Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica
Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here’s how to get tickets and prepare for Midnight Mass.
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Easter in Rome: When, Where, and How to See Mass During Holy Week
Easter season is one of the best times to visit Rome. Here’s how you can plan your visit to Rome and Vatican during Holy Week.
These Amazing Italian Gardens Near Naples Are Shaped Like a Violin
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.
Small-Town Puglia: What It’s Like to Live in Biccari
Biccari, the latest Italian village trying to attract foreigners with cheap real estate, also happens to be my family’s ancestral home. Here are some personal thoughts and observations on this small town in Puglia.
Procida: Italian Capital of Culture 2022
The island city of Procida is the Capital of Italian Culture for 2022.
Hiking, Biking, and Walking Across Italy: How to Explore the Cammini d’Italia
Italy currently recognizes 44 official pathways known as the Cammini d’Italia. Learn about the many historic routes that you can hike, bike, and walk.
Mausoleum of Augustus to Reopen in Rome
One of the most important monuments of Ancient Rome, the Mausoleum of Augustus, will reopen to the public in 2021.
The Triumph of Death: Mysterious Plague Painting in Palermo
Throughout the long, lonely months of our modern pandemic, I’ve been thinking about a dark and mysterious painting in Palermo known as “The Triumph of Death.” Known in Italian as Il Trionfo della Morte, the painting hangs in Palazzo Abatellis, a regional gallery in the Kalsa quarter of the Sicilian capital. Measuring 6 m x…
Writing on the Wall: Birthplace of Tina Modotti in Udine
A look at Franco del Zotto Odorico’s art at the Tina Modotti house in Udine.
Ligurian Island of Gallinara Sold to Foreign Investor
Gallinara, the turtle-shaped island 1.5 kilometers off the western coast of Liguria, has been sold to a single owner.
Archaeologists Uncover Roman Mosaic Under Veneto Vineyard
The 3rd century ruins are located near Verona.
Trevi Fountain: Origins and Traditions of Rome’s Most Famous Fountain
The history behind the Trevi Fountain, one of the most beautiful and best-known fountains in the world.
Raphael’s Loggia of Cupid and Psyche Now in Exquisite, Digital Detail
In addition to the many paintings that Raphael painted during his short life, the artist was also responsible for a roomful of frescoes in a Roman palace that is now known as the Villa Farnesina. From 1517-1518, Raphael and his workshop painted scenes from the fable of Cupid and Psyche on the vaulted ceiling of…
Parma Italian Capital of Culture Through 2021
Parma will be the Italian Capital of Culture for 2020 and 2021 to make up for the loss of tourism due to COVID-19.
Sleeping Dog, Pompeii
Photo of a stray dog sleeping among the ruins of Pompeii.
Prato della Valle, Padua: Italy’s Largest Piazza
Prato della Valle measures 90,000 sq meters, making it not only the largest square in Italy but one of the largest in Europe.
Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus by Simone Martini
A close-up detail from Simone Martini’s “Annunciation with St. Margaret and St. Ansanus.”
Caffè Meletti in Ascoli Piceno
Postcard from Caffè Meletti, an historic bar in Le Marche.