Springtime is a very popular time to visit Rome and the Vatican City. And for good reason. The weather is warmer. The gardens and parks are in bloom, with huge pots of azaleas providing a burst of color on the Spanish Steps. And for the thousands of churches, it is time to celebrate Easter. Of [...]
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Visiting the Vatican and Rome During Easter
by Melanie on 11. Mar, 2010 in Festivals and Events, Religion, Rome, Vatican City
Italy’s Most Unusual Religious Relics
by Melanie on 12. Nov, 2009 in Arts and Culture, Featured Articles, Religion, Things To Do
No matter if you’re a devout Catholic or a curious non-believer, you should make a point to check out a few of Italy’s many religious relics. More than 2,000 years of Christianity has produced numerous fascinating, if not gruesome, stories. And it seems that for every Biblical tale, there is a relic housed in Rome, [...]
Easter 2009
by Melanie on 24. Mar, 2009 in News, Religion, Vatican City
Are you looking for information about Holy Week in Rome and the Vatican? Here’s a calendar snippet taken from vatican.va. If you want to find out about Easter celebrations in the rest of Italy, head over to our Tourism Boards page and click on your desired location. Most bureaus will have information posted. APRIL 5 [...]
The Pope’s Online
by Melanie on 26. Jan, 2009 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Fun Stuff, Religion, Vatican City
You no longer have to go to Rome to have an audience with the Pope. Now, with the new Vatican YouTube channel, the Benedict XVI will come to you. According to Reuters, the daily videos will be about two minutes long and will feature info about church events and the Pope’s activities. Hopefully, the site [...]
Italian Program for European Day of Jewish Culture Announced
by Melanie on 21. Jul, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Festivals and Events, Lombardy, Milan, Religion
I’m always fascinated to learn about Jewish heritage in Italy. So, here’s a Jewish cultural event that will be going on this fall. September 7 marks the European Day of Jewish Culture, and, according to Ruth Ellen Gruber’s blog Jewish Heritage Travel, “Italy is consistently probably the most enthusiastic country that takes part.” This year’s theme [...]
Italy’s Newest Saint Venerated
by Melanie on 27. Apr, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Italy News, Puglia, Religion
On April 24, the new tomb of Padre Pio was unveiled in the Puglian city of San Giovanni Rotondo. The new tomb now features the exhumed body of Italy’s most recent homegrown saint, who died in 1968 and who was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2002. According to Ian Fisher’s San Giovanni Rotondo [...]
Jewish Resources in Italy
by Melanie on 14. Apr, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Religion
Just in time for Passover, I’ve found a great resource for all things Jewish in Italy. JewishItaly.org has links and info to synagogues, kosher stores, Jewish museums, and more. If you are Jewish or just interested in Jewish culture and history, you can also browse JewishItaly’s list of towns that can claim Jewish heritage or [...]
Papal Basilicas of Rome: San Giovanni in Laterano
by Melanie on 19. Mar, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Featured Articles, Lazio, Religion, Rome
San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) gets no love. Literally. Although it is the basilica dedicated to the Bishop of Rome (i.e., the Pope), the Vatican hasn’t even created a website for it (else we couldn’t find it)! Nevertheless, San Giovanni proves important this time of year as it is the site of the [...]
Papal Basilicas of Rome: Santa Maria Maggiore
by Melanie on 17. Mar, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Lazio, Religion, Rome
Continuing with with Rome’s Papal Basilicas, today we will profile Santa Maria Maggiore. Santa Maria Maggiore Address: Via Liberiana, 27 (Esquilino) Phone: 06-483-195 Web: http://www.vatican.va/various/sm_maggiore/index_en.html Getting There: Metro Line A (Termini) or B (Termini or Cavour); Buses 16, 27, 70, 71 History: The largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Santa Maria Maggiore has [...]
Papal Basilicas of Rome: San Paolo Fuori Le Mura
by Melanie on 12. Mar, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Featured Articles, Lazio, Religion, Rome
Many tourists to Rome, both Catholics and non-Catholics, know very little about the papal basilicas outside of St. Peter’s. While St. Peter’s is the “mother church,” three others – San Paolo Fuori Le Mura, San Giovanni in Laterano, and Santa Maria Maggiore – make up Catholicism’s patriarchal basilicas. Each of the four have a “holy [...]
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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A Year in Italy Video Giveaway
12. May, 2010
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Five Favorites: Italian Words
15. Jan, 2010
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Favorite Italian Words: The Sequel
29. Apr, 2010
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An Italian Wedding
25. May, 2010
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iPhone Apps for the Italophile
13. Mar, 2010
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Romantic Hotels in Tuscany
18. Aug, 2010
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Scenic Drive on the Amalfi Coast
12. Aug, 2010
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A Bribe-Free Holiday in Sicily
13. Jul, 2010
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Five Favorites: The Amalfi Coast
07. Jul, 2010
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‘An Irreverent Curiosity’ – An Interview with David Farley
06. Jul, 2010
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Riccardo: I was in Italy last year to visit my family...it w...
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Lisa at Wanderlust Weddings: Hi Melanie and thanks for having me share my favor...
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TERESA CRETELLA: HELLO AGAIN LAURA, I CONTACTED YOU A COUPLE OF ...
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Sadye Carnovale: Nice article you've got here. Will keep coming rea...
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Garden Canopies: What theme are you using on your site ? I like the...
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- 48 Hours in Rome
- A Visit to the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence
- Babble Best: Tuscany with Kids
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- Families in Business: The Recipe for Success
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- Free Things to Do in Milan
- Italofile: TravelBlogSites.com Page of the Day
- National Geographic Intelligent Travel Blog: The Little Train That Could…Be a World Heritage Site
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy
- Profile of Florence's Duomo
- Relics in Rome
- The Capitoline Museums, Rome
- The Squares of Florence
- Top Museums in Rome
- Top Museums in Venice
- Top Places in Rome for a Photo Op
- Travel Channel: World's Best Nude Beaches
- What to See at the Uffizi Gallery
- When to Go to Rome
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- BootsnAll's WhyGo Italy Interview
- Eye on Italy Podcast: Premier Episode
- Italofile: TravelBlogSites.com Page of the Day
- Italy Magazine Blog of the Week
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- Lonely Planet Twitter Contest Winner
- Sensual Treats – All Italy Issue
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