World Travel&Hotel Guide

Alagna Valsesia is a small ski village where the road literally ends. Alagna is located in Piedmont and is found at the base of the mountain "Monte Rosa".

Monte Rosa, meaning 'Pink Mountain' got its name by an ancient local idiom: "rosa" come from "rosà" meaning "ice, iced" in the local idiom of Valle d'Aosta. Then Monte Rosa means Ice Mountain. Alagna's nickname is "Freeride Paradise" and is a very hot spot for skiers and snowboarders.


The actual town itself has a very nice Alpine charm and offers restaurants serving regional specialties such as Polenta or Miaccia. Polenta is a cornmeal dish served hot with toppings such as meat sauce or cheese. Miaccia is almost like a folded crepe. Other regional items include Toma cheese which is typical of this area.

If you love chocolate, Mirella's Bar is the place for you! This café / pastry shop is a great find and a great place to stop!


If you love the mountains, Alagna is a great place to come. Not only is it popular with those involved in winter sports but even if you are not interested in that, Monte Rosa offers an array of amazing views and down below in the town of Alagna you can take walks, wander through shops and experience the wonderful hospitality that The Italian Alps has to offer.

Moulins is the capital of the Allier département (postal code 03) in the Auvergne region. It is a fairly provincial town, surrounded by a very green landscape of hilly fields and woods. The town is build on the eastern bank of the Allier river. There are about 40 000 inhabitants and one of the main activities (on top of the various administrations) is tourism.

The town is about one thousand years old and was the capital of the Bourbonnais Duchy, at the time of the kings. Its is the origin of the last French king dynasty. It features numerous historical monuments dating back to the Middle Ages. Most of them are concentrated in the medieval centre, around the "Jacquemart" (the clock tower with its automatons ringing each quarter), the "Malcoiffée" dungeon and the cathedral.


Though the town has had better times, it is now getting busier and several investments have been made to better accomodate the visitors. There are two museums: one is the archeological museum, in the old Renaissance palace of the Duchess Anne of Beaujeu, while the second, in a former barrack on the western bank of the river, shows scene (theater) costumes. The eastern and western banks of the river are linked by the Règes-Morte bridge. Damaged during Second World War, but now restaurated, it is still an important monument in the heart of the inhabitants. It has the particularity to have been build with a mortar mixed with egg whites!

The gothic cathedral is mostly famous for its treasure which includes a rare medieval masterpiece: the tryptic of the "Maitre de Moulins". It is a religious painting in three parts, with vivid colours and delicate characters, considered one of the finest French paintings of the late Middle Age. Other churches are also presenting a religious or historical interest, such as the main roman church of Yzeure, the sister town on the hill east of the city.

Moulins also provides some very decent restaurants and hotels. It can be reached by train (the station is at the crossing of the Grenoble-Lyon-Nantes and the Paris-Clermont-Ferrand-Béziers lines). But there is also a motorway, the former national road 7, also known as the "holiday road" by most Frenchs. Unfortunately, there is no nearby airport with regular flights.


The region around the town is also particularly appealing, especially for amateurs of bicycle, horse riding or walking tours. The hundreds of small villages scattered over the country are as many base camps for excursions in the nature. Another particularity of this area is the incredible density of castles, the highest in France. A lot of them can be visited and some propose accomodation.

Its dedicated fans – consider that Val D´Isere has the best off-piste skiing in Europe. The TimeOut magazine stated that it was propably the best ski resort in the world. This high-altitude glacial resort has a reliable snow record and modern lift system. Recommended for strong intermediates and experts. Busy nightlife, but light on gourmet restaurants for a resort of this size and sophistication.


Val d'Isère combines with neighbouring Tignes to form one of the principal winter playgrounds of Europe. More British skiers go here than to any other resort in the world and amount to 36 per cent of the population during the winter months.

Lazio (Latium in those days) was the heart of the Roman Empire. It still is very much the province of the perennial city of Rome. Although there are other interesting sights, most tourists will head for Rome immediately. And who can blame them? Rome is one of the most beautiful cities on the planet and a must see for everyone.

Around Rome there are quite a few interesting places you can visit as daytrip. Tivoli , Subiaco and Frascati have been favourite summer retreats of the Romans since the ancient days. Ostia Antica the old Roman port has some of the best classical remains in Lazio.


In the hills of Lazio there are three lakes where you can go to relax and swim. Lake Bracciano is close to Rome and can be reached easily by train, a bit further is Lake Vico . Carparola is the main town on the shores of the lake. Lake Bolsena is even further but less interesting.

In the early days the Romans fought many battles with their Etrurian neighbours. In Lazio you there are a few old Etrurian sites well worth visitin such as Cerveteri and Tarquinia . Viterbo is also of Etrurian origin, but gained prominence in the 13-th century when it was a Gueplh stonghold.

