According the reports, a dispute has been erupted between the Italian government and the Florence city, over the ownership of the world’s most popular David’s sculpture, which is made by Michelangelo, when a local authority has alleged the statue belongs to the city of Florence.

The Mayor of the Florence city, Matteo Renzi has said that “Florence city is the rightful owner of the sculpture and the city also deserves to benefit from the ten million dollars, which the visitors pay every year to see it.”

“It is absurd and inopportune,” said the Culture Minister of the centre-right People of Freedom party, “a dispute that has occurred between the Italian government and the Florence city.”

A nine page document which has been presented by the lawyers for the culture minister has claimed that the sculpture, which is attracting nearly 1.5 million visitors yearly, belongs to Italy. But the Mayor of Florence insists that the master work belongs to Florence.

As per the government lawyers, the Italian state created when the city was part of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, is the legal successor of the Florentine Republic.

The masterpiece David’s sculpture is a 5.17 m marble statue which at present is displayed in the Palazzo Vecchio’s Accademia Gallery and is worth eight million Euros in the annual ticket sales.

Great deals of car hires in Italy are available from Easy Terra, Nova car hire, Easy car, Enterprise, Dollar and Argus car hire.

In Europe when you are on a trip, may be a holiday or for business activities you generally tend to hire a car for a comfortable, safe and hassle free journey to your desired destination. While it’s absolutely wise and true on your part to expect a cool ride to your destination, it is also incumbent upon you to make absolutely sure you have a relaxing journey. One way of doing the same is by proper scrutiny of the company documents.

Any car rental in Europe or for that matter in Italy, a good insurance is a must. Generally when you pay for the rent then your cost includes or should include liability insurance, theft or fire insurance. But it is always advisable to ask the company head regarding the details of your rental cost. Some of the mischievous company omits the insurance against damage caused by collision or accident. Now to protect yourself against paying for the repair or for a brand new car you need a CDW, collision damage waiver. There are few ways that you can get it done.

1. From rental agencies: in Italy you can get help from a rental agent who will guide you regarding the CDW, it isn’t cheap though. It a pace like Italy it comes for anything between 10 euros to 30 euros / US dollar per day- but it always wise to bye, as it gives a peace in your mind and you can travel with any prior baggage. Theft insurance is a must in Italy so do check the details from the company before setting out.
2. If you are a resident outside Europe and if you plan to travel Italy for more than 20days then there is an attractive offer for you; try to lease a car rather than rent then firstly you will get a new car for your journey and secondly it is absolutely free.

These are few mantras that you should keep in mind while hiring a car in Italy.

If you are a travel enthusiast and love to explore different places around the world then it is almost mandatory for you to know about the existing ground realities of the car hire companies. Car hire companies are basically service providers and in most cases you can find that they are the real hero behind a safe and sound trip. So it’s important to know some basic points about the companies before to knock at their doors for assistance. It must be kept in mind that not all people are wise out of the whole population so to steer clear of any evil minds the onus is completely upon you to know about them in detail.

When you plan a trip to Europe and specifically to Italy then there are few minute detail that must be kept in mind. In Italy like any other part of the world you can find many car hire companies with a principal aim of building a mutual trust and admiration with its clients. Car Rental offices are similar to any other sales job where they (companies) have to look for the customer feedback and gauge their future in the market. Well, if you are still in the darkness then let me tell you that a good car hire is the back bone for any good trip. So be smart and prompt while you go about the selection procedure and few points of advice might just help. Be sure that you indulge yourself in intensive research whereby you can gather useful facts about the company. Taking help from internet can always be a wise idea. However busy you are, never forget to go through the documental papers or insurance papers of the company. It is your task to ask for the desired papers to be absolutely that the company has a collision control waiver other you may have to end up paying for the car repair or may be a brand new car.

True guided tours are convenient, true driving in a foreign country without knowing the language is a hassle, true they drive on the wrong side of the road, but equally true is the fact that the best way to enjoy the diversity and beauty of Tuscany is when you self drive through the countryside.

The best thing to do would be to rent a car, the smallest possible car that you could rent would make things more convenient as gas in Europe is expensive, the roads are often narrow, parking is difficult, and turns can be tight.

The other drivers are not really a big problem in Tuscany but the roads and road signs may be different from what you are accustomed to. There are also many places where high stone walls border the road on both sides, especially in the hills around Florence. Beep when you approach a blind turn and keep your ears open to hear someone doing the same from the other direction.  At night, flash your high-beams instead.

Always let the other driver pass if you are on a two way road that simply won’t fit two passing cars. Buy the best road map available and keep it ready in your glove compartment.

The best thing on the highways, the Italian Autostrade is the Autogrill a highway-only chain of rest stops you can get a decent panino, a caffè for a quick boost of caffeine and just about anything else you might need.

Don’t be afraid of getting lost as that the best discoveries are made when you get a bit “misplaced”.

Car hire is available from leading companies including Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, Sixt and Europcar.

On Monday, the airlines have given the statement that Alitalia, the Italian carrier, is ready to join the Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines Joint Venture, enabling the alliance access to the 3^rd biggest market of Europe.

The joining of Alitalia represents the venture with a total transatlantic capacity of 26pct and over $10 billion of annual revenues. As a part of the agreement, it joins as of April 1, running until at least March 31, 2022.

Alitalia, in which 25 percent of stakes are held by the Air France-KLM, went bankrupt in the year 2008. But by the private investors of Italy, it has been relaunched in the last year, after years of struggling with inefficiencies and strikes.

Rocco Sabelli, the CEO, has said to the news conference that Alitalia’s new start was difficult as it has experienced low occupancy rates and flight delays but still it has shown a strong improvement with the revenues increasing 10%, in the first half of the year. He also denied the rumor of buying of the Italian airline by the Air France-KLM. He also claimed that no plans are made by the airlines to raise the capital again, in the coming days.

