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7DY-DVD-108 - Florence is the capital of Tuscany and at the end of the 14th Century was ruled by a few leading families who not only financed churches but also competed in building magnificent palaces.  Of these, the Medici family proved to be the most powerful.   It is a city of art and joie de vivre and past home of important artists and sculptors such as Donatello, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, plus the writers Dante and Boccaccio, not to mention the scientist, Galileo Galilei.  The most modern of the Tuscany spas was built in the valley below Montecatini Alto which can be reached on a rack-railway which climbs to the top of the mountain through orchards and fields.  Lucca, one of Tuscany's most important historical towns, rises from the lower reaches of the Serchio river, on a former swamp.  Dating from the Middle Ages, it is surrounded by a massive brick wall which helped the town retain its independence and also protected it from the floodwaters of the Serchio.  The precarious imperfection of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is in stark contrast to the grandiose palaces and religious buildings of the Medici family and the natural contours of the hills.  The Cathedral, Bapisterium and Campanile form a unique, grandiose harmony and display the liberal mindedness of those who were in power during their construction. Olive groves and vineyards line the gentle hilly landscape around the picturesque, Vinci.  The birthplace of Leonardo is a simple farmhouse above the square in which only a modest bust portrays this universal genius.  Surrounded by the cities of Florence, Siena, and Pisa, Certaldo is a Middle Age village built of red brick and was the birthplace of the author, Giovanni Boccaccio.  The heart of Tuscany lies around the provincial capital of Siena, a Gothic city of great artistry. The entire structure, its squares and streets, most of the residential quarterand noble palaces, the cathedral and the church, date back to the 13th and 14th centuries.  History and culture combined with the beauty of nature...Tuscany has it all!
7 Days TOSCANA Italy Tuscany
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 247 days ago
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7DY-DVD-120 - Bella Italia!  An historic picture book, from the snow covered Alps in the north to the dreamy lagoon city of Venice whose palaces are built on wooden stakes and whose 'Carnevale' is world famous.  From the romantic hill landscape of Tosca where the aromas once inspired Leonardo Da Vinci, to Rome, the city that during antiquity was the centre of the Roman Empire and that is now the seat of the Catholic Pope.  To Sicily in the south, an island of gods and natural forces.  A journey through timein one of the most beautiful counties in Central Europe.  Venice, a town with a hundred and twenty churches.  The largest and most famous is the Basilica Di San Marco and, due to its magnificence, it is also called, 'The Golden Basilica'.  Byzantine elements and Late Gothic lines unite in the beautiful domed ceiling of the Basilica.  With magnificent mosaics, icons and frescos, this pre-Christianity setting takes visitors to the Orient.  The Canal Grande is regarded as Venice's main street.  It weaves through the main lagoon city past palaces, churches and houses.  The boat service called, Vaporetto, plus gondolasand small motorboats, replace buses, cars and bicycles.  Pope Pius The Second was born in Corsignano.  At the height of his papacy he ordered the Florentine architect, Rosselino, to build a cathedral with a Bishop's Palace and further palaces.  In only a few years of building the only city of the Renaissance was founded and was then renamed Pienza, The City Of Pius. At approximately one hundred and ninety seven thousand acres and divided into over seven hundred wine growing estates in the hill region between Florence and Siena, is a name famous all over the world for its wine:  Chianti!  The region's first vines were planted by the Etruscans and in the early Middle Ages it was the monks of Vallombrosa who cleared the uninhabited hill slopes and cultivated the first vineyards.  Italy is always worth a visit.  With its great variety of natural landscapes and cultures it is a land of joie de vivre that enchants both body and soul.  Bella Italia - a fairy tale come true!