The Sabine hills are not just famous for their women - they are a very green part of Lazio and the capital Rieti is a nice place to spend a few days. Around Rieti there are many charming villages such as Greccio , Roccantica and Roccasinibalda . They are best visited as daytrips from Rieti by car because bus service is infrequent.

The Pontine islands is a small volcanic archipelago just off the coast. They are very popular with Italians, especially in summer.

A justifiably popular destination the region of Provence combines historic sites a warm climate striking scenery and some of the best restaurants in France.

From the beaches and posh towns of the Riviera such as Nice, Monaco or Cannes to the hilly and mountainous hinterland constantly smelling of perfume and thyme, the Provence offers something to every kind of traveler.

Marseille is the largest town in this region and is really the capital of the South. When you talk to one of the locals, don't mention that you like Paris.


The Dordogne river valley and de Ardeche offer great hiking and water sport opportunities. Ancient towns, most of Roman origin, such as Orange, Avignon or Arles dot the countryside.

Among the wonderful culinary regional specialites are anchoiade (anchovy oil and garlic paste) daube (braised meat poultry fish or game) marcassin (young wild boar) and panade (fruit tart). Provence is also prime truffle territory. During the season (fall through December) stop at a truffle fair—the prices are steep but the taste and mystery surrounding this delicacy are definitely worth the cost. At any time of the year you can enjoy a variety of markets including the Marche des Antiquaires at L’Isle sur la Sorgue (Sundays).

When you go closer to the Pyrenees, you enter the Languedoc: the land where they say "Oc". The Occitans are still proud of their own language and culture. A visit to Toulouse, Montpellier or Carcassone gives you some impression of the richness of their culture.

Further in the east, the Atlantic coast region is quite spectacular as well. Bordeaux is famous for its wines, Gascogne for its cognac. But also for those not primarily interested in alcoholic beverages this region has a lot to offer, Beautiful mountains in the Pyrenees, great beach resorts such as Biarritz and many medieval towns and castles.

Lourdes deserves special mention as well, this is the place to go if you need to be cured of something and you think religion is your best bet. For other travelers the town is also a fascinating place to visit.

The Basque region is the country of the Euskari people as the call themselves. They have lived in this region since the dawn of times and their language is apparantly unrelated to any other language in the world. Their battle for independance has been going on for centuries, but on the French side of the norder things are safe.

Italy is one of those countries about which you probably have quite a number of preconceptions before you have put one foot into the country. A country of olive oil and mafia, pasta, wine and sunshine, roman ruins and renaissance palaces, Italy has a lot to offer its visitors. Although some of these images are appealing, it would be a shame if that was the only thing you come away with. Italy is certainly much more complex and interesting than that.


Italy is a modern country with deep Roman Catholic roots, full of interesting stuff for the casual tourist and even more for the educated visitor. It is easy to spend two weeks in major tourist centers without any reason to get bored, but it is equally simple to get off the beaten track. In the north, next to the Alps and the flatlands of the Po river, both cultural jewels and highly developed industrial cities attract. This is where Italy's economic heart beats, but even in the bustling cities, people live the "la vita Italiana".

In Lombardia's capital Milan, city of haute couture and business, you can easily spend weeks without being bored. Bergamo is only an hour away and has an upper Old Town. On every corner you will discover something new. The most famous tourist attractions in the north-east are Venice and Verona, that both let you think of romantic love affairs. To discover the beautiful landscapes around, for example, the Verona province may be even more fascinating. The north-west of Italy is a paradise for every culinary interested traveler. For wine lovers, Piemonte is directly connected with Barolo and Barbaresco, the most famous wines made out of the Nebbiolo fairs make Turin one of the leading Italian cities concerning cultural life. At the same time it is a booming industrial and multimedia city.

The coastal region of Liguria is another highlight. The Riviera delle Palme has no reason to envy its French counterpart. Beaches, countryside, the right climate and old towns like Genoa make this region a must to visit. Mostly undiscovered valleys offer beautiful walking possibilities. The Lunigiana region, Albenga and Ceriale are worth a visit and an even longer stay. Gourmets should not miss the Emilia Romagna, Italy's culinary centre. Bologna, "La Grassa" like the Italians say, is a must see as well as Ravenna with its impressive mosaic works and the Byzantine architecture and last but not least Rimini, on the Adriatic Sea. For Tuscany words fail to describe its beauty: You have to go there to see, smell and experience the beauty of the old towns and lovely valleys yourself. Florence, Lucca, Pisa, Prato and Siena, offer more cultural highlights than some countries as a whole. The way of living does the rest to attract every year millions of visitors. Elba, the island of Napoleans first exile, is only one of seven Tuscan Archipelago islands.


