“The Germans have conquered our village!” reads the headline of Castelfalfi’s local giornale, Il Tirreno. It sounds shocking to read that Germans are purchasing an entire Italian village, but once you know more details, it’s really not such a bad idea. Andrea Mechacci, a resident of the Castelfalfi tells the British newspaper The Guardian, “If it remains as it is, …
Music Lovers: Get an Insider’s View of Tuscany
Experience the riches of Florence and Siena, and the neighboring picturesque hill towns of the Tuscan countryside as you enjoy the hospitality of the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program, July 18 to August 8, 2007. The program is celebrating celebrating its thirteenth year in Greve in Chianti. Observe master classes and attend weekly performances. Even learn Italian. Spend one, two, or …
Fair and Expo Fun in Trieste This June
Have you ever wanted to see the Adriatic city of Trieste, but weren’t sure what to do there? Here’s your opportunity to not only experience the local culture, but to dabble in the cultures of 15 other countries at the same time! Fiera Trieste presents its International Trade Fair June 9th to 17th. Expect to see “lots of local and …
Palermo’s 700 year-old Vucciria Market Withers
Could one of Palermo’s most beloved open-air markets becoming a thing of the past? Some locals are concerned that without the help of city funding, the once-bustling Vucciria market may not be around to see the next decade. Danielle Pargament of The New York Times describes her unforgettable experience: “As I stepped over the empty boxes and discarded fruit rinds, …
New York Event: Taste Torino at the United Nations This Week
I so wish I was going to be in New York this week. If so, I would make a beeline for the United Nations Delegates Dining Room where all week the restaurant is celebrating the food of Torino with an all-you-can-eat-buffet for just $25 (plus drinks and tip). Torino, the capital of Piedmont and host of the 2006 Winter Olympics, …
Italy Bests U.S. in America’s Cup
The America’s Cup Semifinals, which took place on Sunday in Valencia, Spain left US team BMW Oracle Racing disheartened after they lost to Italian team Luna Rossa by 33-seconds. Among the California-based crew was software billionaire Larry Ellison, owner of the USA-98 yacht had invested nearly $200 million in the team in hopes that they would take home the trophy. …
You Might Call Naples “Trashy,” This Week At Least
An escalating trash crisis in Naples that has left the city in almost unlivable conditions since Monday. “Doctors described the situation as “dramatic” and warned that the city faced a health emergency,” according to a report from Italian news agency ANSA. Locals are fed up with the mountains of trash that have been piling up on the streets in and …
How I Realized My “Dream of Italy”
As editor and publisher of Dream of Italy, I write about so many topics related to Italian travel, but what I haven’t written about much as how I ended up with this “dream” job in the first place. It is often the first question people ask when I meet them at a conference or cocktail party. I haven’t had the …
Venice May Be Drowning in Tourism
Would Venice still be one of the world’s hottest tourist attractions if there were no Venetians left in the city? This question is a serious one given the alarming rate of decline in the local population. This article in The Times (London) highlights the urgency of this situation and even illustrates the matter by comparing past and present population statistics: …
Searching for Heavenly Hotel Rates in Italy?
Would you consider renting a hotel room…from a nun? More and more people are turning to convents as a more affordable way to get some shut-eye in the Eternal City, not to mention the warm hospitality, clean, private bathrooms and serenity that is conducive even to praying. Although this trend started in 2000 when 25 million tourists and pilgrims visited …