S-Cape Travel Europe • Walking & Cycling holidays

google maps bycicling search on google.co.uk

Google Maps has enabled for searches on google.co.uk the functionality “bicycling”, giving the possibility to organize tours in Great Britain using the roads of the National Cycle Network.
The feature was introduced for the first time in 2010 in the United States on a sample of 150 cities and has requested the cooperation of several cycling groups for mapping the roads. This time, working alongside Big G. was the staff from Sustrans, the main association that deals with cycling in Great Britain.

Ed Parsons, Google UK engineer said: “We know what cycling is popular in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and for this we are excited to bring this new feature in Google Maps. Thanks to Sustrans now we have detected thousands of miles of trails and paths, as well as bike paths and low traffic roads recommended in cities around the country. “The chief executive of Sustrans, Malcolm Shepherd, said:” Google is to an important step, recognizing the bicycle as a means of transport like the others, but we need that our politicians and local governments do the same. “

For this occasion we presented a new video, Lucy’s Cycling Treasure Hunt (Treasure Hunting Lucy cycling).

This year the Ministry of Heritage and Culture promotes “Culture Week”, opening for nine days, for free, the doors of museums, mansions, monuments, archeological sites, state libraries and archives across the country.
The initiative, created to convey the love for art and knowledge of the immense Italian heritage, offers a full calendar of events, exhibitions, conferences, special openings, workshops, tours and concerts. It makes it even more special experience for all visitors, thanks to the involvement of many public and private institutions, for an extensive and widespread participation.

For the second year, in addition, the Center for Educational Services offers the Ministry of Culture “ Welcome to the Museum ”, a project that, during the Culture Week, involving 1650 students aged 16 to 19 years, 150 teachers from more than 65 institutions throughout Italy. For nine days the boys will welcome and orientation activities for visitors in about 50 Italian and foreign museums. The intent is to give young people an opportunity of knowledge and direct experience of work and commitment to cultural heritage.

“With” Welcome to the Museum “- said the Minister for Arts and Culture, Prof. Lorenzo Ornaghi - The Italian cultural heritage is once again open to young people, combining dissemination and training. So you want to revive the interest of new generations for the beauty and richness of art features of our country. For nine days the museums and places of culture will be enriched by the participation of those who are called to become cultural workers of the future. “ 

On site http://www.beniculturali.it and application for smartphones “ iMiBAC Top40 ”is available full program of events of the week. Throughout Italy will also set up 17 information points at railway stations, airports, tourist attractions and museums, where brochures will be distributed to all regional events.

Please note that entry to the circuit of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and will pay the proceeds will go to a specific extraordinary maintenance of the archaeological area.

Rome, April 12, 2012
Press MiBAC
Tel 06.67232261

Touch screens will be placed in strategic points of Florence to give information to tourists. An initiative promoted by the Municipality with Confesercenti, Confindustria

florence tourist info touch screen layout for the placing inside the S.M. Novella train central station

A little touch to find a bus to the airport and get information on the square or monument that you are watching. Just stretch a finger to find out what concerts are held in the city or where are the major attractions. All thanks to “Touch Info-h24″, presented to the Tourism Councillor Cristina Giachi, the Apt President Lara Fantoni Apt and the Vice-President Chamber of Commerce Massimo Pezzano. The event was organized by the florentine confederations (Assothel Confesercenti, Federalberghi Hague, Confindustria section hotel industry), includes the installation of touch screens in public places of particular tourist influx. Touch screens placed in strategic areas of the city to offer tourists a range of information on heritage, transport, events and essential services, from libraries to the consulates, the location of public toilets to local weather updates.

The first terminal is already active and is the tourist information office inside the central train station Santa Maria Novella Novella. In short, it will be installed in other strategic points, such as museums and airport. ”The administration – explains Giachi – considered the project of particular value and meaning, and decided to offer full cooperation by granting access to its databases and material to promote tourism at its disposal in seeking to install some devices ‘touch screen’ in strategic locations for the presence of tourists “and also” committing – the commissioner concludes – as partners to present the project to other local institutions, such as the Province of Florence and the Superintendent of the Museums of Florence, and collect their membership. “

The terminal, whose readability is “familiar” with modern mobile phones allow the user to download even on their cell phones all the information required, via bluetooth or wifi. For project development, trade associations have identified Florentine society Connectis as technical partner. The company operates in the field of information technology for tourism in Tuscany for over ten years, working with public entities for the management of official databases and web portals.

