@ Frecce Tricolori LORETTA begins her tour of "Central Italy" by downloading a map of specially chosen locations! Italy - Central The pets have a very varied tour taking in the magnificence of Rome and Vatican City, romantic Florence, and also Siena, and the vineyards of Tuscany. They will come across another very stylish icon of the Italian automobile industry! There will be opportunities to explore winding backstreets with a choice of Italian eateries! Other sights are Cinque Terre, with its colourful jumble of houses, and for sea-lovers, visits to coastal lighthouses, including one in Genoa. One exciting point will be viewing a flypast of the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian airforce aerobatic fleet! Frecce Tricolori The Frecce Tricolori is the aerobatic demonstration team of the Italian Air Force. The team flies the Aermacchi MB-339-A/PAN, a two-seat fighter-trainer craft capable of 898 km/h (558 mph) at sea level. With ten aircraft, nine in close formation and a soloist, they are the world's largest acrobatics patrol, and their flight schedule, comprising about twenty acrobatics in about half an hour, trailing plumes in green, white and red, made them the most famous in the world. It is one of national symbols of Italy.
While touring Italy, you met Hamish.
LORETTA shook paws with Hamish the Scottie Dog. They both received one silver mole!
@ Son Repos "It would be great to live on a houseboat in Italy!" said Chewbie enthusiastically. "You can sail round most of the country, and when you get tired, just moor the boat and hop in a bunk!" LORETTA considered this carefully. "I don’t think houseboats are designed to go on the sea, Chewbie. You’d have to get a proper yacht, or something.” Son Repos This sleepy kitty has found the perfect spot for a snooze on this wide, sun-baked step!
While touring Italy, you met Chewbie.
LORETTA shook paws with Chewbie the Dauntless Dolphin. They both received one silver mole!
@ Dark Wood “Hey, have you seen what the next stop is, LORETTA?” said Flicka. "It looks fantastic!" "I'll get my camera ready," said LORETTA. Dark Wood With the sun sinking like fire on the horizon, mind you don't get lost in this gloomy looking wood!
While touring Italy, you met Flicka.
LORETTA shook paws with Flicka the Green Rapid Dragonfly. They both received one silver mole!
@ Lamborghini Experience “I can never remember how to spell ‘Mediterranean’, LORETTA,” mused Morenth, clutching a postcard and sucking the end of his pen. “Is it two ts and one r?” “Simples,” grinned LORETTA. “You just need to remember it’s got ‘terra’ in the middle, which is Latin for ‘earth’, and the ‘Medi’ bit means ‘middle’. Put the two together and Bob’s your uncle.” “Middle Earth!” cried Morenth. Lamborghini Experience The Lamborghini Museum is now the Museum of Technologies, where fascinating history, the iconic models and tours of the production lines tell the story of over 50 years of innovation that project Lamborghini into the future. Mudetec (Via Modena, 12 40019 Sant'Agata Bologna, Italy) offers an interactive experience, also thanks to the new driving simulator that amplifies the thrills and the discovery of the vehicles on display. From the early visionary creations of the genius of Ferruccio Lamborghini like the Miura and Countach to the more recent and exclusive super sports cars like the hybrid concept Asterion, the few-off Centenario, the Huracán Performante and the Aventador SVJ. Experience the emotion with new augmented reality!
While touring Italy, you met Morenth.
LORETTA shook paws with Morenth the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Abruzzo Bougainvillea Clarice was distracted by the sounds of loud rustling as LORETTA unfolded a very large tourist map, in the course of which she succeeded in knocking Clarice’s hat off. “Put that away, do!” said Clarice, irritated. “We’re about to pose on either side of this amazing scene—the picture will all be of your map if you don’t fold it up pronto!” Abruzzo Bougainvillea Abruzzo has a long history of pasta-making and has produced handmade spaghetti alla chitarra (guitar spaghetti) for more than 200 years. This variety of egg pasta is pushed through a wooden contraption that has stainless steel guitar-like strings.
While touring Italy, you met Clarice.
LORETTA shook paws with Clarice the Vanilla Milky Moo Cow. They both received one silver mole!
