TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN ITALY

Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. High art and monuments are to be found everywhere around the country. Its great cities of art, like Rome, Venice and Florence are world famous and have been attracting visitors for centuries. Besides its art treasures Italy also features beautiful coasts, alpine lakes and mountains. No wonder it is often nicknamed the Bel Paese (beautiful country).

With so many amazing sights, putting together a top 10 list of tourist attractions in Italy is no easy task. The following list however should give a good indication of why over 40 million foreign tourists visit Italy ever year.

10.Towers of San Gimignano

Nicknamed the medieval Manhatten, San Gimignano is a village in Tuscany famous for its 14 stone towers. At the height of San Gimignano’s wealth and power, more than 70 towers were built to defend the town against enemy attacks. After the plague devastated the city in 1348, San Gimignano’s power faded, which kept enemies away and preserved many of the city’s medieval towers.

9. Manarola (Cinque Terre)

Mestled in the Italian Riviera, Manarola is one of the oldest towns in Cinque Terre. The “Five Lands” comprises of five villages noted for their beauty. Part of Cinque Terre charm is the lack of visible modern development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the outside. The towns sprout out of the mountainside to provide a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean sea.

8.Leaning Tower of Pisa

The world famous Pisa Tower was built over a period of about 177 years. Soon after the construction started in 1173 the tower began to sink due to a poorly laid foundation and was left alone for almost a century. When the construction resumed the engineers built higher floors with one side taller than the other to compensate for the tilt and the tower was finally finished in the 2nd half of the 14th century. Since 2001, the famous tower in Isa is again open to those wishing to climb it’s 296 steps.
 

7. Lake Como (Italian Lake District)

Lake Como is part of the Italian Lake District an area popular with visitors for well over 100 years for its combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather. The lake is shaped much like an inverted ‘Y’, with two branches starting at Como in the south-west and Lecco in the south-east, which join together half way up and the lake continues up to Colico in the north. The lake is famous for the attractive villas which have been built here since Roman times. Many have admirable gardens which benefit from the mild climate and are able to include tropical as well as temperate plants.

6. Positano (Amalfi Coast)

Positano is a small town located on the Amalfi Coast, a stretch of coastline renowned for its rugged terrain, scenic beauty, picturesque towns and diversity. The city seems to be scattered from top to bottom down a hillside leading to the coast. Though Positano grew and prospered in medieval times, by the mid 19th more than half of the population was gone. In the 20th century it went from being a poor fishing village to a very popular tourist attraction with the help of author John Steinbeck who wrote about its beauty.

5. Pompei

On August 24, 79 AD, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, covering the nearby town Pompeii with ash and soil, and subsequently preserving the city in its state from that fateful day. Everything from jars and tables to paintings and people were frozen in time. Its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of people living two thousand years ago. Today Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year.

4. Piazza del Campo

One of Europe’s greatest medieval squares, the Piazza del Campo is the principal public space of the historic center of Siena, Tuscany. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity. The Palazzo Pubblico and its famous tower, as well as various palazzi signorili belonging to the wealthiest of Siena families surround the shell-shaped piazza. The twice-per-year horse-race, Palio di Siena, involves circling the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of dirt has been laid, three times and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds.

3. Santa Maria del Fiore

Begun in 1296 in the Gothic style and completed in 1436, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is Florence’s beautiful cathedral and symbol of the city. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white. The basilica is one of Italy’s largest churches, and until the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.

2. Colosseum

The Colosseum in Rome is the largest and most famous amphitheater in the Roman world. Its construction was started by emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty in 72 AD and was finished by his son Titus in 80 AD. The Colosseun was capable of holding some 50,000 spectators who could enter the building through no less than 80 entrances. Spectators were protected from the rain and heat of the sun by sails called the “velarium”, that was attached around the top of the attic.

