Published on Friday, October 26, 2012 by Kathy McCabe The city of Rome has a new logo.  Rome's city council approved the new logo which features a wolf on top of an ancient monument. The wolf is the symbol of Rome. According to The Florentine, "At the centre of a new merchandising campaign, which kicks off in November, the logo will appear on souvenirs, ranging from mugs to T-shirts, hats and even jackets and other gar...

Published on Thursday, October 25, 2012 by Kathy McCabe On October 25, 2011, the Cinque Terre - the five famous fishing villages linked together on northern Italy's coast of Liguria - were bruised and batter by storms and severe flooding. A number of residents lost their lives. Two of the World Heritage Site's villages in particular were severely damaged - Vernazza and Monterosso. Today on the first anniversary of the dis...

Published on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 by Kathy McCabe So you're planning a trip to Italy - probably your first - and can't decide exactly where to go. You're not alone, this is a problem most visitors to Italy have. There's simply too much to see! You need to start with the realization that there is no way you are going to see everything so don't even try.  The key is to prioritize. If it is your first trip to Italy, s...

Published on Monday, October 22, 2012 by Kathy McCabe There's nothing like a celebrity wedding to bring attention to a lesser known destination and the wedding of Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel in Puglia last week has put this southern Italian region on the map. The singer and actress were married at a new, stunning luxury hotel in the seaside town of Savelletri. Borgo Egnazia, an estate of white-washed traditiona...

Published on Friday, October 19, 2012 by Kathy McCabe The website TheDailyMeal.com has put together a list of the 25 best restaurants in Italy. In a country full of incredible eateries, surely it is daunting task to even consider such a list. The editors came up with the list after a two-month nomination process which produced a list of 100 restaurants that they then shared with a panel of restaurant critics, food writer...

Published on Thursday, October 18, 2012 by Kathy McCabe As winemakers across Italy wrap up the harvest season, the winemakers' association reports that Italian wine production is down for 2012. The lower production yields means the price of Italian wine will go up. "The increase in prices could be damaging to Italian winemakers' overseas sales, especially in the Canadian and US markets," Giuseppe Martelli, director of ...

Published on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 by Kathy McCabe The capital of the Italian region of Abruzzo - L'Aquila - was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2009. It will take years to rebuild the destruction but now some good news for the citizens of L'Aquila. This month the city inaugurated a new temporary auditorium whose design was donated by famed Italian architect Renzo Piano who also designed Rome's Parco della Musica A...

Published on Monday, October 15, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Like clockwork every fall bring acqua alta (high water) to the canals and walkways of Venice.  Seasonal high tides in this city on water rise 105 centimeters during this time of year, flooding squares and walkways. Currently the 9% of the city is underwater and the city is at "code yellow" meaning more high water is expected. November and December are traditionally t...

Published on Friday, October 12, 2012 by Kathy McCabe There were few moments more dramatic in ancient Rome than the stabbing of Emperor Julius Caesar; but until now the details have been murky. Archaeologists from the Spanish National Research Council say they have now pinpointed the location and details of the famous act. According to the Huffington Post, "The scientists said in a written statement that they found a ...

Published on Thursday, October 11, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Budget travelers to Italy might want to check out L’è Maiala, an osteria that recently opened in Florence, supposedly  the first barter-only restaurant in the country of Italy.  The name of the restaurant means "What a pig!" or slang for "What a tough situation!" Those in a bind - or just curious to experience a barter-for-bites meal -  may want to pay a visit...