Italian Life Rules: How to Kiss an Italian

Italian Life Rules, a new book by Ann Reavis, helps even the most experienced Italophiles navigate the pitfalls of Italian life. When to say ciao and how and when to kiss are serious considerations for every traveler to Italy.

Italian Life Rules: When to Say Ciao

This article originally appeared in the February 2015 issue of Dream of Italy. Updated 2018. There are few people who know more about the ins and outs of Italian life, than our friend Ann Reavis, a phenomenal tour guide in Florence, and the author of Italian Food Rules  and Italian Life Rules, from which this article is excerpted. These two ebooks …

Volunteer Your Way Through Italy With Workaway

Updated 2018. A site that will truly help you do as the Romans do, Workaway is an interesting option for adventurous travelers looking to experience Italian life and culture – hands on! Workaway facilitates the exchange of work for room and board. The site lets hosts post their unique labor needs while workers can search for work that suits them …

In Search of the Modern Grand Tour of Italy

This article originally appeared in the December 2015/January 2016 issue of Dream of Italy. Updated 2018. Taking “a grand tour” sounds old-fashioned — and it truly is. Although the kind of leisurely, arts-focused weeks or months in Italy that many of us have only seen depicted in films like the 1985 Merchant-Ivory classic A Room with A View might sound romantic …

Flytographer Preserves Photos of Your Trip to Italy

Your trip to Italy is the dream of a lifetime…why not preserve it with more than selfies and iPhone pics on the fly. This great new service matches you with a professional photographer in your destination.

The Exchange Rate Is Falling: How to Cash In and Travel to Italy

Today, the dollar-to-euro exchange rate hit a 12-year low against other world currencies, meaning that those dollars will go farther when you travel to Italy. Currently at $1.05 to 1.00€, the exchange rate is expected to drop even further, with some analysts predicting a 1:1 exchange as soon as next month. It’s probably going to stay that way for a while, too. …

Tips for Navigating Italy’s Cathedrals

Updated 2019. Our friend Martha Bakerjian, the Italy guide for About.com, recently published a new mobile app: Italy Travel Tips & Hints, available on iTunes and Android. The tips and hints included in the app are based Martha’s personal travels throughout Italy over the past 30 years, as well as questions she gets from her readers. Here she helps travelers …

5 Italy Travel Trends for 2014

What do Pope Francis, AirBnB, Italian citizenship, outdoor adventure and families have to do with each other? They are part of five Italy trends that are impacting travel in 2014.