A new museum makes is way onto the long list of places to see and visit in Rome at the end of May: the MAXXI, the National Museum of 21^st (in Roman numerals XXI – did you see what they did there?) Century Art. There are three main features that make this museum into a must-see for visitors to the Eternal City: the architecture (by Zaha Hadid), the atmosphere and, of course, the art.

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Even if you have no interest in the art inside, the building itself is worth a view. You can able around its perimeter and admire the Iraqi architect’s work. Zaha Hadid describes the project as an “urban graft”, a “second skin” to the city, where the building merges into the surrounding roads and pavements but then rises to “massivity” where needed.

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The structure has also given way to a new piazza, which used to be off-limits to the public because it was a military zone. This gives locals and visitors a place to relax and mix. Inside, visitors will find a bookshop and a café area to relax in a unique environment in the heart of Rome.

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Finally, the museum is divided in two: MAXXI art and MAXXI architecture. MAXXI architecture is the first Italian national architecture museum. It is itself split into two parts, one focused on 20th century architecture and one focused on its contemporary counterpart. It is at the same time an historical and a contemporary museum, mixing the past with the present. MAXXI art is focused on presenting 21st century art through a wide range of exhibitions – conferences, documentaries, film and video presentations, musical concerts and dance performances.

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If you are interested in modern art and culture, this is the place to visit this May. Why not look at our range of apartments in Rome?

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Please note that the MAXXI will open from the 30^th May 2010.

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MAXXI_National Museum of the XXI Century Arts
Via Guido Reni, 4 A 00196 Roma
f +39 06 32101829
infomaxxi@beniculturali.it

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How to reach the MAXXI
Bus no. 19, 53, 217, 225, 910
Metro A to Flaminio Station, tram n. 2 to the Apollodoro stop

Confused? We know there aren’t actually any snowy mountains IN Rome but nearby Apennines have a lot of skiing to offer to those of you who want to get away from the snow crowds! Fancy shopping and having a couple of day trips to the slopes?

Fly into Rome on the Saturday and check into your Dolce Vita Villa. Spend Sunday exploring the delights of the city, particularly the Jewish ghetto which offers a wide selection of wonderful pastry shops. Then, on Monday, whilst everyone else is preparing for work, climb into a rental car (Dolce Vita Villas can also organise a transfer for you) and hit the slopes! Here’s what you can do within 2 hours’ drive of Rome.

Roccaraso

The biggest ski resort in central Italy (110km of slopes), Roccaraso has a lot to offer experienced and inexperienced skiers and is only 2 hours’ drive from central Rome. Ski passes are €33 for adults and €28 for children/over 65s. It even has a ice skating rink for those who would like an alternative to skiing.

Campo Imperatore

Ski on the highest peak of the Gran Sasso, 20km of slopes around 1 hour 50 from Rome with a lovely town of Castel del Monte and Rocca Calascio with its medieval castle nearby.

Ovindoli

Only 1 and a half hours from central Rome, this lovely ski resort offers 22km of pistes for a family group of all ages and levels of experience. It offers spectacular views over the surrounding valleys. Ski passes: Adults €27, children/senior €23.

Campo Felice

The closest ski resort to Rome (only 1 hour’s drive) offers 40km of pistes for all the family. Ski passes: MON-FRI adult €25, child/senior €22; SAT/SUN and holidays: adult €30, child/senior €26.

Skis can be rented either in Rome (Sports Centre SRL on Via Tagliamento) or nearer the slopes. Please ask Dolce Vita Villas for transfers and information for car rental. For weather forecasts, see snow-forecast.com!

As for places to stay in Rome, our central Rome apartments are ideal for those who want to spend a week shopping and skiing. Giulia, in the heart of Rome next to Piazza Farnese and Piazza Navona, can sleep 5 and can be rented along with Giulietta (in the same building) for larger groups (up to 10). Alternatively, Ripetta (sleeps 4) is 5 minutes from the Spanish Steps and all the famous boutiques (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada…) that can be found in this area.

