We wanted to update our wonderful Tour Italy Now community with some recent developments. First, we have become big fans of Twitter, and are tweeting as the spirit moves us. Today’s tweets so far include one wishing everyone a Happy Fat Tuesday. Another one, shown above, shared a link, from Huffington Post Travel, to a stunning slide show of black-and-white photographs of Venice. The underlying message of most of our Tour Italy Now Twitter musings is that if we aren’t in Italy (and sometimes we are), we wish we were, and we suspect you do, too.

Please follow us on Twitter at @TourItalyNow. If you are so inclined, we’d appreciate it if you’d spread the word and recommend that others follow us on days like #FF or #FollowFriday, when folks tweet lists of folks to follow on Twitter.

Of course we will continue to post on Facebook. How could we not? We’ve got one of the most robust Italy Facebook communities going! In other news, I’m going to be blogging regularly for Tour Italy Now. (Contributing writer Barbara Fellini will be, in addition to blogging occasionally, working behind the scenes with Tour Italy Now.) In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be posting about events in Italy, everything from chocolate festivals to night tours to soccer matches, and then some. We’ll be answering your questions about Italy travel, on Tour Italy Now Twitter, here in the comments section, from Facebook. Don’t be shy!

+Dominic Siano

The Bridge of Sighs, Venice

With Venice Carnival 2012 wrapping this weekend, we wanted to take a moment and reflect on the challenges the city of Venice faces as one of the world’s oldest cities and top tourist destinations. Over 12 million people visit Venice each year; Venice’s location, on a lagoon by the sea, contributes to its structural challenges. The city is, quite literally, slowly sinking.

Fortunately, there are efforts on many fronts to preserve and protect Venice. Several non-profits have been working for years on Venice restoration projects. Save Venice, a New-York-City-based organization, is in the final years of its restoring the Church of San Sebastiano. We highlighted this important Venice restoration project in a blog post last year about Save Venice. According to its website, Save Venice is at any given time working on a major restoration project. Past Venice restoration projects have included the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and the facade of the Scuola Grande di San Marco.

Venice in Peril is another nonprofit working on various Venice restoration projects. The London-based organization was started in the late 1960s after major floods damaged Venice. Its list of restoration projects is impressive.

Of course the City of Venice is doing its part. Sometimes that comes with controversy. For the past several years, the city has partnered with corporate sponsors, including Coca Cola and Bulgari, which have plastered large billboard ads around the city in exchange for their contributions to restoration projects. A firestorm erupted over billboards erected during the recent restoration of the Bridge of Sighs. Last summer, in a much less controversial move, the Venice City Council voted at add a hotel tax that would help pay for Venice restoration projects. The tax is based on a hotel’s star rating, five euros per night for a five-star hotel, four per night for a four-star hotel, etc.
UNESCO is also involved in preserving and restoring Venice, working to ensure that one of the world’s great cities, a UNESCO World Heritage site, can find a way to balance its popularity as a tourist destination with its many challenges.

So, here’s to the magical city of Venice, one of the world’s greatest cities of all time, and the many efforts going into keeping it that way.

Ciao

+Dominic Siano

Follow Tour Italy Now on Twitter! Click @TourItalyNow!
Like Tour Italy Now on Facebook! Click HERE!

You may have noticed on Tour Italy Now’s homepage, in the upper right-hand corner, an invitation to download our free Insider Vacation Checklist. If you haven’t done so already, considering having a click and getting one today. The checklist is a practical wrap-up of advice and tips, ten in all, for planning an Italy vacation.

We thought it would be great to talk about these tips for a great vacation in Italy here on the blog. In today’s post, we’ll explore the first three items on our Italy vacation checklist. Then, in the coming weeks, we’ll write up summaries of the remaining items. We do hope you’ll chime in and share your thoughts and even your own special tips for traveling in Italy, either here or on Facebook.

Item One: designing and booking your Italy vacation. This is incredibly fun, taking the first step in planning a trip you’ve no doubt been dreaming about for ages. It also requires careful consideration. You know your budget. You’ve narrowed down your dates. The next big choice when working with a tour operator such as Tour Italy Now is deciding whether you want to go on an escorted tour with preselected destinations or whether you prefer a customized itinerary. The great thing about a Tour Italy Now escorted tour is still having free time to explore on your own. Whether it’s meandering the back roads or getting tickets to an attraction, you’ll have the freedom to see and do the things that are closest to your heart. If you choose a customized itinerary, you’ll have access to our guides and travel experts to answer any other questions you may have.

