Summer in Italy spoils us for choice over the best Italian beaches from the north to the south, including some beautiful secluded spots on Italy’s islands. While August often seems like a bum’s rush to get your spot on the sand, nothing bad can be said about azure waters, sun or snorkelling opportunities.

TripAdvisor has put together a list of Italy’s top ten seaside locations for 2011 starting with San Vito Lo Capo and passing through some more famous names, too. Here is the list:

1. San Vito lo Capo, Sicily - a quiet spot on the North Coast of Sicily, not far from Trapani
2. Villasimius, Sardinia - on the south point of Sardinia, not far from Cagliari in an area famous for its VIP locations and night clubs
3. Lampedusa Island (although we recommend avoiding this right now given the boatloads of African immigrants arriving and the presence of the Italian military)
4. Vieste, Puglia - in the middle of the Gargano national park, this is one for nature lovers who want private spots for swimming
5. Alghero, Sardinia - another spot on Italy’s famous island of Sardinia, Alghero has an old town and a few beaches to offer on the west coast

Continue reading: Italy's best beaches: top ten for 2011 summer in Italy

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This is not the first time that a movie increases tourism; in the recent past, it has happened with the Lord Of The Ring trilogy, the Harry Potter saga and Ridley Scott’s A Good Year, so it did not surprise us at all when a few months ago a Japanese movie called Amalfi Megami no Hoshu brought more Japanese tourists to the Amalfi coast which, movie apart, is one of the most enchanting places on earth! But this is not all, many of those tourists, still under the spell of what they had seen on the silver screen, booked their stay at the Santa Caterina hotel where several scenes of the above movie were filmed! Well, there’s no doubt that movies can play a significant role in people’s decision on where to spend their summer holidays!

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The Amalfi coast is famous for the beauty of its landscape and the quality of its hotels; there’s a wide range of luxurious hotels from which one can choose, but ( in my opinion at least) Casa Angelina at Praianois one of the best. Elegantly decorated and furnished with ultra-modern furniture, this five-star hotel which has 43 rooms and a lift with a view over the sea provides incomparable service and splendid amenities, including a unique collection of paintings and sculptures. For more information click here.

Continue reading: Luxury hotels on the Amalfi coast: Hotel Casa Angelina, Praiano

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Nestled above the Amalfi coast, the beautiful town of Ravello has always been a great favourite with the glitterati and Anglo-American expatriates (writer Gore Vidal lived here for years). So if you want to mix with the rich and famous and at the same time spend a few days of rest in one of the world’s most enchanting resorts, the hotel Palazzo del Sasso with its luxury rooms, state of the art spa and a mesmerising view of the Mediterranean sea is the place to be. For further information please click here.

Source | Palazzosasso.com

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Summer in Italy, at least the vacation part, is drawing to a close meaning we’ll see our Italian celebrities and VIPs come back to their home cities for work. Call it the financial crisis or a rediscovery of the beauty of Italy’s seaside destinations, but many of the stars of Italian fashion, entertainment and even overseas visitors chose to holiday on home shores this year.

After a spot of summer holidaying in Italy at the Aeolian Islands at their Stromboli villa, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana of Dolce&Gabbana fame will be back to their fashion duties. The beautiful islands were also the scene of a holiday for Italy’s president, Giorgio Napolitano, who was visiting relatives. Less of a luxury holiday than the fashion duo, Napolitano arrived on a ferry with his wife and they spent their time in a more simple style.

The popular spot was also the chosen destination of actress Sharon Stone who arrived on her luxury yacht, while other international stars chose Positano, along Italy’s Amalfi Coast as their preferred holiday spot. That includes Tina Turner, who seems to have a soft spot for the area, having holidayed there last year, too, and Naomi Campbell who arrived on the yacht of millionaire boyfriend Vladislav Dorinin.

Not that we’re jealous or anything, but isn’t it time everyone went back to work…? Meanwhile, if you can’t get to these places, they’re great spots for a mid-season holiday as well, or to enjoy some milder winter weather, so don’t hesitate to check out Italy’s islands in the off-season, too.

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According to a tripadvisor poll the world’s most beautiful swimming pool can be found at the Hotel Caruso in Ravello. With an unique and incomparable view over the Amalfi coast, the hotel has always been a great favourite with celebrities; from Arturo Toscani and Gina Lollobrigida to Jacqueline Kennedy and Humphrey Bogart - just to mention a few names!

