Where in Italy for the TomKat Wedding?

Now that the world knows that annoying, but still can’t take your eyes off couple, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will marry in Italy on October 18th and the bride and groom will where Armani and it will be a Scientology wedding with Catholic influences, the only question remains, exactly where in Italia will it take place? Since Katie visited …

That Time Again: Italian Christmas Cards

It is hard to believe that it is almost that time of year again, but people have begun snapping up our elegant Italian Christmas cards! Time to get yours. We have a new design this year (and one that I plan to use as my personal card) – St. Peter’s with Bow (pictured at right). Artist Allison Cross created this …

Modern Art Takes to the Tracks

As if art weren’t easy enough to find in Italy, for the month of October, Trenitalia is leaving Italians and tourists with no excuse for missing out on museums. “The Art Train,” a modern art museum on wheels, is making daily stops in Italy’s major cities through October 31. The train left Turin at the beginning of the month to …

They Paved Paradise…And Discovered A Necropolis?

Three years ago, while building a parking lot of all things, workers at the Vatican unearthed an unknown ancient burial ground. AP reports that Vatican visitors will soon be able to descend into the burial ground for an untouched look at life–or more importantly, death–for middle class citizens living under Roman rule from Augustus, beginning in 23 A.D., to Constantine, …

Will TomKat Marry on Lake Como?

People.com reports that Katie Holmes visited Lake Como last weekend, possibly scouting wedding locations for her upcoming nuptials with Tom Cruise. But before anyone gets too excited, we have heard this all before — most recently when Brangelina were rumored to be marrying at George Clooney’s villa. There’s a reason celebs love Lake Como; it is one of Italy’s most …

Delta: New NYC to Pisa Route

Delta announced today that it will add a non-stop flight from New York’s JFK Aiport to Pisa effective May 31, 2007. The outbound flight to Pisa will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, leaving JFK at 8:15 p.m. The return flight operates on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, leaving Pisa at the convenient time of 1:35 p.m. (I hate …

Might Italian Cities Tax the Tourists?

If increasing plane tickets and high taxi prices weren’t enough, tourists may soon be faced with a new expense: a tourist tax. Francesco Rutelli, Italian deputy prime minister and minister of tourism, announced September 30th that Italian towns would now be able to exact such a tax if they should so choose, and that “city authorities in Rome, Florence and …

Balmy Truffle Boom

This fall, as rain clouds roll over the Italian Alps in Piedmont, truffle hunters are heading into the woods. While rain might mean bad news—and bad hair days—for the fashionistas in nearby Milan, it’s causing a more positive stir in the truffle hunting community. The balmy weather accompanying the rain, and the thunderstorms that these conditions produce, are the perfect …

NYC Event: Are You a Tomato?

The Three Tomatoes, a New York City women’s lifestyle newsletter is hosting a celebration of Italy on Tuesday, October 24 in Manhattan. “La Dolce Vita: A Celebration of Italy” will feature cocktails, an Italian feast, shopping at a Tuscan marketplace, wine tasting and a roundtable of speakers discussing Italian travel and life (including yours truly). There will also be a …

Introducing The Italian Dream Concierge!

For four years, Dream of Italy subscribers and non-subscribers alike have contacted me asking if I personally plan trips to Italy. Until now, the answer has been no, but I’m proud to announce that I have launched The Italian Dream Concierge in response to the many requests! I’ll be honest that the service isn’t for everyone; if you are just …