L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano PAGE  22 DOT ANDERSON If visiting Italy has been something that you've wanted to do for so long March is one of the most cost effective times to go. March is still "shoulder season" in Italy, which in the travel world means that rates for airfare and hotels are lower than they Each of these feature special festivals and landmarks, which can make your March visit memorable. For instance, Bergamo, just 32 miles north of Milan, is far away from the crowds in that city for the March fashion shows. A picturesque town, Bergamo has both a lower and an upper part. to be missed is the Bergamo golden colored Polenta often flavored with Branzi cheese. This semi-soft cheese that pairs perfectly with Lombardy red wines has a unique flavor because it is made from the milk of cows that graze exclusively on the grasses and herbs growing in the Alpine village of Branzi. Pavia is another interesting town to explore in Lombardy. Located about 20 miles south of Milan it is a university town with several well-known churches with awe-inspiring architecture including The Certosa di Pavia, a monastery founded in 1396. There's also the Cathedral of Pavia with the third largest dome in Italy [following St Peter's Basilica and Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence]. Of interest, too, is the San Michele Maggiore, an outstanding example of Lombard-Romanesque architecture; and the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, where St. Augustine is buried. Bergamo città alta (upper town) will be in April. If you've already been to Italy and want to see more than just the city centers of Rome, Venice and Florence, venturing out into the Lombardy Region is an interesting choice. Thanks to Milan it has the largest population and is the richest of all of Italy's regions, but Lombardy is also Italy leading agricultural area. Although its best known city is Milan, the fashion capitol of Italy, Lombardy's other interesting towns include Brescia, Bergamo, Cremona, Pavia, Como, Mantua, and Monza. The latter is accessible via tram and rewards visitors with sites such as the Cittadella built in the 14th century, a scenic old square of Piazza Vecchia, plus the Palazzo della Ragione, the Museo di Scienze Naturali Enrico Caffi, and a botanical garden. Venetians built the heavy walls around this upper city in the 17th century. The Venetians also left behind many of their pasta traditions such as Casonsei, a meat filled pasta, and Scarpinocc de Par (shoes from Parre) ravioli named so for their shoe shape. Also, not Scarpinocc de Par Yet another compelling reason to visit Pavia in March is the La Grande Fiera di Pavia Sapori or the grand fair of the tastes of THURS DAY,   FEBRUARY  7,   2013 Pavia. In Italy Pavia is often thought of as the Tuscany of the North and, no wonder because it has its own hilly vistas covered with medieval villages and, even for Italy, its food and wines are outstanding. In March local restaurants celebrate with special menu items and wines from the Oltrepò Pavese winemakers. In AD and the remains of one of Italy's largest amphitheaters, which could hold around 15,000 people. If you're musically inclined, a visit to Cremona is a beautiful added notation to your vacation in the Lombardy Region. If Cremona doesn't ring a bell, the name Stradivarius will. This The Certosa di Pavia monastery is a definite must-see if you visit Milan addition to foods, area crafts are featured. This is one of the largest wine producing areas of Italy and hiking or biking out to the scattered vineyards is a great way to burn some of those enjoyable calories. Most of these wineries have been in the families since the Middle Ages. Rovescala, a province in Pavia, features a wine festival every weekend of March with wine tasting including the area's acclaimed Bonarda, produced locally for more than 800 years. Brescia, as well as Pavia, has Antique markets in March that draw in upwards of 100 exhibitors. For collectors, these markets offer a particularly enjoyable activity. But Brescia, about 65 mi. from Milan is also one of the most significant archeological areas in Northern Italy. A forum overlooks the Capitoline Temple built in 73 town is home to some of the most famous violins in the world and you can actually watch some of these craftsmen at work. As for accommodations in the Lombardy Region much of the choice depends on what your want to see, or rather, how you prioritize what you can't miss. You'll find that the region has a range of choices for every mood from agritourism opportunities and small bed and breakfasts all the way up to luxury designer hotels such as the Armani Hotel Milano. To check out the availability for luxury stays, see kiwicollection.com. For agritourism accommodations visit agritourism.it and italyworldclub.com. As always, hotels.com and venere.com can help travelers save time by determining how close particular hotels are to the things they want to see most. Dream of living on the point of Italy's boot: The town of Villa San Giovanni The property building located in the coastal town of Villa San Giovanni, in the Province of Reggio Calabria, offers the unique possibility of living in the town where the Region of Calabria ends, facing the eastern tip of Sicily across the narrow strait. Well known in Italy for its position on the coast of "Lo Stretto di Messina", the Strait of Messina, Villa San Giovanni overlooks the central part of Mediterranean Sea, where the wonderful Tyrrhenian Sea meets the crystal clear Ionian Sea, creating strong tidal currents and establishing a unique marine ecosystem. This residential property is the life long dream of an Italian migrant worker, from southern Calabria, who relocated abroad for a better quality of life during the hard post-war period in Italy. His desire was to go back to his home town in Italy and retire there with his family. The property was purchased and renovated in the early nineties (1992-1994), while maintaining the construction style of the original building, through a careful and refined craftsmanship, using the finest materials. The four-story building consists of a ground floor currently used for commercial purposes, in which there is a newspaper shop and a butcher's shop, plus three spacious and bright apartments, which all enjoy a privileged position overlooking the center of the town, the surrounding hills and the Mediterranean sea. The residence is conveniently located less than a ten minute walk from the beach and blue waters of the strait. For lovers of the countryside beautiful natural areas can be reached within 30 minutes driving. Why not go for a hike in breath-taking mountains on the close-by massif of Aspromonte? For those interested in a visit to the capital city of the region, Reggio Calabria is located just 15 minutes away by car, the perfect choice for a relaxing stroll along one of the most spectacular waterfronts throughout Italy. Villa San Giovanni is well connected to the island of Sicly as well. Ferry services link Villa San Giovanni and Messina, including a train ferry departing from the main railway station. Its port is the main terminal of the ferry to Sicily. Punta Pezzo, in fact, located in the municipality of Villa, is the point of closest proximity between the Calabrian and Sicula's bank, and has made the city an ideal location for the crossing of the Strait. The town is also served by the A3 motorway Salerno-Reggio Calabria. Despite its population of only 13,868 inhabitants, on 12 April 2005 the President of the Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, awarded to the municipality of Villa San Giovanni with the title of "City". For complete information and to appreciate the full set of photographs of the property, visit http://www.villasangiovanniitaly.com

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