: Italy is an amazing (albeit quite expensive) country for tourism. Once you visit it, you will fall in love with all these tiny old towns lost among the hills of Tuscany, stunning seascapes, food, painting, ruins and much, much more.
But still, I would like, albeit a little chaotic, to tell about life in Italy. Through the eyes of a Russian person and his immigrant friends. All generalizations are conditional - naturally, it is wrong to cut all Italians one size fits all. The text is mainly about the southern regions of Italy, although much is true for the North as well.
1. In Italy there is a real cult of food. They can talk about food for hours - on the phone, on the street and, of course, at the table - it is very difficult for an omnivorous student to endure. The question "what did you eat today?" It is encountered as often as the question "how are you?" And usually the answers to these questions coincide. Eating poorly is a tragedy, eating well - there will be something to discuss with anyone, even an unfamiliar person when meeting.
2. Probably all tourists like Italian cuisine. But sometimes you want to take a break from it. It is unlikely that you will immediately find restaurants with cuisine of other nations. They say there are more of them in the north of the country, but in Rome there are at most three expensive empty Japanese restaurants. However, nobody canceled McDonald's and Chinese restaurants :)
3. And this is not the only problem for those who want to “just eat”. In Italian restaurants, lunch lasts exactly one hour - from 12-30 to 13-30, dinner after 19-30. God forbid you get hungry after two. Eating a sandwich at the bar or looking for a McDonald's is all you have to do. All other restaurants (except, perhaps, the most despicable "tourist" ones) will be tightly closed.
4. There are certain rules for the use of food, tourists often violate them, for which Italians can ridicule. and get angry:
Drink cappuccino only in the morning. Ordering a cup at dinner means making the bartender and customers laugh to tears. - The salad is eaten after the hot one, and not as a snack. - In no case should you combine fish with cheese (and also sprinkle Parmesan on pasta with seafood). What is typical - and here is a melon with ham - please, it's as much as you like! - The worst thing you can do in relation to Italian cuisine is to season your pizza or pasta with ketchup. If an Italian sees it, you will be forever cursed and excommunicated from Italian culture. Also, NEVER tell Italians that you use pasta as a side dish!
5. The attitude towards tourists is passive and dismissive. A person with a non-Italian appearance and a foreign accent gets contemptuous looks, unkind suspicions and the lowest-quality ham in the store. Or, for example, if you order coffee in English, it can cost you twice as much as usual.
6 In general, the first question that strangers ask each other here is: “? Where are you from? ”Moreover, this is not so much a way to start a conversation, but a necessary condition for communication - to put a label on the interlocutor. There are a lot of stereotypes for all nationalities - "Russian", "Americans", "French" - and this, of course, is not a purely Italian phenomenon;)
7. The problem is that Italians cannot be persuaded. “Russian girls are only interested in money” and “the wild cold in Russia” - for them this is self-evident, and no stories about how not everyone marries foreigners for material benefits, and the temperature in summer here can reach 40 degrees, they do not interesting.
8. Many categorically refuse to go to Russia, see the previous paragraph about the cold. For some reason, words such as "middle latitudes", "warm clothes", "Black Sea" do not work on them :)
9. Nevertheless, all this does not interfere with friendly communication with you.
10. The funny thing is that the Italians hang labels not only on residents of other countries, but also on residents of other cities in Italy. But this needs to be told in more detail.
11. Italy, as we usually imagine it - a single boot centered in the Eternal City - simply does not exist. The simplest division is the backward provincial South and the industrial North (the northerners are constantly demanding independence from Southern Italy).
12. But this division is rather arbitrary. Indeed, after the unification of Italy into a single country in the middle of the 19th century, all these small principalities, counties, protectorates and mini-republics, from which today only the Vatican and San Marino remain, continue to live their lives on the Apennine Peninsula. Each seedy town with a population of more than 500 people has not only its own, unlike other history, but also its architecture, cuisine and dialect.
13. Large areas and cities (such as Tuscany, Lazio, Calabria, etc.), among other things, have a strong reputation for the character of their inhabitants. “Of course, she won't call you, she’s from Venice”, “He’s not sad, he’s just from Piedmont, everyone is like that”, “This is a vulgar and consumer magazine, it’s published in Milan!” - In such judgments, from the point of view of Italians, the logic is 100%.
14. Therefore, two unfamiliar Italians, having met, first of all find out where each of them came from (if they did not immediately guess by their appearance and dialect), and permanently stick the corresponding label to the interlocutor. No matter how the Italian behaved in the future, for another Italian he will forever not be “Paolo from the financial department” or “Paolo who got divorced”, but “Paolo-Bolonese”.
15. I don't think it will surprise you that certain names are assigned to the inhabitants of different cities. A man named Pasquale or Gennaro is 100% Neapolitan. A girl named Prisca or Lavinia can only be from Rome. There are, of course, general Italian, geographically neutral names such as Francesco or Mario, but true patriots of their area call their children names that are traditional for the area.
16. As a single nation, Italians feel themselves in two situations - while watching matches of the World / European Football Championship and abroad (as part of a tour group looking for a decent espresso drink, or at a reception at the Italian embassy for the first 20 minutes :).
17. Nevertheless, there are common features (at least for most of the country). For example, simply amazing infantilism of Italians. Italians are by and large small children, very cute and funny, but do not expect adult actions from them. Maybe, of course, the education system and the economy are to blame for everything. Or maybe something else, I'm not sure if anyone knows the reason :)
18. First, most Italians of the so-called “generazione di 1000 euros” (“generation of 1000 euros” - meaning the current average salary that young people can count on) live with their parents up to 35-40 years old, and this is considered normal! After leaving their father's house, they settle somewhere nearby, and more often they stay in the same house, while my mother continues to wash and iron their shirts, clean up and bring food.
