Published on Saturday, April 28, 2018 by Kathy McCabe From now until May 1, Venice is prohibiting tourist access into the main parts of the city. The restrictions are intended to ease crowds during the Festa del Lavoro holiday, Italy’s Labor Day and a popular traveling time for Italians. Tourists traveling to popular places such as Rialto or Piazza San Marco will be redirected along alternate routes. The Strada Nuov...

Published on Sunday, April 1, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Two leading independent airport organizations have recognized Rome’s Fiumicino Airport as the world’s most improved airport and the airport with the best quality of services. Skytrax, an airport rating and assessment company, named Fiumicino the world’s most improved airport. Each year, Skytrax reviews more than 550 airports worldwide to determine which one ...

Published on Friday, March 9, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Giotto’s painting Madonna di San Giorgio alla Costa hasn’t been on public display in 25 years, until now, as it has moved to the Opera del Duomo Museum in the Duomo Cathedral complex in Florence. The tempera and gold painting depicts the Madonna as a queen, holding the Christ Child, with two angels and is considered one of the most representative paintings of the...

Published on Saturday, February 17, 2018 by Kathy McCabe The short film Destination Florence is now playing at the Cinema La Compagnia (Via Cavour 50/r) every day at 6 p.m. The 25-minute movie, set at nightfall in Florence, shows a different and intimate side of Florence with stunning imagery. Churches, towers, piazzas, streets, paintings and sculptures are featured – including lesser-known landmarks – inspiring view...

Published on Saturday, February 10, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Three Italian neighborhoods are among Business Insider’s list of Europe’s 18 coolest neighborhoods to visit in 2018: Monti and Piazza Cavour, both in Rome, and Campania (which is really a region but who's arguing) in southern Italy. The list was curated by travel experts, including from Suitcase Magazine, Spain-based Marugal Hotel Company  and the app HolidaySwap...

Published on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Venice is gearing up to celebrate Tintoretto’s 500th birthday all year, with the main event on Sept. 7. The painter, whose real name was Jacopo Robusti, was born in Venice in 1518, though his exact birthdate is unknown. The months-long celebration will include special events around the city in honor of the artist and his paintings, which can be seen in several Venet...

Published on Monday, January 29, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Gucci recently opened Gucci Garden, an experiential retail space in Florence dedicated to promoting the brand and its history. The concept is located in a 14th-century palazzo and comprises three floors. On the ground floor is a boutique with items exclusive to Gucci Garden – including clothes and their tags and packaging – alongside books, magazines, souvenirs...

Published on Thursday, December 28, 2017 by Kathy McCabe Spending New Year's Eve (Capodanno)  in Italy can be as much a cultural experience as a celebration. Italians have very particular ways that they say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new one: Natale con I tuoi, Capodanno con chi vuoi. This  Italian expression sums up the holiday -- "Christmas with the family, New Year's with whom you want." Since many...

Published on Monday, December 11, 2017 by Kathy McCabe Rome’s popular 13th emperor is getting a new exhibit detailing his life and legacy, in time for the 1900th anniversary of his death. Trajan, who ruled the Roman Empire from 98 to 117 A.D., was referred to as the optimus princeps (the best ruler) by the senate at the time. He is most known for his military victories in the expansion of the Roman Empire to its largest...

Published on Thursday, December 7, 2017 by Kathy McCabe After 22 years, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Codex Leicester manuscript is  going on display in Italy. Considered one of Da Vinci’s most important scientific manuscripts, the 72-page notebook published in 1510 contains a collection of writings and drawings from the artist and scientist. His notes, written in columns from right to left, detail his theories on a range of s...