Travlang Travel Guide

Travlang's Guide to International Travel

The Secret Guide to Sicily Vacations

 

When you adore archaeology, then when you are in Sicily, you must go see the Valley of the Temples, the greatest and most noteworthy collection of ancient Greek ruins discovered anywhere. You will also come across necropolis, residences, avenues and all of the other artifacts you’d expect to see in an ancient metropolis. You can surely need to see the smaller amphitheatre, the many auditoria, plus the world-class archaeological museum. Do not leave out the Concord Temple; it has 13 tall columns that show the effects of the wind. Located outside the city of Agrigento, situated on the southern coast of Sicily, the temples appear dramatic inside the evening when floodlights outline their shape and size.

December four, Saint Barbara Day, is celebrated within the Sicilian town of Paterno on the slopes of Mount Etna volcano. Right after the parade citizens set up a nativity scene. Santa Lucia Day, December 13, is celebrated in quite a few Italian localities which includes the city of Siracusa whose big parade includes a golden coffin carrying the saint to the Church of Santa Lucia. There is a week of festivities culminating having a huge fireworks display over the harbor and a different parade that brings the coffin back towards the crypt. Among the a lot of nativity scenes ensure to see one in Custonaci, which is re-enacted inside a cave. The exhibition includes a classic nativity scene and an ancient village total with shops. The town of Acireale is also recognized for its nativity scene. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Palermo with fireworks and an outdoor music show.

Almost every single region on the island has a museum dedicated towards the history of it. This 1 is dedicated to the ancient city of Agrigento as well as the surrounding location. Like numerous other Sicily museums, this 1 displays antiquities found throughout excavations that occurred in the 20th century. The highlights of this museum include finds from the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento and nearby cities.

Examples of other tours the tourist may perhaps enjoy contain: In Trapani, the “Myth, History and Ancient Cookies: Erice and Segesta” tour, which is often a full day private tour to learn about the history of Sicily, view a Greek temple and theatre, and sample the almond cookies and marzipan from ancient recipes; the “Alcantara Gorge and Fancavilla” tour, which is often a private tour along the gorge to witness how the lava flows affected the river developing the impressive gorges and ravines and where the tourist can rent hip-waders to get the full river expertise; there is also the “Messina Taormina Jewish Tour” where visitors can see the Jewish quarter inside the city of Messina.

Should you desire to get additional info about the Sicily island, I’d like to show you these extra resources:

– If you want to get more travel info to tour Sicily, I’d suggest you have a look at these traveler’s F.A.Q. Sicilytraveltours.com has a nice table which will help tourists to find what is the best period of the year to plan their vacation on this page

– The resources listed below are blogs managed by actual Sicilians which share their experiences to assist tourists uncover out of the box facts. the tours to Sicily blog is actually a absolutely free weblog that lists some practical info to travel in Sicily i.e. wheatear charts, transportations and attractions to stop by.

The article author: Prof. Alexander has traveled in Italy over A decade. She currently lives nearly 6 months in her house in Sicily. She was also a family consultant in California for 5 years. She is passionate about Sicilian food and enjoys sharing her experience with others.

The Amalfi Coast – An Idealistic Location For The Holiday Goers

Italy is regarded as a place on water and it is quite justifiable because of the water connectivity it has. Water, water, everywhere has made it the most sensational and the romantic gateway across the world. It is a home for some of the world class destinations

amalfi coast

and some exclusive honeymoon spots. One of the most amazing honeymoon attractions includes The Amalfi Coast. It is not only admired in Italy but is recognized as a treat for honeymooners worldwide.

Amalfi Coast is an island gateway off the coasts of celebrated Capri Island. You can please your eyes with the grottoes, Moorish buildings, narrow cobbled streets and modish residents. It is nestled on the coastal road dissecting Vietri Sul Mare and Positano at the South of Naples. With a turn to the winding road will bring you to this little port. Taking another turn will place you to the spectacular cliffs in to the Mediterranean area.

You will witness some of the most spectacular landscapes here consisting of turquoise azure water and pristine silver beaches. It is free from the hustle – bustle of the city offering you restful boat trips to the dramatic coastline. High above Amalfi coast, Ravello is the quaint and idealistic location with some visually striking gardens to enjoy evening concerts. The honeymooners are not only the part of the influx but the families and friend groups are also included in it.

The picturesque steep backdrops, serene ocean views and quaintest towns are the visually striking treats that you can enjoy here. The high cliffs and sun with sand combination is really the breathtaking enchantment here. You can visit the Positano which is one of the most fashionable locales and the Ravello town, a place for visually striking gardens. It is one of the most charming stretches of sea and land. The United Nations has inscribed it as a World Heritage Site.

