Holiday Holiday

Italy - The Regions, Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria

2008-09-19T12:36:00.002+01:00

Abruzzo

Abruzzo is located half way down Italy's eastern coast. The major town in the region is Pescara. The town over looks the clear waters of the Adriatic.

The region Abruzzo itself is rugged and mountainous with hill top towns and villages dotting the skyline. The coastline has miles of pristine sandy beaches, much loved by sun worshiping holidaymakers.

Abruzzo's cuisine, as you can imagine, is largely based around fish. Fish dishes like; brodetto (fish soup), and scapace (marinated fish) are typical and delicious coastline dishes. Inland meat and pasta dishes are the order of the day. If you get the chance you must try the maccheroni alla chitarra (pasta with lamb ragout) and timballo (lasagne), they are both unforgettable dishes.

As far as local drinks are concerned in Abruzzo, the one I remember most is ratafia (black-cherry liqueur).

Basilicata

Basilicata is in the middle of the heel of Italy and has small coastlines on both Tyrrhenian and Ionian Sea. The main thing of note in Basilicata is that it is nearly all mountains except for small coastal plains. If you are not afraid of heights then you will find some of the views breathtaking.

The food in Basilicata I found fairly unremarkable, the only things of note are the bread and the ricotta cheese.

If you do go to Basilicata there is one place you really must visit and that is the cave houses at Matera.

Calabria

Calabria is the toe part of the boot of Italy and consists of a mountainous interior with a long, sun baked, coastline. If you travel through this region the one thing you will notice is the many gravity-defying villages that seem to cling to the hillsides.

The main towns of the region are Cosenza, Catanzaro, and Reggio di Calabria.

The on residing memory I have of this part of Italy is the number of festivals through out the year. No matter when I have been there I always seem to find myself in the middle of a festival. If you go to Calabria in March/April you have the Fiera internazionale agrumaria festival, in July there is the swordfish festival, in August you have the good Friday festival, and the list goes on and on.

Food in Calabria, wow what can I say except that it is out of this world. If you get the chance to sample it you really must try the spit roast pork.

That’s all for now, next time we will look at some of the other regions. For now I hope you enjoyed reading about Italy - The Regions, Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria

Festamar Estartit Costa Brava

2008-07-14T13:01:00.006+01:00

The Festamar Apartments in Estartit are just 100 yards from Estartits golden beach. I know the Festamar well because they were the first place I stayed at in Spain. The Festamar, Estartit, and the Costa Brava, are all part of the reason I fell in love with Spain. Since then, my knowledge of the country has grown, and I have seen many, more beautiful places, but Estartit will always hold a special place in my heart.

Estartit was originally just one of many small fishing villages on the Costa Brava. However, that all changed in the 1960's and 70's with the arrival of the package holiday. Today, the harbour is filled with sightseeing boats and yachts, the fishermen and their boats have largely gone.

Modern day Estartit relies on the tourist trade for its economic survival and luckily it is a popular destination, especially among the British, French, and Germans. One of the main attractions of the resort for these holidaymakers is the 7 kilometres of: quiet, golden, sandy beach, that is washed by shallow clear seas. A long promenade follows the line of the beach from the south all the way to the harbour and Estartit town itself.

If you walk from the harbour up Santa Anna Street you will come to the heart of Estartit, the town square. The town square is where both the locals and the holidaymakers can be found, sitting at tree-shaded tables, enjoying a cold glass of wine or beer, while watching the world go by.

If you have a young family I can highly recommend this resort, as there is enough to keep the whole family happy, without attracting the more boisterous singles market.

Thank you for reading Festamar Apartment Estartit Costa Brava

The Northern Regions Of Italy | Valle d'Aosta

2008-06-23T13:29:00.003+01:00

Valle d'Aosta

Valle d'Aosta is in the far northeast of Italy and is bordered by the Alps to the north and France to the west. The mountains, hills and valleys are littered with numerous Roman sites, and Gothic castles.

The major town of the region is Aosta famous for the Aosta Valley, and its colourful festivals.

