Sunday, April 27th is an incredibly historic day at the Vatican in Rome. Two former popes will be canonized as saints and two popes are likely to be in attendance. Read this brief guide to the canonization over at ItalyTravel.com.
Italy Travel Trends for 2014
While Italy is always a popular destination for travelers, 2014 is shaping up to be a very special year for travel to la bel paese. I’ve been reporting on Italy travel full-time for 11 years in my role as editor of Dream of Italy, and this year I’ve noticed five new Italy travel trends that are giving travelers more ways …
Electing a New Pope: What’s Next?
Pope Benedict officially retired yesterday, after giving a farewell audience to 150,000 or more at St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday and then, yesterday, departed by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat in the Alban Hills outside Rome. In a detail that speaks to the way we live now, the Pope sent out a final papal tweet (“Thank you for your …
Pope Resigns: Where Will Pope Benedict Live?
The Papal Palace Details about Pope Benedict’s transition to retirement are emerging. On February 28, the Pope will be helicoptered to Castel Gandolfo, the papal vacation and summer residence in the Alban Hills outside Rome. The site, a short train ride from Rome, is popular with pilgrims from around the world who on summer Sundays catch the 8:37 train …
An Insider Shares More on the Pope’s Resignation and What to Expect at the Vatican
As the world continues to absorb the enormity of Pope Benedict’s sudden resignation and the changes it might represent, one thing is certain: St. Peter’s Square will be teeming between now and Easter Sunday, as Pope Benedict winds down his papacy over the next two weeks and the Catholic Church selects and installs a new pope. Within hours of today’s …
Pope Resigns: Implications for Travel to Rome
Pope Benedict XVI stunned the world and resigned the papacy today, two days before Lent and seven weeks before Easter, the highest and holiest holiday in the Catholic Church. His resignation, effective February 28, is without modern precedent. The last pope to resign, Gregory XII, stepped down in nearly 600 years ago, in 1450. The official reason given was Pope …
What You Need to Know About Pope John Paul’s May 1st Beatification
If you’re thinking of heading to Rome for the May 1st beatification of Pope John Paul II, you will be in good company as part of an expected crowd of two million pilgrims. People from all over the globe are flocking to the Eternal City to witness this historic and much-anticipated event. With Rome spreading its resources thin in order …
Rome Travel Alert: May 1 Will Be Pope John Paul’s Beatification.
If you’re planning to travel to Rome this spring OR if you’re interested in being in Rome for a very special event, there is some news you should be aware of – According to the Associated Press, “The pope on Friday signed off on the miracle needed to beatify Pope John Paul II and set May 1 as the date …
Vatican Watch: The Pope’s Number Two Guy
The inner workings of the Vatican are fascinating to those of us who spend so much time in Rome. It is one of the few powerful worldwide organizations that still keeps plenty of secrets and mysteries close to the vest. This week Time Magazine profiles Pope Benedict’s “right hand man,” new Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, a native …