Latest articles from When in Rome Tours.

10 Greatest Movie Scenes Ever Dubbed in Italian

I generally do not enjoy watching American films dubbed in Italian. Not because I have trouble following or anything, just because it normally annoys me. However, there are some films that never fail to deliver, no matter WHAT language you watch them in. Here are ten of my favorite scenes from my favorite fims dubbed in Italian (in order of my love for them).

1. Silence of the Lambs - "I Ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti"

2. Silence of the Lambs - "Toughened your n_ _ _les, didn't it?"

3. Scarface - "Say hello to my little friend."

4. Misery - "You Dirty Bird. How could you!"

5. The Shining - Here's Johnny!

6. A Few Good Men - "You can't handle the truth!"

7. The Godfather - "You Can Act Like a Man!"

8. Stephen King's "It" - They all float down here Georgie, and when you're down here, you'll float too!

9. First Blood - "They drew first blood, not me!"

10. Ghostbusters - We must prepare for the coming of Gozer!

Have any favorites to add?

Man Freezes Dead Aunt's Body to Keep Her Pension

In the Sicilian city of Catania, neighbors thought it strange that they hadn't seen their neighbor for some months. After police were notified, they intervened and found the woman's body in the freezer according to an article in La Repubblica today. 95 year old Annita Bonnici's nephew Gateano Adragna confessed right away that he wanted to hold on to Annita's hefty pension (her husband was a high ranking general) for as long as possible (anything to avoid actually having to work!). The 43 year old swears he had nothing to do with her death, although an autopsy can only be performed once the body has defrosted.

Graffitti Taggers Caught in the Act in Rome

Many tourists who travel to Italy are flabbergasted by her beauty, food, and culture. But just as many leave feeling disgusted by the fact that Italians have so little regard for their cities that they cover them in graffiti. As it turns out, many of the vandals are not even Italian. According to an article today in La Repubblica, a 27 year old Swiss man and a 33 year old French national were caught in the act last night, spraying on the back walls of Rome's Termini Station. The Carabinieri followed them to their car, where they found a total of 52 cans of spray paint.

In accordance with a new law, the vandals may face a fine of 1,000 Euro or more, in addition to having to clean up the monument.

5 Mistakes to Avoid at an Italian Restaurant

While Italian cuisine is renowned all over the world, eating in Italian restaurants back home does not truly prepare one for an authentic Italian meal at a restaurant in Italy.

Below are 5 behaviors you should absolutely avoid in Italian restaurants (unless you don't mind being leered at, insulted, or possibly even asked to leave).

1. Bread with pasta (image above)

Italians love bread, and they love pasta. But they do not love them simultaneously. Bread does not belong near your plate during the first course (except of course when you run out of pasta and you need something to mop up the sauce with, also known as "la Scarpetta," an acceptable practice).

2. Cappucino or coffee before or during a meal

One of the best looks of utter disgust I have ever seen came when one tourist at a restaurant asked for a cappuccino. Where's the harm in that, you might be thinking? Well, his first mistake has to do with the fact that cappuccino is never to be consumed with a meal in Italy. Espresso yes, but only after the meal, in accordance with the precise order of eating that Italians adhere to.

According to Italians, this may result in severe and irreversible intestinal damage

3. Doggie bags

In Italy, doggie bags are a fashion accessory for toting around your pet. It is almost unheard of for Italians to ask to take uneaten food home from a restaurant. Authentic Italian restaurants serve a normal portion of food, not enough to feed you lunch and dinner for the next three days like some Italian-American restaurants would have you think.

If it doesn't bark, it doesn't belong in a doggie bag

4. Cheese on fish

Before you pass the Parmigiano, you should know that not all pasta dishes are compatible with grated cheese. Seafood dishes are especially not meant to be eaten with grated cheese.

Clams + cheese = mortal sin

Salt.

If you ask for salt in a restaurant, don't be surprised if the waiter tells you "it is already salted". And don't be surprised if he refuses to bring you any more!

What other "faux pas" have you noticed about eating in Italian restaurants? Please share!

Italy 101: How to Avoid Blowing a Fuse

Since moving to Italy, I have had not only to adjust to the Italian language, customs, and values, but also the Italian living habits. It has been a fun and exciting experience presenting new trials and tribulations everyday. One major differnce has to do with our electricity usage. In our quaint three bedroom apartment, we have two very useful appliances that are not always present in most Italian households, a dishwasher and a washing machine. I have to say that these two appliances are incredibly useful and save me time, money, and energy. I never understood the possible danger in using both appliances at the same time until moving to Rome.

