Rome is probably only second toMilanin choice and standard of fashion fare but perhaps with more great discounted options. You could come and pay top dollar for designer brands onRome’s top atelier fashion street, Via Condotti.  Or you could do as the Romans do and visit the outlets in the centre of, or just outside,Rome.

Every major Italian brand can be found with discounts up to 70 per cent. Think Bruno Magli, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, La Perla, Prada, Pinko, Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Burberry and Sergio Rossi.

Discount dell’Alta Moda

Via di Gesu e Maria, 16A (off Via del Corso, Piazza del Popolo end)

Brands include Versace, D&G, Armani, Chloe, Ferragamo and Prada.  The store is for men and women and has a large selection of bags, accessories and shoes. The Staff speak English and are very helpful.   They also have designer jeans and casual wear, particularly for men, and Italian suits, business shirts and ties all by top designers.

Discount dell’Alta Moda

Via Agostino Depretis, 87/88 (off Via Nazionale) A lovely two-storey discount shop with some decent finds for men and women.  And what a range of divine Versace bags they have, with prices as low as €79.  This is definitely worth a visit.  Both the above offer tax refunds you can collect at the airport or at designated places in centralRome.

Teichner Outlet

Via Appia Nuova, 2 (take Metro A to San Giovanni, exit at street and look across road) this one has the bonus of being easy to reach by Metro and is opposite the Coin shopping centre (akin to David Jones).

It has a lovely coffee bar on the top floor. Use the toilets on this floor and look out the window this is a view most tour guides won’t show you, and one that is well worth it. Around the corner from Coin are street markets selling cheap bags, clothes and accessories.   Always bargain and pretend to walk away you’ll be surprised at the prices you can haggle down to.  Now back to the serious shopping.

Teichner Outlet is an opulent, four-storey designer brand shop extravaganza.  From Versace to Cavalli to Alberta Ferretti to Pinko they are all here. It’s open daily from 10am until 8pm.

Outside Rome – the mega outlets 

The best of the designer brand outlets are found at the Centro Commerciale (central shopping centre) called Castel Romano or Roman Castle.  This outlet shopping village has all the major brands at great discounted prices.  It is also well equipped with coffee bars and eateries for discussing the day’s purchases.

Shopping in general Via Condotti is where all the big names of Italian fashion are and it’s a good place to see what the high end of town has to offer.

Then stroll up and down the streets that run down from the Spanish Steps for heaps of shops selling shoes, bags and other leather goods, along with jewellery and fashion accessories. Around the back streets you’ll find interesting light fixtures, handicrafts and gift shops. Leather goods are reasonably priced and the workmanship is very good. You can pick up some stunning high-quality leather bags for very decent prices.

Even if you’re not looking to buy anything in particular, it’s nice to stroll the streets near the Spanish Steps to see what the latest styles are.

Don’t forget Via Del Corso, just off the Spanish Steps, isRome’s main high street, with shops like H&M and Zara.

1. Family Friendly
From the warm blue sea to kids clubs and water-parks you can find everything here to suit your family needs. Sardinia is a family destination that is enjoyed all year round. Families from Europe, Canada, Australia and Africa visit Sardinia each year for her beauty and family friendly activities like camping and an agriturismo stay. Numerous hotels, villas and apartments offer special room deals for large families. Most hotels offer babysitting services for a fee.
(More information on holidaying with the family in Sardinia)

2. Luxury at its Finest
Costa Smeralda or The Emerald Coast is Sardinia’s most exquisite 55 km of coastline in Europe. Exclusive golf clubs, stylish bars and nightclubs, helicopter and private jet service, stunning white sandy beaches, affluent visitors: celebrities, sport heroes, business leaders and politicians. Shopping, eating and relaxing are at your fingertips in Costa Smeralda.

3. Rural Farm Stay

Looking to unwind from the hectic city life but the beach is not your thing? Why not head into the rugged Sardinian mountains and stay at an agriturismo. An agriturismo is a farm restaurant which often offers lodging. Their menus are strictly local Sardinian foods which are grown and raised on the farm. I prefer to eat at an agriturismo over a restaurant when dining out. The food is fresher, more flavourful and locally produced. Be sure to try the local digestive: mirto.

