Featured Article Archives
- a collection of articles that have been featured on this site that pertain to Italian heritage, culture,
travel tips, news, miscellaneous tib-bits, current events, etc.
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Capturing the Memories
photography and videography tips for your Italian vacation
posted Nov 3, 2005
You may have spent months planning your perfect vacation to Italy. Perhaps you are going on the vacation of a lifetime. Whatever the occasion, more than likely, you want to capture the memories either by photography, or videography, or perhaps both.
Here are some tips to consider when you are going to Italy...More>>
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Travel tips for upcoming travel
posted Oct 11, 2005
If you are planning a trip to Italy, this time of year is a good time to go - the weather is pleasantly cool, you don't have to fight with crowds, and you can generally get a good deal during what is known as "shoulder season".
But you should book as early as possible. The worldwide airline industry is expected to post a loss of $7 Billion USD for 2005, partly due to an increase in fuel costs of $34 Billion USD over last year, and the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. US Airlines will be the hardest hit with expected losses of $8 Billion USD, while Asian airlines are showing profits, and European airlines are breaking even. With losses expected, many carriers (such as Delta) have announced cutting back on flights, especially for the holiday season. So the idea in the near future is to book as early as possible to get a good deal.
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Mangia! Mangia! - a guide to eating in Italy
posted Sep 10, 2005
Italians don't eat to live...Italians live to eat! Once you have a taste of their cuisine, you will know why. Many people mistakenly believe that Italian cuisine consists of only pizza and spaghetti. Nothing could be further from the truth! More>>
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A note on the Hurricane Katrina tragedy
posted Sep 1, 2005
There is an old Italian saying that goes “tutto il mondo e’ un paese”, which translates to “the world is a country”. It is supposed to mean that despite all our differences in culture, language, skin color, or whatever, we really are all brothers and sisters when you get down to it. That is never more apparent after a tragedy like the hurricane that devastated many parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, when all of our hearts ache and fill with sorrow for those that were affected. It is a shame that it often takes a tragedy of this magnitude to pull people together. And the scope of this tragedy is still unfolding - most of the city of New Orleans is under water, millions of people's lives have been forever affected. The death toll is bound to be astonishing. The situation is growing more dire and more tense by the minute. It will take many months and perhaps years to rebuild in that part of the country. It is so very important that we help out in any way that we can. I’ve listed a couple of links that you can use to help out monetarily if you are so inclined: American Red Cross | Unicef.org – there are of course many other wonderful organizations that are providing relief. Please feel free to email me if you want others (the above links may be bombarded with visitors). Thank you.
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Shop til you drop
posted Jun 4, 2005
Some of you are planning an upcoming trip to Italy, and would like to know about what to expect when shopping in Italy, especially regarding the Italian fashion which is outstanding. Is it still possible to find great deals, even though the Euro is strong? The answer is a resounding, yes! More>>
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New carriers heat up the competition
- cheaper summer fares to Europe
posted May 15, 2005
Two discount airlines have announced they will be entering the trans-Atlantic market this summer: Eurofly (based out of Italy) and LTU (based out of Germany).
Starting on June 13, Eurofly will have flights from New York to Naples (Mon, Wed, Fri), Bologna (Tues, Thur, Sun) and Palermo (Sat). You may also consider flying into a non-Italian city to get a great deal into Europe, and then transferring to your Italian destination. Other discount airlines that serve Europe include: Ryanair, BMI and Air One. Aer Lingus is also offering discount prices. |
 Expedia.com
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Overcoming Jet Lag / Time zone table
posted Mar 19, 2005
So you’ve spent months planning your perfect vacation to Italy, but there was one nasty little thing you forgot to consider – no, not Montezuma’s revenge – but jet lag. Jet lag occurs when you fly across time zones and your body (actually the pineal gland) does not have a chance to adjust to the time in the new destination wreaking havoc with your body clock.
Researchers say it can take a day for your body to adjust for each hour of time difference. Therefore, a New York to Rome flight would require 6 days before you fully adjust. And if you’re like most people now strapped for time, you do not want to spend half your vacation feeling like a zombie.
It is an inevitable part of any long-distance trip, but there are ways to minimize it... More>>
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Dying in the name of love
posted Feb 7, 2005
One of the many myths of the origins of St. Valentine’s Day can be traced back to a priest that lived in the 3rd century Rome that was beheaded for trying to spread love throughout the land. More>>
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Is hell about to freeze over? Sicily bridge update
posted Jan 7, 2005
The Italian government is officially looking for a contractor to complete a bridge that would connect the island of Sicily to the mainland of (Calabria) Italy. This has been a hotly debated topic of conversation for many years. The bulding of the bridge has much opposition, mainly from the shipping companies that operate the ferries that currently make the transit, claiming it would cause a huge loss of jobs for the region. More>>
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an Italian Christmas tradition - the legend of La Befana
posted Dec 1, 2004
The legend of Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) has existed in Italy mostly since the days of World War II. However, there is even a more ancient (and popular) Italian Christmas tradition that has its origins traced back to the 13th century: the legend of “La Befana” More >>
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Breaking news - Volare airlines in trouble
posted Dec 1, 2004
Volare airlines, an Italian based air carrier, has recently ceased flight operations and is in the process of naming an administrator to possibly save the company from bankruptcy. Ryanair, poised to benefit from Volare's misfortune, recently announced expanded service in Italy. Alitalia can also benefit, but they are experiencing financial difficulty as well.
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Is Alitalia on thin ice?
posted August 25, 2004 | last update Nov 8, 2004
Alitalia, Italy’s flagship carrier, could be facing financial collapse according to the company’s chairman as quoted in Italian new reports of August 24, 2004. Since the unification of the European union, and the deregulation of the European airline markets, Alitalia has suffered significant operating losses (their last operating profit was in 1998) and a decline in ridership. Many low-cost airlines like Ryanair and AirOne have gained significant market share in the Italian airline market. More>>
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Its' still there - Little Italy, NYC
posted October 1, 2004
Nestled between Chinatown, the Soho District and Greenwich Village, lies, for many, the birthplace of Italian heritage in this country - Little Italy, New York. On my recent trip to New York, I was able to visit the historic district which once stretched across the entire Lower East side of Manhattan.
Today, most of Little Italy has been replaced by Chinatown after laws restricting Asian immigration were changed in 1965. More>>
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Rome - a 3 day itinerary
posted August 19, 2004
As the old saying goes, "Roma non fu fatta in un giorno", or "Rome wasn't built in a day". It isn't long before you realize the accuracy of this statement. Roman works-of-art and masterpieces are everywhere. Walking through Rome is like walking through two thousand years of history, all intertwined and juxtaposed into the present-day. At times, it can be overwhelming. There is so much to do and to see in Rome that even the locals may need a lifetime or two to capture it all. In fact, there is probably more to see in Rome than in any other city in the world.
With so much to see and do, where does one start? More>>
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