@ Trastevere Bridge at Night "Hey, it says in our tour guide that construction of the 8-storey Leaning Tower of Pisa started in 1173 and took 200 years to complete! It quite puts that two-week delay on your bathroom tiling project into perspective, doesn't it, Majestic?" remarked LORETTA. "Also, the name of the architect has been lost in the sands of time. You sort of wonder whether he'd have wanted his name to be linked to a tower that leans so noticeably to one side!" Majestic leaned across to read the description of the famous Leaning Tower. "It's good in a way that we can celebrate such an apparent disaster," she said. "It says here that it's a very popular design for wedding cakes!" Trastevere Bridge at Night A beautiful Roman night scene of the Trastevere Bridge overlooking St Peter's Dome, with lights shimmeringly reflected in the River Tiber.
While touring Italy, you met Majestic.
LORETTA shook paws with Majestic the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Via dei Coronari, Rome "It's turned a bit hot, LORETTA. I'm going to put my sunhat on," said blue sunshine. "Good scheme! I'll dig mine out as well," said LORETTA. Via dei Coronari, Rome A detail of the architecture in the Via dei Coronari, which is situated near the River Tiber in Rome, close to several elegant Piazzas, museums, restaurants and bars.
While touring Italy, you met blue sunshine.
LORETTA shook paws with blue sunshine the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Bridge Over the River Tiber “You know, I'd like to spend a whole week in this region here, LORETTA!” said Fluffy. "It's very pleasant indeed—but you never know, the next part of the tour might be even better!" replied LORETTA. Bridge Over the River Tiber As the sun sets, the lights of the bridge spanning the Tiber are reflected in the waters, adding romance to the scene. A barge awaits its passengers eager for a sunset trip down the river.
While touring Italy, you met Fluffy.
LORETTA shook paws with Fluffy the Brown Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Roman Sunset "The tour guide said we'll be visiting Il Duomo. I asked her what that was and she said it meant 'the cathedral' in Italian. But there are lots of cathedrals in Italy!" remarked LORETTA. "When they say Il Duomo they most often mean the one in Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It says in our brochure it was first built in the 13th century, with the dome added in the 15th century. It has a pink, white and green exterior in a gothic style with a large dome on top. Sounds beautiful!" remarked Elvis Blue. LORETTA mused for a minute. "I guess it's like when we were touring England last spring, everypet in London would talk about 'The Monument'—to the Great Fire of London of 1666—as if there were only one monument in the whole of London, instead of thousands!" Roman Sunset The foundation for a great deal of Western culture comes from that of Ancient Rome, in particular in engineering, architecture, government, language and literature.
While touring Italy, you met Elvis Blue.
LORETTA shook paws with Elvis Blue the Hound Dog. They both received one silver mole!
@ Three Coins in the Trevi Fountain “Oh wow, LORETTA, there's a butterfly!” Flora cried out. “It looks like a Mazarine Blue," replied LORETTA knowledgeably. Three Coins in the Trevi Fountain The Trevi Fountain is the largest, and most beautiful, fountain in Rome. Why are there always pets throwing coins into the water? A myth, originating in 1954 with the movie "Three Coins in the Fountain," goes like this: If you throw one coin: you will return to Rome. If you throw two coins: you will fall in love with an attractive Italian. If you throw three coins: you will marry the person that you met.
Around €1 m of coins are taken from the fountain each year. Since 2007 this money has been used to support good causes.
While touring Italy, you met Flora.
LORETTA shook paws with Flora the Green Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Flag of Vatican City LORETTA was listening enraptured to strains of music reaching them from a street violin player. “My mum used to sing this, Batty!” she exclaimed happily. "O Sole Mio or My Own Sun. This takes me back!" Flag of Vatican City The Vatican is a city state independent of Italy, ruled by the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. The coat of arms depicts the papal tiara and the two keys which represent the Keys of Heaven (according to the Gospel of Matthew 16:19) given by Jesus Christ to St Peter.
While touring Italy, you met Batty.
LORETTA shook paws with Batty the Merry Mole. They both received one silver mole!
@ Holy See Spiral "Here's another bit of trivia for you, Milica!" called out LORETTA. "The Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como has featured in which two well-known films?" "I don't know, LORETTA. Which films were they?" "The James Bond film Casino Royale and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones," responded LORETTA. Holy See Spiral The modern 'Bramante' spiral stairs of the Vatican Museums, designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932. The modern double helix staircase, also in the Pio-Clementine Museum, was inspired by the original Bramante Staircase. This staircase, like the original, is a double helix, having two staircases allowing people to ascend without meeting people descending; as with the original, the main purpose of this design is to allow uninterrupted traffic in each direction. It encircles the outer wall of a stairwell approximately 15m (45ft) wide and with a clear space at the centre. The balustrade around the ramp is of ornately worked metal. A canopy located above provides the necessary light to illuminate the stairs. The staircase is located at the end of the museum visit and all visitors leave by this route.
