For a whole week Venice is transformed into a masked dance. A unique experience for all those attending the Carnival of Venice.
Author: tourcrafters
37 going on 40 years in the business of great vacations
Where to Eat in Rome
Amazing restaurant locations with terraces and breathtaking views only Rome can offer.
Luxury Travel: Specialized Villas
TourCrafters representatives are experts on travel to Italy and we are here to help plan the perfect independent trip to Italy for you.
Wine Tasting in Chianti
Just an hour’s drive from beautiful Florence, a day trip to the Chianti region can offer you a truly unforgettable experience!
Pizza al trancio ? This is the pizza you must eat when in Milan!
The ”pizza al tralcio” has nothing to do with Neapolitan pizza. The pizza al trancio (pizza by the slices) has Tuscan origins. It is cooked in a wood oven, but inside metal round pans. This kind of pizza is half of an inch high, it has a crunchy crust and a soft dough. Here below…
GOURMET TOUR OF UMBRIA BY CAR
In the previous episode we dived in a gourmet tour in the most famous and appreciated region of Italy, Tuscany, but, as you know very well, the Bel Paese is a mine of fascinating and unknown places to the most common tourist routes. This is why I decided to explore with you a less famous…
A Streetcar Named Desire…
once upon a time .. and it had wooden interior and few seats. From its large windows you could admire the world that flowed. It’s been over a century since those old trams crossed the city for simple transport. But this old means of locomotion has not lost its old charm. The tractors of the…
GOURMET TOUR OF TUSCANY BY CAR
Tuscany is probably the most known region of the beautiful Italian peninsula, there are many traditional destinations, very famous are the typical dishes of this area. So, where to eat them? Where to find a truly Tuscan atmosphere and taste? I have found for you some places where culture, landscape and taste come together to…
Red gold from the Douro valley
From our good friend at saltoportugal.com I received some information I want to share with you. “God gave Douro precious wines so that people would come and find all the other treasures, says Abílio Tavares da Silva. He is a successful software engineer who fell under the spell of the Douro valley. After going back…
DISCOVERING CALABRIA
In this issue of the Photoblog I propose an “unusual” trip: an experience out of the classic routes of tourism in the Italian peninsula, in a wild land, Calabria, where the blue sea is the protagonist and the magical mythology of Homer intertwines with a present full of beautiful places. BELMONTE CALABRO We leave for…
Something special to do with your kids while in Paris
While in Paris with your kids here what I suggest for a lot of fun!! the Aquarium 20 000 leagues under the Trocadero Millions of litres of water and thousands of fish under the Trocadero Gardens… this is Aquarium de Paris. To give the children a better view of the fish, they are all welcome to…
The most delicious square mile in the world? Via Giulia Gourmet District in the heart of Rome
Near Via Giulia is a real food bon vivant district, with an incredible concentration of places.. from three starred restaurants to gourmet street food cafes and temples of good drinking. It was Anthony Genovese, one of the most refined interpreters of a kitchen concentrated on Mediterranean flavors, who settled the first, 15 years ago with…
The German Fairy Tale road tour
From thePuss in Boots up to Snow White, from Hansel and Gretel to Little Red Riding Hood just to mention two well-known names. The Fairytale Road in Germany stretches over 660 km and goes from Frankfurt to Hamburg. At the beginning of the nineteenth the Brothers Grimm lived here, who found inspiration for their…
The Enchanting Tarot Garden – Tuscany
Il Giardino dei Tarocchi – The Tarot Garden – was founded in 1979 by Niki de Saint Phalle, a volcanic writer, painter and French director, who took inspiration for her creation from a visit to the Guell Park of Gaudí, Barcelona and the Monster Garden of Bomarzo. With 22 huge statues are scattered in the garden….
