Travel News

A new entry to Restaurant Review's world's 50 best restaurants in 2007, Cracco Peck is an elegant example of fantastic food in a beautiful setting.

The restaurant is accompanied by a food store, and the venue is named after chef Carlo Cracco and the gourmet delicatessen, Peck.

Catering for the fashionistas of Milan, the gourmet eatery specialises in Milanese classics with a modern twist, such as saffron risotto and breaded veal cutlet, as well as other dishes derived from the delicatessen.

Said to be one of the best restaurants in Milan, it gained two Michelin stars within three years of opening in a prime location close to the Duomo.

Famous for its desserts and extensive wine list, guests are recommended by Fodor to try the steam-cooked tiramisu.

Other top restaurants in the fashion capital of Italy include Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia, Il Teatro in the Four Seasons Hotel and the healthy Santini.

The Gallery Hotel Art in Florence was the first design hotel to open in Italy's fashionable district.

Offering exactly what one would expect from a hotel with the word art in its name, the building is adorned with chic, ultra-modern designs, and pieces of art fill the walls in an otherwise minimalist setting.

In ideal surroundings just steps from the Ponte Vecchio, tourists can revel in the luxurious accommodation, popular with local fashionistas.

There are 74 rooms in the hotel, each decorated with art work echoing scenes from Florence.

And the Fusion Bar is a trendy restaurant frequented by guests and locals alike, and has been noted by the Gambero Rosso guidebook as one of the best bars in Italy. Food such as foie gras sushi and ma-cha tiramisu is served, staying true to its fusion title.

Florence has a huge amount to offer tourists, especially those that appreciate art. Highlights include the domed cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and The Accademia dell'Arte del Disegno, where the colleciton includes Michelangelo's David.

Located in the heart of the city, in the best place for those who love to shop, the Nordic Light and Nordic Sea are a pair of sister hotels in the Swedish capital.

Living up to their name, the Light's rooms all have white walls to cater for the dramatic lights which are projected onto them in a variety of ways, depending on which room guests are staying in.

Whereas white is the dominating colour at the Light, by contrast rooms at the Sea follow a maritime theme, with relaxing blue colours and hints at a ship's interior, complete with built-in aquariums.

The Nordic Sea is home to a permanent Ice Bar, where guests can delight in the surroundings and glasses that are all made of frozen water. The bar at the Light is fresh and modern.

Guests at the Light can indulge in a unique experience from the comfort of their own room - light therapy, with the use of different kinds of light to detox the body. This can also be accompanied by a massage.

Sights to visit in the Swedish capital include the Stockholm City Museum, the Bonde Palace and Stockholm Palace.

Between March and June, jazz connoisseurs flock to Luxembourg for its annual Printemps Musical.

This year will mark the prestigious music festival's 26th year, and will include a fantastic line-up of internationally renowned musicians, alongside some exciting new talent playing a mixture of jazz and world music.

A highlight of 2008's festival will be a performance by renowned acid jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers, who has been in the business nearly 50 years.

New York's Spanish Harlem Orchestra will also grace the stage with their 13-strong presence, as will famed flamenco artist Juan Carmona Septet.

Part of the musical is celebrated during Easter weekend, with the New Orleans meets Luxembourg Festival.

But there will be a huge array of spectacular concerts to enjoy from March 1st through to June 4th.

This year will be doubly special as Luxembourg is European Capital of Culture alongside Liverpool and a number of cultural festivals and events are set to take place in both cities throughout 2008.

Brits fail to take advantage of the huge range of "high quality attractions" on their doorstep, according to a representative from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva).

Director Robin Broke said that people may begin to appreciate what the UK has to offer as they begin to feel the pinch of this year's credit crunch.

Mr Broke drew attention to a number of top attractions in the country, including Liverpool as the European Capital of Culture.

He said: "We have the greatest quantity of high quality attractions of any country in the world, but because they're on our doorstep we tend to take them for granted."

Alva cites a number of popular places to visit around the UK, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the Natural History Museum, the Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral.