THE ROMAGNA SUBREGION : TOUR OF ITALY

If you are hankering for a Europe destination, you should really consider the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. Emilia-Romagna may be the only region of Italy that is named for a road, one constructed by the Ancient Romans almost 2200 years ago. This article describes the Romagna subregion, some of its many tourist attractions, local food, and local wine. A companion article presents Emilia, the inland western “half” of the region that borders the Lombardy, Liguria, and Tuscany regions of Italy.
Our Romagna tour follows the highway from east to west, going slightly southward along the way. Start by visiting Rocca Sforzesca (Sforza Castle) in the village of Dozza whose wine shop, Enoteco Regionale, boasts an excellent collection of local wines. Formula One auto racing fans will want to visit the town of Imola in mid-April. Other attractions include shopping for fancy ceramics and eating at San Domenico’s, a world-class restaurant with a three thousand item wine list.
Pottery fanciers will enjoy the city of Faenza, a center for faience pottery since the Twelfth Century. Guess what’s on display at the Museo delle Ceramiche. If you like spas be sure to visit the neighboring city of Bagno di Romagna with its hot springs.
Ravenna, north of the highway, was once the capital of the Roman Empire. Check out the Basilica di San Vitale (Church of Saint Vitale) with its famous mosaics. If you are up to it you can visit a historic mausoleum and the tomb of that great Italian poet Dante. For some reason Ravenna is home to many sites with historic mosaics.
Rimini on the Adriatic coast an important European holiday destination is really crowded during the high season. Its Grand Hotel was featured in Fellini’s 1973 movie Amaracord.
Perhaps it is no accident that the founder of Italian cuisine Pellegrino Artusi was born in this region. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy – The Romagna Subregion for a sample menu and more information on Romagna wines as well as an in-depth examination of Romagna’s tourist attractions. It is the home of the controversial Albana di Romagna DOCG, Italy’s first white DOCG wine. The G stands for Garantita. While one can guess what that word is supposed to mean, many feel that this honor was far from deserved. I have never tasted this particular wine, but from my readings I have no great desire to do so, except to set the matter straight.

MALTA HOLIDAY ! EUROPEAN VACATION

Malta is a small but amazing island that measures no more than 30 kilometers from one to another. Widely known for its rocky beaches, Malta has lot more to its kitty to attract tourist across the world, which makes it a perfect destination for holidaying.

When visiting Europe, Malta becomes quite a primary option for a vacation and which is why this tiny island is never short of tourists. ‘Maltese’ people are known for their warm and friendly nature, which is why even a first time visitor does not face any problem touring the island.

There are lot many reasons for you to plan your next holiday to Malta, but before finding out about the reasons it is always better to have small but decent information about the nation you are choosing as your destination. Situated in the Mediterranean, the island has quite a dense population and its capital Valetta is known for its architecture. Tourist also do not have to worry much about the language problem, as the second most spoken language there is English.

So many reasons for visiting Malta

As for the reasons why one should think of Malta as their European holiday destination, the island has something for everyone. Ranging from beach and sun to magnificent architecture and heritage, from water sports to sparkling nightlife, it has it all. The location of Malta makes it a great sports and adventure destination, thus you can easily find yourself surrounded with options like scuba-diving, yachting, wind surfing, rock climbing, mountain biking and Para-gliding. To make its adventure and sports popular among people visiting from other countries, local people or Maltese make sure that the equipments and the facilities are available in cheap prices. The island is full of places to practice and enjoy such adventures, for example Gozo due to its steep and rocky cliffs is famous among mountain biking and climbing lovers.

Visit Valetta

This archeologically rich capital of Malta is well known for its touch of ancient and old era of the knights of St John. The place is surrounded with beautiful churches and buildings of high architectural values, which is why Valetta is also a world heritage site as declared by UNESCO.

Cherish the beaches

The Maltese coastline is not only famous for its breathtaking views, but also for the enticing activities like diving, sailing, jet skiing, boat rides, canoeing, Para gliding and more. By touring the Maltese coastline you can also witness the international windsurfing competition hosted by Malta.

Hiking and walking

The green valleys and breathtaking views offered by Malta ask for adventure, like hiking and walking through its lush full trails and high cliffs. The best way to enjoy your Malta holiday is to walk and hike through the villages and ancient sites by breathing in the fresh air of Maltese valley.

Witness the Maltese feast

Malta host many fests through out the year to celebrate its culture. When visiting Malta it is a good idea to be a part of these fests and to enjoy the cultural drink and food as well as the amazing fireworks and music of Malta.

The capital of Malta, Valetta, for its richness of architectural monuments is among the world heritage sites as declared by UNESCO. The island is well loaded with captivating history and culture.

When to visit Malta

The right time to holiday in Malta coastline, is the summer time which is between April and June (accommodations during these months are relatively cheap), whereas the hotter months like July and August may give you hard time in finding reasonable rates for your stay.