Sometimes I’m not always sure if anyone is actually reading Italofile. As I’ve said, it is a true labor of love. Still I like to imagine that there are regular readers out there who enjoy discovering with me the destinations, hotels, art, schools, churches, etc., that make traveling in Italy so rewarding.

Lo and behold, this weekend I found that I have at least one reader! Maribel wrote in to tell me that last year I missed a New York Times article on “Tortellini Lessons at the Source” in Bologna. Thanks, Maribel! And, with that, I thought I’d provide another round-up of recent articles, from the NYT and elsewhere:

New York Times
In Turin, the Olympic Glow Hasn’t Yet Faded
Monastic Doors Open For Travelers
Milan: Princi (a must-visit bakery)

The Washington Post
2,000 Years After Vesuvius (Stabiae)
In the Eternal City, Walk in a Roman’s Sandals
Rome On Two Gelatos A Day
Good Libations: Bassano del Grappa, Still the One (Veneto)

Los Angeles Times
Art Springs to Life in Gardens Near Rome
Planning Your Trip to Rome’s Gardens
Planning Your Trip to San Marino
Planning Your Trip to Vatican City

Wall Street Journal
Venice Crossings: A Traghetto Tour
In Italy, A Monastery Getaway (Umbria)

The Independent (UK)
City Slicker: A Guide to Genoa
The Hip Hop Guide to Tuscany’s Treasures

The Guardian (UK)
The Insider’s Guide to Cortina d’Ampezzo
Instant Weekend: Florence
Flying Visit: Le Marche Is Olive-Town
Letting Catania Out of the Bag
Going Solo: Venice
Flying Visit to Lake Garda

Sydney Morning Herald
Dining in the Sky the New Way to See Milan
See Ya Later, Gladiator
Floating Through a Dream (Venice)

The Telegraph (UK)
Rome: Eternal Love
Palladio: 500 Years of Architectural Wonders
Sicily: Golf in the Shadow of Mt. Etna
Michael Howard’s Venice

Yes, this is an exhaustive list. But I’m sure I didn’t find everything. So, I’m depending on all you Maribel’s out there to help me out by sending me links to articles and other tips you think would be worthy of posting on Italofile. Thanks again!

Related posts

• Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008
• What’s On in Italy: June 2008
• Italy Article Round-Up
• What’s On In Italy: April 2009
• What’s On in Italy: September 2008

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 Boston Globe
Eat Them All, Pray For More, Love the Neopolitan Pie
Ancient Capri Still Casts Its Powerful Spell

Seattle Times (Rick Steves’ Europe)
For Italy In the Extreme, Go to Naples

The Independent (UK)
See Italy – From the Wheel of a Ferrari
Lyrical Charm in Capri

The Vancouver Sun
How To Enjoy Rome With the Kids

The Financial Times
Do You Need Another Reason to Visit Florence?

Related posts

• October 2008 Article Round-Up
• Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008
• Italy Article Round-Up From the Past Few Months
• 2008 Year-End Article Round Up
• What’s On in Italy: June 2008

Sorry, folks – we missed Italy’s first big event of June, Republic Day on June 2. (Guess these warm summer days had us daydreaming!) But, there are still plenty of other events to catch this month. Notice, too, that from now on we’re going to differentiate our “What’s On” monthly posts with the year, even though June 2008′s calendar looks very similar to June 2007. We hope this will be helpful to all of you.

Roma Estate 2008: This year’s installment of of Rome’s summer festival, which includes outdoor concerts, theater performances, sporting events, and more, will begin tomorrow, June 5, and run through August 10. Admission is free from Sunday to Thursday and €6 on the weekend.

Giotto’s Heritage, Florence: The works of one of Italy’s best known pre-Renaissance painters Giotto will be curated into a special exhibit in the Uffizi from June 10 until November 2. According to the Italian Tourism Board, “this exhibit aims to document the artistic developments of a period lesser known to the public.”

