Mini Travel Guides

About half-way between Rome and Naples, just at the edge of the Italian region of Lazio,  lies the seaside city of Gaeta . Gaeta  is situated in a dramatic bay, reminding visitors of a miniature Bay of Naples. The Orlando Mountain rises just behind it.

An important seaport, Gaeta has a long and rich history, spanning back to Ancient Rome. Its medieval center is stunning and well-preserved, with its imposing Arogonese castle, winding streets, pretty bell towers and churches. Gaeta is also the site of a NATO Naval base.

For lovers of the classics, according to Virgil, Gaeta was named after Caieta – wet nurse to the hero Aeneas. She is said to have been buried here.

A walk around the winding streets of the medieval quarter is an enjoyable way to view the pretty architecture and views. There are surprises around every corner, like this lovely 12^th century bell tower.

The fish market is a must-visit destination. It’s set just across the street from the bay where the fishing boats return with the day’s catch. Wander the stalls – many open late into the evening – this in itself might be the highlight of a trip to Gaeta.

Close to Naples, Gaeta is also a good place to buy the excellent mozzarella di bufala, mozzarella made with milk from the water buffalo from the neighbouring region of Campania and the calorie-laden, mouth-watering Neapolitan desserts. Shops abound in the winding streets of the “new town” near the port and the fish market.

Gaeta can be easily combined with the beautiful seaside town of Sperlonga, just a short distance north and, if you are staying there, Gaeta would be a great place to spend an afternoon and evening, eating dinner at one of the town’s many seafood restaurants located just along the bay.

If you decide to base yourself in Gaeta, you can find the best Gaeta hotel deals on the HotelsCombined price comparison site.

Gaeta: A Bay of Naples in Miniature

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We write a lot about the amazing places you can travel to in Europe.  But what about when you get there?  When you’re off the plane and ready to see everything you came to see?  What then?  You’re in a foreign country, with a potentially foreign language, with potentially foreign currency.  It can be a bit of a shock.  Especially the language.

I’m a big proponent of learning new languages.  Especially if you find yourself spending an extended period of time in a certain country.  I blame my parents for this completely and having grown up speaking Swedish and English.

But what about when you’re just traveling abroad for a couple of weeks, or even just a couple of days?  To expect someone to learn the language for just a small trip isn’t realistic.  Being able to master a few phrases though, is doable and can be very helpful.  Please, thank you, hello, good bye, maybe a few numbers when paying, they all get used on a regular basis when touristing around.  Even the use of key phrases in your host country can lead to misunderstandings.  There are of course the pronunciation issues.  The words “kissa” and “kyssa” in Swedish mean to pee and to kiss.  Mispronouncing the two can lead to some awkward moments.  But along with the linguistic misunderstandings come the cultural misunderstandings.

Again, in Sweden, often times the Swedes think it rude to not speak English with someone who clearly hasn’t mastered Swedish.  At the first hint of an accent they switch to English.  From an English language perspective, this in and of itself can be seen as rude, suddenly, while trying to make an effort to speak the host language, the host switches to English.  It is as if they are acknowledging that their Swedish is better than your English.  Which it may very well be.  But in the short cultural exchange, misunderstandings arise.

My first trip to Italy was a cultural misunderstanding.  My friend spoke Italian.  I did not.  I decided to venture off on my own and asked for a few key phrases before I left.  My attempts at mastering Italian in just a couple of minutes fell woefully short and the man at the counter immediately switched to a broken English.  A much less broken form than my broken Italian.  I thought I had nailed the phrase.  I had not.  But it was a learning experience, because in the end, he acknowledged my attempt and showed appreciation that I would even try.  Even if I did butcher his beautiful language.

I’ve always found that regardless of the perceived situation, attempting to speak the host language is appreciated.  Even if you butcher it.  Even if they switch to English.  Even if they don’t understand exactly what it is you’re saying.  Those short moments of acknowledging the cultural differences are what make travel abroad so interesting.

So how do you handle the different languages of all of your European destinations?  Do you include language or phrase books in your European travel planning?

Photo by jasejc. More photos by jasejc here.

Using English While Abroad

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When Rome sightseeing at the Colosseum, be sure to take the time to cross the street and peer into the area known as the Ludus Magnus. Two thousand years ago, this was the largest and most prestigious of Rome’s gladiatorial training schools.

The Ludus Magnus was built during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD). Ancient records of its construction exist, but it had been built over and its exact location remained a mystery until it was unearthed in an excavation in 1937.

Renderings based on excavations and ancient records are believed to be quite accurate. As the image below illustrates, the Ludus Magnus once boasted s central practice arena where gladiators learned and trained, surrounded by limited seating for spectators. Rooms around the training area contained barracks for the gladiators and storage for the equipment. Underground tunnels connected the Ludus Magnus with the Colosseum.

