En 2021, Chambord célèbre le 200e anniversaire de l'ouverture au public d'un monument qui continue de susciter admiration et fascination dans le monde entier. Sélectionnée en 1840 pour la première liste des monuments historiques de France, inscrite depuis 1981 au patrimoine mondial de l'UNESCO, Chambord s'impose comme l'une des constructions Renaissance les plus impressionnantes. Loin d'apparaître comme un palais d'habitation ou un pavillon de chasse, Chambord incarne une véritable utopie : œuvre d'art inépuisable, elle n'a pas encore livré tous ses secrets. En effet, l'utopie était le mot d'ordre de son 500e anniversaire et la philosophie directrice de la Renaissance. In 2021, Chambord is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the opening to the public of a monument that continues to elicit admiration and fascination throughout the world. Selected in 1840 for the initial list of historic monuments in France, listed since 1981 in the UNESCO World Heritage, Chambord stands out as one of the most awe-inspiring Renaissance constructions. Far from figuring as a residential palace or a hunting lodge, Chambord embodies genuine utopia: as an inexhaustible work of art, it has yet to deliver all its secrets. Indeed, utopia was the watchword of its 500th anniversary and the guiding ethos of the Renaissance.

Lieu de résidence des rois de France du XVe au XIXe siècle, son destin est indissociable de l'histoire de France. De nombreuses personnalités littéraires et artistes y ont été conviés, comme Léonard de Vinci dont le tombeau est conservé au château. Ce château royal est ainsi l'expression du luxe à la française. Depuis ses balcons, ses toits et ses jardins en terrasses, le visiteur peut contempler les paysages de la Loire et se délecter de ce dont jouissaient les rois. A place of residence for French kings from the 15th to the 19th centuries, its destiny is inextricably linked to the history of France. Numerous literary figures and artists were invited here, like Leonardo da Vinci whose tomb is preserved at the château. This royal château is thus the expression of French-style luxury. From its balconies, its roofs and its terraced gardens, visitors can take in the Loire landscape and delight in what the kings enjoyed.

Sieben Wochen nach dem Tod König Ludwigs II. wurde Neuschwanstein im Jahr 1886 dem Publikum geöffnet. Der menschenscheue König hatte die Burg erbaut, um sich aus der Öffentlichkeit zurückzuziehen – jetzt wurde sein Refugium zum Publikumsmagneten. Neuschwanstein gehört heute zu den meistbesuchten Schlössern und Burgen Europas. Rund 1,4 Millionen Menschen jährlich besichtigen "die Burg des Märchenkönigs". Im Sommer drängen sich im Durchschnitt täglich mehr als 6.000 Besucher durch Räume, die für einen einzigen Bewohner bestimmt waren. Das führt – in Verbindung mit dem alpinen Klima und Licht – zu erheblichen Belastungen für die wertvollen Möbel und Textilien, um deren Erhalt wir uns intensiv bemühen. Die idyllische Lage von Neuschwanstein ist einmalig. Allerdings müssen Bewegungen im Fundamentbereich ständig überwacht und die steilen Felswände immer wieder gesichert werden. Ebenso greift das raue Klima die Kalkstein-Fassaden stark an, was immer wieder Sanierungsmaßnahmen erfordert. Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public in 1886. The shy king built the castle to withdraw from the public eye - now his refuge has become a crowd puller. Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most visited palaces and castles in Europe. Around 1.4 million people visit "the castle of the fairy tale king" every year. In summer, an average of more than 6,000 visitors a day push their way through rooms that were intended for a single resident. In connection with the alpine climate and light, this leads to considerable strain on the valuable furniture and textiles, which we strive to preserve intensively. The idyllic location of Neuschwanstein is unique. However, movements in the area of ​​the foundations must be constantly monitored and the steep rock faces must be secured again and again. The harsh climate also has a strong impact on the limestone facades, which repeatedly requires renovation measures.

My name is Noxolo Femele and I'm 42 years old and I have 2 kids both are girls age 17 and 14 years. I worked for 43 Air School as a Receptionist for the past 5 year, and while I was there I used to help out at the Admin area and at Marketing department. That's where I got the interested on becoming 1 of the Managers but unfortunately we got retrenched. Then I went to work at Lendcor group as a Sales consultant for 1 year 6 months same we got retrenched. That's where I decided to start my small business just to make money and put food on the table until now, but things are not doing well due to COVID-19.

Windsor Castle has been the home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It is an official residence of Queen Elizabeth II, whose standard flies from the Round Tower when Her Majesty is in residence. The Queen spends most of her private weekends at Windsor Castle and takes up official residence for a month over Easter, known as 'Easter Court'. The Queen is also at Windsor for one week each June, while attending Royal Ascot and the service of the Order of the Garter at St George’s Chapel. Windsor Castle is still very much a working royal palace and is regularly used for ceremonial and State occasions, including official visits from overseas Heads of State. St George’s Hall makes a spectacular setting for a State Banquet, when a table seating 160 guests is decorated with porcelain and silver-gilt from the Royal Collection. While it was William the Conqueror who first built the castle, he didn’t live in the castle, it was used as a defensive base at the time. The Castle has been enlarged and restructured by different kings and queens during their reigns. Find out more about who built the Castle. The first king to use Windsor Castle as a residence was Henry I. Henry’s marriage to Adela, the daughter of Godfrey of Louvain, took place in the Castle in 1121. The first Plantagenet king, Henry II, lived at Windsor and built extensively there between 1165 and 1179. Windsor was also one of the favourite residences of Henry III, and he invested heavily in the royal accommodation at the Castle during his reign from 1216. It was Edward III who left the greatest impression on Windsor in the 14th-century. Windsor was the intended centre of his court and government, and the seat of the newly founded Order of the Garter.

O Palácio Nacional da Pena é como uma joia sagrada que coroa a Serra de Sintra. O parque envolvente, em sintonia com o caráter feérico do palácio, desperta emoções de mistério e de descoberta. Nos seus recantos, os olhares perdem-se de encanto. Os tons coloridos do palácio, expoente máximo do Romantismo em Portugal e obra eterna de D. Fernando II, Rei-Artista, abrem portas à imaginação de todos os que ali chegam, e os infinitos matizes de verde que pintam o parque circundante constituem um cenário idílico, frequentemente sob o véu do característico nevoeiro da serra de Sintra. Como que saído de um conto de fadas, este lugar faz sonhar todas as gerações dos que por ali passam e que com ele se deslumbram. The Palácio Nacional da Pena is like a sacred jewel that crowns the Serra de Sintra. The surrounding park, in tune with the fairy character of the palace, awakens emotions of mystery and discovery. In its corners, eyes lose their charm. The colorful tones of the palace, the greatest exponent of Romanticism in Portugal and the eternal work of D. Fernando II, King-Artist, open doors to the imagination of all who arrive there, and the infinite shades of green that paint the surrounding park provide a backdrop idyllic, often under the veil of the characteristic fog of the Sintra mountains. As if out of a fairy tale, this place makes dreaming of all the generations who pass by and who are dazzled by it.