What can we say about Rome? The Eternal City, with its monumental palaces, churches, squares, and fountains still fed by acqueducts with ancient water sources, has to be visited by every Italy traveler. To discover Rome, it is said, "A lifetime is not enough." The southern part of Italy fascinates the traveler with its great hospitality and gorgeous landscapes. Campania has attracted visitors over the centuries: Capri, Ischia, Sorrento and Amalfi became the chosen destinations of visitors from many countries. "To see Naples and then die" is not just an old spell. Try it yourself and even if you don't die, you will surely lose your heart. Sicily the largest island in the Mediterranean has been influenced by the culture of the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs the Normans and many others. They all loved life on the island and left their marks. Italy has a great climate and the beaches to go with it. Look at the map and you will notice immediately that Italy has a very long coastline. Different mountain chains run through the country and you never have to travel far to find some excellent places to go hiking. Volcanoes like Stromboli or the Etna are still active and can be visited.

For those of you who enjoy walking and climbing, then you will want to go to the Dolomites, this is the Mountain range in Northern Italy that sperates it from Austria and extends westwards to join the Alps.

Major centres include Cortina - famous for hosting the Winter Olympics and still a major ski centre and further South and West is Arco a few kilometers from the Northern tip of Lake Garda.

Cortina can be expensive, this is where the rich and famous like to visit and while drinking your cafe in the main square do not be startled to see film stars saunter past taking in the mountain air, but this area is home to some of the best climbing, walking and mountain biking available in the high Dolomites, Via Ferrattas are a must for those experienced walkers who want just a bit more excitement in thier day, strongly recommended will be the Ivano Dibona High Level Path - but be warned you need to be an exerienced walker, with good equipment and have a head for heights.

Arco has now become a famous venue for climbers all over Europe, in early September one of the Worl Cup climbing events is held here, attracting scores of climbers to watch or participate. There is an excellent camp site at the town, that has am olympic size swimming pool and an indoor climbing wall. The town has arange of bars, cafes and restaurants to suit every pocket, an amble through the old town in the evening is a must, along with a visit to the Castle, but for climbers, walkers and mountain bikers, everything at every grade you ever wanted can be found within a few kilometers of the town.

From Forum to Barceloneta, they all are fine, but always crowded in summer. That's the only standing rule on Barcelona beaches, especially with its sunshiny weather all year round. This is one place where the beaches are teeming with non-stop action especially with the opening of the city to the sea -- a project first undertaken in the 1980s. The redeveloped seafront, from the Moll de la Fusta and the area around the Palau de Mar to the Rambla de Mar and the Olympic Port area, has become one of Barcelona 's most popular spaces for recreation and leisure.

A justifiably popular destination the region of Provence combines historic sites a warm climate striking scenery and some of the best restaurants in France.

From the beaches and posh towns of the Riviera such as Nice, Monaco or Cannes to the hilly and mountainous hinterland constantly smelling of perfume and thyme, the Provence offers something to every kind of traveler.


Marseille is the largest town in this region and is really the capital of the South. When you talk to one of the locals, don't mention that you like Paris.

The Dordogne river valley and de Ardeche offer great hiking and water sport opportunities. Ancient towns, most of Roman origin, such as Orange, Avignon or Arles dot the countryside.

Among the wonderful culinary regional specialites are anchoiade (anchovy oil and garlic paste) daube (braised meat poultry fish or game) marcassin (young wild boar) and panade (fruit tart). Provence is also prime truffle territory. During the season (fall through December) stop at a truffle fair—the prices are steep but the taste and mystery surrounding this delicacy are definitely worth the cost. At any time of the year you can enjoy a variety of markets including the Marche des Antiquaires at L’Isle sur la Sorgue (Sundays).

When you go closer to the Pyrenees, you enter the Languedoc: the land where they say "Oc". The Occitans are still proud of their own language and culture. A visit to Toulouse, Montpellier or Carcassone gives you some impression of the richness of their culture.


Further in the east, the Atlantic coast region is quite spectacular as well. Bordeaux is famous for its wines, Gascogne for its cognac. But also for those not primarily interested in alcoholic beverages this region has a lot to offer, Beautiful mountains in the Pyrenees, great beach resorts such as Biarritz and many medieval towns and castles.

Lourdes deserves special mention as well, this is the place to go if you need to be cured of something and you think religion is your best bet. For other travelers the town is also a fascinating place to visit.

The Basque region is the country of the Euskari people as the call themselves. They have lived in this region since the dawn of times and their language is apparantly unrelated to any other language in the world. Their battle for independance has been going on for centuries, but on the French side of the norder things are safe.