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What's Going On In Italy
Cowboys in Tuscany, August and September
| If anyone in your family is horse crazy, they needn't pine for their favorite animal while they're in Italy. Did you know that Tuscany has its own breed of horses -- il maremanno -- and its own cowboys -- i butteri -- who have trained their mounts to accomplish seemingly impossible feats? The Tuscan ponies are sturdy, graceful, and highly intelligent. When they perform with their riders they are sheer poetry in motion! Throughout the year, weekend rodeos and equestrian shows are held in countless little villages in southwestern Tuscany (the area around Saturnia called La Maremma), giving these human/animal teams a chance to show off their impressive skills. It's a great way for everyone to participate in local color and culture. For more information and a schedule of events, click here. |  |
The Feast of San Gennaro in Naples, September 19
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Naples' patron saint, Januarius, was decapitated in the year 305. Legend has it that a faithful devotee gathered some of the martyr's blood and kept it in a vial; said holy relic is still jealously guarded today in the city's cathedral. Thrice a year, and most importantly in September, the precious ampule is removed from its vault and shown to the adoring public. This is when the famed "Miracle of San Gennaro" either occurs or doesn't. As thousands of historically costumed and humbly clothed Neapolitans look on, they sing and pray and chant their hopes that the blood will liquify, signifying a good year. Although it's unlikely you'll get inside the cathedral to witness it, you can join the breathless crowds outside, and you'll know the outcome by the elation of the crowd emerging from within -- and also by the 21 cannon shots fired from the city castle. No cannon salute or jubilant crowds? That means the blood remained as thick as glue in its little vial, thus threatening a very bad year ahead. Makes you wonder how that miraculous blood behaved in 2008, doesn't it? |
Napoleon Festival in Sarzana (Liguria), September 24-27
| The world may think of Napoleon as a Frenchman, but the good people of this gorgeous little town on the Tuscan-Ligurian border have officially declared that the Emperor of France's family originated right here. As a result, they now have an annual festival enlivened by impeccable uniforms and spectacular military re-enactments. If you attend, you will see the Italian Napoleonic Army charging down the narrow alleys and cobblestone streets of the town, bayonets drawn and rifles flaring, drums beating and plumed hats bobbing. Less exhilirating parts of the festival include perfect replicas of a Napoleon-era home, an antiques fair, and Napoleonic delicacies on the menu at local trattorie. Click here for the official website. |  |
La Macchina di Santa Rosa in Viterbo (Latium), September 2 and 3
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Santa Rosa was a young Christian who lived in this charming town just north of Rome during the 13th century, when Emperor Frederick II was waging war against the Pope. Rosa led the local opposition to the northern invader and was killed at the tender age of 17. Eventually she became a saint and her remains were placed in the Chiesa di S. Maria in Poggio al Santuario. Now every year on September 2, a host of sumptuously costumed residents form a procession that wends its colorful way through the town. The next day at noon, the 170 strongest men in town gather at Town Hall to meet the mayor, then set off to pay a visit to each of the seven churches. Next they head for the Capuchin convent, where they hoist onto their shoulders a five ton, 90-foot tall tower lit by hundreds of candles and topped by an exquisite statue of the saint. At this moment, all electric lights are extinguished throughout Viterbo. As the solemn procession approaches, the softly glowing Rosa is greeted by hushed reverence and whispered prayers. Even if you are not a Viterbese, you cannot help being swept up by the pure emotion of this custom, which goes back 700 years. Click here for the 2009 program. |
For information about other pageants and festivals throughout Italy, click here.
For information about special art exhibits, click here.
Also, the winter music, dance and opera season will be starting soon, so be sure to consider whether you'd like to add an evening event to your itinerary. For information, click here.