MAGIC CALCATA
“Calcata: a masterpiece medieval village perched on top of tufa hills” On the border between the provinces of Rome and Viterbo, the medieval “twin” site of Civita di Bagnoregio is a magical place .. Perched on a tufa spur, the village of Calcata marks the border between the Viterbo and Roman Tuscia. It has remained…
Wild islands and villages overlooking the water, Italian beaches should not be missed! Starting with Sicily
Hidden and wild coves, kilometers of golden sand, rocky cliffs overlooking the sea, shores with turquoise waters scented with Mediterranean scrub, natural marine parks or protected reserves. The search engine Skyscanner reviews for us 15 most beautiful beaches in Italy for 2018. With dunes and cliffs awarded for cleanliness, beauty of the water, uniqueness of…
Discover Matera 2019 European Capital of Culture in ITALY
Matera, located in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata has been awarded the title of the 2019 European Capital of Culture in Italy. Since the announcement Richard Gere who filmed King David in Matera passed on his congratulations for the city and commented “Matera is a very special place”. The ancient city of Matera is steeped in…
CARACALLA IV DIMENSION
CARACALLA: NOT ONLY OPERA BUT A FULL DISCOVERY OF THEIR ORIGINAL APPEARANCE Archeology offers our eyes the vestiges of a distant past. Forty years ago, visitors to archaeological sites were few and in general had a preparation that allowed them to look at ancient structures and imagine their original appearance. In recent years, the use of…
It’s Ball season in Vienna
Nowhere are balls so romantically formal as in Vienna. This tradition is intoxicating to locals and visitors for far more than a single night! At the end of the blog you will read -courtesy of Austrian tourism office- a brief history of the Balls in Vienna. Here below you can find the program of the 2018…
Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica
After 4 years of major work the archaeological park of Ostia Antica has risen again from the infesting weeds, unveiling an entire portion of the city that really evokes the dimension of a modern metropolis In your travels throughout the territory of Rome you can not miss a visit to the Archaeological Park of Ostia Antica, one of…
THE MEDIAVAL LIVING PRESEPIO AT CANALE MONTERANO
A FEW MILES FROM ROME A MAGICAL “BORGO” CANALE MONTERANO AND ITS NATIVITY CRIB The mediaval living manger is an event set in the splendid scenery of Monterano thanks to the collaboration with the Rione Monti di Bracciano. In September 2012 the idea was born to revive the dead city of Monterano in all its…
THE TOUR OF THE NATIVITIES OF ROME
The “Eternal City” is decorated on Christmas days, with lights, garlands and the ever-present Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes. In the city, heart of the Catholic Church, the cribs cannot be missed; some are among the most beautiful and amazing in the world. Some nativity scenes in Rome, are actually visible all year…
Sicilian Baroque Catania and the other cities of “Val di Noto”
Catania is a distinguished example of the Sicilian baroque and XVI century post-earthquake reconstruction. The old city still retains the urban layout designed by the Vaccarini architect, with her wide straight boulevards – lanes linking the main Etnea street; with open squares and gardens. Among these scenic streets is the Duomo the true center of…
October 12, Columbus day, a perfect afternoon in Rome for the inauguration of “Rinascente” the megastore in the center of the city in Via del Tritone the first mall-museum in the world.
I never expected such a large crowd: ladies “le signore bene” from all over Rome in a perfectly ordered row along the Triton Street Sidewalk, young people eager to hear the live music entertainment marathon with pop stars, bands and DJ along with a multitude of curious people and groups of tourist. When the doors opened,…
From November 1st a NEW unique experience visiting the Coliseum
After a long and meticulous restoration, the highest levels of the amphitheater, the fourth and the fifth, the spaces that two thousand years ago were reserved for the “plebes”, with seats numbered on the wooden poles – will reopen and can be visited in groups starting November 1st . The view from the Coliseum from the…
The 2017 best ice cream in the world? The Umbrian Crispini Pistachio
Between dozens of creative and innovative tastes, including exotic fruit and complex combinations, a great Italian classic from a Spoleto ice cream maker won the finale of the Ice Cream World Tour. At the end of the Ice Cream World Tour, 36 ice-cream shops from all over the world were compiting , but the great…
A great place to indulge: Fiumicino Rome airport.
Once on a time “eating at the airport” was synonymous of just take a bite and settle for mediocre. Now, all around the world airports are becoming a welcome place to enjoy your time. The Roman airport of Fiumicino follows the trend and now offers to travelers 10,000 square meters dedicated to shopping and dining. “The…
A new discovery for American sophisticated travelers: LANGHE region
Everyone will love the Langhe. And it could not be otherwise: wonderful landscapes, beautiful accommodations, wineries among the best in the world to match crazy gourmet products. A rich, unbelievable territory to discover, offering all sorts of travel options, ideal for those who want to relax and pamper yourself, perhaps in a romantic weekend, but…
Do you know it? March 21st is Tiramisu day in Italy!
Well at least is an opportunity to prepare or taste it. For my side I have read the book Tiramisu – History, curiosity, interpretations of the Italian most loved sweet, sponsored by Eataly and I have discovered that there is a fight between Gorizia and Treviso to earn the title of city of origins. Flavia…
and now a taste of Apulia .. another food & wine experience
Here I am again! Now is time to experience more Italian Excellences: the food, wine, oil and the perfumes of the Apulia region! From Bari to Lecce an itinerary prepared with love for our gourmet foodies. Our tour leader is an expert and .. a foodies himself. So let start our journey ! DAY 1 From Bari…
TourCrafters Blog 