TREAT YOURSELF-Surrounded by mountains clothed in a splendid vegetation of chestnut trees, pines, beeches and fir trees, for its height of about 400 metres above sea level, with its millenary establishments, Porretta is the absolutely perfect but rare combination of fitness and holiday. The waters of Porretta, which gush out of the springs, pure and rich in mineral salts, restore the balance of the organism in a natural way. Drinking at the springs, breathing in vapours, bathing in the spa waters mean performing healthy activities that are as old as nature itself which, for millions of years has produced in its womb this medicine with inimitable healing properties. The Fitness centre of Porretta Spa offers weekly packages of complete personalized treatments to restore the beauty which comes from being fit. Via Ranuzzi 2940046 Porretta Terme (Bologna) Tel.: 0534/22062-22055 Fax: 0534/24260-24055. Open all the year

GLASS ODYSSEY-Artist Elisabeth Decobert will be showcasing her work in the art of glass painting in Venice at the Rossella Junck Glass Gallery 3, which specializes in 19th and 20th century Murano glass. Rossella Junck 3, San Marco 1997,Venezia, 041 521 07 59.

CHEER ON THE FALL-As the days shorten and the shadows lengthen, people have always gathered to celebrate the bounty of the harvest. An ideal occasion to taste the most recent vintage will be taking place from October 29-31 at Frascati (Rome), at the Vino Frascati DOC festival. For more information contact Rome's tourist board.

ALL THAT DANCING-Dancers visiting Florence can continue their daily workouts at the Florence Dance Centre in the Oltrarno. Run by dancer Marga Nativa and American choreographer Keith Ferrone, the centre plays an active part in the dance life of Florence. It offers a whole range of classes from children's activities to advanced ballet at professional level, and the daily open classes mean that you can attend on a short-term basis. There are also stretching and gymnastics classes and courses in Tango, Flamenco, and Latin American dance. Various times, Mon-Fri. For more information contact Borgo Stella 23r (39 055 289276/ or www.florencedance.org.

TERRIFIC TRUFFLES-There are some mushrooms you won't find unless you have a trained dog: truffles. Fortunately, there are truffle fairs starting in November at San Miniato proper, in Tuscany, with the Mostra Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco. For further information, call the tourist office, at 571/42745.

ROMANTIC SKIES-There's still time to enjoy a hot-air balloon ride and a champagne breakfast courtesy of Ballooning in Tuscany. The approximately one hour flight will include flying about 20 miles south of Siena, in Crete Senesi, an area of rolling downland with steep valleys, villages on hilltops, and isolated farmhouses and castles. The wine towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino lie to the east and west, with Pienza and the Val d'Orcia to the south. Afterwards, you and that someone special can enjoy a splendid champagne breakfast laid out in the field where we land, before loading everything back on to the trailer of the chase vehicle which follows our flight from the launch site. The whole flight, from inflation to return to base, takes about three and a half hours. For more information check out www.ballooningintuscany.com.

CATERINA DE' MEDICI AND FOOD-Caterina de' Medici is famous among foodies as having been something of a foodie herself and for having devised a number of dishes, including ice cream, which are still popular today. The annual Caterina de' Medici prize is awarded for culinary excellence and this year it will be accompanied by a lavish re-enactment of Caterina's wedding to Henry of Orleans which took place on October 28th 1533. The 'wedding procession' will parade through the streets of central Florence accompanied by music and dancing and hopefully the chance to try some of the dishes themselves. October 28, time to be decided. For more information contact Piazza Signoria (39 055 290832).

ARTISTIC STUDIES IN FLORENCE-Florence attracts thousand of students each year from all over the world who choose Renaissance city as the place to study art. One of the newer schools is the Angel Academy of Art, founded by John Angel who studied with the late Pietro Annigoni in the late-1960s. The course design is based on the techniques and methods developed in the 19th-century French ateliers. Entry is limited, so each student receives a lot of personal attention, critique and guidance. The Academy offers a basic four-year Graduate Programme on portrait painting and composition as well as shorter intensive study courses for working artists and non-professionals. For more information contact Via Fiesolana at 39 055 2466737 or www.angelartschool.com).

Publication Date: 2001-10-21
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=533