December 8th is a public holiday in Italy, known locally as L’Immacolata. The holiday celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Businesses, schools and government office all close in order to honor the Virgin Mary (la Madonna), the mother of Jesus who is thought to be free from sin according to Catholic tradition. In Rome, […]
Category Archives: Italy
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Affordable gifts for people who love Italy
08
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Nov
Explore the backstreets of Napoli and sample everything from pastries to pizza with this food tour in Naples.
27
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I grew up in California in two different worlds. There was my city life – where I could walk to the mall or hop on the bus to the beach. And then there was my country life – where the nearest supermarket was a 30 minute drive away and functional internet was but a teenage […]
25
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Jimmy thinks I am a little bit crazy, but I told him that one of the reasons that I cannot imagine ever leaving Italy is because of olive oil. New olive oil is something I look forward to every year. And ever since I moved here, I have wanted to help with an olive harvest. […]
20
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A new hotel in one of Florence’s oldest neighborhoods, Palazzo San Niccolò offers apartment style stays in a beautiful setting.
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There are some wonderful wine bars in Rome, but nothing quite compares to raising a glass in the vineyard where it was produced. Luckily, Lazio’s reputation for quality vino is slowly improving and it is more than possible to escape the city for an afternoon at a winery. One of the best day trips from […]
09
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Italy is one of the healthiest countries in the world, with an average life expectancy that far outranks some of its neighbors. While no system is perfect, part of the reason that Italy is super healthy has to do with its national healthcare system. Known as the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale (SSN), the national health service […]