One of my first nights living in Rome, my apartment of six people ate a “family” like meal. Everyone cooked, ate, chatted, laughed, and cleaned up an authentic Italian supper together. With six people, we had quite an array of pots, pans, dishes and cutlery to wash. Instead of washing all of this by hand, we decided to make use of the wonderful dishwasher. We filled the dishwasher to the brim, put in some soap, closed the door, started the load, and that was that (or so we thought).

(Our little dishwasher packed and ready to run)

All of the sudden, all of the lights in the apartment went out and we were enveloped by darkness. After a few girly-high pitched yells and some incredibly fast Italian words shared between my two Italian roommates, one of the Italian roommates grabbed a set of keys and rapidly made her way downstairs to the break-room. After a few minutes all of the lights and appliances were up and running again. By this point we had realized our mistake, running the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time.

(Our Culprit: The Washing Machine)

One of our roommates had just started a load of laundry after dinner. Apparently our little apartment (like most Italian apartments) can not handle that much electricity usage at one time. Our Italian roommates explained the problem and just told us to make sure we only run one of the appliances at a time.

Sadly, this has happened at least one or two other times, but we have also learned how to stop it from happening. We quickly pull the dishwasher door open before the cycle actually starts so we don’t lose power, but there is always the moment of anticipation, excitement, and fear that the power will go out again.

I know this seems like such a silly thing, but at home I rarely think about running both appliances at the same time. This has made me appreciate home just a bit more and it has taught me how to be more efficient with my habits. I try to wash more of my dishes instead of just throwing them in the dishwasher, something I’m sure my parents will appreciate when I go home to the U.S.

Article contributed by Anne Kerchberger begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting. Anne is studying abroad in Italy, experiencing the trials and tribulations of truly living as a Roman as well as traveling Italy to explore the regional differences of Il Bel Paese. Stay tuned for more of Anne's blog contributions to follow!

Man Risks Life for Meal with Mamma

Alleged Naples Camorra mobster Rosario Scognamillo has been on the run from justice since May. Perhaps thinking that with most of the city away on holiday, he could sneak home to his Mamma for lunch under the radar this week. Sadly for him, he was spotted and apprehended by Italian police according to an article by ANSA today.

Readers, what would YOU be willing to risk for a homemade authentic Italian meal?

The BEST time to visit Rome

Is August the BEST time to visit Rome? Possibly.

The date: August 18. The time: 2:00 PM. The temp: 80 degrees and sunny. I have concluded over the past three weeks that August may just be the most pleasant time of year here in the Eternal City.

Those who tell you to avoid visiting Rome in August are obviously trying to keep this quiet utopia all to themselves. The truth is that in August you can experience Rome without any of the things that make it unpleasant, such as traffic, smog, noise, filth, and queues.

To top it all off, the weather is fantastic. I haven't had to turn on the AC (subjecting myself to imminent death by cold draft) since the end of July!

For a perfect holiday in Rome in August, be sure to book into a hotel with an outdoor swimming pool (like the one featured above at the ATAhotel Villa Pamphili), plan your sightseeing in Rome in the morning, come back to the hotel for a swim in the afternoon, and then head to the restaurants and nightclubs along the Tiber River all night and into the morning.

Who else out there is secretly loving Rome this month?

Five things NOT to wear on a Vatican Tour

Some people save up for a lifetime to be able to afford a trip to Italy and of course to the Vatican Museum. Despite all the trip planning that goes into preparing for a trip, it seems there are many people who overlook the very important fact that there is a dress code for being allowed to go on tour of the Vatican. Below are a few tips to help you avoid being turned away by the Vatican guards (a.k.a fashion police).

1. Short skirts/shorts/dresses. We know it's hot out there, but do you really have to expose your cheeks (not the ones on your face) to everyone at the mother of all Catholic churches? Cover up those sexy knees, people!

2. Bare shoulders. The last thing we need is for people to get distracted from the wondrous artwork by an exposed shoulder or armpit. Cover up with short sleeves, a shawl, or a cheap scarf when entering the Vatican.

3. No knives. Camping knives and any other type of pocket knives will be confiscated by the Vatican guards, so don't bring them unless you want to challenge the Swiss army with your Swiss army knife!

Despite their silly uniforms, the Swiss Guard are quite a serious bunch.

