Published on Thursday, December 6, 2012 by Kathy McCabe   Rome's Colosseum Rome's Piazza Venezia The Fendi Store Photos by Victoria Reay,  ARoadRetraveled, ndrwfgg...

Published on Friday, November 30, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Ski resorts in Italy offer some of the best value in the world for an  ski vacation, according to a newly released report by the UK Post Office's Travel-Money section. Three Italian resorts -- Livigno, Sestriere and Cervinia -- made the top 10 list for best value. Prices at certain Italian ski resorts have fallen 10 percent since last year.  The authors of the r...

Published on Thursday, November 29, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Officials in Rome have announced that a protective barrier will be erected around the Colosseum in order to protect visitors and passersby from falling chunks of the ancient structure.  Over the past year, the pieces have presented more and more of a safety hazard. According to Wanted in Rome, "The impassable security barrier will be composed of cast iron and cement...

Published on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 by Kathy McCabe There are few experiences that can match seeing the Sistine Chapel in person. But no matter how much time you spending touring the Sistine Chapel, there are details you will surely miss. That's why this virtual display of the chapel is a must-see. You can look at the ceiling for as long as you want without straining your neck! Plus you don't have to share the view w...

Published on Monday, November 26, 2012 by Kathy McCabe I’m Steve Perillo of Perillo Tours. I'm thrilled to have started a new video series called Steve's Travel Tips to share all the insider Italy travel tips I have learned over a lifetime of travel to Italy. So you're going to Italy and you're going to need to use cash (euros) at some point. In this brief video, I give you the ins and outs of using cash and the banc...

Published on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 by Kathy McCabe For four straight days, parts of Italy have been deluged by floods resulting in at least four deaths. Hundreds have been evacuated from their homes in Tuscany and the Tiber River burst its banks north of Rome. High tide in Venice where acqua alta is at record levels: Photo by Robert Trm, flickr.com Flooding in Montepulciano, Tuscany: Photo by Andrea Ro...

Published on Thursday, November 8, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Breakfast (colazione) for the typical Italian is not a big meal. The traditional breakfast usually consists of cappuccino and a pastry (a cornetto or brioche) which may be eaten at home or just as likely, at the local bar or cafe.  Fortunately for travelers, nearly every hotel in Italy includes breakfast in its nightly room rate and you can expect a self-service ...

Published on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Slightly belated birthday wishes to one of the most famous sites in all of Italy - the Sistine Chapel - a must on every tour of Rome. The Vatican beauty turned 500 years young on October 31st. But you don't get to such a ripe old age without some controversy, some are calling for visits to the Sistine Chapel to be limited. The grand dame is a popular lady and five ...

Published on Monday, November 5, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Of all the cities in Italy, Milan is clearly the most fashion-forward and chic. Therefore it is no surprise that a W Hotel  is slated to open in Milan in the spring of 2014. The luxury chain rose to popularity in the hippest neighborhoods of large American cities (New York alone has four of them) and the brand has chosen Milan for its first W in Italy. The 76-r...

Published on Wednesday, October 31, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Happy Halloween! Would you get spooked being served a meal in a prison...with prisoners as your waiters? Well there's just such a place -- in Tuscany no less -- and it has been voted one of the world's scariest restaurants. The restaurant is located in Fortezza Medicea, a medieval fortress in the town of Volterra. There are some pre-requisites if you want to dine ther...