Items Two and Three on our Italy vacation checklist are practical but absolutely essential: Get, or renew your passport. Get travel insurance. If you already have a valid passport, be sure to check the expiration date. You must make sure your passport is valid for 90 days beyond your return date. In fact, it’s best to pad that with extra time, in case your return plans change. So if your return flight is on August 1, 2012, your U.S. passport must be valid through December 1, 2012. If you don’t have a passport, getting one is easy enough. Make sure to give yourself enough time, it can take six weeks during the spring and other busy seasons. The State Department website has all the information you’ll need for getting or renewing your passport.

Travel insurance, while technically not required, is very highly recommended and really is essential if you want travel with peace of mind. We can’t tell you how many people book and pay for a package and then, due to unforeseen circumstances, can’t take the trip. And guess what? Sorry, but without travel insurance, there is no refund! A trip is one of life’s more expensive purchases, and it seems risky not to pay a bit more to get your travel insurance. Don’t you think? For more information about this, you can visit the Tour Italy Now travel insurance page. Also, please be aware that travel insurance must be purchased very soon after you book your trip. Ask our Tour Italy Now travel experts for details.

So, those are the first three (and easily the most important) items on your Italy vacation checklist. What are your thoughts? Do you have advice, tips or suggestions to add to our community discussion about the first three items on our Italy vacation checklist?

Ciao,
Barbara Fellini

Follow Tour Italy Now on Twitter! Click @TourItalyNow!
Like Tour Italy Now on Facebook! Click HERE!

Sometimes we forget that Valentine’s Day is actually St. Valentine’s Day. Did you know St. Valentine was Italian? We remember that as we contemplate Valentine’s Day in Italy 2012, how and where it’s celebrated. How about taking a look at some interesting facts on the tradition of Valentine’s Day in Italy, 2012 and beyond:

Who was St. Valentine? Apparently there might be more than one. According to the Roman Catholic Church’s Roman Martyrology, the official list of recognized saints, there are no less than seven recognized St. Valentines. The one associated with Valentine’s Day is a Roman priest. For some diehard St. Valentine sightseeing, perhaps not the perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day in Italy, but an interesting piece of information for future reference, St. Valentine’s skull is on display at the Basilica of Santa Maria Cosmedin in Rome.

How do Italians celebrate Valentine’s Day in Italy? Italians celebrate Valentine’s Day in the same ways that Americans do, with gifts of flowers, chocolates and jewelry. One of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts in Italy is a box of Baci Perugina, those delectable chocolate covered hazelnut candies. Fittingly, baci is Italian for kisses. Many couples go out for a romantic meal. Restaurants all over Italy have Valentine’s Day specials. Hotels also offer Valentine Day specials for romantic types looking for a weekend getaway.

What are the most romantic places in Italy? If I were going to spend Valentine’s Day in Italy this year or any other, I would have a hard time choosing between Venice, Lake Como or the Amalfi Coast or quite frankly dozens of other locales, from Tuscany to Puglia. Italy is inherently romantic!

Have you ever spent Valentine’s Day in Italy? Let us know!

Here’s to Valentine’s Day in Italy 2012 and beyond!

Ciao,
Barbara Fellini

Follow Tour Italy Now on Twitter! Click @TourItalyNow!
Like Tour Italy Now on Facebook! Click HERE!

Get ready for the Battle of the Oranges 2012! Italy’s largest food fight is a colorful, messy, historic, entertaining festival that takes in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday in the medieval town of Ivrea in the Piedmont region, February 18 through 21 this year. (This is the headquarters of Olivetti, the typewriter manufacturer.) What exactly happens during the Battle of the Oranges? It’s actually quite structured, organized chaos if you will. Nine teams, some representing rebels and others representing authority figures, throw oranges at each other with violent ferocity.