4. No oversize bags or suitcases. Nothing larger than a small backpack will be allowed into the Vatican. If you bring large bags or suitcases, they will force you to check them in the baggage area, and this can be inconvenient if you are on a Vatican tour and plan on entering the Vatican museum and then exiting the Sistine Chapel through the guided group door in order to tour St. Peter's, as you will still have to return to the museum entrance in order to reclaim your goods.

5. Strollers. While strollers are perfectly acceptable while touring the Vatican museum, before visiting St. Peter's Basilica they must be checked. It is also useful to know that there are several places where carriages must be carried up stairs, therefore lightweight models are best!

5 Tips for Crossing the Street in Rome

Photo by Auro

Romans definitely have a more unique way of crossing the street than outisders do. One of the first weeks I was here sightseeing in Rome, I went out with one of my Italian roommates. We headed to Piazza Venezia to see a few of the sights at night. It was wonderful to see all of the illuminated monuments and all of the fountains were gorgeous as well.

It was all fun and games until we had to cross Via del Corso, a major street that runs from Piazza Venezia to Piazza Popolo.

Miraculously, all forms of traffic smoothly slowed down and patiently waited for us to cross the street. Once we were safely on the other side, the traffic continued to flow as though nothing had happened. I couldn’t believe it! All I could think was “How did we just cross four lanes of traffic on one of Rome’s busiest streets and not get hit?” My Italian roommate must have seen the concern in my eyes and she shared with me the following tips for surviving the Roman Streets.

1. Follow a local. The first few times you cross a street in Rome follow a local as they cross. Observe how they step out with confidence and conviction. Notice that they never run across a street nor do they take their sweet time.

2. Start small. Start with a small side street that is not very busy. Practice your crossing skills working on the components listed below. Slowly work your way up to bigger streets with more lanes or more traffic. Then if you are really brave, tackle the busiest streets like Via del Corso or the Piazza Venezia.

3. Be confident. When you step off the curb into the street be certain in your actions and traffic will stop for you. Go with determination. Italian drivers do not see the crosswalks as places where pedestrians have the preference, but rather as places where they have a fighting chance of crossing the street. Therefore if you wait on the curbs, the cars will never just slow down to let you cross the street, they will go about their business of whizzing on by.

4. Keep a comfortable pace. It is key that you keep a steady walking speed while crossing a street. A driver will plan where he is going and how much he must slow down based on your speed. This being said it is also important that you don’t run across the crosswalk either.

5. Have no fear. Last but not least, know that if the driver senses fear in you, you're finished.

I hope these tips help you while you are sightseeing in Rome. Good luck with you travels and happy street crossing!

Article contributed by Anne Kerchberger. Anne is a university student living Italy, experiencing the trials and tribulations of truly living as a Roman as well traveling Italy to explore Italian regional differences of Il Bel Paese. Stay tuned for more of Anne's blog contributions to follow! begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting

Say Cheese!

Of all the things this young bride and groom in Sicily thought their wedding day would be, I am guessing that the scene of a murder was not one of them.

Just before heading to the church for their wedding ceremony, photographer Calogero Scimea was taking some photos in front of the couple's parent's home when he had the bright idea to use their parents' guns (because really now, what respectable Sicilian home doesn't have a few machine guns lying around) as props for the photos.

According to an article in Metro.co.uk, one of the guns went off accidentally and the photographer was killed. Needless to say, the wedding and celebrations have been called off.

Clouds Loom over St. Peters

In the middle of July, it is pretty much a guarantee that the weather in Rome will be sunny and blazing hot. This is why when the skies darken and a rainstorm happens upon us, it is a strange phenomenon indeed! It is so rare to have rain in July that even the umbrella peddlers (who usually hit the streets with armfuls of umbrellas before the first drop even hits the pavement) are caught off guard.

St. Peter's Basilica looks all the more ominous with the dark clouds behind it. I took this picture while waiting for some clients on a private Vatican Tour this past weekend.

Vatican Gets Google Bombed?

According to an article published today by the Catholic News Agency, Vatican officials are perturbed by the fact that over the weekend, typing the word "Vatican" into a google search brought up the website www.pedofilo.com as the number one organic search result, before the official Vatican website. The site provides information and Vatican statements related to pedophilia.

Technology experts think that the google algorithim may have been manipulated (also known as "google bombing") to favor the pedofilo site above others.

Google has issued an apology to the Vatican, according to the article.

