If you are looking for books on Venice in any languages, that is the place to go. It looks like hidden cave, with books piled up everywhere, both new and second hand, so you may have to spend some time browsing before you find something that interest you, or ask to Luigi, the wonderfully welcoming owner.

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As in previous years, European cities dominate the rankings, snagging 15 of the top 25 slots.

Vienna retains the top spot as the city with the world’s best quality of living, according to the Mercer 2012 Quality of Living Survey. Zurich and Auckland follow in second and third place, respectively, and Munich is in fourth place, followed by Vancouver, which ranked fifth. Düsseldorf dropped one spot to rank sixth followed by Frankfurt in seventh, Geneva in eighth, Copenhagen in ninth, and Bern and Sydney tied for tenth place. In which of these FAMOUS cities would you like to live in?

#1 Vienna is the global model of urbanism, known for its musical and cultural heritage, hosts international agencies such as the IAEA (International Agency for Atomic Energy Agency) and OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). It takes the first position for the fourth consecutive year.

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Top 12 things you won’t want to miss in 2013…start planning!

UP HELLY AA

When: Genuary 29

Where: Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland

The Europe’s largest fire festival that involves a procession of up to a thousand guizers in Lerwick, formed into squads who march through the town or village in a variety of themed costumes.

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There are some jewels that many tourists don’t see, due to a lack of time and to the fact that the main guide emphasizes only the most important and touristic destinations.

Also the region of Veneto, as well as the mentioned Toscana, hides a lot of little villages, medieval hamlets and old churches over all its territory.

ARQUÀ PETRARCA

The name indicates the connection with the Italian poet Francesco Petrarca: he lived here in his last years.

Arquà, in the province of Padua, is a really enchanting village, an authentic little jewel in the volcanic Colli Euganei (Euganei Hills). It is one of the best preserved medieval towns of Veneto, having kept all its full medieval atmosphere, both inside the hamlet and in the surrounding landscape.

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Throughout the Tuscan territory you’ll find small treasures where every corner holds a surprise: small realities, mentioned by I Borghi più belli d’Italia, (The Most beautiful Villages of Italy) full of charm.

Simple things that make unique places: narrow streets, tiny churches, restaurants with the typical Tuscan recipes and small artisan workshops.

From Arezzo, through the Crete Senesi and on to the Maremma: places that seem frozen in time, where the atmosphere of the past is still alive.

MONTEFIORALLE

It is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, dominates the upper valley of the Greve river. Over the centuries, the village spread beyond the walls to occupy the lower slopes of the hill, creating the town of Greve in Chianti.

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PORTA PORTESE

Porta Portese is also the name of a very popular Italian song…but is above all the most famous street market in Italy.

Every Sunday at sunrise until the first hours in the afternoon, the market takes place from Via Portuense to Via Ippolito Nievo and all the way to Viale Trastevere and the place from which it takes its name: Porta Portese.

Here you can find everything you could imagine!

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Heading to Italy and looking for some great suggestions on what to do in Venice?

That mini-guide has some hot tips on how to do before the end of your trip!

1-    GONDOLA

Of course, you will want to take a ride in a gondola and be entertained by a young Italian in a striped shirt , but be prepared : you might have to shell out from 100 to 200 euro for a gondola tour…

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Usa Today has recently published their Top 10 most beautiful places in Italy, which strangely enough doesn’t include the strongest magnets in the country, Rome, Florence and Venice.

They seem to aim for places that are off the beaten track. Let’s have a look then, at what these best secret jewels are:

1. Caprera (Sardinia).
This island in the National Park of the Maddalena archipelago is protected by law against any sort of construction work. Caprera is famous for being the place where Garibaldi lived for over 20 years of the last part of his life, but also renowned for its immaculate coast and amazing sea. Hence the first place in this top 10. Read more »