19. I will note, by the way: the most sacred person for every Italian is mom, especially if you know with what aspiration they pronounce this word. Which is not surprising, given the previous point :)
20. Secondly (returning to infantilism), it is customary to graduate from college in Italy after 30. If by some miracle you managed to do this earlier, you will be considered almost a child prodigy.
21. In general, the concept of "young man" is very vague. Young people are called somewhere up to 35-40 years old.
22. Marrying before the age of 25 is generally considered stupid. Before formalizing a relationship, couples meet for many years. If the marriage turned out to be unsuccessful, you simply won't be able to get a divorce - you are given three years to "think", the divorce proceedings can last up to 10 years.
23. Another cute trait. Italians do not understand the phrase "do not sit on the steps - you will get cold." For them it sounds as funny as for us the childish "mom, don't smoke - your legs will fall off." Then many suffer from sciatica. No comment.
24. Italians are very absent-minded. Very. Leaving a suitcase in a hotel or somewhere at the airport is in the order of things.
25. Italians, being in principle a cheerful and cheerful people, have a strange habit of falling into melancholy if it is cloudy and raining outside. And they are also terrified of the cold. Bad weather in all seriousness upsets these sensitive citizens with a fine mental organization :)
26. Another characteristic feature of Italians is simply monstrous slowness and total relaxation. The national motto of Italians is the expression "piano-piano", meaning "slowly", "without haste." And this applies to a huge number of things.
27. They have an innate inability to make quick decisions. And where is the hurry? It's so difficult to plan and decide something right away. Therefore, very often, when planning to have dinner, Italians make an appointment not directly in the restaurant, but somewhere on the street - to decide where to go! Given their constant lateness and their habit of chatting off-the-job for hours, you risk being hungry for a very long time on such an evening ...
28. Remember that what Italians themselves ironically call "salamelecchi" and "chiacchierate", namely lengthy greetings, an abundance of introductory words and sentences, doubts and detailed descriptions of irrelevant details, visits from afar, thoughts spreading along a tree, picturesque moving away from the topic under discussion (mainly in the direction of the topic of food and the intricacies of the speaker's state of mind) and excruciatingly long goodbyes are just as integral part of the conversation as the actual essence of the conversation, which, as you can see, is often lost behind all this;)
29. A typical case for Russian émigrés: we agreed to meet in a bar with a large company around 20:00 and go to a disco. The Russian part arrives at 19-45. Italians start calling at 8:30 p.m. and say they will be a little late, which in fact means that someone is chatting with friends on the street, and someone else has not taken a shower. At about half past nine, people start to drive up, and everyone gathers together by eleven. It takes about five minutes to go to the disco, but the whole company gets there closer to twelve. The main thing is that NOBODY cares about this.
30. I would also refer to the "piano-piano" as the Italian bureaucratic colossus. A Russian person cannot be surprised by gigantic crowds, occupying a queue at 4 in the morning, working hours “Thursday from 10 to 12” and endless running from one office to another.
31. Sometimes you have to wait for the required document for YEARS. The cases that I heard about - a permesso (residence permit) - a year and a half, a university graduation diploma - 4 years, a passport for a child (!) - 12 years.
32. In general, when Russians (especially Muscovites) get to Italy, from time to time there is an irresistible desire to press the fast forward key.
34. The ultimate dream is to get a job with some kind of relative and get those same 1000 euros, without much straining. Actually, it is considered normal when, having received the post of general director, an Italian brings all his relatives to the company.
35. Stores are open until 7:30 pm with lunch breaks from 12 to 16. Most shops have a shorter day on Saturday. Sunday is a day off. They say there are shops in Milan that are open on Sunday. This is very unusual in Italy.
36. But what is typical is the answer to my question "Why are shops not open on Monday?" "Because the salespeople are resting after Sunday."
37. Metro in Rome is small - only two lines (in Milan - three), one of which runs until 21:00. The metro is quite modest, Muscovites would even say "wretched". All carriages are covered with graffiti.
38. The Romans complain about the work of buses, which are often late, and sometimes they do not come at all. Strikes, which take place here almost every week, could freeze public transport for half a day.
39. Although, for example, night buses that will take you to any area of Rome are such a luxury that you can only dream of in my native St. Petersburg;)
40. But let's continue about the Italians. The attitude towards tourists goes hand in hand with hypertrophied local patriotism and the glorification of their own small homeland, no matter how small in size it may be.
41. Moves from city to city are rare and reluctant. I have never heard of any talk of dumping abroad, but nevertheless, people go abroad.
42. Most Italians do not know foreign languages, and they stubbornly refuse to study them. Russian immigrants, for example, cannot force their husbands to learn at least an elementary way to express themselves in Russian.
43. Although we must give them their due - as a child, an Italian is actually mastering two languages: his native dialect (from the cradle) and literary Italian at school.
44. All this together, unfortunately, gives rise to the reluctance of Italians to learn about other cultures. Indeed, when your town (with a corresponding set in addition - a football team, dialect, landscape and local cuisine) is the highest standard and a source of pride for you, it is logical that other cities and countries are automatically at a lower level for you.
