I’m doing it again. Yes, traveling (I do that on occasion). But more than that. I’m opening my vacation up to the input, suggestions and perhaps even a few dares from my readers (and in this instance, fellow prior blogville residents). Be gentle. 😉
So, you may have seen some buzz going around Twitter about #BlogVille. It’s sort of an experiment whereby dozens of travel bloggers have been invited to camp out together (OK, put away the violins. It’s a gorgeous apartment) and venture out into the wilds and civilizations of Italy to share our findings with friends back home and worldwide.
Well, I’ve been invited to stay at the Blogville apartments in both Bologna and Rimini (with a stint sailing Croatia for a week in between!) and my activity calendar is fairly open and always flexible and I love sussing out the places and eateries that my readers suggest. I’m so looking forward to the experience, both for savoring new territory in Italy and also meeting fellow wanderlusters from all over. So Bohemian!
I may suffer through something like this for you...
I’ve done this Interactive thingy before and I came out relatively unscathed.
I’ll be traveling the first portion of the Italy adventure with my dear friend (and hiking buddy) Helene. She is quite the adventuress, so we can be fairly confident she’ll join me where you send me! (She may just end up dragging ME)
So I invite you all to offer up your best. Fill my dance card with activities in the entire Emilia Romagna region. Anything to do with hiking, dance, food, history, music (opera?) or general adventure will be welcome. But even more welcome, are those precious gems you’ve found that one wouldn’t expect to seek out. Little local secrets. I relish the idea of branching out from my normal interests.
And of course, after you’ve left your tips and suggestions in the comment section, make sure to check back here for the itinerary I follow!
Thank you in advance for playing ‘Interactive Travel’ with me.
Photos by Gina (on last year’s trip to Italy)
For more Italy, see: Venice: A Thing of Beauty, Then and Now
and others, including hiking the Dolomites
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, too bad it's so far from Sicily. I could offer so many lovely places to visit there. Hope you'll blog when you do make it to Sicily and I'll send all my ideas 🙂
Ciao Estrella, and thank you for your enthusiastic offer! Never fear, Sicily is still on my list! And of course, I will be blogging wherever I go. 🙂 Grazie, Gina
Lake Maggiore, Isole Borromee – great place, great food. I can take you there or meet you there.
Of course, I am very partial to my own "home" Lake – Lake Como!!
If you are into sports activities (Helene seems to be), I can point out a few locations around Lake Garda where you can bike, run, swim, windsurf and rock-climb! 🙂
You know where to find me,
ciao!!
I'll be following your adventures every day – this is what you were born to do! XOXO
Thank you sis, for your enthusiastic and tolerant support! ;)) (and your clothes, and camera…) I swear, you are the BEST closet cleaner-outer! Love you loads! XOXO Sista G
Capri, oh and in the way there, just throw the mobile gadgets into the deep blue sea…
Parma… Food and architecture. 😀
Capri… very beauiful
and in Bologna I remember that I traveled with my dad towards Rimini and you come to a place called Calanchi (or something like that) and right about now there should be incredible colours with flowers and the earth… Good place for a pic nic. 😀
I will be traveling back up to Bologna from Rimini on my return trip…I can then easily stop off to enjoy the flowers! Thank you for memories and tips, Miriam! XO Gina
and of course in bologna itself you visit the two towers… 🙂 the Asinelli and the Garisenda. But I guess that you already know. 🙂
Honnnneeee! Thank you Miriam for these delightful suggestions. I've heard about the towers and seen photos, but since YOU are the one suggesting I see them, then you will be credited with sending me and my camera over there! 🙂 I hope you can perhaps get to Italy again this visit and we can have an Italian reunion!! I'll look into San Marino as well, grazie!! xoxo Gina
Oh oh and of course you should visit San Marino! 🙂
Let's meet on Colli Piacentini (Northern Emilia Romagna Hills) for #awinetale : Jewels in ferment 🙂
The Vineyard of Art, an annual contemporary art cultural project at Torre Fornello, opens its doors to contemporary jewellery inspired by tales of grapes and wine:
inside our 'terroir', the sweet Emilia hills called Colli Piacentini in Northern Italy, there are traces of the past, and we can rediscover the territory, its flavour and character, and the feelings it instils in us. Here we are faced with absolutely typical wines, Malvasia and Gutturnio, of the embodiment of these hills.
An exhibition and a competition open to goldsmiths, handcrafters, artists, designers, for jewellery inspired by the theme of #awinetale: three colli piacentini Doc wines, three tales, three inspirations.