Gehen Sie mit uns auf eine Zeitreise durch 850 Jahre… In einem Seitental der Mosel zwischen Koblenz und Cochem steht auf einem steilen Felskopf inmitten unberührter Natur Burg Eltz – die Burg mit über 850 Jahren Geschichte. Der Name der Burg stammt vom vielfach gewundenen Elzbach, der sie umfließt. Burg Eltz wurde erstmals 1157 urkundlich erwähnt und überstand alle Wirren der Jahrhunderte unbeschadet. Somit gehört sie zu den wenigen niemals zerstörten Burgen in Europa. Seit dem 13. Jahrhundert bewohnten die drei Hauptlinien des Familie Eltz verschiedene Häuser der Burg: Eltz-Kempenich, Eltz-Rodendorf und Eltz-Rübenach. So waren zwar die jeweiligen Wohnbereiche und Haushalte getrennt, die Einheit der Familie blieb aber durch den gemeinsamen Namen und das Wappen gewahrt. Diese Wohn- und Erbengemeinschaft überdauerte viele Jahrhunderte. Seit nunmehr 34 Generationen befindet sich Burg Eltz nach wie vor im Besitz der Edlen Herren und Grafen von und zu Eltz. Mit ihrer einzigartigen Architektur und ihrer malerischen Lage ist sie für die Besucher der Inbegriff einer deutschen Ritterburg! Der englischen Autorin Katherine Macquoid erschien sie mit ihren Erkern, Spitzen und Türmen wie ein „wahrhaftig verzauberter Platz, ein Märchen aus Stein“, denn in der 500-jährigen Bauzeit entstand um den Innenhof herum ein verwinkeltes Ensemble mit eng aneinander geschmiegten hohen Wohntürmen. Die Führung durch Burg Eltz nimmt den Gast mit auf eine Zeitreise durch acht Jahrhunderte, die sich in der Architektur der Räume und in deren Einrichtung widerspiegelt. Ob in der Rüstkammer, im Rittersaal, Jagdzimmer, Schlafgemach oder in der Küche – überall werden vielfältige Einblicke in das Leben auf Burg Eltz gewährt. Die Möbel und Kunstwerke aus dem Besitz der Familie Eltz vermitteln einen unvergesslichen Eindruck mittelalterlicher Wohnkultur. In den Kellergewölben der Burg erwartet den Besucher die Schatzkammer – eine private Sammlung von über 500 Exponaten nationaler und internationaler Bedeutung, darunter Gold- und Silberschmiedearbeiten, Schmuck, Porzellan, Waffen und Rüstungen. Wir freuen uns über Ihren Besuch! Übrigens: Bis in die frühen 1990er Jahre war eine Banknote der bekannteste Werbeträger für Burg Eltz - sie zierte lange Zeit die Rückseite des alten 500-Mark-Scheins. Come with us on a time travel through 850 years... In a side valley of the Moselle between Koblenz and Cochem, Eltz Castle stands on a steep rock head in the midst of untouched nature - the castle with over 850 years of history. The name of the castle comes from the winding Elzbach that flows around it. Eltz Castle was first mentioned in a document in 1157 and survived all the turmoil of the centuries unscathed. This makes it one of the few castles in Europe that has never been destroyed. Since the 13th century, the three main lines of the Eltz family lived in different houses in the castle: Eltz-Kempenich, Eltz-Rodendorf and Eltz-Rübenach. Although the respective living areas and households were separated, the family unity was preserved through the common name and the coat of arms. This community of living and heirs lasted for many centuries. For 34 generations, Eltz Castle has been owned by the noble lords and counts von und zu Eltz. With its unique architecture and its picturesque location, it is the epitome of a German knight's castle for visitors! The English author Katherine Macquoid saw it with its bay windows, spiers and towers like a “truly enchanted square, a fairy tale made of stone”, because in the 500-year construction period a winding ensemble with high residential towers nestled together was created around the inner courtyard. The guided tour through Eltz Castle takes the guest on a journey through eight centuries, which is reflected in the architecture of the rooms and their furnishings. Whether in the armory, in the knight's hall, hunting room, bedchamber or in the kitchen - diverse insights into life at Eltz Castle are granted everywhere. The furniture and works of art owned by the Eltz family convey an unforgettable impression of medieval living culture. In the vaulted cellar of the castle, the treasury awaits the visitor - a private collection of over 500 exhibits of national and international importance, including gold and silversmiths, jewelry, porcelain, weapons and armor. We are looking forward to your visit! By the way: up until the early 1990s, a banknote was the best-known advertising medium for Burg Eltz - it adorned the back of the old 500-mark note for a long time.

La contemplation de Chenonceau évoque l’idée d’une harmonie parfaite entre une nature, faite d’eau, d’air et de verdure, et une architecture unique et reconnue dans le monde entier. Chef-d’œuvre de la Renaissance, directement inspiré du Ponte Vecchio, Chenonceau, plus que nul autre, inspire un sentiment universel de paix. Le monument recèle des chefs-d’œuvre, une admirable collection de tapisseries, peintures et mobilier. Ces tableaux exceptionnels, signés par les plus grands maitres européens des XVIe, XVIIe, et XVIIIe siècles, font écho à l’histoire, très riche du château et au rôle de premier plan qu’y ont tenu les femmes. De la Renaissance, avec la reine Catherine de Médicis et ses fêtes somptueuses, au XVIIIème siècle, avec Louise Dupin, Dame des Lumières, Chenonceau a toujours cultivé les rencontres et accueilli philosophes, écrivains et artistes, dans l’échange et l’amitié… Ses jardins de Catherine de Médicis et de Diane de Poitiers soulignent l’élégance de son paysage, du Jardin Vert, dessiné par Bernard Palissy, jusqu’au labyrinthe italien… Les majestueux bouquets, présents dans chacune des pièces, sont créés dans l’atelier floral, situé dans la couThe contemplation of Chenonceau evokes the idea of ​​a perfect harmony between nature, made up of water, air and greenery, and a unique architecture recognized throughout the world. A Renaissance masterpiece, directly inspired by the Ponte Vecchio, Chenonceau, more than any other, inspires a universal feeling of peace. The monument contains masterpieces, an admirable collection of tapestries, paintings and furniture. These exceptional paintings, signed by the greatest European masters of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, echo the rich history of the castle and the prominent role played by women there. From the Renaissance, with Queen Catherine de Medici and her sumptuous festivals, to the 18th century, with Louise Dupin, Lady of the Lights, Chenonceau has always cultivated encounters and welcomed philosophers, writers and artists, in exchange and friendship... Its gardens of Catherine de Médicis and Diane de Poitiers underline the elegance of its landscape, from the Green Garden, designed by Bernard Palissy, to the Italian labyrinth… The majestic bouquets, present in each of the rooms, are created in the workshop floral, located in the courtyard of the 16th century farmhouse. The florists have at their disposal the production of the Flower Garden and its greenhouses.r de la ferme du XVIe siècle. Les fleuristes ont à leur disposition, la production du Potager des Fleurs et de ses serres.

Aigle Castle is a castle in the municipality of Aigle of the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance. The Barons of Aigle were first mentioned in 1179. At that time they had a small fortification, that became the center of the modern castle, along the road over the Col du Pillon and Col des Mosses passes of the Rhone. However, only traces of this first castle have been archaeologically discovered. Some time before 1200, the Barons of Aigle ended up as vassals of the powerful Counts of Savoy. In 1232, Count Thomas of Savoy granted Aigle as a fief to the brothers Jacob and Peter of Saillon in exchange for their ancestral castle in Valais. The Saillon family seems to have been closely related with the barons of Aigle. In the second half of the 13th Century, Aigle expanded and received a city charter. The castle was rebuilt, with a fortified donjon and a curtain wall. In the 14th Century, the Lords of Compey inherited the rights of the Saillon family. They were also vassals of the Counts of Savoy and made Aigle into their headquarters. They added turrets and in 1450 built a massive tower in the south corner. This tower was an example of late French Donjon architecture.

Alnwick Castle has over 950 years of history to discover, and the origins of the Castle date back to the Norman period. Since 1309, its story has been intertwined with that of the Percy family, a family with a history as illustrious as the castle’s own. The second largest inhabited castle in the UK, Alnwick has served as a military outpost, a teaching college, a refuge for evacuees, a film set, and not least as a family home. Delve deeper into this extraordinary history and travel through the centuries of this living, evolving castle. In 1309, Henry Percy, great-great grandfather of Hotspur, purchased a typical Norman-style castle of motte and bailey form. In the following 40 years he and his son converted it into a mighty border fortress. They added towers and guerites around its curtain walls with a strong gatehouse at the entrance and a concealed postern gate to the rear. The gateway to the keep was strengthened with the addition of two massive octagonal towers. Stone figures were added to the tops of the battlements, as was fashionable at that time, either for ornament, or to confuse attackers. This was a medieval device that the 1st Duchess was to copy to excess in the more fanciful mid-18th century castle restoration. Early in the 16th century, the castle was assessed and written off in defensive terms as not liable to abide the force of any shot or to hold out any time if it should be assaulted. In 1567, the 7th Earl employed George Clarkson to survey the castle and his northern estates. His detailed account, together with the plans drawn by Treswell in 1608, enable us to be quite accurate about how the castle looked and what the buildings were used for during this period. Clarkson also describes the condition of the buildings, mentioning that the Ravine Tower was "so rente that it is mooche like to fall", as indeed it did later in the 17th century. Clarkson describes the corner tower in the inner bailey as having no back to it, being two storeys and only as high as the battlements, and being used for storing hay. By 1608, Treswell shows it as three storeys high with a stone back. Perhaps this reflects the creation of the Record Tower between 1567 and 1608. During the 17th century, the castle fell into disrepair, both through neglect because the Percy family was mainly resident in the south, and through damages done in wartime. The best visual evidence for the appearance of the castle at this date is a painting by Peter Hartover (fl.1674-1690), which depicts the ruinous chapel and trees growing out of the stonework. Transforming the castle from a decaying garrison fortress to a palace was conceived in a high gothick style to the designs of the architects Daniel Garrett, James Paine and Robert Adam in the 1760s. Work on the parklands carried on in tandem. Weirs were built on the River Aln to slow the water flow with the effect of enhancing the landscape and providing a reflective surface for the newly restored castle. The 4th Duke disliked the ‘fairytale gothick’ style and inconvenience of the castle created by the restoration undertaken a century previously. He employed the architect Anthony Salvin to restore a more authentic medieval border fortress appearance to the exterior. For the state apartments, however, Algernon chose the lavish style of an Italianate palazzo. Improvements were made across the castle site exploiting new technologies of the Victorian age. By the time Hugh Percy entered the dukedom in 1940, the large team of live-in domestic servants he had known as a boy was no longer in existence. This left vast areas of the castle unused and unoccupied. These provided facilities, first for the accommodation of Alnwick Teacher Training College, and then, from 1981, for St Cloud State University students from Minnesota in the United States. The Duke and his family share their home with Estates Office staff, American students from St Cloud State University residential programme and the general public. Recent years have witnessed an extensive programme of conservation, repair and refurbishment to the fabric of the building, both exterior and interior. Roof leads have been replaced; essential masonry repair and re-pointing has been undertaken, as well as conservation work and refurbishment of the interiors. Such works both preserve the castle and continue its development. Alnwick Castle contains an extraordinary and unusual survival in the 21st century of a collection and archive remaining in a property owned by the same family for over 700 years. A small professional team manages the Northumberland Collection and Archive; no public funding is received towards its conservation and preservation. Alnwick Castle most recently featured in Transformers: The Last Knight, and as the magnificent Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey's 2015 and 2016 Christmas specials. Having already featured as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films, as well as appearing in Elizabeth and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, among others, the castle is no stranger to film crews!

