Published on Sunday, July 26, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Dubbed “The Eighth Wonder of the World” due to its previously impossible views of the Alps, the Skyway Monte Bianco transports visitors above 7,000 feet. That’s not all: the rounded gondola cars also rotate 360 degrees, allowing people to see the breathtaking slopes on the Italian side of one of the world’s most famous peaks, called Mont Blanc across the borde...

Published on Friday, June 12, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Rome’s gladiator barracks, part of the city’s famous Colosseum, may soon be accessible to the public—thanks, in part, to the Kuwaiti government. An ancient tunnel linking those training chambers to the main arena could be restored with funds from a multi-million dollar grant from Kuwait, writes The Telegraph. The Ludus Magnus (Great Training Facility) was the...

Published on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 by Kathy McCabe If you’ve ever wished you could travel in a time machine, Duke University researchers are about to grant that wish. At the end of May, the Museo Civica Reggio Emilia will debut an exhibit that allows visitors to see what Reggio Emilia, a town in the region of Emilia-Romagna,  would have looked and felt like 2,000 years ago. That’s right, looked and felt—beca...

Published on Friday, May 15, 2015 by Kathy McCabe The International Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has once again given Italy the highest number of Blue Flag beaches, bringing Italy's total to 280. The Blue Flag designation means that a beach meets the organization’s high eco-standards for cleanliness and sustainability. FEE Italy President Claudio Mazza says that the constant increase, up from 248...

Published on Thursday, April 9, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Italian wine lovers won’t be surprised that sales of Prosecco have outstripped those of Champagne around the world. Cheaper and sweeter than its French competition, Prosecco is an affordable indulgence that is nonetheless excellent sparkling wine on its own merits. Prosecco DOC comes from the Veneto,the region that is home to Venice. Complicating the picture is ...

Published on Monday, March 16, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Looking for the perfect excuse to visit Rome and the Vatican in 2016? Pope Francis just gave you one. He has declared 2016 a Holy Year.  The last one was in 2000. The Holy Year, also called a Jubilee, will start this year on December 8th – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – and will close November 20, 2016 with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ...

Published on Sunday, March 15, 2015 by Steve Sorry gentlemen, but this one is for the ladies... (But here's a tip for you guys, send the woman in your life on this trip to Italy and she might just love you forever!) Golden Week in Florence with Susan Van Allen Don't Miss This Once-In-A-Lifetime Trip! October 25 to November 1, 2015 Join Susan Van Allen, author of 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should...

Published on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 by Kathy McCabe It’s been—to paraphrase a great band—a long, cold lonely winter. Who couldn’t use a little warmth? You might not be in Italy at the moment, but reading one of these classic books will infuse your mind and soul with a sense of sunny noontime piazzas and breezy coastal beaches. A Room with A View by E. M. Forster The classic story of an Englishwoman abroad...

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...