4. Relax at the Spa

Do you need to unwind after a busy year in the office? Do you want to surprise your spouse with a relaxing vacation in Sardinia? In the northwestern part of the island lies the Hotel Marinedda Thalasso & Spa. You don’t need to be a guest at this resort to enjoy the soothing benefits of the spa treatments. The spa is complete with a half in-door sea water pool with hydro massage, cardio gym, Turkish bath and saunas, scrubs, rubs and wraps. Thai massage, face massage, hot stone massage, reflexology, treatments for two, mani’s, pedi’s and so much more!

5. Festivals
Every month there are festivals held throughout Sardinia. The summer months being the busiest time of year, full of spectacular events. Some festivals worth checking out: Cavalcata Sarda held every May in Sassari, Sardinian Reggae Festival held annually the last weekend in July, Festa della Birra held throughout various communes in Sardinia during the week of ferragosto (August 14-20), San Costantino held the first weekend in July is a ritual horse race through the town, the most popular being in Sedilo (most communes have moved the race throughout town to sporting stadiums or large cordoned off areas in the mountains, due to danger).

6. Sports

From windsurfing to horseback riding Sardinia is your athletic gem in the Mediterranean. Whether you play or prefer to watch, Sardinia is well equipped for that jock in you. Rock climbing, yachting in Costa Smeralda, surfing at La Marinedda, hiking in the rugged mountains, swimming in the clear blue sea, golf for the master, fishing for your evening dinner and popular dive centers all around the island cater to the athletic you.

7. Sardinia connects directly with many major hubs all over Europe
To the north Olbia and Alghero airports, in the south we have Cagliari airport. Ryanair, AirOne, Easyjet, Jet2, Alitalia, and Meridiana are just a few of the airlines that connect Sardinia to the rest of the world. If you don’t like to fly then Sardinia offers ferry service from many ports in Italy, Corsica and Northern Africa.

8. Culture & History
Sardinia is filled with a beautiful mysterious culture. There are over 2000 ancient Nuraghi (stone huts) still standing, an ode to the strength of the Sardinian people. There still lies ancient villages which practice age-old customs, Nora being said to be the finest in ancient culture, even today. For more information on the history of Sardinia please click here: Tharros.info Sardinia. This site has a wealth of fantastic information on Sardinia, her culture and her history.

9. Food & Wine
They say … Italian food is the best in the world. But have you tried Sardinian food? The national dish of Sardinia is the suckling pig and when cooked right, it turned this sorta-kinda vegetarian into a meat-eater. Slow cooked by camp fire or oven spit, with myrtle to incense the meat, this dish is a must try while in Sardinia.

Local cheeses are pungent and sweet, out of this world. The best being local pecorino and ricotta. Sella & Mosca in Alghero is Europe’s largest vineyard and produces the best of Sardinian wine. Cannonau is a deep, ruby-red wine with strong personalities and is symbolic to the Sardinian reds. May I suggest a glass of Medeus 2000? Let’s not forget the Seadas!

10. The Beach

With over 1800km of unspoilt pristine coastline, Sardinia will leave you breathless. Whether you like to sit on the warm sand and exfoliate, or swim in the azure sea, Sardinia is the place to be. La Pelosa Beach in the north is one of the most popular beaches in Sardinia. It’s a small natural oasis and a breathtaking paradise.

Tinnari lies a few kilometers from Isola Rossa. Tinnari is a stunning two half-moon bay, rock beach. Access to Tinnari is by foot, boat or quad. Tinnari is one of Sardinia’s secret beaches. Find it!

There are two main beaches in Isola Rossa: Spiaggetta del Porto and Spiaggia Longo. The fresh clean waters are a magnet for scuba divers, snorkelers and swimmers. Here you will find unspoilt shorelines, family friendly restaurants and villas, and a watch tower which was built in the 1500′s.

To read the original article, please visit Jennifer Avventura at My Sardinian Life and you can follow her on Twitter @JennyAvventura

Friday 17th February sees the start of Carneval in Italy. Here in Sardinia each town celebrates the day differently, my favourite venue is Gavoi a small town in the heart of the ‘Barbagia’, so named by the invading Roman army in the 300s on account of the ‘barbaric Sardinians’ and hostile, mountainous territory.

