Rome is one of the world’s great food destinations. Whether you’re savoring a slice of pizza bianca at Campo de Fiori or enjoying a gelato on the Spanish Steps, eating great food is an integral part of Roman life. In addition to world-class Italian restaurants, charming trattorias, and homey pizzerias, Rome also has wonderful food store, …
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One of the five Cinque Terre villages, Manarola has some of the best hotels in the area. Few views are more breathtaking than the first glimpse of the town on the path from Corniglia. From here, the village is almost vertical with pastel houses piled on top of one another. Surrounded by black rock, the …
Trieste is a beautiful city that’s as much Austrian as it is Italian. It practically straddles the border between Italy and Slovenia, and much of its history is tied to the Hapsburg Empire. You’re just as likely to find paprika in the dishes here as garlic. It’s been an important port since Roman times, and …
If you’re coming from La Spezia or Portovenere, Riomaggiore is the first town you’ll reach in the Cinque Terra. Part of the Cinque Terra National Park – which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Riomaggiore is picture-postcard pretty with pastel-colored houses clinging to terraced clifftops and an aquamarine harbor. It’s best known for the …
If you’ve been to Livorno, chances are you were on a Mediterranean cruise bound for Florence. If you saw Livorno at all, it was from the window of a tour bus. Which is a shame, because Livorno is worth your time. Known as the Etruscan Coast, this part of Tuscany borders the sea. After spending time …
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The jewel of the Italian Lakes, Lake Como is a delightful spot with gorgeous scenery, wonderful villas and gardens, and palatial hotels. There are several towns where you can relax and enjoy la dolce vita. Como, at the southern tip of the left branch of the lake, is the largest. It’s also the hub for …
Unless you’ve gone there on business, you’ve probably never been to Turin, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Although it’s an interesting, attractive city – as much French as it is Italian – it’s not a major destination for travelers. The seat of the House of Savoy from the 14th century through the Italian unification …
Read more “Shopping for the best Italian foods at Eataly in Turin”
Unless you’ve gone there on business, you’ve probably never been to Turin, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Although it’s an interesting, attractive city – as much French as it is Italian – it’s not a major destination for travelers. The seat of the House of Savoy from the 14th century through the Italian unification …
Read more “Shopping for the best Italian foods at Eataly in Turin”
Perched high above the sea on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Ravello’s beauty has inspired writers and artists since the 14th century when Boccaccio mentioned Villa Rufolo in his Decameron. Subsequent visitors and residents included Richard Wagner, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Gore Vidal. And most Ravenna hotels have hosted their share of celebrities. Recently, True Blood …
If you’ve heard of the Cinque Terre, or five lands on the Ligurian coast of Italy, you probably think of them as sleepy, little Italian towns that are off the beaten path. But the Cinque Terre villages are no longer the undiscovered gems they were when Rick Steves introduced them to travelers in the 1990s. …