Portofino

Portofino is a famous climatic resort on the Riviera di Levante, a small Bay of the homonymous promontory, which preserves the ancient appearance of fishing village. 

 For the uniqueness of its environmental values and climatic characteristics is one of the most famous tourist destinations. 

 Overlooking the Marina and the fortress Church of St. George; a few minutes is the tip of the Head, at the extreme of the promontory which closes the Gulf of Tigullio (faro; from here and climb to the Church, beautiful views).  

Behind the built-up area extends in Portofino Vetta (v. Camogli) protected Park of Monte di Portofino.

 In 20-minute motorboat you reach San Fruttuoso, a fishing village in a picturesque Cove with small beach, on the slopes of the promontory, SO where is a Benedictine Abbey which includes the Abbey building of xrtt sec., a Romanesque cloister, the Church of the 10th century. (with modern facade) and the tomb of Doria (1275-1305). On a backdrop is the bronze statue of Christ of the abyss.

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Ischia

The largest and westernmost of the islands of the Gulf of Naples, linked to the capital with ships and hydrofoils and summer in Capri; is long and 10 km wide field more than 7, and has a surface area of 46.3 km2. Volcanic fumaroles and still presents numerous hot springs. Is mostly mountainous (m.Epomeo 788 m), with very jagged and few, small rade. The very fertile soil produces grapes in particular (typical wines) and citrus fruits. The very mild climate, with 13° annual hike, promotes

the island's main industry, tourism, promoted by the thermal cures and favored by an excellent equipment. Colonized by the Greeks, fortified by Siracusani, occupied by the Romans in 322 BC, the island was the Duchy of Naples and then followed with special troubles the fortunes of the Kingdom, a fiefdom of the d'avalos by principle of Spanish domination in 1729. The last volcanic eruption recorded dates in 1302.

The main town is Ischia, on the coast, consisting of two contiguous to Port cores and bridge, the first stylish and well-equipped seaside resort and Spa, the second characteristic fishing village Island joint on which stands the Castle. The port is in an ancient volcanic crater of elliptical shape, connected to the sea by a canal excavated in 1852. A S the port begins the via Roma, which took the name of via Vittoria Colonna (d'avalos) constitutes the most elegant Street, with shops, cafes and restaurants. For a bridge built by Alfonso d'Aragona in 1438 it goes to the islet and climb, partly with lift, to the ruins of the Cathedral, of 1301, modified in ' 700, partially destroyed by bombing of 1809 (crypt with noble chapels and frescoes, some of which 1300). You still in sight of the arcades of the former Basilian monastery until the Church of the Immaculate, 18th century, annexed by the former convent of the Poor Clares (the Church left the hypogeum). We come finally to the sixteenth century Church of St. Peter at Pantaniello, hexagonal, and the castle of ancient origins but more times used in 800 reworked to political prison. From Ischia to the road toward's one arrives at Barano d'Ischia m 210, which has a S, in Lido dei Maronti, one of the most beautiful beaches of the island with undersea hot springs and fumaroles. After the belvedere of Barano, continuing on the provincial road leads to m 452 Fountain, whence a road to N makes it easy to hike to the Summit of Mount Epomeo, 788 m brinkpart of the crater (to S collapsed): ^ panorama of the Gulf of Naples and m. Lepini, Matese and the Cilento. By Panza m down 155 to the enchanting village of Sant'Angelo, scenically located on rocky promontory that same close to or the Maronti Beach, with good accommodation and Spa facilities.