‘Giovedi Grasso’ translates as ‘Fat Thursday’ and has historical origins dating back to the 1100s when  twelve pigs were presented to the Venetians to celebrate a territorial victory. It represents the start of the week leading up to Lent when it was custom to eat plenty in preparation for the 40 day fast. Carnevale in Sardinia dates back further to pagan times when celebrations were held to herald the coming of spring, the various rituals having been adapted over the centuries in order to embrace Christianity.

Last year, my brother and I enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Agroturism of Speranza before joining a crowd of ‘Gavoiesi’ gathering in the church square of San Gavino to participate in the annual procession of the Sortilla ‘e timburos in celebration of ‘Giovedi Grasso’. From the distance we heard a drummer, a second drum joined in and then a third. Over the next hour we could hear the drums approaching the square from all directions until eventually there must have been at least 600 drummers milling around, never missing a beat. The ground throbbed in time to the drum beats and the atmosphere was absolutely electrifying. Tears of emotion streamed down my face – this is the Sardinia I fell in love with more than 40 years ago.

Men, women and children from 3 to 93 took part. With the square unable to accommodate any more players the procession started to wind its way through the village. The men were dressed in traditional Sard black trousers, jackets and caps with the occasional sheep skin draped over their shoulders and the inevitable cigarette hanging from their mouths – including youngsters that didn’t look a day over seven. The drummers were accompanied by other musicians, playing reed whistles, triangles and accordions.

As dusk settled the players and hundreds of spectators gathered in one of the main squares to feast on bowls full of ‘jovia lardajola’, a soup of dried broad beans cooked with pork fat; followed by strings of zeppole, a long,sausage like hot doughnut doused with sugar and washed down with a never ending supply of local red – ‘Fat Thursday’ remember?

The whole village then took part in their traditional Sard dancing until one by one they slipped off home to recuperate in preparation for the next day’s festivities. I woke at 3.30 am to hear a lone drummer still doing his thing and still in perfect rhythm.

For independent holiday makers, travelling by car is the best way to get the most from a new destination to discover its unique corners.

It is recommended that you speak to a specialist for itinerary suggestions, which can be altered or integrated with any personal requirement.  This means you can choose to relax and chill out in the countryside or on the beach or also add more activities and guided tours.

Wherever you go, you will enjoy driving among country roads surrounded by dry stone walls, centuries-old olive trees, trulli housesand enchanting medieval villages.

Check out Discovery Puglia, ABTOI members and  specialists for Apulia. They offer a base packages including the accommodation and a couple of activities.  They also help you with their Self Drive Tours with new ideas and pictures.

Check it out on http://www.discoverypuglia.com/en/tour-offer/self-drive-tours

Flights to Bari (BRI) and Brindisi (BDS) airports.

Many kitchens in this area are artworks with furnitures and tools from the past reinvented as real objects of art. Most of the time people who come and visit say that they would stay forever and for sure they meet new friends along the way staying in contact long after the cooking class.

Here is a typical foodie day looks like: a mixture of cultural and food experience  during which friend meet many nice locals and share experiences with them.  Depending on where your accommodation is, you wake up in a cozy apartment  with a panoramic terrace and a big baroque door or in a beautiful countryhouse where the most genuine breakfast is served: hand-made crostate with delicious marmelades, pastries, fruit and eventually fresh ricotta cheese.

In the morning your host will make you visit some very nice and off  the beaten path foodie places, exploring villages, tasting wine in very nice wineries, meeting folks. And if you visit the area in late spring or summer, a white sandy beach in the morning followed by a cooking class in the afternoon could be a fabulous plan. You will thus taste your creations always under the guidance of the fun Puglia Mamma cooking with you.

During your unique food and wine experience you will be introduced to some incredible locals and don’t be surprised if the locals will invite you into their homes for a meal or a coffee together.

The cooking class will take place in the spacious rustic traditional kitchen in a country house or in a private home and your teacher will be a Mum from the area. With her you will truly experience what “peasant cooking” in Puglia is: genuine, healthy, seasoned with the freshest products.

