Aqualandia is an aquatic park designed for swimming and other water activities. In short, everyone can have fun and learn how to thrive in the water while playing in the wave pool, participating in water fitness classes, or swimming laps. Located in the lovely town of Jesolo, the aquatic park is divided into seven zones and features the world’s highest water chute!

Prices: season tickets can be purchased for 75 euros; ordinary tickets for 26 euros!The park will close for the winter (beginning of September onwards)

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Finding budget accommodation in Verona is, in fact, not that difficult at it seems to be a city which has taken up the Bed&Breakfast formula more readily than other tourist locations in Italy. Verona is a fabulous city to visit - small but large enough to be interesting for a couple of days, picturesque and not to mention the scene of wonderful opera in the summer.

UK newspaper the Guardian has put together a ranking of Verona’s best B&Bs, which can still be a little pricey but it’s not an exhaustive list. The prices are per room, as well, and not per person. The list starts with the Nino Martini B&B which has three large rooms with a lovely garden. Prices are about 100 euros a night and you also get wi-fi internet access in the price.

The B&B ‘Alla Cattedrale’ is in the lucky position of finding itself in the same building as the Osteria al Duomo restaurant, where you can get a good meal. It has two suites at prices of about 70 euros a night. If you want something swanky, the Design Rooms have six chic bedrooms in minimalist style costing about 110 euros, where as going down in price you can find La Tana at 60 euros a head located between the train station and Verona’s historic centre (if you’re lucky your host will get you freshly baked cakes for breakfast).

Lo Stregatto is worth it just for its rooftop terrace, but the host is also very genial and rooms cost about 60 euros. If you want something different, the all’Opera B&B is located in a 14th century building in the centre of town and has one room in the tower turret, with a view over the city. It costs about 100 euros or whatever the going rate is when opera’s on (could it be the name?).

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We all enjoy a good love story and Letters to Juliet, set in Verona and some of Italy’s more stunning landscapes, is the happy ending that Romeo and Juliet wasn’t. The story follows a young American tourist in Verona who discovers a love letter and replies after more than 40 years; an action which starts a nostalgic trip to find the lost lover and some soul searching for the young American herself. The film stars Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave, and has its US release this month, followed by its UK release in June.

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For weeks rumours were rife that Italian singer Giusy Ferreri was about the release a new, mysterious single from her latest album Fotografie; even her official website took a guess at its title! But now after Giusy Ferreri’s tv interview which was aired just a couple of days ago, the secret is no more a secret: the new single is Amore Ciao, the song written by Luigi Tenco in 1967.

Continue reading: Giusy Ferrerì' s new single Ciao Amore Ciao feat. Luigi Tenco

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From 27 April the archaeological site of Pompeii can be visited by night and tickets can be bought online. This rather special tour of the ruins of Pompeii includes Porta Nocera necropolis, Garden of Hercules (also Known as the Profumer’s house) and the famous amphitheatre. On the occasion, all the lanes will be illuminated by seven huge moons (it will be like tripping into a magic wonderland). The guided visits - which are part of an interesting initiative aptly called Pompeii ‘s moons - start an hour or so after sunset and take around 70 minutes. For further information click here.

Photo | Giulio Menna

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The 2010 Capital One World Men’s Curling Championship will be held at Cortina d’Ampezzo in Veneto this year in what could prove to be an interesting event for Italians as they get to see a sport relatively unknown to them. The curling world championships will take place from April 3 to 11 in the famous Dolomites location.

The nations participating are Canada, Norway, the US, China, Japan, Denmark, France, Germany, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and the local Italian team. Showcasing the sport of curling could provide a nice boost in profile in Italy, and the chic location of Cortina d’Ampezzo is sure to make a fashion out of it come next season.

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I always thought popes would go on sabbatical-like holidays. You know the kind - where you go and meditate in Assisi for a few weeks before getting back to your busy papal duties. But it seems popes enjoy seaside and mountain locations as much as the rest of us, and this year Pope Benedict XVI will spend some time in the mountains in Veneto.

The Bishop of Bolzano and Bressanone, Karl Golser, has announced that instead of passing his holidays at Isarco, in Bressanone, the Pope will instead go to Lorenzago di Cadore in Belluno, in the Dolomites area of Veneto. The Bishop has released a statement saying “For us what counts is that the Holy Father can spend a relaxing time, regardless of the location.”

You’d think that was the least someone could say in knowing their town has been passed over by the Pope for somewhere else. Despite that, the issue surrounding the papal holiday has appeared in local press, although it is the eighth time the Pope has chosen Lorenzago for his summer holidays. You can imagine the preparations, although the Castello Mirabello has already hosted Benedict XVI back in 2007, and prior, even had the honour of hosting John Paul II.

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Italy’s famous wine fair, Vinitaly, will take place in Verona from April 8-12 this year, and will continue the constant growth in the event. More than 4,000 exhibitors will be on display as part of a program with Italian wine tastings, meetings and seminars on Italian wine. Tickets can be purchased online, taking advantage of a discount, and cost 35 euros for a day or 70 euros for the whole four days.

It’s often difficult to get accommodation for the fair, so book early and take a look at the Veronafiere site for accommodation in Verona (at the time of Vinitaly it can cost between 125 and 160 euros for a double room). The Pro Loco site also has some good information on hotels, restaurants and Verona city events, if you’re still lucid after all that wine tasting!

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Located in the heart of the Dolomites on an old military road which leads to Cortina d‘Ampezzo, the mountain hut “ Fanes” is enchanting place where one can relax and enjoy healthy food (the famous Grey Cheese is absolutely delicious!). The whole area is redolent of age and history. Here during The Great War, the Italians and Austrians fought each other and it’s not rare to come across poignant relics of those fierful battles. The old owner of the place loves to tell people touching stories about those long years of war when the two sides shouted Christmas greetings to one another across no man’s land.

Continue reading: Holidays in the Dolomites: mountain hut Fanes, near Cortina

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“It’s difficult to pretend to be intelligent when you’re not. You risk being taken for an idiot. Pretending to be an idiot comes more naturally to me. And it’s also funnier for others”. These are the words of Costantino in the funny Italian video above, who I take it is the man and not the dog (I believe his name is Trent). Costantino tries navigating the canals of Chioggia during flooding in Venice.

The streets of Chioggia became rivers on January 1st and so Costantino and Trent went on a pilgrimage to make the people of the town laugh. The result is something halfway between melancholy and silly, but perhaps it’s a nice gesture for the New Year.

Video | You Tube

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