function initialize() {
      if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {          
var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map_canvas")); 
map.setCenter(new GLatLng(40.55827,8.313367), 16);              
//icon defionition for mabrouk	 
var mabroukIcon = new GIcon(G_DEFAULT_ICON); 	 
mabroukIcon.image = "media/markers/marker1.png"; 	 
mabroukIcon.iconSize = new GSize(20, 34); 	 
mabroukIcon.shadowSize = new GSize(0, 0); 	 
mabroukIcon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(10, 30); 
//icon defionition for casablanca 	 
var casablancaIcon = new GIcon(G_DEFAULT_ICON); 	 
casablancaIcon.image = "media/markers/marker2.png"; 	 
casablancaIcon.iconSize = new GSize(20, 34); 	 
casablancaIcon.shadowSize = new GSize(0, 0); 	 
casablancaIcon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(10, 30); 
//icon definition for mulino	 
var mulinoIcon = new GIcon(G_DEFAULT_ICON); 	 
mulinoIcon.image = "media/markers/marker3.png"; 	 
mulinoIcon.iconSize = new GSize(20, 34); 	 
mulinoIcon.shadowSize = new GSize(0, 0); 	 
mulinoIcon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(10, 30); 
//icon definition for cavour 	 
var cavourIcon = new GIcon(G_DEFAULT_ICON); 	 
cavourIcon.image = "media/markers/marker4.png"; 	 
cavourIcon.iconSize = new GSize(20, 34); 	 
cavourIcon.shadowSize = new GSize(0, 0); 	 
cavourIcon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(10, 30); 	   
//icon definition for tugari	 
var tugariIcon = new GIcon(G_DEFAULT_ICON); 	 
tugariIcon.image = "media/markers/marker5.png"; 	 
tugariIcon.iconSize = new GSize(20, 34); 	 
tugariIcon.shadowSize = new GSize(0, 0); 	 
tugariIcon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(10, 30); 	   
//icon definition for nettuno 	 
var nettunoIcon = new GIcon(G_DEFAULT_ICON); 	 
nettunoIcon.image = "media/markers/marker6.png"; 	 
nettunoIcon.iconSize = new GSize(20, 34); 	 
nettunoIcon.shadowSize = new GSize(0, 0); 	 
nettunoIcon.iconAnchor = new GPoint(10, 30); 	

var mapTypeControl = new GMapTypeControl(); 
var topRight = new GControlPosition(G_ANCHOR_TOP_RIGHT, new GSize(10,10));          
var bottomRight = new GControlPosition(G_ANCHOR_BOTTOM_RIGHT, new GSize(10,10));  	 	 	 
//var marker = new GMarker(point);  	          
//this function constructs the info box 	  

function createMarker(point,html) {          
var marker = new GMarker(point, markerOptions);          
GEvent.addListener(marker, "click", function() {            
marker.openInfoWindowHtml(html);         });          
return marker;       	}  	 
function createMarker2(point) {          
var marker = new GMarker(point, markerOptions);          
return marker;       	}  
   //map.addOverlay(marker); 	 
//map.addOverlay(marker, markerOptions);  
//create mabrouk marker
markerOptions = { icon:mabroukIcon }; 
var point = new GLatLng(40.559355,8.311973); 	 
var marker = createMarker(point,'<div style="width:240px; height:150px"><b>Mabrouk</b><BR><div style="font-size:11px"><i>Via Santa Barbara 4 - 079 970 000</i></div><P style="font-size:9.5px">A small and intimate seafood restaurant hidden down a cobbled street near the marina. The single set menu of 4 courses allows diners to experience as many as ten different types of fresh locally caught seafood with as much wine and water as required.</div>')    
map.addOverlay(marker);  
//create casablanca marker 
markerOptions = { icon:casablancaIcon }; 	
var point = new GLatLng(40.556976,8.313423); 	 
var marker = createMarker(point,'<div style="width:240px; height:117px"><b>Casablanca</b><BR><div style="font-size:11px"><i>Via Principe Umberto 76 - 079 983 353</i></div><P style="font-size:9.5px">This popular restaurant/pizzeria is a good choice for al fresco dining. In addition to the main low-vaulted dining room there is an outdoor terrace on the piazza opposite. </div>')    
map.addOverlay(marker); 
//create mulino marker 
markerOptions = { icon:mulinoIcon }; 
var point = new GLatLng(40.558555,8.312213); 	 
var marker = createMarker(point,'<div style="width:240px; height:135px"><b>Al Vecchio Mulino</b><BR><div style="font-size:11px"><i>Via Don Deroma 3 - 079 977 254</i></div><P style="font-size:9.5px">Tucked away in the centre of the old town the unassuming entrance to this inexpensive restaurant leads into a vaulted and atmospheric dining area. Friendly staff serve from the excellent pizza/pasta based menu. </div>')    
map.addOverlay(marker); 
//create cavour marker 
markerOptions = { icon:cavourIcon }; 
var point = new GLatLng(40.556806,8.312633); 	 
var marker = createMarker(point,'<div style="width:240px; height:135px"><b>Trattoria Cavour</b><BR><div style="font-size:11px"><i>Via Cavour 110 - 079 973 8479</i></div><P style="font-size:9.5px">Trattoria Cavour is located on the street of the same name, set a few yards from the old town ramparts. The small comfortable dining room is a good place for savouring the selection of <!-- google_ad_section_start -->Sardinian<!-- google_ad_section_end --> meat and fish specialities on offer.</div>')    
map.addOverlay(marker); 
//create tugari marker
markerOptions = { icon:tugariIcon }; 
var point = new GLatLng(40.556746,8.314023); 	 
var marker = createMarker(point,'<div style="width:240px; height:150px"><b>Al Tugari</b><BR><div style="font-size:11px"><i>Via Maiorca 113 - 079 976 772</i></div><P style="font-size:9.5px">The literal translation of this restaurant name is "hovel" which today is somewhat ironic given the attractive surroundings of the old building. Spread over three floors the menu contains high quality examples of current <!-- google_ad_section_start -->Mediterranean<!-- google_ad_section_end --> and Catalan influenced cuisine.</div>')    
map.addOverlay(marker); 
//create nettuno marker	 
markerOptions = { icon:nettunoIcon }; 
var point = new GLatLng(40.559925,8.313913); 	 
var marker = createMarker(point,'<div style="width:240px; height:135px"><b>Nettuno</b><BR><div style="font-size:11px"><i>Via Maddalanetta 4 - 079 979 774</i></div><P style="font-size:9.5px">This restaurant/pizzeria has great views over the marina from an outside balcony (additional charge) in addition to a roof terrace which is open in the summer. The location does mean higher than average prices.</div>')    
map.addOverlay(marker); 
//add zoom controls 	 
map.addControl(mapTypeControl, topRight); 	  
GEvent.addListener(map, "dblclick", function() {
            map.removeControl(mapTypeControl);            
map.addControl(new GMapTypeControl(), bottomRight);         });          
map.addControl(new GLargeMapControl()); 	 }      }