Published on Wednesday, November 27, 2019 by Kathy McCabe To preserve its natural beauty and combat overtourism, La Pelosa, one of Sardinia’s best beaches will limit the amount of people allowed on its shores starting in 2020 by implementing a ticketing system. Tourists are drawn to the northwest Sardinian beach’s turquoise waters and white sand, and during the summer, as many as 6,000 people per day arrive to sunbathe a...

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 Franceschini. About 15 million visitors took advantage of the offering in total Ho...

Published on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 by Kathy McCabe Pompeii may well be the most famous archaeological site in Europe, but similar, lesser-known ruins abound throughout Italy. In Sardinia, the fascinating site of Mont’e Prama has revealed an ancient world about which little is known. Eight-feet-tall giants carved out of stone have been unearthed since 1974, when they were discovered by accident in a patch of farmland...

Published on Sunday, August 19, 2018 by Kathy McCabe The pristine white and pink sand beaches of Sardinia attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, many of whom pocket a seemingly insignificant amount of sand or shells as a souvenir. Now, though, visitors who take home more than just a photograph will face a hefty fine: Filling a bottle or baggie with sand, pebbles, or shells is a crime and will incur a penalty of betw...

Published on Saturday, July 16, 2016 by Kathy McCabe A tiny island off the coast of Sardinia, Budelli is part of the La Maddalena National Park and is known for its colorful landscape of crystal-clear turquoise waters, purple rocks and pink sand beach (spiaggia rosa). This a slice of paradise has drawbacks, though, and Budelli has been embroiled in legal fights and protests for years, as it has changed ownership sever...

Published on Monday, May 30, 2016 by Kathy McCabe On Sardinia’s west coast, a beach that is home to dozens of cats has become a popular tourist destination. Feral cats have lived on the beach in the small fishing village of Su Pallosu for more than a century, when they were brought to the beach by fishermen to control the mice population. Today, about half of the 61 resident feral cats are related to the original c...

Published on Friday, July 10, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Italian divers recently reached a sunken cargo ship full of roofing tiles off the coast of Sardinia.  The ship and its cargo are 2,000 years old, a Roman find of “great archaeological value,” says the police statement issued to announce the discovery. Not only can the find provide information about ships and their construction, it sheds light on marine logistics,...

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 Tuesday, December 10, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web each week. Here are our top picks for this week: Guide to Christmas in Rome: The ultimate guide to Christmas and New Year's in the Eternal City. (Revealed Rome) Italian Processions Honored by UNESCO: Ceremonies in Viterbo (Lazio), Sassari (Sa...

Published on Thursday, July 18, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web each week. Here are our top picks for this week: Fishing in Tuscany:  Who knew that the region of rolling hills and vineyards is also a fine place to fish - whether in the rivers or on the sea.  (The Florentine) Colosseum Restoration Startin...