The Food And Wine Of d'Aosta

The food and wine of d'Aosta is heartier than you might normally expect to find in Italy, probably as a result of the harsh winters. Although the food has more in common with northern European countries, the quality and taste is still very much Italian. Typical Valle d'Aosta cuisine includes dishes like: Carbonada Con Polenta (A dense beef soup), Salcicce e Patate (sausage and potatoes), And Riso e Castagne (Rice With Chestnuts).

The region also produces a number of red and white wines, the quality is variable but generally of good quality.

Things To See And Do In Valle d'Aosta

Naturally there is the Aosta Valley, but there is so much more: the Alps, the 'Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso, and of course the many ancient Roman sites.

If you like colour and pageant why not take in one of the many carnivals and festivals. Depending on when you go you have the Bataille de Reines (October), the carnival in Courmayeur (February), or the apple festival in Gressan (October).

As a side note Courmayeur is worth a visit, festival or no festival, the views are stunning and the skiing is great. The town nestles in the shadow of Monte Blanc, which gives the town its wow factor.

Well, that's all for now thank you for reading The Northern Regions Of Italy | Valle d'Aosta

Previous Post Holiday Holiday - Italy

Holiday Holiday - Italy

2008-06-13T12:22:00.004+01:00

Italy is famous for its food, wine, and well, shall we say love. However, Italy is so much more, from its rich and complex history, to its diverse landscapes, Italy is a country crying out to be explored.

If you decide to take a holiday in Italy, you will be following in the footsteps of tourists that have been coming to this country from as far back as the seventeenth century. Back then they were drawn to the ruins of the Roman Empire, and I suppose in many ways little has changed.

Along with the Vatican, Roman ruins are one of the biggest draws to Italy. Having said that, once you get past those two Italian icons, the reasons for visiting this spectacular country are as numerous as the historic ruins.

In other articles on this site you will find detailed descriptions on the various regions of Italy, such as; Abruzzo, Bastilicata, Campania, Lazio, and Lombardy. There will also be articles on where to stay, the culture, things to see and do, and of course we will be looking at the fine Italian food and wine.

General Overview Of Italy As A Holiday Destination

Italy is made up of 20 regions, which are sub-divided into 96 provinces. Each region has its own distinct character, which is reflected in the; people, language, food, culture, and landscape.

The country itself is split into two distinct halves. The North of the country is more densely populated, cosmopolitan, and sophisticated. The south (from Rome down) is more sparsely populated, and the pace of life is distinctly slower.

This distinction between the north and south also holds true when it comes to the weather. The north warm summers and cold wet winters, while the south can have stiflingly hot summers and warm winters. The weather in the south is worth bearing mind if you are going on holiday with young children.

The country has 7,600 km of coastline, which runs through four seas; the Ligurian Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the Adriatic Sea. Just like the rest of the country, the coastline is varied and stunning.

This has been a brief and very general introduction to Italy, but we had to start somewhere. In the next post I intend to go into a lot more detail on one of the regions, but I will keep you guessing for now. Until then thank you for reading Holiday Holiday - Italy

Previous Post Spanish Algarve - Huelva, Mazagon, Matalascanas

Spanish Algarve - Huelva, Mazagon, Matalascanas.

2008-05-28T11:14:00.003+01:00

Huelva is a major town in the province. Huelva's one real claim to fame is that it was virtually destroyed in the earthquake of 1755, the same earthquake that decimated Lisbon. Apart from the earthquake there is little of interest for the budding historian. The main attractions of Huelva are the country and coast that surround it.

To the south of Huelva lie the resorts of Mazagon and Matalascanas. Tourists are attracted to these two resorts by the huge expanses of gold, sandy beaches. However, the are two other kinds of visitors to the resorts. The first are the hundreds of different species of birds that are attracted to the wetlands of the Parque Nacional Donana. The second type of visitor, are the bird watchers that come from all over Europe to watch this feathered spectacle.

Inland from Mazagon and Matalascanas is where the traditional Andalucia can be found. White washed villages dot the landscape. This is also the province where the internationally famous Spanish horses are bred.

