Dream of Italy® - Italian Travel News Blog

3,000 Soldiers Deployed...To the Streets of Italy

2008-08-04T13:07:00.003-04:00

Reactions have been mixed to the Italian government's decision to put 3,000 soldiers in the streets of Italian cities in an effort to help police fight crime. Rome in particular will receive 1,000 troops in the decision, which has been put into effect starting today and which will use the troops to patrol embassies, government buildings, metro stations and an immigrant holding center in the outskirts of the city

"It's ridiculous. It's like being under a military regime, as if Rome were in (the Pinochet regime's) Chile," declares a bus driver quoted by ANSA.it. "The use of the armed forces is a sign of weakness for a democracy. During the time of the Red Brigades urban terrorism (in the '70s and early '80s) it made sense to use the army, but now it's useless and just spreads fear among the citizens," he continued.

Some see the deployment to be a positive measure, however, including another citizen quoted by ANSA.it, Laura, a cashier in a Milanese jewelry store: "There's too much crime here -- I was robbed last week and my friend was almost mugged. It's good to see the army intervene."

Many have welcomed the soldiers with open arms, as was seen at the Roman suburban metro station of Anagnina, where commuters broke into applause at the sight of the arriving troops.

Rome's mayor, Gianni Alemanno, has pledged that the capital will not look like a city under siege, and has promised that mixed street patrols of troops and police will not patrol the historic center, so as to maintain the tourist-friendly image that visitors to Rome so depend on. -- Justine Gregory

Say "Ciao" to the Chow(-down): Rome Bans Snacking at Monuments This Summer

2008-08-01T11:06:00.002-04:00

Dreaming of eating a panini while sitting on the Spanish Steps or enjoying a gelato with your stroll through the Roman Forum? Think again, says Roman officials, who have banned eating and drinking at the historical sites in Rome's city center from July 10th until the end of October of this year.

The ordinance, which also cracks down on the homeless, drunks, litterbugs and noisy nighttime revelers who cause disturbances in central areas, warns that unless such actions are brought under control, they will "irreparably damage the preservation of historical and art areas and monuments and the possibility to enjoy them." Many are frustrated with the no-snacking ordinance, which is not posted publicly in the protected monuments, yet raises a hefty fine: 50 euros ($80) if disobeyed, which may make you think twice before swiping a lick of that gelato at the Pantheon! -- Justine Gregory

World Hotels: Pay in Dollars in Italy

2008-07-23T12:18:00.001-04:00

With the euro coming in at stomach-turning highs, you may think that to Italy is too costly. (Personally, we never think that.) However, World Hotels may save the day. This summer, the international hotel company is offering a "Stay in Europe, Pay in Dollars" deal to North American visitors offering hotel rooms at a one euro to one dollar exchange rate. Where a hotel room that might cost 150 euros (over $235), will only cost $150 dollars -- an easy $85 savings right there! The offer applies to 15 World Hotel properties throughout Italy, from Abano Terme to Genoa,
Milan, Naples and Rome, on stays Thursday through Monday through August 31 2008. -- Justine Gregory

P.S. - Scroll down this blog for more hotel deals in Italy. There are some good ones!

Castellina Fortress Opens in Tuscany

2008-07-23T11:25:00.001-04:00

For the first time in its history -- a history that stretches back to the time of the Etruscans, if you must know – the Tuscany town of Castellina in Chianti is opening the doors of its Rocca Comunale di Castellina to the public. This medieval fortress was built in the 14th century, when the Castellina became part of the “League of Chianti,” which functioned primarily as a military association serving Florence. No longer needed as a military fortress against feuding Italian legions, the Rocca remained little more than a testament – albeit an intimidating-looking one – to centuries past until last year, when renovations began to make the fortress suitable for public viewing. A year of work has restored the ancient stronghold, even adding a retractable roof that allows visitors to access the tower, and has brought this ancient monument into the 21st century for your wonder and enjoyment. -- Justine Gregory

Related:
Dream of Italy's Special Report: Chianti (purchase download)
At Home in Chianti: One Italian Dream Come True (subscribers only)

