St Peters Basilica
In this city of outstanding churches, none can hold a candle to St Peters (Basilica di San Pietro), Italy’s largest, richest and most spectacular basilica. Built atop an earlier 4th-century church, it was completed in 1626 after 120 years construction. Its lavish interior contains
Galleria degli Uffizi
Home to the worlds greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art, Florences premier gallery occupies the vast U-shaped Palazzo degli Uffizi, built between 1560 and 1580 to house government offices. The collection, bequeathed to the city by the Medici family in 1743 on condition th
Vatican Museums
Founded by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century and enlarged by successive pontiffs, the Vatican Museums boast one of the worlds greatest art collections. Exhibits, which are displayed along about 7km of halls and corridors, range from Egyptian mummies and Etruscan bronzes to a
Whirlwind Italy
Summer is in full swing here at the Avalon Travel offices. Desks are emptying out, postcards are arriving from afar, and weekends start early on Fridays.
Working for a travel publishing company comes with some perks. One of my favorites is that vacations aren’t just the norm here, they’re encourag
Roman Holiday: Visiting Rome, Italy
My husband and I recently returned from Rome, and ever since we came home I’ve found myself sitting at my desk daydreaming about returning to Bella Roma. One of the best things about traveling is encountering new things—and I uncovered plenty of new discoveries in Rome. Here’s my list of the ten t
At Home in Italy
Positano, Campania on the Amalfi Coast. Photo © perseomedusa/123rf.
Sometimes when I’m mindlessly stirring cherry tomatoes in a saucepan, or ironing a favorite shirt that I bought at a wedding in Palermo, I think about what my life would be like had a string of coincidences not fallen into place a
Moving to Italy? Plan a 10-Day Fact-Finding Tour
Orviety, Umbria in Central Italy. Photo © milla74/123rf.
If you’re scouting out a place to live, there just isn’t time in one week to wait in line at the Vatican Museums, wander through the Forum, see the Uffizi in Florence, take a gondola ride in Venice, and still familiarize yourself with the co
Italy: The Cost of Living
Houses in Trastevere, a typical neighborhood in Rome. Photo © Anthony Maragou/123rf.
The euro-to-U.S. dollar exchange has oscillated around 1.30 for the past few years, meaning that Italy is still expensive for anyone earning greenbacks. Whereas some shoppers might remember everything from a cappu
Speaking the Language in Italy
The Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy. Photo © pljvv/123rf.
If you were packing up to move to Northern Europe and didn’t speak any of the local languages, you shouldn’t be too worried. There aren’t too many foreigners who can speak Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, or Dutch quite as well as those people
Where to Live in Rome
Photo © Caleb Kung, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
The capital is an expensive place to live. It’s still not quite at the level of London, or even Paris, but it’s close. Citywide, the average rent for 100 square meters (which would be a large two-bedroom apartment, is about €1,600. Downtow
Italy: The Job Hunt
Expat publications can be a good place to start the job search. Photo © Steven Phraner/123rf.
While the thought of being your own boss in Italy may sound exciting, the reality is that most of the foreigners you run into here are working for someone else. They are often found teaching English, tran
Want to Move to Italy? Plan a Fact-Finding Trip
View of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Photo © Valery Voennyy/123rf.
Unless you know Italy very well already, you’ll need to visit the areas where you might be interested in living. More than one trip will be necessary. The country is only the size of Arizona, but it’s as varied as the entire
Benessere: The Art of Feeling Good in Italy
Italians place a high priority on good health.
Italians are on a perpetual crusade for both comfort and beauty. It is only fitting that a country with some of the most beautiful scenery in the world should have beautiful people as well, and that the pleasant climate should be matched by a general
Housing in Italy: Renting vs. Buying
Aerial view of Vernazza, Cinque Terre. Photo © Tim Wege/123rf.
Renting or buying a house is the essence of living abroad; it’s what separates you from the tourist. The experience of owning a home in the Italian countryside has become almost legendary, as have the headaches that go along with it. W
Road Rules in Italy
Road signs in Lucca, Italy. Photo © David McSpadden, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
It is easy to be the victim of miscommunication in Italy, but nowhere is it easier, or are the consequences more severe, than on the road. Signage can be as misleading as the indications from drivers themse
Italy's Gay and Lesbian Culture
Thirty years ago, if you had said that there would be a group of women holding ministerial posts in this decade, your prediction might have been met with a wry smile and a condescending pat on the shoulder. If you then added that an openly gay man would be a regional president in the staunchly con
Doing business & staying in touch while in Italy
Italy: Doing business & staying in touch
Italy Weather, Climate and Geography
Italy Weather, climate and geography
Italy History, Language and Culture
Italy History, Language and Culture
Italy Travel Guide and Travel Information
Italy Travel Guide
