August 15th is a major national holiday in Italy – but what is it for? Beach trips? What is Ferragosto, really? The History of Ferragosto This is the day when the Catholic church celebrates the Blessed Virgin Mary’s ascent to heaven after her life on Earth (much in the way the Feast of the Ascension […]
Author Archives: Natalie
11
Aug
Aug
The Open Door Bookshop has been a Roman institution for 40 years for good reason. The small shop is one of the best places to find used English language books in Rome. And it is not only English language texts – the Open Door Bookshop has a selection of books in French and Italian as […]
09
Aug
Aug
Rome’s oldest (and most elegant) coffee bar
Italy, Life in Italy, Practical Information
11 Dining Habits that Make You Look Like a Tourist in Italy
07
Aug
Aug
Eating out in Italy is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy an important part of the country’s culinary culture. But making a mistake at the dining table is also a surefire way to out yourself as a tourist. There are unwritten rules about how and what to eat when dining out in Italy. In order to […]
04
Aug
Aug
An art museum built for nobility.
02
Aug
Aug
While I highly recommend getting off the beaten path, it is undeniable that Rome has some of the world’s most famous must-see attractions. It is nearly unthinkable, for example, to come to Eternal City and not even walk around the outside of the Colosseum. There are also world class museums, major monuments, ancient ruins and […]
31
Jul
Jul
The city of Rome is not making things easy in August. There are talks of water rationing as a means of dealing with the drought. Water would be shut off to residents, hotels, and all businesses for 8 hours a day. We are waiting for more details on the plan to deal with the serious […]
28
Jul
Jul
Naples feels like a city in constant, chaotic decay. One of the most beautiful examples of abandoned grandeur is Palazzo Donn’Anna, which sits on the edge of sea at Via Posillipo. The facade appears to be crumbling and the empty windows gape open. Palazzo Donn’Anna, however, was not abandoned. It was never finished to begin […]