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Southern Italy
Giulianova: A Beachside Gem in Abruzzo

Beaches in Abruzzo don't get much press. They are far from most tourist sites. But that's exactly what makes them enjoyable. We had an opportunity - thanks to, of all things, a winning raffle ticket - to visit the Abruzzo seaside town of Giulianova. And we were pleasantly surprised. Giulianova is ...

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Cityscape of Matera, Basilicata

Today's photo comes from the stony, surreal cityscape of Matera, Basilicata. I was reminded to post about the 2019 Italian Capitale della Cultura after yesterday's announcement proclaiming Parma the Italian cultural capital for 2020. We're currently in the Year of Palermo. Palermo, Matera, ...

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Palermo, Sicily: 2018 Italian Capital of Culture

Congratulations to the city of Palermo, which has been awarded the distinction of Italian Capital of Culture for 2018. The Italian Culture Ministry (Ministero di Beni Culturali) awards the prize each year in an effort to promote tourism. Along with the distinction, the winning city receives 1 ...

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Dreaming of Basilicata

Bad experiences can happen in Italy. You may lose your wallet, have to deal with a brusque waiter, or turn your ankle while walking on a cobbled path. Despite unfortunate circumstances, it seems like everyone I have ever talked to who has visited Italy thinks of it the way that Matthew Brown ...

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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 ...

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Murals of Orgosolo, Sardinia

In the heart of Sardinia lies the village of Orgosolo, a sort of Sardinian "Wild West" known for years for its bandits, who would conduct brazen kidnappings and murders. During the first half of the 20th century, Orgosolo's notorious reputation grew to such a point that it inspired the film ...

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L’Aquila Earthquake Info

The full extent of the damage to L'Aquila and the surrounding area after yesterday's 6.3 earthquake is still not known. As of now, there are at least 179 confirmed dead and numerous buildings, including the Church of Maria di Collemaggio, lie in rubble. Even though this is still a developing ...

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Authentic Accommodations in Abruzzi

Those who may have watched CBS Sunday Morning* yesterday probably caught the Allen Pizzey "Postcard: Abruzzi" piece, which profiled a castle in the village of Santo Stefano di Sessania, Abruzzo (or Abruzzi, if you will) that has been converted into "authentic" accommodations for those few tourists ...

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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 read ...

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