Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

For those who are visiting Rome or Venice this week-end, we suggest a couple of events to check out.

In Venice, as any first Sunday of the month, the numerous 16th and 17th-century fortifications around the city are open to the public. Venice fortifications include: .

Forte Carpenedo, Forte Gazzera, Forte Bazzera, Forte Tron, Forte Poerio, Forte Mazzacapo, il Lazzaretto Nuovo, Forte Ridotto, Forte Caroman, and Forte San Pietro in Voltaalign=justify>In Rome, “La Soffitta Sotto i Portici” is a monthly bargain market that takes place every first and third Sunday of the month in Piazza Augusto Imperatore. You can find there from classical collector’s items and antiques as well as not-so-old objects like watches and furniture.

From March 29 to April 2, Verona will host Vinitaly, one of the largest wine and spirit exhibitions in the world.

The event, gathering over 4000 exhibitors from leading wine-producing countries, offers guided wine tasting sessions, competitions, meetings, and wine and food pairing sessions led by top chefs.
( See details )

‘Arte da Mangiare mangiare Arte’ (Art to be eaten eating Arte), is an original art&gastronomy-themed event taking place in Milan next week-end.

From their website:

“‘Arte da Mangiare mangiare Arte’ is an opportunity for cultural communication where the Artists also use ‘food’ as working material. The aim of ‘Arte da mangiare, mangiare Arte’ is to assign to the creativity of Artists the task of seeking different and innovative roads that may rouse the attention of the public at large.

The ‘Arte da mangiare mangiare Arte’ organisation prepares and set up a series of initiatives and puts them at the disposal of Art Galleries, Restaurants, Cultural Centers, Institutions, Companies who wish to strengthen their message by using different codes with a high communicative power.”

When: from March 30 to April 1.
Where: Milan see event programme and venues.

Venice offers one more attraction and a reason for visiting it this week.

The Venice International Boat Show taking place at the Stazione Marittima and at the Arsenale, hosts an impressive boats exhibition, dozens of exciting sporting displays, meetings and conventions, from March 17 to 25.
New in 2007 is an area completely dedicated to fishing, sport and underwater, and a series of collateral events, including jet-ski, wakeboard, rescue dog and firemen exhibitions.
Programme and event details here.
Find accommodation in Venice.

A couple of weeks after the truffle festival, again the mountain town of Norcia, in Umbria, is hosting another important event.

On March 20 and 21, Norcia celebrates the Spring with the celebrations of its patron saint, Saint Benedict. Because of Saint Benedict is also patron saint of Europe, the night of March 20, ambassadors of several European nations meet in Norcia and wait for the torchlit procession to arrive from one of the European capitals.
On March 21, the city evokes its ancient past with medieval themed celebrations.

- See Norcia (Umbria) on the (interactive map).
Find accommodations in Norcia and Umbria.