Continue towards NO, situated on a promontory in an important area for wine production and catering equipment and thermal. At the end of the promontory is the white Church of the Madonna del Soccorso (panorama on Sea); in the Center, the cylindrical tower, remarkable raised (with several others in the area) from Aragon in 1480 to protect the coast, and the 14th-century Santa Maria di Loreto, remodelled in the Baroque age, with beautiful adornments and polychrome marble tiles. The beaches of St. Francis and Citara (at which waters flow at 46° -56 hyperthermal° Celsius), have excellent equipment. Continuing the tour of the island reaches Lacco Ameno, in territory inhabited perhaps as early as vn sec. a. C, one of the most elegant and well-known centers on the coast N of m. Vico m 116. In front of the small shore stands the characteristic mushroom rock. The village centre is the square N S. Restituta, in which stands the homonymous sanctuary consists of a greater Church rebuilt neli ' 800, with twentieth century facade, and a smaller one erected in 1036 and rebuilt at the beginning of the ' 700. A 16th century wooden statue of the Saint and a crypt, rest of the basilica built in rv-5th cent. reworking a large cistern of Republican age. In the churchyard is a museum with finds from the bronze age to the Byzantine period. At the end, or of the town, famous for its spas are the fumaroles or stoves of s. Lorenzo. In villa Arbusto, which It has a large park based events, is in Constitution an archaeological museum, with artefacts and Tomb kits from the necropolis of San Montano. Approximately 1.5 km or of Lacco Ameno is the Lido of San Montano, one of the most picturesque of the island.

Continuing on the provincial road N coast meets Casamìcciola Terme, major centers for the resort and spa treatments, distinguished in part built around the harbour marina, and a top, oldest.

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PIsa, Tuscany

Here is another famous cities of Tuscany; and here is a Tower even more famous than the city worldwide: the Tower Pendant. Pisa's territory was inhabited since Remote prehistory: long before the Etruscans came in Italy and befor the foundation of Rome. But it was the Romans who extended the city and made it since the antiquity an important centre. Pisa occupied then a privileged position from the point of view of commercial and military: stood on the road that linked the Italy to Gaul. In the middle ages, Pisa, which in the past was at the sea, was a thriving marine Republic in

competition with Genoa and Amalfi. Later he subject to stronger rule of Florence, which imposed the

its predominance in Tuscany.

The heart of the historic center of the city is the Piazza dei Miracles. Here, on the wide grassy stretch, enclosed by walls Embattled, the harmony of the beautiful architecture is composed from the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the leaning tower and the monumental cemetery. The Leaning Tower,

built between 1100 and 1300, is about 55 m and is world famous for its elegance and for how almost miraculous that despite the inclination to remain standing. The tilt came to completed construction for a soil subsidence below the tower itself. Pisa is also host to a famous University founded in 1329 and no less famous Scuola Normale, College fo teaching of mathematics and physics. The city is also an industrial centre (glassworks) and an iron-node important road. In the province of Pisa, a very important Center for its history is Volterra, ancient city of Etruscan origin.

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Courmayeur

The oldest and one of the most famous and elegant Italian mountain stations, at the foot of Montebianco 4807 m, frequented both summer and winter (grandiose complex of ski lifts and ski) also as international transit location, lying at the mouth of the tunnel of Montebianco (km 11.6) to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in the Haute Savoie, which also connects one of the longest and highest cableway in the world.  

Note for the mineral waters since xvii sec, and in the 800 as Piedmontese nobility mountain resorts, has grown in recent decades, especially after the opening of the tunnel and the creation of cableways. Among these is spectacular, for views and techniques adopted, * cableways from La Palud m 1370 to Entrèves at Torino Mountain refuge m 3321 (summer skiing at colle del Gigante; 3 t-bar lifts), passes over the Glacier du Géant (the largest of m. White), reach the Aiguille du Midi m 3842 on the French side (elevator to the top) and down to Chamonix (1037 m crossing e. 15 km in 4 hours and 1.30). The great ski Chécrouit-Val Veny is served by a cableway (4 sections), 2 cableways, chairlifts and drag lifts.

In the village, who lost the original valdostana footprint to take a look modern and cosmopolitan, are interesting the Malluquin Tower, the medieval Romanesque Bell Tower of the parish church and the adjacent Museo Alpino Duca degli Abruzzi, with reminds of ascents and expeditions.

• Numerous day trips possible, ride, drive and walk, White massif, in two valleys that flank (Ferret and Veny NE to O) and the mountains surrounding the Valley, from where you have beautiful views of peaks and glaciers. Among the more attractive, those little '' Lake of Miage m 2020 (12 km) to go and Veny (14 km) to Arnouva m 1769 in go Ferret and the Pré de Bar glacier.

