Bella Italia

Steeped in history and drenched in olive oil, Italy is the boot-shaped jewel in the Mediterranean.
While clinging proudly to its time-honored traditions and ancient ruins, Italy has shaped itself as a modern European nation at the cutting edge of fashion, film, music and the culinary arts.
Long after its mighty Roman Empire ruled the roost, Italy's allure and influence extends far beyond its Mediterranean landmass. Its age-old peasant recipes continue to tantalize the taste buds of the world's great chefs, its fashion designers still dominate the catwalks, its Pope still lures the planet's Catholics to Vatican City and its exaggerated terrifying Mafia tales are still the gangster godfathers of film.

From the mountainous north to the sweltering south, Italy is divided into 20 distinct regions.
Starting in the northern Lombardy region you could sail away on the Alpine lakes before travelling south to shop 'til you drop in Milan. Heading east, relish getting absurdly lost in the exquisite back streets of Venice.
On Italy's west coast, take in the coastal walks and tranquility of the Cinque Terra before 'holding up' Pisa's leaning tower and then travelling inland for an art fix in Florence. Striking deeper into the romantic Tuscan region, you could soak up the medieval architecture of San Gimignano and Siena before sampling home made wine in the verdant countryside. Heading south into the region of Umbria, you could brush up on your Italian at a language school in Perugia.
Italy's frenetic capital, Rome, needs little introduction. Travelling south, Naples is a sensory overload where the world's best pizzas fuel the maddest of dashes around its chaotic streets. An easy day trip from Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Capri afford stunning Mediterranean vistas while the ruins of Pompeii transports imaginations back 2,000 years.
Italy’s most striking beauty is hidden in the south, enjoy the beaches of the Salentine Peninsula or drive the incredible Calabrian coast before catching the ferry to the seductive island of Sicily.
For your eyes only… Bella is Italia!

"Ave Maria Purissima Senza Peccato Con La Sua Vita" Guarda la bella donna!!

Frank, you're a gentlemen and a scholar or at least one out of two ain't bad. Complimenti!

"Heading south into the region of Umbria, you could brush up on your Italian at a language school in Perugia." Come io.

Seriously though, that really does describe Italy molto bene. Mi e piaciuto leggere questo moltissimo. Have seen most of those places and
will being going back to see them again in June 2009. Non vedo la ora! Is there anyother place on earth quite like Italy? Non credo!
Well, you could always go to New Jersey. LOL!! This is an inside joke. Met this dual citizen guy in Italy who's from New Jersey.(He lives
in Itally now.) He took me around showing me all the great wonders in Perugia, San Marino, Gubbio, Assisi and a few other great places. He
would always sarcastically say, "Why the hell would I want to be in New Jersey when I can see things like this!" And "You can't find places like
this in New Jersey!" Molto divertente! Abbiamo riso a crepapelle.

Sorry Frank. I never got past the picture.

Hi Joe

Yes understandable but take a look how beautiful the calabrian coast is on my photo, do you see all those umbrellas lined up along the beach. Well, when you come to Calabria and drive along the Lamezia coast line you will come across miles and miles of amazing beaches and directly above are the hills (like beverly hills of California layout)where there are these little charming towns, villages and cites hidden in the valleys and mountain tops waiting to be discovered by travellers. The region of Calabria gives the traveller the best of both worlds to discover offering a Urban lifestyle in a resort setting surrounded by a national forestry nature park (la sila)of lakes and rivers. That is what makes Calabria special.

What area in Italy are your parents from ?

My mother is from Calabria. A small town called Spadola in Vibo Valentia, about 40km SW of Catanzaro

Hi Joe
Wow.. .Spadola is a charming little town located in the province of Vibo Valentia not to far from our Prendocasa Immobiliari office www.prendocasa.com real estate agency in Briatico. Your mother’s town is much closer to the city of Vibo Valentia than Catanzaro. It’s a beautiful area close to Tropea, Capo Vaticano, Pizzo, and Vibo Marina. This is the area where I started selling properties in Calabria, Italy 4 years ago. We have a new development starting in February 2009 in Vibo Valentia not to far from your home town in an area called Zambrone. We will be building 7 new 2 bedroom detached villas. Prices starting from only 225,000 Euros (pictures) http://www.prendocasa.it/sito_uk/scheda.php?id=332

Which sea side coast do you go to when visiting your home town of Spadola… Ionian or Mediterranean Sea (Lamezia)?

I havent been there to visit yet. Never had the chance, but i'm making a trip to italy a gift to myself when i finish graduate school. I usually say catanzaro in reference to spadola because no one seems to understand anything else in the area.

225.00000 Euros = 313.33500 U.S. dollars