You can almost hear those sleigh bells ringing in your ears as the Christmas season approaches your world. The sound of Santa Claus' “HO, HO, HO” can be heard on the radio, television, in social media, and even as you you shop on the city streets. So let me tell you, there is no better time to visit a European Christmas Market than like the
With a history that spans centuries, Rome is a city that takes a lifetime to discover. No matter how many times I go to Rome, I always find something new. It seems to contain an infinite number of secrets and sights to behold. While many are well-known and are on the top of most travelers’ bucket lists, this capital city has its share of secret places
Here is WHY You Should Visit Portofino! Portofino, Italy is a small fishing village along the Italian Riviera known for its good looks and visitors: the Hollywood crowd and beyond! But you don't have to be a celebrity or wealthy to visit this gorgeous seaside town in Northern Italy. For me, it is the perfect town. The half-moon shaped harbor, with its pastel houses lining
Positano, Italy is a gorgeous slice of Heaven, ok, I mean "beach town" in Italy along the Amalfi Coast. It is famous for its colorful buildings, excellent restaurants, and perfect location for honeymooners, and really anyone who wants to enjoy the Italian sun! With its winding roads that lead down to the sea, there are plenty of cafes, shops, and boutique hotels to stay at.
White and soft sand, palm trees, impressive size cliffs, and the ocean. At least a few vacation days in one of the seven most beautiful beaches in the world would make a tourist trip just as good as a fairytale. Of course, it is easy to be biased about it, but all of these beaches and places we are going to talk about today are
Make This Your Next Authentic Italian Vacation Americans love Italy Vacations. Yet many times when we go, we get bogged down in the massive cities and we begin to feel that the vacation becomes "too touristy". In Rome, the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain are so busy that they are almost avoidable areas to go to anymore because of the massive crowds. Even Rome has
If you ask me how I like to travel, I would say “solo.” As a photographer, I find it’s easier to wander alone and take my time to get exactly the right shot. So on my third visit exploring Venice, I found a few of the best things to do in Venice, Italy. I was totally prepared to take in a day at the Carnival
I'd say the Amalfi Coast is right on up there with the top 10 places to see before you die! You have got to experience it for yourself. Take your spouse on a romantic getaway. Fly into Rome, rent a car, and drive from Rome to Positano by car. See it for yourself, at your own pace and leisure. That's what we did on our
There's this petite village - really a settlement, that lies just off the scenic road to Amalfi just above the coastline. It is called Fuore, Italy. At one time, it was a fisherman's village, full of tiny boat houses that clung to the side of the mountain along the gorge. Many people admired the cluster of houses and the view overlooking the village, but no
I fell in love with the Liguria region where Genova, Italia (Genoa, Italy) is located. It is squeezed in between Monaco and Tuscany and is the thinnest and the smallest of all the regions of Italy. It may not be the most popular area or an area you think of when it comes to a visit to Italy, but take it from me, you will
"If you read a lot, nothing is as great as you've imagined. Venice is -- Venice is better." Fran Lebowitz Venice Murmurings More than anything, I would just love to "be" in Venice, Italy. You know, "to be" and not "to do"? The "being" part is the key. It affects what I am doing and I must say, the more I develop my 'being'
Photo by Donnie Sexton Hands down, the most spectacular event I’ve ever witnessed has to be the Carnival of Venice. I didn’t rent a costume or pay to attend any of the masquerade balls, but I had the time of my life wandering this historical city and being utterly bedazzled by the continual parade of costumed people there to celebrate the Venice Carnival.
Dolomites, Italy Christmas Holidays for Our Family It is just about that time of year that I start to look for vacation spots for my family for our annual Christmas ski vacation. My husband has an affinity for mountains and snow during the Christmas holiday season, he is a ski fanatic. Last year was Telluride, CO, so typically I choose a “winter”
Positano Beach: There is so much to say about the beloved Positano Beach, and yet nothing you can say that will give you the true essence to explain what Positano is all about. It speaks for itself, without superfluous words. It is so stunning that it makes you hunger for more. I can say that I absolutely loved the amazing drive we took down the
I watched out the large rectangular window and the massive television screen blaring Italian on the wall at the same time. Glancing back and forth, I could see where each frame of the movie had been filmed. The main actor would walk into the door that I had just walked through and then up the stairs to the very room I was standing in. However,
Cesenatico is a port city located on the Adriatic coast of Italy. It is in the province of Forlì-Cesena, which is in the region of Emilia-Romagna, south of Ravenna. If you have not had a chance to visit the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, then have I got a treat for you! It's called Cesenatico and I had a chance to stay at the gorgeous Hotel
Everyone knows Venice, but how many people really know those 100 islands in Northern Italy's Veneto region built upon the islands of the Adriatic Sea? Venice, also known as Venezia to the Italians, is a 1700-year-old city that at one time was considered the epicenter of European finances and art. Today it is a romantic tourist destination for all to enjoy. A place where you can
