journal director, interviews a guest.

Rione Terra

10.30. a.m. Mediterranean Archeological Conferences:
– Ionian settlement on the Campania Coast
– Migrations through the Mediterranean sea. Past and present.

Castello di Baia

8.00 p.m. Show. In between a theatrical event from a classical comedy.

Rione Terra

8.00 p.m. Scientific Committee Presentation.

Film Viewing: Last documentary in competition.

8.45 p.m. Piero Pruneti: Guest interview

9.00 p.m. Award Ceremony
“Campi Lunghi” Award (choose by Audience vote)
Scientific Committee Award (choose by Scientific Committee)
“School & Archeology” Award (the regulation on the website)

9.30 p.m. Film: documentary out of competition.

Guided Tours

The Rassegna Internazionale del Cinema Archeologico dei Campi Fregrei: Discover Flegrean Area and its cultural and landscape sources.
During the Event the following archaeological tours, divided in themes, will be available:

– WATER: Underwater Archeology. Discover the Flegrean Coast and The submerged underwater Archaeological park of Baia.

– AIR: Literature and landscape. Journey through Campi Flegrei with myths and legends.

– EARTH: Food and Wine. Discover the Flegrean Area tasting the local products.

– FIRE: Geology, Volcanology, Thermal. Dead and active, famous and unknown volcanos, fumaroles, thermal waters and bradyseism.

– MAN (the fifth element): History and Archeology. Monuments built by man through more than 2000 years.

The guided tours will be conducted by archeologists, geologists and experts.
Reservation is required. Please contact the Organizational Staff :
info@infinitytopclass.com.

Events & Shows

Solfatara – Pozzuoli
5.30 p.m. Theatrical guided tours and aperitif with geothermic cooking demonstration– (cooking underground in the steam of the Volcanic Solfatara fumaroles)

Castello di Baia
5.30 p.m. Theatrical guided tour and aperitif- (guided tour with drinks and entertainment ).

Archeological Park of Cuma
5.30 p.m. Theatrical guided tour and aperitif

Piscina Mirabilis – Bacoli
5.30. p.m. Theatrical guided tour and aperitif

Schools Program

The “School and Archeology” Award will be assign to the best documentary created by high school students using amateur equipment. The winner will be presented during the Event.

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Rome David Henderson Exhibition

Last Friday I was fortunate enough to attend the opening of David Henderson’s first Rome art exhibition. David originates from Brisbane Australia, but paints for most of the year in Venice. The exhibition is entitled Rome, Florence, Venice and displays his latest incredible pieces inspired from these famous Italian cities.

The contrast between Italy’s natural landscapes, history and modern urban space become the subjects of David’s painting with an emphasis on light and form.

All the paintings on display were done recently from direct personal observation in the plein air tradition. David has currently been the resident artist at the CRETA Rome Studio which houses his beautiful contremporary artworks.

The Rome Florence Venice exhibition is on from 25th April -3 May at the C.R.E.T.A. Rome Studio 17, via dei Delfini, Rome.

For more information on David and his amazing work  see www.davidhenderson.com.au

Edward Close

Category: Blog, podcast

Honeymooning in Italy

Italy is the place for lovers… Italians are an uninhibited race, they kiss in public and one regularly sees young Romeo and Juliettes’ smooching in the corner behind a sandstone column or lounging around on the steps of some magnificent fountain or church steps.

Young lovers have also filled the bridges of Rome, Florence and Venice with padlocks on which they engrave their initials or message and then they toss the keys into the river signifying that they will always be locked together.

Italy would have to be the most romantic place in the world to spend your honeymoon. There are so many wonderful romantic sites to visit that it makes it difficult to choose which is the most romantic spot.

Each city has its favourite haunt for lovers with spectacular views which will make a honeymoon in Italy a memorable one that you will never forget. Have a consultation with Passion for Italy and we can organise the most romantic hotels and restaurants to dine in.

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