Francesca Mannino came to St Louis when she was only 10 years old with her entire family and spent an entire 15 years of her life in the Gateway City. Now, she is back in her Sicilian hometown as a personal tour guide. Being bi-lingual makes her job fairly easy. Having lived in the United States, she is a perfect fit for first-time American tourist...

No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Fontana di Trevi, or Trevi Fountain. Located in the Quirinale district of Rome, the Trevi Fountain is known as one of the most stunning fountains in the world. But there’s a lot more than just beauty behind this famous fountain! Though it was one of 1,352 fountains in 4th century Rome, the Trevi Fo...

Seattle native Elizabeth Weitz fell in love with Italian culture while working as an au pair in Bari, a major port city in southern Italy, from 2014 to 2015. No place is perfect, however, and when she returned to Seattle, Weitz thought about how she could find a way to spend more time in Italy while addressing a few of her concerns. The result? Put...

With its lush countryside, plunging coastlines, snow-capped peaks, and glittering lakes, Italy offers epic driving experiences for every kind of traveler. Here, we’ve put together our favorite Italian road trip itineraries — including where to stop, where to stay, and what you’ll see along the way. 1. Amalfi CoastKnown for its dramatic bluffs, past...

Judy Starkman, who worked as a London-based feature documentary filmmaker for networks, such as ABC, CBS, CNN, and SKY-TV, alongside several incursions in still photography and the shooting of commercials, has been constantly training her storytelling skills, from a visual and informative perspective.  She is married to Bill Lagattuta, a former awa...

In survey after survey, marketing firms, tour operators and consortia name Italy as the most or second-most popular destination of choice for Europe-bound American travelers. The country’s multifaceted appeal is certainly a draw. History buffs, art lovers, architecture aficionados, fashionistas and — perhaps most notably — foodies will find plenty...

Take a trip to Italy to discover the fascinating community of Cinque Terre. The town unites five distinct Italian villages that are full of character. Cinque Terre made up of five separate villages. You can arrive at this town from the nearest airport in 90 minutes. Monterosso offers the most hotel choices of all five villages. Vernazza is best for...

Bologna, the capital of Italy's northern Emilia Romagna region, has three curious nicknames: the red, the fat, and the learned. Contributor Dina Caruso explores the story behind each one. Bologna, the capital city of Italy's northern Emilia Romagna, often doesn't make it onto tourist itineraries, but after a year studying here, I can't imagine livi...

With the Giro d'Italia well underway, perhaps you've been inspired to explore Italy on two wheels. The country has plenty to offer cyclists, with long stretches of coastline, mountain ranges to explore, and hilly countryside from north to south. And taking to your bicycle is a great way to see parts of Italy you may not otherwise have thought to ex...

There’s a reason Rome and Venice are on just about every traveler to Italy’s bucket list. These cities are special and we love both of them for different reasons. If you’ve never been to Italy before, one or both should definitely have a place on your itinerary. But if you’ve been there and done that, Italy has a lot more to offer than La Città Ete...