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Romans love them, and their name gives away when they happen, but do we know what they are? Let’s take a look at our capital’s most loved autumnal tradition, the ottobrate. In the good old days and up to the beginning of the 20th century, ottobrate were a serious affair. Dedicated to the celebration of the end ofvendemmia, they found their most anc...

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Autumn in Tuscany is the season for sunny, golden-hued grapes. It is time to cherish the earth and the fruits of the vine. Restaurants put up handwritten signs about fresh porcini mushrooms, and small towns hold sagra, festivals celebrating local food and history. Living in Florence over the years, I have enjoyed short local train travel within the...

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The Villa Farnese in Caprarola, not to be mistaken for the Palazzo Farnese in Rome, is an extraordinary example of 16th century art and architecture. Despite the rooms being empty of furniture, the art that decorates the walls and ceilings will give you the feeling of the opulence of villas in the Italian countryside, as you can see from the pictur...

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In the latest episode of CNN’s Searching for Italy, actor Stanley Tucci continued his journey in southern Italy with a stop in Puglia (POOL-ya), located, as he says, “in the heel of Italy’s boot…with 500 miles of coastline and 60 million olive trees, one for every Italian in Italy.”  The town of Foggia, he noted, is the “bread basket of Italy,” pro...

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The Necropoli Etrusca di Castel d’Asso is located about 10km west of Viterbo in an area of Etruscan settlements in northen Lazio called Tuscia (see our Lazio Map). The site is said to be one of the best preserved Etruscan necropolis in Italy. The site is free to visit, and there is parking alongside the road for easy access. The necropolis is dated...

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Crunchy yet tender, sweet and high in calories, there's a peculiar Italian snack which is sandwiched between two pieces of Christian communion wafers. The ostie piene, or "filled hosts" -- a mouthwatering mix of almonds and honey stuffed between two wafers -- are one of Italy's most delicious cookies. And they could also be one of its most sacrileg...

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The Ottobrata Romana, a term used to describe Rome's balmy Indian Summer weather that traditionally occurs in October, is set to continue into the month of November for the first time. The unseasonably warm spell, christened "Novembrata" by the Italian weather forecast site IlMeteo.it, is spurred by the latest anticyclone from Africa, bringing with...

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Fairy-tale landscapes dominated by the silent whiteness of nature certainly need no introduction. The finest Hollywood movies have accustomed us to the glamour of the ski week on our snowy peaks.  If you don't ski, however, what to do in the mountains during winter? In this article, we take you through the most beautiful activities and sports that...

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With the end of the pandemic, the Belpaese seems to have regained its leading role in the food and wine industry both in Europe and overseas. From the Langhe to Sicily, Italy has awakened by reintroducing wines of excellence that represent the true pride of our country, with renowned labels to be enjoyed in private and luxurious settings that tell...

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It's a place of terraced lemon groves, a paradoxically warm mountain breeze, and a powerful fat-killing gene carried by a few lucky residents. Limone sul Garda, a picturesque fishing village set on the shores of Lake Garda in Italy's northern Lombardy region, is an unusual destination of barely 1,000 residents. It is the most northern spot in the e...

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