TRAVELING THE WORLD

Thursday, March 27, 2025

10 Best Spots SICILY Italy

"EREMITI"

by Daniel Bellino

San GIOVANNI degli EREMITI

PALERMO - SICILY

SICILY

10 BEST PLACES to VISIT

The MARTARANO

PALERMO

Author Daniel Bellino

At The CHURCH of MARTARANO

PALERMO, SICILY

NONNA BELLINO'S COOKBOOK

RECIPES FROM MY SICILIAN NONNA

ARANCINI - CAPONATA - PASTA - ZUPPE

And MUCH MORE ...

AMAZON.com

The PALENTINE CHAPEL

PALERMO

The Palatine Chapel is theRoyal Chapel of the Norman Palace in Palermo, Sicily. This building is a mixture of Byzantine, Norman and Fatimid architectural styles, showing the tricultural state of Sicily during the 12th century after Roger I and Robert Guiscard conquered the island.

"EREMITI"

PALERMO

San Giovanni degli Eremiti (St John of the Hermits) is an ancient former monastic church located on Via Benedettini #19 in the ancient quarter of Albergariaof the city of Palermo, region of Sicily, Italy. It is about two blocks south from the Palazzo dei Normanni, adjacent to the church of San Giorgio in Kemonia. While the interior is virtually devoid of decoration or furnishings, the red Norman-Byzantine domes, the medieval cloister ruins, and garden make this small church a symbol of ancient Palermo.

The church is notable for its brilliant red domes, which show clearly the persistence of Arab influences in Sicily at the time of its reconstruction in the 12th century, the Arab-Norman culture. In her 1882 Diary of an Idle Woman in Sicily, Frances Elliot described it as "... totally oriental... it would fit well in Baghdad or Damascus". However, the Red color of the domes are not original, as they were painted in this color by Patricolo who found pieces of red plaster on the domes and therefore decided to paint all the domes in red.

The church lies with a flank on a square construction. The church is on the Latin Cross plan with a nave and two aisles and three apses. Each of the square spans is surmounted by a dome. The presbytery, ending with a niche, has also a dome.

"STILL LIFE in CATANIA"

by Bellino

GET a FINE ART PRINT

From FINE ART AMERICA

CLICK HERE

"OUT MY WINDOW"

SIRACUSA

Author Daniel Bellino Z

"At The TEATRO GRECO"

SIRACUSA, SICILY

Author Daniel Bellino "Z"

IATLIAN COOKBOOKS

Monday, March 24, 2025

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok Thailand

MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL

BANGKOK, THAILAND

INFO & RESERVATIONS

The MANDARIN ORIENTAL - BANGKOK

"The WORLD'S TOP RATED HOTEL"

Elegant Accommodations: Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok offers luxurious rooms with air-conditioning, private balconies, and modern amenities. Guests enjoy garden or river views, ensuring a comfortable stay. Exceptional Facilities: The hotel features a year-round outdoor swimming pool, spa facilities, sauna, fitness center, sun terrace, and a lush garden. Additional services include yoga classes, fitness classes, and cycling. Dining Experience: A variety of dining options are available, including a family-friendly restaurant serving Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Thai, and international cuisines. Breakfast options include continental, American, buffet, vegetarian, vegan, and Asian.

INFO & RESERVATIONS

ROOMS

The ORIENTAL HOTEL

BANGKOK

RESERVATIONS

MANDARIN ORIENTAL - BANGKOK

RESERVATIONS & BOOKING

RESERVE YOUR ROOM

RESERVATIONS

A BAR at The ORIENTAL

BANGKOK

Four Season White Lotus Hotel Thailand

"The WHITE LOTUS"

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL

KOK SAMUI THAILAND

INFO

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL

KOK SAMUI

THAILAND

INFO & RESERVATIONS

The FOUR SEASON HOTEL - KOH SAMUI

Surrounded by tropical grounds, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui - SHA Extra Plus is situated on the island’s northwest tip, a quiet oasis on Laem Yai Bay. Windsurfing, golf and a spa are featured. Each room is equipped with a private infinity pool, private bar and iPod dock. Guests can enjoy views of the grounds or Gulf of Siam on the outdoor day bed. The bathroom’s glass doors open onto the private deck for an open-air bathing experience. Chilled towels are offered at Koh Samui Four Seasons’ beachside infinity pool. Guests can recharge with a game of tennis, a variety of beach sports or a workout at the fitness center. A large book and DVD library is provided. The hotel’s SIAMSEAS cruising boat offers access to Marine National Park and a variety of other locations. The resort is about a 30-minute drive from both Big Buddha and Koh Samui International Airport. The Four Seasons’ restaurant serves fresh local seafood seasoned with exotic herbs from nearby grounds. Both Thai and international cuisine are offered. The Beach Bar serves a variety of tropical cocktails.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL - KOH SAMUI

