L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 17 ALL AROUND ITALY TRAVEL TIPS DESTINATIONS ACTIVITIES A s 2 0 1 6 a p p r o a c h e s , a whole new year of excit- ing travels await: from N o r t h t o S o u t h , I t a l y o f f e r s countless opportunities to dis- cover, explore and enjoy new and old destinations. Regardless of their location, whether they are mountain or seaside towns, and no matter if you are looking into a spring, summer, fall or winter holiday, these destina- tions are not to be missed if you are planning to travel around Italy next year. O r t i s e i ( T r e n t i n o A l t o Adige). Nestled at the begin- ning of stunningly beautiful Val Gardena, Ortisei sits in a sunny spot with unparalleled views of the Dolomites. The entire vil- lage is built in South Tyrolean style, with painted houses that give a perfect alpine feel to the town. Very popular with skiers and snowboarders, as it is con- nected to the Dolomiti Superski 1200 km ski circuit, it also wins the hearts of those who don't like snow sports, as it offers amazing shopping opportunities a n d g r e a t d i n i n g o p t i o n s . Ortisei, and the surrounding valley, are great in the summer t o o a s t h e y o f f e r c o u n t l e s s walking, hiking and mountain bike routes. Uropia (Puglia). Care to see something unique? Then visit Uropia, Italy's last standing hippy-like commune. Here you will get a taste of what living without private property feels l i k e : f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g o f spring until the last days of the harvest, visitors are welcome to join in and enjoy the simple life that the seaside region of Apulia has to offer, and that includes the incredibly tasty local wine and ingredients such as olive oil, tomatoes and olives. V a l s a v a r e n c h e ( V a l l e d'Aosta). If you are looking for an adventurous kind of holiday, t h e P a r c o A v v e n t u r a i n V a l s a v a r e n c h e m i g h t b e t h e place for you. Open all year, this adventure park is popular with those who love canyoning a n d c l i m b i n g , a s i t o f f e r s a unique trail surrounded by dra- matic landscapes, white waters and the imposing mountains of the Gran Paradiso State Park. CHIARA ASSI Nature in the area is simply stunning and the park caters to active couples as much as to families with children over the age of eight. P i t i g l i a n o ( T u s c a n y ) . F a m o u s f o r b e i n g o n e o f Tuscany's most quaint villages, Pitigliano is a medieval gem less than one hour away from Grosseto, almost on the border with Lazio. Perched on a hill and entirely made of stone, it seems like a town still living in a remote and charming past, with narrow alleys and unex- p e c t e d , e n c h a n t i n g s q u a r e s . Pitigliano has a proud Jewish history as well, and its old ghet- to as well as the Jewish ceme- tery are simply too beautiful for words, which is why the village i s k n o w n a s " t h e I t a l i a n Jerusalem". P i e t r a l u n g a ( U m b r i a ) . Those who love autumn foliage will definitely fall in love with Pietralunga, said to be the best spot in Italy to watch the leaves turning incredible hues of yel- low, orange and red. Close to the picture perfect medieval town of Perugia, Pietralunga is also a great spot to stop by for some of the best venison you c a n f i n d i n I t a l y , a s w e l l a s a m a z i n g r o a s t e d a n d g r i l l e d meat. If you enjoy steak, make sure you try chianina, the top grade beef from the area that is an absolute must-try for any food aficionado. V i g e v a n o ( L o m b a r d y ) . When visiting Lombardy most people concentrate on larger, more popular places like Milan, Como and Bergamo, but the region is literally dotted with smaller, stunningly beautiful towns such as Vigevano. The town looks like a miniature ver- sion of its bigger sisters and boasts some of the most amaz- ing religious and secular build- ings in the area, as well as a rich and incredible culinary tra- dition. A stroll through its nar- row streets and large piazzas is t h e p e r f e c t w a y t o s p e n d a leisurely and sunny weekend afternoon. M o n r e a l e ( S i c i l y ) . C l o s e enough to Palermo to make it a day trip, Monreale is a quintes- s e n t i a l S i c i l i a n t o w n , w i t h labyrinthine alleys and one of the most stunning Duomos in Italy. It may look like nothing m u c h f r o m t h e o u t s i d e , b u t once inside, be prepared to see an amazing example of mosaic a r t , a s t h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e Duomo is completely covered in golden mosaics. Standing in the middle of the church and looking up to the shiny perfec- tion of its vaults is a once in a lifetime experience everyone visiting Sicily should experi- ence. Great destinations not to miss in 2016 Perched on a hill and entirely made of stone, Pitigliano seems like a town still living in a remote and charming past Ortisei, built in South Tyrolean style, sits in a sunny spot with unparalleled views of the Dolomites The interior of the Duomo of Monreale is completely covered in golden mosaics The Parco Avventura in Val Savarenche is popular with those who love canyoning and climbing A stroll through Vigevano's narrow streets and large piazzas is the perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon

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