Campo Felice: Skiing and Sledding in Abruzzo
Campo Felice is an easy winter day trip from Rome.
Southern Italy
Matera, Basilicata: 2019 European Capital of Culture
Matera, the southern Italian city known for its ancient caves and modern comeback, is the 2019 European Capital of Culture.
Go For the Gold: The Gorgeous Golden Mosaics of Palermo, Monreale, & Cefalù
Sicily has some of the most gorgeous golden mosaics in the world. Here’s where to see these UNESCO World Heritage sights in Palermo, Monreale, and Cefalù.
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 notable for a number…
The Best Things to Eat in Palermo, Sicily
I Can’t Believe I Ate All of That On Such a Short Trip
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 million euro which is to be used to…
Italy’s First Wine Fountain Opens in Abruzzo — and the Wine is Free
Wine lovers have a fun new reason to make a trip to Abruzzo.
Italy’s A3 Autostrada Near Completion 50 Years After Project Began
It’s been called the “shame of Italy” and for good reason. The A3 autostrada, a 443km highway that is to connect Salerno to Reggio Calabria, has been under construction since 1966. Faulty construction and mafia meddling by both the Camorra and ‘Ndragheta factions have caused numerous delays during the nearly 50 years since the project…
Posted in Sardinia
An Italian Army tale from 1960 set in a train chugging through Sardinia.
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 does: Italy as…
Ancient Aphrodite Sculpture Back in Sicily
On Tuesday, the Museo Archeologico di Morgantina, a small archeological museum in Aidone (Enna), Sicily, held an inauguration for the repatriation of an ancient sculpture of Aphrodite.
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…
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 Bandits of Orgosolo (1961). While…
Five Best Beaches in Calabria
With more than 500 miles of coastline, wrapping around seaside villages and swooping cliffs, Calabria is packed with beaches in every shape, size, and color.
Abruzzo’s Beffi Triptych
The Beffi Triptych spends time in the U.S. following the devastating earthquake in Abruzzo.
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 story, a lot of interesting…
A Snowy ‘Staycation’ in Rome
Skiing and sledding within a tank of gas from Rome.