7 Days ITALIA Italy
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 247 days ago
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Runtime: 1m37s
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7DY-DVD-128 - The Strada Delle Dolomiti is a good mountain road that travels through a picturesque nature reserve amidst some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe, an enchanting region in northern Italy, the Alto Adige. The age-old charm of the historical city centre of Cortina d´Ampezzo is captivating and the facades of its chalets and hotels are richly decorated with frescos.  The beauty of this reddish-shining mountain region is unique in the world.  Crowned  with peaks such as the Tofaneand the Ristallo, 1224 metres above sea level, Cortina extends into the sunny Ampezzo Valley.  Alpe Di Siusi, the Seiser Alm, contains a fifty square kilometre recreation area.  In summer, hikers come to this high plateau and in winter it's popular with cross-country sportsmen.  Europe's largest alpine meadow is located at an altitude of two thousand metres above sea level and horse-drawn sleighs are at the ready for local excursions pulled by tough and hardy Haflinger horses.The region's metropolis is Bolzano-Bozen that is situated in a valley basin that opens upto the south.  The symbol of the city is its Late Gothic Bishop Church and in the adjoining Baroque chapel there is a collection of priceless frescos.  The stone images and grotesque symbols on its facade indicate the great influence of the basic doctrines of the Church.  In the small alleys of the picturesque old town the houses have arcadesthat are known as Lauben.  Luxurious middle-class houses with artistically painted facades adorn the alleys of the old town that was used by the Romans as a central resting place while travelling to the north.  Brunico-Bruneck  is the main village of  Puster Valley.  In 1250 Bishop Bruno of Brixen built this strongly fortified city and castle against the monarchs of the Tyrol.  The rows of houses in the Stadtgasse date back to the 15th and 16th centuries and make it one of the most beautiful streets in the Tyrol. High on a rock at the entrance to the Valle Aurina-Ahrntal is Taufers Castle, one of the mightiest fortified buildings in the Tyrol. For history combined with fairytale scenery, the Alto Aldige is the place to be!
7 Days ALTO ADIGE /...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 247 days ago
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7DY-DVD-136 - Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and is the most diverse region in Italy,   a land of gods and natural forces and a place of ancient cultures.  Throughout the history of Sicily there have been many battles, rulers, cultures and religions.  Prior to Roman rule both the Greeks and the Carthagians fought against each other.  Later came the Arabs and the Normans.  Catania is Sicily's second largest city and has been strongly influenced by earthquakes and also the volcanic activity of Mount Etna.  Therefore only a few historical remnants have survived.  However, after each disaster the city was rebuilt and the result is a Baroque city dominated by fascinating sights full of character and charm.  A devastating earthquake in 1693 destroyed the original town of Noto and left it in ruins.  Construction of the new town took almost a hundred years until at end of the eighteenth century most of its buildings had been rebuilt.  In addition to the geometrical design of its streets the remarkable architectural harmony of the town has been created by much use of ochre-coloured sandstone.  The privately-owned train, the Ferrovia Circumetnea, travels around Mount Etna from Catania to Riposto.  A couple of kilometres outside Catania there are vast fertile fields.  In the background is the mighty and over three thousand metre high Mount Etna, one of the most active and famous volcanoes in the world.  Taormina is situated on a rock high above the Ionic Sea.  The Teatro Greco was built out of the stone of Monte Tauro in the third century A.D. and five hundred years later it was enlarged by the Romans for gladiatorial battle.  The old town ended at Porta Messina whose medieval palaces and villas have been preserved right up until the present day.  A few kilometres from Palermo and set within a beautiful bay is Mondello sheltered by the slopes of Monte Pellegrino that contains a grotto, an altar and a pilgrims church, the Santuario Di Santa Rosalia.  Here this fascinating journey comes to an end.  Sicily is exquisite, an ancient island of both discovery and pleasure.
7 Days SICILIA Italy
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 247 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m41s
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EXT-DVD-15 - CARNEVALE DI VENEZIA It is in the winter months that Venice is particularly fascinating, when carnival masks blend perfectly with the architecture of the lagoon city as though on a magnificent stage which has been created by an ingenious set designer. Everything is play, disguise and admiration. Masks are closely associated with the history of Venice. They were first mentioned in a law which was passed in 1268. As in earlier times, St. Marks Square is the centre of today's' carnival. Under the five domes of St. Marks Cathedral, a colourful spectacle develops when masked forms stroll under the arches and arcades of the grand buildings. The Carnival is a unique catwalk on which vanity can be unashamedly displayed. Where just a simple cardboard mask isn't good enough, and where the inspiration for dressing up, disguise and enchantment is essential. Here, everyone is a performer looking for the admiration of the crowd. At carnival time, only a lack of imagination is forbidden. As the hours tick away, reality turns to fantasy until, in the early hours of the morning, exhausted, bed is the final destination!
EXTRAVAGANZA CARNEVALE OF...
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 247 days ago
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VPG-DVD-103 - TUSCANY Tuscany was named after the Etruskans, who were called 'Tusci' by the Romans. The kingdom was eventually divided into independent dukedoms and, from 1531, the Medici ruled, a family of businessmen and bankers. Capital of Tuscany is Florence, a city of art and joie de vivre and past home of important artists and sculptors such as Donatello, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, plus the writers Dante and Boccaccio, not to mention the scientist, Galileo Galilei. Lucca, one of Tuscany's most important historical towns, rises from the lower reaches of the Serchio river, on a former swamp. Dating from the Middle Ages, it is surrounded by a massive 4.2 kilometre long brick wall which helped the town retain its independence, and also protected it from the floodwaters of the Serchio. The precarious imperfection of The Leaning Tower Of Pisa is in stark contrast to the grandiose palaces and religious buildings of the Medici family and the natural contours of the hills and mountains of this European nirvana complete the connection between art and nature. Tuscany satisfies all the senses!