Cook with locals in a casual and friendly environment: join this group of fabulous “Mamme in Cucina” and share teaching you some very delicious dishes. Classes are hands – on, using the freshest of ingredients and sampling olive oil and wine produced directly on the grounds.

Guests will be fully involved in every stage of the cooking class.

Groups are kept small because keeping it personal make the guests truly feel comfortably and in good company.

You will be given a recipe book and an apron to take home with you.

We have Moms in many areas of the region, thus giving the opportunity to our friends to choose the closest mamma to their accommodation and live with her this memorable day. They meet at some established check point or in the main Piazza and from there that wonderful day starts.

A cappuccino and cornetto to start in some popular bar (for the locals), a visit to a food market, some casual tastings along the way, the preparation of the meal hands-on and tons of fun pictures during the lesson.

All of our Moms are simply wonderful: lovely and excellent teachers when it is about cooking. They personally know every vendor they shop from and can reveal you many interesting things on how to combine ingredients in an almost magic way.

They are the typical local mum, simple and genuine as their smile is and cooking with them is relaxing and fun. During the class they will show and teach you step by step how to make some very great Italian culinary staff.

The “Mamme in Cucina” cooking class program is available year round: this incredible group of lovely mums will be always there for you to cook together.

If you would like to experience an authentic cooking class in Puglia, send an email with a date to: info@yltourcongressi.com.

More info on the classes available on: www.yltourcongressi.com

May 17th  - 20th 2012.  The most beautiful vintage cars in the world chosen to participate in the race each year are selected under rigorous guidelines. The 2012 edition plans a departure from Brescia, journeying through Ferrara, Rome and then back to Brescia.

www.1000miglia.eu

Starts on May 5th 2012 in Herning. The Giro d’Italia, which celebrated its first hundred years in 2009, dates back to May 13 1909. This year the Giro will start in Denmark – it’s only

the tenth time it has started outside Italy since 1909 – and will terminate as usual in Milan on 27th May.

http://www.gazzetta.it/

The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum, the Boschi di Stefano Historic House Museum, the Necchi Campiglio Villa and the Poldi Pezzoli Museum have been grouped together in the network of Milanese historic house museums.The network was born in order to make known and promote the history of nearly two centuries of Milan’s cultural and artistic patrimony, as seen through the eyes of its protagonists: the nobles Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli and the brothers Fausto and Giuseppe Bagatti Valsecchi in the 19th century, as well as the Boschi Di Stefano couple and the industrialists Necchi Campiglio (set for the film “I am Love” with Tilda Swinton) of the 20th century. The four historic house museums, all situated in the centre of Milan, are fascinating places that have in common the generosity of their founders, who made their homes and art collections open to the public. Visiting them allows you to know the personal stories and tastes that also reflect the evolution and transformation of Milanese society. You can now buy a card which allows access to all of them for €15, concessions €10, the card is valid 6 months from date of first visit.

www.casemuseo.it

Gubbio – 15th May 2012.  The Festa Dei Ceri is one of the oldest, if not the oldest Italian folklore display. The festival has always played a fundamental role in the heart of the local community. Its origins are obscure, it is enough to know that there are two basic hypotheses: one religious and one pagan. However, a well-documented version sees the festival as a solemn act of devotion on the part of the Eugubini towards their Bishop Ubaldo Baldassini which started in 1160, the year of his death. Since then, every 15 May, the eve of the day of mourning, the devotional offering to the patron Saint is a fixed appointment for the people of Gubbio who take part in a great mystical procession, carrying candles all around the town and up Mount Ingino (where since 11 September 1194 the body of Saint Ubaldo lies, in the church which bears his name).

Until 24 June 2012. Treviso, Valdobbiadene, Conegliano, Cartizze.  This exciting annual event takes place in the heart of the Prosecco wine area and will lead the visitors in a journey of discovery of all aspects of this delicious wine production process. Special packages are on offer which would include stay in hotels, agriturismi and B&Bs of the area, restaurants and visit to wineries. Special events such as shows, exhibitions and visits to historic villas of the area have also been organized.

www.primaveradelprosecco.it