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The recently-opened Classis museum in Ravenna may very well be your first stop when you visit this Emilia-Romagna city most people know for its extraordinary mosaics, part of Unesco’s World Heritage sites. Perhaps not many are aware though of the important role Ravenna played in the past, and this museum aims to provide not only an overview of the...

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With its rolling hills, pretty hilltop villages, incredible history, and famous cuisine, no wonder Tuscany is a place so many people dream of moving to – and do move to. Call it the Under the Tuscan Sun effect, or just the allure of the region, but statistics show that people from English-speaking countries are particularly drawn to Tuscany. The re...

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With a population of some 7000 people, Pieve di Cento is one of Italy’s most charming small towns. Located in Emilia Romagna, the town sits smack in the middle of a geographic triangle formed by the region’s larger and better-known cities: Bologna, Modena and Ferrara. The town doesn’t receive many tourists even though it is less than an hour’s driv...

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Built in 1593 by will of Bishop Angelo Cesi, a patron to many artists who truly spurred Todi’s cultural and artistic production, Palazzo Vescovile was designed by Giovanni Domenico Bianchi – exception made for the entrance portal, which was created by Iacopo Barozzi, known as Il Vignola. Although it resembles the abode of a Renaissance prince, the...

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This stunning architectural complex at Caserta – which includes the Royal Palace, its magnificent gardens, the San Leucio complex, and the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli –  is a true wonder. The large palace, often compared to luxurious buildings like Versailles and the Royal Palace in Madrid, is a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. The construction of the pala...

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Santo Stefano di Sessanio is a fortified medieval village tucked within the mountains of Abruzzo, but for decades, it was a ghost town.  Poverty, a lack of jobs and earthquakes triggered Italy’s rural exodus and created many ghost towns — like Santo Stefano — that have stood dormant and frozen in time. That is, until now. Italian entrepreneur Danie...

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In the northernmost reaches of Italy, close to the Austrian border, the jagged peaks of the Dolomite mountain range stretch to the sky. The dramatic landscape is a fitting backdrop to one of the world’s most important wine-producing areas: Trentino, the southern half of the famous Trentino-Alto Adige wine region. Grapes are seemingly fated to grow...

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Planning a trip to Italy this year? Perhaps just daydreaming of walking the reconstruction of Pompeii, boating along the Amalfi coast, or strolling the historic, picturesque, and somewhat chaotic streets of Rome?  How will you spend your time to experience the most Italian culture? Will you be able to communicate with shopkeepers, read the bus and...

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Did you think of something that brings back great memories, or that has lasted for many years? Or, on the other hand, did you worry that you bought something that wasn’t really authentic, that you overpaid, or that you may have fallen prey to a tourist trap?  All of us love to bring home a special Italian memento. And whether you’re going to Parma ...

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The Roman dialect was singled out by poet Dante as the ugliest in all of Italy. The writer said it wasn't worthy of being described as a 'vulgar tongue' but was merely 'profanity'. In fact, some people call the dialect 'Romanaccio' (instead of the more formal 'Romanesco'), with the suffix 'accio' carrying negative connotations (a 'giornataccia' for...

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