Published on Thursday, March 5, 2015 by Kathy McCabe It isn’t often that a school lunch threatens diplomatic discord, but when a group of chefs designing menus in Rome for students (from nursery to middle-school ages) chose fish and chips as an “EU menu item” representing “Britain,” they unwittingly found themselves at the center of international furore. It turns out that the Italians think fish and chips are....

Published on Friday, February 27, 2015 by Kathy McCabe The latest (and, some say, greatest) James Bond, Daniel Craig, is now 46. In decades past, that would have meant his leading ladies would range in age from 25 to 35. But not so with Spectre, the new Bond film in production, directed by Sam Mendes. The “Bond Girl” who captures the hero’s eye this time is Italian actress Monica Bellucci—who is 50, and readily a...

Published on Sunday, February 22, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Gazing at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or admiring Leonardo’s The Last Supper are must-sees, but Italy also has plenty of other ways to engage your sense of sight. Don’t neglect outdoor vistas, especially the ones here: We know you probably have a few favorites, but if you haven’t seen all of the views on our list, you haven’t seen everything. 1. Villa...

Published on Thursday, February 19, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Lovers of cinematic epics, rejoice! 1959’s big-budget, big-screen Roman saga, Ben Hur, is being remade, right now, in Italy’s southeastern city of Matera. You remember it as the Charlton Heston vehicle that had the biggest budget ($15.75 million) and biggest sets of any film of that period, and included 10,000 extras, 2,500 horses and 200 camels, among many other...

Published on Monday, February 16, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Perhaps you’ve visited Pompeii and marveled at what was trapped in the aftermath of Mount Vesuviu’s’s A.D. 79 eruption. While that city’s devastation cannot be overestimated, its careful preservation has also given millions of people a window into ancient Roman life.  Now, thanks to the latest technology, you may soon be able to visit a southern Italian city...

Published on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Let's face it, ALL of Italy is romantic. But in honor of Valentine's Day, here are five great spots to celebrate romance! 1.  A gondola ride in Venice At the top of every hopeless romantic’s bucket list is a private gondola ride through the canals of one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. As the gondola floats through the peaceful waterways and the gondolier ...

Published on Monday, February 9, 2015 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a weekly post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web. Here are our top picks for this week: Guide to Carnevale 2015:  Venice is the places to be through February 17th. Learn how to make the best of a visit - from where to get the best masks to how to find the best parties . (The Telegraph...

Published on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a weekly post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web. Here are our top picks for this week: Lesser Known Rome:  This brief video gives travelers ideas of less famous places to visit in Rome including Centrale Montemartini where ancient artwork on display in a decommissioned power station. ...

Published on Thursday, January 29, 2015 by Kathy McCabe International fashion lovers, rejoice – a new museum dedicated to the design and collection of Giorgio Armani is scheduled to open later this year on Milan’s Via Bergognone, where the designer’s headquarters are located. Armani is personally collaborating with the city of Milan on the museum’s content, which will include his clothes, photos and drawings, as we...

Published on Monday, January 26, 2015 by Kathy McCabe An authentic Italian meal eaten outdoors in a sunny, charming piazza is a picture-perfect dining experience for many tourists who visit Italy, and Rome’s outdoor café culture is thriving. Like many European cities, Rome draws visitors from abroad who want to live out a scene from a romantic movie, or perhaps just dine al fresco under the Italian sun. But is it poss...