Cultural experiences are among the key reasons many of us travel, and they are manifold - from performances to exhibitions to festivals - as well as explorations of culture in all its manifestitions, including art, architecture, cuisine, crafts, heritage, music, and traditions across a wide gamut.
Cover photo: Milin John
Exploring Chinese and aboriginal culture in Taiwan
Stanislav Koslovskiy Officially the Republic of China, this island with a population of around 24 million – just a bit larger than the state of Maryland and just under half the size of Scotland – has been in the news lately both thanks to its controversial January 13 presidential elections and to its perennial potential (and especially in the context of other current crises in Ukraine and Gaza) as a world flashpoint due to mainland China´s obsession with eventually and forcibly annexing it.…
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By BuzzInRome
It is not as glamorous as the Cannes, not as original as the Sundance, not as old as Venice’s, but Rome’s International Film Festival is getting better every year and it has now become the world’s fourth most important event of its kind. The fifth edition of the Festival will be held from October 28 to November 5 in the beautiful surroundings of the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, the architectural complex realized in 2002 by Italian architect Renzo Piano.
This year’s competition will have many anticipated films such as “Last Night”by the Iranian director Massy Tadjedin, starring Keira Knightley and Eva Mendes, or “Rabbit Hole”, Nicole Kidman’s first production.
The “Window on the World/Focus” section will be dedicated to Japan’s cinema and culture and there will be a showing of the restored version of Akira Kurosawa’s key work “Rashomon”, for the centennial celebration of the Japanese film master.
But the Festival will also attract children with its premiere of the second Winx film “Winx Club 3D – Magica Avventura” in which the Italian cartoon favorite explores 3D for the first time.
The complete program and tickets are available here.
The Italian government is moving ahead with plans to impose an entry fee on all visitors to Venice who arrive by air, rail or cruise ship. The fee is likely to be insignificant, in the one euro range, but it will raise needed funds from the more than 20 million annual tourists to help restore the city’s deteriorating buildings and monuments. Critics say the fee will reinforce the image of Venice as a cultural and historical theme park, but supporters say the fee is necessary because so many tourists come just for the day and bring their own food, spending little money in the city.
Well - surprise, surprise. The reason so many people only come only for the day is because Venice squeezes tourists like lemons. It is the most expensive city in Italy. Perhaps more people would like to stay there and enjoy themselves if they could afford it. Sometimes greed does not pay off.
By www.buzzinrome.com
“What are you doing Friday night?”
“I’m going to visit the Vatican Museums.”
“Oh, I see, free for dinner on Saturday then?”
“Nope, I’m afraid not, I’m going to the Colosseum!”
If someone declines your invitation for these reasons, they may be telling the truth! After the great success of the summer, Rome’s top monuments night openings were extended until October. Therefore these are the last days for your under-the-stars visits.
The Vatican Museums will be open on Fridays from 7pm to 11pm, last entrance at 9:30pm, until October 29. You’ll be able to see the Museum’s artworks, buildings and yards under a different light, there will be music and poetry shows and Saint Pious V’s Halls with Middle Age and Renaissance ceramics will be opened for the occasion. Booking required: www.musei-vaticani.va.
October 23 is the last Saturday for a moonlight visit of the Colosseum from 9 pm until midnight. Guided tours in English will be provided by archeologists. Booking required: +390639967700. Moreover, the Colosseum has two more suprises for you. Just a week ago, after 40 years, it opened its dungeons, where gladiators were locked waiting for their combats and lions and tigers were kept in cage before being transported by lifts up to the central fighting arena. The upper section of the third ring, also closed for decades, will be accessible to visitors who will marvel an unsurpassed view of Rome’s ancient forum. Both areas can only be visited with a guided tour.
Last but not the least, free night visits will be offered until the end of 2010 in most of the State-owned museums every last Tuesdays of the month from 7pm until 11pm. Just to mention some of my favorites: the Borghese Museum and Gallery, the newly renovated Ancient Art Gallery, Sant’Angelo’s Castle, and Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana in Tivoli. The complete list is available here in the “Lazio” section.