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 [...]
Tag Archives: Sicily
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 [...]
Round-up: Martinis in Rome, Skiing Switz-aly, and more
It has been a while since I posted an article roundup. Here are some of the great Italy travel articles you may have missed in the last month or so. Roaming Rome, in a Martini Mood [L.A. Times] Do the Splits on the Swiss and Italian Ski Slopes [The Independent] Sicily’s Secret South [The Guardian] [...]
2008 Year-End Article Round Up
I am still trying to figure out how to manage a toddler and a newborn and find time to keep this blog up-to-date. But I have been keeping track of the numerous articles about Italy that have come out in the past couple of months. So, enjoy the following links and have a Felice Anno [...]
October 2008 Article Round-Up
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, [...]
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, [...]
Italy Article Round-Up
Time again to see what Italy travel articles have come out for fall. New York Times Cave Crusaders in Matera (examines a new boutique hotel in Matera, Basilicata) The Telegraph (U.K.) Tuscany: Driving the Italian Dream Timed to Perfection (Visiting Italy during the “shoulder season”) Orvieto: The Perfect Break Discreet Charm in Northern Italy (Bolzano) [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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
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Five Favorites: Italian Words
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Favorite Italian Words: The Sequel
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An Italian Wedding
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iPhone Apps for the Italophile
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Five Favorites: Reasons to Rent a Villa in Italy
- Italian Cities Contributing Writer for About.com
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A Bribe-Free Holiday in Sicily
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Five Favorites: The Amalfi Coast
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‘An Irreverent Curiosity’ – An Interview with David Farley
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Five Favorites: Art in Tuscany
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Siena 101
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John: Great pictures. I can almost taste the yumminess....
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Dave: It sounds absolutely amazing. I have been to many...
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Danielle: I loved this, thanks for posting! Hope you don't m...
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Laura from Ciao Amalfi: Ciao Melanie! Thanks for having me over to write a...
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Melanie: Thanks, Brian. It means a lot coming from you!...