1. Canals of Venice

Referred to as “The City of Water”, Venice is the crown jewel of water cities. Romantic gondolas, and Italian architecture along the Grand Canal helped earn this status. Stitched together with over 150 canals that have become central to its character, Venice has decayed since its heyday and has more tourists than residents, but with its romantic charm it remains one of the top tourist attractions in Italy.

Touropia

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A VISIT TO SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

 

Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, or just Sao Tome Island is located in the Gulf of Guinea, about 180 miles off African west coast. It is the smallest country in Africa after Seychelles. It was formerly colonized by Portugal and gained independence in 1975.

Considering a trip to Sao Tome? Please take note of the following:

VISA/LANDING PERMIT: Embassies and consulates of Sao Tome abroad are responsible for issuance of visa, but if you intend to travel from a country where Sao Tome does not have an embassy/consulate, you can process a landing permit online. What it entails is to get the data page of your international passport which must have 1year validity scanned and accompanied with a completed visa information form for each applicant. On receipt, you would be invoiced and after paying for the visa and administrative charge, your visa will be ready in 5 working days. The visa and receipt would be mailed to you and you must present both documents on arrival at the airport. The landing visa is valid for 1 month, you can apply for extension when in Sao Tome.

FLIGHTS: All flights arrive at Sao Tome and Principe International Airport, Sao Tome

CAR HIRE: Car hire agencies provide the car rental services and the car will be delivered right to the airport for you. The cost varies with the type of vehicle and also excludes cost of fuel which is the responsibility of the client. Vehicles come with a driver. Due to the bad conditions of some of the roads, it is advisable to hire a jeep if possible. You can talk to your hotel about vehicle hire.

HOTELS: Sao Tome and Principe Islands offer different classes of hotels, ranging from family run guesthouses to 5-star world class resorts operated by the best European chains.

FOR YOUR HOLIDAY OR BUSINESS VISIT TO SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE,

 Contact VOXDEI TRADE PROMOTIONS AND TRAVELS LIMITED

               voxdeitp@gmail.com, +234(0)7036308255

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NIGERIA PLANS AEROTROPOLIS TO BOOST AVIATION BUSINESS

The Federal Government is making plans to transform the Nigerian aviation sector into a one-stop shop for travelers, tourists and commercial purposes alike through Aerotropolis concept.

