If there is one particular word that can be used to define some of Italy’s major handicrafts, it’s marble. Marble, either as a substance or a style, runs through three different artisan crafts that are famous in Italy: some of the world’s finest marble is found in the hills around the province of Massa-Carrara in [...]

Give the Gift of Italian Culture
When my colleagues in the Italy Blogging Roundtable and I decided to write on the topic “gifts” for our December post, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about. I knew straight away that I didn’t want to write about Italian gifts you can buy in a store, though there are many I desire [...]
Dreaming of Basilicata
Bad experiences can happen in Italy. You may lose your wallet, have to deal with a brusque waiter, or turn your ankle while walking on a cobbled path. But despite unfortunate circumstances, it seems like everyone I have ever talked to who has visited Italy thinks of it the way that Matthew Brown does: Italy [...]
Comfort Me With Potatoes: A Tale of Two Tuber Dishes in Italy
Pity the poor American who can only find comfort in the familiar flavors and food textures of home. Pity me for not taking kindly to the coniglio (rabbit) or swooning at the sight of chicken liver crostini or the tripe truck in Florence. It’s not that I don’t have an adventurous palate. I’ve happily chewed [...]
Falling For Italy: Three Fun Activities to Put on Your Radar
This month for the Italy Blogging Roundtable, my colleagues and I decided we would write about “fall.” Not autumn, but fall. So that left me a little bit of room for interpretation. Without doubt, Italy is a wondrous place to be in the fall: leaves are changing, fall fashion is beckoning from store windows and on [...]
On Being Lost in Italy
The footsteps behind us were worrisome. With each step that landed on the worn, slightly slick cobblestones, an equal but louder pair of footsteps resonated behind my husband and me as we tried to find our way back to our Venice hotel on a frigid November night. Not too far away, the warm, convivial sounds [...]
Help Tell the Story of Jewish Italy
CulturaItalia, a website operated by the Italian Culture Ministry, is seeking your help in its efforts to document the Jewish contributions to Italian society over the past 150 years. As one of its many initiatives to mark the anniversary of 150 years of Italian Unity, CulturaItalia has teamed up with with Judaica Europeana, a Europe-wide [...]
Seven Longobard Sites Newest Additions to UNESCO Heritage List
Last month, UNESCO inscribed Italy’s newest World Heritage sites: The Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.). Treated as one entity, these seven sites stretch from as far north as Castelseprio, a small village in Lombardy where is located Santa Maria Fortis Portas and the castrum with the Torba Tower, to as far [...]
Welcome to Italofile
Hi! I'm Melanie Renzulli. I've been writing about travel to Italy for over a decade and on this blog since 2006. Find me on Twitter and Facebook for travel tips, Italy news, and more. Read more About Italofile or Contact Me.
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On Being Lost in Italy September 14, 2011 -
What Is There to Write About Italy That Hasn’t Been Written Before? May 4, 2011 -
Five Fabulous Art Works in Rome You May Have Missed July 13, 2011 -
Give the Gift of Italian Culture December 14, 2011 -
Some Suggestions for Driving in Italy June 8, 2011 -
Italy Travel News Round-Up July 17, 2011
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Marble Run: Shopping for Traditional Marbled Products in Italy January 18, 2012 -
Give the Gift of Italian Culture December 14, 2011 -
An Invitation to Bloggers: A “Gift” From the Italy Blogging Roundtable December 1, 2011 - Dreaming of Basilicata November 13, 2011
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Comfort Me With Potatoes: A Tale of Two Tuber Dishes in Italy November 9, 2011 -
Falling For Italy: Three Fun Activities to Put on Your Radar October 17, 2011
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Rebecca: All great gift ideas from Italian artisans! I espe...
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: Ciao Melanie, Felice anno nuovo! I enjoyed partici...
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: Ciao Melanie, Felice anno nuovo! I enjoyed partici...
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Cheap Flights to Hong Kong: I think that wherever your journey takes y...
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Pat Eggleton: Many thanks for the mention. I love your post too ...
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Pat Eggleton: Many thanks for the mention. I love your post too ...
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