When I’m not visiting Italy or writing about Italy I really enjoy watching travel shows about Italy. The Travel Channel, PBS, BBC, and other outlets all show Italy travelogues from time to time and I love them. I’ll almost always pause to watch aerial views of Capri or listen to historical details about the Colosseum. [...]
More Hill Towns of Umbria
by Melanie on 13. Apr, 2010 in Featured Articles, Umbria
In my first round-up of the Hill Towns of Umbria, I discussed the towns of Assisi, Gubbio, Montefalco, and Orvieto. The list of hill towns in Umbria is, in fact, exhaustive, and also includes the region’s capital Perugia. In this post, I wanted to focus on a few more worth visiting. They are Spello, Spoleto, [...]
Visiting the Vatican and Rome During Easter
by Melanie on 11. Mar, 2010 in Festivals and Events, Religion, Rome, Vatican City
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 [...]
Six Places to Celebrate Carnival in Italy
by Melanie on 05. Feb, 2010 in Destinations, Festivals and Events, Piemonte, Rome, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Venice
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: Italy in Winter, Hidden Salami, Timelapse Tuscany, and more
by Melanie on 26. Jan, 2010 in Article Roundup
This installment of Italy travel articles includes two videos that I thought were worth sharing. Enjoy the round-up!
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, [...]
How To Make Bolognese Sauce
by Melanie on 01. Oct, 2009 in Food and Wine
Here’s a great way to bring Italy home – learn how to make Bolognese sauce! There are dozens of instructional videos out there, including this recent one from Epicurious.com. But two of the best I have found – that adhere to the original ingredients and techniques from Italy – come from Mario Batali, the Italian-American [...]
Pocket Film Prize: I Make My World
by Melanie on 20. Aug, 2009 in Arts and Culture, Venice
As part of the 53rd Venice Biennale, there is an online video-making competition aimed “at young people from around the world aged between 18 and 26 years of age for video-works made using mobile phones.” To enter Pocket Film Prize: I Make My World,” participants must submit a video of any genre no longer than [...]
Keeping Up With the Antinori
by Melanie on 15. Oct, 2008 in Destinations, Food and Wine, Tuscany, Umbria
Italian wine enthusiasts (that includes most of us, right?) may find this past weekend’s 60 Minutes story on Italy’s Antinori family intriguing. Considered one of Italy’s premier winemaking clans, the Antinori have been in the wine business for more than 500 years. Today, even the Antinori daughters are in on the act. To learn more [...]
The Lost Leonardo
by Melanie on 22. Apr, 2008 in Arts and Culture, Destinations, Florence, Tuscany
Over the weekend, 60 Minutes had a fascinating piece on “The Lost Leonardo,” which is Leonardo da Vinci’s storied painting of the Battle of Anghiari. Italian art historian Maurizio Seracini believes that the missing artwork lies behind a giant Vasari painting in the Palazzo Vecchio: “He is convinced Leonardo’s mural lies protected behind an immense painting, [...]
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.
-
A Year in Italy Video Giveaway
12. May, 2010
-
Five Favorites: Italian Words
15. Jan, 2010
-
Favorite Italian Words: The Sequel
29. Apr, 2010
-
An Italian Wedding
25. May, 2010
-
iPhone Apps for the Italophile
13. Mar, 2010
-
Romantic Hotels in Tuscany
18. Aug, 2010
-
Scenic Drive on the Amalfi Coast
12. Aug, 2010
- Italian Cities Contributing Writer for About.com 15. Jul, 2010
-
A Bribe-Free Holiday in Sicily
13. Jul, 2010
-
Five Favorites: The Amalfi Coast
07. Jul, 2010
-
Riccardo: I was in Italy last year to visit my family...it w...
-
Lisa at Wanderlust Weddings: Hi Melanie and thanks for having me share my favor...
-
TERESA CRETELLA: HELLO AGAIN LAURA, I CONTACTED YOU A COUPLE OF ...
-
Sadye Carnovale: Nice article you've got here. Will keep coming rea...
-
Garden Canopies: What theme are you using on your site ? I like the...
Follow Italofile on Twitter
Site Sponsors
My Articles
- 'An Irreverent Curiosity' Book Review
- 48 Hours in Rome
- A Visit to the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence
- Babble Best: Tuscany with Kids
- BootsnAll's WhyGo Italy Interview
- Families in Business: The Recipe for Success
- Florence Campanile
- 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
- Where to Shop in Rome
Recognition
- BootsnAll's WhyGo Italy Interview
- Eye on Italy Podcast: Premier Episode
- Italofile: TravelBlogSites.com Page of the Day
- Italy Magazine Blog of the Week
- Jason Fuller Design
- Lonely Planet Twitter Contest Winner
- Sensual Treats – All Italy Issue
- Travel Tips: Vacation in Italy
- Woo Themes Showcase – Canvas Theme








