Sicily is the place for lovers of breath-taking scenery, rich culture and delicious food. Its prime location has historically made it the perfect hub for trade and commerce, resulting in an overabundance of ingredients from all over the world. Sicily’s influences can be traced back to not only mainland Italy but also from its former […]

The largest Mediterranean island (L’isola più grande del’ mediterraneo) Regarded as one of Italy’s top destinations, Sicily is located right off the Italian mainland, with less than two miles of water separating it from the Calabria region.  Sicily is the largest and most densely populated island in the Mediterranean Sea. It receives the African desert […]

Italy has a famed Mediterranean climate, with warm dry summers and mild winters overall. But Italy is also a country of microclimates, with winter ranging from truly cold weather and extensive snowfall in the northernmost reaches of the country to much warmer weather and mild winters in the south. In a region like Friuli Venezia […]

Friuli-Venezia Giulia (English name same, pronunciation freeOOlee vehnETZyah JOOLyah) stretches on the map up and to the right from the rest of Italy.  It is in fact the farthest northeastern region, with part of it is almost entirely surrounded by the country of Slovenia, and bordering Austria as well.    Despite its relatively small size, Friuli-Venezia […]

The Piemonte, or Piedmont region, borders France and part of Switzerland in northwestern Italy. Known for world-class wines (Piedmont has no less than 18 DOCG wines, including Barolo and Barbaresco, both made from the Nebbiolo grape) and fall truffles, mountains with ski resorts—Monte Rosa is the second highest mountain in the Alps– and the city […]

Puglia (pronounced “pool-ya,” Apulia in Italian)  is located in the southeastern portion of Italy, including the ‘heel’ of the ‘boot,’ along the Adriatic Sea, the Bay of Taranto, and with the Ionian Sea stretching to the south.    With its warm Mediterranean climate, ancient city centers, and whitewashed traditional “Trulli” stone buildings with conical roofs, Puglia […]

Umbria is an Italian region bordering Tuscany, Lazio and Le Marche. Often called the country’s green heart, it’s known for its medieval hill towns, dense forests and local cuisine, particularly foraged truffles and wines. Hilltop Perugia, the regional capital, is the site of medieval Palazzo dei Priori, housing the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria art museum. Pedestrianized […]

Many who visit Italy say that fall is the perfect time.  Not too hot, cooler at night but still warm during the day– and fewer tourists.  Even though September can be as warm as August on some days in some places in Italy, most people regard September as the beginning of autumn One thing to […]

Even if you have visited Italy before, nothing can quite prepare you for the colorful and occasionally chaotic city of Naples.  Street life is vibrant, the colors are bright, and the aroma of pizza– real pizza, invented in Naples– are everywhere.  Visiting nearby Pompeii should be on everyone’s list, along with the National Archeological Museum […]

Summer is the top tourist season throughout Italy, and small wonder.  Italy’s Mediterranean climate means that yes, the days can get hot, especially in the south.  It also means more people seeing some of the great sites.  But the natural beauty of the Tuscan countryside– the cypresses growing just like in countless works of art […]