Music Festivals: Spoleto’s world famous Festival dei Due Mondi begins its 51st edition on June 27 and runs through July 13. As always, the festival will feature opera, ballet, and musical performances from some of the best Italian and international acts. The Opera Festival of Verona, itself a famed festival because of its setting in the city’s ancient Arena, will debut on June 20 with Aida, and will also stage the operas Tosca, Nabucco, Carmen, and Rigoletto during its run through August 31. Other big musical events this month include the Sanremo Festival in Liguria; the Heineken Jammin’ Festival in Venice, which will feature such acts as Linkin Park and The Police; Bruce Springsteen at Milan’s San Siro Stadium on June 25; and the Gods of Metal Tour featuring Iron Maiden, Slayer, Judas Priest, and others in Bologna June 27-29.

Genzano Flower Festival: The Infiorata of Genzano takes place June 14-16. For a preview of the flowers, food, and festivities, check out this video from the 2006 Festival.

Medieval Pageantry: The annual Regata of the Martime Republics (which included Genoa, Venice, Amalfi, and Pisa) will be held this year in Amalfi on June 8. Though this boat race has only been in existence since the 1950s, a procession leading up to the regata features locals in medieval dress. Tuscany’s main medieval events – the Giostro del Saracino in Arezzo and the Gioco del Ponte in Pisa – will take place on June 21 and June 29, respectively. Further, San Gimignano, which is the poster-child for medieval Tuscany, will hold its Medieval Festival June 13-15. Finally, the Umbrian town of Foligno’s Giostro della Quintana, which is similar to the joust tournament in Arezzo, takes place on June 13-14 (and again on the same dates in September).

And more! Check out the Italian Tourism Board’s website or local tourism board websites for more information on events. You can also check out Whatsonwhen.com for events in Italy and around the world.

Related posts

• What’s On In Italy: April 2009
• October 2008 Article Round-Up
• Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008
• The Top 25 Hotels in Italy
• What’s On in Italy: September 2008

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 be booked by June 1, 2008. And – here’s perhaps the most critical piece – the flight must be booked along with one of three of Perillo Tours’ specific trips in Italy.

So, this isn’t the greatest package deal that we’ve seen. But it’s nice for Perillo to throw a bone to its cash-strapped yet vacation-starved American clients. If you want to read more about the Perillo deal, check out Jessica’s post. Otherwise, you can visit the Perillo Tours website for more information.

Related posts

• October 2008 Article Round-Up
• Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008
• Italy Article Round-Up
• What’s On in Italy: June 2008
• The 2008-2009 Opera Season

You can eat well just about anywhere in Italy. But Italians know that Italy’s culinary heart lies in Emilia Romagna. Ragú alla Bolognese, premium balsamic vinegar from Modena, Parma ham, parmigiano cheese, mortadella – all of these scrumptious items come from Emilia Romagna. That’s why epicures who want to get the most out of an Italian tour may be interested in Tour de Forks’ Emilia Romagna Tour. This week-long tour, which takes place October 21-27, travels around Bologna, Modena, Parma, and Ravenna, giving guests a chance to sample the best of the region. We’re licking our lips at the thought of it…

Related posts

• Italy Article Round-Up From the Past Few Months
• Italy Article Round-Up
• Free Airfare to Italy with Perillo Tours
• What’s On in Italy: September 2008
• What’s On in Italy: October 2008

Here are some of the Italy travel articles you may have missed over the past few months.

New York Times
Prato, Italy: In Tuscany, the Revealing of a Forbidden Love
Bread-Making and Truffle-Hunting in Italy (Piemonte; actually a short review of two tours)
Bologna, Italy: Finding New Life in the Arts
La Dolce Vita, Both Day and Night (Readers Picks in Rome)

The Washington Post
They Got Game. In Several Languages. (About European (and Italian) basketball leagues)

The Daily Telegraph (UK)
Italy: An Insider’s Guide (a list of the 30 best things in Italy; a bit similar to our recent posts “20 Things We Love About Italy” parts 1 and 2.)