Rendering courtesy www.livius.org

Today, just over half of the arena and the barracks remain. The brick-work of the present-day ruins would have been covered with marble at the time of Ancient Rome.

Peer down at the remains of the school that once trained Rome’s best gladiators. Better yet, enjoy stunning views of the Ludus Magnus and the Colosseum over a glass of wine from the rooftop terrace of the adjacent Hotel Gladiatori .

If you are visiting the Ludus Magnus, you are just three blocks away from the portico marking the spot where  Pope Joan’s true identity was discovered. Why not enjoy a short stroll in the pretty neighborhood of Celio in order to visit this curious medieval site?

When in Rome: Ludus Magnus – training ground of gladiators

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The first time I went to Italy, I hated it.  Hate might be a strong term because I had a good time, but that was based solely on the people I was with.  Not Perugia.  Not Assisi.  Especially Assisi.  The country itself didn’t make any great first impressions.  In fact, left the country quite disappointed, and also with a few stereotypes confirmed.  A good friend of mine had just returned with his own horror stories.

Really, in the long run, these horror stories were just your common traveler horror stories. Things get lost, things get stolen, people are rude.  Travel enough and it happens.  But when it happens to you, it sours the whole trip.  And the whole country.  Unfortunately.

I know it’s not fair to judge an entire country on just a few days of traveling through one or two cities.  It’s ridiculous to lump everyone together.  But we all do it to some extent.  The important thing is to realize that everyone has a bad day.  Even the waiter in Italy who gives you a dirty look and makes rude comments about your nationality.

The second time I went to Italy, I went because there was a girl involved.  I’m glad I did.  Not necessarily because of the girl, although she is quite nice, I’m glad because it forced me to experience Italy again.  Things didn’t go wrong.  Instead, I was treated to one of those classic destinations that, despite the crowds, is still one of the best places to visit in Europe – Rome. An extra Italian city under my belt and a whole new outlook on the entire country.

A couple of years after my Rome trip, I went back.  Again.  This time Milan and Turin.  And it was amazing.  All of it.  I stood on the roof of The Duomo di Milano in Milan, Italy, I even made an Historical Pilgrimage to the Shroud of Turin.

The moral: Don’t give up on a place because of one bad experience.  Remember that European city that left you with a bad taste in your mouth?  Go back.  And have fun.

Italy Times Three

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Though frequently called the Tuscany of the North of Italy by Italians themselves, the Oltrepo Pavese area in Lombardy is virtually unknown abroad. Tourists from the North of Europe pass the area closely when travelling to the real Tuscany, Umbria or Rome. This is a pity as the Oltrepo really offers something worthwhile for almost every tourist or italophile.

The area really resembles Tuscany in several aspects: smooth hills, medieval villages and castles, panoramic views, authentic Italian food and local wines. The Oltrepo in fact is the largest wine producing area of Lombardy and one of the largest in Italy, especially of the Pinot Nero. The landscape
is scattered with vineyards that are freely accessible for hikers or even mountain biking.

The Oltrepo Pavese lies in the province of Pavia, in the southern part of Lombardy. Oltrepo literally means “on the other side of the Po”. The Po river runs through the large plain in the North of Italy, the pianura padana, where the risotto rice is produced. In the south of Pavia province
the terrain quickly gains height. The Oltrepo is situated at the foothills of the Ligurian Alpes and Apennines.

The Oltrepo Pavese offer peace and quiet, tranquillity and the silence (while strolling in the vineyards for example) is often overwhelming. Life still has a slow pace here, as the locals are living the life in more or less the same way their ancesters did: growing wine is a labor that follows the seasons, year after year, generation after generation. Most of the wine farmer families have bee living here since the Middle Ages.

Hardly any tourist business has developed here, which means, fortunately, that as the one of the few visitors from abroad, you are encountered with amazement and hospitality everywhere. People are enthousiastic to serve you their local traditional food and wine at all of the little family restaurants that populate the area. The food that is served is the food that Italians want to eat out, it has to have “mama”quality! Prices are ridiculously low.

Particular of the area are the local sparkling wines, the “vivace”, “frizzante” and also “spumante” wines. Reds and whites sparkle without being just sweet. The most famous local wine, the Bonarda is fruity but not sweet, in contrast to the Lambrusco e.g. A local, more classical wine is the Buttafuoco, the production of which is restricted to a small area in the North of the Oltrepo. A typical sweet red wine of the area is the Sangue di Giuda. The regional champagne-like spumantes have made it to the Italian DOCG category.

Regional dishes are simple but very effective. Using the seasonal ingredients like mushrooms and tartufi and the local meats of rabbit, wild boar and the likes, delicious dishes are prepared. One thing not to be missed is the typical sunday “pranzo”or lunch in which all of the servings of the Italian menu (antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, dolci) pass by, sometimes even twice. The Varzi salame is a protected product, like the Parmesan cheese.

