The Little Red Train On The Alps

Livigno is a spectacular mountain locality, especially dedicated to skiers. But that is not the only attraction of this Alpine resort. The surrounding area is full of spectacular landscapes to explore and activities to experience. Such as the romantic mountain train bringing you through out-of-this-world landscapes, glaciers and gorges. The train is friendly called the "Little Red Train".

For the Valtellina people, to talk about the "red train" is like talking about a dear friend.

This is because the Bernina Express departs from the center of the Valtellina, the town of Tirano, and because it is tireless with his slow pilgrimage through gentle valleys and high mountain passes to reach its destination in the heart of upper Engadina.

Tourists are fascinated by this train, and for many it is the most beautiful in the world. Getting on the Bernina Express Railway is equivalent to entering a theater with the landscape unfolding before your eyes. The stage offers a constantly changing spectacle. You can admire not only natural beauties, but also the spectacular railroad structure itself, with its bridges and loop tunnels, reaching at times impressive inclinations. Surely, the route contributes to the charm of this line, going from the Valtellina valley to the Val Poschiavo and then on to climb up among the glaciers and peaks of the Bernina, finally descending to ever-charming Engadina until Pontresina and St. Moritz.

This spectacular and unforgettable rail journey begins in Tirano, the terminus of the Milan-Sondrio-Tirano Italian railways track. The train consists of modern and comfortable coaches. It leaves this lovely city to begin a breathtaking journey, in winter just as in summer, on slopes of 70 per thousand (without rack) up to an altitude of 2253 meters above sea level, which is unique in Europe. After a few kilometers from departure a marvel suddenly strikes your eyes: it's the Brusio viaduct, an outdoor helical ramp. Beyond Poschiavo, the capital of the valley with its beautiful patrician houses, the traveler reaches Alp Grüm, a unique panoramic point on the Palu glacier.

After crossing the pass at an altitude of 2253 meters above sea level, Montebello offers the observer an impressive view of the Monteratsch glacier and the Bernina chain, 4 thousand meters high and covered with glittering eternal snows.

In Pontresina, a popular tourist resort and winter sports center, the line branches off to Samaden-Chur, which allows travelers to reach Central Switzerland and Northern Europe. A few more kilometers and you will come across the enchanting landscape of the Upper Engadine and reach the beautiful St. Moritz.

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Sardinia Beaches near Nuoro

The coastal area of Ogliastra is located in the central-eastern part of Sardinia in the province of Nuoro. Departing from Olbia you can reach it driving along the scenic ss125 ss131 or the highway to Nuoro, built in 1997. Other access points are Tortoli airport, which connects the island to the main seasonally national and European airports, and the port of Arbatax.
To the north of this area is the magnificent Sisine Coast, which with its nearly two thousand feet of cliffs is considered the highest in the Mediterranean. Impressive cliffs of bare stone suddenly appear, covered with luxuriant vegetation. Hidden and mysterious fractures and cracks in the coast are frequently populated by twisted, ancient junipers.

The limestone cliffs continue up to Capo di Monte Santu, which closes to the south the Gulf of Orosei. A limestone section leading south starts here and slowly changes into splendid red porphyry, reaching its maximum charm with the famous Red Cliffs, unique in the world, next to the port of Arbatax.

Along all this stretch of coast the landscape is ever changing. Always different and unique charming beaches display granite and porphyry shapes of a special beauty. The peaceful surroundings, crystal clear sea water and sand of magnificent colors are the accents that will make you fall in love with the beaches of Sardinia.

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The Thermal Waters of Ischia to Relax

Ischia is a small island of Campania, in southern Italy. It sits in the Gulf of Naples, and is very famous for its tremendous scenic impact, natural environment, clean waters, good fish and cooking, characteristic towns, and lastly, but most importantly, its thermal baths.

The thermal waters of Ischia are well known and used since ancient times. The first Euboeans settlers in the Eighth century BC appreciated and used hot springs waters on the island. The Greeks used the thermal waters to restore the spirit and the body and as a remedy for healing the aftereffects of war wounds. They attributed supernatural powers to the waters and vapors that flowed from the bowels of the Earth. It is not a chance by each spa resort temples dedicated to gods like Apollo at Delphi were built. Strabo, a Greek historian and geographer, mentioned the island of Ischia and the virtues of its hot springs.

If the Greeks were the first people to know the powers of the thermal waters, the Romans brought them to be a means of healing and relaxation through the creation of profitable public baths by the numerous springs of the island. However, no lavish bath establishments were ever built, as opposed to Rome and other ancient thermal baths centers.This was probably due to frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that often violently shook the island.

The decline of Rome coincided with the abandonment of the use of bathing even in Ischia. There are indeed no traces of thermal spas usage during the middle ages. A strong impulse to spa usage was given during the Renaissance by Giulio Iasolino, professor at the University of Naples, who realized the therapeutic potential of thermal waters. He cataloged all the baths of Ischia and the beneficial effects of each one, bringing more and more people to cure ailments with success. If you want to read more on this, get his book "De Rimedi Naturali che sono nell'Isola di Pithecusa; oggi detta Ischia". Iasolino freed the thermal waters of Ischia from its magical aura and the success of these treatments brought a group of noble Neapolitan philanthropists to build in Casamicciola the "Pio Monte della Misericordia", the largest spa in Europe during those years, allowing less wealthy people to enjoy the therapeutic qualities of the local hot springs.

Famous historic people like Garibaldi, Cavour and Toscanini visited the baths for their therapeutic properties, making Ischia even more renown internationally.
Thermal tourism started in the Sixties when people from all over the world started arriving to Ischia mostly seeking a healthy relax in a beautiful Mediterranean setting.

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Puglia, Apulia, and the Fabulous Gargano Region

A set of rocky mountains on a promontory extends into the southern Adriatic sea, forms one of the four subregions of Apulia, the Gargano.

The highest peak is Mount Calvo with its 1056 meters. The promontory is bordered by the Gulf of Manfredonia, Vieste, Peschici, Rodi Garganico to the south and the Adriatic Islands of Tremiti to the north.
The Gargano, is occupied almost entirely by mountains and large plateaus, the most famous of all is the Umbra Forest. But the Gargano is not just mountains, indeed it is certainly best known for its nearly two hundred kilometers of coastline. The coast is made of beaches, pine forests, creeks, cliffs, dunes, fjords and caves.

The Gargano region in Apulia extends from Vieste to San Menaio, Peschici to Mattinata and from Rodi Garganico to the Gulf of Manfredonia and Margherita di Savoia up to the gorgeous Tremiti Islands.

In Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano is the Basilica of San Giovanni Rotondo and San Michele Arcangelo, a new church dedicated to Padre Pio, who was sanctified a few years back.

A holiday in Gargano and Puglia also means you have the chance to admire the beauty of the Gargano National Park. The Gargano National Park, with 120.000 hectares of lagoons, mountains, sandy beaches, marine reserves, villages and forests is among the most beautiful in Italy, but also sadly threatened by the irresponsible behavior of unscrupulous people.
The area also offers its visitors a rich calendar of events such as Peschijazz, the Piano Festival of Gargano, Gargano motorbike rally for bike lovers, and many culinary events.

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