The Guardian (UK)
Eternal Attraction (Rome)
Venetian Bites
Big City Bites: Parma

Los Angeles Times
20 Ways to Take Back the 20% Our Dollar Lost to the Euro (great advice from Rick Steves; not specific to Italy, but there are several Italy tips)

Bend Weekly (Oregon)
Serene Pleasures of the Veneto (via Copley News Service)

Sydney Morning Herald
Life in Ruins (Siracusa, Sicily)
A Cloister Walk with Thee (Assisi)

New Zealand Herald
Venice Calls – and to Hell with Explanations (a sort of Eat, Pray, Love piece on traveling alone to Italy)

Related posts

• Italy Article Round-Up
• October 2008 Article Round-Up
• Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008
• What’s On in Italy: September 2008
• What’s On in Italy: June 2008

We figure that few, if any, readers of this blog are flush enough to pay retail for Prada, Gucci, or any of the other Italian design houses currently showing their lines at Milan Fashion Week. That’s why we wanted to highlight Corriere della Sera’s helpful list of the fashion outlets, which are located all over northern Italy. We’ve provided the link. But in case CS’s list gets zapped from cyberspace, we’re recreating the list below. Please also note that this list is from a few years back. For a more updated list, with detailed descriptions of shops, check out Designer Bargains in Italy. Happy shopping!

LOMBARDY
Spaccio Luciano Soprani – Luciano Soprani’s outlet
(a bit less classic than Armani, but still very elegant)
Via Morosini 30, Milano, tel. 02-55183913
Spaccio Etro – Etro’s outlet
(clothings, tissues, scarves, shoes…)
Via Spartaco 3, Milano, tel. 02-798168
Factory Store Valextra
Bags, suitcases, shoes… by Valextra
Via Cerva 11, Milano, tel. 02-76003459
Factory Store Samsonite
Suitcases, bags, shoes… by Samsonite
Via Milano 18, Corsico (Milano) , tel. 02-4408363
Via Clivio 23, Viggiù (Varese) , tel. 0332-440200
Spaccio Kookai – Kookai’s outlet
(trendy clothing and so on for youth)
Inside via Quintiliano 33, Milano, tel. 02-58016368

TUSCANY
The Mall
Luxury factory outlet center with outlets by some of the greatest brands: Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Sergio Rossi, Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Loro Piana
Via Europa 8, Leccio/Reggello (Firenze), tel. 055-8657775I
Pellettieri d’Italia – Prada’s outlet
Località Levanella, Montevarchi (Arezzo) tel. 055-91901
Fendi – Fendi’s outlet (clothings, parfums, shoes…)
Via Giuseppe Di Vittorio 9, Rignano sull’Arno (Firenze), tel. 055-834981

SAN MARINO
San Marino Factory Outlet
Via Tre Settembre n. 3 (1 Km dopo il confine)
REPUBBLICA DI SAN MARINO
Tel 0549-904014
www.outlet-spacci.it

LE MARCHE
Spaccio Della Valle
Factory outlet of the top shoes in the casual-chic style: Tod’s and Hogan
Via Garibaldi 134, Sant’Elpidio a Mare (Ascoli Piceno), tel. 0734-871671

ITALIAN SWITZERLAND
Fox Town
(Gucci, Prada, Versace, Ferrè, Krizia, Dolce &Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Missoni-Les Copains, Bally, Diesel, Esprit, Nike, Replay, Adidas, Johnny Lambs, Superga, Ralph Lauren, Richard Ginori, Etro, Samsonite…)
A great factory outlet center in a post-modern building very close (seven kilometres) to the border between Italy and Switzerland. There are 140 top Italian and international brands
Via Maspoli 28, Mendrisio – Canton Ticino (Svizzera) – tel. 0041-848-828888
www.foxtown.ch