45. An Italian travels just to make sure that his native Bari is much better than New York, Barcelona or Marrakesh. The cultural attractions of other countries are fun for Italians, but never awe-inspiring. The guide's phrase "This is the oldest church in the city, it is 500 years old" or "This is the largest art gallery in the country" cause (not unreasonably, however) Italian tourists condescending smile and offer the guide to go to Rome or Florence.
46. Italians themselves say that tourist services in their country are too expensive and of poor quality, and many prefer to vacation in Croatia, Egypt and tropical countries.
47. In all Italian cinemas, in the middle of the film, the lights turn on, the film ends in mid-sentence, and the words "Intervallo" appear on the screen. 5 minute break.
48. There is a certain class of media personalities called velins. These are beautiful girls who work as assistants on various talk shows - they bring water or required props to the participants and from time to time, when the presenter announces a break in the debate, they go on stage and dance. The profession of Velina is considered one of the most prestigious, and most Italian girls in all seriousness dream of the fate of a naked dancing nymph on a television screen. Yellow publications are interested in their life, they are idolized, famous football players marry them.
49. Italian men have good taste and always dress stylishly, fortunately in Italy there are all the possibilities for this.
50. All windows are equipped with shutters, which are dully closed at night. There are many reasons - this is the saving of heat, and the too close arrangement of houses to each other, and the habit of falling asleep with tightly closed windows, and the typical Italian "SO ACCEPTED".
51. It's a paradox, but Russians living in Italy are freezing in their apartments: both Milan and Rome have central heating, but by law, be it central or not, the temperature in the house should not exceed 22 ° and the heating can be kept switched on not more than a certain number of hours per day. And each condominium decides what hours it will be (for example, 6-9 and 17-23). In fact, the temperature of +15 in an Italian home is the norm.
52 In Italian universities there are no campuses and dormitories - everyone rented housing as best they can.
53. Catching a taxi or a ride is unrealistic.
54. Many Italians are superstitious. How the presence of all sorts of "magicians" and general Catholicism are combined - only God knows.
55. In Italy, the unlucky number is 17.
56. Piano in Italian sounds like "pianoforte".
57. I would like to mention Italian legislation in a separate line. Italians are very fond of complaining about taxes, while many actively evade paying them. And literally everything is taxed, including going into the forest for mushrooms. Coupled with the laws incomprehensible to an ordinary tourist (you cannot draw with chalk on the asphalt, you cannot bring sea water home, etc.) We get a rather colorful picture.
58. Average life expectancy in Italy: men - 74 years, women - 81 years. And the number of centenarians is only growing. Officials are concerned about the burden that the pension fund may face in the future, and are already looking for a way out of the situation, which may develop in a couple of decades.
59. And finally. Judging by the stories about life in Milan, the capital of Italy is located there. :)
And a hundred more facts:
LiveJournal user stebun.livejournal.com told ABOUT ITALY From the Inside, compiling his selection of 100 facts.
1. There are 20 regions in Italy. They are all very different. If you have been to one or two, you have not been to Italy.
2 . Each region has its own dialect. Residents of neighboring regions may not understand each other.
3. Regions are divided into communes. Residents of communes may also have their own dialects and not understand their neighbors.
4. About 80% of the businesses in Sicily, Calabria and the Copania pay tribute to the mafia.
5. There are no orphanages in Italy.
6. There are no stray animals in Italy.
7. Men in families are terribly afraid of their wives.
8. It is written in the driving rules in Italy that when overtaking, you can warn with a high beam. In other European countries, you may be fined for this.
9. If you ask for coffee in English at the bar, it can cost 2 times more.
10. For locals, prices in bars and cafes may be lower than for tourists.
11. The letter "C" on the faucet will represent hot water (Calda).
12. Expressways Freeways are almost always paid. The speed is limited to 130 km / h. But many do not care. Police with radar are very rare.
13. Most Italian designers made their fortune selling in Russia.
14. The farther south the region is, the more friendly the people are.
16. Many Italians have a summer cottage by the sea.
17. All Italian words end in a vowel.
18. The cuisine of each region is significantly different.
19. Spaghetti Bolognese is a name for tourists. Locals call this dish spaghetti con stew, not accepting Bologna's attempt to appropriate the dish.
20. Italy has one of the highest life expectancies in the world.
21. Italians and Spaniards understand each other because of the similarity of languages.
22. In the Valle region, Italian is not spoken and is poorly understood. The main language there is German.
23. The language that is considered official in Italy is actually a Florentine dialect. It became universal after Dante wrote The Divine Comedy.
24. There are 54 police organizations in Italy. They all have the right to carry weapons. Even traffic controllers.
25. Italy and Poland are the two most religious countries in Europe.
26. When filing an annual tax return, you must make a donation to the Catholic Church.
27. A tobacco shop has many functions - there you can top up your phone account, buy a parking ticket, and even pay some taxes.
28. The most greedy and socially irresponsible mafia (Camorra) in Calabria - the only motorway in the region Salerno-Reggio has been built for over 40 years. All this time, money is being stolen.
29. In Italy, there are almost all climatic zones, except for extreme ones.
30. The main meal takes place in the evening, in the form of a hearty family dinner.
31. Italians practically don't drink juices, you won't find them in many restaurants.
32. Italians practically do not use strong drinks.
33. The main drinks are water or wine. Sometimes beer.
34. 60% of the world's cultural heritage is located in Italy.
35. Florence is a city in Tuscany with the largest pedestrian zone in the world.
36. Olive oil must be bought from the peasants in the countryside. Buying it at the supermarket is considered bad form in most regions. To a lesser extent, this applies to wine.
