Sep 03

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel by Night | Unusual Top Quality Rome Tour

By ItalyTravelista Italy, Italy Museums, Rome, Rome Museums, Rome Nightlife, Vatican, Vatican Museums No Comments »

Vatican by Night 2010

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with more than four million visitors every year, more than 7 kilometers of alleys and more than 1400 rooms to tour host one of the most incredible collections of art and masterpieces in the world enjoyed by parents and kids alike. The Vatican Museums are among the greatest museums in the world displaying works from an immense collection going back to ancient Rome times built up over the last 5 centuries by the Holy See starting with Pope Julius II who founded the Vatican Museums in the 16th century.

By touring the Vatican by night visitors are able to admire not only the breathtaking collections that include the Upper Galleries of the Vatican Museums (Candelabra, Tapestries and Maps), the Raphael rooms and the Sistine Chapel but will also have access to the Egyptian Museum, the smallbut memorable Pio-Clementino Museum and it’s Octagonal Courtyard home to some of the best Vatican’s classical statuary.

That’s just the beginning with more good news for October 2010 with the exceptional events «Che c’è di bello» that blend music, theater, cultural and art exhibitions. To attend these Vatican by night events tickets must be reserved in advance through the Vatican State official website or by contacting our VIP Vatican consultants that will be glad to design a one of a kind Vatican by night itinerary customized just for you and you private party.

These memorable artistic and cultural shows will start at around 8,30 PM and last for about an hour leaving then plenty of time to continue the tour of the Vatican and will be performed at some stunning Vatican venues such as the Terrazze della Pinacoteca, with its breathtaking views over the St. Peter’s Dome, the Gregorian Profane Museum, Raphael Loggia, the Cortile della Pigna (courtyard of the pine cone), part of the much older Cortile del Belvedere, and also in the so called Braccio Nuovo, a masterpiece of Rome neoclassical architecture.

Here below please find the detailed Vatican events scheduled for October 2010:

  • Friday October 1st «Arte della leggerezza e leggerezza nell’arte” with music by Barber, Grieg, Debussy and Milhaud (Terrazze della Pinacoteca)
  • Friday October 8th : « Spes mea cara. Omaggio a Maria» with Maestro Luca Salerno (Salone di Raffaello)
  • Friday October 15th «Australian Night» meetings with the aboriginal australian culture and show performed by local aboriginal australians with introduction by Nereda White (Terrazze della Pinacoteca enhanced by a visit to Missionary Ethnological Museum
  • Friday October 22nd Traditional Russian music conducted by the Moscow’s Cathedral Choir (Cortile della Pigna-Propilei enhanced by a visit to the Icons’ Room in The Vatican Pinacoteca museum)
  • Friday October 29th Il Bel Canto at the Museum with music from Verdi’s Il Trovatore

Would you like to tour the Vatican Museums with Nancy Aiello Tours? Please, contact Nancy Aiello Tours to learn more about our fun and comprehensive private guided Vatican City tour designed just for you and your party. Professional Italy tour planning company Nancy Aiello Tours provides private guided Vatican and Rome tours, Florence tours, Venice private excursions with English, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Hebrew and Russian speaking qualified licensed touristic guides.

For your private guided tours of Italy contact Nancy Aiello Tours at info@nancyaiellotours.com

Ciao from Rome:-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

Join ItalyTravelista on Twitter

© Copyright 2010, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours specializes in personalized private guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers including underground Rome and her hidden treasures.

New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.

If you are interested in publishing a version of this article please contact Nancy Aiello Tours.

Tour Italy at Your Own Pace with Nancy Aiello Tours

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Jun 06

2010 Best of Italy Summer Music and Opera Festivals in Italy

By ItalyTravelista Italy, Tuscany, Umbria 1 Comment »

Italy in summer offers great opportunities to Italy art & culture lovers to appreciate special events and music concerts. This summer from June to September Italy proposes more than 300 art and music festivals all across the Belpaese to enjoy internationally renowned performing artists and world premieres in beautiful and historic settings. Here please find ItalyTravelista Top 10 Festivals for the 2010 Italy summer.

