Italy

Often described as the best seafood restaurant in Venice, the fashionable Corte Sconta is the best place to head in the city for some tasty maritime treats.The food is of the highest quality and as fresh as can be - shrimp is put on the grill live.Reservations are strongly recommended - this place is full to the brim with all the trendies and connoisseurs.Chef Marco Proietto produces a fantastic selection of seafood delicacies, many of which sound better in Italian, including sardele in saor (sardines in a sweet-and-sour sauce) and moscardini (baby octopus).He successfully puts an Italian twist on the recipes, such as risotto with scampi and seafood-studded spaghetti.Described by Fodors as "close to seafood heaven", the restaurant has a simple design with wooden tables arranged around an open courtyard.There is also a good selection of wine in this Italian eatery.While in Venice, tourists can visit the famous St Mark's Square and the old Jewish quarter, as well as take a trip on the Grand Canal.

If you are traveling to Florence, Italy this year, it may be good to know that they are marking the 40th anniversary of the devastating 1966 floods. During and after the flood, many heroic individuals affectionately named "mud angels" saved irreplaceable works of art and literature. Well known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, the floods occurred on November 3, 1966. Many young volunteers from all over Europe salvaged important works of art during that time and helped the city bounce back. To celebrate their incredible efforts and mark the anniversary of the flood, many events are being planned, including a memorial mass at Florence's Duomo and an exhibit at Palazzo Vecchio featuring photos of the damage and recovery efforts.

Over 900 objects of irreplaceable art suffered as casualties during the flood. One of the most important pieces was Cimabue's 13th century Crucifix ion. It was housed in the Santa Croce museum, where waters rose more than 14 feet. The paint on the piece was completely gone, leaving it only as a relic. At the time, people were saying that it was the work that opened the way for Giotto.

Florence now has in place a series of dams which protects it from any future flooding risk.

Experience Siena in style by checking in to the Grand Hotel Continental - a former 17th-century palace.Despite being the only deluxe hotel inside the old city walls, staff members are far from complacent and facilities and fixtures live up to its heady reputation.At dinner, tuck into some traditional Tuscan fare at the Sapordivino Restaurant if you can keep mouths closed long enough after gawping up at the crystal ceiling in the towering courtyard of Palazzo Gori.Work off the feast with a free shuttle to the sibling Park Hotel for use of the swimming pool, tennis courts and golf course.Whether guests choose single rooms or suites, they can enjoy frescoed vaulted ceilings and magnificent period furniture in all bedrooms. At the higher end of the accommodation spectrum, they also come with superb views.While in Siena, be sure to soak up some culture at the stunning Basilicas of San Domenico, watch top sport at the Piazza del Campo horse races or simply enjoy a guided tour around one of the many excellent Tuscan vineyards surrounding the city.

Experience Siena in style by checking in to the Grand Hotel Continental - a former 17th-century palace.Despite being the only deluxe hotel inside the old city walls, staff members are far from complacent and facilities and fixtures live up to its heady reputation.At dinner, tuck into some traditional Tuscan fare at the Sapordivino Restaurant if you can keep mouths closed long enough after gawping up at the crystal ceiling in the towering courtyard of Palazzo Gori.Work off the feast with a free shuttle to the sibling Park Hotel for use of the swimming pool, tennis courts and golf course.Whether guests choose single rooms or suites, they can enjoy frescoed vaulted ceilings and magnificent period furniture in all bedrooms. At the higher end of the accommodation spectrum, they also come with superb views.While in Siena, be sure to soak up some culture at the stunning Basilicas of San Domenico, watch top sport at the Piazza del Campo horse races or simply enjoy a guided tour around one of the many excellent Tuscan vineyards surrounding the city.

Pay homage to the hirsute male this summer at the Beard and Moustache European Championship in Italy.Every year thousands bow to the bushy beard and hail the handlebar moustache as well-coiffured entrants wow their fans at this festival of facial hair.Hosted on Campo Campidelli in Grottaglie, visitors can delight in the frenzy of waxing, washing, curling and combing as contestants vie for stubble stardom.Moustache categories include the Dali, Hungarian, English and Chinese styles, while beards can be Garibaldi, Verdi or left wide open for artistic interpretation in the ominous-sounding "freestyle" event.The town of Grottaglie is located in the Salento peninsula in the region of Puglia, in picturesque southern Italy.The countryside is famed for its limestone ravines whose natural grottoes give the town its name. The 14th-century Castello Episcopio, which towers above the surrounds, is also well worth checking out.