Facts about Italy: Vespa scooter

Facts about Italy present the most popular motorcycle in the while world Vespa!
There is only one Vespa and it remains the iconic scooter brand with its unique metal-bodied design. Over 60 years as a lead player,the history of the Vespa is a unique example of immortal
industrial design, so much that it has gone beyond a mere transport product to a part of social history.

The Vespa is a symbol of Italian creativity that is known worldwide!

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Facts about Italy: Il Palio di Siena - Unique experience

Facts about Italy presents Il Palio di Siena - Unique experience
Imagine this. A jostling, impatient crowd of 33,000 people closeted in a square. An absolute cacophony of bells, bugles, trumpets and drums. Fluttering flags, spectacular banners and myriad colors all around. Charged excitement in the air. A boom echoes around the arena and suddenly a group of horses appear goaded by their jockeys. The crowd goes crazy, voices at their peak. The horses race around the arena, the jockeys intent both on racing as well as displaying open hostility to fellow jockeys. For two minutes, the entire world is filled with thundering hooves and the din of the crowd.

Twice each summer ten horses are selected to represent ten of the seventeen contrades (or “city wards”) of Siena, in a horse race celebrating a famous apparition of the Virgin Mary. The Palio di Siena always sees the piazza packed with spectators, but it’s not due to the particularly complicated tradition and history of the event; in spite of the detail in its preparation, the Palio is really all about the spectacle – it’s a colourful cultural celebration, a high energy, patriotic sporting event. The pageant that precedes the race builds excitement amongst the crowd as flag-wavers in medieval costumes parade through the streets and mounted, sword-bearing carabaneiri charge around the track. The race has a history of being taken very seriously, and in the bleachers of the Piazza del Campo, it’s difficult not to be consumed by the infectious enthusiasm.
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Facts about Italy: Italy essential facts

Essential Facts about Italy
If you’re planning your next visit to Italy, then make sure you know some essential facts about traveling to this extra popular tourist destination in Europe, as it will help you plan and arrange your visit in the right way.
Here are some important Italy-Travel-Facts that you may want to know:

Italy Travel Facts

1. Accommodations
Italy offers a wide range of accommodations for all sorts of tourists. A lot of hotels can be found near train and bus stations and are usually low budget-types although some few are seedy. Inspecting a hotel before committing to it is often advisable. Italy hotels are generally rated by government system that does not take into account the appeal of the place. If you are staying longer, renting a house or apartment for a week is a good idea.
2. Italian Festivals
The best way to see more than what just an average tourist may see is finding sagras and Italian festivals. Sagras are blessing of such things as porcini mushrooms. One is likely to find great food served outdoors at communal tables and are a great way to meet Italians, all you need to do is dive in.

3. Language
Italy’s spoken language is Italian although you may hear some local dialects. In heavily tourist areas though, English is widely spoken. If there’s one Italian word you should remember, it is sciopero, pronounced as sho-per-o meaning strike. Strikes often happen in Italy that usually lasts for about a day or less, and seldom cause too many problems for tourists who are flexible. Labor issues are often displayed to public consciousness by short strikes so if you see papers on walls or windows of trains or bus stations, look for this word and you’ll know what’s up.

4. Italy Transportation
Italy public transport is served by extensive rail system and sometimes buses duplicate the rail routes. A lot of small cities in Italy have access to the larger cities nearby through twice-a-day bus conections. Bus stations are often very close to train stations. Since trains and busses are subsidized in Italy, they are slightly cheaper than most of the rest of Europe. Just take note that there are fewer trains on non-working days (weekends and holidays).
5. Maps of Italy
Providing yourself maps of Italy can be very helpfull, to plan your trip. There are a variety of maps of Italy that can be found online including rail map and region map.

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