New & Fun at In Italy Online
An Introduction to Driving in Italy
| Have you considered driving in Italy but been put off by the incredibly bad press Italian drivers get? Well, your friends here at In Italy Online would like to shed some realistic light on this subject -- which is essential, by the way, if you are planning to visit Tuscany! It is just impossible to really experience the magic of those hills, those vineyards, those medieval villages, without a car. And if you have ever driven in any urban area in your entire life and lived to tell the tale, you will have no trouble navigating the country roads of Italy! Want to find out more? Click here to read Joe Lomax's insightful, entertaining and completely honest tips for mastering the art of Driving All'Italiana. |  |
And Speaking of Tuscany....
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Should you happen to be wondering whether it's even worth it to tackle driving in a foreign country, let us tempt you with our Snapshots from Tuscany. These delightful photos are not of famous statues or piazzas or palazzos, oh no! They show the humble unknown backroads and farms and country cul-de-sacs that have made Tuscany the world-famous destination it is today. Take a moment and treat yourself to your own Tuscan dream, and we bet you'll be willing to venture behind the wheel after all! Click here for our Snapshots from Tuscany. |
If Doing It On Your Own Just Ain't Your Thing....
| Okay, so we've convinced you that seeing backroad Tuscany is one of the 100 Things You Must Do Before You Die -- but you still would rather not have to drive! No worries, we have the perfect solution for you. The Food & Wine Lover's Southern Tuscany takes you into the homes of Tuscans, and while you're visiting the renowned hill towns, you'll also have a chance to see how all that divine food is made -- and taste it, naturalmente! Click here to see pictures and learn more about the hidden treasures of Tuscany. |  |
Remember, In Italy Online is your one-stop shop for travel to Italy. With over 4000 pages of information, you can find just about everything you needed to know before you leave home. For an index to our site, click here.
Did you know that at In Italy Online we personally inspect each unique lodging that we offer, and we welcome to our site only those where we ourselves would happily spend a few days?
This year our prices are 20% to 40% lower than last year, and we will match any competitor's bona fide offer. And if you need any other reasons to reserve your trip through us, consider this:
Start by browsing the Special Offers available only for readers of In Italy Online. You'll find them on this page:
Here is a brand-new property we are proud to introduce this month:
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Alba Country Inn Elegant country inn with gorgeous views and spacious rooms; panoramic indoor pool open year-round; sauna; rental bikes; all amenities. From 66. EURO/night |
We are also proud to offer some wonderful short programs for independent travelers. Combining self-guided itineraries, excellent lodgings, some meals and transfers, they are perfect for those who like to travel on their own but leave the planning to the experts. In Tuscany and on the Amalfi Coast, we offer:
This just might be one of the most popular activities we have ever offered – if you read the Guest Reviews you’ll see why! Spend four days at a 4-star seaside resort hotel outside Ravello or Praiano and leave the driving to your hosts. They’ll pick you up at the airport or station and whisk you out to the coast, then take you to see Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, Capri, and Pompeii. You’ll tour on your own, at your own pace, but you won’t have to deal with crowded public transportation or – even worse! – with driving yourself on the Amalfi Coast! Prices start at 1115. Euro/person, including four nights accommodations and dinners, plus all excursions and transfers.
Enjoy seven days in the most authentic part of Italy's favorite region. You'll visit the quaint villages of Montepulciano, Siena, Pienza and Montalcino, see how wine is made in a historic Brunello winery, visit an ancient olive oil mill, delight to countless tastings of the local food and wine, and learn how to make your own Tuscan menus at four hands-on cooking lessons. Groups never exceed 12 people, and In Italy Online's exclusive low price for this unforgettable experience, including all food and unlimited wines, is only US$2400.-2650./person. Sign up now for the trip of a lifetime!
The Chianti is one of the loveliest little patches of this earth, and what better way to get to know it than by staying right at its heart and roaming among its enchanting villages, vineyards and castles on your own (with the help of detailed route maps, of course!)? This 4-night program includes all the Chianti experiences including tastings of wine, cheese and meats. Costs are kept way down -- and your individual freedom way up -- by using your own car. Only 495 Euro/person including lodgings, one dinner, and visits to wineries.