Latium > Rome > Opera Festival at Caracalla > July 1 to August 10

Teatro dell’Opera in Rome holds its summer opera and ballet season at the stunning settings of the Caracalla’s Baths (Terme di Caracalla), where art lovers enjoy opera and ballets watching the stars in the open air stage. The opera and ballet performances for the 2010 summer season at the Baths of Caracalla feature the orchestra, chorus and the ballet company of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma as well as international stars including an adaptation of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage, Puccini’s Tosca, Bizet’s Carmen, and last but not least Verdi’s Rigoletto and Aida.

Latium > Tivoli > Hadrian’s Villa International Festival > June 15 to July 18

Villa Adriana in Tivoli hosts the 4th edition of festiVAl – Festival Internazionale di Villa Adriana. The big open air stage housed in the Baths of the Hadrian’s Villa, listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, will host art performers from Taiwan and London, from Paris and Tel Aviv, Rome and Brussels on a cultured art festival with dancers like Akram Khan and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and the Vertigo Dance Company, music events featuring Elvis Costello, the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Enrico Rava with his Parco della Musica Jazz Lab, exciting live performances by Mimmo Cuticchio and Aurélia Thiérrée.

Veneto > Verona > Arena Opera Festival > June 18 to August 29

One of Europe’s premiere summer festivals, the Verona Opera runs from mid June thru the end of August inside Verona’ stunning Roman amphitheater. This popular summer opera festival brings a staggering 16,000 people to each production. The 88th Edition starts on June 18th with Turandot and continues with Madame Butterfly, Carmen, Aida, and Il Trovatore along with jazz concerts and the Shakespeare Festival, also held in the Teatro Romano.

Tuscany > Fiesole > Estate Fiesolana > June 13 to July 28

The Estate Fiesolana, organized by the Fiesole Town Council, is the oldest open air festival in Italy and a special favorite among Florentines and visitors alike thanks also to its stunning setting in the Roman Amphitheater of Fiesole, just outside Florence. The program for the 2010 edition is even richer than usual with a series of guest stars as well as locally produced performances. Classical music and opera, ballet, theatre and jazz/pop music are highlighted by a series of special events.

If you’re planning to visit Tuscany and would like to learn more about events and festivals visit Tuscany’s official tourism website

Tuscany > Torre del Lago > Puccini Festival 2010 > July 16 to August 22

Torre del Lago, home of the Puccini Festival, lies between the Lake of Massaciuccoli and the Tyrrhenian Sea, 4 kilometers far from the Tuscan Riviera and 18 kilometers from Lucca and Pisa. The Festival welcomes about 40.000 spectators every year to its open-air theatre, just a few steps from the Villa Mausoleum where Giacomo Puccini lived and worked. This year the festival’s open-air theater will feature productions of Turandot, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and La Fanciulla Del West.

Umbria > Perugia > Umbria Jazz 2010 > July 9 to 18

Since 1973 Umbria jazz Festival is one of the most important events dedicated to European jazz with considerable international appeal. The green heart of Umbria becomes for 10 days the Italian official jazz capital in the suggestive environment of the historical centre of Perugia. The 2010 edition of Umbria Jazz offers a vast programme of music and events enriched by some of the best artists and players on the international scene. Ten days of concerts and 220 events staged by 500 musicians.

Sicily > Taormina > Taormina Film Festival 2010 > June 12 to 18

Italy’s principal summer film event, the Taormina Film Fest, celebrates its 56th edition against the stunning backdrop of the Teatro Antico of Taormina, one of Sicily’s most important and well-preserved monuments. On June 13, Robert de Niro will hold a Master Class for festival-goers and, later that night, receive the prestigious Taormina Arte Award on the stage of Taormina’s 2,300-year-old Teatro Antico.

Sicily > Taormina > Taormina Arte 2010 > July 22 to August 22

The summer season of Taormina Art 2010 opens its world class program on July 22nd with the Royal Ballet of London and continues with the Russian Ballet, the National Academic Bolshoi, the Compania Espanola de Baile Flamenco and Argentinean tango with Compania Astor Piazzolla

Lombardy > Milan > Milano Jazz Festival 2010 > July 12 to August 2

The 4th edition of Milano Jazzin’ Festival is a an amazing opportunity for jazz lovers to enjoy one of the best jazz festivals in Italy. Elisa, Mark Knopfler, Crosby Stills e Nash, Zappa plays Zappa, Norah Jones, Paolo Nutini and many more Italian and international artists will participate at MJF10.