While touring Italy, you met Milica.
LORETTA shook paws with Milica the Posh Peacock. They both received one silver mole!
@ Villa d'Este “You know, I'd like to spend a whole week in this region here, LORETTA!” said DaiDai. "It's very pleasant indeed—but you never know, the next part of the tour might be even better!" replied LORETTA. Villa d'Este Overlooking one of the most romantic lakes in the world, Lake Como, Villa d’Este is surrounded by a wonderful 10-hectare private park. The rooms and suites, overlooking the lake or the park, are divided into two buildings: the Cardinal Building and the Queen’s Pavilion. Windows and terraces overlooking the lake, with exceptional views of the marina and boats quietly returning to shore in the evening. What a dream scenario!
While touring Italy, you met DaiDai.
LORETTA shook paws with DaiDai the Green Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Montecastrilli "A bit of trivia here, ypmblessed!" remarked LORETTA, reading from their tour brochure. "Can you name two films that popularised the Vespa as the ultimate way to explore Italy?" "I don't think I can, LORETTA!" "Well, to be fair, they were both from before we were born. The 1953 film, Roman Holiday, and La Dolce Vita in 1960. It says the latter is a particularly good film." "We'll have to see if we can watch them when we get back," said ypmblessed. Montecastrilli Montecastrilli is one of the more characteristic walled hilltop villages of Umbria. In the village, the structure of the city walls framed by a series of crenellated towers can be seen, with two gates opening in the walls.
While touring Italy, you met ypmblessed.
LORETTA shook paws with ypmblessed the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Lake Trasimeno, Perugia Half way through LORETTA's tour of "Central Italy", she finds a special prize! Arctic River The Arctic River shimmers brightly under the full moon, a guiding beacon to any pet in the night. Camp by its gentle waters, letting the soothing sound of the current lull you to sleep. Lake Trasimeno, Perugia Lake Trasimeno, Italy's fourth largest lake, is located in Umbria in the province of Perugia, near the border with Tuscany and the river Tiber. Lovers of the outdoors are sure to enjoy a trip to Lake Trasimeno. Its waters are good for swimming; its surrounding valleys and the three islands within the lake feature pristine environments. A 50-km bicycle path circling the lake was opened in 2003, providing a fun, environmental-friendly way to explore the lake. Mountain bikers can take advantage of the cross-country paths, especially over the hills on the eastern side. Sailing and windsurfing are also popular sports here. Half of Trasimeno is surrounded by hills, planted with olive trees. Vineyards dot the western shore, near the border with Tuscany.
While touring Italy, you met MooCow.
LORETTA shook paws with MooCow the Vanilla Milky Moo Cow. They both received one silver mole!
@ Mediaeval Montepulciano “Hey, have you seen what the next stop is, LORETTA?” said Snowball. "It looks fantastic!" "I'll get my camera ready," said LORETTA. Mediaeval Montepulciano Montepulciano is a mediaeval town of rare beauty highly recommended visiting in Tuscany. The city, full of elegant Renaissance palaces, ancient churches, charming squares and hidden corners, boasts vast panoramas all over the wonderful Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana valleys that surround it. Montepulciano has received great attention following the filming of the vampire saga Twilight sequel New Moon here and has seen a notable increase in visitors.
While touring Italy, you met Snowball.
LORETTA shook paws with Snowball the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Tutti Frutti “Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a lighthouse like this one pictured in our itinerary in Genoa? So romantic!" mused LORETTA, sipping a leisurely espresso. "Well, I don't know," said Panda. "It's not all about drinking coffee and gazing at the sea. You have run up and down stairs to operate the light and the foghorn, and there may be no running water or electricity apart from a generator." LORETTA considered this. "Mine would be a luxurious, converted, non-operational lighthouse, then." Tutti Frutti This tiny Tuscan fruiterer's shop offers fresh local produce and perhaps some delicious additions to your pet's picnic lunch!
While touring Italy, you met Panda.