Treat yourselves to this 4-night independent full-immersion into la vita toscana. Travel at your own pace while discovering great art, perfectly manicured landscapes, abundant vineyards, comfortable stone houses with big fireplaces, foods that are as delicious as they are simple, and great wines to accompany all of the above. We have included just the right amount of exclusive activities you could never do on your own, so that you can experience all the things that make Tuscany one of the most magical places on earth. Only 505 Euro/person including lodgings, two dinners, and visits to wineries and a cheese farm.
Make plans to see at least one of the blockbuster temporary shows, but don't neglect the classics! We were the first to make it possible to book the Uffizi and the Accademia, and now we've added several more museums, plus Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper in Milan (which is the hottest ticket in Europe right now, by the way!). We also offer specialized guided tours of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's in Venice.
If you're going to be landing in Naples, Livorno, Civitavecchia and/or Venice, consider these private day trips. They are much less expensive than those offered by the cruise lines, and our licensed guides are as fun as they are educational. 70.-650. Euro/person, including private car and driver and personal tour guide.
This is the best way to familiarize yourself with the lifestyle of Italy as well as its hidden secrets and unknown monuments. All activities are for private groups and are led by artists, historians, art historians and professors who combine a love of Italy past and present with a zestful approach for life that's sure to leave lasting memories long after your trip is over. To spend half a day with them is to become an Italian for a while. Be sure to browse their offerings before you leave home, and read what their former guests had to say about them.
Calling all parents! There are several articles on our site about Family Friendly Activities in Italy, including this page, where you'll also find the beginnings of a new mini-site we hope will interest your offspring. Read this page before you leave home: it's bound to add a little more fun to your kids' holiday.
You know the saying, "Insurance is like an umbrella: you take it so you won't have to use it." We represent Travel Insured, now offering coverage that will reimburse travel expenses even if you lose your job. All the "fine print" is online, as well as an order form and more general information to help you best protect your investment in your vacation. Please take a moment to read this page, for your own peace of mind on the road!
Not sure what to give your family and friends for the holidays? Be sure to visit our online bottega italiana for a vast range of gifts from your favorite country. We offer books, movies, gift baskets, calendars, posters, foods, wall displays and many more items guaranteed to thrill any Italophile on your list. Click here to start shopping!
We have well over 500 titles, including guidebooks, cookbooks, books for kids, novels, classics, biographies, memoirs, coffee table books, books about Italian-American heritage, Italian style, art history and history, genealogy research books, and more. Our collection includes the perfect gift for everyone -- even for yourself!
We have a wonderful selection, ranging from documentaries and travel films to such classics as Bicycle Thief, contemporary hits like Life is Beautiful and masterpieces like La Dolce Vita. Before you take your trip, select a few movies set in the areas you'll be visiting. This will help you visualize the places you want to see and things you want to do. Then when you get home you can watch the movies over and over to keep your own memories all the more fresh in your mind!
Whether you like old crooners, opera, wild rockers, baroque chamber music, or traditional folk tunes, we have something for you in our Italian Music Store. Browse the categories of Love Songs and Opera, or all the works of such favorites as Pavarotti, Bocelli, Ramazzotti and Battisti.
Whether you're trying to decide what part of the country to visit, or just hankering to relive the memories of your latest trip, pictures are the quickest way to get there. We have assembled a gallery with hundreds of colorful shots ranging from the Alps to the southern tip of Europe and featuring people, food, architecture, art, even the animals you'll encounter at the national parks! Be sure to bookmark the page so you can return often and visit the newest additions to the gallery.
If you're looking for something on our site that you just can't seem to find, the best solution is to start with:
With well over 4000 pages on our site now, sometimes even we don't remember where everything is! No matter what you're looking for, please start here. To make browsing even more enjoyable, we've added a little picture gallery to the page. This month's gallery is dedicated to the amazing Duomo of Milan.