El Hotel Humboldt se encuentra ubicado en la cima del Cerro Ávila en Caracas, Venezuela. Este edificio es un ícono en la arquitectura venezolana por su diseño de vanguardia. Su construcción se realizó en 199 días de 200 dispuestos por el gobierno de entonces, entre los meses de mayo y noviembre de 1956. El hotel formó parte de un gran proyecto de modernización de la ciudad, en donde la principal intención de esta obra era unir a Caracas con el Litoral a través de un complejo turístico y recreativo que involucraba un teleférico como medio de transporte. El hotel Humboldt se caracteriza por ser una cápsula del tiempo que nos lleva directamente a los años cincuenta del siglo pasado. El hotel es una isla en medio de un verde apabullante, un faro que se divisa desde casi cualquier rincón de Caracas, un homenaje a la luz del trópico. También es un espacio para el descanso y la diversión, donde la historia y la tecnología se unen para brindar una experiencia de altura, a más de 2.200 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Este complejo hotelero, con sus amplios espacios sociales, es quizá la obra más conocida del arquitecto venezolano Tomás Sanabria (1922 – 2008), quien junto a los ingenieros Gustavo Larrazábal y Oscar Urreiztieta logró construir y poner en funcionamiento el hotel en solo 199 días, ¡justo un día antes de vencer el plazo establecido para su finalización! El edificio está construido a una altura de 2140 metros sobre el nivel del mar. El resultado de esta construcción vanguardista es una torre cilíndrica con 70 habitaciones adosadas a un cuerpo bajo destinado a áreas sociales, entretenimiento y servicios, alojados bajo una serie de cubiertas abovedadas y prismáticas. En la parte alta del edificio se encuentra un bar con vistas panorámicas de 360 grados que fungen de mirador para apreciar la iluminada ciudad de Caracas hacia el sur y las tonalidades azul del Mar Caribe hacia el norte. La fachada del edificio está hecha con cristal y aluminio, materiales que se implementaron con la finalidad de ayudar a mantener un ambiente cálido en el interior de la edificación, y que además permitió facilitar el mantenimiento rutinario de limpieza desde adentro por medio de ventanales basculantes. Entre los datos interesantes que vale la pena destacar de esta edificación es que el alto coste de su mantenimiento lo mantuvo cerrado por más de 20 años y no es sino hasta 2019 que abre sus puertas nuevamente al público. Sin embargo, en aras de conservar el ambiente de la época del momento de su construcción, toda la decoración está inspirada en el estilo de los años 50’ y se mantienen muchos de los recursos originales que se utilizaron en aquel entonces, tales como los pisos, las barandas de aluminio, entre otros. La principal forma de acceso a este hotel en la cima del Cerro el Ávila sigue siendo mediante el teleférico de Caracas, desde el cual se pueden apreciar unas increíbles imágenes de la ciudad mientras se van adentrando en medio de la montaña. Sin embargo, para los amantes de la naturaleza y el tracking también es posible realizar el ascenso caminando.

I am a God fearing individual, and I’m also a father to two beautiful kids, a boy and a girl. I worked for Tekkie Town as a Sales Assistant and I was chosen as the best Sales person for the entire Mpumalanga province. I also worked for the Department of agriculture as a Data capture. I have a passion for sports, football is one of my favourites and one day I wish I can own a soccer team. While I was in high school, I always wanted to be a lawyer but due to financial constraints I could not become one. My interest in the justice system came when I realised that the late former president Mr Nelson Mandela was also a lawyer representing his people. I wish one day I could give back to my community and its people because my community gave us the likes of the late Steve Bantu Biko, one of the BCM Members who fought for the people of South Africa. My community is one of the underdeveloped communities of this country, but I know that one day all of this will change because I know that with education anything is possible. When a child is educated communities will change for the better and if one community changes, then our country will change for the better as well and poverty will be no more. Education topped with one’s perseverance is the key to a bright future for all. With this pandemic people have lost their jobs and in some households you find that no one is working and people resort to drugs and alcohol, some get depressed to a point of taking their own lives. If we can start developing jobs for people, our continent would become a better place for us all. Being part of an initiative that supports the empowerment of those less privileged is one of my greatest wishes. I will be glad if all my wishes do come through because nothing is as important as education and hard work, and an educated country means a better world for us all.

Uncem Piemonte, Unione Nazionale Comuni, Comunità ed Enti montani. Da sessant'anni è il "sindacato del territorio montano". La Delegazione piemontese - a cui aderiscono: 50 Unioni montane di Comuni (eredi delle Comunità montane secondo quanto previsto dalla legge nazionale 56/2014 e dalle leggi regionali 11/2012 e 3/2014), i 552 Comuni montani, 5 Province, 2 Consorzi Bim, il Formont e il Consorzio Pra Catinat - ha sede in via Gaudenzio Ferrari 1 a Torino. L'Uncem Piemonte rappresenta gli enti a livello regionale presso gli organi competenti per l'esame dei provvedimenti di interesse montano, allo scopo di valorizzare e sviluppare il territorio e le istituzioni; promuove il coordinamento delle attività delle Comunità montane e degli enti al fine di potenziarne le capacità di intervento collegandosi alle linee di programmazione europea, nazionale e regionale; promuove inoltre studi e ricerche per una migliore conoscenza della realtà montana. Dal 2007, l'attività delle Comunità montane, delle Unioni e della Delegazione piemontese dell'Uncem viene presentata sulla rivista bimestrale PieMonti, cinquanta pagine che raccolgono e diffondono le nuove sfide e le opportunità di sviluppo della montagna piemontese. Uncem Piemonte, National Union of Municipalities, Communities and Mountain Bodies. It has been the "mountain territory union" for sixty years. The Piedmontese Delegation - to which the following adhere: 50 mountain Unions of Municipalities (heirs of the mountain communities according to the provisions of national law 56/2014 and regional laws 11/2012 and 3/2014), the 552 mountain municipalities, 5 provinces, 2 consortia Bim, the Formont and the Pra Catinat Consortium - is based in via Gaudenzio Ferrari 1 in Turin. Uncem Piemonte represents the bodies at regional level at the competent bodies for the examination of measures of mountain interest, in order to enhance and develop the territory and the institutions; it promotes the coordination of the activities of the mountain communities and of the entities in order to strengthen their intervention capacities by connecting to the European, national and regional programming lines; it also promotes studies and research for a better knowledge of the mountain reality.

