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Open Thread: Does Venice Smell?
Have you been to Venice? Was your visit in summer? Actually, no matter what season you found yourself among the romantic canals of Venice, you may remember whether you did or did not smell something afoul in the city. Stemming from our earlier post on what not to do in Venice—taking a gondola being one "don't"—we want to know if think Venice smells.
We lived in Italy for a while, and sometimes we'd head to Venice for the day, for the weekend, or for the week depending on how much good white wine and risotto al nero di seppia we craved. In the winter, we found the air to smell cold and salty, like any other seaside town that brought in boats of fresh seafood. But the in the summer, thanks to the rotting first floors of most residences coupled with the perfume of a sweaty population barely masked by the scent of restaurants cooking up prix fixe meals, our nose caught a whiff of something other. It's not enough to assault your senses, but it's there.
So tell us: have you smelled Venice? What did it smell like, if anything? Should people bring their gas masks or should Glade invent a Venice-scented room freshener? Let us know in the comments below!
Related Stories:
· What Not To Do In Venice: The Top 5 Tourist Mistakes [Jaunted]
· Venice Travel [Jaunted]
[Photo: mattedgar]
Tags: What Not To Do In / Tourists / Venice Travel / Venice / Italy Travel / Lists / → All Tags
What Not To Do In Venice: The Top 5 Tourist Mistakes
Gondolas, palaces and 'O Sole Mio"—ahhh, the usual romantic image of Venice. Granted, the city known as "La Serenissima," is quite lovely and enchanting, but also full of money potholes and tourist stereotypes.
Because we like you, and because we've had our fair share of Venice visits and wish all the same enjoyment for yours, we're helping you out with our list of What Not To Do In Venice: The Top 5 Tourist Mistakes.
Check them out, after the jump.
Tags: Architecture Travel / Museum Travel / Rome Travel / Italy Travel / Zaha Hadid / → All Tags
Zaha Hadid Opens An Art Museum In Rome With No Art
Oh my gosh, would you believe that another building by Zaha Hadid got built? The Baghdad-born architect is famous for her futuristic designs, but most only stay looking good on paper. She has a few buildings scattered around the world, but the newest one in Rome takes the cake in terms of scale and space.
Dubbed the MAXXI Museum, or National Museum of the XXI Century Arts, it is a triumph for Zaha. Having opened only several days ago and described by the NYT as "less a unified lone structure than a convergence of long, shiny, serpentine modules — a bit like a space-age highway interchange," the Maxxi is already going down in architecture history. And since we've got a thing for good design, modern art and any new museum exhibitions, the Maxxi is fresh on our radar as well.
Tags: Prime-Plane-Spotting-Map / Plane Spotting / Alitalia / Venice Travel / Italy Travel / → All Tags
'Marco?' 'Polo!' Hop A Boat To Plane-Spot In Venice
If you know anything about Venice, you know that it is a city built on water, so it's quite fitting that the perfect location for plane spotting is onboard a boat. But not just any boat, we're talking about the water taxis between Venice's Marco Polo Airport and Venice proper. The airport sits on marsh land right on the coast, while the tourist-filled portion is out in the middle of the lagoon.
Going between the airport and the city of Venice therefore means taking either a private boat or the Alilaguna Waterbus right underneath the paths of arriving and departing flights. While you rock on the waves of other speeding water taxis passing by, you can look up at airplanes from carriers like Alitalia and other major carriers. Smaller LCC airlines like Jaunted personal favorite Germanwings sadly won't be found here, but at Treviso Airport.
Tags: Travel Tips / Italy Travel / Rome Travel / Venice Travel / Florence Travel / Milan Travel / Sicily Travel / → All Tags
Indispensable Italy Tips: Beware Bread Baskets And Bare Shoulders
Italy's ancient sites are beautiful but not always handicapped-accessible.