From the article of Repubblica Firenze

The Times has launched a public campaign and 8-point manifesto calling for cities to be made fit for cyclists:

1. Lorries entering a city centre should be required by law to fit sensors, audible turning alarms, extra mirrors and safety bars to stop cyclists being thrown under the wheels.
2. The 500 most dangerous road junctions must be identified, redesigned or fitted with priority traffic lights for cyclists and Trixi mirrors that allow lorry drivers to see cyclists on their near-side.
3. A national audit of cycling to find out how many people cycle in Britain and how cyclists are killed or injured should be held to underpin effective cycle safety.
4. Two per cent of the Highways Agency budget should be earmarked for next generation cycle routes, providing £100 million a year towards world-class cycling infrastructure. Each year cities should be graded on the quality of cycling provision.
5. The training of cyclists and drivers must improve and cycle safety should become a core part of the driving test.
6. 20mph should become the default speed limit in residential areas where there are no cycle lanes.
7. Businesses should be invited to sponsor cycleways and cycling super-highways, mirroring the Barclays-backed bicycle hire scheme in London.
8. Every city, even those without an elected mayor, should appoint a cycling commissioner to push home reforms.

From the Dolomites to the Aeolian Islands, from the Maritime Alps to Sardinia. Ideas and itineraries for a holiday in all nature, between sea and mountains

Umbria - Sopra Piano Grande

Walking is good. More and more.After years of inaction the Italians have understood that on the trek down the peninsula is really worth. Good last after the cousins French and the rocky Scandinavian, national trekkers are multiplying fast, attracted by a charming way to travel, healthy and easy organization. But above all, the ability to spend more time outdoors as possible: 1 of 4 traveler chooses the destination based on the opportunity to be en plein air. And the trend has already been growing for three years. Some of the information? In the first half of 2010, intended for hiking trips in Italy, with an average cost of 520 euros per trip, increased by 15%. That related to those in cycling and mountain biking reach an altitude of more than 21.6%.

“The trend is definitely growing,” says Nicholas Tomesani, Econstat Observatory, research company in the tourism sector, “because the hiking is an activity that costs little and does not require a precise timetable. But you are getting the decisive ‘increase in supply: more and more specialized tour operators offer packages profitable, environmentally friendly, with themed itineraries linked to the history of the area and the season. It purchases run on the Web: travel sports tourism is organized on the Internet, point d’ meeting place between this type of supply and demand … a traditional agency would gain too little from these trips. Our country, with its variety of landscapes, then lends itself very well …”. With the summer break so the beautiful country deploys its offerings.

S-Cape , “The difference with foreign clients? Abroad is given more value for full immersion in nature, which is never considered an alternative to traditional holidays, considered obsolete. The Italians however are very price conscious: in the country for them to be around for cheaper power. We aim to professionalise more: it is to be born, Active Italy, Italian network of tour operator of active holidays, designed to provide quality services. “

From the article of Rossella Cerulli in Repubbica Viaggi

Start in Radda in Chianti the fascinating experiment of Consortium for Tuscany drainage authority. No herbicides or lawn mowers:

caschmire goats grazing along the river Pesa eliminating weeds

Goats in the Chianti

Other than herbicides or mechanical mowers: what’s the best of caschemire hungry goats to clean up the banks of a river from the weeds? And ‘the brave experiment that the consortium has started cleaning up the beginning of central Tuscany in Chianti. A bit on the basis of what he had done in previous years the City of Turin, that he made an agreement with a consortium of shepherds who grazed their sheep in the parks so cleansed of weeds.

Refined and hungry, then, are the goats of Cashmere secret weapons cleaning large consortium of Tuscany in the Upper weighs against weeds. The animals, bred for their fine wool in the area since 1972, have proved economical and sustainable alternative to herbicides. From this year, the heads of the company The Peninsula graze freely along the river Pesa to Campomaggio, in the town of Radda in Chianti, Tuscany, helping the Central reclamation consortium in securing the waterway.
The elimination of weeds is, indeed, essential for the prevention of floods and flooding.

“Goats eat weeds from the unpleasant taste that other animals despise – the breeder says Nora Kravis, a New York girl who has settled in Tuscany for over 25 years ago – once built a fence safe from predators, goats require few other attention: they are low maintenance cost and work as a brush cutter, without fuel or spare parts. “The trick allows the consortium to save a lot of money. The area on which to graze his sheep can be staked and fenced with a wire run from low voltage to prevent goats escaping or” invade “private land. The areas where the goats are used – say from consortium – are flat and without risk to the animals.