We found a great map made by the Consorzio Turistico Auronzo-Misurina together with the Comune di Auronzo di Cadore and Regione Veneto featuring 16 mountain paths for serious bikers through the Dolomites. The map guide also gives a Biker's 10 Rules which we liked and wanted to share here.

Ever wonder, amid all the festivities, exactly why you’re celebrating Carnival? The word carnival actually derives from the Latin term Carnevale, meaning “farewell to meat”. Simply put, Carnival has come to represent a sort of ‘last hurrah’ before a long period of self-denial.

Although the holiday most likely began in pre-Christian times with the ancient Roman traditions of Saturnalia and Bacchanalia, Carnival is currently known as the days preceding the Christian period of Lent, consisting of forty days of fasting during which the consumption of animal products was strictly forbidden.

As a result, universal feasts were held in order not to waste any perishable foods and drink that were about to be banned, releasing an euphoric atmosphere of giddy over-indulgence before the sober austerity that was about to descend.

While the celebrations of Venice may be the most well-known among Italian carnivals, the more intimate festivities of Verona are considered to be some of the oldest in Italy, tracing their origins as far back as the 1500s.

According to legend, when a famine hit Verona in the early 16th century, the nobleman Tomaso Vico handed out gnocchi, the Italian pasta made of flour and potato, to the poor and starving citizens of the city. After he died, a tradition sprung up from his will, ordering that from then on gnocchi be distributed to the Veronese inhabitants every year on the last Friday of Carnival.

Do make a visit to the large Venice Boat Museum or, officially, Museo Storico Navale. Translated that's the Historical Naval Museum, a glimpse into the military life of the city.

Walking across Saint Mark’s Square in Venice it is interesting to think that there are further three ancient levels below our feet. The oldest stone foundations are located near the Campanile or Bell Tower and date from Roman times and the first refugees to Venice from Aquileia. Further levels of white marble date from the mid 13th to 15th centuries.

It was no fun being held in the jails of Venice at the pleasure of the Doge of the Serenissima. and the visitor to Venice does not need much imagination during a tour of the Palazzo Ducale.

For starters, the Sala della Cancelleria was Venice’s most secretive location and the equivalent of the CIA or ex KGB archives.

The route also takes in the Sala del Tormento, infamously named for its purpose of gaining confessions prior to prisoners learning their fate, and the inside of the Ponte dei Sospiri bridge from where a small door to leads to the infamous ‘Pozzi’ prison.

The first and oldest church in Venice is, by all accounts, located near the Rialto market just over the famous bridge. It is the Chiesa di San Giacomo di Rialto and dates from the 6th century AD although some say 1097 when the actual market was established.

There was always limited space to build in Venice, but when they did they put their name on it. Many palaces or 'palazzi' still bear the surname of the patrican families who made their fortunes throughout the period of the Republic, before they lost interest and transfered their real estate intersts to the mainland. They all have fantastic stories.

Many wished the fall of the Venetian Republic during its long illustrious history and many failed. But perhaps the real culprits were more insidious than Saracens carrying curved scimitars.

The final years leading up to the end of the Republic were not a little affected by new illuminist ideas coming from France following the Revolution and led to masonic influence establishing itself in the city.

Anzolo Querini was one of the first nobles to secretly enter the Lodge. He was a friend of Voltaire and was arrested in 1761 and exiled to the castle of Verona.

Dating from 1670 Palazzo Lezze by Baldassare Longhena near the Scuola della Misericordia is notable for the symbolic suns and crowns.

The following most traditional events in Venice represent great moments in the history of the lagoon Republic. Although now familiar tourism attractions, travelers are wise to appreciate the social and historical context of each.

VENICE CARNIVAL

A bit like the ancient games of the Colosseum, the Venice carnival used to keep the popolo happy in times of diffculty or decadence. Carnival once extended for months, but what we see today was relaunched less than 30 years ago to recreate some of the old spirit of the city, at least visually, from the time of Casanova and Goldoni. Probably the best thing about Carnevale is that it takes place in February when the lagoon is at its most atmospheric and misty.