Published on Thursday, June 6, 2013 by Kathy McCabe What's more harmonious than pairing music with wine? That's the premise behind Melodia del Vino - a series of five classical music concerts combined with wine tastings, hosted at some of Tuscany's finest vineyards between June 27 and July 6, 2013. The wineries taking part in the music series include Cantina Antinori nel Classico in Bargina, Cantna Petra near Livorn...

Published on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The most translated book from the Italian language, The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli celebrates its 500th birthday this year with a special exhibit in Rome. The exhibition “Niccolò Machiavelli: The Prince and His Times 1513-2013" runs through June 16th at Rome's Vittoriano Museum Complex. Its six parts trace Machiavelli and his times, the impact of The Prince throu...

Published on Thursday, May 16, 2013 by Kathy McCabe   One of the magical experiences of visiting Italy is watching master artisans at work... This craftsman is in the town of Volterra, in Tuscany, a place known for its alabaster creations. Photo by Theodore Scott, flickr.com...

Published on Friday, May 10, 2013 by Kathy McCabe If you're traveling to Rome and looking for an authentic dining experience, look no further than Orso 80. You can make a meal out of the antipasti alone at this casual Roman eatery near Piazza Navona. Or another way to put it is don't go to Orso 80 and not partake of the scrumptious appetizers. Yes, they are that good! Tell the waiter to bring out a selection of the d...

Published on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 by Kathy McCabe If you're in Italy on May 18th, you might want to plan to stay up until the wee hours of the morning - not drinking or dancing, but taking in culture at a museum. It is all part of the Night of the Museums or La Notte Dei Musei - an event throughout Europe, including Italy, with free admission to museums as well as very extended hours. The Night of the Museums starts ...

Published on Friday, April 26, 2013 by Kathy McCabe A long-standing ban on the import of salami into the United States will be lifted on May 28, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.  Previously the American Federal Drug Administration prohibited the import of cured pork products. The move will open up a huge market for Italian salami manufacturers. The Italian farmers' organization Coldiretti estimates that t...

Published on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 by Kathy McCabe An event taking place in over 100 locations throughout the world, Slow Art Day is a chance for art fans to take in beautiful works s-l-o-w-l-y. This year Slow Art Day is April 27.  If you're in Florence, a great place to experience the day is at Palazzo Strozzi. The Florentine reports visitors will have ample time to appreciate works from the current exhibition  ...

Published on Friday, April 5, 2013 by Kathy McCabe An Italian woman has been named the world's best chef by Restaurant Magazine.  Nadia Santini, the proprietor of Dal Pescatore in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, has won the honor.  Until recently her family's restaurant, which is over 100 years old, was the only restaurant in Italy to hold a Michelin three-star rating. Nadia, who married into the...

Published on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Sixty percent of the world's art treasures can be found in Italy. That's a staggering amount of painting, frescoes, sculptures and artifacts. Its no wonder that when visiting Italy, travelers want to try to see it all, even though that is impossible.  Plus there's the risk of Stendhal syndrome. What is that you ask? According to Wikipedia, "Stendhal syndrome, Sten...

Published on Thursday, March 28, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The Palio, held in Siena Tuscany each July 2 and August 16, is so much more than just a horse race. It is an age-old tradition that makes up the very fabric of this charming Tuscan city. Watch this video to learn more about how Siena is preparing for this summer's race: ...