Published on Monday, October 8, 2012 by Kathy McCabe In Rome, they've dubbed it "the War on the Sandwich." Starting October 1, it is  illegal to snack on or near any monuments in the Eternal City. Rome's mayor spearheaded the new legislation. According to NBC News, "Tourists will still be allowed to eat while they walk, but stop with a bag of chips in your hands or sit down while chewing on your panino, and you are...

Published on Monday, October 1, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Italy is one of the top five best destinations for travelers over the age of 70, according to British travel association Abta. While British seniors have the advantage of being that much closer to Italy than their American counterparts, Italy is still a hot destination for American senior travel. Since seniors, especially those over 70, have special considerations,...

Published on Saturday, September 29, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Five million tourists visit the Sistine Chapel every year and one Italian writer says the most famous chapel in the world, at the heart of Vatican City, is falling prey to unimaginable disaster because of visitors who act like "drunken herds." Pietro Citati, a leading Italian literary critic and biographer, writes in an article for Corriere della Sera the the tou...

Published on Monday, September 24, 2012 by Kathy McCabe The Vatican recently completed a month-long pilot project placing priests in the Vatican Museums to offer interaction with visitors and hails it a success. “There are so many themes that are spoken of. We might speak of art and faith or of economics and faith. Some people come to share their experiences or difficulties in their personal, professional or family li...

Published on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 by Kathy McCabe As the legend says, throw a coin or coins in Rome's Trevi Fountain, you will be assured a return visit to Rome. Nearly every visitor to Rome makes the trek to the Eternal City's most famous fountain in order to not tempt fate and take part in the age old ritual that was chronicled in the movie Three Coins in the Fountain.  (See more below on how many coins and h...

Published on Monday, September 17, 2012 by Kathy McCabe An Italy vacation can fit almost any budget. But for those who have money to spend, Sardinia might just be your destination... A study by Luxury-hotels.com reveals that some of the world's most expensive hotel rooms can be found on this Italian island - especially during the summer when Sardinia becomes a playful paradise for the rich and famous. The key is that...

Published on Friday, September 14, 2012 by Kathy McCabe VirtualTourist.com has named Florence Italy as the best destination for an intergenerational trip - that means kids, parents and grandparents! We've always thought that Italy is perfect for family vacations -- the Italian culture honors families and children and there are so many fun things for people of all ages to do -- so we can't agree more. "In addition t...

Published on Thursday, September 13, 2012 by Kathy McCabe Looking to make an impression on the upwards of 15 million people who visit the city of Venice Italy each year? Maybe you should take out an ad on the city's famous Rialto Bridge. The Venice city council is looking for a sponsor to pay for 5 million euros of renovations on the celebrated bridge. In return, the sponsor will receive advertising on the bridge as well a...

Published on Tuesday, September 4, 2012 by Kathy McCabe So you're planning an Italian cruise, how cool would it be to be joined by the controversial but always entertaining Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister of Italy? Guests on the MSC Divina, cruising from Venice along the Adriatic, will have the unique chance to meet Berlusconi, a former cruise line crooner himself! The 75-year-old billionaire is the specia...

Published on Friday, August 31, 2012 by Kathy McCabe For anyone who loves Italian fashion or Italian shoes, the Ferragamo Museum in Florence is already a must-visit. Yet there's even more reason to visit this fall and winter - a chance to celebrate the life and fashion of  Marilyn Monroe on the 50th anniversary of her death  The exhibit, which runs through January 28, 2013, pays special attention to Monroe's de...