The Polish Cemetery at Montecassino

Today is a holiday in Italy – Liberation Day. It seems fitting to remember today all those who sacrificed their lives during fierce fighting on the Italian peninsula during World War II. I recently posted about my visit to the 6th century abbey at Montecassino that was destroyed during the war and rebuilt from the rubble.…

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Sprinting around the aqueducts of Rome’s Tor Fiscale Park

It’s great raising your kids in another culture and enjoying the differences in their upbringing. I reflect on this a lot as I take my younger son, a track and field and cross-country athlete, to his competitions. For his weekly workouts, he trains, arguably (for others, clearly not for me), at the most beautiful stadium…

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A spring day in seaside Sperlonga, Italy

During the Easter weekend, my kids and I had a perfect day in the beautiful beach town of Sperlonga, Italy. I’ve already written about this pretty little beach town on teh Tirrenian Sea, half-way between Rome and Naples. See my earlier post about the resort town once the favorite of Emperors. But my day-long escape…

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Cooking pasta in Vitorchiano, Italy

I’ve already written about my pleasant trip to Vitorchiano, an adorable medieval town north of Rome. While there, I was also lucky enough to take part in a cooking course. After all these years of living in Italy, I finally learned how to make homemade fettuccine pasta. Some in my family might say ‘About time’……

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Autumn 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.…

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A day in the sun at Lake Martignano, Italy

Lago di Martignano, Lake Martignano, is a small, volcanic lake reaching depths of 58 meters. This small lake is just beside the larger, and more well known Lake Bracciano. Within the region of Lazio, Lake Martignano makes an easy day trip from Rome. The lake was known to the Ancient Romans, although it was believed to…

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Visiting coastal Latina, Italy

I’ve already written about the interesting (short) history of Latina, Italy. Once the breeding grounds of mosquitoes that carried malaria, those mosquitoes were the true cause of the so-called Roman Fever that was romanticized in 19th century literature. The swampland was drained under Mussolini, and Latina was founded as a model fascist city. I visited the…

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Running at Ancient Rome’s Port Traiano

My youngest son is in a running team, and I spend an awful lot of time on weekends dragging him to races around Rome and its region of Lazio. I always enjoy cheering him and his team on, but it’s even better when I have the chance to make new discoveries. This happened recently when…

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