LORETTA shook paws with Panda the Panda Cub. They both received one silver mole!
@ Tuscan Coastal Town “Let's practise some Italian phrases, LORETTA!" said Daphne Fluffster Tinklehoof. "Tell you what, hand me that postcard, will you? Grazie!” Clutching the postcard, she looked at her friend expectantly. “That's your cue to say Prego—which means ‛you're welcome!'” LORETTA looked puzzled. "Why do I have to say anything at all, Daphne Fluffster Tinklehoof? If I've performed a very minor service and you've said 'Thank you', do I need to say anything back? It's not like I made you a cake or mowed your lawn. I just handed you a postcard. You said 'thank you'. Couldn't I just smile slightly or something?" Daphne Fluffster Tinklehoof mused for some minutes. "The English language lacks the exact equivalent of prego or bitte schön and similar phrases in use in Continental Europe. Still, when in Rome ...!" Tuscan Coastal Town Piombino is located in the final stretch of the Etruscan Coast, which begins at the height of Livorno, 100 km further north. In the early 1800s, Napoleon Bonaparte assigned Piombino to his sister who became regent of the Principality of Lucca and Piombino. The Princess of Piombino used to call the city "my little Paris" and during her reign the town had a period of great splendour. Built over the sea, Piombino has always been a naval base. Today, the city’s port is used for freight transport, but also as a marina. From the port of Piombino you can catch one of the many ferries that go direct to the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago (Elba Island is just 10km from the coast!), as well as those to Sardinia and Corsica.
While touring Italy, you met Daphne Fluffster Tinklehoof.
LORETTA shook paws with Daphne Fluffster Tinklehoof the Midnight Mauve Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
Daphne Fluffster Tinklehoof and you found 15 Travel Tokens!
@ Sun-baked Terrace "'Bella Italia!'" read out Choose a name from their tour brochure. " 'A country in which you will be swept off your paws by quaint seaside villages, pastoral countryside, idyllic islands, dramatic mountains and ancient historic cities. It's easy to understand why Bella Italia is one of the most romantic destinations in the world.'" LORETTA settled back in her tour bus seat. "It's certainly been all that so far, Choose a name!" Sun-baked Terrace A delightful little green-shuttered restaurant, where you can sit outside with a meal and cold drink, shaded from the sun by the ample tree foliage.
While touring Italy, you met Choose a name.
LORETTA shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Florentine Pizzeria "... the texture of fairy floss, the scent of fresh grapes and orange blossom and the mouthwatering flavour of lemon sherbet, green apples and juicy peaches. Sounds lovely, doesn't it, Sir Barkey Barksalot?" remarked LORETTA. "I'm sorry, I missed the first part of what you were saying. Is it a gelato flavour?" asked Sir Barkey Barksalot. LORETTA chuckled. "No, not gelato. That was a description of Asti Spumante, a delicious sparkling wine from Piedmont. Along with Lambrusco and Prosecco, it's a popular budget alternative to champagne." Florentine Pizzeria The Rooster and the Fox is the name of this pizzeria in Florence, and it looks just the place to relax over your favourite pasta dish after a hard day's sightseeing!
While touring Italy, you met Sir Barkey Barksalot.
LORETTA shook paws with Sir Barkey Barksalot the Westie. They both received one silver mole!
Sir Barkey Barksalot and you found 75 Travel Tokens!
@ Florentine Sunrise "When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Angel. "I've realised how little I know about it." LORETTA thought about this. "Good scheme!" she said. Florentine Sunrise As the sun rises palely pink, shining on the Renaissance domes of Florence, the city wakes up and the pets have another day of sightseeing amongst beautiful buildings.
While touring Italy, you met Angel.
LORETTA shook paws with Angel the Pearl White Peacock. They both received one silver mole!
@ Florentine Panorama "I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Akiren Kurumiya (Joker), after he and LORETTA had spent some time exploring another narrow, winding alleyway to its end. "Is there a gift shop at the end?" enquired LORETTA. "The thought of that generally keeps me going." Florentine Panorama A panorama of Florence, taking in its historic and beautiful bridges, architecture and church and cathedral domes.
While touring Italy, you met Akiren Kurumiya (Joker).
LORETTA shook paws with Akiren Kurumiya (Joker) the Le Chat Noir/Black Cat. They both received one silver mole!
Akiren Kurumiya (Joker) and you found 5 Travel Tokens!