Visiting the Amalfi Cost will transport you in to a wonderland where you will get fair chance to feel the holiday excitement. It is one of the most scenic locations of Italy where you can fee a leisurely escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It will really be a treat for your body and mind. If you are single, married or want to enjoy a family holiday, The Amalfi Coast is the perfect heaven for you.

So just pay a visit to this exotic location and gather some timeless memories to cherish all through your life.

Rialto Bridge – A Masterpiece of Stone Art

Well, I know that the holidays are approaching near and you are planning to take a break from the hectic life schedule. But the other problem that comes across your way is to find out the most apt destination that can add on the joy of your vacation. If you really feel

Rialto Bridge

great to see the magnificent historical structures and find pleasure in the monuments that boast of their existence, the Rialto Bridge is an excellent destination to be in.

Rialto Bridge is an iconic pedestrian bridge that belongs to the medieval era. It spans over the Grand Canal and is acknowledged as the hub for commercial activities for centuries. You can even find the old stores, jewelry shops and various small counters still running their business. But you really need to have a great deal of money so as to burn up here. Pescheria is the local old fish market which is situated just beyond the bridge.

Romance is in the air of Venice, offering you breathtaking sites and a pleasurable weather to be in. The enticing Rialto Bridge is the oldest and the most fascinating bridge in this beautiful city. This awesome edifice is made of white marble that dazzles the visitors with its natural shine. The overpass consists of magnificent pillars and amazingly crafted arches. You can witness the stunning view of the Grand Canal while shopping in the Rialto Market.

The bridge holds the distinction of being the first and the last existing stone version. The shops lined up at both sides bring in sufficient revenue for the bridge maintenance. The simple yet the attractive beauty of this place is commendable and you can not resist yourself from visiting this place. The bridge has witnessed and even supported in the riots taken place in 1797.

It is really a fine example of craftsmanship and the architecture of this great bridge lures the tourists hailing from the distant corners of the world. Getting Rialto Bridge is really necessary for you after reading the amazing highlights of this superb place. You can get there by local trains which will drop you at the Piazzale Roma. The other option to be on this stunning bridge is to take a ride in to the vaporetto, or a water bus.

This was all about the Rialto Bridge and I can hopefully say that the information can give you ample knowledge about this exotic place. Now go to this place and relish the joy of being here throughout your life.

Palermo Catacombs – The Bloodcurdling Consign of Horror

We all love to enjoy our holidays with our family members in order to have some fun, excitement and mental relaxation. There are some people who just love to explore some

Palermo Catacombs

thrilling and humorous spots. If you are planning out your next vacations in the lapse and midst of horror and thrill, then this article will surely help you out to select a perfect vacation spot for you. There are a very few destinations which are totally comprised up of horror and terror. These places can really provide a stimulating and terrifying experience to you. Here, in this article, we will discuss about one such place which is full of revulsion, dreadfulness and ghastliness.

We all know that Italy is very much famous for it’s out of the ordinary landmarks and ancient monuments. Italy is the second most visited places of the world today. It is comprised and completely enhanced with ancient and primordial monuments which carry a large number of unrevealed facts behind their walls. Palermo Catacombs is also one of the most visited terrifying vacation spot of Italy. They are categorized under the ghostly and haunted holiday destinations of the world. Palermo Catacombs are very much famous among the visitors from all across the world for its vast collection of dead bodies.
Palermo Catacombs provide an extra ordinary and unexpected historic record to the tourists.

The terrifying Palermo Catacombs came into existence during the 16th century when the Buddhist monks used to survive and subsist in Italy. The Buddhist monks began to bury the dead bodies of their colleagues below the catacombs. Later on, they began to mummify the dead bodies of their colleagues and place them on the catacombs. They washed the preserved mummies of their colleagues with the help of vinegar and other preserving chemicals.

The huge hall of Palermo Catacombs is divided into various categories like men, women, children, priests, monks, virgins and professors. The Palermo Catacomb also contains the well preserved mummy of the famous Italian painter Valesquez. The Palermo Catacomb contains the corpses of some of the very famous personalities of the ancient times as well as of the present times. The catacomb contains about thousands of well preserved mummies and corpses of which some are not in the good shape with creepy faces and missing parts like jaws and teeth’s.

Palermo Catacombs will surely provide a petrifying and terrorizing experience to you during your vacations. Make sure that you do not miss a horrifying visit to these catacombs in Italy.

Spanish Steps in Rome – A Blend of Admirable Architectural Skills

We all know this fact very well that Rome is comprised up of numerous historical and primordial monuments and landmarks. At the present, Rome is considered as the city

Spanish Steps

which is full of iconic landmarks and milestones. These momentous and significant landmarks of Rome represents this beautiful and out of the ordinary city all across the world. Rome is densely populated with ancient churches, castles and palaces which in turn prove out to be a major attraction for the tourists of Rome from all over the world.