THAILAND

RESERVATIONS & BOOKING

Stay in The same Hotel where The "WHITE LOTUS" was Filmed

The FOUR SEASONS HOTEL on KOH SAMUI

THAILAND

Info

FOUR SEASONS - KOH SAMUI

"WHITE LOTUS"

HOTELS in THAILAND

All ASIA & WORLDWIDE

BOOKING.com

FOURSEASONS HOTEL

KOK SAMUI

"IMAGINE THIS" ? KOH SAMUI THAILAND

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL

KOH SAMUI

THAILAND

Phi Phi Island Hotels

SAII PHI PHI ISLAND VILLAGE

INFO - RESERVATIONS

SAii PHI PHI ILSAND

INFO

SAii PHI PHI ISLAND RESORT

INFO & RESERVATIONS

PHI PHI ISLAND CABANA HOTEL

INFO & RESERVATIONS

PHI PHI ISLAND CABANA HOTEL

INFO & RESERVATIONS

PHI PHI ISLAND CABANA HOTEL

Spread across 12 acres of land with stunning views of Ton Sai Bay and Loh Da Lum Bay sets Phi Phi Island Cabana Hotel. Offering guestrooms decorated in a modern-oriental style in six building, guests can also enjoy the on-site facilities including a large outdoor pool, internet room with complimentary WiFi and three dining options and a bar. All rooms are air-conditioned and come equipped with a TV, safety deposit box and a refrigerator and mini-bar. The private bathroom has both a hot and cold shower option. Rooms come with either sea or garden views. A daily breakfast buffet featuring American and Asian dishes is served at Maya Restaurant from 07:00 – 10:00 hrs. Other dining options are also available at Runtee Coffee Shop and Beach Terrace Restaurant. Set right on the beach, Jungle Beach Bar & Restaurant invites guests with a casual atmosphere serving drinks and international dishes featuring fresh seafood.

PHI PHI ISLAND CABANA HOTEL

RESERVATIONS

POOLSIDE

INFO

SAII PHI PHI ISLAND VILLAGE

INFO - RESERVATIONS

SAii PHI PHI ILSAND

INFO

SAii PHI PHI ISLAND RESORT

INFO & RESERVATIONS

Hotel San Pietro - Positano

HOTEL San PIETRO

POSITANO

One of The WORLD'S TOP RATED HOTELS

INFO & RESERVATIONS

"NOW THIS is HOW YOU ENJOY BREAKFAST"

il SAN PEITRO

POSITANO

HOTEL SAN PIETRO

Even by Italian standards, Positano is naturally breathtaking: its colorful houses and churches cling desperately to the mountainside, with postcard-perfect views of the sea coming seemingly a dime a dozen. Perhaps a bit more than a dime, actually; it’s possible (if unlikely) that there are still some secret places left on the Italian coasts, untouched by tourism, but even if that’s true, Positano certainly isn’t one of them.

Il San Pietro isn’t much of a secret either, and the key to its appeal is quite simple; it may just be the best hotel on the Amalfi Coast, and is a strong contender for any global list.

A small 17th-century chapel devoted to San Pietro marks the hotel entrance, and the rest of the property hangs on the cliffside below, each level descending the face like a staircase—perhaps a disquieting experience for those not comfortable with heights, but offering unparalleled views of the sea from every room and every terrace. The hotel is built just one room deep, and there are no inferior views; each room hugs the cliff at its back side and opens onto a private terrace at the front.

Given the views, the interiors are almost irrelevant. Fortunately they haven’t been neglected: rooms are spacious, with tile floors, individually designed in a spare and tasteful style. Standard and deluxe rooms differ mostly in size, and the “special” rooms offer such unique details as glass-walled bathrooms for bathing with a view.

The restaurant at the hotel’s top offers traditional Italian cuisine with stunning views of the Gulf of Salerno, as does the swimming pool, carved dramatically into the terraced cliffside. A lift descends from the hotel lobby to a private beach below, complete with a seaside cocktail bar.

All of this paradise on earth means Il San Pietro is not exactly a budget hotel—“exclusive” hardly begins to describe the situation. Positano is one of the world’s great hideaways, a celebrity haunt for decades, and Il San Pietro has seen its share of the beautiful people; one guess who room 8½ is named for.