About.com Italy Travel

Twilight Movie in Volterra

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:39:59 +0000

The ending of Twilight Saga's upcoming movie, New Moon, takes place in the medieval hill town of Volterra. The Volturi, the royal vampire family in the Twilight series, come from Volterra and the main characters end up in this Tuscany town. Volterra, an ancient city with Etruscan origins, is the perfect setting for a vampire story.

The final shots for the movie, that take place in the main square, were not filmed in Volterra but in the nearby town of Montepulciano, another medieval hill town in Tuscany with a similarly impressive main square - here's a photo of Piazza Grande in Montepulciano where New Moon was filmed. New Moon, by Stephanie Meyer, is the second book in the Twilight vampire saga to be made into a movie. New Moon premiers November 20 in the United States although parts of the movie were screened last month at the Rome film festival, attended by the film's stars.

New Moon Book: New Moon (compare prices)
Visiting Volterra: Volterra Travel Guide
Photos: Montepulciano Pictures | Volterra Pictures

Photo of Porta All'Arco � Tom Adams, used by permission

Twilight Movie in Volterra originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 04:39:59.

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Cantine Lunae - Photo of the Week

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:23:49 +0000

Previous Italy Travel Photos of the Week

Photo taken at Cantine Lunae in Liguria � 2009 by Martha Bakerjian, licensed to About.com

Cantine Lunae - Photo of the Week originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 14:23:49.

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Artisan Traditions of Florence

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:48:44 +0000

Rediscover artisan traditions of the past with Context Tours Florence new walk in its Made in Florence series, Saper Fare: Artisan Traditions of Florence. This walking seminar explores family-run artisan workshops hidden away in the medieval streets around the Duomo where traditional Florentine products are made.

Artisan Traditions of Florence walks, held on Thursday mornings, are limited to six people and led by English-speaking experts in social history, local crafts, and Florentine culture. The walk begins in Piazza della Repubblica, a square central to the history of commerce in Florence, and visits three workshops including a textile maker who has supplied the royalty of Europe, a jewelry boutique that combines traditional techniques dating back to the Etruscans with modern technology, and a studio dedicated to inlaid stone.

Another Context Travel walk focusing on traditional crafts in Florence, Oltrarno Artisans, supports sustainable travel by helping to fund an apprenticeship position for one of the artisans. (more about Context sustainable travel)

Artisan Traditions of Florence originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 01:48:44.

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Italian and European Christmas Markets

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:50:39 +0000

While we often associate Christmas markets with Germany, they're also held in Italy and many other parts of Europe. Top places to go for Mercatini di Natale, Italian Christmas Markets, include Rome, Naples, and the Trentino-Alto Adige Region of Northern Italy.

To find out more about Christmas markets in Europe, check the Blog Carnival: Christmas Markets Light Winter Nights by Ferne Arfin on the UK Travel site. She's gathered articles from the About.com Travel Sites about top Christmas Markets in Europe and even a couple in the US.

Italian and European Christmas Markets originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 13:50:39.

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Olio E Ricordi in Cucina, Italian Cook Book

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:22:16 +0000

Olio e Ricordi in Cucina, a cook book by Fulvio Ferri, will be presented at three upcoming events:

Nov 1, 11:30, at the Botanic Gardens, Strada Bullicame (near the hot baths), Viterbo ...Part of the Mushroom Festival with a cooking show, food booths, free entrance, and guided visits to the Botanical Gardens.
Nov. 29 at the Secret Garden, Vetralla, with a concert and food prepared by Fulvio from recipes in the book. There will be a small entrance fee. Reserve through Mary Jane Cryan (macryan@alice.it).
Dec. 5, 6:00 PM, at the Town Hall in Vetralla, Part of the Festa dell'Olio, olive oil festival.

Olio e Ricordi in Cucina has color photos and an English text written by Mary Jane Cryan, Elegant Etruria. Watch her site for ordering information or email her (macryan@alice.it). Including postage - euro 12 in Italy, 15 rest of Europe, or $24 to the US. Send her your gift list and she'll take care of sending the books.

Where are Viterbo and Vetralla? They're in the Lazio region north of Rome - see our Northern Lazio Map.

Book Cover Photo courtesy of Mary Jane Cryan, Elegant Etruria

Olio E Ricordi in Cucina, Italian Cook Book originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Saturday, October 31st, 2009 at 11:22:16.

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Pictures of Ruspoli Castle and Gardens

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:18:12 +0000

Ruspoli Castle, north of Rome, was built in 847 and has formal 17th century Italian gardens. Handel stayed and composed at Ruspoli Castle during his Italian years. Originally part of the papal estates, the castle is currently owned by Princesses Claudia and Gaida Ruspoli.

Enjoy these Ruspoli Castle and Garden Pictures by Lisa of SecretGardensItaly. Lisa says

With the end of October, the Sunday concert series in this famous musical venue is over for the season but for those who want to live life in the castle a bit, the princesses' representative, Gabriella, now hosts a cooking lesson and lunch of regional specialties including a tour of the castle, garden and church, lasting about 4 hours. It is a day few will ever forget and for only Euro 50. (castelloruspoli@libero.it)

Lunch at the castle could be combined with a visit to Villa Lante Gardens or Bomarzo Monster Park, making a nice day out in Northern Lazio.

Ruspoli Castle Photo � SecretGardensItaly, used by permission

Pictures of Ruspoli Castle and Gardens originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 04:18:12.

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Rainbow Over Tuscany - Photo of the Week

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:01:01 +0000

Previous Italy Travel Photos of the Week

Tuscany Rainbow Photo � 2009 by Martha Bakerjian, licensed to About.com

Rainbow Over Tuscany - Photo of the Week originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 02:01:01.

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Verona Top Attractions

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:11:29 +0000

Verona is known for the romance of Romeo and Juliet and for its impressive Roman Arena used for opera performances. But Verona also has a medieval center with beautiful squares, a Romanesque cathedral where you can see remains of a 4th century church, and towers including one you can climb up for fantastic views of the city and beyond. If that's not enough there are more Roman remains, museums, and even a castle.

Top Verona Attractions takes an in-depth look at what to see and do in Verona. If you go, be sure to buy a Verona Card for sight-seeing savings.

More: Verona Map | Verona Pictures

Verona Top Attractions originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 11:11:29.

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Peschiera del Garda Pictures

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:57:59 +0000

Peschiera del Garda, a town on the southern shore of Lake Garda, has a small historic center enclosed by 16th century pentagon-shaped walls and completely surrounded by water. It's a good town to visit if you're traveling by public transportation as it's served by train, bus, and ferry. Take a look at the town and Lake Garda with our Peshciera del Garda Pictures.

Location: Lake Garda Map
Where to Stay: Top Peschiera Hotels

Photo of Peschiera del Garda walls 2009 � by Martha Bakerjian, licensed to About.com

Peschiera del Garda Pictures originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 13:57:59.

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Twilight Saga's New Moon Movie Screens in Rome

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:46:54 +0000

Scenes from The Twilight Saga: New Moon movie were shown yesterday at the Rome Film Festival. The story, based on the book New Moon (compare prices), was partially shot in Montepulciano, the Tuscan hill town used for filming the story's final scenes that take place in Volterra. Friday flag wavers from Volterra preceded an appearance by New Moon actors on the festival's red carpet, according to ABC News. The New Moon movie is set to open November 20 in the US.

Photo of Montepulciano piazza where New Moon scenes were shot � by Barbara Molini

Twilight Saga's New Moon Movie Screens in Rome originally appeared on About.com Italy Travel on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 09:46:54.

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