• 5 km downstream is Pré-Saint-Didier m 1004, Spa and holiday resort with a view of Mt. Blanc. The Church preserves Romanesque Bell Tower and three noteworthy wooden baroque altars; above the village are the Spa (arsenical-Iron  waters at 36° C; currently closed) and the picturesque ravine carved by Dora Verney.

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Splendors of Florence

Florence is the eighth city in Italy for number of inhabitants.

But no other city except Rome, contains so much history and so much art. Therefore, Florence is one of the symbols of the culture of Italy, since always.

Florence is located on the banks of the Arno River, on the edge of a verdant Valley, surrounded by green hills scattered with villas and gardens, as in certain paintings of the Renaissance. 

The Arno River divides the city into two unequal parts: the oldest part extends in the plain on the right bank of the River.

There are many famous monuments: the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with the baptistery and the elegant campanile di Giotto, Palazzo della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, the Loggia dei Lanzi, Galleria degli Uffizi, other beautiful churches of s. Croce, s. Maria Novella and s. Miniato.  

But Florence is not only a town-museum, art centre tailored for tourists; It is also a modern city with industries and many other economic activities.

 

 

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Palmanova, city​​ or wonder?

Palmanova is located in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The capital of this region is Trieste (his province includes 6 municipalities and 296 000 inhab.). The other provinces are Gorizia (25 municipalities, 147 000 inhab.), Pordenone (51 municipalities, 271 000 pop.) And Udine (137 com., 529 000 inhab.).
Palmanova is a beautiful city-fortress. It was built by the Republic of Venice in 1593, is now a national monument for any reason, you can make changes that alterate its structure and its appearance. 
The city is an example of the style of the sixteenth century that was exhibited in books and treatises by famous architects of the time, and which has found practical here in Palmanova.
What we observe in the plant "staràlike" visible in the picture on this page?  
The geometric, regular structure of the city, expression of the artists of the Renaissance, they thought that those who create works of art must seek above all order and harmony.  
But the plant of Palmanova, with roads that radiate from the center and start connecting it to the periphery, it also reflects the concern of the military engineers of the time to allow for the rapid movement of troops within the city. It should be recalled that at the end of the sixteenth century, when in fact Palmanova was built, had already entered into operation using military artillery, much of the military strategy was changed, and the fundamental concern of the officers had to move quickly from one point to another pieces of fire to allow an effective defense of the positions. 
At the realization of Palmanova worked famous architects of the time, among them Giulio Savorgnan, Vincenzo Scamozzi and Longhena. One of the visits to be made in Palmanova is the interesting local history museum.

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Turin and the cities of Piedmont

Panorama of Turin

Piedmont has only one major city, Turin, and other five provincial capitals of smaller size: Alexandria (includes common and 477 190 thousand inhabitants many), Asti (120, 219 000 inhab.), Cuneo (250 municipalities, 547 000 inhab.), Novara (165 municipalities, 547 000 inhab.), Vercelli (169 municipalities, 403 000 inhab.).
The first  future inhabitants of the torinese territory were the tribes ligurians of Taurinii. The Romans founded after a city that was called Augusta Taurinorum (29 BC) and then Turin. Destroyed in 69 ad by a fire, it will undergo other destructions in sec. IV and V.
Then under the Dominion of various invaders (Byzantine, Lombard bardi); until, after being a free comune, passed in 1280 under the Dominion of the Savoys. In The Risorgimento Turin was, thanks to Vittorio Emanuele II and Cavour, the Center from which began the political unification of Italy.
 In our century, Turin became the capital city of the automobile. Today Fiat is the most important industry not only in Italy, but on the all Europa.
Turin boasts splendid monuments which recall its long history. Among the many: the Roman theater, the Porta Palatina, the remnants of the Porta Praetoria, Castle, the Royal Palace, Palazzo dell'Accademia delle Scienze, the Mole Antonelliana (167.50 m) built in 1863-88 by architect Antonelli.
The other provinces of Piedmont have considerable importance and historic and economic and artistic.
Novara, for example, was already in Roman times, when it had the name Nova air. Ivrea, not far from Turin, is home to the more important for national industry Office and electronic equipment: the Olivetti.
After the 1955, Piedmont, and especially Turin, have enthusiastically to a very strong immigration of southerners, attracted from the abundance of jobs offered by Industrialization.

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