Spending a day in Murano is ultimately an engaging getaway from Venice and its streets bustling with tourists. During the late afternoon, when colors start to soften, one may admire the city in the distance, and get a renewed sense of its eternal charm. Furthermore, Murano offers a quiet escapade […]
If there were a more beautiful city than Florence to exemplify the refinement and beauty of the Renaissance, I have yet to find it. And it should be so, for Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance. To appreciate this city, you must understand that in 1397 a wealthy banker […]
Though about 150 kilometers and a province or two separate them, Bologna and Verona share many of the same traits: Roman roots, well-preserved, medieval centers where life revolves around handsome piazzas, plus great culinary traditions and designer shopping on elegant, arcaded streets. And both cities share have something else in […]
When your time is limited, and you have specific sightseeing interests and desire a memorable meal in Rome, here are some of our favorite places that we recommend. Near the Spanish Steps: Assaggia Roma Assaggia means “taste” in Italian, and that’s just what this stylish restaurant on pretty Via Margutta […]
Once in a while I get a question from a reader asking, “How much should I tip while in Italy?” The answer is not so straightforward, because we bring our own cultural norms with us when we travel, and that can be a hard thing to “undo” for a week […]
All roads may or may not lead to Rome, but chances are your vacation to Italy will begin or end there. To make the most of your stay in the Eternal City, be it for a couple of days or for a week or more, location is everything. Basing yourself […]
To say Milan is only one of the top design capitals of the world could be an understatement. It has been at the top of the list since Leonardo Da Vinci lived and created here for twenty years and left his genius in engineering, architecture, inventing, sculpting and art. Today […]
No matter how many times you have visited, or which remote corners you have explored, a journey to Italy always yields surprise, delight and discovery. Taking in a sunrise over a postcard-perfect northern lake, swooning over the glowing, floodlit ruins of the Roman Forum at night, gleaning cooking tips and […]
Renting a turnkey villa can be the perfect solution for a group of fun-loving girls to maximize their time together while enjoying Italy’s off-the-beaten path experiences. A bespoke vacation like the one that I took this past fall to Villa Ercolano in Umbria ensures that you spend more time “in the […]
Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International’s distinctive collection of passionately independent hotels has announced the opening of The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel in the heart of the Eternal City just steps from The Pantheon. This particular collection by Marriott is always a favorite because it provides guests with a boutique feel, but with […]
Hotel Quelle is a 5-star, family-run resort in the Puster Valley, one of the northernmost corners of Italy’s South Tyrol region, which includes the Italian Dolomites and the upscale ski resort towns of Merano and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The majority of the South Tyrol’s residents speak German as their first language, […]
In Italian, the word “eremito” means “hermit.” With careful forethought, “Eremito” is what wealthy entrepreneur Marcello Murzilli called his luxury hotel in the hills of Umbria opened just a few years ago. Alone on a hillside not far from Tuscany, Eremito looks as though it has been there for seven […]
