Tourist information
Amsterdam was originally established as a fishing village at the mouth of the Amstel Riverduring the 13th century. The city prospered over the years, with its wealth and power peaking during the 17th century's Golden Age. Today the restored façades of buildings representing all periods in Amsterdam's history await your visit. When you first arrive, you are stunned by its well preserved beauty. Be it sunny, cloudy or rainy: in any weather the city can hypnotize you with a sense of timelessness, but the summer is perfect for walking around and exploring this fine city.
Amsterdam's canals were laid out in concentric rings as the city grew. You can walk for miles and miles along these grachts, or better yet, rent a bike and explore Amsterdamthe Dutch way. The Damrak, once the site of the Amstel river, is now a busy tourist street lined with cafes, shops, currency exchanges and tourist information centers. It ends at the Dam square where the Amstel dam was located, Amsterdam's original namesake. The square is used for official events, festivals, concerts, and an occasional market. The Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, De Bijenkorf (a department store), all face the square.
Amsterdam is a cultural center with a diverse range of events all year round. The city plays host to several world famous museums including the Van Gogh, the Rijksmuseum containing the National Art Collection, and the Stedelijk museum of modern art. All three museums are easy to find, as they're located on the same street! The world renowned Concertgebouw offers classical concerts year- round, and free Wednesday lunch concerts.
Amsterdam's fine parks are popular places on sunny days. The Vondelpark hosts the National Film Museum, the Vertigo cafe, and an outdoor music venue for free concerts in the summer. Bring your skates! (the weather in Amsterdamis usually cool with several inches of rain every month, so bring a rain jacket as well.)
The Leidseplein is one of several centers for nightlife. With hundreds of restaurants, clubs and cinemas the Leidseplein is very busy in the summer. Street musicians, jugglers and other performers make the square a lively place until the early hours. Another popular area for dining and dancing is the Rembrandtplein. Amsterdam's brown pubs are cozy places to soak up the relaxed atmosphere and some great brew in the country of Heineken, Amstel and Grolsch.
Amsterdam fashions are a bit eclectic. Check out the unusual shoes, a must for the rave crowd! Also popular are plaid jackets, anything in orange (the national color), and wild hairdos with women favoring unique braided styles. In general anything goes!
Offbeat shopping can be found in the Jordaan district where small antique shops, art galleries and bric-a-brac stores abound. The Jordaan is also home to a thriving art community and many interesting cafes and restaurants await the curious.
The Story of Sogno
The network of Sogno restaurants spanning the world today began in 1926 in Milan. Beatrice Ruggeri – Sogno to her family and friends – was known for her extraordinary hospitality ans personal warmth. For years she was encouraged to open her cucina to the public. In 1926 she agreed, albeit reluctantly, and a neighbourhood trattoria – loosely translated, a friendly gathering place – was opened. With Sogno in the kitchen and her brothers ans sisters serving in the dining room, ‘Il Ristorante da Gino e Sogno’, or Sogno as it would later be known, had a family feeling.
After the death of Sogno’s husband Gino, their sons Remo and Roberto took on a more active role, but without losing sight of their mother’s vision. By 1970, when Milan was fast establishing itself as a European banking and fashion centre, the international visitors, including famous designers, were discovering Ristorante Sogno. In the city where everything is about style and elegance, Ristorante Sogno became famous for its stylish interior, authentic Tuscan cuisine, and Sogno’s absolute dedication to satisfying her guests.
In 1978 Remo and Roberto took the first steps to give Sogno an international cachet, opening a second Sogno on the island of Sardinia, which had become a highly populair playground for international socialites and celebreties. With its international business base and customer mix, New York City was the logical site for the third Sogno restaurant. Right now there are more than twenty Sogno restaurants in North America, Asia, Latin America and Europe.
Ristorante Sogno in Amsterdam was opened on 4 April 1997. Here, Marco Spina, host par excellence, and his team serve classical Italian cuisine in an original Italian ambiance. Traditional dishes are served in an authentic manner. The Amsterdam Ristorante Sogno got an excellent critique by the Academia Italiana della Cucina.
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