5 Things to Do in Pisa Besides Climbing the Leaning Tower
The city of Pisa Italy is famous the world over for its Leaning Tower but there's much more to the city. Here are some other things to do in Pisa: 1. Be sure to visit the Duomo and Baptistery next to the tower. Leave extra time (a few hours) to visit Pisa's stunning cathedral as well as the largest baptistery in Italy. 2. Also leave time to go into Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. This museum is where much of the art that was formerly in the cathedral is now housed. See Giovanni Pisano's ivory carving of the Madonna and Child carved for the cathedral's ...
Things to See in Alberobello
When you travel to Italy, there might be a lot of places that you would want to visit. One destination that definitely calls for a place in your travel itinerary is - Alberobello. Located in the southern part of Italy, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is known for its exceptional style of building called Trulli. Trullis are nothing but limestone houses with dry stone walls and conical roof that are known for their mortarless construction. The reason behind these pre-historic buildings was to escape from paying taxes. When the king’s tax collector came to collect taxes, the owner ...
Where To Stay in Rome: The Rose Garden Palace Hotel
One of my favorite hotels in Rome is the Rose Garden Palace Hotel. Just off the famous Via Veneto, and a stone’s throw from the American Embassy, it enjoys one of the best locations in the city. The hotel is partly owned by Steve Perillo, the third generation owner of Perillo Tours, the world’s largest tour operator to Italy. Perillo and his Italian partner bought this 19th-century building in 1998 and named it after the rose bushes in the courtyard. One might expect a hotel owned by a tour company to seem impersonal or ...
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Pompeii Bathhouse Opens to Public
Published on Monday, December 30, 2019 by Kathy McCabe
Newly excavated thermal baths have opened to the public in Pompeii, allowing visitors to see the ruins of what was supposed to be a main attraction in the city. Construction began on the Pompeii Central Baths before the fateful Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 A.D., but was never completed. ...
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Italian Medical Museums Showcase Hi...
Published on Friday, December 20, 2019 by Kathy McCabe
Two Italian medical history museums – the Museo delle Arti Sanitarie in Naples (39-081-440647; Via Luciano Armanni 1; www.museoartisanitarie.it) and the Museo Storico Nazionale dell’Arte Sanitaria in Rome (39-06-6833262; Lungotevere in Sassia 4, Ospedale Santo Spirito) – are collabor... -
Free Museum Sundays Are Back
Published on Sunday, November 24, 2019 by Kathy McCabe
To the delight of art lovers, Italy’s popular free museum Sundays are back. This popular program, which offers free entry on the first Sunday of the month for both Italian and foreign visitors at state-run museums around the country, was introduced in 2014 by Culture Minister Dario Franc... -
Gladiator Fresco Discovered in Pomp...
Published on Monday, November 18, 2019 by Kathy McCabe
The latest discovery in Pompeii is a well-preserved fresco depicting two gladiators after a fight, painted on the stairwell of a building. The scene depicts two gladiators of different types – a murmillo, who carries a larger shield, and a thraex, with a smaller shield. In the painting, ... -
Hop on a Historic Train in Naples
Published on Friday, October 18, 2019 by Kathy McCabe
On October 3, 1839, Italy’s first railway was inaugurated: a 7.25-kilometer (4.5-mile) line that ran from Naples to Portici. This year, to celebrate the 180th anniversary of the railway’s opening, you can ride a historic train for the length of the original railway. The Pietrarsa Ex... -
Treasure Discovered in Pompeii
Published on Friday, August 30, 2019 by Kathy McCabe
The historical site of Pompeii is a treasure trove of ruins, artefacts, -- and now, archaeologists have unearthed literal treasure. A trunk found in August contained semiprecious stones, jewelry, and other objects believed to bring good luck. "There are dozens of good luck charms next t... -
Italian Christmas Markets
Published on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 by Kathy McCabe
Many tourists from the United States hear “Christmas market” and immediately think of Germany’s deservedly famous “Weinachtsmarkts” and “Kristkindlmarkts,” both of which conjure up the smell of Gluehwein and the sizzle of roast bratwurst. But Italy has its own legion of marke... -
Ancient Tomb Uncovered Near Naples
Published on Sunday, October 14, 2018 by Kathy McCabe
Archaeologists have unearthed another ancient tomb in the town of Cumae, a Greek settlement near Naples. The newly discovered tomb dates to the 2nd century BC and is decorated with murals, unlike most other Cumaean tombs at the time, which were simply painted red and white without images. ... -
Italy’s First Capsule Hotel O...
Published on Saturday, February 4, 2017 by Kathy McCabe
Drawing inspiration from accommodations in Tokyo, Italy’s first capsule hotel opened in January in the Naples Capodichino Airport. Bed and Boarding, or “BenBo” for short, is open 24 hours every day and allows travelers to get nine hours of rest at night (11 p.m. to 8 a.m.) for 25... -
New Tunnels Found Underneath Naples
Published on Friday, April 8, 2016 by Kathy McCabe
For some time, “Naples Sotteranea,” or “Underground Naples,” has been a draw for travelers from around the world. The tunnels and caverns beneath the historic Italian city are built on a porous type of rock called “tufo,” the result of centuries of hardening of volcanic ash. (T...