Cinque Terre: A Hiker's Paradise

Over the past decade in Italy, I have heard the words "Cinque Terre" mispronounced in many ways, some of them appalling. Though no one can pronounce it, everyone wants to go there. One main reason is for the hiking and natural beauty in this region.

When I think of Italy, I think of astonishing art periods like the Renaissance , famous artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, amazing architecture like the Pantheon and the Colosseum, fantastic food like spaghetti and pizza, and famous cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. Prior to living and traveling in Italy, I never associated hiking with Italy. However, I have learned that Italy has stunning hiking areas in every part of Il Bel Paese ranging from places in near Naples all the way up to the Dolomite Mountain Range.

One wonderful area to go hiking is the Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre or "The Five Lands" is an area located on the Italian Riveria in the Ligurian region and it is comprised of five small towns: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare. These five towns, the surrounding hillsides, and the coastal areas are all included in the Cinque Terre National Park and are protected by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

(From the hiking trail looking down at Corniglia,
one of the five towns)

I recently had the opportunity to travel to and hike the trails of Cinque Terre. Being an avid lover of anything and everything outdoors, Cinque Terre was a wonderful change of pace from Rome. I love Rome and everything the city has to offer, but being on the breathtaking cliffs of Cinque Terre and hiking through the area was amazing.

The trails of Cinque Terre have varying degrees of difficulty as well as varying degrees of trail conditions. Some trails are completely flat, paved, and short while others are extremely hilly, rugged, and required substantial footwear. The trails link the five towns together, but do not panic- there is also a regional train system that runs throughout each town as well. Each town has its own unique charm, some being more touristy and faster paced while others are still quaint and well preserved. If you are an avid lover of the outdoors or if you are traveling to Italy, I highly recommend you spend at least a day or two in Cinque Terre. The hillsides are magnificent, the sunsets are stupendous, and being able to swim the crystal clear blue water isn't too shabby either.

(Sunset From Via Dell'Amore)

Article contributed by Anne Kerchberger begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting. Anne is a university student living Italy, experiencing the trials and tribulations of truly living as a Roman as well traveling Italy to explore Italian regional differences of Il Bel Paese. Stay tuned for more of Anne's blog contributions to follow!

Hostel Survival Guide

Staying in a hostel for the first time can be a scary undertaking. I for one was shaking in my boots the first time I stayed in a hostel in Rome, but in the end I learned that they are actually great resources for people traveling on a low budget or wanting to keep costs down. That being said, there are some things to look for in a hostel or budget b&b in Rome that will help you get the most for your money.

- Bring a lock
If you would like to cut costs for your trip, then you can opt for living in a "bunk room" or "dorm style" room instead of a private room. Often times, The hostel will have storage containers for your bags. I suggest you lock your belongings up if you plan on exploring your destination for the day. Locks are easy to carry around and do not take up much space. Some hostels will even allow you to rent locks for a small deposit that you can retrieve upon returning your lock. I feel much better leaving my personal belongings at the hostel when they are locked up.

- Soap, soap, soap
I have noticed on my wanderings that many hostels do not provide soap for their guests. I would suggest bringing either a small bar of soap or liquid hand sanitizing gel depending on your preference. Before eating dinner, I like being able to wash my hands after a long day of exploring. More importantly, having soap is necessary to be sanitary after using the bathroom.

- Invest in ear plugs
I do not mean to say hostels will up until all hours of the night. With guests going in different directions with different priorities, this can help prevent any conflict between you and your roommates.

- Most importantly, read reviews!
This is your best resource to determining the quality of the hostel. Often the hostel reviews will include percentage rankings if you are going through a third party booker such as hostelbookers.com or hostelworld.com. I have found that this gives a traveler a great idea of what you will be paying for and if the price is an accurate representation of the hostel services.

Traveling can be overwhelming and maybe even frustrating, but it is important to keep in mind that you are on a VACATION and sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Hopefully, these tips will make you travel experiences a bit more enjoyable. Remember if you end up in an odd hostel or even a strange situation, try to make the best of it and then laugh about it later with friends. Happy hosteling!

Italy Breeds Super Tomato

Farmers in the North of Italy claim to have bred a "super tomato" which may slow down the aging process. The tomato contains more lycopene than normal tomatos, but was created without the use of any genetic modification processes according to an article on news.com today.

If the super tomatoes look anything like the one above, maybe they DID get an extra shot of testosterone...

