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 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. (The photo to the right is of an old water tunnel underneath Naples.) While muc...

Published on Thursday, April 24, 2014 by Kathy McCabe Naples has long been famous for its tailors. Italians and foreigners alike have flocked to this southern Italian city for handmade suits. The New York Times is reporting that Neapolitan tailoring is hotter than ever. "And the Neapolitan tailors seem to be more successful than the chaotic city itself in moving further into the 21st century. Like the waters of the ba...

Published on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Expert in all things European travel, Rick Steves has put together his list what to look out for in Italy in 2013. If you're planning to travel to Italy this year, it is worth a read. Here's what Steves says is new and interesting in Italy for 2013: More rooms at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence have been opened to the public, including  the Caravaggio Rooms and t...

Published on Friday, October 5, 2012 by Steve For me to pick a favorite tour is like choosing a favorite child, but the 10-Day Vesuvius Tour is in the running for one of my top picks. Why?  It's Affordable! Starting at $2890 per person, Vesuvius packs in a lot for the price including first clas deluxe hotels, many delicious meals, experienced guides and transportation via our state-of-the-art motorcoaches. ...

Published on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 by Kathy McCabe The most important archaeological museum in all of Italy is the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. No visit to Naples Italy is complete without eating lots of pizza and visiting this spectacular museum with artifacts and art from Greek, Roman and Renaissance periods. Visiting the archaeological museum is the perfect complement to a tour of Pompeii or Herculane...

Published on Sunday, November 20, 2011 by Kathy McCabe I'm just back from a few weeks in Italy where I saw the first signs of the holidays with Christmas trees in shop windows and a few presepi on display. A presepio is a creche or Nativity scene and  handmade versions by Italian artisans are an integral part of Italian Christmas celebrations.  If you will be in Italy during the holiday season, here are a few places to ...

Published on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 by JacobMartin Naples – the picturesque city in southern Italy is a perfect place for a family vacation. You are sure to call it the trip of a lifetime when you return home. Lying between Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, this city is known for its rich culture, great architecture, and interesting gastronomy. You can witness some of the world’s most impressive architectu...