The history of the Battle of the Oranges is rather racy and violent and is also loaded with class and gender symbolism. Legend has it that the festival goes back as far as the 12th or 13th century and commemorates the rebellion of a fair commoner, a miller’s daughter, who decapitated a local tyrant after he attempted to rape her on the eve of her wedding. The village stormed and burned the tyrant’s residence, in celebrating of its liberation. Every year, a young girl from the region is chosen to play the part of the commoner, who has come to go by the name Violetta. (Fortunately, whoever plays Violetta is protected from the worst of the orange crossfire!)

Participants once threw beans, and then used apples and finally, late 19th century, began using oranges. Some say the projectiles symbolize the tyrant’s head. It’s impossible to sort out the myth. One fact we can confirm: Some years, the battling teams go through over 500,000 pounds of oranges.

The Battle of the Oranges is one of those Italian festivals that figures on many people’s Italy bucket lists. Tourists do not get to participate in the actually fighting but they can align themselves with one of the nine teams. At the end of the three-day battle, there’s a funeral procession. There’s even a T-shirt that reads “I Survived la Battaglia delle Arance.” Several years ago, Saks was selling a Prada handbag commemorating the Battle of the Oranges for the princely price of $1,750. (Apparently, they sold out of the handbag, it’s no longer available.)

Please let us know if you are attending the Battle of the Oranges 2012!

Ciao,
Barbara Fellini

Follow Tour Italy Now on Twitter! Click @TourItalyNow!
Like Tour Italy Now on Facebook! Click HERE!

P.S. Here’s the aforementioned Prada bag.

If you’re still wondering where to go when you book an Italy vacation, here are three wonderful suggestions for an off the beaten path Italy experience. They come from one of our favorite online resources, GoItaly.About.com. (In case you missed it, About.com is owned by the New York Times.) The author, Martha Bakerjian, has traveled extensively throughout Italy for the past 25 years.

So with no further ado, here are three suggestions that Tour Italy Now heartily endorses: Sardinia, Puglia and Le Marche. We don’t want to give the impression that you won’t bump into any tourists in these three places. You will. But they are less visited, and therefore less crowded than places like Rome, Florence or Venice. Of course, it’s great to mix it up.

Sardinia: The second largest island in the Mediterranean — Sicily is the largest — Sardinia is known for its beaches, from the resort-studded northern coast to the less visited southern, eastern and western coasts. Sardinia’s best known beaches include Poetto Beach, Cagliari, and Piscinas Dunes, near Arbus. The capital city of Cagliari is worth a visit. There are many archeological sites, both on the coast and inland.

Puglia: This region of Italy is a long, narrow stretch along the boot of Italy. You may have heard of some of its towns, thanks to two movies: Gallipoli and Bari. (Bari is where the Meryl Streep character is from in the Bridges of Madison County.) In Alberobello, you’ll find many trulli, cone-shaped structures that are found in Puglia. There are many lovely beaches in Puglia, too.

Le Marche: Some people call Le Marche the next Tuscany, but that doesn’t quite due the region justice. It’s got a similar undulating landscape. It’s also got a stunning if jagged coastline. Its best known and most visited city is Urbino. In the fall, truffles abound around Urbino. In the summer, there is a jousting festival in Ascoli Piceno every August.

That’s a brief introduction to several off the beaten path destinations in Italy. Do explore others!

Remember, Tour Italy Now books customized vacations, with itineraries that explore traditional destinations as well as off the beaten path regions.

Please tell us: What’s your favorite off the beaten path place in Italy?

Ciao,
Barbara Fellini

Follow Tour Italy Now on Twitter! Click @TourItalyNow!
Like Tour Italy Now on Facebook! Click HERE!

Venice Carnival 2012 is almost here! The annual celebration of Venice’s theatrical roots kicks off on Saturday February 11.

This year’s exhilarating lineup includes parades, walking tours, exhibitions, contests and of course the internationally famous masked balls.

Absolute highlight of the Carnival in 2012 will be the Best Masked Costume Contest, judged over a period of several days amongst the color and excitement of the masked Balls at Gran Teatro of San Marco. Judging begins on Thursday February 15, with the winner to be announced on Sunday February 19.

If you are lucky enough to be in Italy during Venice Carnival, you should aim to attend the three main masked balls, considered to be the Best of the event. These featured Balls are Il Ballo del Doge, the masked ball in Palazzo Pisani and the Tiepolo Ball. Tickets for these high profile feature events are much sought after, so you should contact us as soon as possible so we can secure your admission. Of course, if you cannot get a ticket to one of the masked balls during Carnival time in Venice, you will still have an amazing experience in in the city. Venice Carnival is bursting with events, which are all described in the 2012 program.

