Published on Thursday, June 27, 2013 by Kathy McCabe There's no doubt that Rome is a bustling city. As you explore Rome, you can hear the buzz of Vespas on the road, the trinkle of fountains, the chatter of conversations in Italian. But is Rome too loud? Especially at night? The Italian environmental association Legambiente conducted some noise readings in conjunction with an Italian newspaper and found illegal night...

Published on Sunday, June 23, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The stunning beaches on the island of Sardinia aren't just for people apparently! This photo was taken in Porto Pino in southern Sardinia. Photo by emmequadro61, flickr.com...

Published on Friday, June 21, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Mount Etna, Sicily's towering and active volcano, has been deemed a World Heritage Site by the United Nations office UNESCO. The volcano joins 47 other World Heritage sites in Italy, including the Amalfi Coast and the Dolomite Mountains. The selection of World Heritage sites is based on 10 criteria such as "to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cu...

Published on Thursday, June 13, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web each week. Here are our top picks for this week: A World of Mist and Stone in Sicily: Explore the walled town of Erice in northwestern Sicily. A local says, "You don’t come here to see sights, you come here to be here.”  (The Boston Globe) ...

Published on Sunday, June 9, 2013 by Kathy McCabe If you're looking for a little slice of paradise this summer, head the pastel-colored resort of Portofino on Italy's Italian Riviera in the northwest corner of the country. It is one of the Italy's most elegant towns with shops, restaurants and hotels lining the turquoise blue Mediterranean water. Photo by Michal Osmenda, flickr.com...

Published on Thursday, June 6, 2013 by Kathy McCabe What's more harmonious than pairing music with wine? That's the premise behind Melodia del Vino - a series of five classical music concerts combined with wine tastings, hosted at some of Tuscany's finest vineyards between June 27 and July 6, 2013. The wineries taking part in the music series include Cantina Antinori nel Classico in Bargina, Cantna Petra near Livorn...

Published on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The region of Liguria -- home to the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre --  on Italy's northwest coast has been awarded with more Blue Flag beaches this year than any other region in Italy. With two new entries for 2013 -- La Spezia Mirabello and San Lorenzo al Mare, Liguria now has 20 of the cleanest beaches in Italy. The Blue Flag organization, in conjunction ...

Published on Saturday, June 1, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web each week. Here are our top picks for this week: Dante Fever in Florence: Dan Brown's latest book The Inferno has tourists flocking to Florence to follow in Robert Langdon's steps.  (The Daily Beast) Venice's Hidden Neighborhood:  The workin...

Published on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 by Kathy McCabe Taormina is one of the most beautiful towns in all of Sicily.  One of the most famous sites in Taormina is the 3rd century Greek theater at Monte Tauro, offering views of Mount Etna. There are also plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun at nearby beaches and golf courses. Taormina is a stop on Perillo's 12-day South & Sicily Tour. Photo by scott1723, f...

Published on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 by Kathy McCabe The most translated book from the Italian language, The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli celebrates its 500th birthday this year with a special exhibit in Rome. The exhibition “Niccolò Machiavelli: The Prince and His Times 1513-2013" runs through June 16th at Rome's Vittoriano Museum Complex. Its six parts trace Machiavelli and his times, the impact of The Prince throu...