The recent trip made by President Goodluck Jonathan to South Africa which was truncated by security challenges in the country was aimed at improving the bilateral developmental ties between Nigeria and South Africa. At a function in Johannesburg, South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan declared the intention of his administration to change the business model of the country’s aviation industry through increased private sector participation in proposed Aerotropolis concept. The aerotropolis model brings together airport planning, urban and regional planning, and business-site planning, to create a new urban form that is highly competitive, attractive, and sustainable. Aerotropolis is a business planning model that brings clusters of  travel related businesses like tourism, hospitality, shopping , fashion and others together within an airport environment.
The government believes that the transformation would maximise the contribution of the industry to the socio-economic development of Nigeria through increased trade. The President emphasized that Nigeria is serious about the development of the aviation sector through the Aerotropolis project, which he said is the new centre of growth in the global aviation industry. He explained that the country’s aviation sector was ideally positioned as a catalyst of growth for key economic sectors, including travel, tourism, agriculture, rural development, trade, commerce, and manufacturing and communications technology.
The position President Jonathan was made public in an online statement signed by the Special Assistant, Media to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi. According to the President, the Aerotropolis would specifically target diversification of the economy through increased economic activity, technology transfer, increased trade through global partnerships, value chain development and rural transformation especially in exploiting the country’s agro-export opportunities, employment potential, local and foreign business development and private sector investment. In the words of the President: “We are committed to supporting private sector-driven Aerotropolis to rapidly become the commercial nexus, anchoring aviation-enabled trade in goods and services; and driving business development from the Aerotropolis to neighboring cities, towns and the entire West African region.”
The Federal Government’s plan to open up the aviation industry for commerce is a move in the right direction. Major airports have become key nodes in global production and enterprise systems offering speed, agility, and connectivity. They are also powerful engines of local economic development, attracting aviation-linked businesses of all types to their environs. These include, among others, time-sensitive manufacturing and distribution facilities; hotel, entertainment, retail, convention, trade and exhibition complexes; and office buildings that house air-travel intensive executives and professionals.
The rapid expansion of airport-linked commercial facilities is making today’s air gateways anchors of 21st century metropolitan development where distant travelers and locals alike can conduct business, exchange knowledge, shop, eat, sleep, and be entertained without going more than 15 minutes from the airport. This functional and spatial evolution is transforming many city airports into airport cities.
As more and more aviation-oriented businesses are being drawn to airport cities and along transportation corridors radiating from them, a new urban form is emerging—the Aerotropolis—stretching up to 20 miles (30 kilometers) outward from some airports. Analogous in shape to the traditional metropolis made up of a central city and its rings of commuter-heavy suburbs, the Aerotropolis consists of an airport city and outlying corridors and clusters of aviation-linked businesses and associated residential development. A number of these clusters such as Amsterdam Zuidas, Las Colinas, Texas, and South Korea’s Songdo International Business District have become globally significant airport edge-cities representing planned postmodern urban mega-development in the age of the Aerotropolis.
Since the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah came up with the project, many international firms and government organisations have pledged to collaborate with the Federal Government to make it come to fruition. For the China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd (CSCEC), it would invest in the development of Aerotropolis within the major international airports in Nigeria. Overseas operations Vice President of the corporation, Yu Zhende described Nigeria as a ‘major’ country in Africa; hence, the development of its aviation sector would establish the country as a major hub on the African continent.
The company also expressed its readiness to sign an agreement and mobilise to site as soon as the Nigerian and Chinese governments come to a compromise. “We will move as fast as the Nigerian government wants us to move,” he said and assured that financing the project would not pose any serious challenge for the Chinese government once an agreement is reached.
The above aspiration of the Federal Government will not occur under most current airport area planning approaches which tend to be localized, politically and functionally fragmented, and often conflicted. A new approach is required to bring together airport planning, urban and regional planning, and business-site planning in a synergistic manner so that future Aerotropolis development will be more economically efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and socially and environmentally sustainable. The real question is not whether Aerotropolises will evolve around major airports. The challenge is whether they will form and grow in an intelligent manner, minimizing problems and bringing about the greatest returns to the airport, its users, businesses, surrounding communities, and the larger region it serves.
The true challenge is planning to get the Aerotropolis right. According to an Aerotropolis expert, John D. Kasarda, if there is not appropriate planning, airport-area development will be spontaneous, haphazard, economically inefficient, and ultimately unsustainable.

Culled from Orient News

UK GOES TOUGH ON EMPLOYERS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

The UK border Agency released this on their website on Tuesday, 9th July, 2013. 

Proposals for tougher sanctions against employers who exploit illegal migrant labour 

Measures to toughen civil penalties against rogue businesses employing illegal migrants while cutting red tape for legitimate employers have been unveiled by the government on, 9 July 2013.These proposals are part of the government's plans to make it more difficult for illegal migrants to live and work in the UK, and to take tougher action against the rogue employers who exploit them. It is also intended to ensure that the country's immigration policy is built into the benefits system, health system, housing system and the provision of services across government. The proposals outlined in today's consultation will simplify and strengthen the current civil penalty scheme to prevent illegal working. The plans will form part of the Immigration Bill, being introduced later this year.

Immigration Minister Mark Harper said:

'This government is committed to taking action to effectively tackle illegal working. Illegal working encourages illegal immigration, it undercuts legitimate businesses by illegal cost-cutting activity, and is often associated with exploitative behaviour like tax evasion and harmful working conditions.
'We will not allow the growth of a shadow economy for illegal migrants, so we are proposing to get tougher on employeers who exploit illegal labour.
'At the same time, we want to make it easier for legitimate businesses by reducing the administrative costs of complying with right to work checks.'

