Posts Tagged ‘Italy’
Reason #5383 to love Rome: San Teodoro neighborhood
San Teodoro an interesting, and very old, neighborhood of Rome, tucked away between the Circo Massimo, Campidoglio and the Ghetto. It’s said to be the area where Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were said to be suckled by the she-wolf. Today, it’s a quiet neighborhood: only a few cross roads and a few sites…
Read MoreA round-up of European Christmas markets to visit
This year, I couldn’t manage to escape to one of the Christmas markets I love in Europe, so instead on this post I’ll pine away thinking about great Christmas markets of the past take a look at some of the Christmas markets I’ve posted about in European cities. Should you find yourself in any of…
Read MoreThe winding streets of Nice’s old town
The French Riviera city of Nice is a beautiful place to visit. I especially loved wandering Vieux Nice, where I could be forgiven for thinking I was back in Italy. The old quarter used to have a reputation for being dangerous, but today it’s a beautiful area to wander and enjoy the views into the…
Read MoreAutumn colors in Vitorchiano, Italy
I was staying outside this pretty medieval town in northern Lazio, north of Rome, for work for a week earlier this month. Unfortunately, we weren’t out of the conference structure much, but I did sneak out for an early morning jog each morning so that I could enjoy the town as it was waking up.…
Read MoreReason #5382 to love Rome: Palazzo Massimo Museum of Ancient Rome
There are lots of amazing museums to see when you’re in Rome. One that shouldn’t be missed for those looking to discover Ancient Rome is the National Roman Museum – Palazzo Massimo alle Terme. The building itself is a late 19th century palazzo and was purchased by the Italian state in 1960 to house parts…
Read MoreGreetings from the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival 2015!
When this post goes out, I’ll be happily on my annual hajj to Matera, the beautiful cave town in southern Italy. Each September, the town plays host to the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival, and I always enjoy my literary escape to this idyllic spot. Each year, I learn so much about the publishing industry, chat…
Read MoreMore medieval Tuscany: Sarteano
Ah, more medieval Tuscany. I’ve already written to our visit to some of the small towns of Tuscany’s beuatiful Valdorcia. My son was at a track and field camp in pretty Abbadia di San Salvatore, which I’ve written about in an earlier post. But medieval towns are sprinkled all over this pretty region in the…
Read MoreReason #5381 to love Rome: Snow in August
Snow is pretty rare in Rome. And even rarer in August. But every August, since Ancient Roman times, snow falls over at least one part of the city to reenact the Madonna della neve (Madonna of the snow) tradition. Each August – to be precise, the 5 August – the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore…
Read MoreReason #5381 to love Rome: San Teodoro church
This beautiful church gives its name to a Roman neighborhood – San Teodoro, the neighbohood bordering the edge of the Circus Maximus and the Campidoglio. The San Teodoro church can be found on the street by the same name. It’s a Greek Orthodox church, nestled at the foot of the Palatine Hill. The church was…
Read MoreMedieval and Renaissance Alpine splendor in Pescocostanzo, Abruzzo
I’m a big fan of the rugged mountainous region of Abruzzo, a region east of Rome. As an avid hiker/skier/mountain-biker, I bought a weekend home there over a decade ago, and have been doing my best to explore the region. I’ve heard often about the beautiful ‘citta’ d’arte’ of Pescostanzo, at the edge of the Maiella…
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