37. Italians actively use dozens of gestures when speaking. In general, there are hundreds of them. They were born as an aid in communication due to the significant difference in languages in the country.
38. It is considered indecent for women to gesture.
39. The most offensive gesture - the "goat" of the index finger and little finger up - means that you are a cuckold. The same gesture with the fingers down drives away spoilage.
40. One or two invitations are sent to the wedding. According to the first, you have the right to come to the official ceremony in the church, according to the second - to a merry drinking party and a holiday after.
41. At Christmas, it is customary to give each other red panties. Yes, and to be happy, you have to sleep in them on Christmas night.
42. Most Italians never traveled south of Rome.
. 43 In some regions, if there are three smokers nearby, the youngest has to put out a cigarette - a bad omen.
44. When talking, for persuasiveness, it is a good idea to take the interlocutor by the elbow.
45. 80% of Italy's territory is mountainous.
46. Italy is a mono-national country. 95% of the population are Italians.
47. Half a century ago, the Italian language was used only in literature. All regions spoke their own languages. The language spread through television.
48. Until now, 20% of the population do not understand official Italian.
49. Real Italian pizza is baked in a wood-fired oven.
50. The European Union is trying to ban the production of some cheeses, wood-fired pizzas, some types of ham in Italy, as they do not meet the notions of hygiene and standards (ash falls on pizza, cheese is buried in the ground).
. 51 98% of Italians are Catholics.
52. Pasta is not only pasta, but anything made from flour.
. 53 The most popular sport in Italy is football. Next comes motocross and cycling.
54. The name of the Italian national football team "Scuadra adzura" is translated as "blue team". And the players themselves are called "adzuri" - "blue".
55. The world's first ghetto for Jews was established by Italians in Venice in the 16th century.
56. The "Italian strike" is not a myth - it is often a means of entertainment at work.
57. Italians chuckle at tourists who visit cafes in central squares and pay huge sums of money for poor-quality food.
58. The very best restaurants often have no signage. You can get there only on the recommendation.
59. When buying, be sure to take a receipt. You can be detained by financial police officers with a bag from a store or a pie in hand and asking where you bought it, and a large fine in the absence of a check.
60. Lamborghini was previously known as a tractor company. And with what fright did they start making luxury cars?
62. Some laws are optional. So in Italy there are hundreds of thousands of illegal buildings. Including in the coastal zone.
63. Inside Italy, there are 2 more states: San Marino and the Vatican.
64. Italians dress very “so-so” and even casually, they love black colors. The exceptions are Milan, Rome and several resort areas.
65. In Italy it is forbidden to be on the beach at night. The fine is about 1000 euros.
66. By the way, it is forbidden to take home seawater.
67. Italians are not punctual. Time is nothing to them. Better come back later so you don't have to wait.
68. The timetable for trains, buses and planes is also rather arbitrary. Times, platforms and gates on information boards are approximate.
69. The bag on one shoulder is carried only by tourists. Locals always wear over their heads. Motorcyclists can rip out.
70. Italians are by no means the heirs of the Roman Empire, although they live in the same territory.
71. When applying to state universities in Italy, you do not need to take exams. They take everyone.
. 72 In Italian universities there are no campuses and a hostel - everyone rented housing according to their capabilities.
73. Exams in Italy in many universities are taken by whoever wants to, as soon as they are ready: there are no sessions.
74. The official procedure for divorce of spouses in Italy lasts about three years. Even after that, the court can oblige a man to support his ex-wife if she does not have enough funds.
75. Dress in a non-tourist area should be modest. Short skirts for girls and shorts for men are not welcome.
76. Italians do not like to work. But they are very offended when you tell them about it.
77. The uniform of the Italian police is sewn by Prada.
78. A respected person can be called by adding the prefix "Doctor" to the surname. This does not mean that it is related to medicine or advanced degrees.
79. The further south, the more often men sincerely kiss when meeting and parting. This is normal, but it was hard for me to get used to when an unshaven mug crawls towards you with outstretched lips.
80. Italians don't just love children, they allow them to do whatever they want. If someone's kid twists tomato sauce on you, you should smile and say how cute it is.
. 81 Italians are fans of music and theater. They usually buy annual membership passes. Some theaters have no tickets or very bad seats.
82. Some organizations may only consist of members of one family or one clan.
83. In Italy it is forbidden to paint with crayons on the asphalt.
84. Each village or city has its own patron saint.
85. The number 17 is considered unlucky in Italy. And 13 is quite cute.
86. The letters K, Y, W, X, J are absent in the Italian alphabet. I was very uncomfortable without the "k" at first.
87. Italians are wary of blue-eyed people. It is believed that they can jinx.
. 88 In Italy (as well as in the USA) it is impossible to open an umbrella indoors - it brings bad luck.
. 89 By the way, pouring wine on the table is fortunate.
90. It is better to buy clothes in Italy in large malls outside the city.
91. It is considered normal for a man to live up to 40 years old with his mother.
92. In August, the whole country goes on vacation together. Even large businesses are shutting down.
. 93 They don't yell or swear - that's how they talk.
. 94 Natale is Christmas. And Santa Claus, respectively Babbo Natale.
96. Italians love to play lotteries and all kinds of sweepstakes. It is unthinkable to understand them. But they can.
97. Internet in Italy only upon presentation of a passport and leaving a copy of it in the Internet club. And phone SIM cards. Yes, and football tickets too.
98. It is customary to buy high quality meat, fish, sausage and vegetables in small shops from people you know.
. 99 A bidet is a must-have accessory for any (non-public) toilet. Even the dirtiest hotel will have a bidet, and the Italians are sure we don't know what it is.
