Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

The Historic Regatta of Venice held the first Sunday of September, offers the opportunity to see the Grand Canal filled with beautifully-crafted 13th-century boats.
Historic Regatta is not just the competition — the regatta itself, is a very special day for Venice with boat parades, art displays, music and more celebrations.
Below a video of the Venice Historic Regatta 2007 edition.

(via YouTube)

April 25, holiday of the Patron Saint of the Venice, San Marco (St. Mark), Venetians males use to gift a red rose to their beloved.

So San Marco Day for Venetians is also the “Festa del Bòcolo” — Bòcolo in Venetian dialect means rose bloom.

Men all over the city give the women in their lives roses.
Wives, lovers, mistresses, friends, mothers and daughters around the city all receive roses.

If you are visiting Venice in the early days of March, you can enjoy a major wine event.

A three day of tastings of great wines and delicacies from all over Italy will be held on the Giudecca island, in Venice. Molino Stucky Hilton Venice hotel will be hosting the event, named “Gusto in Scena“, from March 3 through 5.

The quality wines selected for the event, divided into four grape-growing areas, mountain, hill, plain, and sea will be paired with proper regional dishes.

When: March 3 until 5.
Where: Molino Stucky Hilton - Venice (Giudecca island)
Getting there: Venice airport is 10 km away (40 min.ride with Vaporetto); from Venice train station Santa Lucia 20 min.ride with Vaporetto. Molino Stucky Hilton Venice offers free waterbus from/to Piazza San Marco from 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM. Event details at http://www.gustoinscena.it .

The city of Verona, setting for the story of Romeo and Juliet, hosts one of the major Valentine’s festival: “Verona in Love“. Of course, this five-day festival is inspired by the story of Romeo and Juliet.

Verona in Love features a series of events dedicated to love and romance.
The 2008 programme includes theatrical interpretations of Romeo and Juliet, photography exhibitions, concerts, shows and much more, all on the theme of love. Even the menu in many restaurants will be love-themed.
The festival programme can be found online at http://www.veronainlove.com/programma2008.php (unfortunately in Italian only)
When: Feb 9 - 17, 2008 (annual);
Where: Verona.

With the Giovedì Grasso (Fat Thursday) the Carnival season enters the final week of celebrations. Carnival of Venice is internationally renowned, undoubtably the most important in Italy.
You can know more about the programme of this final week by visiting http://www.carnevale.venezia.it/.

Below a video of Venice Carnival 2007 edition


(via YouTube - posted by bibikappa ).