Published on Sunday, January 29, 2012 by Kathy McCabe When in Rome, eat as the Romans do and Renato e Luisa is just the kind of authentic Roman dining experience that you're looking for.... It is the kind of restaurant (taverna officially) you might not notice when walking by, but looks can be deceiving. Step inside Renato e Luisa, just behind Largo di Torre Argentina, for a relaxing, authentic and affordable Roman me...

Published on Friday, January 27, 2012 by JacobMartin Do you love hiking? Then get set for a new adventure at Cinque Terre in Italy! Cinque Terre is a group of five colorful villages with unmatched scenic beauty. The five Cinque Terre villages are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Cinque Terre faces the picturesque Ligurian coast and serves as a great escape for hike lovers! Ita...

Published on Sunday, January 22, 2012 by Kathy McCabe When it comes to the islands of the Bay of Naples, off the Amalfi Coast, the island of Capri gets the most attention. There is good reason; she's stunning, flashy and dramatic and like a Hollywood starlet, you just can't take your eyes off of her. But when you're in the mood for a quieter, soulful alternative, hop on the hydrofoil or ferry (there's a weekly green crui...

Published on Monday, January 9, 2012 by Kathy McCabe If your travels take you to the Italian region of Piedmont, don't miss La Venaria Reale. The former country retreat of the House of Savoy is one of the largest royal palaces in the world. It was built in the 17-th century for Duke Charles Emmanuel II who wanted a hunting lodge outside of Turin. The name "La Venaria Reale" derives from the Latin Venatio Regia meaning "...

Published on Monday, January 2, 2012 by Kathy McCabe One of the most unusual places I have visited in Italy is the city of Matera in the southern region of Basilicata. Matera has a unique landscape made up of sassi, which are ancient cave shelters built into tufa rock. Stacked on top of each other, they almost look like a honeycomb from a distance. The old, weathered look of the sassi and Matera inspired Mel Gibson t...

Published on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 by JacobMartin Share the lighter moments of your life with your friends and relatives for camping at Lake Como. This spectacular lake side is visited throughout the year by tourists from all over the world. More than the fascinating facts, it is the scenic beauty and the mild temperature that has captured the imagination of these tourists. Deepest of all the lakes in Italy, Lake ...

Published on Monday, December 26, 2011 by Kathy McCabe People get into endless debates about the "best" of all the Italian cities. Is Rome better than Florence or Venice better than Milan? It is impossible to pick the best city in Italy but it is definitely possible to categorize them a bit. Two Italian cities have won "best" labels this month - Bologna for livability and Turin for environmental sustainability. A surve...

Published on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 by Daniel Venice - an ancient and beautiful city is a popular Italian tourist destination for people from all over the world. Each visit to the city will give you a fresh experience. For instance, the Venice gondola ride will reveal new facets of  Venice each time you take a ride. The beauty of Venice rests in its palaces, churches and museums. The churches in Venice not...

Published on Monday, December 19, 2011 by Kathy McCabe One of the great joys of eating in Italy is munching on fresh Italian bread. Yet when you bite into your first piece of while visiting Tuscany (and also much of Umbria), you might be surprised at what is missing. It might take a moment to realize that there's no salt! This type of bread is called pane toscano.  So how did the Tuscans miss this key ingredient that y...

Published on Sunday, December 11, 2011 by Kathy McCabe Foodies in the know say that Testaccio Market (Mercato di Testaccio) is one of the best places in Rome to buy meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables, seafood and all the key ingredients for cooking an authentic Italian meal. Testaccio  is the city's traditional working class neighborhood (and home to former slaughterhouses) located on on the left bank of the Tiber Rive...