Cities

The Iconic Landscape of Val d’Orcia, Tuscany

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, the hills, valleys, and trees of the Val d’Orcia “exemplify the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes.”

Extra Palio in Siena Will Commemorate 100th Anniversary of the End of WWI

An Extra Palio – Palio Straordinario – will be run in Siena on 20 October 2018.

Monster grotto in Bomarzo's Parco dei Mostri

Day Trip from Rome: The Monster-Filled Gardens of Bomarzo

Bomarzo’s Parco dei Mostri is a park filled with fantastical sculptures of animals, monsters, and other beasts. It’s an ideal day trip from Rome.

The Coolest View of the Colosseum

The Colosseum is a fascinating structure no matter where you view it. But my favorite perch from which to view the Colosseum has to be on this footbridge that spans the busy streets of the Monti neighborhood. The footbridge is hardly a secret — you’ll find handfuls of tourists here at all hours of the…

Anthony Bourdain Dined Only Here

It’s been a few days since the world learned that Anthony Bourdain passed away. The news hit me hard and I wrote a post on my other blog. I also posted his “No Reservations” Rome episode on this site’s Facebook page. Beyond that, I didn’t feel like adding to the avalanche of remembrances. Until now….

Living in Rome: Delighting in the Details [Video]

People often ask me what it’s like living in Rome. And it’s hard to give an answer that pleases everyone. There is the breathtaking beauty (the Colosseum, Saint Peter’s, a narrow alley in Centro, the fashionable people), as well as daily reminders of Rome’s unique character (nasoni fountains, commuting priests and nuns, ruins big and…

Inside the Museo di Roma at Palazzo Braschi

If You Love Rome, This May Be the Best Museum You’ve Never Visited

I’ve always meant to visit the Museo di Roma. But in a city like Rome, where so many more sites and monuments are vying for attention, it was easy to put off a visit until “next time.”

Photo: Teatro Marcello, Rome

Walking daily among or near ruins, such as the Teatro Marcello, is one of the reasons why people fall in love with Rome. The Theater of Marcellus or Teatro Marcello, was inaugurated in 12 BCE by Emperor Augustus and named for his nephew Marcus Marcellus. It served as an arena for drama performances, city celebrations,…

Masterpiece in the Pinacoteca di Brera

Milan’s Pinacoteca di Brera is a first class gallery on par with Italy’s finest museums. The collection of Italian, mostly religious, art is spread out in 38 rooms and includes masterpieces by Andrea Mantegna, Piero Della Francesca, Raphael, and Caravaggio.

Keats Shelley House at the Spanish Steps, Rome

House Museums of Rome: Art-Filled Oases Minus the Crowds

The house museums and palace galleries of Rome are among the city’s best-kept secrets.

Procida From Above

A view of pastel Procida from the mountain ridge above town.

Snow in Rome – Roma Sotto La Neve [Photos]

I’m not much of a winter person. That’s one reason I like Rome so much. It rarely snows here. The last time was in 2012 – six years ago. Despite that, I have always wanted to see Rome with a dusting of snow. This morning, I got my wish and then some. The snow started…