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Fairy-tale landscapes dominated by the silent whiteness of nature certainly need no introduction. The finest Hollywood movies have accustomed us to the glamour of the ski week on our snowy peaks.  If you don't ski, however, what to do in the mountains during winter? In this article, we take you through the most beautiful activities and sports that...

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The Dolomites are one of the best places in the world to go hiking. But what if you don’t want to go hiking. Is it still worth visiting the Dolomites if you never plan to set foot on a hiking trail? Yes!! In this guide, we coverthe best things to do in the Dolomites that involve little to no hiking. What do we mean by little to no hiking? Most thin...

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I left Florence two weeks ago, and when I did, I left a piece of myself in the stone that built this city. One Sunday in Fiesole, I touched the rock on Monte Ceceri, home to a quarry of pietra serena, a stone used in the creation of buildings and sculptures in Florence since ancient times.  Discovered by the Etruscans, pietra serena became the favo...

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The Via Francigena (the Iter Francorum, or the "Frankish Route") is a branch of the Pilgrimage trail that goes between Canterbury and Rome, coming into full use starting around the 11th century. Bishop Sigeric of Canterbury first made the journey to Rome in 990 AD to receive honors from the Pope. He kept details of his travels in a book, with pictu...

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An alternative to the Via Appia was built by Emperor Trajan in 109 AD as part of a building spree after his defeat of Dacia (modern Romania) replenished the coffers and ushered in an era of relative peace. A roman coin was issued commemorating the Traiana. Strabo notes that the new coastal road was a day's travel shorter between Benevento and Brind...

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Is the walking vacation a temporary travel trend or here to stay?  While the idea of exploring places on foot, moving from one destination to the next with your legs as the only driving force is nothing new for walking enthusiasts, the pandemic seems to have brought walking and hiking vacations to the limelight. In Italy, starting with the summer o...

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Walking is one of the best and most sustainable ways to discover a territory, especially Italy. Our country is so full of wonderful places, ever-changing landscapes, small towns, hidden places and artistic wonders that deciding to walk in Italy is the best idea to savour this territory as an immersive experience and not just as a destination. This...

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La Costiera Amalfitana. To borrow a few lines from a wonderful old song – “Say it loud and there’s music playing; say it soft and it’s almost like praying” – is befitting. Just the sound of the words hints at the magic and allure found along Italy’s Amalfi Coastline. Encompassing 25 miles of magnificent coast stretching from Sorrento to Salerno, th...

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Wander between ancient forests and hermitages, explore hilltop villages with views stretching all the way to the coast, surround yourself with history and spirituality – this is just part of what you’ll experience along the Cammino di San Vicinio, one of the most unique and offbeat long-distance paths in our region. The Cammino di San Vicinio is 32...

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"Count me in, Pops!"  That was my granddaughter's response when I invited her to make a 200-mile trek through the Apennines range of mountains down central Italy. I chose this trek after reading an account by a photographer friend who had done it several years ago. A little history: A Catholic frier from a hill town in Italy lived and preached a l...

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