100. In many regions, Friday is men's day. In restaurants, strictly the company of guys. It is indecent for girls to go to bars that day.
Lombardy is one of the most beautiful regions of Italy, which is why thousands of tourists come here every year, regardless of the season. I was vacationing in Como in April and did not even expect how much I would love this picturesque and cozy town. This resort is very famous, because in the city by the lake of the same name there are many very popular tourist sites, and the town itself is very beautiful. 
It is quite easy to get to Como - a comfortable electric train regularly travels here from Milan, and it takes a little more than 4 hours on the road. By the way, any tourist can afford to buy tickets, as their cost is up to 10 euros. You can get around the city by public transport, and tickets can be bought at any station, in a tobacco stand or in a newspaper shop. By the way, if you plan to see the sights, and not just take a walk by the lake, it is better to buy a travel card for 1 day, so ... read in full
MMM Corones
My 15th 8000m high mountain is the sum of all my experiences.
So, we are back at the Kronplatz ski resort, on the top of a mountain at an altitude of 2,275 meters above sea level. At the equator of the week at noon, after a glass of dry and the sound of the bell of Concordia 2000, a good idea came. But everything is in order ...
About MMM museums
MMM (Messner Mountain Museum) currently has six museums created by a great man, our contemporary. The first five museums in this series are named as follows:
- MMM Firmian (located in the Sigmundskron castle in Firmian), here you can get acquainted with the history of the emergence and development of mountaineering.
- MMM Juval in Naturns (located in the castle where Messner himself resides). The museum tells about the mythology of mountains as spiritual objects.
- MMM Dolomites (at the top of Mount Monte Rite), in a fort during the First World War, is presented ... read completely
On the way to the three peaks or a visit to Belluno
When thinking about another trip to the Dolomites
I saw a picture that determined the direction of the region,
which you must definitely go to and
see with my own eyes
nature miracle
Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Dry Zinnen (Italian Tre Cime di Lavaredo, German Drei Zinnen, lit. “Three prongs, three peaks”) is a mountain range in the Sesten Dolomites. Until 1919, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo served as part of the natural border between Austria and Italy, but today they separate the province of South Tyrol in the Bolzano region and the Belluno province of the Veneto region and still serve as the “linguistic” border between the German and Italian speaking ethnic groups.
The highest point of the massif is Cima Grande (Grose Cinne) with a height of 2999 meters above sea level. (Cima Grande Italian / Grose Zinne, German). It is located between two other main peaks - Chima-Ovest (Westlichen-Zinne) (German Westlichen Zinne, Italian Cima Ovest, 2973 a.m.) and ... read in full
3 Zinnen Dolomites / Tre Cime Dolomiti or Dolomites sundial
Excuse me girl, what time is it?
Twelve o'clock, - answered, looking at the sun.
Thank you.
Is that all? ... Neither "how beautiful you are," nor "what is your name" ... They have completely blossomed already.
3 Zinnen Dolomites / Tre Cime Dolomiti (German / Italian) in the past Sextner Dolomiten / Sesto Dolomiti in its present form is a relatively young resort. Small ski areas are scattered and scattered across the valley.
In 2014, in the Hochpustertal / Alta Pusteria valley, two lifts connected two small ski centers - Helm and Rotwand.
This is how a large ski area appeared, surrounded by gorgeous landscapes, where we went on a cloudy day. From the Brunico train station, the way went east on the beautiful Pustertal Express train in the direction of the Austrian Lienz.
As I wrote earlier, from the top of the Kronplatz you can still go down the Ried highway to the Percha / Perca station and from there move towards Alta Pusteria.
I went to Rimini not quite in season. Therefore, I did not really count on a beach vacation and did the right thing. In mid-May, the water in the sea was still quite cool. This, of course, did not interfere with sunbathing, but it did not work out with swimming. Taking this opportunity, I visited other cities in Italy. Warm, but not hot weather was very conducive to walks in Italian towns. She studied Rimini directly and learned a lot about Federico Fellini - a native of these places. But the most important thing is that I devoted a lot of time to Italian cuisine. Gourmet.
First of all, it is necessary to clarify that there is a system of several prices in local trattorias and restaurants. If you eat at a table in a restaurant, you pay not only for the food, but also “for the tablecloth” - table service. If at the bar, the cost is reduced, and if you take the same dish to take away, the price is even lower. I alternated all three options. I also liked to sit in atmospheric places, slowly enjoying the taste of the dishes, and to have a snack at the bar ... read in full
Kronplatz / Plan de Corones or cocktail recipe Aperol Syringe
Long ago at the dawn of time
when fairies, gnomes, trolls lived in these mountains,
young beauty and part-time daughter of the king ...
The desire to visit the region that combines German and Italian culture arose 5 years ago. I managed to go in the 16/17 season with a deployment in Brunico with various routes in South Tyrol.
So, after landing in Verona, Italy, the 3-hour journey lay north to the Alps, South Tyrol, Südtirol (German) / Alto Adige (Italian), in particular the Pustertal / Val Pusteria valley in the "Austrian ski resort of Italy".
The heart of the valley is the old town of Bruneck / Brunico, founded by the prince-bishop Bruno von Kirchberg in the 13th century and after which the town was named. He also erected a castle that still stands today.
View of the eastern side of the city from the castle.
