Italy in the News

Tuscany Harvest Tour 2014

October 20, 2014

Ready to embark upon a wonderful week hosting a group of 14 guests in Tuscany.  October 25 – November 1, 2014.  This is Harvest time in Tuscany and we will be sampling the amazing Brunello & Vini Nobile wines, fresh pressed extra virgin olive oil, pecorino cheeses, hunting for tartufo bianci with a truffle hunter […]

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The Italian Cell Phone Experience

November 13, 2013

Last time in Italy I purchased an Italian cell phone on the hood of a taxi driver’s car on the recommendation of my driver in Positano…a friend he said and a “good guy”.  40 euros later I had a brand new phone with a headset and charger.  Next to the TIM store to buy a […]

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Tuscany Harvest Tour 2013

October 15, 2013

Follow me on the first Tuscany Harvest Tour starting on November 16th!   A private small group tour based near Montepulciano & Pienza.  We’ll be cooking together, learning to make wine, picking & pressing olives and enjoying the beautiful harvest time in Tuscany.

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Visit to Herculaneum – Ercolano

October 22, 2011

Herculaneum (Ercolano) October 15 Visited the ruins of Herculaneum, a seaside resort which was buried after the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D.  Most people visit Pompeii due to the size of the excavation.  Herculanium, about 1/4th the size of Pompeii & receives about 20% of the visitors, making it a more intimate site. […]

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Positano Italy – First stop

October 12, 2011

Arriving at Naples airport is a convenient port of entry for visiting the Amalfi Coast.  Our private driver Alfonso navigated with the ease of a local and gave us an education of the land keeping us awake to enjoy the beautiful scenery.  The views are amazing and much easier to enjoy when you have someone […]

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Overnight Accomodation Tax in Rome

February 18, 2011

Beginning January 2011 there will be a fee applied to lodging in Rome.  Introduced as an “overnight accomodation tax”  the fee charged  will be 2 euro per person, per night and applied at the end of the stay.  Children aged 10 years or younger will be exempt from payment.  The fee is intended to financially […]

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Mount Etna awakens in 2011

January 13, 2011

New activity from Mt. Etna in Sicily created spectacular fire fountains and lava flows on the eastern flank of the Southeast Crater.  It started January 11 and stunning photos were captured.  It closed the Catania airport for a short time but has reopened today, Thursday, January 13th.  Read more about this amazing event along with […]

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Florence covered in Snow

December 21, 2010

A very rare event when Florence and much of Italy received snow!  As you can imagine, motorways, rail, air and local traffic around Tuscany were at a standstill.  Rome also had snow for the third time in 42 years.  Check out some great pictures from Living Venice blog…amazing photos!

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Rome’s Colosseum Underground Chambers Open

December 16, 2010

Next time you are in Rome you may get access to part of the Roman Colosseum never before open to the public.   Special funds & conservation projects made possible public entry through the back entrance “Porta Libidinaria” where in Roman times gladiators made their grand entrance to the arena.  Through a glass elevator you are […]

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