Published on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 by Kathy McCabe Italy is cracking down on misbehaving tourists and bad behavior. First, it's handing out fines for blasphemous cursing, hanging in a hammock and brewing coffee in unacceptable places. Now, tourists need to be aware that stepping into Rome’s 18th-century Trevi Fountain is not allowed either and if you’re thinking about taking a dip in this historic monument, throw ...

Published on Thursday, August 15, 2019 by Kathy McCabe If you haven’t gone to a film festival, you’re missing out. Some of the best movies aren’t seen at commercial theaters, but instead are independent films competing at film festivals around the world. If you’re in Italy, consider snagging tickets to The 76th Venice Film Festival, which takes place later this month with films that include some of the biggest nam...

Published on Saturday, August 10, 2019 by Kathy McCabe If you’re planning on visiting Italy’s Saonara any time soon, you may want to practice curbing your language before you get there and take time to learn what other new laws have been passed. One slip of the tongue and you might find yourself, well...fined. Saonara is a municipality located south of Venice, and its mayor, Walter Stefan, has had enough with peopl...

Published on Monday, August 5, 2019 by Kathy McCabe If you are a fan of the 1953 classic film Roman Holiday you probably want to walk the same Spanish steps that its stars Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn walked when you visit Rome. Walking up or down the steps is okay, but just don’t plan on sitting down on them. It could cost you hundreds of dollars in fines. This Spanish Steps regulation is just one of the many...

Published on Thursday, July 25, 2019 by Kathy McCabe What’s the old expression? When in Rome do as the Romans do, right? What about the Romans from centuries ago? Many tourists visit Rome because they are interested in its rich history and plan to visit such iconic spots as the Coliseum and the Forum of Caesar, but there’s only so much you can see with the naked eye. Picturing the daily life and times of those wh...

Published on Monday, July 15, 2019 by Kathy McCabe There's nothing like having Steve Perillo himself surprise you on your Perillo tour. In this video, Steve drops in on a wine tasting at his favorite Tuscan vineyard. Oh did we mention that he arrives by helicopter? Yes, Steve's a little like James Bond in this very special trip to Tuscany.     ...

Published on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 by Kathy McCabe Geppy Sferra’s new gelato-themed restaurant stands out from the 1,400 other gelaterias in Rome: It is the only one to serve a full dinner menu, with gelato incorporated into each dish. Gelateria d’Essai, in Rome’s Centocelle neighborhood, employs chef Marco Mezzaroma to invent creative dishes and spin traditional favorites that include gelato. “My goal is t...

Published on Thursday, July 4, 2019 by Kathy McCabe A replica of the south door of the Baptistery at Florence’s Duomo was unveiled and blessed by Cardinal Giuseppe Betori on June 24, the feast day of John the Baptist, patron saint of Florence. For conservation purposes, the replica has replaced the 700-year-old original, which is currently undergoing restoration at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence. The...

Published on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 by Kathy McCabe A joint 2026 Winter Olympics bid by the cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo won the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) vote to host Italy’s third edition of the event, beating the other finalist, Sweden, by a margin of 47 to 34 votes. Italy previously hosted the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956 and in Torino in 2006. The 2026 Winter Olympics...

Published on Thursday, June 20, 2019 by Kathy McCabe In March of this year, the EU passed a law to ban single-use plastics like plates, utensils and bottles by 2021. In the meantime, the effects of these plastics are felt by those who live and work in and around the Mediterranean Sea. Off the coast of Italy’s San Benedetto del Tronto in the region of Le Marche, fishermen are taking it upon themselves to deal with ...