This is an excerpt from the June/July 2013 issue of Dream of Italy: Some wineries innovate with art, and others with science. Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio near Perugia belongs to the latter category, as the first in Italy—and among the first worldwide—to reduce its carbon footprint and be certified as having reached zero greenhouse gas emissions. Monte Vibiano, part of …
Summer Evenings at Italy’s Monuments and Museums
Remember when you were a kid and summer was all about staying up late? Well the same applies to many of Italy’s monuments and museums. They’re featuring extended summer hours and special evening events and we have the scoop… Sicilian Temples Lit Up Through September 15, 2013, the stupendous Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily will be open until …
June/July 2013 – Umbria Vineyards, Italian Language Schools, Friuli’s Carnian Alps
Ever dreamed of going to language school in Italy? We have a first-hand account and a great guide to schools around Italy. Sipping wine more your style? We visit two vineyards in Umbria – one is an architectural wonder and one is an eco-wonder. Finally, head into Friuli for simple summer pleasures like food an festival in the Carinian Alps.
How to Visit the 2013 Venice Biennale
If you’re visiting Venice in 2013, you can’t miss the celebration of contemporary art that is the 55th International Art Exhibition (Biennale), the world’s largest art event. Who: This year’s Biennale is curated by New York City-based critic Massimiliano Gioni, who chose the theme“The Encyclopedic Palace” in honor of Italo-American self-taught artist Marino Auriti who “on November 16, 1955 filed …
Children Can Now Enter Rome’s Colosseum for Free
Great news if you are visiting Rome with your young children: The Colosseum is now waiving the entrance fee for anyone under 18 years of age. Rome tour guide Giovanni Tanoni (one of Dream of Italy’s best tour guides in Italy) just contacted us to let us know that children will no longer need to pay 13.50 euros to enter …
Dan Brown’s Inferno Inspires Italy Tours
Updated 2018. He’s back….well, actually “they’re back.” Author Dan Brown and his lead character (of The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons fame) art historian Robert Langdon (you might remember Tom Hanks played him in the movies) are back with a new book Inferno. The plot revolves around Langdon trying to stop the spread of a deadly virus, while using …
Drink or Dine Over Venice This June
Venice is simply ravishing no matter the angle; but how often do you get to see it from a bird’s eye view? If you’re in La Serenissima between June 19 and 23, you could have Dinner in the Sky over Venice. The Hotel Cipriani will be serving dinner and drinks on a platform 164 feet above the luxury hotel’s swimming …
May 2013 – Assisi, Le Marche Vineyard
Since the election of Pope Francis, everyone is planning to visit Assisi (including the pope, in October) to learn more about Saint Francis. We have a full guide on the top sites, hidden treasures and where to stay and eat. Then we are off to Le Marche to visit an organic vineyard that is gaining recognition in Italy – and it offerss an adorable hotel.
Lucca Celebrates 500 Years With Event Series
The town of Lucca is one of Tuscany’s most charming locales. Lucca will have even more to offer starting in October when it kicks off a year-long series of events to celebrate its 500th anniversary. According to The Florentine, the anniversary celebrations “will range from exhibits and performances to debates and an all-night party, the anniversary will be marked by …
Vatican Museums: Extended Evening Hours on Fridays This Summer and Fall
In 2013, for the fifth straight year, the Vatican Museums have extended visiting hours on Friday evenings this summer and fall, to accommodate the many visitors who wish to take in the constellation of collections known as the “Pope’s Museums.” As in years past, there will be live music, both classical and contemporary, in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine …