Paolo Sorrentino’s Naples: The People and Places of “The Hand of God”
“The Hand of God” is packed with beautiful and surreal scenes of Naples. Learn about the locations, people, and cultural references in Sorrentino’s Neapolitan masterpiece.
Campania
Vanvitelli’s Violin: Surprising Landscape Design at Reggia di Caserta
Did you know that the landscape around the Reggia di Caserta was designed to look like a violin? Learn more about this UNESCO Heritage Site near Naples.
Reggia di Caserta
The 18th-century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. Located outside of Naples, the palace and grounds make for a pleasant day trip from Rome or from other locations in Campania, Lazio, and central-southern Italy. Short … Read more
Campania Travel Guide
Campania is one of those regions that has it all. Naples, the capital of Campania, is a lively yet mysterious city whose influence stretches across the entire region and beyond. The cityscape of Naples is unmistakable, with still-active Mount Vesuvius looming along the city edge. Not far from Naples are the ruins of Pompeii and … Read more
Ancient Greek Temples and Mozzarella di Bufala in Paestum
If you tell a Roman that you are going Paestum for the weekend, invariably he or she will tell you: “Make sure you pick up some mozzarella di bufala.” Paestum and Its Greek Roots and Ruins Paestum is a sight to see without the culinary pit stop. A city known as “Poseidonia” when it was part … Read more
One Year in Italy: 12 Months of Memories
A month-by-month, personal account of my first year living in Italy.
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 … Read more
Seven Longobard Sites Newest Additions to UNESCO Heritage List
In 2011, UNESCO inscribed Italy’s newest World Heritage sites: The Longobards in Italy. Places of the Power (568-774 A.D.). Treated as one entity, these seven sites stretch from as far north as Castelseprio, Lombardy to as far south as Benevento in Campania. All seven of these sites represent, according to UNESCO, “the high achievement of … Read more
Scenic Drive on the Amalfi Coast
Italy is full of scenic drives. There are the honey-colored sunsets of Tuscany, sepia-toned ruins of Ostia, and the snow-capped cityscapes of Torino. But if you want a ride with the bluest of blues then the only place to find yourself is along Campania’s La Costiera Amalfitana, The Amalfi Coast. This coastal road links Sorrento … Read more
Five Best Things to See and Do On the Amalfi Coast
With its rough coastline, deep blue sea, and color-drenched markets and hillsides, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most amazing destinations in Italy.
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 more
20 Things To Love About Italy: Abruzzo to Lombardy
Part 1 of 20 Things We Love About Italy includes travel ideas for the regions of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Le Marche, Liguria, and Lombardy.