Of course, whatever time of year you visit Venice, you will be drawn to the intricately decorated masks displayed in shops all around the city. Many visitors find themselves unable to leave Venice without having purchased one, two or even more, including yours truly!

Have you ever wondered about the history of the amazing Venetian masks? While mask designs were originally influenced by theater masks, especially the Commedia dell’arte, they did actually have a real-world use. Amazingly, their prevalance in Venice stems from a long-held tradition of people wearing masks to disguise their social status and to experience life anonymously.

Did you know that? To think that such a practice flourished as part of the local culture in a city like Venice, well, that certainly adds to the allure of the city. If this air of mystery has been so firmly embedded in the culture of Venetians for so long, what other fascinating secrets might the city of Venice hold? Believe me, there are many and I know that the excitement of discovering them will ensure your vacation in Venice is both breathtaking and unforgettable! We even found a fascinating website devoted to the tradition of wearing Venetian masks.

So, back to Venice Carnival 2012! If you peruse the Venice Carnival program, you will see that there is something in this massive collection of events for everyone, including the children. Why not ask us to build a customized tour taking in the excitement of Carnival in Venice? With a customized tour you can focus on your favorite events, or perhaps add some of the lesser known Venice Carnival activities like Ice skating at Campo San Polo or Walking tours of the city. The list of events during Carnival is huge – it really is that magical time of year in Italy, and Venice Carnival 2012 will be pure magic!

Learn more about this year’s event by exploring the official Venice Carnival 2012 website, and get a real sense of this magical tradition. Make a note of the activities and events you would most like to add to your Venice Carnival itinerary, then contact us immediately so we can get started on building your dream vacation in Venice!

Are you dreaming of being in Italy for this year’s Venice Carnival? Or have you experienced the magic of the Carnival in the past? Share your dreams and memories in the comments below.

I’d love to hear from you!

Ciao,
Barbara Fellini

Follow Tour Italy Now on Twitter! Click @TourItalyNow!
Like Tour Italy Now on Facebook! Click HERE!

Everybody loves Italy. Have you ever noticed how Italy is often a cover story on travel and food magazines? That’s because Italy sells magazines because Italy inspires such passion: people simply love reading about, talking about, dreaming about Italy. We see that passion for Italy here in the Tour Italy Now community every day. Of course, that passion is what inspires our clients and millions others to take an Italy tour.

There are so many reasons why people appreciate Italy the way they do… For its cuisine and fashion, for its music and architecture, for its art and history. Of course we all know that the Roman Empire was a turning point in world history, introducing advances in architecture, engineering and lifestyle that spread to other areas of the empire, Spain to the west and England to the north and north Africa to the south, and eventually made their way to the Americas.

Modern day Italians have lots to offer us as well, and an Italy tour is a wonderful way to experience this firsthand.

SLOW DOWN! On an Italy tour you’ll notice that most Italians take things slow. In many cases, much slower than we do in the States. In many cultures, including ours, we live in a “stress response” state. We are like the proverbial deer caught in the headlights. The Italians take their time, lean back and enjoy! (Except perhaps when they get behind the wheel!) So observe this on your trip. Notice that the only people in a rush are the tourists. So slow down, lean back and enjoy!

EAT RIGHT! As you can imagine Italians are very particular about their diets. The know what makes them feel good, and what makes them feel bad. They are extremely disciplined with food. They do not overindulge. They know what and how to eat and they stick to their guns. Eating is an art and they know that. As a gluten-free guy I was blown-away by the options in Italy. People in other countries simple go without. Not the Italians! They find great alternatives. This is a testament of their modern creativity. See my recent article on Gluten Free Cuisine in Italy in Huffington Post Travel.

HAVE FUN! Italians LOVE to have a great time. They are experts at fun and always take time out of their week to enjoy. Frankly, not many cultures really create time for fun. We think we do, but in the end our commitment to fun should be much more. So on your Italy tour take notes, whether you are sightseeing or attending a festival or a concent! Get out of your comfort zone and enjoy! Or maybe that’s get into your comfort zone!