Finally the paperwork is done, the decree is final and the hard work is over… it’s now time to relax in style.

This trend has existed for several years, led mostly by celebrities that, on the breakup of their marriage, throw a party to celebrate the opening of a new chapter in their lives. One option for a divorce party is to go abroad, invite your friends who have supported you throughout the process, and enjoy exploring a new part of a very ancient land like Italy, and Dolce Vita Villas has the villas and the local knowledge to make your divorce holiday relaxing and entertaining.

To really get away from it all, there’s nothing like finding a hide-away on the Amalfi Coast and having a party planned for you by our local partners! Why not have a themed party in Santa Chiara, sleeps 14, equipped with a bar and Jacuzzi to really get the party started. In the morning you can soak in the sun and the breathtaking views over the sea.

An alternative is La Terrazza which has unbeatable views over the town of Positano, a sun bathing platform and a bar and games area?

If you want to go all out this year (crisis? Schmisis!) Torre Cesarea will be THE top destination of the summer for celebrations. With a magnificent pool, well-tended Mediterranean gardens, the all-important sea views and its own staff, your stay will be unique and memorable.

Our ideas for themed parties: why not go for a nautical theme as you’re by the sea, a beach party or a chic wine-tasting party to sample wines from the local area and all over Italy. Alternatively, treat yourself all week to massages, limoncello tours, cooking classes with local cooks or, even better, a personal shopping tour!

Make the beginning of your new life memorable with Dolce Vita Villas.

Christmas in Italy is an extremely important time, and is dictated largely by Catholic tradition. This prescribes that Christmas Eve is a time of abstinence, when no meat may be eaten. The Christmas eve evening meal is equally as important as Christmas Day lunch, and all the family are gathered to celebrate Christmas together. A variety of fish dishes are prepared for this meal in preparation for Christ’s birth, whereas at Christmas lunch meat can be served. Presents are traditionally opened on December 24 as close to midnight as the children allow, as Christ was born in the night.

Add an Italian touch to make your Christmas meals this year, try some traditional Italian Christmas recipes straight from the families of Dolce Vita Villas Ltd staff!

Pasta al Tonno e Pomodoro (Tuna and Tomato Pasta): A Very Simple First Christmas Course

This is a very quick Christmas course which includes the traditional fish but also adds some more interesting flavours such as capers to the mix. We can also suggest black olives as an alternative to capers.

For 5 people:

Two medium tins of good quality tuna

300g vine tomatoes, or one tin peeled chopped tomatoes

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Two garlic cloves

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Teaspoon salt

Two tablespoons olive oil

Two tablespoons capers (optional)

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Fry the whole garlic cloves in the olive oil without burning them, and take the oil off the heat for 30 seconds before adding the tuna and chopped tomatoes (otherwise it will spit A LOT) and capers if desired. Cook the pasta as instructed on the packet: we would suggest short pasta as with spaghetti the sauce is difficult to pick up and also any stains from this sauce are difficult to remove! Mix sauce and pasta, season with pepper and serve hot!

Nonna Toni’s Zelten Cake: A Great Christmas Gift!

Christmas is all about dried fruits, because before imports there was no fresh fruit to be had in Italy except citrus fruit. The Square ipod

Soak the following in grappa for 24 hours:

100g chopped dried figs (3.5oz)

100g sultanas (3.5oz)

100g pine nuts (3.5oz)

100g unpeeled almonds cut along the width (3.5oz)

2 fistfuls of walnut halves

50g chopped citron (which is not a lemon, but very similar!) (1.7oz)

 Preheat the oven to 140°C (284°F). Beat 150g caster sugar (5oz), 150g butter (5oz). Then add 4 eggs, 400g flour (14oz), 1 cup of tepid milk and a teaspoon of rum, as well as the peel of an orange, a tablespoon of yeast and a pinch of salt. Mix to form a paste and then add the fruit (without grappa).

