Italy's Uffizi discovers lost frescoes during COVID shutdown
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence used the winter COVID shutdown to push ahead with renovations, discovering lost frescoes that will greet visitors when the leading repository of Italian Renaissance art reopens on May 4. Uffizi director Eike Schmidt said the six months of closure were put to good use: renovating 14 new rooms that will open to the publ...
READ MORE
Europe Unveils Plans to Open to Vaccinated Americans
Fully vaccinated U.S. travelers should soon be able to bypass the more than year-long ban on travel to Europe, the head of the European Commission told the New York Times on April 25. The European Union “will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by EMA [the European Medicines Agency],” Ursula von der...
READ MORE
Another Italian town is selling houses for one euro
The pandemic is raging, quarantine rules are changing by the day, and there’s still uncertainty over when we might vacation again, but one thing remains constant in the travel world: the €1 houses of Italy. This month, it’s the turn of another Sicilian town, Castiglione di Sicilia, to offer houses for the price of a coffee. On the slopes of Mount E...
READ MORE
Il Ministero ha risposto: ecco come gli italiani iscritti all’AIRE potranno vaccinarsi
La settimana scorsa, su queste pagine, avevamo denunciato il problema della burocrazia italiana che impediva agli italiani iscritti all’AIRE, ma presenti sul territorio nazionale, di accedere alla campagna vaccinale. A sollevare il problema in aula era stata l’Onorevole Fucsia Nissoli (Forza Italia) con un’interpellanza urgente rivolta al Ministero...
READ MORE
Covid-19: Italian government approves new decree to 'reopen' Italy
The Italian government of premier Mario Draghi on Wednesday approved Italy's latest emergency coronavirus decree providing a roapmap for the significant "reopening" of the country from Monday 26 April. Under the new decree, valid until 31 July, the existing nightly curfew of 22.00 will be retained until at least 1 June after which it will be assess...
READ MORE
‘We’re exhausted’: What it’s like planning a wedding in Italy during the pandemic
When the pandemic forced the country into nationwide lockdown in March 2020, the last thing on our minds was our nuptials. We had the date set for September of that year and in those early days of confinement, we didn’t consider that there could be an impact on our lives as far away as six months in the future. Of course, we were wrong. The situati...
READ MORE
Covid-Free Islands, The Dream Of An Italian Summer
In theory, the plan of the Italian government is: opening up some islands. The criteria include having an adeguate hospital system, at least one ICU, and follow the safety and health measures. This way, the islands should be able to guarantee a safe summer. The concept is: vaccinate here first. And vaccinate the whole population of the islands. The...
READ MORE
Rome celebrates 2,774th birthday in 2021
Rome celebrates its 2,774th birthday on 21 April 2021. Known as Natale di Roma, the annual birthday celebration is based on the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus in 753 BC. Traditionally the celebrations include historical re-enactments such as costumed parades and gladiator fights however in 2021, for the second year in a row, events will be m...
READ MORE
Schools, restaurants, gyms, travel: Here’s Italy’s new timetable for reopening
When will gyms reopen, and can we travel to or within Italy? Here are the key dates in Italy's roadmap for easing the coronavirus restrictions. Many of Italy’s current restrictions will be gradually relaxed from April 26th, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi confirmed at a press conference on Friday afternoon. There won’t be a complete return to n...
READ MORE