Shooting Stars, Saracens and Pizza: Events in Italy This Summer

2008-07-20T16:58:00.003-04:00

Our fr*ee online calendar of events is back and filled with tantalizing festivals, concerts and celebrations taking place this summer and fall in Italy. Here are some highlights:

Donnafugata (Sicily): Calici di Stelle (Goblets of Stars)
August 10, 2008
Italians throughout the land celebrate Notte di San Lorenzo (celebrating San Lorenzo on August 10th) outside, under the stars. It is the night when dreams are said to come true. If you're a wine lover, your dream might come true by spending the evening sipping the vintages of Donnafugata, at their Contessa Entellina estate. (Donnafugata was featured by Dream of Italy in a recent article. Photo above is of their night harvest which will be demonstrated. )

Positano: Landing of the Saracens
August 15, 2008
Costumed actors gather this evening on the beach of this Amalfi Coast resort town to re-enact the battle the historic battle that took place on the night of August 15, 1558. The landing of the Saracens is also celebrated with music, food and a certainly gorgeous sunset, making this an event for the whole family

Naples: Pizzafest 2008
September 11 to 21, 2008
For two weeks this September, the birthplace of pizza celebrates its most famous food with Pizzafest 2008. Demonstrations, contests and plenty of pizza eating takes place at Mostra d'Oltremare, Naples' main convention center.

All of our calendar items are linked to related items from the more than 600 articles Dream of Italy has published to date. Receive immediate access to all of these articles (in over 50 back issues), plus 10 additional issues and a bonus e-book when you subscribe to the newsletter voted Best Consumer Subscription Newsletter 2007. What are you waiting for?

Hot Summer Hotel Deals in Italian Cities

2008-07-20T14:32:00.000-04:00

Venice
The Deal: 149€ ($210) per night plus tax for a Hilton King room at the 5-star Hilton Molino Stucky Hotel during the months of July and August.
The Details: This is a steal since the regular nightly rate at this new luxury hotel is over $400 per night! You must book 21 days in advance. Use the discount code:PR20AP

Milan
The Deal: 88€ per night at the 5-star Le Meridien Gallia, a Starwood hotel
The Details: Book online for your stay between now and September 10, 2008.

Florence
The Deal: 69€ per night at the 4-star UNA Hotel Vittoria in the center of Florence
The Details: This special summer rate includes a room upgrade and buffet breakfast for stays until the end of August. Open to TravelZoo subscribers (registration is free). Use the promotion code: TVLZOO

Oprah, J. Lo: Celebrities Love Italy, too!

2008-07-17T15:43:00.002-04:00

Your faithful editor's love of celebrity gossip news (really, I'm trying to quit) comes in handy this time of year to report to you where are the big stars are vacationing in Italy this summer. Just like us mere mortals, the celebs love Bella Italia. Here's a rundown on who's where, doing what:

Oprah Winfrey was spotted earlier this month in the lovely Ligurian coastal town of Portofino. Best friend Gayle was along too. I love Oprah and hate to report that the British rags were taking photos of her eating and noting her weight gain. Let the woman eat people, it's Italy!
Did you know British Oscar winner Helen Mirren has a home in one of our favorite Italian regions, Puglia? She and her husband bought a 500-year-old castle near the beautiful city of Lecce. Mirren has the paparazzi buzzing with these sexy bikini shots. She's 63 and has the body of a 20-year-old. Go Helen!
Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and husband Tony Parker celebrated their first anniversary in early July with a visit to Italy. They enjoyed Florence and cruised around Sardinia.
Diva Jennifer Lopez and husband Marc Anthony cruised around the Med on the yacht of designers Dolce & Gabbana. They stopped into Portofino for a port call.
Brothers & Sisters star Balthazar Getty has been all over the rags for his extramarital affair with British actress Sienna Miller. They've taken the affair public on Italy's Amalfi Coast. Balthazar is a member of the Getty oil family who owned the exquisite villa La Posta Vecchia on the Lazio coast which is now a high-end hotel.

5-Star Venice Hotel At a Steal!