Founded as a Cistercian monastery in the 12th Century, Rufford Abbey came into being about the same time that Robin Hood may have roamed nearby Sherwood Forest. When Henry VIII closed the English abbeys, its buildings, watermills, fields and farms were granted to George Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury. Later, it passed by marriage to the Yorkshire Savile family, and grew from a hunting lodge into a magnificent country house. On the eve of World War II, Rufford Abbey was sold, and passed through the hands of various owners. Requisioned for wartime use, it housed cavalry offices, a tank regiment and later Italian prisoners of war. Stripped of its fine interiors, furnishings and land, by the late 1950s it languished. Wartime damage, coal mining subsidence and neglect left the Abbey and its grounds in a sorry state. In 1957 Nottinghamshire County Council bought the house and the remains of its gardens, later opening them as a country park. Though sadly, most of the building had to be demolished, the original abbey undercroft, the Jacobean wing and many historic garden features remain for today's visitors to explore. The area surrounding Rufford has been inhabited since prehistoric times. At Creswell Crags - a limestone gorge near Worksop- a discovery centre tells the story of Ice Age hunters who sheltered in its caves 40,000 years ago. Local forests of oak, birch and lime were first partly cleared by Neolithic people. However, areas of ancient oak and birch woodland still remain. Three miles away at Sherwood Forest Country Park you can walk in Birklands and Bilhaugh. Pollen analysis shows that they were woodland right back to the Ice Age. By the time of the Romans (around 120 AD), we have mention of a Roman settlement near Ruchford, Rutherford or Runford. The town of Southwell, not many miles east of Rufford, had a Roman villa. You can still see part of its mosaic floor under a pew in Southwell Minster. It's believed that a Roman road passed through the area from Oxton, north of Nottingham, to Blyth in what is now south Yorkshire. The name “Rufford” comes from the Old English or Saxon and means “rough ford." Though it's often assumed this is the ford that modern cars now splash through on Rufford Lane, in fact it was probably another ford to the east of the present day park. Old estate maps show a watermil there, on the stream which was later dammed to become Rufford Lake. The first recorded owner of Rugforde or Rumforde, according to the Domesday Book, was "Ulf, son of Suertebrand" - a Saxon chieftain. But everything changed when the Normans invaded England. King William the Conqueror gave Ulf’s estate to his nephew, Gilbert de Gant (Gilbert of Ghent.) The grandson of Gilbert de Gant, (confusingly, also called Gilbert) was Earl of Lincoln. He gave land at Rufford to the Cistercian order of monks in 1146. In the middle ages, it was believed that prayers would help the souls of the dead to reach Heaven. So giving land and gifts to a monastery was a kind of spiritual insurance policy! The Cistercian order was a spartan and austere order. St Bernard of Clairvaux was one of their founding fathers. The movement started in Citeaux in France, and spread all over Europe. Fountains Abbey and Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire are two of the best known Cistercian monasteries in England. Their ruins can still be visited today. Twelve Monks from Rievaulx Abbey - led by an abbot called Gamellus - travelled down to Nottinghamshire to create a "daughter house" on their newly acquired land. They immediately set to work creating an abbey church, and probably diverting local watercourses for the water they would need for mills, washing and fulling cloth. The Cistercians believed in making or growing almost everything they needed to survive. In 1156 Rufford received its official blessing from Pope Adrian IV, and various charters in the following years saw the abbey expand its land. It is said that the villagers of Rufford, Cratley, Grimston and Inkersall were evicted to make way for the abbeys farming activities. Some were probably resettled in a new village called Wellow, just outside the abbey estate. Medieval records relate that there were frequent disputes between the Abbot of Rufford and the men of Wellow, usually over the rights to wood from a local forest. It is thought that the construction of permanent stone buildings of Rufford Abbey was well underway by the 1160s, although work may well have continued on and off for almost a century. Local craftsmen and stone were both used to construct the building. Find out more about the life of the monks who lived at Rufford in our on-site exhibits. When Henry VIII famously broke away from the Church of Rome in 1530, he was eager to stake his claim to the assets of the great Catholic religious orders. One of these was Rufford, which by 1534 was worth £176. In 1536 he appointed the Commissioners Legh and Layton to find sufficient evidence to allow him to close down the abbey. Among the "disgraceful offences" they found at Rufford was the claim that the abbey possessed some of the Virgin Mary's milk. They also alleged that the Abbot, Thomas of Doncaster, had broken his vows of chastity with at least two married and four single women, and claimed that six of the other monks were of "disgraceful character." Following this a Royal Commission closed Rufford Abbey and the lands were granted to George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury. It was while owned by the 6th Earl, another George Talbot, that the transformation of the old abbey into a fine country house first began and under the guidance of the 7th Earl new wings were added onto the north and south ends of the lay brothers’ wing of the old abbey, forming some of the country house we still see today. In 1626 the Rufford estate passed to Sir George Savile and his first wife, Lady Mary, who was a sister to the 7th and 8th Earls of Shrewsbury. The Saviles were a long-established and landed family whose seat was Thornhill Hall near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. The family supported the Royalists during the English Civil War, living up to their family motto to “Fear God and Honour the King” and Charles I visited Rufford in July 1642, shortly before raising his standard at Nottingham on August 22nd, which signalled the start of the war. The family prospered under the restoration of the monarchy and continued to enhance and develop the estate. Throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, the grounds were continually expanded and developed. In 1750, for example, the 8th Baronet dammed the stream to the north and created the lake. Not only did this enhance the grounds, it also provided power for his new corn mill, now known as Rufford Mill. In 1837 the eminent Victorian architect Anthony Salvin was hired to undertake a thorough re-design of the house, much of which can be seen today. Rufford made rough-cut wooden coffins for the dead of the First World War, but this war also heralded the beginning of the end for many large country estates, and Rufford was no exception. The estate suffered from rising taxes and wages and reduced income from farm rents, so that by 1938, the trustees of the young 3rd Baron were forced to sell the estate. The estate, house and contents were eventually taken over by the Army in 1939 during the Second World War and the Leicestershire Yeomanry, 6th Cavalry Brigade were stationed there, arriving as horse-mounted troops, and leaving as motorised artillery. About 20 army huts were constructed and these later housed Italian prisoners of war. By 1949 the house was in a poor state of repair and the Government announced that in the event of demolition, the 12th Century parts of the abbey, including the crypt, must be preserved at all costs. In 1952 Nottinghamshire County Council decided to purchase the Abbey and about 130 acres of land around the house and in 1956, despite some public outcry, a necessary controlled demolition of the Abbey’s upper floors, the 17th Century north wing and the 18th Century east wing was started and completed two years later. In 1969 a park ranger service was set up and the site officially designated a Country Park. After years of neglect the future was finally looking brighter for Rufford Abbey.

Il Sentiero di Leonardo 26 giorni e 540 km a piedi: da Milano a S. Bernardino lungo l'Adda e il Lario - da S. Bernardino a Milano lungo la Mesolcina, il Ticino e il Naviglio pavese. La nascita di un Sentiero dedicato a Leonardo da Vinci intende mettere in attenzione territori e luoghi che - dal capoluogo milanese alla Svizzera dei Cantoni Grigioni e Ticino - videro Leonardo da Vinci protagonista indiscusso con la sua attività di artista, studioso della natura, geologo, alpinista, ingegnere e inventore. Oltre al capoluogo di Milano, la Martesana, il corso dell’Adda, il ramo lecchese del Lario, la corona alpina, l'attuale Svizzera italiana, il corso del Ticino, i Navigli Grande e Pavese furono gli ambiti da lui più esplorati e studiati. Leonardo da Vinci, affascinato in Lombardia dall'acqua fluente e interessato al moto dei fluidi, trovò lungo il corso abduano e del Ticino i motivi di studio, di riflessione e a seguire di creazione-invenzione che poi si tradussero nelle sue celeberrime produzioni artistiche e tecnologiche, le quali tuttora stupiscono e affascinano il mondo intero. Il percorso del Sentiero di Leonardo ricalca una sentieristica già nota e consolidata, nel seguito sintetizzata: Alzaia della Martesana da Milano a Trezzo sull’Adda, Alzaia del fiume Adda da Trezzo sull’Adda a Lecco, Sentieri lungo i Piani Resinelli da Lecco ad Abbadia Lariana (in futuro, quando sarà disponibile, la ciclopedonale lungolago), Sentiero del Viandante da Abbadia Lariana a Piantedo. Via Francisca da Piantedo a Chiavenna, Via Spluga da Chiavenna a Madesimo, Passo del Baliscio da Madesimo a San Bernardino, Valle Mesolcina da San Bernardino a Bellinzona, Sentiero svizzero 7 da Bellinzona a Lugano e Ponte Tresa, Via Francisca da Ponte Tresa a Busto Arsizio, Alzaia del Naviglio Grande da Busto Arsizio ad Abbiategrasso, Sentieri del Parco del Ticino da Abbiategrasso a Pavia, Alzaia del Naviglio Pavese da Pavia a Milano. La suggestione del percorso prefigurato è tale da configurare il Sentiero di Leonardo come una originale valorizzazione dei territori coinvolti, portandolo a competere - grazie alla presenza di numerosi temi attrattivi - coi più blasonati cammini europei. 26 days and 540 km on foot: from Milan to S. Bernardino along the Adda and Lario - from S. Bernardino to Milan along the Mesolcina, Ticino and Naviglio Pavese. The birth of a path dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci intends to focus on territories and places that - from the Milanese capital to the Switzerland of the cantons of Grisons and Ticino - saw Leonardo da Vinci the undisputed protagonist with his activity as an artist, nature scholar, geologist, mountaineer, engineer and inventor. In addition to the capital of Milan, the Martesana, the course of the Adda, the Lecco branch of the Lario, the Alpine crown, the current Italian Switzerland, the course of the Ticino, the Navigli Grande and Pavese were the areas he most explored and studied. Leonardo da Vinci, fascinated in Lombardy by flowing water and interested in the motion of fluids, found along the Abduano and Ticino courses the reasons for study, reflection and subsequent creation-invention which then resulted in his famous artistic and technological productions, which still amaze and fascinate the whole world. The path of Leonardo's Path follows an already known and consolidated path, summarized below: Towpath of the Martesana from Milan to Trezzo sull'Adda, Towpath of the Adda river from Trezzo sull'Adda to Lecco, Paths along the Resinelli Plains from Lecco to Abbadia Lariana (in the future, when the lakeside cycle path will be available), Path of the Wayfarer from Abbadia Lariana to Piantedo, Via Francisca from Piantedo to Chiavenna, Via Spluga from Chiavenna to Madesimo. Passo del Baliscio from Madesimo to San Bernardino, Mesolcina Valley from San Bernardino to Bellinzona, Swiss path 7 from Bellinzona to Lugano and Ponte Tresa, Via Francisca from Ponte Tresa to Busto Arsizio, Towpath of the Naviglio Grande from Busto Arsizio to Abbiategrasso Trails of the Ticino Park from Abbiategrasso to Pavia, Towpath of the Naviglio Pavese from Pavia to Milan. The suggestion of the prefigured path is such as to configure Leonardo's Path as an original enhancement of the territories involved, leading it to compete - thanks to the presence of numerous attractive themes - with the most noble European paths.