If you’re planning to visit Milan and would like to learn more about events and festivals visit Milan’s official tourism website

Abruzzo > Pesaro > Rossini Opera Festival 2010 > August 9 to 22

Established in 1980, the festival at the birthplace of the Rossini features performances of his works. This 2010 edition features Sigismondo and Stabat Mater, and from August 1 to 10 Cenerentola (Cinderella) directed by Luca Ronconi.

Very interesting Italy summer festivals are also found in Venice, Spoleto, Martina Franca, Mantova, Sant’Arcangelo di Romagna, Fies, and the Dolomites.

What is your favorite summer event in Italy? Please write us your comment and we’ll be happy to post it!

Ciao from Rome:-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

Join ItalyTravelista on Twitter

© Copyright 2010, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours specializes in personalized private guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers including underground Rome and her hidden treasures.

New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.

If you are interested in publishing a version of this article please contact Nancy Aiello Tours.

Tour Italy at Your Own Pace with Nancy Aiello Tours

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May 21

Tour Italy Bomarzo Park 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go

By ItalyTravelista Italy, Rome, Rome Day Trips, Rome Travel Tips, Rome for Kids, Travel Italy 3 Comments »

The Park of Monsters near Rome | Rome family day trips

As the owner of an Italy based tour planning company I happen to read a lot of Italy travel books and Susan Van Allen’s Italy travel book “100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go” is an informative, fascinating, entertaining book, and certainly a must if you plan to visit Italy. I am glad Susan accepted to offer offer my fellow Italy lovers the opportunity to read her take on the most amazing park in Italy.

The Park of the Mosters in Bomarzo, Italy.

In 1564 when his wife died, Prince Vicino Orsini dedicated this place to her. He called it his Sacred Grove. In 1954, Giovanni Bettini found it abandoned, cleaned it up, and renamed it The Park of the Monsters—better for marketing. It’s actually a combo of the two names, which is what makes it so uniquely alluring. It’s set on a wooded hillside where you meander along gravel paths under sun-dappled light and then along the way, popping up in haphazard places, you come upon immense bizarre statues of mythological creatures.

There are about two dozen of these creations in all, most carved directly from the hill’s rocky outcroppings, which explains the unplanned arrangement. There’s a winged mermaid, a sleeping nymph, a sphinx, a colossal Ceres, a tortoise, a whole house that’s set up purposely tilted to astonish you. The most famous of all is a giant screaming monster’s head—so giant you can walk into its mouth, where you’ll find a tongue turned into a picnic table. The inscription carved into this sculpture sums up the park’s surreal atmosphere: All Reason Departs. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding what the heck Orsini was thinking when he created this place. Some look at the statues’ tortured faces and say it was his expression of grieving for his wife, Giulia Farnese. But Orsini began this project before she died.

Their marriage was a good one. He was a military officer, gone a lot while Giulia took over the small town Bomarzo reins. He, of course, had his share of other women, during the marriage and after she died. As far as he knew, Giulia was a perfect, faithful wife. Twenty years after the Sacred Grove was completed Orsini built a temple in her honor that’s the most logical structure in this whole place. The Sacred Grove seems to be more of an expression of Prince Orsini’s intriguing, artsy character. While everybody else in those High Renaissance days was building grand, structured gardens to flaunt their wealth, the Prince turned his back on all that, wanting to create something that was not at all pretentious. It’s not even attached to his castle, but farther down the hill.

Also he didn’t have the money to compete with the Farneses and the d’Estes, so instead of grandeur, he went for shock and awe. Wherever a stone jutted out of the hill, he’d have his workers sculpt it according to his whim. He was a creative type who wrote poems and surrounded himself with the literati. This was his place for contemplation and meditation. It was his dream world where he mixed images from classical Greek, Roman, and Asian times. Like every other prince who had a garden, Orsini had illustrious guests come to visit. But he was always glad when they left, preferring the pleasures of simple country life and his shepherd girls. While other Renaissance gardens were kept up by families over succeeding generations, his was forgotten. Only the locals knew of it, and believed it was a haunted place. In 1938, Salvador Dali, in the midst of a creative crisis, heard about the Sacred Grove, left Spain, and cut his way through a tangle of weeds to see this “sleeping garden.” He became so inspired he made a film that included it and painted The Temptation of Saint Anthony that featured an image of an elephant— clearly inspired by one of the park sculptures. Giovanni Bettini bought the park in 1954 and restored it back to life. A visit here is a relaxing, enchanting experience, where you enter into the mythological dream world of the Prince.