Continue reading: The world's best hotel swimming pools : Hotel Caruso comes top of tripadvisor poll

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The Galleria Palatino on Coronari street in Rome is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the paintings which painter Gianna Paola Cuneo has created between 1948 and 1950; a series of paintings depicting the stunning landscapes of Positano and the Amalfi coast. Gianna Paola Cuneo who made a name for herself in Chicago with a series of rather austere paintings, changed her style and attitude to art only when she returned to Italy and fell in love with the lovely town of Positano and the enchanting Amalfi coast. The exhibition will be on view until December 10th.

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Summer is ebbing away, but such international celebrities as American singer Tina Turner and English actor Pierce Brosnan are still enjoying their summer holidays in the south of Italy; Ms Turner’s luxury yacht has been spotted off the coast of Positano, Amalfi and the island of Capri, while the British actor with his wife has been seen dining at Donna Rossa in Montepertuso. Nowadays stars flock to Italian resorts like bees to a honey pot!

Source | Positanonews.it

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This is a must read for anyone wanting to avoid the traffic along the Amalfi Coast, while still travelling to Positano. Touring the Amalfi Coast is now much easier with the Metrò Del Mare, whose services have been developed further recently. The network now covers the entire Naples Gulf and that of Salerno, taking in the major towns along the way.

From the map above you can see the extensive network with stops including Capri, Sorrento, Positano, Cilento, Salerno and others. Some day and weekend tickets are available, meaning we can all enjoy the Amalfi Coast without sitting in traffic or desperately trying to find a parking space.

Reaching the two port destinations of Mergellina and Beverello from Naples, it’s better to take public transport, given the distance from the station. Molo Manfredi in Salerno, however, is close to the train station and can be reached on foot. See the Amalfi Coast metro site for more details, including timetables.

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Touring Campania from Naples to the Amalfi Coast, might seem like a romantic trip, but not if you’re travelling on the Circumvesuviana Campania train line. While it passes some of Italy’s most beautiful landscapes, with views to take your breath away, you need some patience to get you through the trip as well.

With stinking trains that break down or run late, and often not the most ideal of fellow travelling companions, it is hardly the grand tour of Campania that you might think.

Which is why violinist Pasquale Nocerino and actora Gaia Bassi and Davide Sacco decided to provide some entertainment to the tiring passengers, in the form of street art and cultural meets. Reciting Italian literature from Campania writers, reports state that more than 5,000 book copies from the readings have been sold.

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We’re not really in the times when splurging on holidays is recommended, but if you want to save the economy, then spending a little extra could be what keeps things afloat. So if you have some extra cash and are planning a vacation in Italy, try the Santa Caterina hotel on the Amalfi Coast.

The most famous thing about this luxury hotel is its breathtaking views and natural terraces that snake down to the sea. This beautiful path is truly unique, passing among citrus orchards and gardens down to facilities that include an ocean pool, solarium, gym and open air bar and restaurant.

The hotel has undergone restoration work, preserving the original architecture, along with five star comfort and luxury. You can see the amazing view from all of the hotel’s balconies, and other features include a sophisticated dining room, large rooms with open spaces and plenty of light, and beautiful room decorations in sumptuous materials.

For information, reviews and prices go to Veraclasse.it.

Continue reading: Luxury hotels on the Amalfi Coast: Santa Catarina

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If you’ve ever been confused over the real name of anchovies in Italy, then you’re forgiven as it appears that the name varies across the regions. Traditionally called “acciughe”, you will often see the name “alici” which refers to the fish when it is young and small.

Wikipedia reveals other names are anciua, amarou, anciona, amplona, and amplouva from Liguria, while when the fish measures up to three centimetres, it’s called gianchettu or bianchetto.

In the above video you can see the traditional cleaning and preparing of the anchovies at Cetara on the Amalfi Coast in the province of Salerno. The town is noted for its anchovy tradition, and the video shows the draining of a salty liquid from the fish, that is then used in various typical dishes of the Amalfi Coast.

The “colatura” is described as an amber liquid that emerges after salting and pressing the anchovies in traditional barrels of chestnut wood. What results is an exquisite solution used as a condiment.

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