Vista Point Tuscany Italy
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 248 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m34s
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VPG-DVD-110 - VENICE The historic lagoon city of Venice stands on several islands joined together by a multitude of bridges, and a canal system in place of streets. The palaces that lie along the Grand Canal represent Venetian power and influence over the centuries. Gothic building artistry and Baroque affluence meet head-on in this grand and noble city which overflows with nostalgia. Less than an hour by boat from Venice and a visit to Burano, where fishing and lace-making prevail and Murano, famous for its glass-blowers. Three golden centuries of peace and prosperity made Venice into a glamorous, fairytale city like no other. 120 churches, 400 bridges -- this watery landscape is without equal. The 11th century Basilica Di San Marco, known as the 'Golden Basilica', is supported by 2,500 granite and marble pillars and, lined by buildings of many different eras, the Piazzi Di San Marco is surely one of the most famous squares in the world. And there's Carnival, too...a chance to wear a mask of Casanova, as well a good excuse for food and wine. Napoleon described Venice as 'Europe's most beautiful meeting place'. He was right!
Vista Point VENICE Italy
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 248 days ago
By: travel-video
Runtime: 1m28s
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VPG-DVD-119 - ALTO ADIGE The Strada Delle Dolomiti is a good mountain road that travels through a picturesque nature reserve amidst some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe, an enchanting region in northern Italy, the Alto Adige. The age-old charm of the historical city centre of Cortina d´Ampezzo is captivating and the facades of its chalets and hotels are richly decorated with frescos. Alpe Di Siusi, the Seiser Alm, contains a fifty square kilometre recreation area. In summer, hikers come to this high plateau and in winter it's popular with cross-country sportsmen. Europe's largest alpine meadow is located at an altitude of two thousand metres above sea level and horse-drawn sleighs are at the ready for local excursions pulled by tough and hardy Haflinger horses. The region's metropolis is Bolzano-Bozen that is situated in a valley basin that opens up to the south. The symbol of the city is its Late Gothic Bishop Church and in the adjoining Baroque chapel there is a collection of priceless frescos. The stone images and grotesque symbols on its facade indicate the great influence of the basic doctrines of the Church. In the small alleys of the picturesque old town the houses have arcades that are known as Lauben. Luxurious middle-class houses with artistically painted facades adorn the alleys of the old town that was used by the Romans as a central resting place while travelling to the north. Brunico-Bruneck is the main village of Puster Valley. In 1250 Bishop Bruno of Brixen built this strongly fortified city and castle against the monarchs of the Tyrol. The rows of houses in the Stadtgasse date back to the 15th and 16th centuries and make it one of the most beautiful streets in the Tyrol. High on a rock at the entrance to the Valle Aurina-Ahrntal is Taufers Castle, one of the mightiest fortified buildings in the Tyrol. For history combined with fairytale scenery, the Alto Aldige is the place to be!
Vista Point ALTO ADIGE Italy
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 248 days ago
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Runtime: 1m32s
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VPG-DVD-131 - FIRENZE Florence is the capital of Tuscany, a city of art and joie de vivre. With its magnificent tower the Palazzo Vecchio is a communal palace that has been the city's political centre since the beginning of the 14th century. Originally it was the seat of the city's Republican rulers but soon afterwards the MEDICI dynasty settled there, the cleverest and most powerful of the handful of families that ruled over the city. In front of the palace's façade there is a double life-sized statue that is a copy of Michelangelo's‚'David', and in the Galleria Dell` Accademia there are several further sculptures by the great artist that idealised and glorified the strength of the Renaissance people. The three-sided Gothic cathedral and the Campanile are tightly packed into the city centre's Cathedral Square and the Santa Maria Del Fiore Cathedral is a replica of St. Peters in Rome and the Cathedral of Milan. The bronze 'Tower To Paradise' adorns the city's most sacred building, the Battistero, its mighty inner-dome, in Byzantine style, being supported by strong Roman columns while, in a gigantic mosaic, Christ the 'Judge of the World' features alongside angels and battles with the devil. San Lorenzo was the Medici's cathedral and one of the earliest creations of the Florentine Renaissance. To make way for it, an entire section of the city was torn down, a process that cost the Medici a large sum of money. Close to the Holy Antonius Cloister there is now a monastery and a museum and everywhere there are striking frescos by the artist Monk, Fra Angelico, several of which are on view in the monastery and its surrounding buildings. It could be said that the world obtained its taste for culture from Florence, a city in which art and culture unite in beautiful completion.