2008-07-15T10:20:00.002-04:00

If you’ll be in Venice this summer (checking out their film festival, perhaps?), but still haven’t found a place to stay, let us offer you a taste of the good life. The luxurious 5-star Hilton Molino Stucky Venice Hotel (we've reviewed it in our Venice e-book) is offering an incredible deal: $210 a night (excluding tax) for a Hilton King Guest Room – an unbeatable offer, considering that the regular rate in $430 a night! This deal is applicable on the hotel’s advance purchase rooms, which must be booked 21 days before your stay, so perhaps (for once!) procrastination can pay off! If you would like to turn your luxury visit into a bed and breakfast experience, the Molino Stucky will provide as well – advance purchase bed & breakfast rates are $267 with 21-day advance booking (use code: PR20AB). Check out the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice Web site for more details, and remember to use discount code: PR20AP. Enjoy! -- Justine Gregory

Live Like a King For a Night At Tuscany's Castelletto di Montebenichi

2008-07-15T07:36:00.002-04:00

If you’ve always dreamt of living like a king, we may be able to give you a taste of the royal treatment – TripAdvisor has rated the top 10 best castle hotels in Europe, and Italy has made the list with its Castelletto di Montebenichi, in Bucine, Italy. This four-star hotel, comprised of five double rooms, three suites and one mini-suite is housed within a 12th century castle 20 miles from the Arezzo region of Tuscany.

A stay in this gorgeous castle is a beautiful marriage of ancient and modern, with period pieces and antiques finding a home next to satellite TV’s, DVD players, and Wi-Fi internet. Luckily, accommodations fit for a king will not cost you a king’s fortune, however: A standard room is 280 euros a night (about US$439) for two people, including a buffet breakfast, drinks offered in the in-room fridge and hotel bar, as well as use of the swimming pool, sauna, gym and car parking. -- Justine Gregory

Related:
Rachael Ray's Tuscan Wedding Castle (free access article)

Movies in the Open Air in Venice, Baltimore

2008-07-08T12:46:00.001-04:00

Here’s a chance to catch a feel of Italy and a film, no matter which side of the Atlantic you might be on! Despite fears in the past few months that the festival would have to be cancelled due to budget issues, Venice’s Estate al Cinema (Summer at the Movies) festival opened on the 29th of June in the arena of the Campo di San Polo. Sixty films will be shown through August 27th 2008, ranging from Italian (including Anna Negri’s Riprendimi, the only Italian film to be selected at the Sundance Film Festival), to American (Juno for the teens, Ratatouille for the kids, Indiana Jones for the kids-at-heart), and beyond. Regular tickets tickets are 5 euros. Kids, seniors and Venice Card holders can get a slight discount.

If your only hope of getting to Italy this summer is through the movies, however, we may have a Plan B for you (B for Baltimore, that is) – Baltimore, Maryland’s Little Italy hosts their annual summer movie festival from July 11th through August 31st. Every Friday night, movie-lovers gather, bringing blankets, folding chairs and picnics to sit in the parking lot at the intersection of High and Stiles Streets. They watch movies projected onto a giant screen on an adjacent building (the screen was to become a billboard for local advertising, but when city hall declared it illegal, the Little Italy Restaurant Association decided to turn it into a movie screen with the help of local resident John Pente, who volunteered his bedroom and bedroom window as the place from which the projector could show films onto the screen). Classics, both Italian (Cinema Paradiso), American (Hairspray, The Blues Brothers, etc.), and even Italian-American (Moonstruck) will be featured this summer, so even if fuel surcharges and exchange rates have kept you close to home, you may still be able to have a taste of Italy under the summer evening sky. -- Justine Gregory

HOT Deals on Flights to Italy, $99 Florence Hotel

2008-07-03T13:30:00.002-04:00

Kick back and relax watching the fireworks on this long Fourth of July weekend -- we’ve taken all of the work out of finding great deals to Italy! We’ve searched the web far and wide and found discounts that will last you from now until the winter months. Here are our best discoveries:

Delta is offering sales on flights from New York to Milan (one-way from $499) and Rome (one-way from $599), but tickets must be purchased by July 7, 2008, so move fast!

