Archive for the ‘Off the Beaten Path’ Category
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9 Reasons to Rediscover Florence
When I passed through the Porta San Frediano the other day, I noticed a discreet brown metal sign stating that UNESCO has included the entire centro storico of Florence on their list of World Heritage Monuments. UNESCO’s website describes the city “as a treasure chest of works of art and architecture….defined by the 14th-century walls” (Porta San Frediano is one of the gates piercing these massive stone walls) and praises the “unique coherence” of Florence’s historic center. Coherent it may be but Florence is overwhelming, too, especially for a tourist trying to make some sense
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A Sardinian Chef’s Unique Take on Traditional Cuisine
The taxi ride to Bosa from Alghero was enchanting. The winding roads through the seaside cliffs of northwestern Sardinia presented spectacular views that altered in breathtaking ways at every turn. I remained speechless from the stunning views as my taxi companion, a fellow journalist, chatted with our driver, who was more than thrilled to describe the particular food cultures of his hometown. As an island west of Italy’s mainland, Sardinia would seem to have a cuisine full of sea creatures and fish, but because of the mountainous terrain that blocks the sea from the inland, only the towns located on the water have a fish-based cuisine. Bosa is one of them
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Rome’s Musical Gem: L’Oratorio del Gonfalone
First thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “Rome” and “music” together? Most will respond with a simple phrase, Teatro dell’Opera. As Rome’s primary venue for musical events, this opera house is often the choice of music lovers hoping to enjoy the harmonious sounds of Italian artistry while in the Eternal City. However, we’re going to let you in on a little secret: Teatro dell’Opera is not the only, and arguably not even the absolute best, place to experience the music of the Bel Paese.
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5 Reasons Why You Can’t Afford to Skip Alto Adige
Visiting the Alto Adige province of Italy is stepping into another world altogether: this is an area in which the majority does not speak Italian; in fact, when asked, many of its citizens will not identify themselves as Italian. As a former southern piece of the Austrian region of Tirol until it was given to Italy in a treaty after WWI, Alto Adige’s citizens cling tight to their Austrian roots. Over the last hundred years, the region has gained autonomy and evolved into its own distinct entity, attracting Italian travelers that are looking for an off-the-beaten-path excursion that is truly unico
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The Wonders of Venice’s Biennale
Dante wrote: ‘We paused to peer into another bit of hell and hear the usual lamentations. It was hot down there and black as your boot as in the Arsenal of the Venetians…’ Amazing to think of the industry that went on behind those old walls, the world’s first production line. They could build and fit a galleon in a day. It’s now a silent empty sixty acre site. Well actually not quite for its 2011 and the huge warehouses are full of modern art
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A Secret Roman Villa
Travel thought for the week: it’s a secret if it’s new to you! And as an example of this, there is the Villa Oplontis, also called the Villa Poppaea, one of the most luxurious villas built by the ancient Romans and first excavated in 1839. But it wasn’t until the early 1970s that the lavish villa began to emerge from the dirt, rubble and ashes that rained down on it when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. This southern Italian villa was apparently part of a residential community called Oplanti which, unlike nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum, seems to have had no markets, shops, forums or houses of erotic indulgence.
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Top 5 Celebrity Hotels in Italy
From the lakes region in the north to the Amalfi Coast in the south, Italy boasts a wealth of luxurious destinations which draw celebrities from the world over. The sky is the limit when it comes to pampering the rich. For those celebrities who do not already own property in Italy a la George Clooney in Bellagio or Sting in Tuscany, the following hotels can provide the seclusion and comfort necessary to satisfy even the most demanding of guests
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Let’s Talk About The Etruscans
The majestic Colosseum…the Roman Forum and Trajan’s Column…the Catacombs and Appian Way…with so many evocative ancient ruins in the very heart of Rome, you might think that Italy was first the province of the ancient Romans. Well, not exactly. Before there was Rome there were the mysterious yet highly cultured Etruscans, who thrived as early as 800BC and whose reach covered much of central Italy including present-day Tuscany and parts of Umbria, as well as areas closer to Rome
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Italy’s Jewish Heritage
What’s even older than Italy’s Christian heritage? That’s right, its Jewish heritage. The reasons for this are complex, but the Jewish presence in Italy predates even the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE. Most of the Jews who lived in ancient Rome during the Roman Republican period actually spoke Greek. Emperor Augustus didn’t have a great grasp of Jewish customs and traditions, but Julius Caesar by contrast maintained very good relations with the Jews of Rome. Of course, many Jews arrived as slaves following Roman conquests in the area known as the Holy Land.
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6 Italian Summer Secrets
Summer in Italy, everyone’s favorite summer European vacation destination, is a time for enjoyment and discovery. In the spirit of the latter, here’s a mini grab bag of Italy vacation ideas that are not as well-known as some, but great all the same. Naturally, the first secrets are from the city that’s famous for them, Venice
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