To see the "Mona Lisa," you need to take to your tiptoes to peer over the swarm of admirers in her hall in the Louvre. Standing before the "Last Supper" requires loitering in a painfully long queue snaking out of Milan's Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Marveling at the "Vitruvian Man" means battling your way through the densely congested canal...

Great news for Genoa! The historic Italian port city has been named by Lonely Planet as one of the must-visit destinations for 2025, something we can wholeheartedly agree with. And not without reason - this hidden gem on the Ligurian coast has everything your heart desires.  Think picturesque alleyways (caruggi) in the historic center, beautiful UN...

The province of Varese, nestled among the rolling hills and seven lakes that dot the landscape of Lombardy, is an area rich in history, culture and traditions. Among its wonders are historic villages that tell the stories of a sumptuous past. The most characteristic places to explore take us on a unique journey through art and architectural heritag...

I am so hungover when I board the Arlecchino that its myriad charms are, at first, as lost on me as an idiom in translation. We are at Rome Termini, and this train has been chartered to whisk us – several dozen strangers and me – to Perugia in celebration of that city’s grande dame, the legendary Sina Brufani hotel, and its 140th birthday. Already...

Here’s everything you need to know about planning a trip to Palermo, Italy. The capital of Sicily, Palermo defies expectations. Big and bustling, it can feel brash at times, but dig a bit deeper and you’ll find the city’s genteel, artistic, and intellectual side. The crossroads of the Mediterranean, it was founded by the Phoenicians and ruled by th...

Milk, salt and rennet. These three ingredients - as absolute as they are essential, as simple as they are basic - make up the recipe for an unrepeatable Italian gastronomic marvel: we are talking about Parmigiano Reggiano, also known as the "King of Cheeses". The white gold of Emilia Romagna has embraced countless palates since time immemorial; it...

Port Jervis Councilwoman Maria Mann is a proud first-generation Italian-American and fluent in the language. Mann’s skills were on display last week when Port Jervis hosted a delegation from its sister city in Lapio, Italy. The group included Lapio Mayor Maria Teresa Lepore. “I got to speak the language with them and I hope to visit Italy next year...

Unveiling Italy’s crown jewel of wealth and exclusivity, this enchanting Ligurian town isn't just famous for its breathtaking coastline and glamorous lifestyle—it also boasts the highest per capita income in the country. Based on the income declared in 2023, referring to the 2022 tax year, the richest town in Italy is Portofino, in the province of...

It’s that time of year again: Babbo Natale is rubbing his hands together with glee at the thought of another bumper year for business. “Christmas in Italy” can conjure up images of the charming wooden huts set up in Florence’s Piazza Santa Croce (running until December 22), the transformation of Rome’s Piazza Navona into a fairytale village (until...

Florida's little slice of Italy, with plenty of stunning landmarks, Mediterranean elegance, and Italian fine dining, is easily the most underrated town in the state. You may think that this charming neighborhood is no secret, yet this is a place that many overlook when visiting the region in favor of bigger cities like Orlando and Miami. While it i...