Published on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 by Kathy McCabe Intrepid divers, swimmers and spectators can all the world’s deepest swimming pool, which opened in June at a thermal spa in the Veneto. The pool, which holds which holds 1,135,939 gallons of thermal spa water, is named named Y-40 Deep Joy after its 40-meter depth. Designed by architect Emanuele Boaretto for scuba diving and underwater photo shoots, the rectang...

Published on Sunday, September 21, 2014 by Kathy McCabe Ah, Italy, the country of romance. Here's a truly unique romantic experience in Italy - have an entire restaurant to yourself! Solo per Due (Just for Two) is the world’s smallest restaurant, with just one table for two. Guests arrive at the restaurant along a candlelit pathway and are personally greeted by the chef, and unsurprisingly, the restaurant is often the ...

Published on Friday, September 12, 2014 by Kathy McCabe Summer storms have dampened Italian wine grape production, putting this year’s harvest on track to be the most meager since 1950. If Italy produces an estimated 900 million gallons of wine in 2014 – 15% less than in 2013 – it will cede its position as the world’s most prolific wine producer to France. The 2014 grape harvest will also begin later than in previo...

Published on Monday, August 4, 2014 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a weekly post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web.  Here are our top picks for this week: Drive of A Lifetime:  Many people dream of (and some dread) driving the beautiful but challenging Amalfi Drive. Here's an itinerary.  (National Geographic Traveler) Sicily's Facebook Mafia:...

Published on Friday, August 1, 2014 by Kathy McCabe In general, Italians love the beach. They love lots of togetherness at the beach too - you will see rows and rows of chairs and umbrellas all next to each other. But the summer of 2014 has turned into something of a wash beach-wise, it seems. ANSA reports, "The lingering effects of Italy's recession and the "crazy weather the country has endured so far this summer, wi...

Published on Monday, July 28, 2014 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a weekly post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web.  Here are our top picks for this week: Do Umbria on A Budget:  Umbria, home to Assisi and green rolling hills, is well worth a visit, and can be done affordably.  (The Guardian) Italy's Prison Paradises:  Though they once held s...

Published on Saturday, July 5, 2014 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a weekly post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web.  Here are our top picks for this week: Wine Hotels in Italy:  Where to sleep among the vines. Wine resorts are popping up all over Italy's wine regions.  (The Guardian) Etiquette for Rude Russians:  Tuscan hotel owner producesÂ...

Published on Monday, June 23, 2014 by Kathy McCabe   As of July 1st, new rules will apply to visits of Italy's state museums, such as the Uffizi in Florence. One significant change is that on the every first Sunday of the month state museums will be free for everyone as part of the initiative “Sunday at the Museum.“ While this is fantastic news in making museums accessible to all, expect the museums ...

Published on Saturday, June 14, 2014 by Kathy McCabe The Italy Mix is a weekly post about the most interesting Italy and Italy travel news and human interest stories around the Web.  Here are our top picks for this week: Baptistery Dressed in Pucci: Florence's famous Baptistery is undergoing renovations and there are some fashionable duds hiding the work.  (The Florentine) Amalfi Coast Road Trip:  Yes, you c...

Published on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 by Kathy McCabe Where is the one place any visitor to Rome must go? Why Trevi Fountain of course! As throwing three coins in the fountain promises a return trip to the Eternal City.  The beloved fountain will be undergoing some changes however, but have no fear, it will still be open to the public. According to Italian news agency ANSA, restoration of the beloved fountain bega...