Close

Winter 2024 brought our residency in Venice, Italy! A sense of place is a key element of writing in the Alma program. For 10 days, we lived exposed to the place of Italy, the language and the people. The family-owned villa where we stayed, the Hotel Villa Franceschi, gave us more of a sense of being invited guests than hotel patrons. While we exper...

1006

Imagine strolling through Venice's Piazza San Marco, the echo of your footsteps mingling with the murmur of centuries-old secrets lying just beneath the surface. This isn't a scene from a historical novel; it's the reality of a recent archaeological find that has reconnected Venice with a long-lost chapter of its medieval past. Beneath the famed sq...

1300

Venice doesn't need any presentation, it is simply the most romantic and beautiful city in the world: with its canals cruised by the traditional Venetian boats called gondole, its squares where princesses and kings had strolled into and its monumental Palaces decorated with masterpieces made by the most famous artists. Venice is also renowned for i...

974

When we think of Venice, we think of water and its maritime might, but its most famous citizen went by land. It was in the year 1271 that the young Marco Polo set off for China to accompany his father on a commercial expedition. Plagued by bad weather, war and disease, the long journey east along the "Silk Road" took more than three years. However,...

906

Among the islands in the Venetian lagoon, Torcello island is probably the most ancient. It was in fact one of the first to be inhabited, before the foundation of the city of Venice. Over the centuries, the island has suffered a progressive decline, due to the siltation of the lagoon and the strong predominance of Venice. Nowadays it attracts touris...

774

Ancient candy-coloured Venice, Italy, is among the world's most uniquely beautiful cities, and is also one of the most photographed. Millions gather each year to gaze at the gondolas gliding through its otherworldly canals as they pack themselves onto romantic bridges and throng its magnificent piazzas – all eager to get that one perfect picture in...

873

Venice is one of the cities that most embody the idea of romance and is definitely one of the best destinations for a love getaway. The timeless atmosphere of its views, the majesty of the palaces that contain works of art of extraordinary value, the light reflected by the water of the canals, the intimacy of the most hidden streets, everything see...

1084

Valpolicella embraces 19 municipalities, covering an area of 30,000 hectares, rising 750 meters above sea level and descending 50 meters above sea level, of which 8,586 hectares are planted with vines, and of which 3,500 are “sustainable” (and, therefore, either organic or biodynamic, or otherwise in the National Quality System of Integrated Produc...

877

In this article, we delve into the 20 best places to retire in Italy for US citizens. Navigating retirement planning involves strategic decision-making, and for numerous US citizens, Italy has emerged as an enchanting destination to retire to. These American retirees are attracted to the richness of the Mediterranean lifestyle, the beauty of stunni...

1887

As Carnevale approaches in the runup to Lent and then Easter, Italy comes alive with festivals in February. In the US the biggest such event is New Orleans’ Mardi Gras, but in Italy many cities have their own versions as they celebrate the last fling before Lent puts an end to fun and self-indulgence, ushering in the reflection and gravity of prepa...

988