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Further up from the island of Capri is another enchanting island – Elba. It is 12 miles off the Tuscan coast and most famous for being the place of exile for the Emperor Napoleon.
These days it is a great summertime refuge for those from the mainland – a realm of lush green valleys; craggy peaks; dramatic coastlines; and long, sandy beaches and secluded coves.
Capri’s central square was once called the “most beautiful operetta stage in the world” (by Noel Coward). This 4-square-mile isle in the Gulf of Naples is full of beautiful spots. Picturesque
landmarks include the gardens of the Villa San Michele, overlooking the sea, and the Faraglioni – needle-like rocks rising from the offshore depths.
Veneto in the North of Italy has many cities worth visiting – Venice is the most well-known and has been popular for centuries, attracting tourists from all over the world. It will soon be time for Carnival and the city will be buzzing with activity. Not far from Venice, with all its treasures are other cities worth exploring…
Padova has lovely piazzas and artwork by Giotto. Vicenza has many beautiful buildings, being the city of the architect Palladio. Verona of course is famous thanks to the opera and Romeo and Juliet and is a lovely city to walk around. Belluno is a beautiful medieval city whose old name, ‘Belo Dunum’ is Latin for “splendid city”.
From the bright quays in Camogli to the palm-shaded promenades in San Remo or the yacht-filled harbour in Portofino, the sea is never far from sight in Liguria. If you want to go in search of the sun, you will enjoy the rocky perches which line the rugged coast all the way from the Cinque Terre to the French border on Italy’s Riviera.
If it’s the seaside you want, but with spectacular views behind you, Liguria is the place for you! The more adventurous can walk along the path in the hills to all 5 places that make up the Cinque Terre. Get the camera ready – the views are stunningly beautiful!
What can be more pleasing on the eye than a drive through Tuscany? Stately cypresses line the roads to Siena and other art-filled cities; vineyards and olive groves roll across the Chianti landscapes; and Montelpulciano and other towns can be seen on the hilltops.
The Italians use the term ‘bel paese’ – beautiful country – and there’s no better way to describe it.
The summer holidays still seem a long way off – why not treat yourself to a city break to keep you going? How about the beautiful Italian city of Florence? It is a city rich in culture – the Florentines invented banking and modern poetry, promoted the scientific experiments of Galileo and other pioneers, and funded the artistic fervour that unleashed the genius of Botticelli, Michelangelo, da Vinci and others whose works you can admire in the Uffizi and other museums and galleries around the city.
One of the most famous Christmas carols is undoubtedly Silent Night (‘Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!’). It was written in 1816 and first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 in a small Austrian village. This carol became hugely popular and has since been sung by many artists across many different music genres. Silent Night has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects over the years, and was even sung by French, British and German troops during the 1914 Christmas truce of the First World War, as it was the one Christmas carol that soldiers on both sides of the frontline knew. Christmas of 1914 was the only time when the soldiers stopped fighting and put down their weapons to celebrate a day of peace. The soldiers shared not only Christianity, they shared Christmas and its carols, and for one day were able to remember that Christmas is a time for peace to all men.
May this Christmas be a peaceful time for you, whatever your background, and may you enjoy a special time with your loved ones as 2013 draws to an end. I look forward to sharing more posts with you in the New Year!
On the 13th December 1974 the Maltese Constitution was amended and Malta became a Republic, having Sir Anthony Mamo as its first President. Activities marking this historic date take place every year, mostly in Valletta.
On this day, a big feast is held and Malta’s National Anthem is played and/or sung at the end of all masses. In addition, the President of Malta presents national awards. These awards inspire a sense of patriotism, as they are awarded as a token of appreciation for those who honour their country through their achievements and service to their community.
After Malta become independent in 1964 both English and Maltese were given official status and Maltese became the national language of Malta. Today Maltese is used in most sectors of public life, including parliament, the church, the press and other media, and in general conversation. English is generally the preferred medium of instruction in schools, especially at the higher levels of the educational system.
In 1800 Malta became a British colony and the British tried to replace Italian with English as the local language. As a result, about half of the vocabulary of Maltese comes from Sicilian and Italian, and a fifth comes from English. Maltese also contains quite a bit of vocabulary from Norman and French.
Today (18th November) is the Day of Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia. In 1918, national representatives convened in what is now the National Theatre and proclaimed the independence of the Latvian state. This is an official public holiday.
Today is Armistice Day – 11th November. It is Bank Holiday in France. This day holds major significance for the French and it has a place of its own among the many festivals and events in France.