Emblema dell'eccellenza italiana sin dalla sua fondazione nel 1889, Bonacina 1889 è un Design Brand indipendente a conduzione familiare che, negli anni, ha definito uno stile unico e senza tempo, fatto di sensibilità alla Creatività e all'Arte, cura dei dettagli e utilizzo del Rattan, una materia prima naturale che cresce in Estremo Oriente. Ogni pezzo è tessuto e curvato a mano in Italia da artigiani appassionati: la sapiente e sapiente lavorazione rende i nostri pezzi unici ed estremamente duraturi nel tempo. Ricca di un patrimonio eccezionale, l'azienda ha collaborato con "Maestri" del design italiano come Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Gae Aulenti, Marco Zanuso, Joe Colombo e Gio Ponti, e Decoratori e Architetti riconosciuti a livello internazionale come Renzo Mongiardino, Jacques Grange e Peter Marino in progetti sognanti e all'avanguardia. L'azienda rimane fedele alle materie prime naturali che maggiormente hanno definito la sua cultura, consolidando il know-how, per quanto riguarda il mondo Outdoor, su nuove tecniche e materiali.Bonacina 1889 affonda le sue radici nel territorio del Lago di Como, potendo contare sul know-how del distretto produttivo della Brianza, parte collinare e fertile dell'area a nord di Milano. La filosofia di Bonacina 1889 è fatta di Qualità, Sostenibilità, Autenticità Italiana e Stile di Vita e Tradizione Europea. Emblematic of Italian excellence since its foundation in 1889, Bonacina 1889 is an independent, family-owned Design Brand that, over the years, defined a unique and timeless style, made of sensitivity to Creativity and Arts, attention to detail and use of Rattan, a natural raw material that grows in the Far East. Each piece is hand-woven and curved in Italy by passionate artisans: savvy and skillful workmanship makes our pieces unique and extremely lasting in time. Rich in exceptional heritage, the company has collaborated with Italian Design "Maestri”, such as Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Gae Aulenti, Marco Zanuso, Joe Colombo and Gio Ponti, and Internationally recognized Decorators and Architects like Renzo Mongiardino, Jacques Grange and Peter Marino in dreamy and cutting-edge projects. The company remains faithful to the natural raw materials that mostly defined its culture while consolidating the know-how, regarding the Outdoor world, on new techniques and materials. Bonacina 1889 is rooted in the Lake Como territory, relying on the know-how of the production district of Brianza, a hilly, fertile part of the area north of Milan. Bonacina 1889 philosophy is made of Quality, Sustainability, Italian authenticity and European Lifestyle and Tradition.

The Agora was the heart of ancient Athens, the focus of political, commercial, administrative and social activity, the religious and cultural centre, and the seat of justice. The site was occupied without interruption in all periods of the city's history. It was used as a residential and burial area as early as the Late Neolithic period (3000 B.C.). Early in the 6th century, in the time of Solon, the Agora became a public area. After a series of repairs and remodellings, it reached its final rectangular form in the 2nd century B.C. Extensive building activity occured after the serious damage made by the Persians in 480/79 B.C., by the Romans in 89 B.C. and by the Herulae in A.D. 267 while, after the Slavic invasion in A.D. 580, It was gradually abandoned. From the Byzantine period until after 1834, when Athens became the capital of the independent Greek state, the Agora was again developed as a residential area. The first excavation campaigns were carried out by the Greek Archaeological Society in 1859-1912, and by the German Archaeological Institute in 1896-97. In 1890-91, a deep trench cut for the Athens-Peiraeus Railway brought to light extensive remains of ancient buildings. In 1931 the American School of Classical Studies started the systematic excavations with the financial support of J. Rockefeller and continued until 1941. Work was resumed in 1945 and is still continuing. In order to uncover the whole area of the Agora it was necessary to demolish around 400 modern buildings covering a total area of ca. 12 hectares. In the 19th century the four colossal figures of Giants and Tritons at the facade of the Gymnasium were restored by the Greek Archaeological Society. In the years 1953-56, the Stoa of Attalos was reconstructed to become a museum and in the same period the Byzantine church of Aghioi Apostoloi, built around A.D. 1000, was restored by the American School. Between 1972 and 1975, restoration and preservation work was carried out at the Hephaisteion; the area was cleared of the vegetation, and the roof of the temple was repaired in 1978 by the Archaeological Service.

La Catedral de Sal es una infraestructura que fue construida en el interior de las minas de sal de Zipaquirá, en el departamento de Cundinamarca, Colombia. La antigua catedral fue construida entre 1950 y 1954, mientras que la nueva catedral data de 1995. En su interior se encuentra una rica colección artística, especialmente de esculturas de sal y mármol, en un ambiente lleno de un profundo sentido religioso. La catedral de la Sal de Zipaquirá es considerada como uno de los logros arquitectónicos y artísticos más notables de la arquitectura colombiana, por lo que se le ha otorgado incluso el título de joya arquitectónica de la modernidad. La importancia de la Catedral, radica en su valor como patrimonio cultural, religioso y ambiental. A 180 metros bajo tierra se encuentra un lugar alejado de lo cotidiano, que invita a la reflexión, al autodescubrimiento y al encuentro interno. Con una arquitectura tallada completamente en sal y con diferentes actividades de esparcimiento que lo harán vivir una experiencia única. En el primer tramo del recorrido subterráneo se encuentra el viacrucis, el cual tiene 386 metros de longitud y 13 metros de altura, en donde están dispuestas las 14 estaciones del viacrucis, en su mayoría están ubicadas en las magníficas cámaras largas que componen la Catedral. Estas estaciones fueron talladas en Roca de Sal por los Mineros y representan las diferentes etapas vividas por Jesús hasta su crucifixión y sepultura. La cúpula es el sitio en donde converge el túnel que llega desde las 14 estaciones, con el primer encuentro visual de la gran cámara central de la Catedral de Sal. Allí, las personas se encuentran a tan solo 145 metros de la cruz tallada más grande del mundo. El coro se encuentra en la parte superior de la nave central que forma un balcón y está compuesto por una serie de escaleras totalmente talladas en sal que representa la escala musical. El nártex es una obra compuesta por una serie de paralelepípedos tallados en sal que muestra la formación salina en sus muros y da una sensación de laberintos que, según la historia bíblica, los no bautizados deberían recorrer como acto de penitencia. La iglesia subterránea hace parte del complejo cultural "Parque de la Sal", espacio cultural temático dedicado a la minería, la geología y los recursos naturales.

