Whether you are planning a trip or just curious about a particular Italian city, this page will provide you with information to help you get going or learning. So grab your bags (and please don't forget your corkscrew), we're off! Select from the pieces below about some Italian cities and towns. Have a place that you're curious about that's not listed? Send me a line!
Alghero (Sardegna)
To put it simply, Alghero is not only a seaside city . . . Alghero is an ancient bastion of all things wonderful located on the northwestern corner of Sardegna. Stories, legends, and different ancient civilizations have left their mark on Alghero over the centuries. Even today, each aspect of the city still bears the history of earlier times. Click to continue reading.
The Amalfi Coast (Campania)
I'm thinking of buying the Amalfi Coast. Should I? I'm then going to give to each of you, my friends, a home with a terrace overlooking the sea. You will each will have a yacht and a Vespa. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served. Are you in? All I ask in return is that we spend time together, sipping wine and chatting on the terrace in the photo here. And why do I want to buy the entire Amalfi Coast? Click to continue reading.
Bologna (Emilia-Romagna)
“La Grassa,” “The Fat One.” Bologna. It’s like calling your wallet fat, it’s only good. This doesn’t mean that you have to eat a lot in Bologna, though you’ll find it hard not to. Many consider Bologna the gastronomic capital of Italy, no small feat in a country that from nearly every corner boasts mind-blowing food. Click to continue reading.
Carife (Campania)
I knew I had had that pasta and sauce before, but I hadn't ever been to Carife. How could that have been? Isn't it only served in that part of Italy? There could be only one explanation. My bisnonna (great grandmother) Angelina Freda of Carife arrived on Ellis Island on December 24, 1919. She brought with her the recipe. Click here to continue reading.
Cefalu' (Sicilia)
Cefalù, located on the northern coast of Sicily in the province of Palermo, is one of Sicily’s gems. Originally founded by the Greeks, the city’s name derives from the Greek word for "head," Kephaloidion, attributed to the large head-like rock outcropping (la rocca) that dominates the skyline of the city. Since the eighth century BCE, Cefalù has been under Byzantine, Arab, and Norman rule. Click here to continue reading.
Chianti (Toscana)
Among the amazing cities of Siena and Florence there is one of the most charming Italian areas, Chianti, celebrated for its superior wine. This region satifies both the palate and the eye with its suggestive landscapes. Green hills, castles, vineyards, olive groves, and villages provide a peaceful and relaxing feeling. Click to continue reading.
Certaldo (Toscana)
Already praised 650 years ago by the famous Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio in his Decameron, the village of Certaldo's cuisine has maintained its excellent reputation over the centuries, ranking it high on my list of Italian "must sees." Divided into two villages, Alto and Basso, medieval Certaldo is a charming and pristine example of Italian life in beloved Tuscany. Click here to continue reading.
Gallipoli (Puglia)
It’s 8pm. Beaches, tables, smiles, clear evening skies, fresh air. Everywhere we go are found delicious and inviting smells escaping from kitchens. We're in Gallipoli, one of the southern points of the region of Puglia, the heel of the boot. Pull up a chair and get ready to savor this evening’s menu. You might even meet a mermaid. Tall, blonde, elegant, and sitting to our right. Click here to continue reading.
Le Marche
Guest piece for Nello's Italy written by Dr. Salvador Bartera. "I was born in Corinaldo, a little village in the province of Ancona, located on the Adriatic coast in the region called "Marche." The Marche region lies beside Tuscany and Umbria, both of which are far more famous, thanks to movies and good marketing, but not more beautiful! Click here to continue reading.
Matera (Basilicata)
Benvenuti a Matera! Have a seat. I've been enjoying a splendid month of travel throughout the less-explored regions of Italy in order to discover many of the hidden treasures of Italian cuisine. Come with me today to the ancient city of Matera, in the southern region of Basilicata. Let's take a look at a few of the many extraordinary culinary treasures of this gorgeous part of Italy. Click here to continue reading.
Monteriggioni (Toscana)
The region of Tuscany is filled with beauty. From the Tuscan cities of Montalcino to Firenze, from Lucca to San Gimignano, from Siena to Sansepolcro, beauty is just about everywhere. The region is also filled with history: it was home to ancient Etruscans and gave rise, at least in great part, to the Italian Renaissance. Click to continue reading.
Palermo (Sicilia)
Guest piece for Nello's Italy by Keith Preble, the Italian language guru behind Parola del Giorno, the very best Italian language-learning site on the web, home to the Parola del Giorno app and to online one-on-one language lessons. Keith is currently writing the definitive English-language tour guide to Palermo. Click to read!