Alitalia an Italian airline, is the world’s 19th largest airline as per the fleet size, serving nearly 27 domestic and 53 international destinations in over 38 countries. MilleMiglia is its frequent flyer program, which allows and redeems the passengers with free tickets across the whole alliance while granting access to Alitalia’s privileged clubs. This MilleMiglia program also offers major car rental companies of international networks, renting car hires at special rates.

Italy is a country located partly on the European Continent and partly on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

The land known as Italy today has been the cradle of European cultures and peoples, Italy’s capital, Rome, was for centuries the political centre of Western civilization, as the capital of the Roman Empire.

Modern Italy is a democratic republic. It has been ranked the world’s eighteenth most-developed country.

Italy has a diverse climate ranging from the Mediterranean to the continental sub tropical.

Italy is a beautiful country, a place of olive oil, pasta, wine, mafia and sunshine, roman ruins and renaissance palaces, Italy has a lot to give its tourists.

Italy though linked by rail and air is best savored when seen by road. It is scenic with a bounty of flora and fauna.

• Destinations.

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Located in the heart of Tuscany, a stunning province of hills and mountains, the Renaissance capital of the world, with famous sons like Leonardo, Dante, Machiavelli and Michelangelo, is a sight not to be missed.

Genoa is “the most winding, incoherent of cities, the most entangled topographical ravel in the world.”

Milan is a city like no other in Italy. It’s foggy in winter, muggy in summer, and is closer in outlook, as well as distance, to London than to Palermo.

Naples, in the shadow of the Mount Vesuvius, the fertile crescent of Campania cradles the Bay of Naples and the larger Gulf of Salerno. Some say, this is Italy’s most spectacular natural setting.

Padua, Extensively reconstructed after the damage caused by bombing in World War II, and hemmed in by the sprawl that has accompanied its development as the most important economic centre of the Veneto.

Palermo is the capital of Sicily and its largest city – stupendously sited in its own wide bay underneath the limestone bulk of Monte Pellegrino, originally a Phoenician, and then a Carthaginian colony.

Since the beginning of tourism, Pisa has been known for just one thing – the Leaning Tower, which serves around the world as a shorthand image for Italy.

Roma: the name inverts neatly to form ‘amor’. And that’s it – people tend either to love or to hate the place and Rome can reward you as no other city can.

Nobody arrives in Venice and sees the city for the first time. Depicted and described so often that its image has become part of the European collective consciousness, Venice can initially create the slightly anticlimactic feeling that everything looks exactly as it should.

With its wealth of Roman sites and streets of pink-hued medieval buildings, the easy-going city of Verona has more in the way of sights than any other place in the Veneto except Venice itself.

Milan is Lombardy’s capital. If you decide to visit Milan, you will surely have a glamorous experience. You can visit various elegant structures and attractions. When you get your map, make sure to get Car Hire to assist you in getting around the city.

• More than a fashion capital

When you hear Milan, the first thing that comes to mind is the different designer clothes and accessories, fashion shows and the like, but there is more to it than these. You will find museums, structures, cathedrals and other attractions that are worth your while.

• Piazza del Duomo

First stop is the Piazza del Duomo, where you can find the world’s biggest gothic Church, Milan’s Cathedral. The cathedral is a most pleasant view because of its majestic structure.

You will find more breathtaking images when you enter it. There are several attractions that you can find in the Piazza as well. You will find there the museum of Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuelle II and the Palazzo Real.

• Santa Maria delle Grazie

You should not also miss to visit this popular Dominican convent. Aside from its structure, it is also famous for the Last Supper mural of Leonardo da Vinci. You will find this in the convent’s refectory. However, this 15^th century convent in itself is worth your visit. The church is small compared to other grand cathedrals, however, it looks very beautiful and peaceful. This is a great place to visit when you want to find solitude.

• Castelo Sforzesco

The historic castle is used to be where the ruling family of Milan resides. Today, it has been converted and used for Milan’s Museums. It also houses different art collections. You will also find one of da Vinci’s works here. You will find his ceiling painting in the Sala Delle Asse. Just like most of the various attractions in Milan, the castle’s architecture is also beautifully designed as well as its landscape and details. GP

There is a lot to visit and discover in Rome. You can be certain that its beauty will be imprinted in your memory forever. To make sure that you make the most out of your visit, let a Car Hire help you. You will get to the tourist attractions faster and will enable you to enjoy the sceneries longer.

• A trip to the Roman Past

Visiting the Colosseum is the closest you will get to the Roman Empire’s power and way of living. It was previously called the Flavian Amphitheater. Different emperors used the structure to impress the public. This is where presentations and games were done to entertain them. Such acts were used to improve the emperor’s popularity. Today, all that is left is its ruins. But still, it remains as one of the best symbols of the Roman Empire.

Another reminder of the great empire is the Pantheon. This was originally built to house all pagan gods. However, the structure was made into a church in 609. What makes it more valuable in Rome is the fact that it is where remains of many Italian Kings lay. You will also find the tomb of the well-known artist, Raphael there.

• A glimpse of the most beautiful Fountain in Rome

You have not been to Rome if you failed to visit the Fontana di Trevi. It is a fountain with beautiful sculpture accompanied by an interesting history. This used to be an Agua Virgo terminal. The water from it was used in thermal baths. Legend has it that if you want to return to Rome, you must toss a coin to the fountain, your back facing it and tossing the coin over your shoulder.

There are other must see sights in Rome like the Circus Maximus, Vatican Museums and the Piaza Novena. With car hire, you will surely be able to get to those tourist attractions without trouble. GP