Roma Merda

As I stood outside the doors of the Rome municipal building, waiting to take care of some important business, stray cats were welcomed into the building, but human beings were kept to wait outside in the 100 degree July heat until the official opening time (or ten minutes later than that, who are we kidding). I stared at the graffitti on the wall and thought "Merda" (shit) indeed. Whoever wrote that must have been about as hot and bothered as I am right now. Get me home to my air conditioning!

Rome: When Seagulls Attack

Sometimes, the sounds of living in Rome such as traffic, noisy neighbors, and late night trash pickups can be enough to really get a gal down. Add to this the joys of parenting young children who like to get up with the birds. Literally.

This morning at 5:30, I heard screaming. Then I heard seagulls. In the center of ROME. It was like a game of what came first, the chicken or the egg.

Uffa! Not a good way to start out a day of living in Rome.

A Chilling Discovery in Italy

What would you do if you were hiking in the Italian Alps while touring Italy and you stumbled upon the corpse of a human being that was preserved for five thousand years in a deep freeze?. According to Foxnews.com, one German woman made a major "killing" on such an archeological discovery.

In 1991, Erika Simon was hiking with her late husband, Helmut in the Italian Alps when they stumbled upon a chilling corpse... literally. This corpse was in pristine condition, apparently it has been preserved over five thousand years in a deep freeze.

To most people this would experience might be tramatic, but I have a feeling that Erika's €175,000 reward will make it all be worth it. Who knew that the world's oldest ice mummy would be such a treasure.

I can think of one way to spend the €175,000 ... GELATO!

Roman Eclipse

It is 10am in the morning, and teenage girls are already staking out their spots to see stars that will arrive 8 hours later.

As I was sightseeing in Rome a few days ago, I stumbled upon an interesting observation. I was walking along the sidewalk near St. Peter’s square after taking a private vatican tour, minding my own business when all of a sudden a mass of teenager girls began to block my way. I do not mean a group of 10 gals out sightseeing in Rome. I mean at least 150 teenage girls sitting, standing, and blocking my way. At first I could not help but wonder, “For what reason are over 150 Italian teenagers doing so close to the Vatican?” Suddenly it all made sense when looking around I noticed a gigantic sign hanging from one of the buildings, "Eclipse. 30-06-2010." I asked one of the teenage girls what was going on and appearently Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner (two of the main actors) where going to be in Rome that evening for a special premier of "Eclipse," the Twilight saga film which has made Volterra, Italy an overnight sensation.

(The "calm before the storm")

Out of curiosity, I decided to wander back towards the premier later on in the evening. I had a strange feeling as I approached the area. It was as if a strange sense of comfort washed over me when I saw the mass of screaming girls surrounding the red carpet. As I looked around the area, I understood why I had this strange sense of comfort. It was funny to observe the laughing, screaming, crying, smiling, and tearing girls who were beyond ecstatic to merely have the chance to see, let alone get an autograph, from these actors. It was comforting to see that regardless of a young girl's cultural upbringing, a heartthrob like Taylor Lautner could still fill a girl's heart with endless hope for love. Even though I am over 4,500 miles away from home, teenage girls still go crazy for heart throbs. I guess some things truly are universal.

Massive crowds on Via delle Conciliazone at 6pm, just before the stars are to arrive

When In Rome, a Day at the Beach

As we got ready to go to the beach for the afternoon yesterday, different family members began shouting out random things like

"My bathing suit doesn't fit!"

"I don't have a beach towel"

"XXX needs inflatable arm bands"

And so on. To each of these problems, the answer was simple: Buy it on the beach!

The beaches near Rome and all over Italy have become a mecca of shopping for Romans and tourists alike. From all of the above items to accessories, children's beach toys, summer dresses, shoes, food, drink, massages, etc, you name it, it will come. Men carry these items on their backs, slung over their necks, on top of their heads, and even in mobile rolling boutiques like the one you see here.

My favorite of all the beaches near Rome is Maccarese. Along this coast is where many of Rome's Umbrella vendors stash the rain gear for the summer in favor of summer items. A word to the wise, remember not to buy any designer knockoffs, or you could get a fine of 1000 euro!

When in Rome, WASH as the Romans Do

Any regular visitors to this site will know that much of my writing is dedicated to American influences in Italy. Many of of them, like McDonalds for example, are not positive ones.