If you're heading to Italy soon, we're totally jealous. We can't get enough of its wonderful cities: Bologna, Venice, Rome, Florence—we just want to move there already. Before you go, here are some tips we've gleaned during our own Italy travels:
· Beware of petty crimes. According to the U.S. Department of State, crimes such as pick-pocketing, theft from parked cars and purse snatching are serious problems, especially in large cities. Be on guard at crowded places like Milan's Central Station and the Trevi Fountain. And thieves in Italy often work in groups or pairs to divert your attention.
· Italy isn't handicapped-accessible. Italy's beauty lies in its ancient buildings, but most aren't equipped with wheelchair ramps and elevators. Buses aren't generally wheelchair-accessible, either.
Tags: Opera Travel / Travel Health / Milan Travel / Italy Travel / Landmarks / → All Tags
What's the Italian Word For 'Asbestos?' Because Milan's La Scala Has It
Yes, we know that's a radiation icon, but we mean it in a Hazmat capacity
A fat lady singing can't do anything for asbestos removal, as Milan's La Scala is finding out. Back in spring, officials in Milan discovered the toxic stuff in the famed opera house's ceiling, and they've just now closed down the 270 seats of the uppermost tier in order to begin removal.
This poses a problem for the tourists who, in last few months, have possibly been exposed to asbestos from officials rustling up there, but thankfully it's been confirmed that there's no spread of asbestos. Ticket holders will either be offered an upgrade to better and less toxic eating, or, if that's unavailable, then a simple refund. No loud Italian opera for the cheapskates, we guess.
Tags: Florence Travel / Italy Travel / Museum Travel / → All Tags
Milan's Art May Be Clothing, But Florence's Is All About The Lack Of
Although Milan is Italy's financial hub, it's not the most picturesque spot for a vacay. Yes, it's the country's fashion capital, but if you really want to see some gorgeousness, you should head over to Florence, since your chances of bumping into any of the six-foot Versace models will be slim indeed. Just hop on a train for a two-hour trip from Milan to "Firenze," Italian for Florence.
First stop in Florence should be the Galleria Uffizi, one of the best museums in the world with its hefty collection of Renaissance masterpieces. The museum carries works from all the period's big names, including Botticelli, Caravaggio, da Vinci and Michelangelo. A must-see is Botticelli's instantly recognizable painting "Birth of Venus."
Tags: Celeb Travel / Madonna / Italy Travel / Yachting / Portofino Travel / → All Tags
A Portofino Party For Madonna's 51st Birthday
You know, when you think of an "over the hill" birthday party, you usually think of gag gift diapers and getting something like the "Tour of Italy" platter at Olive Garden. Of course when it's Madonna celebrating her 51st birthday, all bets are off. This Sunday she arrived in the Italian resort town of Portofino for her own tour of Italy, or rather a stay at the town's Splendido Hotel after renting out a whole floor.
What then did Madonna get as a gift for her birthday? Her designer pals Dolce & Gabbana will be taking out for a spin on their yacht, with a possibly stay at one of their villas; no gag gifts here.
Madonna is hopefully relaxing in Portofino, seeing as how her last Sticky and Sweet concert in Warsaw was protested by conservative Catholics who didn't appreciate her performing on the Feast of the Assumption—which celebrates Mary's ascension straight to heaven—considering her name and everything. Alas, then Madonna went straight to Italy, cradle of Catholicism; that'll show those Polish religious fiends.
Related Stories:
· Madonna In Italy For 51st Birthday Bash [AFP]
· Celeb Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: AFP and Google Maps]
Tags: Adventure Travel / Hiking / Italy Travel / South Tirol Windsurfing / The Dolomites / → All Tags
Italy's South Tirol is Like an Outdoor Playground for Athletes
Travelers usually head to Italy to carbo-load on lip-smacking cuisine and swish tasty wines, to visit ancient sites like the Pantheon and the Colosseum, or to see amazing art like Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. But sporty types in the know venture north to the South Tirol, or Südtirol, a region that identifies more with its German roots than its Italian ones (you’ll hear most people speaking Deutsch and see signs in both Italian and German).
