Published on Friday, March 22, 2013 by Steve If you're taking your first trip to Italy and you're looking for an independent itinerary, I have just the one for you. I'm thrilled to announce a fabulous new travel package called Three Crowns of Italy.  Experience Italy's 3 major cities in style, with 4-star, centrally located hotels and all of your land transportation! Here's what's included: 3 nights in a...

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 26, 2012 by Kathy McCabe The city of Rome has a new logo.  Rome's city council approved the new logo which features a wolf on top of an ancient monument. The wolf is the symbol of Rome. According to The Florentine, "At the centre of a new merchandising campaign, which kicks off in November, the logo will appear on souvenirs, ranging from mugs to T-shirts, hats and even jackets and other gar...

Published on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 by Kathy McCabe So you're planning a trip to Italy - probably your first - and can't decide exactly where to go. You're not alone, this is a problem most visitors to Italy have. There's simply too much to see! You need to start with the realization that there is no way you are going to see everything so don't even try.  The key is to prioritize. If it is your first trip to Italy, s...

Published on Friday, October 19, 2012 by Kathy McCabe The website TheDailyMeal.com has put together a list of the 25 best restaurants in Italy. In a country full of incredible eateries, surely it is daunting task to even consider such a list. The editors came up with the list after a two-month nomination process which produced a list of 100 restaurants that they then shared with a panel of restaurant critics, food writer...

Published on Friday, October 12, 2012 by Kathy McCabe There were few moments more dramatic in ancient Rome than the stabbing of Emperor Julius Caesar; but until now the details have been murky. Archaeologists from the Spanish National Research Council say they have now pinpointed the location and details of the famous act. According to the Huffington Post, "The scientists said in a written statement that they found a ...

Published on Monday, October 8, 2012 by Kathy McCabe In Rome, they've dubbed it "the War on the Sandwich." Starting October 1, it is  illegal to snack on or near any monuments in the Eternal City. Rome's mayor spearheaded the new legislation. According to NBC News, "Tourists will still be allowed to eat while they walk, but stop with a bag of chips in your hands or sit down while chewing on your panino, and you are...

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 Tuesday, October 2, 2012 by Steve If Italy is calling you in the near future and you enjoy the convenience of an escorted tour but the adventure of dining on your own, I recommend our 14-Day North Continental Tour. This is the same itinerary as our best-selling Italy tour in history (14-Day North Classic) with the freedom to choice your own dining experiences. Imagine seeing the sites and then explor...

Published on Saturday, September 29, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Five million tourists visit the Sistine Chapel every year and one Italian writer says the most famous chapel in the world, at the heart of Vatican City, is falling prey to unimaginable disaster because of visitors who act like "drunken herds." Pietro Citati, a leading Italian literary critic and biographer, writes in an article for Corriere della Sera the the tou...