Published on Sunday, June 5, 2016 by Kathy McCabe A new feature will allow the public to see the Roman Forum in a new light this summer – literally, as the Forum will be illuminated by LEDs and open for nighttime tours for the first time. The lights cast white and yellow highlights onto the site’s most famous structures, drawing attention to details on parts of the Forum including the via Sacra, the monument�...

Published on Monday, August 31, 2015 by Kathy McCabe On December 8th of this year, the Roman Catholic Church’s 29th Jubilee Year (only the 29th since the tradition was established 700 years ago) begins. A Jubilee, or Holy Year, is one in which devout members of the church make pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy See. The last one took place in 2000 and was declared by Pope John Paul II. Pope Francis has dedicated the ...

Published on Friday, November 1, 2013 by Kathy McCabe When in Rome, do as the Romans do and when it comes to the lauded dessert Tiramisu, they get theirs at Pompi. Pompi is known as "Il Regno Del Tiramisù"  or "the kingdom of Tiramisu." The original location for the kingdom is a coffee shop/bar, Bar Pompi,  in Piazza Roma di Rè. This is where Romans would flock to buy a Tiramisu for a dinner party or get a swee...

Published on Thursday, October 10, 2013 by Steve You can't fully experience Rome without tasting the local culinary delights that make this city so unique. I'm excited to announce that Perillo's ItalyVacations.com is now offering two three-hour insider food tours that will have your mouth-watering as you walk around Rome. Traditional Flavors in Rome starts with breakfast and coffee and one of Rome's oldest cafes....

Published on Friday, March 15, 2013 by Steve All eyes were on Rome and Vatican City this week as Pope Francis became the 266th pope in the history of the Catholic Church. There has never been a better time to visit the Eternal City and Italy and  ItalyVacations.com has put together  an amazing package for you to meet the new pope! Meet Pope Francis at a Papal Audience at the Vatican - a once-in-a-lifetim...

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 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 Wednesday, August 15, 2012 by Kathy McCabe While Pisa was thought to have cornered the market on Italy’s most famous “leaning” building, Rome appears to be taking a page from the Pisa playbook as scientists say Rome’s Colosseum is leaning to one side by as much as  15 inches. Officials announced this month that the Colosseum will undergo 2.5 years of repairs starting in December 2012.   The good n...