Today I got to thinking that not all things American are evil. Especially when it comes to the matter of washing machines. After moving to Italy, it didn't take long for me to adapt to the local methods of cleaning house and doing laundry. Though I will never measure up to the Italian queens of clean, I do my washing in a 5 kg capacity washer similar to the one featured below that takes about 2 hours to do an average wash cycle.

Once the garments are clean, they get hung to dry. In warm weather, my 2x4 patch of balcony is transformed into a laundry hub. In cold weather, the drying rack gets positioned inside the house near one of the radiators so the items will dry in 2 days or so. How does a family of 5 manage with this system you may ask? Not easy, but it is a way of life. Not the highlight of living life in Italy, but a small price to pay for living in one of the most amazing places in the world. After all, it could be worse, MUCH worse.

Like doing laundry by hand.

Or in this mini lavatrice: capacity for 2 socks and half a blouse.

Today, as I fired up old faithful for the daily wash cycle (or 3), something wasn't right. Water started leaking out the bottom, and then after two minutes or so the power blew out in the whole house. Oh-oh..a blown fuse. I reset the fuse box, then tried to restart the machine. Nothing. Morto.

While the Italian thing to do would be to call a repair man to come and fix it, in my mind I was already doing a sign of the cross over old faithful and thinking about what would be my defunct machine's giant American replacement.

At the shopping mall over the past few years, I have noticed an influx of large American style washing machines starting to make their way into the Italian market. There is one with more than double the capacity of mine, I can't wait to go out and buy it (and worry about how to fit it in my bathroom later)!

The Hoover 10Kg Mothership washer will soon be mine!

When in Rome, PARK as the Romans Do.

While sightseeing in Rome, I have noticed many differences between Americans and Italians, but one that always brings a smile to my face is that of the peculiar parking habits of Italians. The ability to park a car in Rome is an art form. Romans take the art of creative parking to an entirely different level, maximizing every square inch of a parking space. Over the last few weeks in Rome, I have been able to distinguish at least five common parking styles that Italians find perfectly acceptable.

1. “Going Upstream” Parking

Here the car is going against the crowd; completely okay with being unique. Yes, the “going upstream” parking may be a bit life threatening to achieve, but hey it’s either you park against the flow of traffic here or continue circling the city until you find the next open spot.

2. Double Parking

Clearly blocking someone else in is not of concern to the driver here. It is unclear if the driver double parked because he was in a rush or just out of sheer disregard for whether anyone who parked legally may need to leave. This method will block in other cars, buses, scooters, and even trash dumpsters.

(Two offenders caught in the act)

3. Sidewalk Parking

Who says that the sidewalk is only for pedestrians? Anything on, near, or around the street is fair game as long as it is paved and regardless of how big the curb may be.

(Notice one car is completely on the sidewalk

and has left the street completely)

4. The “Threading of Scooters” Park

To watch a person park a scooter is like watching a seamstress threads her needle. It is an art form. The scooterist often rapidly approaches the open stop, quickly veers so the end of the scooter perfectly lines up with the tight spot, then the scooter is backed up into the spot. Keep in mind this occurs within a ten to fifteen second period and in a spot that is less than a two feet wide (Impressive with a capital I).

5. The “Smart Car” Park

The “Smart Car” parking takes strategic parking to a whole new level. This style allows a smart car to really utilize its size to the driver’s advantage and park in spaces that would be inconceivable for any other type of motor vehicle. Not only can it fit into the smallest of spaces in the normal flow of parking, but it can be parked perpendicular to the street, while just barely touching the curb.

(Looks like the smart car is the perfect size)

Each style of parking brings its own unique and impressive form. It is certainly unlike anything I have come across in the U.S. Even if you are spending only a day touring the Vatican or sightseeing in Rome, be sure to take a look around and notice these parking styles, because if you look carefully you will be sure to see all five.

Article provided by Anne Marie Kerchberger for When In Rome Tours.

Even the Italian Catfish Eat Well

Colossal sized catfish are being fished out of Italy's River Po this year. In February, a massive catfish weighing 113.5 Kg (250 lbs) was caught by Italian fisherman Roberto Godi of Arcole Veroma (near Verona), Italy. Earlier the same month another catfish weighing nearly as much was caught. According to a report by the International Game Fish Association, the massive fish fought for 45 minutes before being pulled ashore, weighed, photographed and released. The Italian fish may qualify for a new world record.

This proves my theory that not only Italian people eat well, but pets and fish do too!