Alitalia is offering “early-bird” winter flight sale specials from New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles to Florence, Milan, Rome, Venice, and other destinations starting at $706 round-trip, including taxes and fees. Tickets must be booked by July 8th, so again, best to look now!

The Irish airline Aer Lingus is offering on its Web site August deals to Naples (one-way from $544), Milan (one-way from $507) and Rome (one-way from $507).

The website http://www.cheapoair.com/ is currently advertising tickets (taxes and fees additional) from New York to Naples on Iberia airlines for $594, and to Milan on Lufthansa for $575, as well as offering a $10 savings on Europe Flights with the code “EURSAVE” at check-out (Hey! Every dollar counts, right?)

Swiss International Air Lines is also offering economy class summer (until August 31st) and fall (until October 26th) deals from New York (JFK), Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and Miami to Milan, Rome, Naples and Venice. Check out their Web site for more details.

Once you get to Italy, you’re going to need a place to rest your head, right? Here is a hotel deal for you too -- The four-star UNA Hotel Vittoria, located in the heart of Florence, is offering a summer rate of $99 (69€) per room, per night, with a free upgrade to a Superior Room, buffet breakfast, welcome drink on arrival, and free welcome kit. This offer applies to Travelzoo subscribers (registration is free) through August 31st, just quote the reference TVLZOO.

So enjoy that long weekend…but don’t forget to move quickly on these deals, because as you can see, many of them will be gone before you know it! -- Justine Gregory

Get Connected to Dream of Italy via Facebook, Twitter

2008-07-01T19:44:00.000-04:00

If you're on the social networking site Facebook.com, join the Dream of Italy group!
NBC Today Show travel editor Peter Greenberg and National Geographic Traveler columnist Christopher Elliot are already part of the group. Share photos, discuss Italian travel ideas and more!

Twitter is a quick, free online service for staying in touch. Follow Dream of Italy with your Twitter account.

Viterbo's Festa di Santa Rosa

2008-06-30T19:40:00.000-04:00

The cover story in our June issue focuses on Viterbo - a charming city 60 miles north of Rome, famous for papal history and thermal baths and this festival:

If you happen to be in Rome on the third day of September, catch the train to Viterbo for the Festa di Santa Rosa, the festival of the city's patron saint. Thousands flock to see one hundred facchini, or strongmen, carry a 90-foot tall, four-ton macchina - obelisk-shaped statue - of the Santa Rosa through the winding streets of the city. The tradition began hundreds of years ago, with the statue becoming progressively larger and heavier until the 19th century, when the macchina toppled over, crushing facchini and spectators alike. Not to worry, however: a disaster has not happened since, although it is still said that the facchini must sign their wills before they can bear the weight of the macchina. The macchina is truly an incredible sight - a gigantic tower, swathed in light, seems to float over the apartment buildings as it glows against the night sky. Onlookers line up for the priming viewing spots in the early morning, sending friends to bring back sustenance from the piazzas, where dozens of stands are set up in a carnival-like atmosphere. The Festa of Santa Rosa is almost an other-worldly experience, so don't miss it. - Justine Gregory

Introducing Florence's Link Travel & More

2008-06-30T19:34:00.000-04:00

Link Travel & More is a Florence-based association of professional guides and tour leaders who make Florence and Italy come to life with a blend of history, architecture, literature, music, politics and gossip through the ages.

Link offers guided tours in and around Florence, wine tasting and gourmet tours, cooking classes, special events planning, archaeological visits as well as hiking and biking tours.

Friendliness, professionalism, flexibility, culture and attention for detail are Link's key words. Call (39) 055 218191 or visit www.linkfirenze.it

(This is an ad.)

June 2008 Issue: Viterbo, Gubbio, Milan

2008-06-29T21:53:00.000-04:00

The June 2008 issue of Dream of Italy is posted online for paid newsletter subscribers. Print copies for postal subscribers are in the mail. Here's what is in the current issue:

Popes, Pizza & Thermal Baths in Viterbo

This Lazio city just 60 miles from Rome offers a welcome respite from the Eternal City's tourists. You'll be greeted by legends of popes, one of the best-preserved groups of medieval buildings in Europe and lovely thermal baths.