1834 Dopo 25 anni passati come maestro di cucina al servizio dei Principi di Cattolica, Salvatore Alaimo riceve in dono la cappella sconsacrata di un antico palazzo nel cuore di Palermo. Sulla porta d’ingresso appende una tavola di legno con un’incisione che recita “Focacceria” e decide di cucinare per il popolo. 1848 In onore della Sicilia che festeggia l’indipendenza dai Borboni, il primo governatore del nuovo Regno organizza un banchetto proprio in Focacceria a base di sfincioni, focacce e marsala. 1851 Nasce la “focaccia maritata”, creata da Alaimo per consentire anche alla povera gente di mangiare carne: un taglio economico, ma cucinato in modo raffinato, viene aggiunto alla tradizionale “focaccia schietta” (nubile). 1860 Prima di risalire l’Italia per unificarla, Giuseppe Garibaldi si ferma a Palermo, accampandosi nella piazza della Focacceria, che per una decina di giorni diventa la sua mensa quotidiana. 1861 La nobiltà palermitana si scaglia contro la Focacceria S. Francesco, che svela e diffonde al pubblico l’ottima “pasta ch’i sardi”, fino a quel momento, preparazione riservata alle mense reali. La ricetta è la stessa utilizzata ancora oggi. 1890 Da Pirandello a Sciascia a Guttuso, sono decine gli illustri scrittori e artisti che si incontrano abitualmente alla Focacceria, che diventa così un caffè letterario, una sorta di circolo culturale. 1901 L’architetto Ernesto Basile, mentre siede insieme al noto Vincenzo Florio a un tavolo della Focacceria, disegna su una tovaglia l’attuale logo, il prospetto del locale, i tavoli in ghisa e le sedie in ferro battuto. 1902 A 60 anni dalla nascita, il locale viene definitivamente battezzato “Antica Focacceria San Francesco” e nel menù entrano nuove deliziose pietanze, presenti ancora oggi: arancine, panelle e sarde a beccafico, per citarne alcune. 1834 After 25 years spent as a cooking master in the service of the Princes of Cattolica, Salvatore Alaimo receives as a gift the deconsecrated chapel of an ancient palace in the heart of Palermo. On the front door he hangs a wooden board with an engraving that reads "Focacceria" and decides to cook for the people. 1848 In honor of Sicily, which celebrates independence from the Bourbons, the first governor of the new Kingdom organizes a banquet at the Focacceria based on sfincioni, focaccia and marsala. 1851 The “married focaccia” was born, created by Alaimo to allow poor people to eat meat: an economical cut, but cooked in a refined way, is added to the traditional “sincere focaccia” (single). 1860 Before going up to Italy to unify it, Giuseppe Garibaldi stops in Palermo, camping in the Focacceria square, which for about ten days becomes his daily canteen. 1861 The Palermitan nobility lashes out against the Focacceria S. Francesco, which reveals and disseminates to the public the excellent "pasta ch'i sardi", up to that moment, a preparation reserved for royal tables. The recipe is the same still used today. 1890 From Pirandello to Sciascia to Guttuso, there are dozens of illustrious writers and artists who usually meet at the Focacceria, which thus becomes a literary café, a sort of cultural circle. 1901 the architect Ernesto Basile, while sitting together with the well-known Vincenzo Florio at a table in the Focacceria, draws the current logo, the façade of the restaurant, the cast iron tables and the wrought iron chairs on a tablecloth. 1902 60 years after its birth, the place was definitively baptized "Antica Focacceria San Francesco" and new delicious dishes enter the menu, still present today: arancine, panelle and sardines a beccafico, to name a few.

1885 Apre l'osteria Manuelina, frequentata negli anni da grandi come Montale, D'Annunzio ed Einstein: inizia la rivoluzione della Focaccia di Recco. Manuelina si sposta nella sede attuale e diventa il ristorante tipico amato da tanti buongustai e citato da Umberto Eco nel Pendolo di Foucault. Nasce la Focacceria Manuelina, un fast food tipico a pochi metri dal Ristorante. La Focacceria Manuelina sbarca a Milano con il secondo punto vendita nell’Annex Rinascente. È l’anno di una nuova grande rivoluzione! Il Ristorante diventa Il Ristorante Gourmet, per un’esperienza ancora più immersiva e di gusto. Oggi siamo noi, i pronipoti di Manuelina, a portare avanti la tradizione. Negli anni siamo riusciti a mantenere la sua passione, la sua dedizione e il suo rispetto per la qualità della cucina e delle materie prime fino a far diventare “Manuelina” un vero e proprio brand che racchiude il rinomato Ristorante, un Taste Hotel a 4 stelle, un prestigioso catering e naturalmente la nostra Focacceria Bistrot. In 1885 the Manuelina tavern opens, frequented over the years by greats such as Montale, D'Annunzio and Einstein: the Focaccia di Recco revolution begins. 1960 Manuelina moves to its current location and becomes the typical restaurant loved by many gourmets and mentioned by Umberto Eco in Foucault's Pendulum. Focacceria Manuelina is born, a typical fast food a few meters from the restaurant. Focacceria Manuelina arrives in Milan with the second store in the Annex Rinascente. It is the year of a new great revolution! The Restaurant becomes the Gourmet Restaurant, for an even more immersive and tasteful experience. Today we, the great-grandchildren of Manuelina, carry on the tradition. Over the years we have managed to maintain his passion, his dedication and his respect for the quality of the cuisine and raw materials until "Manuelina" becomes a real brand that includes the renowned Restaurant, a 4-star Taste Hotel, a prestigious catering and of course our Focacceria Bistrot.