The Park of the Monsters > Daily 8-1 hour before sunset

Golden Day > Wander around the Sacred Grove. There’s a camp lodge-style snack bar there, where you can get a caffè and panino. Eat and stay a short drive north at agriturismo Castello di Santa Maria, a beautiful former convent surrounded by olive groves that serves up exquisite meals.

About the author > Susan Van Allen’s love for Italy stems from her maternal grandparents, who emigrated from Southern Italy. She was born in Newark, New Jersey, and grew up on the Jersey shore amidst wonderful food and drama. When she first stepped off the train into Roma Termini in 1976, she got hooked on Italian travel. Since then she’s explored the country up and down the boot–visiting relatives, immersing herself in the country’s masterpieces and culture, taking language and cooking classes, and going on boating, biking, and hiking adventures. When she’s not in Italy, she is based in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and makes scrumptious lasagnas.

Would you like to share your Italy travel tips and pictures with us? Please write us your comment and we’ll be happy to post it!

Ciao from Rome:-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

Join ItalyTravelista on Twitter

© Copyright 2010, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours specializes in personalized private guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers including underground Rome and her hidden treasures.

New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.

If you are interested in publishing a version of this article please contact Nancy Aiello Tours.

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May 19

Discover Underground Rome | Hidden Rome 2010

By ItalyTravelista Italy 1 Comment »

Explore Hidden Rome

Rome is an open air museum but it also the world’s largest uncovered museum. A large part of Rome’s history lies underground and from May 28 to June 6 Rome opens its most inaccessible treasures for the second edition of “Hidden Rome”.

If you’re planning to be in Rome between the end of May and June 6th you’ll want to start checking the lengthy list of archaeological sites and monuments that are going to be open to the public for 10 days as part of the Roma Nascosta 2010 or Hidden Rome. Rome visitors will be able to discover a world of ancient treasures beneath their feet and visit over 40 underground marvels rarely accessible to the public.

Among the sites that can be visited during this extraordinary cultural event are the Ludus Magnus, the largest of the gladiatorial schools in Rome built by the emperor Domitian and discovered in 1937, the 2,000-year-old underground aqueduct of the Acqua Virgo, still used today to bring water to the Baroque stone fantasy of the Trevi Fountain, the frescoed 2nd C. Temple of Mithras beneath the 17th C. Palazzo Barberini, the auditorium of Maecenas sited on the Esquiline Hill, the Theatre of Marcellus, the Houses of San Paolo alla Regola, the hall beneath San Martino ai Monti, the underground passages of the Catacombs of Priscilla, the foundations of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, and many more. For the complete list and details visit 060608.it and be aware that for most sites and monuments numbers are limited and you’ll need to make reservations.

Whether you’re a life-long Rome resident looking to explore a few of those hard-to-visit sites or a Rome first-timer who wants to have an extraordinary experience, this is going to be a great opportunity to explore Rome’s hidden treasures and a life time opportunity for families visiting Rome with children to let your kids learn first hand the history of the Eternal City of Rome.

Hidden Rome 2010 Info:
Zetema

Turismo Roma

Ciao from Rome:-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

Join ItalyTravelista on Twitter

© Copyright 2010, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours specializes in personalized private guided Vatican, Rome & Italy Tours for Leisure & Business Travelers including underground Rome and her hidden treasures.

New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.

If you are interested in publishing a version of this article please contact Nancy Aiello Tours.