Gubbio: A City of More Than Just Silence
This Umbrian city has a reputation as a "city of silence," but there's more than meets the eye, or ear, here including incredible gastronomy and a chance to participate in a truffle hunt.

A Tale of 7 Stars and a Butler
What's it like to stay in a 7-star hotel with your own butler? What makes a property earn 7 stars? Our writer tests out Europe's only uber-luxury hotel in Milan.

Not a subscriber to the award-winning travel newsletter Dream of Italy?

Subscribe now and receive:

immediate access to this issue
immediate access to over 50 back issues covering the whole country of Italy
10 information-packed issues over the coming year
a BONUS Venice e-book!

Your Brunello di Montalcino Has Been Spared!

2008-06-23T18:28:00.001-04:00

To all those friends of Brunello di Montalcino – you may not have known it, but while you innocently sipped at your favorite Tuscan red, the future of your wine was under attack. U.S. authorities had threatened for the last few weeks to ban imports of the red wine Brunello di Montalcino (Brunello being the Sangiovese varietal grape, and Montalcino the city of the wine’s origin) after Italian fraud police confiscated wine from several producers earlier this year, suspicious that other varieties of grape other than Brunello had been mixed in.

Recently departed Brunello president, Francesco Cinzano, said there were certainly some “bad apples in the basket” who were hoping to profit from the incredible success of the Tuscan wine, but Brunello drinkers can breathe easy, as authorities dropped the threat to ban earlier today after receiving assurances of the wine’s integrity. Brunello will continue to be allowed into the U.S. as long as the imported bottles are accompanied by a quality guarantee from the Italian government – great news for Brunello wineries, which export 25% of their 7 million bottles directly to the United States. With such good news, let’s pour a glass to celebrate -- I’ll toast to that! -- Justine Gregory

Italy's Top Free Attractions

2008-06-23T18:16:00.000-04:00

FREE. In these tight economic times, free is a beautiful word, and if you are planning a trip to Italy, “free Italian attractions” might just be the most beautiful words you’ve ever heard. TripAdvisor, has compiled a list of the Top 10 Free European Attractions, and Italy can boast three spots on that top list: St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice (at #9), the Duomo in Florence (#6), and topping everything off, Rome’s Pantheon (pictured) at #1.

If you are looking for other ways to save money on your next trip to Italy, be sure to check out Dream of Italy’s article on money-saving tips for travel in Italy. And yes, the article is that most beautiful of beautiful words – FREE. -- Justine Gregory

Last-Minute Auditor Specials for Tuscany Vocal Program

2008-06-21T18:03:00.000-04:00

Enjoy an idyllic, affordable week in Tuscany July 30 to August 6, 2008 as an auditor of the 2008 Daniel Ferro Vocal Program. Auditors observe all Master Classes and participate in Italian language study.

Ideal for singers, voice teachers, coaches, conductors, choral singers and… lovers of music wishing to experience the development of young artists and enjoy Tuscany with all it has to offer.
Limited space available for the week of July 30th only.

The price to audit the program for one-week is $1,850, which includes the following:

7 nights lodging (private room)
8 continental breakfasts
5 weekday lunches
observation of all Master Classes
participation in the Italian language studies
Participation in all social activities: concerts, receptions, etc.

For more information, visit www.ferrovocalprogram.org

(This is an ad.)

Vatican Bans Tom Hanks from Filming in Rome

2008-06-17T13:27:00.004-04:00

How will Professor Langdon solve this problem?

The Vatican has banned the producers and actors of the movie Angels and Demons, now filming in Rome, from entering the Holy See and any churches in Rome. Ron Howard is directing the film version of Dan Brown's prequel to the popular book and film, The DaVinci Code. You may remember that actor Tom Hanks played Professor Langdon in The DaVinci Code and is reprising his role in this film. Howard and Hanks have already filmed other scenes in the Eternal City. (This photo shows Hanks and Howard filming in Rome last week.)

