Don’t Go: The last Sunday of the month when admission is free. Truly everyone and their mother will be in line with you. Do Go: Wednesday morning when other visitors will be in St. Peter’s Square for the Pope’s weekly blessing. (He blesses the crowd from his apartment window at 11 a.m.)
Gift Guide: Italy in Photographs
While its hard to leave Italy, images and photos are the next best things to preserving the magic of this place. Artist Allison Cross has shared her drawings and photos in the Christmas cards and note cards and prints she has produced for Dream of Italy. Now we introduce photographer Nancy Robinson who uses both black and white and color …
Yummy!: Artisanal Bread School in Tuscany
There are few things more pleasurable than freshly baked bread. Perhaps freshly baked bread dipped in Tuscan olive oil? How about learning to bake your own fresh Italian bread in Tuscany?!? That’s what you can do at the Artisanal Bread School based at the La Macchia estate in the Tuscan village of Mercatale di Cortona. Classes are held in …
Get a FREE Copy of “Dream of Italy’s Special Report: Sicily”
Interested in learning more about the enchanting and alluring island of Sicily? Sign up for Dream of Italy’s twice monthly free e-mail updates on travel to Italy and automatically receive a FREE copy of Dream of Italy’s Special Report: Sicily ($12 value). Our report covers everything from the hustle and bustle of Palermo to Sicily’s volcanic Aeolian Islands. Find out …
New Year’s in Venice: San Clemente Palace
Venice seems like the perfect place to ring in 2008. If a New Year’s trip is in your plans, consider the two-night New Year’s Package at Venice’s San Clemente Palace. This package for two people includes: two nights accommodations between December 30th and January 1st an upgrade to the next highest category of room daily buffet breakfast …
Washington, DC Event: “Planning for Your Dream of Italy” Wine Tasting
It is no mistake that the name of my subscription travel newsletter is Dream of Italy; for so many, traveling to Italy, spending an extended period of time there or even retiring in the land of la dolce vita is a dream. So how do you make this dream a reality? Dream of Italy has partnered with Ameriprise Financial and …
Looking for Venice Christmas Cards?
Yes, boys and girls, it is just about that time of year…I was in Target this evening, purchasing a Halloween costume. If you must know, it was for me. Apparently, even thirty-somethings go to Halloween parties…Anyway, the aisles just next to the Halloween items were filling with all kinds of Christmas products. Come November 1, the holiday bonanza will be …
Trajan’s Markets Reopen in Rome
Trajan’s Markets reopened to the public today in Rome after more than two years of restoration and construction. The new Museum of the Imperial Forums also opened today, according to the Italian news agency, ANSA. The refurbished markets and new museum are the first steps in the creation of a number of old and new museums and cultural sites on …
Do Your Homework Before Renting a Villa in Italy
In this excerpt from Dream of Italy’s Special Report: Villa Rentals, villa rental experts share their tips for selecting the villa of your dreams – Use the Web to do some detective work. Search for the name of the property you are interested in (as well as the town where it is located) on the Internet. You might be able …
Access to Once-in-a-Lifetime Italian Travel Experiences
We’ve crossed the pond! Last weekend, The London Sunday Times wrote about Dream of Italy, specifically our travel planning off shoot, The Italian Dream Concierge. In “The A-Lister’s Guide to Luxury Travel,” reporter Paul Croughton details how yours truly and other high-end planners can offer you once-in-a-lifetime experiences. He writes, “The bespoke travel arranger has contacts where mere wandering mortals …