Elderly Free Meals on the Rise at Rome Shelter

For many years, Italy's population saw a consistent yearly decrease, a trend which has only been reversed over the past few years as Italian and immigrant couples began having more children. Still, at present about 20% of Italy's population is aged 65 or older.

Being a country with high costs of living and relatively low wages and pensions compared to our European neighbors, understandably it can be difficult for the elderly to survive here on a fixed income. In fact, according to an article in the Corriere Adriatico, in the first quarter of 2010, there was a 10% increase in the number of Italian nationals who look to shelters like Caritas in order to take advantage of the free mails served daily.

The shelter, which serves about 1000 free meals per day to Rome's needy, also saw an increase of 7% among foreign nationals this year compared to last. According to the report, the foreigners who eat at the shelter are mostly under thirty years of age, while the Italians at the shelter are nearly all over 65. Many of those coming for free meals are homeless and/or unemployed, but many others are pensioners who simply cannot afford to pay for groceries after seeing most of their pension check be gobbled up by high rents.

According to the article, the shelter not only provides Rome's elderly with free meals, but also a chance to commiserate with other pensioners who worked hard all their lives only to end up poor and standing in line for a free meal at a shelter.

I can't help but asking, could these be the old generation of Italians who didn't have children? Italy is known all over the world for its emphasis on taking care of family. How could Italians sleep at night knowing that the parents who raised them are being fed at a homeless shelter? Or are the parents too proud to tell them?

Summer is Sale Time in Rome

When the going gets hot, the hot go shopping!

The official word is in, end of season sales will begin July 3rd in Rome and continue on straight through to about mid August. Prices on all spring/summer clothes, shoes, and even household goods and accessories will be marked down by 50% or more during these sales.

Sales are one of the only redeeming factors about spending the summer in Rome. If you must sweat in pure Bikram yoga fashion, at least you can do so while wearing designer Italian fashion at discount prices!

Rome, where one man's trash is another's tesoro

Most Italians are not fans of shopping at second hand stores. Raised in a country where shopping at second hand or consignment stores is practically a national pastime, I have asked many Italians here in Rome why they think second hand stores are fairly unpopular here. The most common response given was that Italians are too proud, and they would be embarrassed if others knew they purchased used items.

Those who do frequent second hand stores can do so without worrying too much about being spotted. Aside from the posh “vintage” boutiques in central Rome, most if not all of the used stores in Rome are found hidden in secret basements of buildings, where the only people who one might run into are other bargain shoppers who are most likely to keep it a secret!

The first time we rented an apartment here in Rome, it was unfurnished. When an apartment is unfurnished in Italy, this means it has nothing, no kitchen, no shower stall, niente. Without a budget of tens of thousands of euro for interior decorating Italian style, choices in Italy are limited. There is Ikea, or there is second hand. This is when I first came across “Il Mercatino”. This second hand chain of stores carries antiques, records, toys, books, appliances, and even clothes. We managed to furnish a few rooms of our apartment with furniture from this shop and since then I go back from time to time, sometimes looking for random things, and sometimes just for the fun of digging around to see what kinds of objects have been evicted from Italian homes this week.Such as:

For every thing, there is a box.

Vintage and desgner Italian clothes

No Italian household can truly be complete without the red lounger for those nights of erotic Ancient Rome role playing with Antony and Cleopatra

Pick a phone, any phone.

All shopped out? Recharge with an (hopefully NOT second hand) espresso at the bar!

My main mission today was to look for a slicing machine to cut up a whole prosciutto that has been sitting in my refrigerator for a month now. You might be thinking, why did I buy a prosciutto if I do not have a slicer? I didn't. Let's say it was a gift. Or it fell of a truck. Or a little of both. Anyway, not only did I find a brand new one for 34 Euro, but because it had been in the store for just over 60 days, they had to discount it by 50%! 17 euro for an electric slicer for my prosciutto di Parma! Victory!

I have nothing but praise for this place. It's like going to Porta Portese market, minus the gypsies, garlic peddlers, and cheap chinese junk. More information about second hand stores in Rome can be found here.

Galileo Flips the bird to Florence tourists

The Galileo Museum, once the Florence museum of Science has just reopened its doors to the public after a long renovation. Among several coveted pieces on display at the museum are a few of the real fingers of Italian scientist Galileo Galilei.

While the corpse of Galileo was being moved to it's current resting place inside the church of Santa Croce, two fingers, a tooth, and a vertebra were removed and each are being held in different Italian institutes, according to an article today on aol.com.