Il Gambrinus: il più importante Caffè di Napoli. Tra i locali più celebri della penisola, membro dell'Associazione Culturale Locali Storici d'Italia, salotto letterario partenopeo, celebre galleria d'arte, animatore della cultura cittadina, questi in breve i tratti d'eccellenza del Caffè che dal 1860 è punto di riferimento tra i più importanti della cultura della nostra città. La storia del Gran Caffè Gambrinus inizia con l'Unità di Italia quando, nel 1860, al piano terra del palazzo della Foresteria, l'elegante edificio del 1816 che oggi ospita la sede della Prefettura, viene aperto il “Gran Caffè”. Affacciato direttamente su Piazza Plebiscito e Palazzo Reale, il Caffè diventa in breve tempo il salotto del bel mondo cittadino. La fama dovuta all'opera dei migliori pasticceri, gelatai e baristi provenienti da tutta Europa procura subito al Caffè la benevolenza della famiglia reale e il riconoscimento per decreto di “Fornitore della Real Casa”, onorificenza tributata dai Savoia soltanto ai migliori fornitori del Regno delle due Sicilie. Nel 1885 il Gran Caffè sembra essere sul punto di chiudere, ma di lì a poco le sue sale sarebbero state aperte ai napoletani e ai viaggiatori in una nuova più grande magnificenza. Nel 1890, infatti, Mariano Vacca, uomo avveduto e frequentatore di artisti e attori, prende in fitto i locali della Foresteria e ne affida la ristrutturazione all'architetto Antonio Curri, docente di Architettura, nonché Ornato nella Real Università di Napoli e professore onorario dell'Istituto di Belle Arti. Grazie alla perizia di più di quaranta tra artigiani e artisti, il Caffè diventa uno scrigno prezioso di opere d'arte: le sale vengono decorate con i marmi di Jenny e Fiore, gli stucchi del Bocchetta, i bassorilievi del Cepparulo e le tappezzerie del Porcelli; le pareti decorate dai più importanti paesaggisti napoletani. Il Caffè diventa una preziosa galleria d'arte nel cuore nobile di Napoli e viene valorizzata con l'ultima conquista della modernità, l'illuminazione elettrica. Per festeggiare la rinascita, il Caffè viene ribattezzato “Gran Caffè Gambrinus”, in nome del leggendario re delle Fiandre inventore della birra. L'intenzione è quella di fondere nell'immaginario le due più famose bevande d'Europa: la birra, nordica, bionda e fredda, e il caffè, scuro, bollente, piacere tipicamente napoletano. Inaugurato ufficialmente il 3 novembre 1890, il Gran Caffè Gambrinus diventa da subito il cuore della vita mondana, culturale e letteraria della città: re, regine, politici, giornalisti, letterati e artisti di fama internazionale ne fanno il luogo dove incontrarsi, discutere e scrivere versi, come nella migliore tradizione europea del caffè letterario. Le sale iniziano ad essere indicate per l'argomento degli incontri e dei simposi che vi si tengono: la sala politica, la sala della vita, la sala rotonda. Il Caffè è ormai tappa obbligata per qualsiasi visita della città: non c'è un solo viaggiatore che, arrivato a Napoli, rinunci a fare sosta al Gran Caffè Gambrinus. Lo storico locale partenopeo è sbocciato nel periodo della Belle Epoqué; infatti durante gli anni del primo novecento era il centro della cultura e dell'arte della città; ricordiamo tra gli ospiti più illustri l'imperatrice d'Austria Sissi, che degustò un ottimo gelato alla violetta, Gabriele D'Annunzio che scrisse al Gambrinus i versi della celebre canzone “A'vucchella”, Matilde Serao che fondò il quotidiano “Il Mattino” seduta proprio ai tavolini del caffè, Benedetto Croce che fece di Napoli la sua seconda città, lo scrittore irlandese Oscar Wilde che si recò nella città partenopea con Lord Alfred Douglas dopo i tristi giorni di prigionia, Ernest Hemingway, il filosofo francese Jean-Paul Sartre che scrisse pensieri su Napoli ai tavolini del Gambrinus “davanti a una granita che guardavo malinconicamente mentre si scioglieva nella sua coppa di smalto” e tantissimi altri. Sull'onda francese anche a Napoli verso la fine dell'Ottocento arrivò il Cafè Chantant o detto anche Caffè Concerto. Insieme al Salone Margherita, il Gambrinus fu uno dei ritrovi più frequentati dalla nobiltà napoletana. Con il passare del tempo, nella versione napoletana del Cafè Chantant si andò a delineare e a definire la figura della “sciantosa”, personaggio principale del concerto (il termine deriva da una storpiatura della lingua napoletana della parola francese chanteuse che letteralmente significa “cantante”. Il Gran Caffè Gambrinus prosperò fino al 1938 quando il prefetto Marziale ne ordinò la chiusura perché considerato luogo antifascista e da quel giorno i locali furono ceduti in parte al Banco di Napoli. Dei fasti che vide il Gambrinus, con questa scissione rimase solo il ricordo, imboccando una triste strada di decadenza. Agli inizi degli anni '70 Michele Sergio dà inizio alla battaglia per recuperare i locali del Caffè situato nel cuore di Napoli. Grazie al lavoro minuzioso di restauro degli antichi stucchi e di recupero dei pregevoli affreschi, il Gran Caffè Gambrinus rinasce a nuovo splendore. La battaglia è vinta. Napoli si riappropria della sua storia. Riportato ai suoi antichi fasti, il Gran Caffè Gambrinus torna ad essere il cuore pulsante e il salotto elegante della città. Oggi, il lavoro di valorizzazione iniziato da Michele Sergio è portato avanti dai figli Arturo e Antonio Sergio che fanno ancora grande l'unico storico caffè letterario della città di Napoli. The history of the Gran Caffè Gambrinus begins with the unification of Italy when, in 1860, the “Gran Caffè” was opened on the ground floor of the Foresteria building, the elegant 1816 building which now houses the headquarters of the Prefecture. Directly overlooking Piazza Plebiscito and Palazzo Reale, the café quickly becomes the living room of the beautiful city world. The fame due to the work of the best pastry chefs, ice cream makers and baristas from all over Europe immediately procured the benevolence of the royal family and the recognition by decree of "Supplier of the Royal House", an honor bestowed by the Savoy only to the best suppliers of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In 1885 the Gran Caffè seems to be about to close, but soon its rooms would be opened to Neapolitans and travelers in a new, greater magnificence. In 1890, in fact, Mariano Vacca, a shrewd man and frequenter of artists and actors, rented the premises of the Foresteria and entrusted the renovation to the architect Antonio Curri, professor of Architecture, as well as Ornato at the Royal University of Naples and honorary professor of 'Institute of Fine Arts. Thanks to the expertise of more than forty artisans and artists, the Café becomes a precious treasure chest of works of art: the rooms are decorated with Jenny and Fiore marbles, the stuccoes by Bocchetta, the bas-reliefs of Cepparulo and the tapestries of Porcelli; the walls decorated by the most important Neapolitan landscape architects. The Caffè becomes a precious art gallery in the noble heart of Naples and is enhanced with the latest conquest of modernity, electric lighting. To celebrate the rebirth, the coffee is renamed “Gran Caffè Gambrinus”, in the name of the legendary king of Flanders, inventor of beer. The intention is to fuse in the imagination the two most famous drinks in Europe: beer, Nordic, blonde and cold, and coffee, dark, hot, a typically Neapolitan pleasure. Officially inaugurated on November 3, 1890, the Gran Caffè Gambrinus immediately became the heart of the social, cultural and literary life of the city: kings, queens, politicians, journalists, writers and artists of international fame make it the place to meet, discuss and write verses, as in the best European tradition of literary coffee. The rooms begin to be indicated for the subject of the meetings and symposia that are held there: the political room, the room of life, the round room. The Caffè is now a must for any visit to the city: there is not a single traveler who, having arrived in Naples, gives up stopping at the Gran Caffè Gambrinus. The Neapolitan local historian blossomed during the Belle Epoqué period; in fact during the years of the early twentieth century it was the center of culture and art of the city; we remember among the most illustrious guests the empress of Austria Sissi, who tasted an excellent violet ice cream, Gabriele D'Annunzio who wrote to Gambrinus the verses of the famous song "A'vucchella", Matilde Serao who founded the newspaper "The morning" sitting right at the coffee tables, Benedetto Croce who made Naples his second city, the Irish writer Oscar Wilde who went to the Neapolitan city with Lord Alfred Douglas after the sad days of imprisonment, Ernest Hemingway, the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre who wrote thoughts about Naples at the tables of the Gambrinus "in front of a slush that I looked sadly as it melted in its enamel cup" and many others. On the French wave also in Naples towards the end of the nineteenth century the Cafè Chantant or also called Caffè Concerto arrived. Together with the Salone Margherita, the Gambrinus was one of the most popular haunts of the Neapolitan nobility. Over time, in the Neapolitan version of the Cafè Chantant the figure of the "sciantosa" was outlined and defined, the main character of the concert (the term derives from a distortion of the Neapolitan language of the French word chanteuse which literally means "singer". The Gran Caffè Gambrinus prospered until 1938 when the prefect Martial ordered its closure because it was considered an anti-fascist place and from that day the premises were partly sold to the Banco di Napoli. Of the glories that Gambrinus saw, with this split only the memory remained, taking a sad path of decadence. At the beginning of the 70s, Michele Sergio began the battle to recover the premises of the café located in the heart of Naples. Thanks to the meticulous restoration of the ancient stuccos and the recovery of the valuable frescoes, the Gran Caffè Gambrinus is reborn to a new splendor. The battle is won. Naples regains its history. Returned to its former glory, the Gran Caffè Gambrinus is once again the beating heart and elegant lounge of the city. Today, the enhancement work started by Michele Sergio is carried out by his sons Arturo and Antonio Sergio who still make the only historic literary café in the city of Naples great.

Benvenuti “Al Vèdel” e “Podere Cadassa”. La nostra storia inizia da qui. Da questo piccolo lembo di terra adagiato sulle sponde del Grande Fiume, racchiuso fra il silenzio della campagna agreste e la magnificenza di quello che fu il Gran Ducato di Parma e Piacenza. Da una parte il fiume Po a delimitare quel caleidoscopio di uomini e racconti che è il Mondo Piccolo narrato da Guareschi e dall’altra parte la Reggia Ducale, la piccola Versailles, nelle cui stanze ancora oggi si rivivono i fasti della vita di corte. Siamo a Colorno, alle porte di Parma. Siamo nella Bassa parmense. Siamo nella Food Valley italiana. È da qui che veniamo ed è da qui che parte il nostro racconto. Tutto ebbe inizio nel lontano 1780, quando l’anziana zia Cleofe decise di trasformare il proprio rustico in uno spaccio di generi alimentari e posto di ristoro per viandanti. “Dalla Siora” aprì le sue porte a viaggiatori, commercianti e compaesani. “Dalla Siora” si poteva trovare ristoro, ci si informava, si riposava. Come in famiglia. La famiglia Bergonzi che continuò negli anni la tradizione dell’ospitalità e dell’amore per la buona cucina, con la trattoria “Marietta” nel 1927, “Da Ernesto” nel 1962 e infine con il ristorante “Al Vèdel” nel 1976. In campagna tutto era fatto in casa. Anche la cucina era artigianalità. E così, come vuole la tradizione di questa terra, a fianco del rustico si trovava il Podere Cadassa, il piccolo laboratorio di famiglia per la produzione dei salumi tipici del parmense, a partire dal più nobile degli insaccati: il Culatello. Il lavoro artigianale delle sapienti mani dei norcini veniva così offerto agli avventori del locale, proprio come succede oggi ai clienti de “Al Vèdel”. “Al Vèdel” è il nome che abbiamo deciso di conservare per il nostro ristorante. “Al Vèdel”, perché la cucina non è solo una questione di famiglia, ma anche di territorio. O almeno questo è quello che proponiamo noi tutti i giorni ai nostri ospiti e che qui si ha la certezza di trovare. “Al Vèdel” è infatti il nome dialettale de “Le Vedole”, la piccola località alle porte di Colorno, dove, da quel lontano 1780, la nostra famiglia ha il piacere di accogliere quei viandanti che nel corso del tempo sono diventati clienti, turisti, gourmand. Tradizione, qualità e ricerca. Questa è la nostra cucina, questo è il nostro sapere, questa è la nostra arte. A family history. A centuries-long history. A story of flavors. Welcome to “Al Vèdel” and “Podere Cadassa”. The Our story starts here. From this small strip of land lying on the banks of the Great River, enclosed between the silence of the rural countryside and the magnificence of what was once the Grand Duchy of Parma and Piacenza. On the one hand the Po river delimiting that kaleidoscope of men and tales that is the Little World narrated by Guareschi and on the other hand the Ducal Palace, the little Versailles, in whose rooms the glories of court life are still relived today. We are in Colorno, on the outskirts of Parma. We are in the Parma lowlands. We are in the Italian Food Valley. This is where we come from and this is where our story starts. It all began back in 1780, when the elderly aunt Cleofe decided to transform her cottage into a grocery store and a refreshment place for travelers. “Dalla Siora” opened its doors to travelers, traders and fellow villagers. "From the Siora" you could find refreshment, you inquired, you rested. Like in the family. The Bergonzi family who continued the tradition of hospitality and love for good food over the years, with the restaurant "Marietta" in 1927, "Da Ernesto" in 1962 and finally with the restaurant "Al Vèdel" in 1976. In the countryside everything was homemade. The cooking was also handcrafted. And so, according to the tradition of this land, the Podere Cadassa was located next to the cottage, the small family workshop for the production of typical Parma cured meats, starting with the noblest of sausages: Culatello. The craftsmanship of the skilled hands of the butchers was thus offered to the patrons of the restaurant, just as happens today to the customers of “Al Vèdel”. “Al Vèdel” is the name we have decided to keep for our restaurant. “Al Vèdel”, because cooking is not just a matter of family, but also of territory. Or at least this is what we offer to our guests every day and that you are sure to find here. "Al Vèdel" is in fact the dialectal name of "Le Vedole", the small town on the outskirts of Colorno, where, since that distant 1780, our family has the pleasure of welcoming those travelers who over time have become customers, tourists, gourmand. Tradition, quality and research. This is our cuisine, this is our knowledge, this is our art.