Exhibition open until May25th _ further period by appointment https://www.facebook.com/events/363613977021176/3…
http://www.torrefornello.it
gioiellinfermento@gmail.com
@jewelsinferment
#a winetale
Thank you and grazie molto muuchly Eliana for your amazing suggestions! I think the walk through the wineries sounds absolutely heavenly! I am only in Bologna one Sunday so if I don't have that open, I'll look into it for my time in Rimini. I will have a rail pass. 🙂 I can't thank you enough for this information and I am now daydreaming about these outings. 🙂 Cheers! I mean, ciao! Gina
another nice trip could be this: http://www.unplipiacenza.it/eventi/5-eventi-enoga…
Have a walk among wineries and vineyards:
each scheduled sunday (from may to june 3rd) let's start from the first winery with cellars visit, appetizer and wine tasting, then reach a second winery by walking through vineyards and have lunch with typical products, afterwards a final walk ti the third winery for dessert and sweet wine tasting…
all this should be reserved by the previous friday (for more info please contact me at gioiellinfermento@gmail.com)
QuattroPassi tra vigneti e cantine, domenica 20 maggio iniziate da Gioielli in Fermento a Torre Fornello Ziano Pc .
Passeggiate enogastronomiche (visita alla prima cantina con degustazione dei vini in abbinamento a salumi e formaggi, passeggiata alla seconda cantina con pranzo (piatti locali) ulteriore passeggiata per arrivare alla terza cantina dove i vini sono abbinati ai dolci.
Le prenotazioni si ricevono entro il venerdì della settimana precedente la data in programma.
Have a nice stay in Emilia Romagna!
Eliana
@eliananegroni
Well: the city of Ravenna with its mosaics, Hiking on the fabolous hills of Brisighella (Parco del Carné) and eat the wonderful "Mora Romagnola" meat…
Glenda, thank you molto muuch for your suggestions! Stay tuned for my report back 😉 I'm literally en route now on layover in Chicago airport…grazie!! Gina
Welcome to Bologna!
There's a program in Bologna called Trekking col Treno. Hikes are lead by a guide from Bologna's Alpine Club. The group meets at Bologna Centrale and then you train or bus it to wherever the hike of the day is. The cost is 5 Euro + bus or train fare. I've been wanting to go on one of their trips for awhile, but it seems to keep raining on the weekends! There's a hike this Sunday. You can check out the brochure for the program here: http://www.provincia.bologna.it/turismo/Engine/RA…
There's also a Regional Park just outside of Bologna called Parco Regionale dei Gessi Bolognesi, which is known for its gypsum caves. I've been wanting to check out that as well. http://www.appenninoeverde.it/en/natura/parchi-na…
I'm a hiking fan as well, so I look forward to reading about any hiking adventures you have in the region. Have fun!
Wow! Grazie Audrey, for your detailed tips and suggestions for enjoying the natural realm of the region! My hiking and traveling friend, Helene will be stoked << California jargon – when she sees all of your great ideas. I'm literally en route to Bologna now! I DO so love a long layover so I can do my electronic playtime :)) Stay tuned for our adventures and thanks again! Ciao, Gina
Hi Gina,
This is the first time I've seen an interactive travel. Great idea actually! It's always nice to gather first hand information from travelers. 🙂
Ciao Sab, and thanks! I'm open to suggestions from people who WISH to travel as well! 🙂 So far, having a rich experience in Bologna. Ciao! Gina
Looks like great fun!!! I'll be traveling with you in my heart as one day its my goal to get to Italy! {{HUGS}} precious one!
@spreadingJOY
Grazie Marie! It really is a great time here and Bologna is proving itself to be one of those "just right" sized cities that you can get lost in and find endless discoveries, yet not feel overwhelmed by it's size. Huugs back, sweetness!! Ciao, Gina
In Florence, try the Lampredotto (stomach sandwich), and steak florentine, you can find info here http://www.acooknotmad.com/search/?q=Florence
Grazie Nat and amicos at A Cook Not Mad! It was so nice to share a delicious meal with you on your first night in Bologna at the blogville apartment. I took copious notes on your suggestions and look forward to trying them and posting my "findings" here ;))
Ciao Gina! While in Bologna have a look at St Petronio Basilica and don't miss the Shrine of St Luca if you have time! It's a beautiful spot. Moreover, do not forget to try the typical Tortellini pasta, the Tigelle (I love it!), the cones containing any kind of fried things and the Piadina, of course! I am not going to explain what they are, just give it a try, I am sure you will be surprised! Super – Yummy!! :))
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