Further north still is the Sierra De Aracena peppered with the remains of Moorish fortresses, as well as beautiful villages such as Alajar, Zufre, and Jabugo famous for its Jamon Serrano (smoked ham).

In the next post we will look at the province of Cadiz, but for now thank you for reading: Spanish Algarve - Huelva, Mazagon, Matalascanas,

Previous post Andalucia Spain - The Spanish Algarve

Andalucia Spain - The Spanish Algarve

2008-05-27T16:59:00.004+01:00

Compared to other coastal areas this is a largely unspoilt tourist destination, well at least compared to the other Costa's. There are four nature reserves in the area; these have helped to stem the tide of new developments. The Main tourist resorts on the Costa De La Luz are Ayamonte and Isla Cristina.

Ayamonte is a lovely old fishing town. The streets and squares are lined by quaint bars and restaurants, which lead down to an active and still working fishing harbour.

Isla Cristina, as the name would suggest, was once an island. Fishing is still the main source of income for the residents, although tourism is on the rise.

The main, and most developed, resort is Isla Canela. Isla Canela has a bit of a reputation as a glitzy resort, and it is this, 'place to be seen' tag, that has seen the development of the area explode.

Thanks for reading Andalucia Spain - The Spanish Algarve

Previous Post The Area Of The Spanish Algarve

The Area Of The Spanish Algarve

2008-05-27T15:42:00.004+01:00

The Spanish Algarve is the stretch of coast that runs from the River Guadiana, on the Portuguese border, to the city of Huelva. Over recent years some people have been saying that the Spanish Algarve actually extends as far as Cadiz. Whichever view you take, this area of Spain is still a remarkable place.

Previous Post The Spanish Algarve

The Spanish Algarve

2008-05-22T12:49:00.002+01:00

The Spanish Algarve is becoming a much-used term to describe the area of Spain running east from the Portuguese boarder to the Spanish city of Huelva. I have even heard the term used further along the Costa De La Luz as far as Cadiz. The funny thing is, I have yet to see The Spanish Algarve on any map.

Maybe, the term was dreamed up by some marketing guru, hoping some of the Portuguese Algarve's kudos, would rub off on his region. Well I cannot bring myself to think of the region as 'The Spanish Algarve', to me it will always be the Costa De La Luz. The thing is the Costa De La Luz does not need any gimmicks; it is a stunningly beautiful part of Spain.

This stretch of Spain's coast is steeped in history and the results of that history can be seen everywhere. The ruins of Moorish fortresses litter the landscape, physical testimony to the struggles between the Christians and the Moors. Bronze age cave dwellings, Roman remains, the Battle of Trafalgar, Cadiz, the exploratory voyages of Columbus and Magellan, all attest to the areas turbulent history. Today, the Costa De La Luz is a much quieter place, thank God, but what's it like?

Well if you want to find out you will have to read The Spanish Algarve Part Two.

Holiday Holiday|Travel Site

2008-05-19T08:33:00.002+01:00

Holiday Holiday is a travel site with a difference. We aim to find vacation destinations that are a bit different. Not only will we give you the facts you need to make your holiday a success, but we will also show you tips and tasty treats.

As this site grows, we hope that you will join in the discussions and tell us your travel tips and stories. If you think about it, everyone is an expert on somewhere. Where do you live? At the end of the day, who knows your town better than you? Share what you know; you may have the information someone else is looking for.

We also one day hope to offer the best deals on the net. This is another area you can help with. If you come across anything that might save someone else some money, leave the details in the comment section. If we all band together this site will become a better resource for everyone.

If you own a property that you would like to rent out to holidaymakers, why not let us know? This site exists for the benefit of its users, that’s you! All you have to do, to advertise your holiday accommodation here, is write a minimum of a 100-word description of the property and a 150 word (minimum) description of the area. That’s it. When you have done what's required we will post your house, villa or apartments details.

Also, if you have a business that relies on the holiday trade again just let us know. As above, all you have to do is write a minimum of 100 words on what you do.

Well that’s enough for now, until next time, thanks for reading Holiday Holiday|Travel Site