The latest news from the experts in Italian Travel
Christmas Market (Il Mercato di Natale) in Piazza Santa Croce November 28 to December 16, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Forty-nine exhibitors from 13 European countries will be selling their wares: Christmas decorations from Germany, reindeer furs from Finland, typical sweets from Austria, China-bone from England, dolls and glass from Hungary and amber from Poland.Ice Skating in Piazza della Libertà …
Looks like religion and technology have collided again in Italy. Italians – and indeed many Catholics around the world – are known for carrying small pictures (called santini) of saints in their wallets. That may be a thing of the past sometime soon as Reuters reports that a new Web site, santiprotettori.com is now offering to send one of a …
My friend Joe Brancatelli asks, “Who doesn’t crave a little dolce vita for the holidays?” If you do and you like flying business class, act today to take advantage of Alitalia’s business fare sale. In an article this week, Joe writes, “And at least on the surface, Alitalia’s grandiosely named Magnifica Class is a bargain for as little as $775 …
Abruzzo has so many facets and one of them is that is an incredible place for seeing religious relics. Here’s an excerpt from our special report: The town of Lanciano is home to the first Eucharistic miracle recorded by the Catholic Church. During an 8th century mass, after the consecration, the host was turned into human flesh and the wine …
What’s the most magical gift you can give someone (including yourself!) this holiday season? How about a week of cultural and personal enrichment in one of the most beautiful places in the world? Tuscany Get a jump start on your New Year’s intentions and make 2008 your most amazing year yet! Join executive coach Margarita Rozenfeld and Dream of …
gI just posted below about the book I am currently reading, The Lost Ravioli Recipies of Hoboken. . I want to share a passage from the book that I found intriguing enough to mark the other night. Author Laura Schenone writes: By 1920, nine million people – about one-quarter of Italy’s citizens – lived outside the country, writes historian Carol …
I’m reading a wonderful new book called The Lost Ravioli Recipies of Hoboken. The author Laura Schenone, a friend of a writer friend, actually called me a few years back as she was working on the book. She was looking for travel tips for her trip to Liguria where she planned to research the origin of her great grandmother’s famous …
There’s an advantage to being your own boss and one of them is the executive decision to watch Oprah, when possible, at 4 p.m. each weekday. That’s my coffee break. Today she presented “Oprah’s Favorite Things” – the episode people wait for all year with her recommendations for gift giving. It got me thinking about my favorite things. Cinema Paradiso: …
So which is it? I’m working on a special report on Abruzzo – Italy’s mountainous region bordering the Adriatic. Yet so many people call it Abruzzi. Why? In the Middle Ages the region was called Abruzzo, from the Latin Aprutium. Later, the region was divided into three areas, Abruzzo Citeriore, Abruzzo Ulteriore I and Abruzzo Ulteriore II. So if you’ve …
Did you know that star ratings at Italian hotels are awarded by the government? They can sometimes be tricky to understand. Here are some tips for juding hotel ratings- 4-star or 5-star hotels must have personnel that speak at least two languages. They must provide breakfast areas and have elevators. (2- and 3-star hotels must have elevators above the 2nd …