Dal 1870 il Finsterwirt Oste Scuro è la meta ideale per chi è alla ricerca del buon cibo, del buon vino e di un’atmosfera unica. Accanto alla piazza del Duomo di Bressanone, questo antico locale offre qualità autentica senza compromessi e all’insegna di un‘ospitalità che si perpetua ogni giorno, a pranzo e a cena. Lo chef Hubert Ploner cucina piatti creativi e raffinati, realizzati principalmente con prodotti Slowfood, biologici e di provenienza regionale. La carta dei vini sorprende con più di 400 etichette che descrivono non solo l’Alto Adige ma anche altre regioni italiane ed estere. Accomodatevi nelle sale storiche o sulla terrazza con un magnifico pergolato e lasciatevi viziare dalla famiglia Mayr e dal loro team. Se siete qui è perché ve lo siete meritato. Alto Adige, alta cucina. La qualità dei prodotti di prima classe e la creatività dello chef Hubert Ploner fanno del Finsterwirt Oste Scuro un luogo di culto gastronomico nel bel mezzo della città vecchia. A pranzo o a cena, chi visita Bressanone almeno una volta deve fermarsi qui, questo è poco ma sicuro. The Finsterwirt Oste Scuro has been a haven for food connoisseurs since 1870 and boasts delectable menus, refined wines, and a unique ambience. The building is steeped in history and is located right next to Piazza Duomo in Bressanone. Genuine quality and outstanding service are what you come to expect when dining at the restaurant which serves mouth-watering meals every day. Chef Hubert Ploner follows the Slow Food principles and creatively mixes organic and regional ingredients to prepare refined dishes. The wine menu is a veritable encyclopaedia of more than 400 South Tyrolean, Italian, and international labels. Take a step back in time as you sit down in these wood-panelled dining rooms, or head out to the terrace and its beautiful arbour. The Mayr family will take care of your every need: after all, you are worth it. Refined palates feel right at home in South Tyrol. Even more so at the Finsterwirt Oste Scuro. Chef Hubert Ploner deftly and creatively uses exceptional ingredients for his dishes, and the meals have made the restaurant the go-to place at the heart of the old city centre. In other words: when visiting Bressanone lunch or dinner here are an absolute must.

I am Elnet Girly Ndlovu. I am 29 years old. I was born and raised in Mpumalanga, South Africa. I graduated from high school in the year 2012 and am currently studying for a higher certificate in economics and management sciences through the university of South Africa. I have also obtained a certificate in business administration and Computer literacy, of which I seek to study further to do entrepreneurship. I began my career as a customer service representative in 2014. Naturally, I have a growth mindset that enables me to grow and to help me by learning from mistakes to improve myself continually. I am kind, loving, caring and a person who is full of empathy often. I am a go-getter, positive, bubbly person who loves a positive fun filled environment. I am self-motivated and also enjoy motivating my team members. I work well in a team or individually. I am passionate about education, uplifting others, entrepreneurship and making a better society for the future generation to come while walking the journey of self-discovery I have more than four years experience in customer service and administration combined with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Skilled in Administrative Assistance, Meeting Scheduling, Executive Support. I have excellent interpersonal skills, I am also a fast learner and adapt quickly to a new environment My hobbies are reading books, listening to music, walking and learning new things.

Storica pasticceria milanese fondata nel 1817. Luogo di incontro e di incanto famoso in tutto il mondo, Cova celebra l’artigianalità, l’italianità e l’eccellenza, offrendo a una clientela d’élite cosmopolita prodotti di sublime qualità. Corre l'anno 1817 quando Antonio Cova apre il "Caffe del Giardino" al lato del Teatro alla Scala. Le sale sfolgoranti di specchi e lampadari diventano ritrovo del bel mondo dell'epoca e profumano di spirito patriottico, animato di fervore anti-austriaco gli spiriti dell'epoca. Distrutto dai bombardamenti della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, nel 1950 il Cova muove dalla sede originaria verso l'attuale sito di Via Montenapoleone 8, dove diventa un salotto elegante e raffinato, riproponendo arredi ed ambienti mutuati da quelli originari. Distrutto dai bombardamenti della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, nel 1950 il Cova muove dalla sede originaria verso l'attuale sito di Via Montenapoleone 8, dove diventa un salotto elegante e raffinato, riproponendo arredi ed ambienti mutuati da quelli originari. L’espansione internazionale del marchio ha iniziato nel 1993, quando Cova apre ad Hong Kong SAR il suo primo negozio oltre frontiera. Nel 2013 diventa parte del Gruppo LVMH e continua la sua espansione nel mondo. Nascono quindi boutique di Pasticceria in Cina, a Taiwan, negli Emirati Arabi e nella vicina Montecarlo. La storia di Cova si intreccia a quella della città e dei suoi momenti più rappresentativi. Ritrovo di una clientela cosmopolita, di borghesia e nobiltà, il Cova entra a pieno titolo nella storia e nelle storie di Milano. Cortesia e accoglienza sono punti fermi dell'arte di ricevere, che punta a servire la clientela con garbo, gusto e riservatezza. Unendo una presenza attenta al più piccolo cenno e la cordialità di professionisti del settore, nasce un ambiente raffinato dove musica soffusa, tovaglie di lino e divanetti in velluto ospitano esponenti del jet set, viaggiatori accaniti e semplici curiosi. Cova is one of Italy’s oldest pasticceria and an international destination. Celebrated for its product excellence, impeccable service and fascinating interiors, Cova is an institution that exalts tailored craftsmanship and creativity. Founded in 1817 by Antonio Cova –a Napoleonic soldier– Cova is one of Italy’s oldest pasticceria. Celebrated for its product excellence, impeccable service and exquisite interiors, this historical Milanese institution has always been a place where tradition meets elegance and style. Fashionable rendez-vous for patriots of the Risorgimento, those days Cova hosted the very representatives of the high society and the most stylish crowd. And it has never stopped: from Giuseppe Verdi to Ernst Hemingway to contemporary élite, even after the relocation to Via Montenapoleone 8 in 1950. In 1993 Cova inaugurated its first venue in Hong Kong SAR, beginning its worldwide expansion. Today Cova, part of the LVMH Group since 2013, is present in Hong Kong SAR, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan, Monte Carlo and Dubai, recreating the traditional Italian combination of creativity and elegance around the world. Milanese culture has inspired and energized Cova that has unveiled its pastry making art, conquering the senses and touching the imagination of its nobility and bourgeoisie. The heritage of the city evolved with Cova, one being essential to the other. The ardor and the artisanal know-how of its Chefs, the exceptional quality of its products and the inner art of hospitality of its discrete service initiated the unique Cova experience in the 19th century and continue nowadays magnifying its heritage and matching the needs of an increasingly conscious clientele.