Proposals being considered to toughen civil penalties for businesses employing illegal migrants are:

• An increase in the maximum penalty to £20,000 per illegal worker, targeted at those employers who repeatedly break the rules;
• Simplifying the way civil penalties are calculated;
• Simplifying the way unpaid penalties can be enforced in the civil courts; and
• Measures to allow recovery of a civil penalty from directors and partners of limited liability businesses following failure to pay by the business.

At the same time, the government has unveiled a number of proposals to help legitimate businesses including:

• Reducing the number of documents an employer needs to check to establish a right to work;
• Replacing annual follow-up checks for non-EEA nationals with ones to coincide with the expiry of permission to be in the country;
• Simplifying the operation of the scheme and the guidance for employers; and
• Helping prevent undercutting by rogue employers.

The government's consultation on these proposals will run for six weeks, until 20 August 2013. It follows two Home office consultations which launched on July 3 looking at reducing access to free NHS care and rented accommodation for illegal migrants.
The Immigration Bill, to be introduced later this year, will tighten immigration law, strengthen our enforcement powers and clamp down on those from overseas who try to abuse our public services. By reducing access to free NHS care and rented accommodation for illegal migrants, we will make it more difficult for them to stay in the country leading to more returns and removals. This Bill is the next step in the reform of the immigration system which has led to a reduction in net migration - now at its lowest level for a decade.

Best Places to Visit in Spain

Splendid beaches, delicious cuisine, vibrant nightlife and lively fiestas all make Spain one of Europe’s best getaways. Because Spain encompasses several autonomous regions and islands, the country boasts one of the most widely diverse cultures and landscapes on the continent. An overview of the top places to visit in Spain:

10. Bilbao

Bilbao was best known as an important seaport and industrial city in northern Spain until the construction of an architectural marvel in the 1990s known as the Guggenheim Museum. Since then, this capital city of Vizcaya has experienced a boom in tourism, promoting economic growth and revitalization of its many hidden gems, making it one of the best places to visit in Spain.

9.Santiago de Compostela

The capital city of the Galicia region in northwestern Spain, Santiago de Compostela is famous as the final destination of the traditional pilgrimage known as Camino de Santiago.. Today, the city attracts thousands of visitors every year for both its religious tradition and history.

8. Toledo

Perched on a mountaintop in central Spain, Toledo served as the Spanish capital until the 16th century. Because it was inhabited by Jews, Christians and Muslims for many centuries, the city is sometimes called the “City of Three Cultures.” Today, Toledo is a popular destination for its wealth of historic art and architecture that dates back to the Roman Empire.

7. Cordoba

Cordoba is the capital of the Cordoba province in the Andalusian region of southern Spain. The historic quarter of Cordoba is a maze of tiny medieval streets, plazas and whitewashed courtyards all situated around the star attraction, the Mezquita. Initially built as a mosque, the Mezquita is now a glorious cathedral retaining most of its original architecture.

6. San Sebastian

San Sebastian is the capital of the Gipuzko province, located in the Basque country of North Spain off the coast of the Bay of Biscay. This beautiful seaside city is well-loved for its excellent beaches and outstanding culinary tradition.

5. Valencia

One of the largest and most important cities in Spain, Valencia is located in the eastern part of the country in the region of Valencia. After several years of major construction and renovation, Valencia today is famous for its Fallas Festival and the City of Arts and Sciences architectural masterpiece.

4. Seville

Exceptional tourist attractions, lively festivals and buzzing nightlife all make Seville one of the best places to visit in Southern Spain. As the capital city of Andalusia, Seville is also the region’s financial and cultural capital. The city is home to many beautiful and important historic landmarks, chief of which is the grand Cathedral of Seville, where it is believed that Christopher Columbus is buried.

