Reason #5358 to love Rome: Coffee with a view

What’s better than taking a short break from all your sightseeing on your trip to Rome? How about a little table in the sun where you can rest your legs, sip a cappuccino and enjoy the view. What if the view’s like this? Truthfully, the café is a little farther up the path, but you…

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Summer days in Ovindoli, Abruzzo

I’ve already written about one of my favorite winter weekend get-aways from Rome in Skiing in Ovindoli. But for those who love outdoor sports, the town in the Apennine Mountains is also an ideal summer destination. Ovindoli is about a one and a half hour drive east from Rome. It’s located in the region of…

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History and beaches in Alghero, Sardinia

A few weeks ago, I was anxious for a short get-away with my family. Truthfully, I would have preferred a long get-away, but a weekend was all I could manage. I wanted beautiful beaches and clear water, great architecture and a town ideal for evening walks, and, of course, great food and wine. Alghero, the…

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Looking for the picture-perfect beach holiday? Try Vieste

A photo doesn’t lie and Vieste, this lovely, perched seaside town located in the Gargano peninsula (the spur of the Italian boot) in the region of Puglia, honestly  is this picture-perfect. The area has ancient origins, evidenced by the 3rd century tombs and Ancient Greek vases discovered around the town. The town and the entire…

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Be inspired! In the Shadow of the Apennines

Melinda Dozier , talented romance writer and wonderful critique partner, tagged me for this Blog Hop!, hosted by Page after Page . Thanks, Melinda!! As Page after Page points out, all of our stories come from somewhere, whether it be a dream, another book, a life event, etc. And as writers, we need to be…

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I’ve signed up for the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival

Last September, I went to my first-ever writer’s conference and I enjoyed it so much that I’ve signed up for this year’s event. The Ninth Annual International Women’s Fiction Festival will take place in Matera, Italy, 27-30 September 2012. The Fiction Festival is a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, filled with writing workshops, brainstorming sessions, pitching sessions…

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Reason #5,357 to love Rome – The Rose Garden

Every spring I make a point to visit Rome’s lovely Rose Garden (Roseto Comunale di Roma).  The garden’s location is perfect – on the Aventine Hill with stunning views over the Circus Maximus and the Palatine Hill. Yet a short stroll in this oasis of tranquility is an enjoyable respite from the hectic pace of…

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The Renaissance Villa d’Este in Tivoli

This small city to the west of Rome, once an important stop on the “Grand Tour” of Europe,  is today a bedroom community of Rome, yet it still maintains its distinct character. It makes a wonderful daytrip from Rome, either by car or with frequent trains leaving from Rome’s Tiburtina train station. If you are…

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The “dying city” of Civita di Bagnoregio

The beautiful medieval town of Civita di Bagnoregio, about 100 km north of Rome – within the province of Lazio and just along the border with neighboring Umbria-  is known as la città che muore (the dying city). Dying is, unfortunately, just what Civita di Bagnoregio is doing. The city, originally founded by the Etruscans,…

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