Posts Tagged ‘Italy’
Hiking the Celano Canyon in Abruzzo, Italy
Earlier this summer, during a particularly steamy Roman week, I found myself daydreaming constantly about a weekend escape to Abruzzo. I often get out for weekend to the town of Ovindoli, about 1 1/2 hour drive from Rome. Since the town at 1400 meters from sea level it is much, much cooler than Rome ……
Read MoreOutdoor cinema at Piazza Vittorio, Rome – 2018
I am a big fan of outdoor cinema, and every summer I’m happy to see the screens set up outside at Piazza Vittorio, a neighborhood near me in Rome. There are two screens in the park, and each evening there are two movies shown at what is officially called Notti di cinema a Piazza Vittorio.…
Read MoreSperlonga’s Truglia Tower
Italy’s coastline is dotted by picturesque watchtowers. These have a long history – and were generally constructed to thwart off Ottoman or Saracen invasions. Luckily, today they are merely photogenic spots. One such tower is in the town of Sperlonga – a pretty, medieval beach town south of Rome, on Lazio’s southern coast. I’ve already…
Read MoreWe don’t have wi-fi. We talk to one another
Okay, so I love this sign posted (in English) outside a bar – the Italian word for ‘café’ – close to my home in Rome. The first time I noticed it I enjoyed a hearty chuckle. Soon I’ll be back in NY, and there you can find plenty of cafés where people are completely zoned out,…
Read MoreReason #5389 to love Rome: Golden Gala 2018
I’ve been going each year to this annual international track meet, a part of the Diamond League competitions, ever since my track-obsessed younger son began running at seven years old. This has become a tradition for us each May or June when this international meet arrives in the Eternal City – at the Olympic stadium…
Read MoreTurin’s art deco galleries
When you’re in Piedmont’s capital of Turin, you must be sure to visit the city’s wonderful shopping galleries. They are ideal for the less-than-perfect weather in northern Italy, and maintain their original art deco charm. The first gallery constructed in Turin was at the request of the Marquis Natta d’Alfano, and constructed by the architect…
Read MoreMilan’s Duomo
I’ve already written about the spectacular views from the roof of Milan’s Duomo, and why you really want to make time to climb up to the top. However, the cathedral itself is definitely worth a visit during your time in the Lombard capital. The Duomo is the most famous monument of the city, and its…
Read MoreReason #5388 to love Rome: Sant’Agnese church
I recently returned to visit the beautiful early Christian church of Sant’Agnese, a church I hadn’t been back to in years. Since the Roman metro line has been extended, it’s even easier to get here via the B metro line, where it has its own stop: Sant’Agnese. This 7th century church, designed like a basilica,…
Read MoreDiscovering the center of Italy – in Rieti
My twelve-year-old son has been running since he was seven. This year, he decided to change coaches and teams. Although he lives and trains in Rome, his competitive new team is from the northern Lazio town of Rieti. This is the northeastern tip of Lazio, extremely close to the regions of Umbria and Abruzzo. In…
Read MoreEscaping the city on the ski slopes of Abruzzo
My kids had a week of school vacation in February and they wanted to go skiing, and I was happy to exchange the office for the ski slopes for one glorious week. There’s something special about escaping the city to take temporary residence in the mountains. Our mountain escape of Ovindoli, in the region of…
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