Travel Italy: Vacation Packages, Tips, Tours of Italy

This walk leads to the major shopping roads in Rome, an area including the most known Via del Corso and Via Condotti.

- You can start your walk in Via del Corso, from Piazza del Popolo, a large square and elegant pedestrian area. Among the monuments it includes: an Egyptian obelisk which stands in the centre of the Piazza, church of Santa Maria del Popolo and the Twin churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (1681) and Santa Maria in Montesanto (1679)

- Via del Corso
The main street running straight for 1.5 kilometres through the historical centre of Rome from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia, with just its northern portion as a pedestrian area. As there are no major tourist attractions along the street, it features a large number of shops. It’s one of the major streets for shopping.

- Via Condotti
Perpendicular to Via del Corso (it starts at Piazza di Spagna and ends in Via del Corso), Via Condotti is the main center of fashion in Rome. If Via del Corso contains the largest number of shops, Via Condotti features only top luxury designer shops and ateliers. Also the most famous café of the city are located there.

- Parallel to Via Condotti, also Via Frattina and Via Borgognona have boutiques and high-end shops in abundance.

- Many other streets in the nearby area, including Via Belsiana, Via Bocca di Leone, Via delle Carrozze, Via Mario de Fiori, Via della Vite, Via Vittoria, offer chances for a more affordable shopping than Via Condotti.

- Those who are looking for antique shops in Rome, are suggested to have a look to these streets: Via dei Coronari, Via Margutta, Via Giulia, and Via del Babuino.

View map of this walk.

The date of May 15 has been a very special day for the town of Gubbio since ancient times. It’s the day of “Festa dei Ceri“. A day local residents are waiting an entire year for. The climax of this historic festival is the Corsa dei Ceri — Ceri race.

(photo by phitar - CC license)

It is an incredible spectacle. Three teams of 20 people compete in a race carrying three heavy wooden statues — of three saints, on palanques up through the city to the cathedral on top of Mount Ingino.

The origins of this weird ritual are unknown. Most common theory links the festival to the patron saint of the city, Saint Ubaldo, a bishop who died in 1160. According to other theories the origins are to be found in pagan celebrations of Ceres, the Roman goddess of the harvest, later appropriated by Christian tradition.

The atmosphere during the race is incredible. Better than words, this video about the start of Ceri Race may help to know what happens in Gubbio during this event.
: May 15 (annual)
Where: Gubbio (Umbria)
- View Gubbio on the map.
- Find accommodations in Umbria.

The historic town of Narni, Umbria, is hosting its annual medieval festival, the “Corsa all’Anello” — the Ring Race.

During the festival days the atmosphere of 14° century is being recreated in this hill town, with medieval sounds and colours evrywhere in the squares and streets. Medieval taverns, open for the festival, offer Umbrian specialties and wine in abundance.

The climax of the festival is on Saturday and Sunday (2nd week-end of May) when historical parades and a medieval tournament are taking place (the Ring Race is held Sunday afternoon).

Narni is in Umbria, just one hour by train away from Rome. So, it could also be an option for a day trip from Rome.

When: May 10 - 11 (annual, 2nd week-end of May) (For details, visit festival website: http://www.corsallanello.it/home_ing.htm)
Where: Narni (Umbria)
- View Narni on the map.
- Find accommodations in Umbria.

Hikers who love historic sights can find in the Umbria countryside one of the most scenic and major historic trails: the Franciscan Trail of Peace — Sentiero Francescano della Pace. Named after St. Francis — because the Saint used to walk there in the 13th century — the Franciscan Peace Trail was the ancient road linking two of the major medieval centers in Umbria, Assisi (view a video of Assisi; find out things to see in Assisi) and Gubbio.

Just less than 50 Km long, the trail goes trough the countryside of Umbria offering unique landscapes and a number of historic sights. It offers the possibility to visit castles, churches, abbeys, and ruins of medieval settlements mainly dating back between 12th and 13th century.

Most of visitors are used to break the tour into two or more days. Along the route there are many farmhouse, agritourism, B&B and other accommodation options.

The town of Assisi, is the sarting point of (more…)

From Pantheon to Piazza Navona to Ara Pacis, this short walk offers you major sights of Rome ranging from the pre-Christian to Baroque times.

- Pantheon
You can start this itinerary with a visit to the Pantheon. Originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, destroyed in a huge fire in 80 AD, the Pantheon was rebuilt in 125 AD. Since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Christian church. It is currently the oldest standing domed structure in Rome.

- In Piazza della Minerva a stop is suggested to pay a visit at the Church della Minerva.

- Piazza Navona  
One of the most beautiful squares and finest example of Baroque in Rome, Piazza Navona was an ancient Roman circus. In the 1st century it was known as Stadium of Domitian, a place where the Romans came to watch the games. Among the famous monuments the square includes: Fountain of the Four Rivers by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (dates back 1651), Fountain of Nettuno (1574, located at the northern area of the square), Fountain of Moro (1576, located at the southern end of the square), the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone, the Pamphili palace (1630), Palazzo Braschi.

- In Via della Pace a stop at the Church of Santa Maria della Pace.

- In Piazza di S.Apollinare: Palazzo Altemps, house of National Roman Museum.

- Finally, Ara Pacis, important monument built in between 13 and 9 B.C to celebrate the peace established in the Roman Empire after Augustus’s victories.
View map of the tour.