| Before the plane even lands, we know this
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| | pleasures wherever in the western world
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| vacation will be something special...
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| | one may be, but ask any traveler, Italian
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| this is Italy, after all, the country
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| | food eaten in Italy is a gastronomic
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| that gave us espresso, the Ferrari,
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| | high. Every region has its specialties,
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| Sophia Loren, Armani, biscotti and Franco
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| | from creamy risotto alla Milanese,
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| Zeffirrelli. These are the final moments
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| | authentic Neapolitan pizza, to the famous
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| of anticipation before the adventure...
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| | pesto Genovese... basil, garlic, parmesan
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| our long awaited Italian vacation,
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| | cheese, pine nuts and extra virgin olive
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| begins.
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| | oil ground into an exquisite fragrant
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| But before we fling ourselves headlong
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| | paste to toss on your pasta. Might as
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| into an unbridled romance with
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| | well relax and forget the diet while we
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| contemporary Italy, I want to take a
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| | are on vacation. There will be time
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| moment to remember that Italy's vibrant
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| | enough for the treadmill... Italy's local
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| culture today has been born out of
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| | recipes and regional culinary delights
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| Italy's long illustrious history. The
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| | await us.
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| Italian character... relishing adventure,
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| | It's not just the available ingredients
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| open hearted, high spirited, fun loving
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| | which are different, but ethnic Italian
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| and sentimental all at once, has evolved
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| | cooking styles vary with geographical
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| from a people who, down through the ages,
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| | influences. In Italy's northwest, Valle
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| have ridden the global power roller
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| | d'Aosta, Piedmonte and the western edge
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| coaster and played all the roles the
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| | of Liguria border France. Consequently
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| world's stage had to offer... from
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| | French influence like the use of butter
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| conquerors to conquered. Like
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| | instead of olive oil, is common. If your
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| beneficiaries of a distant rich uncle,
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| | trip includes a visit to Italy's
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| we pause to pay our respects to a former
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| | northeast, however, the proximity of
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| time. Among Italy's many distinctions,
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| | Austrian-Slavic influences to the regions
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| amidst the ebb and flow of her fortunes,
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| | of Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia
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| her political highs and lows, shines a
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| | Giulia, have led to Italian cuisine which
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| moment in history like no other. It is
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| | is flavored with caraway, vinegar,
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| this moment that we modern tourists can
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| | paprika and cumin. You'll find sausage,
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| thank for the warmth and brimming
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| | sauerkraut and goulash are common on the
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| humanity of the Italian culture and
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| | menu here. In Italy's northern grain
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| character we will encounter on our
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| | growing areas they favor the fat-grained
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| travels.
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| | arborio rice for irresisible risottos,
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| The Renaissance
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| | and creamy polenta dishes over pasta. In
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| ...was born in Italy, and for three
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| | the south where it's hotter, Mama's
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| hundred years, from the thirteenth
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| | Italian kitchen will feature an abundant
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| through the sixteenth centuries, Italian
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| | use of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.
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| artists, architects, writers, scientists,
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| | What To Expect on Your Italian Vacation
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| engineers and thinkers, were the vanguard
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| | First time here? Italy has a tremendous
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| who led the way in breaking out of the
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| | variety of attractions to offer the
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| formerly narrow confines of the European
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| | tourist. This country embodies temptation
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| medieval mind. They changed the world
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| | in many forms whichever way you turn.
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| with their ideas and their phenomenal
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| | There's the excitement and energy of
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| creations. A parade of extraordinary
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| | Elegant Italy... the big city centers
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| masters like Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci,
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| | like Milan, Turin, Bologna and Rome. You
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| Dante and Michelangelo propelled not just
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| | will tour the grand piazzas and historic
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| Italy but western civilization forward
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| | buildings, linger in the cafes and local
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| into a new, undreamed of age of artistic,
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| | haunts with ultra stylish, savvy,
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| literary and scientific excellence.
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| | fashion-conscious sophisticates; enjoy
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| Classical Music
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| | world class theater and opera, chic
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| The Renaissance was a boon to all the
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| | shopping and gourmet dining.
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| arts, including music. Innovation and
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| | Float in wonder and awe through
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| explosive new ideas fueled the creativity
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| | Renaissance Italy... Rome, Florence,
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| of Europe's composers and musicians, and
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| | Venice and Ravenna... places where
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| of course, many Italians populate the
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| | baroque churches and palladian palaces,
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| pantheon of classical music history...
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| | priceless art collections and historical
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| Monteverdi is credited with creating the
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| | treasures are so numerous you can't go a
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| first opera ever written, and despite the
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| | block without finding another gallery or
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| modern advances, (some would say
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| | museum you just can't miss.
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| regression,) of contemporary opera into
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| | When your mind and heart are on complete
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| the atonal range, the cornerstones of any
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| | cultural overload, there is always the
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| opera company's repertoire today remain
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| | Italian Countryside to soothe your
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| the works of Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti,
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| | senses. Rent a villa in a charming Tuscan
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| Bellini and Rossini.
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| | hilltown like Siena, San Giminiano or
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| Antonio Vivaldi invented the concerto in
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| | Montepulciano. Relax, take time to
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| its present form and astounded his
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| | explore the beautiful vineyards and old
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| audiences with the previously undreamed
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| | medieval town centers in the region.
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| of speed and energy of his bowing on the
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| | Discover the variety of quaint
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| violin. Italian Bartolomeo Cristofori
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| | accommodations available in Perugia and
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| invented the piano. In the seventeenth
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| | Orvieto in Umbria. Or for a change of
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| century, prolific instrument maker
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| | pace book into one of the rural and
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| Stradivari was making harps, guitars,
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| | rustic Bed & Breakfast establishments
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| violas, and cellos, and by the way, set
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| | which are also working farms, known as
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| the benchmark for violin makers for over
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| | agriturismi, where you become more than a
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| 250 years to come.
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| | paying guest. They make you an honorary
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| Many of the twentieth century's most
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| | member of an Italian family for the
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| famous opera singers hailed from Italy...
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| | duration of your stay.
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| Enrico Caruso, Tito Gobbi, Renata
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| | Tires on tarmac... the powerful jolt of
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| Tebaldi, Mario del Monaco, Giuseppe di
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| | interrupted speed... the reverse thrust
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| Stefano, Mirella Freni and Luciano
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| | of the 747's massive engines. We've just
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| Pavarotti, to name very few.
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| | landed at Milan's Malpensa.
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| Italian Cuisine
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| | Let our Italian vacation adventure begin!
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| Italian food is one of life's great
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