If there's something specific you are looking for, try using our new search engine. Just enter the words or phrase (ie. Vatican Museum) that you want, and click "Search".
When you get to the actual planning stages of your trip, don't forget the regular features on our site:
In response to so many of your questions, we have put together some sample itineraries that you can do on your own. We've added information about how to get from place to place, how far it is between major destinations, how long to stay in each place and what order to visit them in. You'll also find tips about getting into Venice, taking the ferry to Sicily, moving around on the coast, and so on.
There is so much information on this page! Even if you don't book your accommodations through In Italy Online, you'll learn all about the differences between American and Italian hotels and apartments, and many other valuable tips about what to expect when you get to your casa italiana.
If you have time to look at only one page on our site, make it this one. It will help you create a very handy folder of information you might not care about now but might suddenly find yourself in desperate need of once you're on the road!
The very first thing you need to do when planning a trip is get good maps such as these. We use them for all our itinerary planning, our editor uses them on her semi-annual two-month marathon scouting trips, and the Italian government uses them for something that's probably classified. Well anyway, our editor could use any maps on earth, and these are the ones she packs. Here's her personal advice: if you're going to be driving in Tuscany, get several province maps rather than one regional map. You might spend $20. more now, but we think it's worth it to save countless hours of fear and frustration later.
Every single town in Italy is listed here, friends, so if you're having trouble finding a place, start here first.
Okay, it would be impossible for anyone to list all of these, but we offer a wide enough selection throughout the country for you to match your itinerary with at least one of these must-see events. We also offer a guidebook: for information, click here.
One of our favorite affiliates is a new specialist in wine tours in Tuscany, who will help you discover a hidden Tuscany. Wine tastings and Italian cooking lessons in Florence. Guided visit to wineries with wine tastings in the Chianti region. Wine shipping all over the world.
Cellular Abroad offers local cell phone rates many European destinations, including free incoming calls. They also have a convenient travel resources guide. Be sure to read this very informative article. It deals with the pitfalls and advantages or renting or buying a cell phone for your trip to Italy, and explains why it may often be the smartest way to keep in touch.
For the independent traveler who doesn't want to join a group but doesn't want to have to do everything on his or her own. Visit Sicily or Tuscany by private car or bicycle, concentrating on food or history or just plain having fun.
English-Italian electronic pocket translators for travelers offer reliable and accurate two-way English-Italian Full-text Machine Translation (of any phrase or text) with voice output! The world's most sophisticated Speech Recognition that understands exactly what you say and provides instant translation of words and phrases. Travel Voice PhraseBook translates and speaks 14,000 phrases using native-speaker voice narration.
Whether you want a full-blown program or just a half-day lesson with a chef or a grandmother, check out this page to see what we offer in Tuscany and Rome.
This is the part of our web site that put us on the map: over 2000 pages of articles with our favorite itineraries, in-depth reports and suggestions about off-the-beaten-track attractions in Italy. We've added more photographs and information, so spend some time here gleaning the hard facts about the areas you want to visit - you'll probably end up printing out a few pages to take along with you.
Over a hundred pages of hard-core information: how to use the telephones; how to use the post office; how to contact the provincial tourist boards; how to rent a cell phone; traffic regulations; the weather; English-language church services; shopping conversions; and so much more. Especially important is the section entitled "Trains, Planes, Ferries, Buses and Cars In Italy," a series of links to the sources with schedules, fares, and other useful information (including specific information about the major airports).
A treasure trove of consolations for travelers caught between trips! Recipes, North American museums with Italian art, universities with Italian programs, movies, videos and books about Italy.
You've asked for this for so long - finally we have it for you!
Our revised newsletter details how to stay at a convent. We've added dozens more places to stay throughout the country, with information about kinds of accommodations, amenities, prices, curfews and so on.