In Italy there are numerous historical and folkloric traditions of various kinds, which are also internationally known and famous. Worth mentioning here are the Palio di Siena horse race, the Calcio storico in Florence and the Regata storica in Venice. The carnival festivals in Venice, Viareggio, Ivrea, Mamoiada, Acireale, Sciacca, Florence and Rome.
UNESCO has counted the processions with shoulder tower shrines (Macchina di Santa Rosa in Viterbo, Varia di Palmi in Palmi, Gigli di Nola in Nola and Faradda di li Candareri in Sassari) since 2013 and the Sicilian Marionette Theater since 2001 as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Italian cuisine (Cucina italiana) is considered one of the most influential national cuisines in the world. Internationally known products include Italian olive oil, pesto, ice cream, panettone, tiramisu, various types of cheese such as Parmesan, mozzarella or Gorgonzola, sausage and meat products such as mortadella, salami, San Daniele ham or Parma ham and of course pasta and pizza. There is also a wide range of local wines such as Chianti and Barolo. Italian cuisine was recognized as an intangible world cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2010.
Italian fashion has a long tradition. Milan is Italy's most important fashion metropolis, Rome, Turin, Naples, Genoa, Bologna, Venice and Vicenza are also important centers. The major Italian fashion brands include: Armani, Benetton, Brioni, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Ferragamo, Gucci, Max Mara, Missoni, Moschino, Prada, Valentino and Versace.
On the west coast of Sicily, in the middle of the naturally protected lagoon Lo Stagnone, lies the small island of San Pantaleo, around eight kilometres from Marsala, which was known far beyond Sicily 2000 years ago under the Greek name Motya (Italian Mozia and Sicilian Mozzia).
On our way, following the A57 to Aquileia, which was accompanied by really heavy rain showers, we passed the junction to Venice, where a stopover that was not previously planned took place.
The interested queries of some readers on the subject of "Roman roads" prompt us to the following summary of further information.
We first got to know Aquileia in its current size as a small, provincial town far away from the sea and were accordingly amazed when during our tour we learned how important this town was, especially because of its commercial port.
After visiting Palmanova, we planned to visit the town of Clauiano, which we had been described as being quite worth seeing.
Already on the way to Lake Garda we noticed that almost all campsites are closed in Italy in November, mostly immediately after the holidays at the beginning of the month.
Our project trip should also take us to the ancient Roman city of Aquileia in what is now the province of Udine, where there is a huge excavation site to visit as well as two museums, one of which is on early Christian history.
To further explore the Alpe Adria cycle path and other places worth visiting on the long-distance cycle path, we also wanted to ride the section to Palmanova.
Actually, it was just plain coincidence that brought us into contact with an event that we had not experienced in this form before.
If a hike up into the mountains surrounding of Lake Garda is not enough for an adrenaline rush, you can also try the climbing system above the lake, provided that you have the appropriate equipment and can use it safely.
The Friedensweg, well-known and popular with backpackers, which stretches through the Dolomites to Lake Garda, ends on the northern shore of Lake Garda near the town of Riva.
In the 50s, one of the first travel destinations for Germans with the beginning of the so-called economic boom was Lake Garda, one of the northern Italian lakes, which is also the largest lake in Italy.
After an astonishingly quiet night in the parking lot in front of the main gate of the Lazise fortress, an extensive breakfast in the caravan, we started our first day tour south, always following the road along the lake shore.
From the Brenner Pass our route led down over the seemingly mighty Franzensfeste, which we noted down for a later visit, towards Bardolino on Lake Garda.
The temperatures of the "winter" season in Augsburg were slowly approaching and with it the end of this year's project tour along Roman roads north of the Alps, as we had just heard from the weather report that around 50 centimeters of fresh snow had fallen on the Brenner.