Weekend in Italy

The whole Milan and surroundings is in a fermen: the end of January brings back the great Italian and International concerts, from Italian music to jazz, passing through clavicembalo concerts.

At Teatro Condominio Vittorio Gassman in Gallarate, in Varese, is in program the concert of two great artists of Italian Jazz music: Enrico Rava playing the trumpet and Stefano Bollani playing the piano. Both musicians collaborate from many years, in live exhibitions and records: following the “The Third Man” success getting the nomination as Best Jazz Album on 2008, January 2009 has just released the new CD “New York Days”, recorded in New York together with Paul Motian, Larry Grenadier and Mark Turner. This Rava and Bollani’s concert in Gallarate is already a success.

Enrico Rava does not need to be introduced: he has been one of the most famous jazz players since the 60’s, not only in Italy but in Europe too.

His ideal pupil Stefano Bollani, after cooperating with important Italian pop artists (Raf, Irene Grandi, Jovanotti) has asserted himself as a poliedric artist and jazz protagonist. Defined on 1998 the best revelation talent alternates irony and artistic capacity in his performances.

The duet Rava Bollani gives lots of emotions each time for live music lovers.

Enrico Rava and Stefano Bollani concert: purchase now the tickets online>>
March 20th 2009, 9 pm

Tickets still available for the Rava - Bollani concert: poltronissima, poltrona, galleria.
Price: from 26 euros.

There are still some few days remained to visit the exhibition of Robert Rauschenberg works at Museo Madre in Naples.

Robert Rauschenberg is one of the most important American artists of the 19th Century. Dead last year, his innovative ideas were very close to the pop art. Great experimenter, loved introducing various elements into his painting, mixing techniques from painting to photography, litography and collage. He has worked and displayed in Rome, Florence, Venice (having important awards in the Biennale).

This traveling exhibition reaches one of the most important museums in Naples, after Porto and Monaco. Museum is part of the Campania ArteCard: a special card to visit museums at reduced price, or free, together with public transportation for 3 or 7 days.

Opening hours of the exhibition: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 am to 9 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 12 pm. Closed on Tuesday.

The exhibition ends on January 19th 2009.

2009has just begun and many of them are already thinking about new years purposes. At the end of the 2008 year, perhaps you have re-examined all the things that have happened to you and you have decided that in this new year many things must get better, for you and for your families

In order to have a good beginning of the year, keeping the wish of changing and being better persons, many people have decided to go to Rome to get Pope Benedetto 16th’s blessing.

If you think too it could be a good way to start changing your life, you can book a visit to Rome with Papal Audience.

Each Wednesday morning, about 8 am, an organized tour can give youthe change to visit the sacred places of Rome (Castel Sant’angelo, Saint Peter’s), but also to join a meeting that could change your life.

Book now the Papal Audience in Rome for you and your family>>

Florence, during the last Christmas holidays, was one of the most crowded destinations, confirming what anticipated by IlSole24ore about Florence as ideal city where everybody would love living.

The most visited museums in Florence have always been the Uffizi, the Accademia Gallery and the Bargello, but in the last years Palazzo Vecchio has had an important increase of visitors. In the first days of January, more that 50% visitors more than last year have entered the Palace: 7385 during the first days of 2009 against 4865 on 2008.

This important result is due to a higher coverage of the staff and a bigger diffusion about museums openings, in order to have a shorter line at entrance (thanks also to the possibility of purchasing by internet the museum tickets) . In addition, Palazzo Vecchio was one of the municipal museums open on January 5th, opposite to state museums in Florence.

In the last years, Palazzo Vecchio is standing out for the excellent job they are doing on guided visits and specific workshops and itineraries, many of which thought for children too: Museo dei Ragazzi, in fact, offers visits for children with entertainers, puppets, treasure hunt and play activities. And more activities are being created to promote one of the most fascinating monuments in Florence.

For example, it is being discussed about inserting in the Room of Cinquecento some panels telling the story of the Anghiari’s battle.  Coming soon also the guided visits to the communication trenchs.

Book the Secret Passages of Palazzo Vecchio.

This is the favorite period of the shopaholics: end of season sales!

Many shopping lovers anxiously wait for this moment of the year to make their purchases, perfectly knowing the sales calendar (varying from region to region). After Christmas time, everybody knows Epiphany is the sales starter.

The outlet, “discount shops” for shop addicted, are full of clients and curious strolling along shops.

Tuscany is one of the favorite destinations for shopping lovers, as it is full of outlets: Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, the majestic The Mall with shops by Gucci, La Perla,  Loro Piana, Marni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Tod’s, Valentino e Yves Saint Laurent.

Book nowthe Tuscany outlet tour, allowing you to visit in a single day the most important outlets around Florence

After the splendid concert for the new year, other events are coming to Naples for tourists who have chosen this place for a weekend or holidays.

In addition to the celebrations for children for the “Befana” (Epiphany holiday) tomorrow January 6th 2009, the free concert of Eugenio Bennato is in program at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Piazza Mondragone, sponsored by Associazione Taranta Power.

The Epiphany is also the last chance to admire the famous Naples cribs, as the Maiori’s Artistic Crib, in the gardens of Palazzo Mezzacapo a Maiori (Salerno):

Among the events in program for 2009 in Naples, if you are planning a weekend in Naples in February, during the first days of the month don’t miss Riccardo Muti at San Carlo Theater in Naples…there are still some few tickets available! Or the splendid vaulting by Roberto Bolle, still at San Carlo Theater, in Giselle, from February 22nd to 27th 2009.

For the weekend in Naples, we recommend you the three days Campania ArtCard.

2009 begins with a surprise: a nice long weekend to spend in an Italian art city (Rome, Venice, Naples, Florence)

In fact, the Epiphany (January 6th) is on Tuesday, so taking holidays on Monday you can have 4 days for a cultural mini-vacation.

Where shall you go?

A good idea would be the long weekend in Tuscany, especially in Florence, where on January 6th is program a huge costume event.

Piazza del Duomo in Florence will be the scnenery of a historical commemoration: the Florentine Feast, with the Wise Men Ride using Renaissance costumes, as represented by Benozzo Gozzoli in the Cappella dei Magi in Palazzo Medici Riccardi.

In addition to the walk-ons of the Historical Procession of the Florence Republic, we will find the official flag-wavers: the Uffizi’s flag-wavers, performing the flag-waving for more than 40 minutes. A not to miss show for adults and children.