Hidden Rome 2010 | Rome Nascosta

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Apr 24

Rome by Night | Walking Tour of Rome | Free Rome Tour

By ItalyTravelista Free in Rome, Italy, Rome, Rome Entertainment, Rome Nightlife, Rome Travel Tips, Rome Walking Tours, Vatican 2 Comments »

vatican rome night tour nancy aiello tour Rome by Night | Walking Tour of Rome | Free Rome Tour

Explore Rome, the Eternal City after dark! Rome lovers think Rome is most beautiful at night when its ancient Rome landmarks, St. Peter’s Square and Rome’s magnificent renaissance squares and baroque fountains designed by Bernini and Michelangelo are illuminated in all their glory! Beside it’s another thing to do in Rome for FREE! ItalyTravelista has three walking Rome tours to suggest where parents and children alike can enjoy the charme and elegance of Rome at night at their own pace!

Tour Ancient Rome by Night

Start off your illuminated Rome tour at Piazza Venezia Square to enjoy the Vittoriano Monument and ask your kids whether the huge white monument looks more like a “Wedding Cake” or a “Typewriter”! Then proceed along Via dei Fori Imperiali where on your left is Trajan’s Column and on your side the ancient Roman Forum. In the background rises the majestic Coliseum and to its right the Constantine’s Arch built in 315 AD. Turn right and take Via di San Gregorio until you reach Via dei Cerchi. Turn right and on your left you will see the Circus Maximus where the famous chariot races depicted in the Ben Hur movie took place while on your right rises the magnificent Imperial Rome palaces of the Palatine Hill. Walk the length of the Circus Maximus and turn right onto Via di San Gregorio. On your left stands the Arch of Janus built around 356 AD by Constantius II just next to the beautiful medieval Church of St. George al Velabro and further ahead on your right take a peek at the unusual circular 6th century Church of San Teodoro. Follow around until you reach Piazza della Consolazione. Take the stairs leading up to the Capitoline Hill but before you actually reach Michelangelo’s square stop for the most stunning view over the illuminated Roman Forum!

Nancy Aiello Rome Tours

Tour Christian Rome by Night

Begin your pleasant walk at Piazza Farnese square to enjoy the Farnese Palace lit up and wonder about the great artists of the Renaissance like Michelangelo and Della Porta who worked on this magnificent Renaissance palace now home to the French Embassy. Walk through Campo dè Fiori square lined these days with bars and restaurants but where on Feb. 17, 1600 Giordano Bruno was burnt for heresy onto Piazza della Cancelleria to admire the beautiful Palazzo della Cancelleria, the first palazzo in Rome built from the ground up in the new Renaissance style, and then across the main street to Piazza Navona the most baroque square in Rome. Cross the Tiber river on the Ponte Sant’ Angelo and look at the marvelous Saint’ Angel’s Castle. The highlight and end of your night walking Rome tour will be the breathtaking view of the illuminated St. Peter’s Basilica.

illuminated rome nancy aiello tours Rome by Night | Walking Tour of Rome | Free Rome Tour

Tour Renaissance and Baroque Rome by Night

Your enjoyable walk starts at the charming Piazza del Popolo square designed by Valadier in the 17th century reminiscent of Bernini’s plan for St. Peter’s Square. Pass the two baroque twin churches and stroll down the antique dealer street of Via del Babuino (the Baboon) for a few blocks and then take a left onto the fascinating Via Margutta, home to several artists including the famous Italian director Federico Fellini. At the end of Via Margutta you reach the Spanish Steps. From Via due Macelli go down Via del Tritone and follow signs on your left for the most beautiful baroque fountain in Rome: the Trevi Fountain.

Nancy Aiello Rome Tours

When visiting Rome do tour Rome by night! Pretty much all of the major attractions that you see in Rome during the day are lit up at night. And yes, definitely worth seeing again, and again.

Ciao from Rome :-)

Nancy Aiello

ItalyTravelista.com

Join ItalyTravelista on Twitter

© Copyright 2010, Nancy Aiello Tours

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours specializes in private family oriented Rome and Vatican tours led by friendly and entertaining official Rome tour guides designed to satisfy the curiosity and attention spans of the whole family visiting Rome.

New articles are published on our site weekly, sometimes daily. To keep up to date with our news, tips and current events, please sign up for ItalyTravelista free RSS feed.

If interested in publishing a version of this article please contact Nancy Aiello Tours.

Castel Sant'Angelo bridge | St. Angel's Castle

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