Tuscany in first place amongst destinations for Easter holidays: according to the data of the Tourism Observatory of Unioncamere-Isnart, Tuscany has earned first place amongst the destinations chosen for the Easter holidays. A total of 16.5% of tourists who will move on the peninsula - approximately 7 million people - will spend

Read the rest of this entry »

More tourists for long spring weekends in Italy and especially in Sicily:  The long weekends of spring have been a great success for all Italian art cities. According to the latest data, Venice can count on a 9% increase in tourism flows (check here

Read the rest of this entry »

I have started downloading podcasts of Italian lessons to my iPod and it is working very well. I can listen to the podcasts while I am taking a walk or traveling. Of course, people look at me oddly since I am talking to myself while I walk. There are a bunch of free podcasts you can subscribe to at iTunes if you have an iPod.

Many sites other than iTunes also offer free and subscription based podcasts. I subscribe to the free ones and if I like them I either make a donation to that organization or if they have a higher level subscription rate that adds value I will buy that.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Via Veneto was made famous in Fellini’s film “La Dolce Vita”. The Via Veneto came to symbolize the “sweet life” of Rome in the 1950’s and 60’s. Today it isthe long winding street knownfor its luxury hotels, cafès, restaurants, shops and in some key places wild traffic.

I love the Via Veneto. Dr. Seuss wrote a book “And to Think I Saw it on Mulberry Street”. That is the way I feel about the Via Veneto. Sit in a café on the Via Veneto long enough and you will see enough to fill your travel journal. Italian business men wander by in their designer suits with their jackets swung casually over their shoulders, elderly men and women stop by and order strange looking drinks (no ice please!), tourists zoom by rushing to the next Roman ruin on their “to do” list, vespas almost hit pedestrians, taxi drivers shout at other drivers and pedestriansand all up and down the street people are talking to each other as if they are about to burst with all they have to say.

Read the rest of this entry »