How to Order Gelato in Italy: Rules of Three One of the most authentic Italian experiences is also the most delicious: Gelato. For a few Euros, you can join the locals as they enjoy a cup or cone throughout the day or as part of their evening stroll, the passeggiata. Every visitor to Italy is encouraged to try as many flavors of gelato as possible. And after your first taste, you’ll gladly accept ... Read Full Article
Capitoline Museum: The Story Behind Boy With Thorn
I had never been to the Capitoline Museum. The first time I saw Boy with Thorn, he was a black and white projection snapping in and out of focus on the classroom wall. It was my senior year of college, and I was fulfilling my Literature and Arts general education requirement with an Italian Art History course. The classroom, a small, dusty room on the third floor of the Harvard Fogg Art Museum, ... Read Full Article
Five Quirky Museums in Europe
When I travel to Europe, I am always on the look-out for museums or sites that are a bit out of the ordinary. I think that the following five quirky museums fill the bill: From Magic Ice to fans, to computers, these museums present a different slant on museum-going. The Magic Ice Museum - IstanbulHoused in Istanbul, no less, the Magic Ice Museum is one of the first permanent ice museums ... Read Full Article
My Favorite Foods of Europe
To travel is to taste the world. And Europe presents a particularly eclectic hotchpotch of flavours. From the strange to the sublime, I’ve sampled various dishes and foodstuffs throughout my jaunts across the continent and here (in no particular order) are some of my personal favourites: Gran Canaria Though the Atlantic archipelago presents a popular European mix of English, German and Italian ... Read Full Article
10 Ways to Beat Jet Lag in Rome
How many times have you arrived in Europe feeling like an extra from The Walking Dead—eyes puffy and mumbling something incoherent (English in this case)? Having begun many trips to Europe in Rome, I’ve found that the city has a great variety of things to do to help you beat jet lag. Here are 10 ways to beat jet lag in Rome:Sleep on the Way Over There are lots of general tips for ... Read Full Article
Exploring Rome from the Piazza della Repubblica
While we had been to Rome before and had seen all the major sights, this time we were interested in a less frantic, more in-depth visit. We stayed in a great location near the Piazza della Republica on the Via Nazionale. The Piazza della Republica is impressive with gorgeous semi-circular colonnades surrounding the white marble Fontana delle Naiadi. It is not far from the Termini rail station, so ... Read Full Article
Hiring a Tour Guide: Is it Worth it?
My husband, Bill, and I had never hired a private tour guide before our recent trip to Italy. In the past, we read our guidebooks, consulted the internet, and reviewed EuropeUpClose.com to see what our writers had to say. We then did our own thing. We have also been part of large group tours, but this experience showed us the value of a knowledgeable, private tour guide to help us sort through ... Read Full Article
Roma, the City of Love
Rome - synonymous with romance, it’s all in the name. As one local explained to me – if you reverse the word ‘Roma’ (the Italian word for Rome) you get ‘Amor’ – meaning love. And love is something that resonates throughout the entire city. Especially evident at nighttime, the romantic undertones permeate the place as tangibly as pizza or pasta. As intertwined as food and love may be, Rome is a ... Read Full Article
Italy Can Mend a Broken Heart
For most of the summer, I was afraid to go to Italy. I was scared to hear the accent, to taste spaghetti Bolognese, to smell espresso. I worried that hearing my favourite Italian word, “Alora”, might send me straight over the edge. You see, I fell in love with an Italian last year.If this has happened to you before, I needn’t say more. If it hasn’t, let me fill you in: His name ... Read Full Article
On the Rock of St. Peter in Rome
When I clambered onto the full flight from Paris to Rome, the last thing I wanted to do was talk to a fellow passenger. I closed my eyes, exhausted after twenty hours of travel. Lunch arrived and my seatmate, a mild-mannered gent, said, "I always chat during the meal—I'm Peter." My heart sank, but I gathered my remnants of energy and replied, "I'm Julie from Vancouver."I was soon enjoying ... Read Full Article