Italian Cities
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Rome – Venice – Siena – Florence
For Opera tours and tickets, please visit Classical Music Holidays…
Rome
The eternal city that has a timeless magic. Rome comprises of ancient monuments and artistic wonders including the Colosseum, St Peter’s Basilica and the unique ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The city’s contemporary flair is reflected in its designer boutiques and café society.
Recommended Luxury Hotels:
St Regis Grand – built in 1894 as Rome’s first luxury hotel, the St Regis Grand overlooks the Piazza della Repubblica. The 161 bedrooms are the most luxurious in the city, with fabulous marble bathrooms and a sumptuous buffet breakfast is served in the gracious Grand Hall.
Rocco Forte’s Hotel de Russie – located in the heart of Rome next to the Piazza del Popolo, a stunning and elegant boutique hotel. Dating back to 1816, Picasso, Cocteau and other artists appreciated the elegance and spaciousness of the building, the great courtyard and the terraced gardens. A wonderful spa offers hydrotherapy, beauty treatments and a gymnasium.
Hotel d’Inghilterra – close to the bottom of the Spanish Steps and a few steps from Via Condotti, the city’s most fashionable shopping street. 97 bedrooms beautifully furnished with a combination of antique furniture and contemporary fabrics. The hotel boasts several small and cosy lounges, an intimate bar and a restaurant.
Cultural Events, 2008
Feste de Noantri, Rome 19 July – this annual carnival takes place in the atmospheric cobbled streets of Trastevere, Rome’s most picturesque old quarter, and features folk dancing and songs, processions and fireworks.
Rome 5 days from £499
Discover Rome, for more than 2000 years one of the world’s truly great cities. Revel in the pomp and splendour of the Vatican, savour the atmosphere of ancient Rome and experience the sheer vitality of this bustling city.
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Venice
This glorious city, built on an archipelago of more than 100 islands, traversed by 200 canals, spanned by 400 bridges, continues to rise above the waters of the lagoon and the flowing tide of visitors.
Recommended Luxury Hotels:
The Cipriani – the most famous hotel in Venice, managed by one of the world’s great hoteliers, Dr Natale Rusconi. Located on the Giudecca island, five minutes from St Marks Square by the hotel’s private launch and boasting an enormous open-air sea water swimming pool.
Gritti Palace – a stunning 15th century palace with magnificent antique furnishings and extensive lounges decorated in the Grand Venetian style, a luxurious haven only 10 minutes walk from St Marks Square. Take a delicious breakfast on the Gritti’s private Grand Canal waterside terrace.
Hotel Danieli – this famous and beautifully restored palace dates back to the 14th century and is located right on the waterfront and overlooking the lagoon and the island of San Giorgio. The hotel offers a spectacular rooftop terrace restaurant where buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner are served.
Cultural Events 2008
Venice Carnival 25 January – 5 February – the Feast that marks the start of Lent. It revives the traditional masked balls and elaborate costumes of the 18th century with processions, masquerades, music and festivities to create a fabulous atmosphere throughout the city’s beautiful canals, squares and palaces.
Il redentore, Venice ‘The Feast of the Redeemer’ 19 - 20 July – for the last 400 years, Venetians have met on the third Sunday in July to give thanks for their survival of a 16th century plague, The city’s gondolas make up a spectacular procession that culminates in a sensational firework display.
Regata Storica, Venice 7 September –a traditional competition between two-oar gondolas which are decorated in the colours of the various districts of the city. The day ends with a musical firework display considered to be one of the most spectacular in the world.
Venice 5 days from £539
Lose yourself amid the charming squares, splendid palaces and serene canals of Venice. A feast of cultural and historical treasures awaits.
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Siena
A medieval oasis steeped in history, art, mystery and tradition in the Tuscany region of Italy. The competitive spirit of the ‘Palio’ horse races held in the Piazza del Campo has ensured that young Siennese stay on in their beautiful city.
Recommended Luxury Hotel:
Grand Hotel Continental – opened in early 2002, this hotel is arguably one of the top hotels in Italy. Situated a few steps from the famous Piazza del Campo and the cathedral. Magnificent frescoes illuminated by enveloping lighting are simply stunning, spacious lofty public rooms filled with authentic antique furniture and incredibly beautiful chandeliers take one’s breath away.
Cultural Events 2008
Palio di Siena 1-2 July, 15-16 August – The dramatic architecture of the Piazza del Campo in the heart of Siena is the perfect setting for this breathtaking horse race which has taken place annually since 1660. Prominent local families select their most gallant representative to career around the cobbled streets at amazing speeds, It is a unique example of mediaeval pageantry combined with astonishing bravery; needless to say, it is one of the country’s most sought-after events.
Florence
Surrounded by beautiful Tuscan country side, Florence is renowned for its wealth of art, architecture and culture. Meandering cobbled streets lead to the Piazza della Signoria and its famous Palazzo Vecchio. The Uffizi Gallery houses some of the world’s greatest art including Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’
Recommended Luxury Hotels:
Rocco Forte’s Hotel Savoy – the Savoy stands on the Piazza della Repubblica in the centre of Florence and has been completely refurbished. The many Rocco Forte individual touches lift this hotel above the norm, and combines classical architectural features with crisp, minimal lines and muted tones with contemporary Italian styling.
Helvetia e Bristol - a hotel with a perfect location in the very heart of Florence just steps from the Duomo and Piazza dells Signoria. Breakfast, lunch and dinner can all be enjoyed outside on the street-side terrace in fine weather. The 67 bedrooms are stylishly furnished in traditional Florentine style.
The Grand Hotel – facing an attractive Renaissance square and overlooking the river Arno. Many restaurants, as well as the city’s opera house are close by. Breakfast can be taken in the galleried hall and there is a contemporary restaurant with a terrace on the square for alfresco lunches and dinners, and the service is excellent.
Cultural Events 2008
Maggio Musicale, Florence 26 April – 1 July – founded in 1933, this is the oldest musical festival in Italy and one of the most famous. In addition to opera productions, it plays host to international orchestras and ballet, with a line-up that few festivals can rival.
Calcio Storico Fiorentina, Florence Various dates in June – A firework display from the beautiful Boboli terraced gardens overlooking the city is the signal to start the Calcio, a 16th century football match played in mediaeval costume on the hallowed pitch in front of the 13th century Santa Croce church. There are no precise rules, but the game has Roman origins and is a mixture of rugby and wrestling – each team consists of 27 players; four goalkeepers, three defenders, five midfielders and fifteen forwards.
Florence 5 days from £479
Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Florence, the capital of beautiful Tuscany, stroll through the marvellous Uffizi Gallery, browse in fabulous designer stores and visit lovely Siena.
Weather
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | 12 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 22 | 16 | 13 |
| Rainfall (inches) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