PIEMONTE
McArthur Glen Designer Outlets
(Aspesi, Byblos, Dolce & Gabbana, Cacharel, Clarks, Lacoste, Fratelli Rossetti, Invicta, Levi’s/Dockers, Marina Yachting, Nike, Reebok, Stonefly, Valextra, Versace, Slam, Phard, Fiorucci, La Perla, Bulgari, Loro Piana…)
First italian outlet village. Near Serravalle exit on the motorway
Milano-Genova: there are over one hundred outles of the top brands, national and international
Via della Moda 1, Serravalle Scrivia (Alessandria), tel. 0143-686003
www.mcarthurglen.com
Spaccio Alessi - Factory outlet of the famous kitchen and tableware by Alessi
Via privata Alessi 6, Crusinallo di Omegna (Verbania), tel. 0323-868648

IN MORE THAN ONE REGION
Timberland Factory Outlet (shoes, clothes…)
* Via Piave 24/26, Pero (Milano) Lombardia, tel. 02-3536687
* Via Nazionale 9, Tavagnacco (Udine) Friuli Venezia Giulia, tel. 0432-46087
* Via dei Castelli Romani 15/a, Pomezia (Roma) Lazio, tel. 06-91602237
* Strada Statale 12 del Brennero 46, Vipiteno (Bolzano) Trentino Alto Adige, tel. 0472-767670 Armani Factory Store – Giorgio Armani’s outlet
* Strada provinciale per Bregnano 13, Vertemate CO, tel. 031-887373
* Via Merloni 10, Matelica MC, tel. 0737-782352
Dolce & Gabbana outlet
* Località Santa Maria Maddalena, Pian dell’Isola/Incisa Val d’Arno (Firenze) – Toscana -tel. 055-8331300
* Via Rossini 70, Legnano (Milano) – Lombardia – tel. 0331-545888
Diffusione Tessile - Factory outlet by Max Mara group
(Max &Co., I Blues, Marina Rinaldi…)
www.diffusionetessile.it
* Galleria del Corso 2, (Milano) – Lombardia – tel. 02-76000829
* Strada statale Rabuiese angolo provinciale Farnei, Muggia (Trieste) – Friuli Venezia Giulia -tel. 040-235089
* Strada Pontina Km. 28,400 – Pomezia (Roma)- Lazio – tel. 06-9105673
* Via Padana Inferiore Ovest 15, Legnago (Verona) – Veneto -tel 0422-602811
* Corso Francia 313, Collegno (Torino) – Piemonte – tel. 011-4157840
* Inside Centro Commerciale Valle Scrivia ,via Isorelle 15/B, Savignone (Genova) – Liguria – tel. 010-9761200
* Via Goleto 13/B, Boretto (RE) – Emilia Romagna – tel. 0522-964415

Photo © brooy

Related posts

• October 2008 Article Round-Up
• What’s On in Italy: June 2008
• Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008
• Italy Article Round-Up
• Italian Fashion Designers and Their Hotels

One of the most underrated and overlooked cities in Italy is Bologna. This beautiful college town is home to two (count ‘em) two leaning towers and some of the best cuisine in the country. But Bologna sure won’t be one of Italy’s best kept secrets now that the NYT has put out the article 36 Hours in Bologna.

Bologna is very easy to get to, especially if your itinerary includes Florence and Venice. So, on your next trip to Central Italy, why not at least stop by for a tortellini lunch and a stroll through Piazza Maggiore? Ah, to be in Bologna right now…

Related posts

• October 2008 Article Round-Up
• Italy Article Round-Up From the Past Few Months
• Italy Article Round-Up
• What’s On in Italy: June 2008
• Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008

In a recent NY Times Foraging column, Melissa Clark profiles Antica Aguzzeria del Cavallo, a cutlery shop that dates back to 1783. Clark notes, “If it cuts, rips, tears, nicks, grates, slices, shaves or pricks and is legal to sell, they most likely have it.”

Being the heartland of Italian cooking, Bologna is a great place to pick up a new kitchen tool. Just make sure to pack it in your checked luggage.

Related posts

• Designer Outlets in Italy
• What’s On in Italy: June 2008
• October 2008 Article Round-Up
• Italy Summer Article Round-Up 2008
• Italy Article Round-Up From the Past Few Months