Angels and Demons producers requested permission to film scenes in the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria, which house precious paintings by Caravaggio, sculptures by Bernini, and a chapel designed by Raphael, but were denied, explained Monsignor Marco Fibbi, a spokesman for the diocese.

“It’s a film that treats religious issues in a way that contrast with common religious sentiment” We would be helping them create a work that might well be beautiful but that does not conform to our views. This is a prequel to ‘The DaVinci Code’ and it’s clear that the theme is similar.”

The DaVinci Code stirred up anger and controversy within the Catholic religious community in with the assertion that Jesus was secretly married to Mary Magdalene and fathered a child with her. The book/film also portrayed the conservative Catholic movement of Opus Dei as a murderous cult.

In Angels and Demons, Tom Hanks as Professor Robert Langdon, who must save the Vatican from a canister of anti-matter that threatens to destroy the Vatican. The Vatican, however, appears to be unamused by Langdon’s kind gesture, forcing the film’s producers to shoot in the city of Caserta, near Naples, where the former Royal Palace (see photo) will stand in for the interior of the Vatican.

If you would like to get a sneak peek at this regal city in the Campania region before it hits the big screen, be sure to check out Dream of Italy’s detailed article on the palace and visiting Caserta (paid subscribers only.) Many have compared its beauty to that of the French palace Versailles. -- Justine Gregory

P.S. - If you want to take your own self-guided tour of Rome following the plot of Angels and Demons, see our article by the guides who developed the first tour around the book. (Paid subscribers only.)

You're Invited to Salento Food Week in NYC, DC

2008-06-16T14:09:00.000-04:00

On behalf of the olive oil and wine producers of the Salento area of the Puglia region of Italy, I'd like to invite Dream of Italy readers in New York and Washington, DC to a series of FREE tastings during Italian Week, June 18 to 24, 2008. More than 30 companies from the Jonico-Salentino district will showcase their premium quality wines and extra-virgin olive oils, offering the opportunity to taste firsthand the spectacular quality of this area's offerings.

Puglia, the sun-drenched region on the Adriatic coast in the heel of Italy, has a rich tradition of wine and olive oil production. Italians themselves know that some of the country's best vintages and oils come from this area. In fact, Puglia produces 29% of the country's oil and 18% of Italy's wine. About half of Puglia's vineyards and olive trees are located in the Jonico-Salentino district, in the south-central part of the region surrounding the beautiful Baroque city of Lecce. A unique combination of factors including weather, soil, technique and traditional varietals have lead the Salentino wines and oils to international acclaim.

You don't need a plane ticket to enjoy the bounty of this unique land. Salentino comes to America for Italian Week, June 18 to 24.

New York City, June 19, 20, 21

Where:
BuonItalia at Chelsea Market
75 Ninth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
When:
Thursday, June 19 - 5 to 7 p.m.
Friday, June 20 - noon to 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 21 - noon to 7 p.m.

Washington, DC - June 23, 24

Where:
Teatro Goldoni Restaurant
1909 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
When:
Monday, June 23 - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24 - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Which City is Cheaper: Philadelphia or Florence?

2008-06-11T18:49:00.002-04:00

File this one under, "why didn't I think of that..." When I was at dinner with Kit Burns (Dream of Italy subscriber and president of Doorways Villa Rentals) in Sardinia last month, she told me about a comparison her staff put together showing that despite the weak dollar, visiting an Italian city isn't really any more expensive than visiting an American city.

To prove their point, they put together a chart directly comparing the cost of breakfast, dinner, a bus ticket, a hotel room in Philadelphia vs. Florence. The results might surprise you. Of the eleven comparison items, eight were more expensive in Philadelphia, one (the hotel room) was more expensive in Florence and two were about the same (cup of coffee and train ticket).

So for all of those who think Italy is so expensive, its not any more expensive than an American city. Sure the plane ticket is a significant added expense but once you get past that...

