Published on Sunday, July 10, 2016 by Kathy McCabe Known for its huge collection of antiques,  Casa Museo Ivan Bruschi in Arezzo has begun hosting special events over the past year as well, drawing more visitors to the oft-overlooked museum. Ivan Bruschi was a prominent antiques collector in the 1960s who founded the Arezzo Antique Fair in 1968 (which still runs on the first Sunday of the month and the Saturday befor...

Published on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 by Kathy McCabe This year, Chianti Classico, the picturesque heart of Tuscany that is home to Italy’s most famous wine, is celebrating its 300th anniversary of delivering high-quality wines to Italy and beyond. On Sept. 24, 1716, the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III de’ Medici created official borders of the Chianti wine region, establishing quality control teams in the area...

Published on Thursday, May 26, 2016 by Kathy McCabe This spring, a previously off-limits and isolated island 23 miles off the coast of Tuscany is opening to the public for guided tours for the first time. The northernmost island in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, Gorgona is also the smallest and hardest to access — understandably so, as it is a prison that necessarily controls interactions with outsiders. Previ...

Published on Friday, September 18, 2015 by Kathy McCabe If you have millions of dollars burning a hole in your pocket – and a desire to snatch up a tony piece of Tuscan real estate burning a hole in your heart – Michelangelo’s Italian residence is calling your name. The property in Castellina in Chianti, which Michelangelo Buonarroti purchased in 1549, belonged to the artist’s family until 1867 and has since been c...

Published on Friday, July 31, 2015 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a regular post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web. Here are our top picks for this week: The Magic of Volterra:  Rick Steves says Tuscany's Volterra is Italy's most underrated hill town. (The Seattle Times) Honeymoon Through Italy:  One couple danced at midnight in Venice, motore...

Published on Thursday, July 2, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Looking to bring some Italian inspiration to your summer dining or July 4th BBQ or picnic? Do as the Tuscans do and make panzanella salad. Like all Italian cuisine it is fresh, simple and oh so delicious! Panzanella comes from the tradition of cucina povera - the simple dishes of the poor peasants. They wanted a way to utilize day-old bread and panzanella was born! ...

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 Sunday, February 22, 2015 by Kathy McCabe Gazing at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or admiring Leonardo’s The Last Supper are must-sees, but Italy also has plenty of other ways to engage your sense of sight. Don’t neglect outdoor vistas, especially the ones here: We know you probably have a few favorites, but if you haven’t seen all of the views on our list, you haven’t seen everything. 1. Villa...

Published on Saturday, November 29, 2014 by Kathy McCabe On the first Sunday of each month, 30,000 shoppers descend on the city of Arezzo in Tuscany, eager to see what the 500-plus vendors of antiques and bricabrac will offer at their stalls. Some of these vendors have been around for so long (the fair dates back to 1968) that they have permanent shops—about 100 or so of these line the Piazza San Francesco and its environ...

Published on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 by Kathy McCabe No matter how much you hear about the Leaning Tower, Tuscany’s lovely city of Pisa offers much more to do and see than that structurally challenged monument (but since you will want to see it, here’s a link to tell you more about its history than you might otherwise discover). Here are a few things we recommend: 1. Enjoy the water.  Pisa nestles at the mouth ...