Further in this article, we are going to discuss about the famous and renowned Spanish Steps which is a very popular sign post of Rome. It attracts a large number of visitors from all across the world because it is completely enhanced with ancient architectural skills and out standing splendor.  These Spanish Steps were constructed by the French invaders which are at the present proving out to be the most delightful thing for the tourists. The Spanish Steps are totally contrary to what the name implies. Some people who have not visited Rome thinks that it is merely a stair case, nothing else but the Spanish Steps have today proved out to be one of the chief attractions of Rome for the tourists.

This monumental stair ways of 138 steps was build up during the 18th century by the French invader Etienne Gueffier. These steps were built up in between 1723 and 1725 under the influence of French diplomat. These Spanish Steps consist of concave and rectilinear steps accompanied with curvilinear ramps, convex ramps and concave ramps. This fine piece of structure begins at the famous Piazza De Spagna and slants in the upwards direction towards the Piazza Trinnita Dei Monti and Trinnita Church.

Some of the renowned attractions for the visitors which are comprised with the Spanish Steps are:

  1. Barcaccia Fountain by Bernini which is very much famous for its pleasurable beauty and light effects.
  2. It is one of the most admired viewing spot for the visitors. The facades of Bernini and Borromini are also a chief attraction which is comprised within the exotic beauty of Spanish Steps. The 17th century column which is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception is also one of the best things to see here.
  3. Pallazzeto Zuccari which is referred as a house of monsters is also one of the thrilling places to see.

So whenever you come to Rome, do not forget to visit the Spanish Steps. It is really an interesting place full of ancient architectural skills and other pleasured attractions.

Colosseum in Rome – A Bravura Stadium of the World

Rome is popular all across the world for its ancient monuments and historic iconic landmarks. Tourists from all across the world visit the exotic and historic monuments

Rome Colosseum

which are sited in Rome with many unrevealed facts still engraved in their walls. So if you are looking out for some ancient palaces and monuments in order to improve your history and gain knowledge about the unrevealed facts of the celebrated crimson empire, then Rome would unquestionably be a better preference for you.

The Colosseum which is sited in Rome is one of the major representative landmarks of this Vatican City. This outsized oval stadium is one of the most visited holiday attractions for the tourist from all across the world. The historians believe that it is one of the prevalent structures ever built for the period of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum of Rome is considered to be one of the major accomplishments of the Roman frame work and architecture.

The construction of this huge stadium was started in 75 AD during the reign of the Roman emperor Vespasian. It took around 30 years for its completion and the construction was finished during the reign of the Roman emperor Titus. The Roman Colosseum was by and large used for the municipal proceedings and dealings like gladiator matches. These gladiator matches integrated the Roman gladiators who generally fought against the gladiators or the criminals or wild animals. Animal hunts, executions of criminals and mock sea battles were also some of the popular events which took place in this stadium during the Roman Empire.

During the Medieval Era, the condition of this Roman Colosseum has worsened due to natural disasters like earthquake. Stone robbers from Rome and other Vatican Cities also played an important role in the declination of this out sized stadium. They robbed away the precious Swedish stone which was included in the construction of this colosseum.

In spite of the severe circumstances that resulted in its declination, the Roman Colosseum is still one of the major attractions for the tourists from all across the world. Some of the major attractions in this colosseum are the Amphitheatre, the Gladiators Training School, the Armamentarium, the Summun Choragium, the Sanitarium and the Spolarium.

Today, the Roman Colosseum is used for religious purposes. Several religious ceremonies accompanied with the Roman Catholic meetings are organized in this bulky arena. The Roman Colosseum is the highly visible structures of Rome where most of the tourists from all over the world visit every year.

Leaning Tower of Pisa – A Matchless Piece of Architecture

The world is full of various iconic landmarks and monuments which have proved to be the most attractive holiday destinations for the tourists from all over the world. Italy is

Leaning Tower of Pisa

famous throughout the world for its historic background and ancient monuments. This exotic city has been the chief centre of attraction for most of the tourists from all over the world due to its ancient ruins and historic monuments.

Renaissance and other periods of history which took birth in Italy during the Roman Empire left their inimitable effects on the various other countries of the world.

Today, Italy is the most visited destination as compared to the other holiday destinations of the world. The main attraction for the tourists of Italy is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Pisa is a perfect place in Italy where lots of historical facts are still engraved in its walls.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was constructed during the period of the Roman Empire. It was constructed in the midst of war between the Romans and the Franciscans. The Leaning Tower of Pisa which is one of the most visited tourist attractions of the world today was a straight tower till 1173. It started to bend because of the poor foundation and a pretty weak construction. Historians believe that the major reason for the bending of this great tower was the loosening in the layer of subsoil. Due to the shifting of the layers of subsoil, this great tower leaned towards the south west direction at an angle of 4.35 degrees. This bending in the direction of the construction was noticed when the tower attained a height of 3 meters.

