Many Italian regions are known for one famous city, although they have many others that are worth visiting. Veneto is definitely one of those regions, most famous for Venice, but the area is extremely rich in opportunities for a holiday full of fun, relaxation and culture that extend beyond the lagoon city. Given the climate, the best time to visit...

The cultural park is home to about 20 different species of bamboo, ranging from dwarf to giant. The labyrinth is a living demonstration of the plant’s immense potential. Even the parquet floors of the park’s buildings were made of the same material. The labyrinth takes the shape of an eight-pointed star, a nod to star-shaped fortress cities. Becaus...

This year 385 Italian beaches in 183 different municipalities were awarded the prestigious Blue Flag, meaning Italy still has 10 percent of all Blue Flag beaches in the world. The international Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) awards the marker based on 32 different criteria,  from water quality to facilities for visitors, and various s...

Stepping onto the grounds of the Villa d’Este in Tivoli is like taking a trip back in time. The gorgeous complex, totally reimagined under the ownership of Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este in the 16th century, is a testament to the ingenuity and beauty that were hallmarks of the Renaissance period. History of the Villa d’EsteIppolito II, the grandson of...

Given the distances to be traveled and the imperfect roads, conventional wisdom stipulates that even ambitious short-term visitors to Sicily stick to either side of the island. There’s no wrong choice, though it’s the eastern coast that’s home to the majestic Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano. That was also the side favored by the Greeks,...

As more travelers see Sicily as an integral part of an Italian holiday and look for places beyond Palermo, Taormina and the Aeolian Islands to visit, the beautiful cities and towns of the Val di Noto are turning up on a greater number of itineraries and enjoying a new buzz. Although they have been luring visitors since the days of the Grand Tour, t...

For as long as I’ve known my friend Val, she has never had any trouble shopping … until she joined me on a trip to Italy. A new designer wardrobe would have been as simple as a credit card transaction in Milan. In Sicily, you might need to slip a few extra euros under the table to get a perfectly tailored suit. But I’ve dragged Val on a road trip a...

Many readers may have been already to the cinema to watch one of the most anticipated movies of this Summer, the modern take on classic comic and 1970s’ tv series Wonder Woman. Those a bit more familiar with the lands of Italy may have recognized a couple of pretty popular locations – Palinuro and Castel del Monte above all, backdrop to some of the...

Nearly 500 years of myth and history have done nothing to dull the magic and mystery of the glorious Villa d’Este in Tivoli, the famed Tivoli water-and-wind garden, a haven for princes and lovers of the humanities, and arguably one of the most beautiful villas in all of Italy.  And that is saying much, considering the breathtaking beauty and lush d...

The hilltop village of Caltagirone rises like a mirage above the parched landscape of central Sicily. Scrubby plants and olive trees eke out their existence in the sand-colored earth, along with the hardy residents of this town. When the heat reaches toward triple digits Fahrenheit on a typical summer afternoon, the dozens of Caltagirone’s artisans...