Published on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 by Kathy McCabe Italy is cracking down on misbehaving tourists and bad behavior. First, it's handing out fines for blasphemous cursing, hanging in a hammock and brewing coffee in unacceptable places. Now, tourists need to be aware that stepping into Rome’s 18th-century Trevi Fountain is not allowed either and if you’re thinking about taking a dip in this historic monument, throw ...

Published on Monday, August 5, 2019 by Kathy McCabe If you are a fan of the 1953 classic film Roman Holiday you probably want to walk the same Spanish steps that its stars Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn walked when you visit Rome. Walking up or down the steps is okay, but just don’t plan on sitting down on them. It could cost you hundreds of dollars in fines. This Spanish Steps regulation is just one of the many...

Published on Thursday, July 25, 2019 by Kathy McCabe What’s the old expression? When in Rome do as the Romans do, right? What about the Romans from centuries ago? Many tourists visit Rome because they are interested in its rich history and plan to visit such iconic spots as the Coliseum and the Forum of Caesar, but there’s only so much you can see with the naked eye. Picturing the daily life and times of those wh...

Published on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 by Kathy McCabe Geppy Sferra’s new gelato-themed restaurant stands out from the 1,400 other gelaterias in Rome: It is the only one to serve a full dinner menu, with gelato incorporated into each dish. Gelateria d’Essai, in Rome’s Centocelle neighborhood, employs chef Marco Mezzaroma to invent creative dishes and spin traditional favorites that include gelato. “My goal is t...

Published on Saturday, June 1, 2019 by Kathy McCabe Gucci will pay 1.6 million euros to fund the two-year restoration of Tarpeian Rock in Rome which badly eroded last year. The project, a partnership between Gucci and the Capitoline Superintendency, is called “Tarpeian Rock, Between Legend and Future.” The Tarpeian Rock is located on the Capitoline Hill and overlooks the Roman Forum. The 80-foot cliff was an exe...

Published on Thursday, April 25, 2019 by Kathy McCabe For the first time, the public can see how Emperor Nero lived in his first private palace, the Domus Transitoria, which opened this month after a 10-year restoration. The palace has been off-limits for centuries, since it burned down in the Great Fire of Rome. After a fire destroyed the Domus Transitoria (Transit House) and much of Rome in July of 64 AD, Emperor Ne...

Published on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 by Kathy McCabe Easter (Pasqua in Italian) is a magical time to visit any part of Italy. In 2019, Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 21st.  The Easter season  is filled with food (yes, even Easter eggs have made their way here), family and religious rituals.  But there's something very special about spending Easter in Rome, with the Vatican taking center stage in the fes...

Published on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 by Kathy McCabe Many tourists from the United States hear “Christmas market” and immediately think of Germany’s deservedly famous “Weinachtsmarkts” and “Kristkindlmarkts,” both of which conjure up the smell of Gluehwein and the sizzle of roast bratwurst. But Italy has its own legion of markets during the winter holidays, and like everything Italian, they’re focused mo...

Published on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 by Kathy McCabe This month, Turismo Culturale Italiano is inviting visitors into 73 of palaces in Rome for guided tours during its sixth annual Porte Aperte event. Many of these residential palaces, built between the Renaissance and the 20th century, are privately owned and not usually open to the public, so this is an exclusive chance to visit these elegant and historic buildings...

Published on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 by Kathy McCabe A section of Palatine Hill in Rome has opened to the public for the first time in centuries, allowing visitors to take in 1,200 years of the Eternal City's history. One of Rome’s seven hills, Palatine Hill overlooks the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus in the city center, but the newly opened spot is a place where tourists can experience nature in the middle o...