Have you seen the movie "The Adventures of Italians in Russia"? I am sure that yes, which means you will appreciate our adventure in Italy. It was the perfect romantic trip to the Cinque Terre. Neither Paris, nor the beloved Nessebar, nor even a honeymoon trip to Montenegro and Croatia impressed as much as the park in the Cinque Terre.
The idea to see Italy was born after the photo shop confused our order with another married couple, and we did not look and took our printed canvas from Croatia. And what a surprise it was when, instead of a park with Plitvice waterfalls, mountains, the sea and small boats below stood on the canvas. Honestly, my husband and I thought it was Venice, but it turned out to be the Cinque Terre, which is translated as "Five Lands". The canvas was so impressed that the idea of a vacation was born there, BUT we were waiting for a Miracle. They say that a pregnant woman cannot be refused, the husband had no choice but to surrender. We consulted a doctor, "agreed" with ... read in full
We spent our July 2015 vacation in the city of Rimini, which is located in Northern Italy. We chose this resort for three reasons: the location of the city is so convenient that you can easily get to other cities from it, a flight to Rimini is cheaper than to Milan, and a tour package to the North coast of Italy is cheaper than to the South. All in all, Rimini is one of the cheapest vacation options in Italy.
July is the hottest month in Rimini, during the day the thermometer rises above 30 degrees, at night it becomes cooler +22, the water is very warm +26. During the ten days of our vacation, there was not a single cloudy day in this country, not to mention rain. It would seem that this weather is more suitable for a beach holiday, but nevertheless, if your choice fell on Rimini, it is better to watch Italian sights.
The view from our balcony was actually panoramic. On the right was a view of a small pool, and in front was the sea. After resting a little, we went to the beach. Our hotel was on the first line, so we walked at least one minute. The beach was clean, gray sand. We were assigned sun loungers with an umbrella, which were practically near the water. Entrance to ... read in full
Naples is perhaps the most vibrant city in southern Italy. Where the poverty of the Negro neighborhoods side by side with the luxury of expensive hotels. And the splendor of the palaces is intertwined with the impoverished hovels of the emigrants. Naples is a city with a lot of pepper - not a single police officer serving in Naples lives in this city - they shoot, but there are many expensive neighborhoods in Naples. This is a city with a fiery heart, and not a tired language, it is in Naples that "talking with your hands" is not just an expression, it is a familiar style of communication, and the chaotic driving of local motorists often puts into a stupor relaxed tourists.
But at the same time, traditions are honored in Naples: large Italian families, mafia clans, playing with thimbles on the streets and of course espresso, which the waiters from the cafe carry to the homes of their regular visitors. It is in Naples, at his train station, that the oldest barista in Italy works, he is already 92 years old, but the queue for a portion of his espresso does not decrease throughout the day.
Inspired by reading reports on independent travels of compatriots, I decided to tell about my adventures in Italy. Planning the trip began with a banal conversation between my husband and his friends on New Year's Eve on the topic: “Shouldn't we all go to Italy together”.
Thank you very much for the stories about the trips sent to the contest "The Story of My Travel" to me by e-mail: [email protected].
Today Larisa Doshlygina will talk about her trip to Italy.
Inspired by reading reports on independent travels of compatriots, I decided to tell about my adventures in Italy.
Planning the trip began with a banal conversation between my husband and his friends on New Year's Eve on the topic: “Shouldn't we all go to Italy together”.
After thinking it over, my friends and I began to draw up a plan of activities for the vacation. The trip was supposed to take place in the first half of August. We began to select air tickets and hotels.
But before choosing hotels, it was necessary to decide on the purpose of the trip. Since the summer vacation - I wanted, of course, a beach holiday. But going to Italy and not visiting the most significant historical sites is simply sacrilege. I wanted to embrace the immensity. But we decided to take a chance.
Tickets were booked in the direction Moscow-Rome-Moscow with transfers in Kiev.
Booked a hotel in Rome via Booking.com. The main factors in choosing a hotel were: the proximity to the railway station for further travel around the country and, of course, the price-quality ratio. We chose the Hotel Windrose. The room was small, but everything was clean, comfortable, air conditioning in the room. And the price suited us. We spent 2 nights in Rome. Read more about the city's impressions below.
After exploring Rome - I wanted to travel around the country. Use trains to travel around the country. We decided that it would be safer to buy train tickets in advance by booking and paying for them on the website www.trenitalia.com.
When buying tickets, it was necessary to decide where to go next. Like most Russian tourists, we headed to Rimini. The hotel was also booked on the Booking.com website. Hotel St Pierre for 5 nights. In my opinion, the hotel corresponds to its three stars. Nothing fancy, but nothing bad either. But we did not pursue "beauty" either. From Rimini, we planned to travel to the nearest cities, see the sights.
The third point of our trip - we have planned the beach. After reading the reviews, we decided to stay in a quiet, small town - San Ferdindo in southern Italy in the province of Calabria. We were seduced by the fact that Italians themselves chose this place for rest.
Having prepared the ground for recreation, namely air tickets, train tickets and hotel reservations, we started thinking about obtaining visas. We prepared a standard package of documents, applied to the visa center, and a week later the cherished marks in the passport were already in our hands.
It only remained to wait for August. After 4 long months, the day has finally come when you can pack your things in a suitcase and go on vacation.
After the flight, Rome greeted us with extraordinary heat, Mediterranean climate and blooming oleanders. We have allocated 3 days to Rome.
First day: After checking into the hotel, we immediately went to conquer the city. Our trek began with a metro ride to Flaminio station, from where we find ourselves in the magnificent Piazza del Poppolo, the so-called "trident".