The book “Sprezzatura: 50 Ways Italian Genius Shaped the World” by Peter d’Epiro and Mary Desmond Pinkowish is an accessible survey of some of Italy’s greatest contributions, from the Roman calendar to the radio! (Sprezzatura is an interesting, if abstract, Italian word. It means “studied carelessness.” It’s as if Italy’s cultural contributions sprang forth seamlessly.)

Yours truly,
Dominic Siano
Founder and President, Tour Italy Now

Follow Tour Italy Now on Twitter! Click @TourItalyNow!
Like Tour Italy Now on Facebook! Click HERE!

Tired of seeing boring, repetitive information about Italy, we’ve decided to take territorial marketing of this amazing country into our own hands, or rather put it into the hands of young photographers, bloggers, video makers, movers and shakers in new media. All under 35. All very connected.

Can’t Forget It(aly) is our new web series, taking you on a virtual journey through Italy.

The series is intended to show you what Italy is all about through the real-life experiences of real people, going places, making friends and doing stuff in Italy. First hand.
You won’t find any static aerial shots taken from a helicopter, surreal photoshopped sunsets or overpaid film stars branding their face alongside the region, but with these real-life virtual tours of Italy you will get to see the real experiences of these adventurous travelers.

We’re taking you back down to earth with this new series. No disrespect to those who want to follow the well-worn paths of conventional touring in Italy, but we’re taking you on a journey far from the monuments and archaeological sites found in so many dusty posters at travel fairs, to a more off-beat side of Italy that’s waiting to be discovered.
When it comes to contemporary travel, we believe the down-up approach is the only approach!

Today we introduce the Can’tForget It(aly) series by taking you on a virtual tour of Italy with the intrepid Matthew Brown. This is not your average vacation video. When you embark upon this virtual tour with Matthew and his companions you’ll discover a side of Italy that you never even dreamed of. Imagine yourself immersed in the sights and sounds of this amazing experience. Hunger for the delicious simplicity of the local food and catch a glimpse of the warm smiles that beckon you to come say hello.

We know the only Italian experience that will touch you more than today’s virtual tour of Italy is the reality of living your dream when you visit these places yourself. The great news is that Italy abounds in magical experiences just like this and we can help you get there!

Call or email today for help planning a trip to Italy as breathtaking as Matthew Brown’s virtual tour!

+Dominic Siano

Tour Italy Now’s been a fan of Huffington Post Travel since its launch. We’re especially fond of the stunning slide shows they run, and often post links to them on our Facebook page and Twitter account. Yesterday Dominic Siano, founder and president of Tour Italy Now, made his publishing debut in Huffington Post Travel with the piece, “Italy, Land of Pasta, Now Does Gluten-Free Cuisine.” The piece is based on dining experiences Dominic had on his first Italy tour since discovering he was gluten intolerant, that is, sensitive to food containing wheat, barley or rye. (People with a severe allergy to wheat, barley or rye have celiac.) Several months before his Italy tour, Dominic had given up bread, beer and, perhaps hardest of all to forego, pasta.

Can you imagine, going to Italy and not being able to eat pasta? From his first dining experience, in a restaurant in Milan, Dominic was impressed by the knowledge and sophistication Italians have about gluten-free dining. Time and again, from Milan to Rimini to Sicily, Dominic was bowled over by the wheat-free choices, including pasta, pizza and bread made without wheat. This certainly was one of these revelations from the Department of Who Knew? As it turns out, Italians have a high rate of gluten intolerance, so much so that children entering kindergarten are tested for it. As Dominic learned on his Italy tour, Italians have risen to the occasion and created some wonderful gluten-free dining options.

We think this is important for people to know when considering taking an Italy tour, since the rate of gluten intolerance is rising in the U.S. If you know anyone who’s hesitant about visiting Italy because of gluten intolerance, make sure you direct them to Dominic’s article and, if they contact Tour Italy Now about an Italy tour, remind them to let us know. Spread the word! Italy, land of pasta (and pizza and delicious bread, too) is a haven for gluten-free cuisine.

Ciao,
Barbara Fellini

Follow Tour Italy Now on Twitter! Click @TourItalyNow!
Like Tour Italy Now on Facebook! Click HERE! Then, sign in and Like us!