Cesena is a gorgeous local community located in the central region of Italy called Emilia Romagna. This city is just 9 miles from the Adriatic Sea and was once an important town during Roman times which was famous for its wines in the region. My impression is that not that many people have heard of this region of Italy even though it has much to offer
Italy Magazine - Blogger Awards 2014 Italy Magazine's Blog Awards! If you know me, then you know it is no secret that Italy is an amazing destination that I love to visit! Yes, it is true, I absolutely find Italy fascinating. I am happy to announce that one of the most unforgettable experiences that I have had on my travels was awarded
Italian Luxury Hamlet in Tuscany Just as the sun was beginning to peek into my 18th-century room at a luxury hamlet in Tuscany, I begin to wake out of one of the deepest nights of sleep I had been in for a while. The glow of the sun tossed shadows on to the whitewashed walls and hardwood floors and I was curled up in a
When I found myself with the better part of a day to explore the medieval city of Perugia, I stumbled across a Perugia food tour. It was offered by Via Del Vino Food & Wine Tours. This four-hour tour, created by Susan Guerra, seemed just the ticket for the perfect places to eat in Italy. Now I confess to not being a connoisseur of great
Belmond Hotel Splendido sits perched upon a hill in Portofino with its elegant view of the world in the Italian Riviera. From the many stars above a moonlit ocean to swaying palms overlooking the negative edge pool, it oozes life as "la dolce vita". The moment you step on to this amazing property you will fall in love. I already have two lovers, but I
Taking the short trek on bus 42 from the main square of Piazza de Ferrari in Genoa to Bocadasse, Italy for a half day excursion was quite simple. I had just arrived in the city and had a few hours to spare before I knew the jet lag would set in, so I hopped the city bus and made my way over to Boccadasse, a place
I thought I would let you guys in on a little preview of my upcoming travels. I am getting ready for a whirlwind trip to Italy and Ireland, countries I have been to before, but honestly, they are two of my favorite ... and ones I always look forward to going back to. It all started out when I was going to a travel conference
Luxury Firenze Hotel: IL Salviatino - Florence, Italy Exhausted from my overnight flight to Rome from the USA, and then my train ride to Florence, I was bound and determined to make it to my Firenze hotel to find my suite with a king-sized bed soon. It was not exactly in the center of Florence, but in a neighborhood on a hill overlooking Florence known
One of the Best Places to Go in Italy: The Strozzi Family Estate My modern day fairytale: It is not every day you get to meet Italian royalty! “Privilege comes with an acute sense of responsibility. It’s like carrying the weight of a thousand years on your shoulders—as if the eyes of history were always upon you—and you need to find the way to
No matter what region you are in Italy, there’s one Italian treat that never fails to please the entire group: Gelato Italiano! But what is this Italian Gelato? Where did it come from? And what makes it so different than ice cream? Let's dig into this frozen treat and see what makes it so special. First of all, frozen creamy treats aren’t new. In ancient Roman times, Italians
Hotel Adler, otherwise known as the Adler Thermae Spa and Relax Resort in Tuscany, Italy We had arrived in this tiny little town in Italy in the middle of Tuscany and were anxious to see what was meant by this Italian “relax spa” called Hotel Adler. I had heard Italians relax differently than Americans, so I was ready to find out the differences at Hotel Adler.
Most days I write about my travel experiences: the good, the bad, and the ugly… But mostly I write about the wonderful travel experiences that I feel and see through my rose-colored glasses. I am grateful for the travel experiences that I have had around the globe and a recent invite by Trafalgar Tours, a global travel company, made me realize what goes into making
I’m a collector of masks. On display in my home are over 30 masks carefully carted back as my treasures from visits to faraway lands. So naturally, heading to Venice, I was keen on picking up a few Venice masks to add to my collection. I timed my visit to be there during the last three days of the Carnival of Venice so as
Authenticity in food is a very fluid concept, especially when looking for authentic food from a specific country. Authentic Italian food to the baker on the corner in Tuscany could be different to the pastry chef down the street, much less the difference in different regions of Italy. In fact, the same recipe can taste different from chef to chef and all of them will
Academia del Padlòt at Palazzo Donati kitchen Homemade, handmade pasta Coradella – lamb’s liver with garlic Deep in the caverns of a palatial kitchen, we sang and laughed, as we tasted the flavorful homemade food, high in the hills of Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy. I heard the sounds of many languages, laughter, and songs, as I popped fava
By Cacinda Maloney Rome, Italy Rome, the eternal city. Who doesn't love Rome? I fell in love the moment I landed there and have continued to go back there year after year. It is a fabulous city! There are so many things to see and do in Rome. But one thing that makes Rome so much better is if you rent an apartment.
This post is shortlisted by Italy Magazine as best blog post on an art and culture blog for 2014! The Lost Art of Print Blocking in Carpegna, Italy: Regenerated Carpegna, Italy Rumbling down the road, past the emerald green pastures, dirt and signs in Italian, I knew I was up for this adventure. The roads became tinier and tinier as we headed toward
Luxury Tuscany, Italy: A Journey for the Soul Montestigliano is a place for the soul, a place of rest, a place of comfort. It is not just a trip you take, but a journey that takes you. A journey to see how others live, how life functions, not in your own country; but in a completely different way of life. Here, there is life like
