News
Here you will find the latest headlines about Italy, particularly news related to travel and tourism in the country. I would love to have the discipline to update this daily. Instead, I only get around to highlighting this story or that one. To supplement the Italy news you learn from these posts, check out my go-to sources Corriere della Sera (in Italian) and, in English, The Local Italy.
Italy’s Most Scenic Drives
Today’s tip from Fodor’s looks at the best driving tours in Italy. They include the Via Aurelia, the Grande Strade delle Dolomiti, and – my favorite – the S222 through Tuscany, also known as the Via Chiantigiana. I’m certain there are more than just three drives in Italy that will make your jaws drop.…
Ancient Rome Rebuilt and Reborn
Rome Reborn, a digital model of Rome within the Aurelian Walls, is one of the most comprehensive representations of the ancient city ever assembled.
Cook’s Tour of Milan
I’m very lucky. The very first time I tasted risotto was in Milan. We were en route to Verona and ate the creamy, saffron-tinted risotto milanese at the train station cafe. Even given the locale, it was still an epiphany. Apparently, I’m not the only one who has dreams about one of Milan’s most prized…
Bologna’s Old Cutlery Shop
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.” Here’s another taste of the short article: When Antonio Bernagozzi…
Getting Into the Vatican Museums
It’s getting ever more difficult to get into the Vatican Museums. The museums, Musei Vaticani in Italian, are home to some of the world’s most precious and recognizable Western art including Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican recently raised prices for a non-guided visit and, according to the New York Times, the Museums are…
A Year in Italy
Someone posted a great video on YouTube.com. The video features a rapid-fire slideshow of an entire year’s worth of photos taken in Italy. On the itinerary (at least in the first few minutes) are the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, fruit vendors in various piazze, cupolas, cobblestones, and more. There are more than nine minutes of…
Resolution: Italian Citizenship
Did know that you can get honorary citizenship from the Terre di Siena (Siena’s provincial tourism board)? Citizenship entails signing a Sustainable Tourism charter. Here’s what the charter lists as an honorary citizen’s privileges: Okay…no EU work permit or a free bottle of Chianti. But, it’s not a bad ploy to get tourists thinking about their…
Welcome to Italofile!
Welcome to the Italofile – your resource for Italy travel information. Bear with us – we’ll be up and running soon. In the meantime, we recommend the following guides for planning your next trip to Italy: The Unofficial Guide to Central Italy Michelin Green Guide Tuscany Frommer’s Italy 2006 Italy Eyewitness Travel Guide