There is a wonderful park and observation deck nearby.
On the way back, we throw coins into the Trevi fountain in order to return to the eternal city again.
Tired, but happy, we return to the hotel to continue in the morning.
On the second day we planned a hike to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Having planned the visit in advance, we purchased tickets on the website: ticketsrome.com. The ticket is valid for 2 days, one for the Forum and the Colosseum. You can buy tickets on the spot, however, you can stand in line for more than 2 hours (in the photo behind me the Colosseum and people standing in line for tickets at the box office).
A visit to the Colosseum is certainly not possible to forget. Majestic, grandiose.
On a single ticket, after visiting the Colosseum, we sent to inspect the Roman Forum and the Palatine. From where they later went on a free walk around the city without any purpose. And in the evening we made our way to our hotel on foot.
Italian car industry.
The morning of the next day we also bought tickets to the Vatican Gardens and Museums via the Internet (http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va). And here we made the right decision - the queue stretched for several hundred meters. Once in the Vatican Museum, we were met by a nice girl guide, as it turned out, the price of tickets to the gardens also includes an excursion in Russian. The language was chosen when ordering tickets.
After inspecting the gardens, we headed to the Vatican Museums - 7 km of historical value, the crown of which is the Sistine Chapel. In view of the fact that any conversations or photography is prohibited there, I have no photos. I advise you to go there yourself.
And of course, the obligatory climb to the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Just like Dan Brown's book.
4th day. In the evening, a high-speed train to Rimini was already waiting for us at Termini station. Travel time 3.5 hours and we are already on the Adriatic coast of Italy. I want to warn you right away - trains in Italy, regardless of the class of service, are delayed at an enviable frequency.
The next day (namely the fifth from the beginning of our journey) - we went to Venice. Tickets for all trains are bought in advance. There were no excursion programs, except for their own theoretical knowledge.
Venice is a city of romance. Instead of streets, there are water canals. Instead of cars - boats, boats and gondolas. It is difficult to imagine a person who would not be impressed by this magnificence.
As soon as we got off the train, we immediately plunged into the splendor of Venice.
First look at the city.
Every corner of Venice is imbued with the spirit of romanticism.
Magnificent Piazza San Marco.
Countless bridges spanned the canals of Venice.
Since my husband and I got married a month before our trip, we decided to leave our memory of Venice by hanging a lock on one of the many bridges of the city.
Finally, before the train to the hotel in Rimini, we tried a local drink - Spritz - a mixture of champagne, Aperol liqueur and mineral water with ice. Very invigorating.
6th day: having risen early in the morning, we wandered towards the railway station in Rimini in order to catch a bus that will take us to another state - San Marino. A roundtrip ticket cost about 10 euros / person. The bus took us to the entrance to the historical part of the capital of San Marino. Getting into the city, the first thing you notice is a huge number of different shops. They sell everything from colorful pasta to bags and leather jackets. Our compatriots - and not only them - actively buy all the offered goods. The main attraction of San Marino is the three medieval fortress towers.
The towers are built on a sheer cliff, and the spectacle is certainly breathtaking. I strongly advise everyone to go. The proximity of San Marino to Rimini also attracts. In the evening we already swam in the Adriatic.
7th day. After San Marino, the last item on our cultural program was a trip to Florence. Getting off the train, we went straight to inspect the grand Duomo.
This is not seen anywhere else. The facade is decorated with a huge number of ornaments and patterns. The queue at the Duomo was, as elsewhere, huge. Therefore, we decided not to climb the dome, but to climb the Colonade, which stands next to it - to inspect the panorama of the city. The views are amazing.
In the city, I definitely advise you to visit the Bargello Palace - in which we saw a statue of David by Botticelli; the palace and the Vecchio bridge. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to visit the Uffizzi Gallery, but even just walking the streets of Florence is a pleasure.
After a week of our trip across Italy we went to the south of the country. Our destination is the city of San Ferdinando. You can get to it by train: Rosarno station, and then by taxi. We were greeted by the owners of the hotel where we were staying - Sweet Home.
Of course, you won't find all-inclusive tours here, but the warmth is worth a lot.
Since the main topic of the second week of rest was the beach, I'll tell you about the sea. The city is located on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is significantly different from the Adriatic. Azure sea, sandy beaches.
Of the vacationers - 99% percent of Italians, English is rarely heard, and we have not seen Russians at all. If you are vacationing here, I advise you to rent a car and travel to neighboring towns. I'll tell you about restaurants separately. There are only three or four of them in the city. Restaurants are open in the morning - until 13:00, and in the evening - after 19:00. In the afternoon, all restaurants, cafes, shops and stalls are closed for a siesta.
We remember one of the restaurants in the city most of all - it is called "Rose of the Winds": the freshest seafood, a huge pizza for 4 euros, pasta. From personal experience: I ordered pasta with eggplant and swordfish - the taste is unforgettable.
There are many cafes on the streets - where you can drink limoncello or coffee, eat ice cream. Also on the streets, locals sell fruits and vegetables from their garden. Very fresh oranges, bergamot, figs, grapes, peaches. Once we tasted the fruits of a cactus.
A week at sea flew by like an instant. And here we are on the train - we are returning to Rome. We had a few hours left before the plane - we buy souvenirs for friends and go home full of impressions.
We did not plan any organized excursions, but the holiday planned and organized on our own was a success! If you are afraid of problems with the language - do not worry, you can even explain yourself "on the fingers". Therefore, I advise everyone to go to Italy.
How do I save on hotels?
