3113 Announcing the Italy Grand Tour

Let me understand well..

A region is chosen.. a fixed time of 21 days for everyone to contribute, "the best bits" edited version becomes a downloadable mini guide and someone will win prizes.

Fabulous idea.. in fact, it's great.. but I have a question.. or three.

[LIST=1]
[*]When will we get to Campania? :D
[*]Can I convert any prizes into prizes for the quiz instead?
[*]Where is Umbria? :p
[/LIST]

:) :)

[QUOTE=ronald]Now here comes the best part (or at least the next part!).

The information collected will not just be left languishing there for those lucky enough to be able to find it again. We will pull it all together, edit it, add some of the pictures to make it nice, and make it available through a free to download PDF file that everyone can print and have as their own mini-guide when visiting the area.
QUOTE]

Thats a good idea , i especially like that bit above . :rolleyes: :cool: :D

Fantastic idea Ronald, can't wait for the ensuing entries.:)

Great idea!!! look forward to it. there's a chocolate festival in Perugia (Umbria) every October - we filmed it one year for a documentary on chocolate. and of course it's the home of Baci, made by Perugina - each "kiss" comes with a poem attached to the wrapper. Umbria's beautiful. but so is almost everywhere I have visited in Italy.
Maybe some of the chocolate people would advertise?
Love the forums, magazine, etc.
sarah

[B][/B][QUOTE=ronald]After some discussion and head scratching the Italy Magazine moderating team has decided to launch its biggest project to date!

Following Iona's excellent suggestion about tackling each region of Italy we thought it would be a nice idea to embark on a concentrated effort of sharing information about travelling and living in Italy, region by region, town by town.

Here is how it is going to work:

Every [U][B]21 days[/B][/U] the soon to be established Italy Grand Tour forum and our distinguished and esteemed forum members will focus their energy in coming up with tips, stories and experiences about a specific region or area on the following topics:

[B]See[/B]: What have you seen and what you would recommend others should see? Do you have photos from the region - post them in the forum!

[B]Understand[/B]: Is there a particular custom, festival, way of doing things that needs a bit of explanation for the uninitiated?

[B]Talk[/B]: Did you talk with the locals? What did you manage to get across? What did you understand from answers? Did the regional accent or dialect trip you up?

[B]Get in[/B]: How did you arrive to the region?

[B]Get around[/B]: How did you get around? Was it a vespa, an ape, a taxi or just a plain old car. Did you hire a bike or did you just walk?

[B]Do[/B]: Other than the big monuments (that fall under the See category) what else did you do?

[B]Eat[/B]: What did you eat and where?

[B]Drink[/B]: What did you drink and where?

[B]Stay safe[/B]: Any issues regarding safety? Do you have a story to share?

Now here comes the best part (or at least the next part!).

The information collected will not just be left languishing there for those lucky enough to be able to find it again. We will pull it all together, edit it, add some of the pictures to make it nice, and make it available through a free to download PDF file that everyone can print and have as their own mini-guide when visiting the area.

But it gets even better!

The person who has offered the most informative, funny, exciting or in any other form or way significant comments regarding a region gets a free Italy magazine subscription AND a polo shirt! Of course many of our forum members already have subscriptions so in that case you will receive an equivalent gift through the Italy Magazine shop!

On Monday we begin with Umbria (why Umbria you ask - well its more or less in the middle between Piedmont and Sicily, has so much to offer and allows us to break the usual way of traversing Italy which is North to South or South to North!).

This project is long and far-reaching but by the end of it the forum members and hopefully some of the hundreds that visit the forum daily will have a pool of information generated from people who have been there and done it!

So get your remembering hats on and think back to when you where in Umbria...[/QUOTE]

We've been on the Veneto for over [B]two months[/B] now (without much being posted). If the Grand Tour's been abandoned, why not just say so ?

...

Hey Sancho,

It's not been abandoned - Ronald's been very busy!! ;)

Hoping to find out about the next area soon.

Cheers,
S

If he's too busy to do what he said he would do, he'd better give up.

...

Sancho

Are we including Valle D'Aosta in the grand tour just I noticed in your post from Piemonte and south????
Sure Sueflauto and I could give some entertaining hints and tips on a much less explored (apart from skiing) region (all be it autonomous) of Italia.
We can't leave out the poor marmots and mountain goats now can we. Only mentioned as the infamous Francesco da Mosto managed as far as Turin and seemed to forget the Valley in its entirety. Too busy preening and singing along badly to tunes in his car.
Cheers
Matt

Sorry Sanch

Having a crazy day at work and just noticed it was Ronald's original post. Must lay off the wine at lunch.
Same question still applies though over to you Ronald.
Cheers
matt

When you get round to Piemonte please do not forget Fenestrelle with the largest fortification in Europe as well as the rest of Val Chisone home of the winter Olympics 2006. This is a fantastic area in the summer as well as the winter. certainly a place to "discover".

Even if the Grand Tour has got a bit bogged down, we can still encourage people to visit "our" favourite areas - and I would love to see a pic of "the biggest fortress in Europe" - I'm quite a fan of fortresses (preferably designed by Sangallo, who maybe didn't get as far north as Piemonte since the Pope tended to be his biggest employer), and I'd love to see a snap of "your" fortress.

Hello - if you have a look on the front page you will see some of the things we've been busy with (other than enjoy July and August holidays that is!)

Tomorrow - with the first day of Autumn we will resume our virtual journey through Italy visiting the region many love to love and many love to hate - Puglia!

All the best,

Ronald

Ahhh the journey continues... ;)

Relaxed, agree with you on fortresses! Fascinated by medieval 'rubble'and the histories behind them...

