Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

A quick guide to antiques street markets held in the major art cities this end of April.
In Venice “The Little Market of Miracles” is held in the Campi and Campielli (Campo Santa Maria Nova) close to the Church of the Miracles. (April 25 and and various dates)

In Milan the Antiques Market is held along a canal in the Navigli for about two kilometres. It features more than 400 merchants offering anything among ethnic antiques, clocks, porcelain, jewellery, dolls, glass, books and much more (when: Apr 27; monthly market).

In Naples, “Villa Comunale Antique Fair” is held on the third and fourth weekends of every month in the Villa Comunale gardens. It offers everything from antiques, modern furniture, arts and crafts to collectors’ items and curiosities.

In Rome you can find classical collector’s items and antiques at “La Soffitta Sotto i Portici“, a monthly bargain market taking place every first and third Sunday of the month in Piazza Augusto Imperatore.

A major flower and gardening exhibition is taking place in Milan along the banks of the Naviglio Grande, Sunday April 15.

The charming and ancient framework of the Naviglio Grande creates a unique visual impact. Each exhibitor is engaged in the scenic arrangement of his/her space, so as to produce a spectacular chromatic effect.

The result is a carnival of flowers, fragrances and colours, cascading along the sides of the historical wharf.
Here details and how to get there.

‘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.

Milan celebrates the city’s patron saint, S. Ambrogio (St.Ambrose), with an outstanding Christmas market: the “Oh Bej! Oh Bej!” fair, December 7-9.

This market, that with its many holiday delicacies, will get you in the Christmas mood, is one of the main annual folkloric events in the city.
It take places in the square of the St Ambrose’s Basilica and is open from early morning until late at night.

The market name “Oh Bej! Oh Bej!” originates from the exclamations of surprise and joy that local children used to do as going around the market. “Oh Bej! Oh Bej!” is the translation in Milanese dialect of “che belli! che belli!” (in english “so beautiful! so beautiful!”).

Italian airline Air One is to start new services linking London City Airport with Milan and Rome.

Starting from November 30,
Air One will operate twice-daily flights (once daily on weekends) between the Docklands airport and Milan Linate.
Schedule: flights will leave London City at 10.10A.M and 5.30P.M. Saturday flights will leave at 10.10A.M and Sunday flights will depart at 5.30P.M.

Air One is also planning to begin a twice-daily flights from London City Airport to Rome Fiumicino, starting from January 8.