Place in a greased tin, with some dried breadcrumbs. Cook for one hour: 20mins at 140°C (284°F),

20mins at 160°C (320°F), The rest at 180°C (356°F)

To decorate add walnut halves.

Of course, panettone and pandoro are traditional Italian Christmas cakes, however, these are mostly bought even in Italy!

Why not make your Christmas even more special this year and spend it in an Art City, or even better, open your presents in front of a roaring fire in a gorgeous Italian villa with your family. There is so much to do in Italy at Christmas time: Rome and Florence put on their best Christmas exhibitions and traditional Christmas markets, whereas in the country you can witness centuries-old Italian Christmas traditions such as singing processions
and nativity scenes whilst exploring the countryside without the crowds! For more information about what to do at Christmas in Italy, see our newsletter!

Take a relaxing ride with our four-legged friends around Italy, for a taste of the countryside as it would have been seen centuries ago.

Horse riding is a very popular way to see Italy ‘off the beaten track’, and there are many companies that provide this service in every corner of the country. Here are a few we can suggest.

Horse riding in Tuscany

This is the most popular area for visitors, whether on horseback or not. This notoriously hilly region of Italy is usually explored by car, however, this means that there are large areas left unexplored. There is only so far you can go on foot, so let our equine friends help you and your family along in exploring this beautiful part of Italy. Our local partner, One Step Closer, can help you organise your ideal trek, and as for accommodation, check out our villas in Tuscany. For guests wishing to explore Tuscany, a good starting point would be Villa della Pia (sleeps 12) a luxurious house with its own 12 hole golf course!

Horse riding on the Amalfi Coast

Compared to the Amalfi Coast, Tuscany will seem flat and the hills mere bumps! The Amalfi coast is set on cliff faces with very steep slopes leading up to them. Horse rides provided by our local partners Costa Divina can allow you and your guests to take in breathtaking views of the sea and the towns with minimal effort. Don’t forget to bring a carrot to reward our hard-working friends at the end of the day! Dolce Vita Villas has a fantastic collection of places to stay on the Amalfi coast, just check out our villas and see other services our partner offers on the Amalfi coast by scolling down this blog. Dolce Vita Villas would suggest, to those of you considering the Amalfi Coast, Il Glicine (sleeps 6), with its wonderful views and fantastic infinity pool overlooking the sea as a great place to rest after a day’s ride!

Horse riding up Mount Etna

Finally, we strongly recommend our guests in Sicily take a ride up to the craters of Mount Etna, to see this “angry mountain” at work. This is a fairly ‘benevolent’ volcano, erupting often but not explosively, and is a wonderful sight to behold. Riding up here you will be able to see the towns below, the sea surrounding the volcano and, when the clouds are low, walk through the clouds. For Dolce Vita Villas’ ever expanding choice of villas in Sicily, click here. Villa del Barone (sleeps 12), newly refurbished and surrounded by olive groves, is very close to Etna.

The Amalfi coast has always been a popular destination for those seeking sun, sand and breathtaking views of the sea Villa Rides dvdrip ; but this isn’t all it has to offer. From massages to personal shoppers to children’s pizza parties, visitors’ every whim is catered for. Great hospitality is ingrained in local culture, so don’t be surprised if as soon as you arrive you’re one of the family!

Your personal shopper can guide you to the best places to shop; whether its for local ceramics or the boutiques and outlets of Salerno and Naples, our local guide can help you find your ideal gifts.

This area is, of course, steeped in ancient Roman history. Why not try a guided tour of Pompeii, Vesuvius or nearby Herculaneum, which was also buried in the eruption of AD 79?

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Did you know: in Herculaneum, Roman villas have been preserved better than in (more famous) Pompeii as the stones that initially spewed from the volcano were blown southwards causing roofs to collapse in Pompeii?

