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The Dolomites have long been a top destination for skiers traveling from the UK, and even draw lots of visitors from neighbors with their own great skiing, such as Switzerland and Austria, which is an impressive compliment, but only in recent years have Americans begun to discover the region in significant numbers. This is likely to greatly increas...

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Who discovered the New World? The canonical answer is, of course, Christopher Columbus, but many among you probably already know that there are other interesting theories: some historians believe that the Vikings had already reached the northern part of the American continent in the early Middle Ages, while some more recent archaeological discoveri...

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Are museums your thing? Then Venice is your kingdom! In addition to its well-known attractions, such as gondolas, a world-famous carnival, and amazing restaurants, Venice has an impressive number of museums. Venice is home to hundreds of museums and, to be honest, it can be a bit overwhelming trying to decide which ones to visit. If you only have a...

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Some folks may object heatedly to me saying this, but Romeo and Juliet is not a love story. If two crazy kids in Verona, Italy, had simply become smitten centuries ago and gushed in sonnets and iambic pentameter, who would really care? What made Shakespeare’s tale tragic was the blind closed-mindedness of feuding families (in the bard’s words, “the...

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Venice tourists may have to scrap their plans for romantic gondola rides — as the famed City of Water is in for a dry spell. The iconic rowing boats have been left stranded after a winter of little rain and snow resulted in unusually low water levels in the canal-filled northeastern city. Concerns also have mounted that Italy could be in for anothe...

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In Italy, Carnevale runs until February 23 this year while the entire month is dedicated to Heart Health in the US. I’m celebrating with a dish that will transport your taste buds to the sparkling Adriatic Sea while promoting a heart-healthy Italian diet, so I’m sharing my favorite Insalata di Mare recipe from Italian Recipes for Dummies. Seafood...

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The hum of the Piazza Delle Erbe market fading behind me, I walk down Verona’s Via Cappello to a weathered stone arch graffitied with love hearts. Through the gate, above a small courtyard, is the balcony where Juliet supposedly was serenaded by Romeo. Dozens of tourists have lined up for their “wherefore art thou Romeo” moment beneath the balcony,...

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Fora Febraro che marso xé qua, people from Veneto say: “Let’s get rid of February, March is here!” The funny expression is also synonymous with a popular tradition in the region, called the Fora Febraro, rooted in the very history of Veneto and, more specifically, in that of the Serenissima Repubblica di Venezia. In the glorious Republic of Venice,...

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On most mornings, Mylène Ebrard hops on a waterbus from her home in Giudecca, a neighbourhood of Venice with a village-like feel, and across the canal to her favourite bar, where over a hot chocolate she works from her mobile phone. The ritual has become sacred to the rhythm of her day in Venice, where the French communications specialist has live...

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Visit Venice and you’ll be hard pushed not to notice the multitude of crafts the city has to offer, not to mention the attractive architecture and fine paintings and churches (and gold!). There are the graceful gondolas, traditionally built and repaired in Zattere. There are gilded masks, marbled paper, leather goods and rainbow-coloured blown glas...

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