Every June, Florence engages in a city-wide historic soccer (calcio storico) tournament, which rivals even the pomp and ceremony of Siena’s Palio, but this year’s tournament has been called off due to increasing violence surrounding the event. The historic game of calcio storico is a predecessor to modern soccer and combines elements of soccer, rugby, “Greco-Roman wrestling” and “bare-knuckle fighting.” …
Umbria Hotel Review: Relais Alla Corte del Sole
(An excerpt from theApril 2007 issue of Dream of Italy.) Relais Alla Corte del Sole is one of the four charming Umbria hotels reviewed in this issue by Rosanne Cofoid: Well, if George Clooney stayed here, it’s good enough for just about anyone. The romantic 18-room Relais began its life as a 13th-century monastery that belonged to the order of …
So You Want to Drive Along the Amalfi Coast?
For the first time this week, I rented a car to drive to the Amalfi Coast and navigate my way around its many villages. Even those who haven’t visited the area surely know of the famed Amalfi Drive (S.S. 163), filled with tour buses, cars and scooters all fighting for space on hairpin turns along cliffs high above the sea. …
The Two Sides of Capri
Tuesday, May 1 is a holiday in Italy thus providing Italians with a four-day weekend and it seems everyone is seeking out the sun, sand and the start of summer. This weekend is something like the equivalent of our Memorial Day Weekend. Striving to “do as the Italians do,” I headed to the Amalfi Coast and yesterday spent the day …
Ciao d’Abruzzo
Your friendly editor has been out of touch as she has been touring the region of Abruzzo as part of a special symposium for American tour operators, travel agents and journalists. An exhausting but rewarding experience. I took this photo from the fortress in the town of Civitella on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. More details as I have time to …
Tips for Finding Kid-Friendly Accommodations in Italy
Updated 2018. I know many of you are taking your children or grandchildren to Italy this summer. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out which hotels or villas will be kid-friendly. Amie O’Shaughnessy, founder of Ciao Bambino!, the first-ever international association of vacation properties for families, shares her list of must-haves. According to Amie,”First, its physical construction and amenities, …
Get in The Travel Mood: Watch a Clip of “La Dolce Vita”
If you’re counting the days until you arrive in Rome or if you’re just dreaming about the the city, you might want to get a copy of Federico Fellini’s classic film La Dolce Vita (1961). Considered one of the best movies of all time, the movie follows the “sweet life” of a tabloid journalist (Marcello Mastroianni) who covers the glitzy …
No Matter Your Heritage, Become a Modern Italian
If you’re looking to feed your hunger for all things Italian, let me recommend joining The Modern Italian Network, an organization for all people passionate about Italy. Membership is free! Modern Italian provides enthusiasts with the ability to be actively involved in authentic Italian culture through its newsletters, events, and coming soon, social networking Web site. Members also benefit from …
Summer Fare Sale from Boston to Italy
I never thought I would say that $1,100 is a bargain airfare between the U.S. and Italy but this summer, it just might be. (Every summer for the past few years, planes have been packed and affordable seats at a minimum. My advice, book as early as you can.) Alitalia’s Boston Summer Promotion offers special roundtrip fares for non-stop flights …
Want to Move to Italy? A House For Sale in Umbria
I know many, many, many of you dream of living in Italy, whether for a few months a year or permanently. While many of you want to live, “under the Tuscan sun,” that dream is an incredibly expensive one these days. In fact, when I interviewed Stew Vreeland of Seeyouinitaly.com for DOI’s article “Where to Buy Your Own Tuscan Hideaway,” …