I can easily imagine the pride and joy felt by the inhabitants when in December 2015 the Unesco named Parma Creative City of Gastronomy.Most people know Parma because of its famous ham and Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano), probably not even relating the word to a place. French literature buffs might have read Stendhal’s acclaimed...
How many of you have heard about Emilia-Romagna, or know where it is? I bet not many.Everyone traveling from Florence to Venice (or the other way round) goes through Emilia-Romagna and its largest city, Bologna. This Italian region is often barely an area of transit, and only a few make a stop on their way to or...
Less than 10 km from Alberobello, the delightful town of Locorotondo looks very different from the village famous for the trulli, the traditional whitewashed dry stone huts with their typical conic-shaped roofs. It may not have the UNESCO WHS status of Alberobello, but Locorotondo is listed as one of the most beautiful hamlets in Italy and...
Pink, yellow, light blue, red, orange. Portovenere, one of the most beautiful towns of the western Ligurian coast, appears from the boat with its colorful houses reflecting in the sea.I haven’t set foot on the ground yet, and I feel already that many lovely corners are waiting for my eyes to meet and admire them....
I first visited Ravenna last year on a day trip from Bologna, where I spent two weeks to discover the beauty of the Emilia-Romagna region. I had been wishing to admire the Byzantine mosaics for a long time but never managed to go, and with a single day, there was not much time to get...
I feel blessed for being born in Italy, surrounded by beauty and enjoying magnificent landscapes ranging from the snow-capped Alps in the north to the olive groves in the south. Italy never fails to surprise.Seasoned travelers will tell you that nothing beats advice and tips from a local. So, to help you get the best...
Well known as one of the world's fashion capitals and a longstanding business hub in Europe, there still are only a limited number of foreign tourists who plan to visit Milan, particularly if it's their first trip to Italy.The land of "La Dolce Vita" is one of the most fantasized destinations in the world, but while Rome,...
“How about a weekend in Venice in November?”I immediately accepted because I love spending time with Stefano, my travel pal in the few occasions when I’m not traveling solo. The “where” was not relevant. I was happy to enjoy a couple of days with my best friend. I found out that without the crowds and shrouded...
I briefly visited delightful Brisighella a few years ago during a two-weeks trip in Emilia-Romagna and it was a love at first sight.I was bewitched by this fascinating medieval hamlet with its colorful houses, well-kept but not cutesy, and the surrounding rolling hills, where vineyards, olive groves, and other greenery design patches that look like an...
Forget the Cinque Terre and go hiking Portofino!All right, this might be a bit of an overstatement - after all, the Cinque Terre are one of the most popular destinations in Italy for international travelers - but believe me, the area of Portofino Natural Park is beautiful. Provided that you go off-season. But this is true...