Naples is also the birthplace of pizza and ice cream, so why not try a gastronomic tour, followed by a cooking class with a local chef who will show you the original recipes for traditional Italian dishes. If you are interested in local wines, Furore offers an exciting wine tasting experience, as well as being an open air museum: over 85 houses in this town are decorated with frescos by artists from all over the world, who return every year in September to continue this long-standing tradition.

The natural beauty of this area, protected as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is unspoiled, and can be appreciated from the land and the sea, trekking with a guide through the natural reserve of Valle delle Ferriere, on horseback, in a helicopter or even on private excursions on a beautiful yacht or a traditional ‘gozzo sorrentino’ (local fishing boat, fishing optional!) by day or by night!

Our local partners can provide you with all these services and more (airport transfer, limoncello tour, event planner, 24 hour babysitting and medical service) when you book a villa on the Amalfi coast. Let us know what you are interested in and we will do the rest!

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Here’s a small selection of Dolce Vita Villas properties on the Amalfi Coast just to give you an idea:

for smaller groups, Casa Nina accommodating 4 persons, for medium groups, Il Glicine for 6 persons and for larger groups, Villa Tre Croci

  which can accommodate up to 12 persons.

Hot news: La Vigna, our über-luxury villa near Greve in Chianti has just become available for the first two weeks of July (4^th to 18^th) at ANOTHER discount of 10% on our web price, making it just 9,315 Euros for up to 12 persons and an extra 1,620 Euros for an additional 4 persons in the annexe. For the foodies, that’s a great opportunity to visit the festivals and “Sagre” that abound in Chianti at that time of year – try the Wild Boar Festival at Castiglion Fiorentino from 11 to 13 July or the Festa del Tortello at Palazzuolo sul Senio on 5 and 6 July. Home-made sweets and puddings are ready for tasting at Gavorrano from 11 to 20 July. Try the celebration of street theatre at Comporgiano near Lucca on 5 and 6 July – and yes there will be plenty of local food on offer. On 12 July the town of Rignano sull’Arno celebrates its first 1,000 years of existence with all sorts of festivities. Honestly, the choice is endless – give us a call if you need more ideas, but above all grab yourself a bargain at La Vigna

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for the beginning of July!

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Visiting the Maremma area of Tuscany during the week 23-30 May 2009 will be an opportunity to witness some unusual Bugatti rallying amidst the hills of this beautiful seaside area on the occasion of the 20^th International Bugatti meeting

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Bugatti owners participating to this event will be driving around the Maremma country roads, stopping in the main towns such as Castiglione della Pescaia, Punta Ala and Massa Marrittima, showing off their beautiful and shining cars.

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Private castles and villas of the region will host the participants in the rally who, on May 28^th will make a stop at Villa della Pia, a luxury mansion with its own private 12-hole golf course located in the heart of Maremma and managed by Dolce Vita Villas.

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Dolce Vita Villas is pleased to introduce its new entries in Sicily:

three enchanting villas with swimming pools, all shining examples of well known Sicilian warm hospitality!

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Located in the countryside near Catania is Villa dei Marchesi, a luxurious and aristocratic manor house, with magnificent gardens, pool and tennis court. Guests will be pampered by modern conveniences such as air conditioning and by a full professional staff.

The beauty of a typical 17th Century “masseria” and the very best of modern comforts merge perfectly in Villa Terrebianche. Its stylish pool, indoor Spa, Turkish bath, sauna, whirlpool jacuzzi and air conditioning in the bedrooms, not forgetting the excellent cook, are just few of the many good reasons to spend a holiday in this perfect emblem of Sicilian charme.

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r Jack the Ripper ipod re Shortbus Pluto's Quin-puplets movie is a beautiful Sicilian 18^th Century villa with pool located between Catania and Taormina.

Its garden measures over an acre and it features over 100 types of Mediterranean plants.

All bedrooms are equipped with air conditioning and the rental price includes not only the maid service but also a fantastic cook preparing exceptional meals.