Such a tactful introduction to Puglia Ronald! :D :D :D

For those of you that like a few bits of old style rubble
Here is one of the fortifications/ castles that aosta valley has to offer.
I tried to go this time round. Turned up on a Monday and the darn place was closed. Ah well next time
Cheers
Matt

[url]http://www.courmayeur-mont-blanc.com/fortezzabard.htm[/url]

[quote=ronald]Hello - if you have a look on the front page you will see some of the things we've been busy with ......[/quote]

I've had a look an can't see what you're going on about.......what's changed?

[QUOTE=tuscanhills]I've had a look an can't see what you're going on about.......what's changed?[/QUOTE]
I too cannot see what you have done Ronald, where is it?:confused:

[QUOTE=MattandCorrina]For those of you that like a few bits of old style rubble
Here is one of the fortifications/ castles that aosta valley has to offer.
I tried to go this time round. Turned up on a Monday and the darn place was closed. Ah well next time
Cheers
Matt

[url]http://www.courmayeur-mont-blanc.com/fortezzabard.htm[/url][/QUOTE]

Thanks for the link, Matt! Very impressive... :)

Cheers,
Steph

Cheers Steph

There are so many castles in the valley that apparently they used to be able to shout from castle to castle all the way along the length of the valley. The guy who invented BIC pens was born in the valley and actually restored one of the old castles and opened it to the publiic.
If you like castles, mountains and polenta there is no better place.
M

Can I put in a plea once more for the Grand Tour to go to Lombardy with a focus on the Lakes, perhaps?

Thats a good idea, go anywhere other than Puglia, want to keep it secret! :)

[quote=ronald]Hello - if you have a look on the front page you will see some of the things we've been busy with (other than enjoy July and August holidays that is!)........[/quote]

Ooooh, I've just found the 'Culture Club'.

I take it back Ronald........looks good (nice bit of Amazon affiliate cash too ;))

A few suggestions:
[LIST]
[*]It's hard to navigate around the book categories.... can you add a new set of menus that allows one to surf the topics?
[*]It'd be nice to find a summary of which books have the highest ratings etc...[/LIST]Anyway, keep up the good work!

[QUOTE=ronald]After some discussion and head scratching the Italy Magazine moderating team has decided to launch its biggest project to date!

Following Iona's excellent suggestion about tackling each region of Italy we thought it would be a nice idea to embark on a concentrated effort of sharing information about travelling and living in Italy, region by region, town by town.

Here is how it is going to work:

Every 21 days the soon to be established Italy Grand Tour forum and our distinguished and esteemed forum members will focus their energy in coming up with tips, stories and experiences about a specific region or area on the following topics:

[B]See[/B]: What have you seen and what you would recommend others should see? Do you have photos from the region - post them in the forum!

[B]Understand[/B]: Is there a particular custom, festival, way of doing things that needs a bit of explanation for the uninitiated?

[B]Talk[/B]: Did you talk with the locals? What did you manage to get across? What did you understand from answers? Did the regional accent or dialect trip you up?

[B]Get in[/B]: How did you arrive to the region?

[B]Get around[/B]: How did you get around? Was it a vespa, an ape, a taxi or just a plain old car. Did you hire a bike or did you just walk?

[B]Do[/B]: Other than the big monuments (that fall under the See category) what else did you do?

[B]Eat[/B]: What did you eat and where?

[B]Drink[/B]: What did you drink and where?

[B]Stay safe[/B]: Any issues regarding safety? Do you have a story to share?

Now here comes the best part (or at least the next part!).

The information collected will not just be left languishing there for those lucky enough to be able to find it again. We will pull it all together, edit it, add some of the pictures to make it nice, and make it available through a free to download PDF file that everyone can print and have as their own mini-guide when visiting the area.

But it gets even better!

The person who has offered the most informative, funny, exciting or in any other form or way significant comments regarding a region gets a free Italy magazine subscription AND a polo shirt! Of course many of our forum members already have subscriptions so in that case you will receive an equivalent gift through the Italy Magazine shop!

On Monday we begin with Umbria (why Umbria you ask - well its more or less in the middle between Piedmont and Sicily, has so much to offer and allows us to break the usual way of traversing Italy which is North to South or South to North!).

This project is long and far-reaching but by the end of it the forum members and hopefully some of the hundreds that visit the forum daily will have a pool of information generated from people who have been there and done it!

So get your remembering hats on and think back to when you where in Umbria...[/QUOTE]

Reckon we've had well over 21 days on Puglia by now. Where's next ? Alto Adige ?

S

Yeah.. and who won the other areas.. and more to the point what did they win and how long will they have to wait to get their prize and where's the pdf file that was promised and when are you going to take me off this moderation and whats the point of it and if you dont like the fact that I wont stop asking.. well thats just tough.. innit?

I am bored Ronni - sort it out now.. theres a good chap.

Ooooer Anastasia.. get with the programme.. don't complain or the gang master may ban you.. again!

Good job we aint picking tomatoes Fanny innit!

........Sanch, you'd better have something awesome to say about the region!

I get the impression it has one of the highest concentration of obstinate people in Italy........can anyone think of any other facts about Alto to share?

What's the pathetic excuse going to be this time ? We've (supposedly) been doing Puglia for about two and a half months. :mad:

...

Re. Veneto - can I talk about Asiago? I live here and love it. Anyone interested?

[quote=Nikki Clover;50395]Re. Veneto - can I talk about Asiago? I live here and love it. Anyone interested?[/quote]
Go on, NC, go for it! -> [url=http://www.italymag.co.uk/forums/62/veneto-venice]The Veneto and Venice - Italy Magazine Forums[/url]

Hey David, you did note the date of Nikki's post didn't you??? lol

Yikes, no! Strange as it popped up in my "new posts" link..........maybe I've lost more marbles than I'd originally thought!

hi, i am new to this forum... wats special about this forum friends? can anyone update me?