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A Bribe-Free Holiday in Sicily

A Bribe-Free Holiday in Sicily

The brave work of the anti-mafia organization AddioPizzo.org was recently brought to my attention. “Addio Pizzo” means “Goodbye, Pizzo,” the latter word meaning the protection money that hundreds of businesses throughout Sicily have had to pay to the powerful, omnipresent mafia. AddioPizzo was formed in 2004 after a group of young Sicilian entrepreneurs, afraid that [...]

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Six Places to Celebrate Carnival in Italy

Six Places to Celebrate Carnival in Italy

It’s Carnival time again in Italy, when Italians prepare to say “goodbye meat!” (Carnevale) by throwing lavish parties and parades before hunkering down for 40 days and nights of denial during the Holy Lenten Season. Many travelers think that Carnevale only takes place in Venice. While Venice has the best known Carnival in Italy, there [...]

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The 2008-2009 Opera Season

The 2008-2009 Opera Season

Although many cities in Italy incorporate opera events as part of their summer festivals, the opera season typically begins in the fall and runs through spring. According to UK’s Italy Magazine, this year’s opera offerings are expected to excite, with Milan’s La Scala staging an opulent Aida; Rome’s Teatro dell’Opera performing Aida and La Traviata, [...]

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Really Cheap Real Estate in Sicily

Really Cheap Real Estate in Sicily

Here’s your chance to buy a really cheap house in Italy. According to Italy Magazine, the Sicilian town of Salemi is selling homes in the town’s historic center which have been ravaged by earthquakes for the fair price of €1. The catch? Buyers must restore the homes “sympathetically” within two years. Salemi (see this place [...]

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What’s On in Italy: September 2008

What’s On in Italy: September 2008

Hard to believe it’s September again! Here’s a rundown for the beginning of the fall – a marvelous time to be in Italy! Time for Wine! One of the reasons it’s so great to travel in Italy in the fall is for all of the wine sampling to be done. Oenological Week in Montefalco, Umbria, which [...]

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Get Cooking On Your Italy Vacation

Get Cooking On Your Italy Vacation

I am now catching up on summer magazine reading and just came across Gourmet’s May issue, which has tons of information on cooking schools in Italy and elsewhere. So, I wanted to give you the lowdown on the schools I found in the magazine as well as a couple others I’ve read about in the [...]

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Italy Article Round-Up

Italy Article Round-Up

In case you missed these recent articles on travel to Italy… New York Times Sicily, Through the Eyes of the Leopard The Washington Post See Naples…And Eat Sydney Morning Herald Ready for Super-Bol (A Search for the Best Ragu in Bologna) Los Angeles Times Exploring Sun-Splashed Venice’s City Squares The Guardian (UK) Instant Weekend…Turin The [...]

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Spain Conquers Italy

Spain Conquers Italy

Large parts of Italy were once united under the Spanish flag, with conquests in Naples and Sicily by the houses of Aragon and Bourbon, among others. Even Milan and Parma were under Spanish rule at one point. I confess that I am not an expert on Spain’s influence on Italy, so you may want to [...]

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Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008

Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008

Lots of Italy-related articles this time of year. So, here goes: New York Times Wandering Beyond Classic Rome (The Frugal Traveler Does Europe on a Budget) On Venice’s Grand Canal in a Kayak Prescription Med (Ischia) Los Angeles Times Exploring Rome’s Famous Seven Hills Budget Travel in Rome 10 Books and Movies to Prep for [...]

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Free Airfare to Italy with Perillo Tours

Free Airfare to Italy with Perillo Tours

My friend Jessica over at Italy Logue found this (pretty) great deal from Perillo Tours this summer. Here’s the gist: In order to take advantage of the (admittedly generous) free airfare offer, you have to fly from New York’s JFK into Rome, Bologna or Palermo. You have to fly on EuroFly airlines. The flight must [...]

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