I hold in my memory certain summer days in Italy so oppressive and hot, I feared I might never know the relief of cooler weather again. But now, it’s February, and for much of the world, the luxury of a long, drowsy, sunshine-filled day feels very far away. Even further that dreamy day has you…
Tag: Italy
Nine Places in Europe to Experience Ancient Rome
In its heyday, the Roman Empire occupied more than two million square miles and stretched from England to Egypt, with its citizens numbering around 120 million people. With such an enormous reach, the ancient Romans understandably left evidence of their heritage not only in Rome and Italy, but throughout Europe. As a companion piece to…
Three Sites Added to Italy’s UNESCO World Heritage List
Padua, Bologna and Tuscany’s Montecatini Terme are home to Italy’s newest UNESCO sites, achieving World Heritage status in August 2021. This boosts Italy’s total to 58, now the country with the most heritage sites in the world. Here’s a quick peek at these cultural gems. Padua’s 14th Century Fresco Cycles In Italy’s northeastern corner between…
Florence’s Orsanmichele: How The City’s Grain Storage Became a Beloved Church
Via Calzaiuoli is a street made for strolling. Along this pedestrian-only thoroughfare, it’s easy to wander between some of Florence’s most sought after sites including the Duomo, Florence’s iconic red-domed cathedral, and the Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge in town which survived World War II. Tucked in between these two sites is the historic church…
The Passeggiata: A Most Italian Tradition
One of the most quintessential of all Italian traditions is the passeggiata, when friends and family take to the streets of their town in the early evening, usually between 5 and 8 pm, and well, wander. The word passeggiata comes from the verb passeggiare, an Italian word for walk, combined with the suffix “-ata” which…
Paestum: Ancient Greece in Southern Italy
While there are plenty of sites throughout Italy to time travel to Ancient Rome, in Southern Italy you can also experience magnificent ruins once touched by the hands of ancient Greeks. One such spot is Paestum, an easy day trip from Naples, Sorrrento/Amalfi or Salerno. Paestum is home to three incredible Greek temples dating back…
Beyond Rome: Five Sites in Italy to Transport You to Ancient Rome
Of course if it’s ancient Rome you’re after, then Rome is an absolute must. You will want to put the Colosseum and Forum at the top of your list, and you might want to sneak in time at Circus Maximus. Plan plenty of time at the Pantheon, and as a general rule, be on the…
UNESCO World Heritage Sites Near Rome
“Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations.” –UNESCO World Heritage Center Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com Since 1972, UNESCO has designated more than 1,000 sites worldwide as World Heritage Sites, with 55 of those in Italy (the country tied for China…
Experience Basilicata, Authentic Italy
“Basilicata is a misshapen, green, rocky, mountainous piece of land forming the awkward instep of Italy’s boot, and Matera is its gnarled crown jewel,” writes Susan Wright for The New York Times, in an article announcing Matera, the region’s most well-known town, as the 2019 European Capital of Culture. American movie director Francis Ford Coppola,…
A Photo Tour of Rome’s Seven Hills
Having been a grateful traveler to Italy over the past years, it occurred to me recently that, despite being familiar with the saying that Rome was built on seven hills, I wasn’t at all sure that I’d even seen one. Definitely I could not name any of them. And with most trips to Italy ultimately…
Prayers & Piazzas 