Related:
Tips and Tricks for Saving Money in Italy This Summer (Free Access Article)
Travel to Italy Up This Summer For Americans (Blog Post)
Dream of Italy's Collected Florence (e-book)

Introducing iJourneys Audio Walking Tours

2008-06-11T18:37:00.000-04:00

Experience Italy and listen as you walk through Rome, Florence, Venice and Pompeii...

iJourneys Audio Walking Tours are fun, fascinating, funny and easy. Explore the big sights and go off the beaten path without dragging a heavy guidebook. Your guide is an Emmy Award winning journalist.Just $14.95, MAP included. Download your tour in about one minute. Put it on your iPod, MP3 or CD Player.

Hear samples at: www.iJourneys.com

(This is an ad.)

Music and Markets Presents "The Art Cities of Northern Italy"

2008-06-10T19:16:00.000-04:00

Music and Markets Tours is thrilled to present an exciting only-in-2008 tour, The Art Cities of Northern Italy.

We’ll have the awe-inspiring opportunity of hearing the renowned Fine Arts Quartet perform on priceless historic instruments at the Stradivari Foundation's annual festival. Surrounded by the brilliant colors of fall, we’ll delight in the marvelous towns of Cremona, Mantua, and Verona , savor mouthwatering cuisine and wander hilltop villages and lakeside castles.

Click here for details of this luscious September trip, and join us for a thrilling experience of
authentic Italy!

(This is an ad.)

Free GPS + 5% Off Rental with Auto Europe

2008-06-10T15:24:00.000-04:00

If you're driving in Italy, you'll save many headaches and lots of time (that you would have spent getting lost) with GPS (Global Positioning System) in the car. Trust me! I will never rent another car in Italy with out it.

Fortunately, this summer and fall, Auto Europe is offering a free GPS rental with car rentals in Italy of at least eight days (intermediate class or higher). Book by June 30 for car pickups June 20 through November 30, 2008.

Dream of Italy readers can also save 5% on any Auto Europe rental by using the discount code 722002261.

Seven Tips for Saving Money on Your Italian Vacation

2008-06-09T22:23:00.002-04:00

So the dollar is still weak, but Americans are going to Italy (a Global Insight report predicts a 4.7 percent increase in the number of American travelers visiting Italy this summer). Whether you are traveling on a budget or looking for luxury, I have seven quick money-saving travel tips adapted from a recent Dream of Italy article:

1. Use new low-cost airlines and get great introductory airfare deals. This month Italian airline Air One launches service from Chicago and Boston to Milan. Low-cost carrier Zoom Airlines recently started flights from Toronto and Montreal to Rome.

2. Use the Web to find and predict the best airfare deals, but don’t hesitate to buy. Farecompare.com and Farecast.com offer predictions on whether ticket prices for your particular route will stay steady, increase or decrease over the next week But if you find a deal, snap it up, seats are nearly filled for summer travel.

3. Buy a package and save two ways. First, by buying a combination of airfare, hotel, rental car, and/or train tickets you almost always save over what each component would cost individually. Second, pre-paying in dollars before you leave eliminates the risk of currency fluctuations if you were to pay euros in Italy.

4. Cruise the Italian coastline. Nearly every cruise line you can think of – Carnival to Princess– will be cruising the Mediterranean this summer, and by climbing aboard, you can cover your transportation, dining and accommodations costs with one price – in dollars.

5. Make a bid. LuxuryLink.com offers luxury hotel packages and villa rentals at discounted rates through online auctions, while Skyauction.com allows individuals to bid on air and hotel packages, coach and business class airline tickets, and hotel nights. The key – do your homework before bidding.

6. Skip the hotel. Hotel rates in Europe are up. Instead, rent a villa or apartment. You will pay way less per night and can save money by using your kitchen to cook for yourself.

7. Get a tourist card. Italian cities like Naples, Orvieto, Padova, Rome, Turin, Trieste, Verona and Venice offer tourist cards which can save you big bucks on public transportation, as well as often including admission to many of the cities’ museums, churches and monuments.

Click here for a detailed and free Dream of Italy article on more money-saving tips for travel to Italy.

Have your own tips? Share them with a comment on this blog post.