Are You Eligible for Italian Citizenship?

The National Italian American Foundation and the Italian Embassy now offer an free online dual citizenship questionnaire to help people find out whether they can qualify for Italian citizenship. I myself filled it out today. The questions cover whether you were born in Italy, born after January 1, 1948 and whether any of your parents or grandparents were born in …

One Way to Buy an Italian Villa

I love people who make their dreams come true and The New York Times today has a great story about an American graduate student who financed her dream of buying a house in Italy by selling shares! In 2001, Julie Hampton needed $80,000 to buy a house in a small village north of Florence. She only had a few thousand …

Pauline Frommer’s Picks for Milan and Rome

This is an excerpt from the September 2006 issue of Dream of Italy and Pauline Frommer’s Italy. Although Pauline focuses mainly on budget choices, these selections are great options for the more upscale traveler as well. I’ve eaten at Brek in Turin and had a fantastic meal there. – K.M. ROME: Bed & Breakfast Association of Rome handles both self-catering …

Party in Naples This Saturday

The city of Naples will host its second annual “La Notte Bianca” (White Night) this Saturday, September 30. The theme for this year’s event is “The Mediterranean, a Sea of Culture.” According to the organizers, “It will feature the artistic expressions of the various countries sharing this sea: not only Europe, with the multiplicity of the cultures and traditions of …

Join Us for Washington, D.C.’s Festa Italiana

Washington, D.C.’s 8th annual Festa Italiana will take place this Sunday, September 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 5: 30 p.m. and Dream of Italy will have a booth at the celebration! The location is at 3rd and F Streets, N.W. Dream of Italy will have jewelry, guidebooks, DVDs, note cards and more available at its booth, as well as free …

Piemonte on the Brain

It seems that everywhere I turn there’s an event, an article, a conversation involving the Piedmont region of Italy. Even before I attended the Winter Olympics in Turin, Piedmont had one a special place in my heart. I can liken it to Tuscany before it was discovered; and the wine and food in Piedmont (especially those awesome white truffles) give …

News Briefs: Pizza, Strikes and More

September looks to be an active month for transportation strikes in Italy. Often these strikes are called off at the last minute, but a national strike of public transportation workers looks to still be scheduled for Friday, September 15. National rail service will not be affected, but service on local buses, trams, subways and trains will be limited. A Japanese …

Chinese Soldiers in Rome

Someone was telling me last night that she thinks tourism to China might be giving tourism to Italy a run for its money. I don’t know of any stats to back that up, but if you’re interested in both China and Italy, then this exhibit is for you: China: The Birth of an Empire, featuring over 350 artifacts – many …

Stay Up All Night in Rome

Rome will be open all night starting at 8 p.m. Friday, September 8 and ending Saturday at 8 a.m. It is the Eternal City’s annual celebration Notte Bianca (White Night), featuring hundreds of events all over the city. Dozens of theaters, art galleries and museums, including the Villa Borghese, the Victor Emmanuel Monument, the Colosseum and the Villa Medici, will …