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About the Author: The author moved from The Netherlands to the Oltrepo Pavese in 2008 and started his own B&B there, Villa I Due Padroni.

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Vieste, on the Gargano peninsula in Puglia,  is one of my top European travel tips, offering beautiful architecture, great weather, stunning coastlines, numerous nearby beaches and – to make it an even more attractive – a lively daily food market guaranteed to tempt your stomach.

I love to get a feel for a new destination by shopping for local specialities and the Vieste market, just at the edge of the new town’s Via XXIV maggio, is a great place to purchase Puglia produce, including olives, olive oil and sun-dried tomatoes.

Regional salami and cheeses are also good items to bring back home. These “donuts” of smoked mozzarella made from the milk of water buffalo are excellent and travel well.

Or you could try the “Vieste Bomb”, encrusted in spicy peperoncino.

Speaking of peperoncino, buy it here, along with garlic and wonderful dried parsley.

There are also excellent strong, red wines in the region and limoncino, a strong, sweet digestive, originally from the Campania region, but also common in Puglia.

You will have to leave the market and make your way to one of the many bakeries to buy the excellent bread and local desserts, such as the Kluster (photo below). Apparently, the name of this dessert changes from town to town in the region, along with the numerous regional dialects. The pastry base is a crispy, fried dough, topped by mixed nuts and a sinfully rich fig syrup. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds.

So along with the art and architecture and the surf and sand, set aside some time for the Vieste market and some culinary sightseeing. The downside is that you may wind up filling your suitcase to bursting with all your delectable purchases. The upside is that you can literally take a piece of your vacation destination home with you … enjoying the delicacies of Puglia around your dining room table.

Tempting your stomach at the outdoor market in Vieste, Puglia

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

Rome, situated on the Tiber river, is truly the Eternal City with the city’s history spanning over two and a half thousand years. When we visited Rome for the first time, we not only enjoyed the sheer brilliance and beauty of the Colosseum and the Vatican, but were also mystified by the very many piazzas in Rome including the Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Venezia, Piazza della Rotonda and Piazza della Minerva. But my all time favourite Rome piazza has to be the Piazza Navona.

La Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi [Photo Credit - The Wolf]

The oval shaped Piazza Navona forms the center of Rome’s social life, with its relaxed atmosphere and open spaces. Located just a couple of minutes walk from the Pantheon, the piazza houses Bernini’s La Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) right in its center. This beautiful fountain, as the name indicates, represents four world rivers, namely the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de la Plata.

Fontana del Nettuno [Photo Credit - Rafel Miro]

Two other famous sculptures in the piazza are the Fontana del Moro (the Moor Fountain) located at the southern end of the piazza and the Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune), situated at its northern end.

Fontana del Moro [Photo Credit - xiquinhosilva]

A prime example of the Baroque Roman architecture, the piazza is lined by beautiful buildings, shops and cafes. The place is frequented by tourists and locals alike, enjoying the elaborate art on display by street artists, musicians and painters from all over the world. Christmas market is held in the piazza in the months of December and early January.

Photo Credit – hslo

Other tips for visiting Rome include tasting the Volpetti delicacies and visiting the cemetery of artists and poets. Which is your favourite piazza in Rome?

If you’re planning a visit to the Italian capital, you can quickly find great deals at Rome hotels using the HotelsCombined price comparison site.

My favourite piazza in Rome – Piazza Navona

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.

The Parco dei mostri (Monster Park) of Bomarzo, in northern Lazio, is a fun destination if you are looking for a pleasant day trip from Rome.

Photo courtesy www.nessundove.net

The whimsical park is almost five hundred years old. In 1552, following the death of his wife, a grieving Prince Pier Francesco Orsini oversaw the construction of a park filled with sculptures of ogres, snakes, dragons and monsters, all carved from the boulders within the park. The creation of such a park, according to the prince, was “only to ease the heart.”

Photo courtesy postidavedere.giramondo.com

The creator of the park was the sculptor and landscape architect Pirro Ligorio, who also worked in the Vatican and is probably most famous for the spectacular Italian garden and water fountains he designed for the Renaissance Villa d’Este of Tivoli.

Photo courtesy quellidellaterzac.wikispaces.com

It’s a lot of fun to wander through the park to see the strange creatures covered in moss, seemingly emerging from the ground. Needless to say, it’s also a favourite for kids.

Photo courtesy files.splinder.com

You can bring along a picnic lunch to enjoy during your outing.  After the park visit, you may wish to wander around the tiny hillside town of Bomarzo, perched up above the Monster Park.

My travel tip is to combine a trip to this interesting park with a visit to the stunning “dying city” of Civita di Bagnoregio .