Vista Point Florence Italy
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 248 days ago
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ROMA Roma Aeterna, eternal city and ancient centre of the world. The Piazza Navona is situated in one of the Italian capital's most beautiful squares in a city that has always been a dream destination for travellers from all over the world. Three large fountains adorn the large oval square that was built above the ruins of a Domitian stadium that dates back to the 3rd century A.D. The Romans had a special regard for fountains the most famous of which is the Fontana Di Trevi. It was designed by Nicolo Salvi for the façade of the Palazzo Poli. The Via Appia Antica was the most important street in ancient Rome and it connected the southern area with the main city and even today one can walk over its ancient cobblestones. Pope Gregor The 13th had the Palazzo Del Quirinale built as his summer residence but it was not long before the Italian monarchs acquired it as their Renaissance palace. Today it is the residence of Italy's President and the daily changing of the guards ceremony is still a popular attraction. The 17th century St. Peter's Square is the most beautiful square in the world and is situated in the centre of the Vatican, an autonomous Church State in the heart of Rome that also contains the imposing and breathtaking Petersdom, the largest Christian church in the world. The allure of this city lies in its combination of chaos and joie de vivre, elegance and creativity. Rome is a complete work of art!
Vista Point ROMA Italy Rome
Categories: Holiday Location and Places 
Added: 248 days ago
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Runtime: 1m19s
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VPG-DVD-191 - SICILY Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and the most diverse region in Italy, a land of gods and natural forces and a place of ancient cultures. Catania in the north east of the island is Sicily's second largest city that has been strongly influenced by earthquakes and also the volcanic activity of Mount Etna. It is believed that Greek settlers from Chalkidi founded it and some centuries later it was conquered by the Romans, and later the Arabs brought the city a new wave of prosperity. Noto is a charming town with around twenty thousand inhabitants and it is one of the most beautiful enclosed Baroque towns in Sicily. However, many of Noto's historic buildings have been neglected for many years and are thus in somewhat less than perfect condition. The Catedrale Di San Nicolò also fell into disrepair as a result of continued neglect and this caused both its dome and part of its roof to collapse in 1996. A proud and mighty volcano rises above eastern Sicily. Mount Etna, the largest volcano in Europe, is the undisputed ruler of this fascinating Mediterranean island. The snow on the summit region of Etna obscures the fact that deep within the volcano is an unimaginable natural furnace with a temperature of around a thousand degrees Celsius. Marsala was given its name by the Arabs who called it 'Marsal-Allah', 'God's Harbour'. The monumental city gate is a reminder of the landing of Giuseppe Garibaldis on the 8th of March, 1860. In the mountain area close to Palermo, another wonderful city featured on our journey, is the picturesque town of Monreale, a townscape that for more than eight hundred years has been dominated by a single building. Monreale Cathedral was built due to a struggle for power between the Bishop Of Palermo and the Norman King, William. Sicily is exquisite. An ancient island of both discovery and pleasure.
Vista Point SICILY Italy
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Added: 248 days ago
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Runtime: 1m31s
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VPG-DVD-194 - PALERMO Once known as the stronghold of the Mafia, Palermo, the capital of Sicily, has gradually improved its image and the joie de vivre of its inhabitants has turned it into one of the most lively cities in Italy. The monumental Palermo Cathedral is located on the edge of the Piazza Cathedrale, throughout the centuries a place for rendezvous, celebrations and justice. Following the city's conquest by the Saracens an ancient cathedral on this site was transformed into a Friday mosque and was later used for Christian ceremonies. When in 1072 the Normans conquered the island they were so captivated by this 'paradise on earth' that they were careful to preserve it. They admired its oriental splendour and Arabian-Norman architecture but when the kings of Aragon attained power the golden age of Palermo came to an end. The Castello Della Zisa is the largest building of Arabian design in Palermo and in former times it was a residence situated within a regal park that was used for the royal sport of hawking. In a mountain area close to Palermo is the picturesque town of Monreale, a townscape that for more than eight hundred years has been dominated by a single building: Monreale Cathedral was built due to a struggle for power between the Bishop Of Palermo and the Norman King, William The Second. The Sicilian metropolis of Palermo has been both feared and loved but it most assuredly remains 'a flower within a golden shell'.
Vista Point PALERMO Italy
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Added: 248 days ago
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Runtime: 1m28s
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