In order to pay compensation to the leaning position of the tower, the builders constructed the upper floors in the opposite direction. This unusual effort caused the tower to lean in the opposite direction and in spite of all the compensating efforts of the builders, the tower kept on leaning. As the tower leaned more and more, the government of Italy closed the Leaning tower of Pisa for the general public and evacuated the residents. Engineers and best builders from all over the world the world started their stabilizing efforts in order to prevent the Leaning Tower from collapsing. 38 cubic meters of soil was removed from the raised end of the tower and as a result, the tower straightened by 15 inches. The tower was reopened for the general public on 25th December, 2001.

In the present time, Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most visited tourist spot of the world because of its unique architecture and angled design.

St. Peter’s Basilica – A Place For Sacred Feelings And Perpetual Devotion

Holidays are not only for fun or visiting the enchanting places for quite a lot of time the purposes are different. One of the most important motives behind searching the excellent

St Peters Basilica

tourist attractions is mental peace and unending solace. Thus the religious places that have the magical ability to spell bound the common visitors with the holy impression are also in great demand. While taking about such divine places we can not afford to overlook the St. Peter’s Basilica.

St. Peter’s Basilica is the most famous or well admired church across the globe that attracts

Interior of St. Peter's

Interior of St. Peter's

a major footfall of visitors hailing from the distant corners of the world. It is one of the four great papal basilicas situated in Rome and is regarded as a pilgrimage situate for all good Catholic societies. The pious tomb of St Peter is just underneath the high altar. This is located inside the Vatican City which is distinctively the smallest state on the world map.

This exotic architectural landmark was designed by Michealangelo and his extremely talented team in the monumental phase of 16th and beginning of 17th century. The place has enormous area to welcome over 50,000 worshippers at a time. It would not be an exaggeration to call it the greatest church of Christendom. This place stands out to be amongst the holiest places on earth and offers a heavenly feeling to every worshipper. St. Peter’s personifies the glorious historical associations and commendable liturgical functions.

Indeed Vatican City is the smallest one but it is a hub of the most fascinating tourist attractions of the world and thus attracts innumerable strollers every year. But the most soothing and inviting site in this country is the Saint Peter’s church. It gives a divine expression that is beyond words. This church is accredited as the greatest architecture of its age, reminding the eternal love that god sprays here. A common misconception exists that the saint was a cathedral and it is the pious seat of a bishop.

If you are planning to go there and thinking about the best time to be in that place, then Easter is the perfect time for you when you can hear the Pope speaking from the balcony. Another best option is the feast of St Peter and St Paul when you can see the Pope and his cardinals lined up in their red and purple finery to perform their centuries old rituals. So if you are feeling like dipping in to the holy ocean of spirituality, this is the perfect choice for you.

Vatican Museums – Rediscover The History

Traveling abroad is a great fun for all of us. People enjoy exploring historical places and monuments along with their family members. There are a large

Vatican Museum

number of tourist attractions worldwide. You can visit any one of these along with your kids. Such historical places are really a great fun for the entire family. So, if you are planning a trip abroad then you must read this article carefully. Further in this article we are going to talk about Vatican Museums in detail. They are certainly a great place for you to explore.

Before delving further in to the topic, let us have some brief knowledge regarding the history of these Vatican Museums. Vatican museums are located ideally in Vatican City, Rome. They are certainly a great part of

Sculpted Sphere in Courtyard of Vatican Museum

historical architecture as they feature some exhilarating pieces of art built by the people of Roman Catholic Church. These museums have impeccable design and architecture. A large number of tourists visit this place every year. I must tell you that a large part of the revenue in Vatican City comes from tourism.

This is a must visit place for you if you love to explore the mystery of historical monuments. This place provides you some great knowledge regarding the history of Vatican City and its inhabitants. The museum is open for six days a week. You can visit the museum for a very nominal fee or ticket. It wouldn’t cost you much. There are quite a lot of ways to reach this wonderful destination. You can reach here by air planes, trains, metro trains, bus, or even a taxi.

Leonardo Da Vinci Airport is located in close proximity to these museums. I would like to bring this to your knowledge that several accommodation options are available for you in this city. Though, this city is quite small but it has some of the most luxurious hotels. These ecstatic hotels offer you complete luxury stay in Vatican City. And, the best thing about them is that they are located nearby the Vatican Museums. Now, given below are some of the great hotels located nearby these wonderful museums.

1. Hotel Angel
If you want to experience a luxury stay here and that too on pretty economical terms then this is the right place for you to stay. This hotel offers you a number of double and triple rooms.

2. Best Western Spring House
This 3 star hotel accommodation is located in close proximity to the Vatican Museums. This makes it an excellent option for you to pursue. The hospitality of the hotel staff is simply amazing.

So, these are some of the essential things to note regarding Vatican Museums in Rome. You must consider reading this article if you are planning a visit here.