It's very simple - look not only at the booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He is looking for discounts on Booking and 70 other booking sites at the same time.
This summer I managed to fulfill my dream. I was in Italy again!
I love Italy madly! I was there in August 2007 and April 2008, then I decided that I needed to see other countries, gave Italy a break)
This time I had more time :)
Before the trip, of course, I added a route. For the previous 2 times I saw a lot of places. This time it was important for me to see what I had never seen before (Amalfi Coast, Cinque Tere), what I saw but wanted to return (Rome, Florence), and what would be most interesting for my soul mate (Rome, Venice, Naples) - and to all this, spend more days at sea.
So what happened:
We arrived late in the evening on June 30, it turned out that after midnight, public transport does not go, and there is a huge queue for a taxi. But we cheated a little, and by 2 am we managed to check into the hotel.
We spent July 1-3 in Rome -
1st - Cathedral of Rome - San Giovanni in Laterano, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Circo Massimo, Tiber Island, and of course the final of Euro 2012 on the main observation deck (Circo Massimo).
2- After the first day in Rome at 42 degrees, we decided to spend the first half of the day at sea - in Ostia. Then in the evening we walked on foot from the station through Barberini to Trevi to the Pantheon, Piazza Navona .. to eat and sleep
3- In the morning to the Vatican Museums, then to the Cathedral of St. Peter and to the dome, then through the Cathedral of St. Angel to the Popolo square, then the Spanish Steps, Venice square
4- On the morning of the 4th, we naively came to the station to rent a car, but it turned out that there were no cars .. anywhere .. and we had already booked a hotel near Sorrento. Bottom line - we booked a car online from the next day in Naples. We got to Naples by train, then by train to Sorrento, then by bus to Mas Lubrense, then we realized that no one knows where our hotel is, they were looking for it for a very long time .. but they found it all the same! The room had a stunning view of the sea, Capri and Ischia! We swam and took a walk in Sorrento in the evening.
5- Spent half a day at sea, then to Naples for a car .. I, of course, read a lot about traffic in Naples, but I had to take a car .. It turned out that renting a navigator is extremely expensive, so we bought it. A separate story about the lack of service in e-shops. So, after 2 hours we finally got out of Naples and drove to Amalfi. Because We were not very familiar with the navigator yet, he took us through the mountains, as a result, we arrived in Amalfi only at 9 o'clock in the evening .. But on the way we saw beautiful places, excellent panoramas from the mountains to Vesuvius and the Amalfi Riviera. In Amalfi, they paid 5 euros per hour of parking, admired the city a little - and go to the hotel to sleep.
6- Again we spent half a day at the sea, and then went to Sorrento, bought water and snacks, looked at Vesuvius, which opens up from the embankment. Further to Positano. Wonderful cute town, with a bunch of narrow streets, stairs and cats.
7- In the morning we took a swim and headed towards the north. We visited Gaeta, but it was midday, the city was empty, we walked alone along the streets. Then we swam on the most stunning sandy beach - at the exit from Gaeta towards Sperlonga. Then there was a long drive towards Pisa.
8- In the morning Pisa, in the afternoon swimming in Viareggio (very small and dirty :(), in the late afternoon we arrived in the Cinque Tere. We parked at Manarola. Ate at a wonderful fish restaurant, bathed, and went along the lovers' road to Riomaggiore, then back. We wanted to stay in Manarola, but at the hotel everyone went to bed and did not answer the calls. At night we drove towards Levante. In the end we had to turn off, because the road was blocked. We spent the night in the mountains in San Bernardino.
9- I had to go a long way to Monterosso, because the short one was blocked. 25 km of semi-boneless serpentine - and we are there. We swam, walked the fry, bought local wine. Then a long drive to Padua. We managed to arrive before dark, settled in and walked around the center.
10- We met with my old Ukrainian-Italian acquaintance, who gave us an exclusive tour of Venice. And then he showed us a winery near Padua, where they bought delicious wine. Andrey - thank you very much! Then we went to Florence on our own. On the way, we had supper and walked for an hour in Bologna. It was with difficulty that we found where it would be more or less economical to park the car in Florence. At 12 o'clock, it turned out to be 18 euros. Sleep.
11- Favorite Florence - Duomo, Basilica of Santa Croce, Piazza Signoret, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Piti, Piazza Michelangelo, San Miniato al Monte, shops, markets)), etc. etc ...
12- In the morning we left in the direction of Rome, on the way we stopped for a short time at the outlet The Mall :), since by 16 we had to return the car at the train station in Rome. We settled in. We arrived at the Spanish Steps, had dinner, walked to the Cathedral of St. Angel, then to the Cathedral of St. Peter. Well, to the hotel, it was necessary to collect things.
13- In the morning we managed to go to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and go to the area of the Spanish Steps, where we looked at several interesting shops the day before. By bus and to the airport.
Of course, this is just a brief summary .. there were many, many, many things ...
Italy is beautiful! the fry are just tired of all the travels, impressions .. dashed off 1600 km
Next time I would like to travel around the northwestern part of Italy;)
Final of Euro2012 at Circo Massimo
July 3, on the dome of St. Peter
by the Spanish Steps
July 5, Naples
In the mountains above the Amalfi coast
July 6th, on the roof of our hotel in Mas Lubrens
Positano
July 8, Pisa
Manarola (Cinque Tere)
July 9, in the mountains above the Cinque Tere
View of Monterosso (Cinque Tere)
July 10, Venice 
July 11, Florence 
July 12, on the way from Florence to Rome, The Mall (outlet)
