ItalyUpdate

The small mountain resort of Alta Badia (Alto Adige) traditionally celebrates Carnival with a thrilling horse-drawn sleigh race, which takes place in the arena at the foot of the World Cup ski run.

Venices Grand Carnival officially starts at noon on the 7 th February with the traditional Flight of the Angel from the Bell Tower of Piazza San Marco. This year ângel is the 22 year-old model Bianca Brandolini D'âdda, a niece of the late Fiat magnate, Gianni Agnelli,

For information: www.carnevale.venezia.it  

The annual Viareggio Carnival, famous for its gigantic satirical floats carrying 20 meter-high papier-machè figures of leading politicians and personalities in the news, was launched with a spectacular firework display and a grand parade on Sunday 31 st January.

The town of Ravello, jewel of the Amalfi Coast, has finally inaugurated its auditorium, designed by 102-year old Brasilian architect Oscar Niemeyer...

Not many people know that the famous Renaissance painter Giorgio Giorgione was also a gifted lute player. Giorgione is known to have played and sung the popular ballads of the time among groups of friends.

OBAMA PRAISES ITALIAN CUISINE

Italian and, in particular, Tuscany cuisine received a much appreciated accolade from US President Barack Obama during a recent meeting of US mayors, attended by the Mayor of Florence Matteo Renzi, where Obama praised the quality and excellence of Italian and Florentine restaurants.

Both Lino Enrico Stoppani, president of the Italian federation of restaurants and caffè (FIPI) and Aldo Cursano, President of the Tuscan branch of FIPI, expressed their pleasure at Obama comments. Food has always been one of the main attractions for tourists to our country, said Cursano. And to hear someone like Obama say that Florence has among the best restaurants in the world is a great boost for all those who work in this sector.

Milans city council has decided that some of the magnificent lighting effects introduced during the festive season should be kept on a permanent basis.

Cuccioli. Il Codice di Marco Polo! (Babies. The Marco Polo Code is the title of a new Italian cartoon film about to arrive in Italian cinemas. ...

Beaches:

Molise has 35 kms of coastline on the Adriatic sea, stretching from the Abruzzo beaches to the Gargano promontory in Apulia . Much of this is made up of long strips of sandy beaches bordered by farmland and woods of typical Mediterranean trees and shrubs. The unspoiled divers paradise of the Isole Tremiti, though officially part of Apulia, are most easily reached by boat from Termoli, Molises main beach holiday resort.....

Where to stay in Molise

Molise is keen to attract the independent tourist who wants to sample authentic Italian small town and village life. The Albergo Diffuso is ideal for this purpose and the region is doing its best to encourage and promote this formula.  The Albergo Diffuso, invented in Carnia (Fruili) after the earthquake of the 1970s, is a new concept in hotel accommodation, where rooms are in restored old houses dotted around the historic centres of small towns and villages. The formula has been particularly successful in Molises neighbouring region, Abruzzo, which, like Molise, abounds in charming medieval mountain villages that had been largely abandoned by the native population.

These Village Hotels can be found in 15 Molise communes and offer a total of 456 beds. Facilities, however, vary considerably. The authentic Albergo Diffuse has a central core, acting as a reception area, and can also offer dining facilities, either directly or through agreements with local restaurants. Many Village Hotels that we visited were little more, in effect, than rental accommodation with self-catering facilities . There is also a wide choice of properties for sale in these borghi (historic centres) at extremely reasonable prices. Those looking for a second home in the heart of Italy will be welcomed with open arms. Depopulation is a big worry here. The people of Molise are very proud of their home patch and keen to keep it  alive.  

Along with Farm Holidays (agriturismo), the Albergo Diffuso and rented accommodation in an old  borgo are ideal solutions for families. Prices are lower than in normal hotels and children can enjoy the freedom of playing in  unpolluted traffic-free streets and piazzas in a small centre where everyone knows everyone else.....