@ Cinque Terre, Italy “Oh hello, LORETTA!” cried tigg. “Didn’t we bump into each other in Scotland back in the spring? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!” Cinque Terre, Italy A beautiful mix of colourful houses are a Mediterranean delight!
While touring Italy, you met tigg.
LORETTA shook paws with tigg the Ragdoll Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Italian Vineyard "It's turned a bit hot, LORETTA. I'm going to put my sunhat on," said Clover. "Good scheme! I'll dig mine out as well," said LORETTA. Italian Vineyard Some luscious grapes ripening in the Tuscan sun ready to be turned into wine.
While touring Italy, you met Clover.
LORETTA shook paws with Clover the Green Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Tuscan Sunset “Let's just drink in this scene, shall we, LORETTA?” suggested Charbon, sinking down on a convenient tree stump. LORETTA agreed it was well worth spending some time there! Tuscan Sunset The sun sinks after another grape-ripening hot day in Tuscany.
While touring Italy, you met Charbon.
LORETTA shook paws with Charbon the Black Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Florentine Wine Country “Would you pass me the binoculars, LORETTA?” said Muschi. "I think that's an Alpine swift flitting around over there! They spend most of their lives in the air, you know." Florentine Wine Country Welcome to the forests, hills and lush green valleys of Florence's wine-producing region.
While touring Italy, you met Muschi.
LORETTA shook paws with Muschi the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Tuscan Wine Cellar "... the texture of fairy floss, the scent of fresh grapes and orange blossom and the mouthwatering flavour of lemon sherbet, green apples and juicy peaches. Sounds lovely, doesn't it, Mollie?" remarked LORETTA. "I'm sorry, I missed the first part of what you were saying. Is it a gelato flavour?" asked Mollie. LORETTA chuckled. "No, not gelato. That was a description of Asti Spumante, a delicious sparkling wine from Piedmont. Along with Lambrusco and Prosecco, it's a popular budget alternative to champagne." Tuscan Wine Cellar When planning your Italian food and wine tour, you must include at least one Tuscan winery! Perhaps it will be a legendary Chianti estate or a tasting at a Super-Tuscan vineyard.
While touring Italy, you met Mollie.
LORETTA shook paws with Mollie the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Siena Dwellings "... the texture of fairy floss, the scent of fresh grapes and orange blossom and the mouthwatering flavour of lemon sherbet, green apples and juicy peaches. Sounds lovely, doesn't it, Midnight Blue?" remarked LORETTA. "I'm sorry, I missed the first part of what you were saying. Is it a gelato flavour?" asked Midnight Blue. LORETTA chuckled. "No, not gelato. That was a description of Asti Spumante, a delicious sparkling wine from Piedmont. Along with Lambrusco and Prosecco, it's a popular budget alternative to champagne." Siena Dwellings Siena is a medieval city in the region of Tuscany, located in the north of Italy some 70 km (43 miles) south of Florence.
While touring Italy, you met Midnight Blue.
LORETTA shook paws with Midnight Blue the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Camogli Lighthouse “What have you got in your rucksack, Sweetums?” asked LORETTA. “It looks very full!” “I’ve come prepared for anything, LORETTA,” responded Sweetums. “There’s canvas deck shoes, tennis shoes, flip-flops, sandshoes, walking boots, sandals, loafers—you name it, I’ve got it!” Camogli Lighthouse For sea history enthusiasts, Camogli’s Marine Museum is worth a visit. Scuba-diving pets should don flippers and check out some of the numerous grottoes here.
While touring Italy, you met Sweetums.
LORETTA shook paws with Sweetums the Vanilla Milky Moo Cow. They both received one silver mole!
@ Tuscan Vineyard As LORETTA's tour of "Central Italy" comes to an end, she rests under a shady tree and looks back on a perfect day. Soft Azure Sloped Waterfall Tall and intimidating, this waterfall flows a gorgeous azure over its rounded rocks, falling into the shallow basin below. Tuscan Vineyard One of the many vineyards in the famous wine-producing region of Tuscany. The grapes require constant care as the ripen, ready for picking and turning into wine. LORETTA has completed their tour of "Central Italy"! Your PnF tour of Italy is now over, but PnF will hold a new event again soon!
While touring Italy, you met Storm.
LORETTA shook paws with Storm the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
LORETTA has completed the quest of
