Published on Monday, September 19, 2016 by Kathy McCabe No one knows Italy better than Steve Perillo. In his Steve's Travel Tips videos, Steve shares his advice for eating the best pizza in the world in Italy. In this video, he explains that pizza was born in the city of Naples and how the pizza-eating experience is different in Italy than in the United States.   ...

Published on Saturday, September 10, 2016 by Kathy McCabe As part of an ongoing facelift to Florence’s Piazza Santa Maria Novella, the piazza’s two, 500-year-old marble obelisks have been restored. The project, which cost 95,000€, began in December 2015 and was funded by the Florence I Care project, a collaboration between the city government and private groups that helps promote and protect the artistic, social and sc...

Published on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 by Kathy McCabe Two neighboring Tuscan towns, both with abundant agricultural assets but a shortage of manpower, are considering merging into one. San Giovanni d’Asso, famous for its truffles, and the larger city of Montalcino (pictured) 10 miles south, known for the Brunello di Montacino wine, would combine but keep Montalcino’s name and crest. It’s not as radical as it se...

Published on Saturday, September 3, 2016 by Kathy McCabe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), a prolific and celebrated German writer and philosopher whose works include novels, poetry, memoirs, an autobiography, scientific writings, and drawings, also had ties to Italy. From 1786 to 1788, he embarked on a tour of Italy that greatly influenced his writings and philosophy. He published his first major scientific work,T...

Published on Saturday, August 27, 2016 by Kathy McCabe For travelers seeking an otherworldly experience, the allegedly haunted Isola Bisentina, said to host spirits, demons, and other monstrous creatures, may transport you to another realm. The island is in the middle of Lago di Bolsena, a crater lake located in the province of Viterbo about 81 miles north of Rome. The island was inhabited during ancient Etruscan and ...

Published on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 by Kathy McCabe August in Italy primarily means two things: vacation month for Italians all over the country, and hot weather that drives the masses to the coast. Popular vacation spots around the country are crowded, and visitors will go to great lengths to ensure their holiday is perfect. At the beach, it’s very common for both vacationing foreigners and Italians to leave their ...

Published on Saturday, August 13, 2016 by Kathy McCabe Italian cuisine is among the best in the world, and its delectable, gourmet dishes embody the passion of a country devoted to cooking as craft. Italian-American food is also delicious, ranking high on the list of staple comfort foods that are easy to prepare. To the surprise of many Americans who visit Italy, though, there’s not always overlap between the two. The ...

Published on Monday, August 8, 2016 by Kathy McCabe Italy has seen a steady rise in tourism over the past years, and while good for its economy, the number of visitors that descend upon the country’s most-visited areas each year definitely takes a toll on resources. In 2014, Italy was the fifth most-visited country in the world, with 48.6 million tourists; that number has been rising since, with 2016 on track to ...

Published on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 by Kathy McCabe According to the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters, a volcanic system on the outskirts of Rome may be waking up. Geologists had believed the volcano was extinct until recently, when they began noticing changes in the earth. About 20 years ago, scientists observed that the hills were rising 2 millimeters per year as a result of a bubble of magma that fo...

Published on Sunday, July 31, 2016 by Kathy McCabe In an Italian city famous for its meat dishes and cheeses, a new mayor wants to upend the status quo in favor of a plant-based lifestyle. Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino, who was elected in June, and her city council released their five-year plan for the city, which emphasizes sustainability and promoting veganism. The plan is the first political initiative in Italy that...