The South Tirol’s mountainous location—with the Alps towering overhead—makes it a prime spot for skiers and snowboarders in the cold months, with Swiss-like chalets dotted all over the area to complete the experience. In the warmer months, mountain climbers and hikers hit the slopes. You’ll also see many Nordic walkers taking to the trails. They are easy to spot; Nordic walkers hike at a brisk pace while carrying what looks like ski poles.
Originally designed as a cardiovascular summer training exercise for cross-country skiers, Nordic walking works your upper body while you hike. The sport, which is popular in Germany and Finland, is appropriate for all fitness levels.
Tags: GPS Travel / Italy Travel / Mistakes / → All Tags
GPS Typo Sends Swedish Tourists 400 Miles In The Wrong Direction
Mark this under "do not do": a Swedish couple vacationing in Italy had a hankering for the tropical charms of the island of Capri, and so programmed their GPS of their rental car to show them the way. At least they though they had set it for Capri; instead they miss-typed and ended up being directed 400 miles out of the way to Carpi, Italy.
Upon arrival at the Carpi tourist office, they reportedly asked where to find the famous Blue Grotto. As for what else transpired, we'll let the Carpi tourism official tell the story:
Capri is an island. They did not even wonder why they didn't cross any bridge or take any boat. Once they realised their mistake, the couple got back in their car and headed south.
There had to have been so many stupid mistakes made and overlooked for this to even happen: GPS units usually display a map and your location name, they would have been heading further and further inland, and did they not even read signs on the highway? Oh well— they're now the subjects of a BBC story; that's something to write in their postcards home.
Related Stories:
· Swedes Miss Capri After GPS Gaffe [BBC]
· GPS Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
[Image: Google Maps]
Tags: New Routes / LCCs / Wizz Air / Romania Travel / Italy Travel / → All Tags
Romania's Wizz Air Keeps The Cheap Italy Routes Coming
How about heading to Romania? It's like Italy, but cheaper! And further east! And they spell "pasta" like "paste!" With all these charms, how can you not give up some Milan action for Transylvania? Now thanks to the Wizz Air, you won't have to decide between the two since you can have both.
The European low-cost carrier, which already offers some tempting routes between Italy and Romania, is adding even more to continue the stream of tourism. Beginning on September 21, you'll be able to hop between Catania, a major Sicilian city, and Bucharest. Then, on October 28, Bucharest will also welcome flights from Bologna-Forli.
Although the flights will only be twice a week, it's a huge improvement over the state of Italy-Romania flights only a few years ago, when we were dying to get from Rome to Cluj-Napoca without, well, dying on government-owned Romanian airline TAROM. That route is also available now on Wizz Air, and even from Rome's main Fiumicino airport and not the dinky, Ryanair-happy Ciampino airport. Anyways, we digress. Get thee to Romania cheaply!
Related Stories:
· Wizz Air Opens New Routes To Italy [Easier.com]
· Wizz Air Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Ati977]
Tags: Italy Travel / Sustainable Travel / Green Travel / Events / Grado / → All Tags
Grado Will Have The Miss Italy Pageant And A Sustainable Lagoon Hotel
The Italian municipality of Grado, on the island of Grado in the Adriatic Sea, has hit upon a unique way to tap into the Green Tourism craze. The locals have constructed the first multi-building lagoon hotel in Europe, taking the traditional fishermen's dwellings in the island's lagoon and converting them into hotel rooms. The project is an extension of the island's many years of sustainable development, something for which they've been honored again and again by the Italian government.
The straw-and-reed huts are known as "casoni" and they've been fixtures on the Lagoon of Grado for generations as picturesque icons of simple living. The hotel project is a way to sustain the buildings both financially and as integral parts of the island's economy. Travelers who take part in the Original Hospitality on the Lagoon project will also be able to avail themselves of tours and itineraries specifically designed to show off Grado's natural beauty.
