Delicious Italy

Regional airports

Following on from the previous post, it has been apparent for a long time that the real motor for the growth of tourism to the Italian regions has been the low cost airlines - Ryanair and Easy Jet above all.

And it seems that in the very near future Rome will be served by another low cost destination, Viterbo.

There is local pressure to reduce the number of flights to Ciampino.

While some may be redirected to Fiumicino, Latina and Frosinone were also considered.

The former loses out due to its poor road connections, while the latter means a huge cost moving military personnel.

To think that a few have blamed some of the troubles of Alitalia on Italy having too many regional airports.   

Distretto Culturale

The variety and cultural diversity of the Italian regions makes holidaying in Italy a continuous joy and surprise.

But a real headache to coordinate into any sort of national tourism plan.

The theory which seems most credible is to create a series of so called Distretto Culturale.

These are zones which group together territorial elements which can be promoted, or rather marketed accordingly - from accommodation & restaurants to museums & national parks.

Bottom up, if you like, rather than top down.

Grouped together they would form a series of unique proposals and an umbrella brand for Italy.

Organisational theory offers models suggesting how this may happen.

But as with the actualisation of any marketing plan, this requires the goodwill, involvement and coordination of all the stakeholders.

Above all, local people who live and work in these Distretto Culturale and who have most to gain.

Enrico and Valeria report from Capo D’orlando

Catania residents Enrico and Valeria show us the insider's way of visiting the north east corner of Sicily during the summer vacation.

The self guided tour to the town of San Gregorio near Capo D’Orlando lasted 4 days and 3 nights from the 10-13 August 2007.

Enrico describes their break as an activie holiday with relax & Ecotur and the whole vacation cost €274,00 per person, broken down as follows: 

* Accommodation + breakfast: 450,00 €
* Gas: 45 € (500 km of distance A/R + sightseeing tour - starting from Catania)
* Freeway tickets: 14,80 € (We took 2 freeways: A18 Catania-Messina and A20 Messina-Palermo)
* Food and beverage: 38,10 € (Arancini, pizza, Ice creams, granita, etc…)

The holiday was built around the the pair's own likes and dislikes and you can view images and more details about the trip here

LIKES: Nature, Relaxing landscapes, Good position near the main attractions, Very tasty breakfast, Clean and comfort rooms, Sweet horses and donkeys to do tour of the property

DISLIKES: Too much car rumors from the near freeway, If the hotel is full it looks like it is empty and you can feel you are too isolated, You have to wait for a shuttle bur to move around the property, Too much bugs and mosquitos

Here is the daily itinerary

Day 1 - Arriving in the hotel

    * Starting from Catania, 2 hours of freeways (A18 and A20)
    * Arrive in the hotel
    * Afternoon on the beach
    * Dine with “Panino ca’ cutuletta” (bread with chicken)
    * Sleep

Day 2 - It’s raining man…alleluja!!

A view from The Nebrodi Mounts

    * Breakfast
    * Rain
    * In the morning visit to the Nebrodi parks (Sinagra, Naso, Ucria, Castell’Umberto)
    * Lunch with Granita and Brioche in the Bar “Mamy and Papy” Morosito bar - San Gregorio
    * Afternoon on the beach
    * Evening a visit in Capo D’orlando for a Pizza in “Crazy Pizza”
    * Walking on the Long Beach

Day 3 - Arancini mon amour…

A see view from Gioiosa Marea

    * Breakfast
    * All the morning on the beach
    * Luch with typical Sicilian food (Arancini and Siciliane) in “Da Matteo” Restaurant, San Gregorio Phone: 0941 955029
    * Afternoon on the Beach
    * In the evening an excursion in Gioiosa Marea and dine with a Brioche and Ice-cream in Bar “Miramare”

Day 4 - Come back home

    * Breakfast
    * On the beach to 12:00 o’clock
    * Come back home…:-(

The best attraction to see is the Coast. You can do with a car the SS113 (Statal road n°113) that connects Palermo with Messina and visit all the sea villages and see the magnific landscapes.

Considering the high season period i think it was a bargain holiday…;-)