A new and revealing documentary about the life of the 16th century Italian explorer Giovanni Da Verrazzano will make its debut in New York City on April 17th. The film will be shown on the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Da Verrazzano’s ship, in what is now New York Harbor, on April 17, 1524. The film "Giovanni Da Verrazzano: From the Renaissan...

On a sunny summer evening in Lucca, Italy, I witnessed the simple joy of an old man bicycling with his granddaughter atop the town's wide, fortified wall. Then, on rented bikes, a group of chatty tourists frolicked by. Their enthusiasm was contagious. Squinting at the energy in their smiles, surrounded by dazzling sunshine, it struck me that the su...

In the seven centuries since the Ponte Vecchio was first built in Florence, Italy, the bridge has watched the city changing around it, surviving floods, fires and the Nazi invasion in World War II. Now, the famed bridge itself is getting a two-year makeover, at the cost of about €2 million, to restore it to its former glory, the city of Florence an...

Tuscany has always been one of the most beautiful regions in Italy, attracting tourists from the rest of the peninsula and abroad. It is thanks to its green hills, the beauty of the seaside resorts but above all the villages, true jewels of this region, that organizing a trip here is a wonderful idea. Discover some of the most fascinating and lesse...

There is a guaranteed method for making even the most peaceful of restorers hostile: uttering the phrase “restore to ancient splendor” in his presence. Emanuela Daffra, superintendent of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, is explaining this to us in front of a panel by Giovanni Bellini that is under the care of professionals working in the institute’s...

When you think of travel to Italy, Versilia, in the region of Tuscany, might not be the first destination that comes to mind. Located in the shadow of the well-renowned areas of Chianti and the Val d’Orcia, Versilia is definitely off the beaten path. But Versilia has it all, including the rolling hills and lovely vineyards that have made Tuscany so...

Thanksgiving Day 2023 is one that Penn State York students Olivia Miles and Abby Snyder will not forget. They spent 10 days, including Thanksgiving, in Florence, Italy, as part of a human development and family studies course, Understanding the Italian Family: Historical and Cultural Context (HDFS 499).  Studies in Florence, as the course is common...

The delights of Italy are universal: clinking Negronis in Rome, spinning a Riva through Venice’s Grand Canal, island-hopping off the shores of Sicily, all interlaced with hefty doses of wine, mozzarella, and art. It’s this limitless allure that has travelers from all over the world descend on the boot with near insatiable fervency, and often all at...

Whether you're single or in a couple, fantasise about a formal or symbolic union with your soulmate, or even if marriage isn't on your mind at all, our Top 10 of the best wedding venues in Italy in 2024 is tailor-made for dreaming. Foreign couples will find the most welcoming love nest for their perfect Italian destination wedding. We've carefully...