Published on Friday, April 5, 2013 by Kathy McCabe An Italian woman has been named the world's best chef by Restaurant Magazine.  Nadia Santini, the proprietor of Dal Pescatore in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, has won the honor.  Until recently her family's restaurant, which is over 100 years old, was the only restaurant in Italy to hold a Michelin three-star rating. Nadia, who married into the...

Published on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Sixty percent of the world's art treasures can be found in Italy. That's a staggering amount of painting, frescoes, sculptures and artifacts. Its no wonder that when visiting Italy, travelers want to try to see it all, even though that is impossible.  Plus there's the risk of Stendhal syndrome. What is that you ask? According to Wikipedia, "Stendhal syndrome, Sten...

Published on Thursday, March 28, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The Palio, held in Siena Tuscany each July 2 and August 16, is so much more than just a horse race. It is an age-old tradition that makes up the very fabric of this charming Tuscan city. Watch this video to learn more about how Siena is preparing for this summer's race: ...

Published on Thursday, January 17, 2013 by Steve Do you know that one in 10 Americans has some Italian blood? More than 5.5 million Italians emigrated to the United States between 1820 and 2004 with the bulk of immigration taking place between 1880 and 1920. Chances are at least one of your ancestors was among them! No matter how long it has been since your relatives left Italy, the Italian homeland surely has...

Published on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Wine Enthusiast magazine has named the southern Italian region of Puglia as one of the 10 best wine destinations of 2013. It was the only place in Italy to make this year's list. "Flanked by two seas, magical Puglia is a thin peninsula packed tight with the same attributes that attracted us to Italy decades ago: it's an undiscovered land with an enviable quality o...

Published on Thursday, January 10, 2013 by Kathy McCabe That time of year is fast approaching...a spectacular time to visit the magical city of Venice...Carnevale. Short of Rio and New Orleans, there is no place more famous for its opulent pre-Lent celebrations. The Venetian events are getting off to a slightly earlier start this year since Ash Wednesday falls a bit early, on February 13. Venice's official program of Ca...

Published on Monday, December 17, 2012 by Kathy McCabe The area of Trentino Alto-Adige is located in the very north of Italy. This beautiful winter wonderland offers several Christmas markets worth visiting: From November 29 to December 23, the Sudtirol town  of Bolzano hosts a charming Christmas market combining both German and Mediterranean traditions. The Mercatino di Natale (Christkindlmarkt in German) takes ov...

Published on Friday, December 7, 2012 by Kathy McCabe If Florence or Tuscany is on your must-visit list this Christmas season, there are some great Florence events for the holiday season, according to The Florentine.  Here are a few of the holiday celebrations in and around Florence that caught our eye: The German Market in Florence's Piazza Croce runs through December 16th. Enjoy Christmas delicacies from t...

Published on Friday, November 30, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Ski resorts in Italy offer some of the best value in the world for an  ski vacation, according to a newly released report by the UK Post Office's Travel-Money section. Three Italian resorts -- Livigno, Sestriere and Cervinia -- made the top 10 list for best value. Prices at certain Italian ski resorts have fallen 10 percent since last year.  The authors of the r...

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...