3. Granada

Located at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains of southern Spain, Granada is the capital of the Granada province. Granada offers a perfect blend of traditional cultures, an animated nightlife and spectacular attractions including the world famous Alhambra, a pinnacle of Moorish art that encapsulates Andalusian history and is one of the great architectural sights of Europe.

2. Madrid

Spain’s capital and largest city, Madrid, is widely known for its sizzling nightlife scene. Home to a number of universities, the city constitutes a diversity of ethnic groups, making it one of Europe’s most colorful cosmopolitan cities.

1. Barcelona

Located in northeastern Spain, Barcelona is one of the country’s top travel destinations because it offers everything tourists look for in a European city from historic architecture to lively shopping, vibrant culture and buzzing nightlife. Unique to Barcelona are the architectural marvels of Spain’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, which include the Casa Batllo and the famous Sagrada Familia church.

Source: Touropia

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UKRAINE STUDENT VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR NIGERIAN APPLICANTS

Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria deals with Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Togo, Liberia as well.

Applicants must submit following documents along with Original Invitation letter from a university in Ukraine issued through PE, "Star Consultants Ukraine"

The submission of documents for student visas is starting at the Embassy on May 15. (Visa issued will be valid from 15thof August)

1. Passport with expiry date of at least 6 months following the end of visa validity and at least 3 blank pages and photocopy of first page of passport.
2. Visa application form, printed or written in block letters. It must be filled in carefully, clearly and precisely and signed personally by the applicant. It is free of charge to download an electronic version from this web site or to obtain a paper version at the Embassy. (Application for Ukraine entry and transit visa)
3. Two recent colour pictures against the white background (30x40mm).
4. Original of birth certificate and a copy legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of issuing country.
5. Original invitation and its photocopy. When you receive an invitation make, sure there are no mistakes and typos: your name, date of birth, passport number should be identical to those indicated in your passport you submit for the visa.
6. Original of school-leaving certificate of secondary school (college) record with enclosed statement of results (transcript of marks received) and their copies legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of issuing country. Embassy translate the document into Ukrainian and legalizes.
7. Medical certificate of general fitness legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of issuing country. Medical certificate is valid for TWO MONTHS, which means an applicant has to enrol to his/her institution within two months since medical certificate was issued. Embassy translate the document into Ukrainian and legalizes.
8. Results of HIV/AIDS test legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of issuing country. Embassy translate the document into Ukrainian and legalizes.
9. Ticket reservation for Ukraine with open return date.
10. Original of a sponsorship letter (attested by a notary) in a form of a court affidavit, which must include a full name of a sponsor, his/her address, landline and mobile telephone number, e-mail (if any), and obligation of a sponsor to cover expenses of an applicant.
11. Original of recent bank statements of a sponsor (for the past six months and should be personal not a company account); minimum amount should be sufficient to cover all applicant’s expenses during his/her first year in Ukraine (tuition fees and daily expenses).
12. Receipt of payment of visa fees (85 USD).
13. The insurance policy valid for the period of one month starting while entering the territory of Ukraine.

TOURING SEYCHELLES

The Seychelles are a group of 115 islands off the coast of East Africa, No visa is required for all nationalities, but foreigners must have passport valid for at least 6 months, and must provide proof of accommodation bookings before arrival. 

An initial entry permit is granted for 1 month but can be extended for a maximum of 3 months at a time up to a maximum of 1 year in total. Seychelles has only 1 international gateway, which is Seychelles International Airport. Different airlines across the world ply the route.

Tourist activities:

Yatch, boat, and domestic air flights are available. Visit the beaches, Vallee de Mai (A national park), Aldabra Atoll (The world’s largest coral atoll). Do watersports, Landsports, Shopping at Victoria, the capital, night clubbing and so on.

More pictures from Seychelles:

Still want to see more pictures? Scroll down.

We are sure you will have a fantastic experience, if you consider a tour to The Seychelles.

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