Published on Sunday, November 24, 2019 by Kathy McCabe To the delight of art lovers, Italy’s popular free museum Sundays are back. This popular program, which offers free entry on the first Sunday of the month for both Italian and foreign visitors at state-run museums around the country, was introduced in 2014 by Culture Minister Dario Franceschini. About 15 million visitors took advantage of the offering in total Ho...

Published on Thursday, October 10, 2019 by Kathy McCabe A fisherman from the tiny village of Talamone, Paolo Fanciulli, has installed an underwater museum to protect marine life and entertain divers. Twenty-nine Carrara marble sculptures in two locations off the Tuscan coast sit at the bottom of the sea, making up this unique art installation. On land nearby, 18 more sculptures sit in a field, waiting for Fanciulli to rais...

Published on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 by Kathy McCabe In the Tuscan town of Borgo a Mozzano, officials have installed a photoluminescent bicycle path to make riding and walking safer for residents. During the day, the path looks like a regular, brown gravel pavement, but at night, photoluminescent pieces of glass glow blue and green. The wide 200-meter-long (656 feet) path is expected to reduce bicycle accidents at ni...

Published on Monday, July 15, 2019 by Kathy McCabe There's nothing like having Steve Perillo himself surprise you on your Perillo tour. In this video, Steve drops in on a wine tasting at his favorite Tuscan vineyard. Oh did we mention that he arrives by helicopter? Yes, Steve's a little like James Bond in this very special trip to Tuscany.     ...

Published on Friday, March 3, 2017 by Kathy McCabe The city of Pisa will soon have another tourist attraction – a 165-foot Ferris wheel – to compete in height with its famous 183-foot leaning tower. For three months this summer, the Ferris wheel will be temporarily installed in a former parking lot to test its popularity and appeal to tourists. "We can't keep getting by with the Leaning Tower alone," heritage o...

Published on Thursday, February 16, 2017 by Kathy McCabe Siena is hosting an exhibit revealing the damage done by October earthquakes in Norcia and the surrounding areas, about 126 miles to the southeast, in its Duomo crypt and the Santa Maria della Scala Museum complex. The exhibit, called La Bellezza Ferita: Norcia EarthHeartArtQuake runs through October 29 and displays damaged and ruined artwork alongside footage of the...

Published on Sunday, November 13, 2016 by Kathy McCabe The city of Pistoia is an easy day trip from Florence, but in 2017, it is set to become a destination of its own. Located in Tuscany about 19 miles northwest of Florence, Pistoia was named as a top 10 city to visit in 2017 by Lonely Planet and the 2017 Italian Capital of Culture by the Italian government. According to Lonely Planet, Pistoia was awarded the recognition...

Published on Thursday, October 20, 2016 by Kathy McCabe What are you doing in January? As Mario Perillo always said "off-season is the best season" for Italy and boy do I have a unique opportunity for our guests! Hurry, and be one of the few fans to tour Rome and Tuscany with baseball greats Didi Gregorious, Jim Leyritz and Wade Boggs on Perillo's once-in-a-lifetime 9-Day Baseball Greats Rome and Tuscany Tour! Get ...

Published on Saturday, October 1, 2016 by Kathy McCabe A new permanent exhibit on anatomy will open Oct. 22 at the Leonardo da Vinci Museum in the artist’s Tuscan hometown of Vinci. The exhibit will explore da Vinci’s anatomical studies and include educational activities, tours and children’s activities. Perhaps the most curious person in history, da Vinci was a painter, sculptor, engineer, scientist, artist, and...

Published on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 by Kathy McCabe Two neighboring Tuscan towns, both with abundant agricultural assets but a shortage of manpower, are considering merging into one. San Giovanni d’Asso, famous for its truffles, and the larger city of Montalcino (pictured) 10 miles south, known for the Brunello di Montacino wine, would combine but keep Montalcino’s name and crest. It’s not as radical as it se...