About.com

Artusi Cooking Tour for Food Loving Ladies

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:18:46 +0000

Pellegrino Artusi, from the Emilia-Romagna region, is known for his late 19th century cookbook that's considered by many to be the classic Italian cookbook. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death, last year a group of food writers went on a Pelligrino Artusi pilgrimage from his home to his final resting place. In June a gastronomic Artusiana Festival is held in Forlimpopoli, Artusi's home town, an event food lovers should not miss.

...

Read Full Post

Unusual Carnival in Italy - Battle Orange in Ivrea, Piemonte

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:44:53 +0000

The town of Ivrea, about 40 minutes north of Turin, holds one of Italy's more unusual carnival events - an orange-throwing battle. A reenactment of an insurrection in 1194 against Holy Roman Emperor Frederick of Swabia (Barbarossa), oranges are used in the battle instead of weapons. Before the battle, there's a parade with participants dressed in medieval costume, and of course food follows. Attending can be very exciting but if you don't want to get hit by an orange, be sure to wear a red hat.

...

Read Full Post

Visiting Cinque Terre in 2012

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:44:53 +0000

Although last year's floods caused severe damage in two of the Cinque Terre villages, the other three remain open with no problems. Many services in Monterosso are already reopening and most should be open by spring, although Vernazza currently remains closed, according to this Italy Chronicles article, where you'll also find information about how to check for updates. Some Vernazza businesses anticipate opening in spring, you can check the list on the Save Vernazza Travel Advisory.

...

Read Full Post

Gas Prices in Italy 2012

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:51:18 +0000

2012 opened with an increase in gas prices in Italy and throughout Europe. Italy's average gas prices in January were 1.735 euro per liter for gasoline and 1.684 euro per liter for diesel, according to information from Renault Eurodrive, a company who arranges buy-back vacation car leases for travel of three weeks or longer. One US gallon is equal to 3.8 liters so Italy's gasoline price is about 6.59 euro per gallon ($8.67 at the current exchange rate of 1.315).

...

Read Full Post

Venice Cannaregio Restaurants

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:27:48 +0000

Venice is one of Italy's top cities for visitors, but it's also one that gets a lot of complaints about food. I often hear people say that restaurants are too expensive or touristy or just not good. If you're looking for good food and less-touristy places to eat, consider the Cannaregio sestiere or neighborhood (see Sestiere map). Marc, a Venetian who owns a Cannaregio vacation apartment, suggests dining at 40 Ladroni or Anice Stellato in Fondamenta della Sensa, Alla Vedova close to Ca' d'Oro and the Grand Canal, and Corte del Remer between Campo San Bortolomio and Santi Apostoli.

...

Read Full Post

Divino Tuscany Luxury Wine and Food Event

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:16:09 +0000

Select Italy is once again offering Divino Tuscany, a luxury four-day wine and food extravaganza to be held in Tuscany and Florence in May, 2012. Florence's luxurious 5-star Grand Hotel Villa Cora, a former private villa that has been returned to its former splendor following a multimillion dollar restoration, will be the main venue. This exclusive program features one-of-a-kind experiences throughout the four days including premium wine tastings hosted by James Suckling, dinner parties in beautiful settings, and a roast pig lunch hosted by Sting and Trudie Styler in their private villa.

...

Read Full Post

Venice Carnival 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:57:51 +0000

Carnival, or carnevale, season is an exciting time of costume parties, parades, masquerade balls and entertainment culminating on Shrove Tuesday, 40 days before Easter (February 21 in 2012). Venice is one of the world's top places to celebrate carnival and its carnevale is the most famous in Italy.

...

Read Full Post

Visiting the Maremma of Southern Tuscany

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:47:29 +0000

Maremma, the southern part of the Tuscany region, is less visited than Tuscany's popular hill towns and attractions but it has a lot to offer, especially if you want to get a little off the beaten path. Here you'll find picturesque villages like Pitigliano (one of my favorites), the rugged coastline of Monte Argentario, Etruscan sites, and wild countryside. It's an interesting area to explore and Maremma Tuscany has put together an excellent online guide to the area, great for planning your trip or enjoying the beautiful photos from the comfort of your home.

...

Read Full Post

Photos of Snow in Rome

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:45:21 +0000

It's rare to have snow in Rome but today the city was covered with snow, causing major transportation problems in the city with many shops and businesses remaining closed. While there was snow in Rome in 2010, this is said to have been Rome's biggest snowfall in more than 25 years and lots of people were out with cameras. Here are places to see photos of Rome with snow:

Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome
Piazza Navona snow photo on Flickr
Snow in the Eternal City on Living in Rome
Rome in the Snow Photo Gallery on the Sacramento Bee

Snow has fallen in much of Italy and we have links to more photos on our Facebook page, including snow in Cinque Terre, Tuscany, and Milan.

It's Carnival Time in Viareggio, Italy

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:46:08 +0000

Viareggio, on Italy's Tuscan coast, holds one of Italy's biggest and most popular carnival, or carnevale, celebrations. During carnival season, six parades featuring paper mache' figures on gigantic floats are ...

Read Full Post