The park is open daily from 8 am to sunset. Adult tickets are 9 euro. Children 4-8 years old are  7 euro.

Rome day trip: Bomarzo’s Monster Park

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There are numerous hotels in Malcesine at Lake Garda in Italy which get high approval ratings from previous guests, so hopefully it is easy to find some great accommodation. On this list I’ve included hotels that score higher than 85% on guest feedback – in fact most of them are over 90%, meaning that a lot of guests have been very impressed.

Malcesine by M Bertulat

The price examples come from a basic double room on a Wednesday night in May 2011 – although some hotels were even booked up for that date.  Looks like the motto for a great Malcesine stay is to plan ahead and book your Lake Garda hotel well in advance.  Also, note that many of the hotels have a minimum stay of three nights.

Malcesine budget hotels

The Residence Hotel Vacanze 2000 Malcesine (£61) is an apartment hotel but there are also new rooms which are more like regular hotel rooms. It is a short walk from the town centre but apparently up a steep hill!

The Garni Orchidea Hotel Malcesine (£64) is small – just 15 rooms – popular, and good value. It’s close to the beach and also near the new cable car station which takes you up Monte Baldo.

Monte Baldo by gnalnad

Malcesine mid-range hotels

The Ambienthotel Luna Rossa Malcesine (£76) is a stone’s throw from the beach and is also near the Malcesine Castle. You can choose from rooms named after various artists including Klimt and Van Gogh but every room comes with a balcony.

Staff at the Hotel Capri (£82) get a lot of good feedback in guest reviews, as does the food, and there is an option to upgrade to half board and get breakfasts and dinners included. It is very close to the Malcesine town centre while still being close to the lake and the beach.

Malcesine Beach by M Bertulat

The Benacus Hotel Malcesine (£81) has 29 rooms and has been run by the De Massari family for three generations. The rooms are nicely decorated and have a reputation for being spotlessly clean.

The Catullo Hotel Malcesine (£75) is a relaxing spot in the middle of an olive grove, but is still close to important spots – for example, it is adjacent to the cable car station.

The Oasi Beach Hotel Malcesine (£82) is a little further out of Malcesine, overlooking the area of Benaco. It is quite new, having only opened in 2004, and with its location near an aqua centre it is popular with holidaymakers wanting to go windsurfing, kitesurfing or sailing.

Malcesine high-end hotels

The Hotel Sailing Center Malcesine (£98) is very popular and as you might guess from the name, is located directly on the lake. It has been recently renovated and a feature that grabbed me is the private beach complete with a water slide!

The Casa Barca Malcesine (£122) has been used for quite a few weddings and honeymoons so as you might guess the rooms are stylish and the service is excellent – and therefore, it’s not as cheap as many of the others. It has a Wellness centre which all guests can use, including a whirlpool, Finnish sauna, Turkish bath and more.

The Ambienthotel Primaluna Malcesine (£127) has some of the best lake views and is in a relatively quiet spot, though you can walk into town directly along the lake shore. The owners and staff get a lot of good feedback in guest reviews.

Your opinion

Do you have a recommendation for the best Malcesine hotels?

You can check out the prices for all hotel in the town using the Sletoh price comparison site search box below.

The best hotels in Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy

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Molise is a tiny Italian region, squeezed between Abruzzo to the north and Puglia to the south. The region – not one of Italy’s most visited – is more well-known for its interior, mountainous landscapes, but Molise also has a short coastline on the Adriatic Sea.

My family and I recently visited the coastal town of Termoli. If you are passing by on your trip to southern Italy, its medieval center certainly merits a visit.

Unfortunately, the modern city has sprawled unattractively all around it, but make your way directly to the old town which is perched along the wide, sandy beach and contained within the ancient walls of the castle.  This is where you’ll find some interesting things to do in Termoli.

Most of the center has been renovated and there are colourful buildings, wide streets and charming piazze, with numerous restaurants and cafés offering outdoor tables to enjoy the views and the people-watching.

The beautiful medieval churches are one of the highlights of Termoli sightseeing.

There’s a pleasant walkway along the sea, with pretty views out to the Adriatic over the castle’s thick protective walls.

There’s even one of the remaining castle watchtowers, standing guard along the sea since its construction in the 11^th-12th century.

All in all, it’s a pleasant place to stop for  a stroll and enjoy lunch out along the sea. My Italian travel tip is to plan a stop here if you are driving southward to Puglia. You could extend your visit to head down to the wide, sandy beach for a swim in the Adriatic Sea.

Termoli is also where you can catch ferries going to the lovely Tremiti islands , just off Puglia’s Gargano peninsula.  You can find great deals on hotels in Termoli using the HotelsCombined price comparison site.

Visiting seaside Termoli in Italy’s off-the-beaten-path Molise region

Browse through our Europe travel tips to find the best places to visit in Europe. Content published on Europe a la Carte.