Tourists sightseeing in Florence may be interested not only in seeing Galileo's finger, but also the telescope he built, which is also housed in the museum (after all, how many people can say they got to look at Galileo's telescope while sightseeing in Florence?).

Polenta flavored gelato makes Italian debut

Italy's food watchdog organization Coldiretti has taken the promotion of local foods to an all new level this year. In fact, this summer Lombardy region gelaterie will be serving up gelato alla polenta.

Understandably, gelato is a huge industry in Italy, worth more than 2 billion Euro per year according to Coldiretti estimates in Il Giornale newspaper today. While chocolate, hazelnut, lemon, strawberry, and cream flavored gelato remain the top selling flavors, polenta is sure to grab some attention this year.

I wonder if they will top it with sausages or ribs? Any guesses?

Italy Invaded By Chinese Tomatoes

Ok so we know the Chinese have bombarded the clothing, toy, shoe, and household goods industries in Italy, but now our food too? Is nothing sacred?!

Each day 1000 shipments of pureed tomatoes weighing 200kg arrive in Italy from China, destined for the Italian market to be sold as if it were made in Italy. According to Ansa news agency today, this is a 174 pct increase over last year.

Here's hoping that our sophisticated Italian palates will sniff out those fake tomatoes and send them right back where they came from!

The Gucci of all flip-flops

215 Euro! No wonder the street peddlers are selling knockoffs...

Italian Lasagne: No recipe needed

The other day as I was grocery shopping, I was inspired to buy some sheets of fresh pasta for Lasagne. It had been months, years maybe since I made a home made lasagne (ok so I bought the pasta instead of cranking it out with my bare hands, no one is perfect!). The following Sunday, a day with no tours of the Vatican to worry about, I pulled the package out of the fridge and got to work.

I thought I would consult the cooking instructions to see about the cooking time for this particular brand of pasta, or maybe a suggested recipe - nothing! No oven temp, no cooking time, no recipe, NIENTE. Now, I know you might be thinking, haven't you lived in Italy for 10 years? Is it really that hard? Yes I have, and no it is not. And sure there are a million recipes online, in cookbooks, etc. Let's just say for argument's sake that I bought this stuff and took it to an isolated cabin in the woods. I think these people have some nerve to just assume that every woman in Italy is hard wired to know how to transform a package of raw pasta sheets into this:

Lucky for me, my lasagne came out lovely. No thanks to my pals at Crestamio...

Tourist fined 1000 E for buying fake bag in Italy

In the beach community of Jesolo just North of Venice, an unassuming Austrian tourist who OBVIOUSLY had not read our article warning tourists to avoid buying counterfeit bags thought she got a good deal on a Louis Vuitton bag from a beach peddler for about 7 Euros.

What she got instead was a 1000 Euro fine from the Italian Police for purchasing illegal goods. According to an article in the Corriere del Veneto, local police have declared a zero tolerance policy for illegal commerce and are exercising their right to issue fines to both the vender and the buyer of counterfeit merchandise.

Readers, I ask you – did the little old Austrian tourist deserve what she got?

Festa Della Repubblica

On the second day of June each year Italy celebrates the founding of the Italian Republic. In 1946 when Fascism fell at the end of World War II, the Italians voted to exile its monarchs and adopt a republic form of government.

A military parade will take place today in the center of Rome, and military planes painting the sky with the tricolore red white and green flag are flying about the city.

Tourists may face obstacles while sightseeing in Rome today, as the Roman forum and Colosseum area will be hosting the military parade. Sightseeing in Rome is expected to be a bit less chaotic for tours of the Vatican, which is open to the public today despite the Italian national Holiday.

Mayor Bans Pub Crawls in Rome

Tourists hoping to spice up their Rome sightseeing agenda this year with a little pub crawling may be disappointed to know that from now until December 31, 2010, Rome's Mayor Gianni Alemanno has placed a ban on all pub crawls in Rome establishments.

Pub crawls have been at the center of attention since last year when an Australian tourist was found dead in Rome's Tiber River wearing a Rome pub crawl t-shirt. Unlike the United States, the legal drinking age in Italy is 18. For this reason, many young American tourists overdo it by drinking too much, too quickly and end up making fools of themselves or even getting into trouble with the law (ever seen an American guy climb up onto an Ancient obelisk and urinate on it? I Have).

According to an article in La Repubblica today, the scope of this ban is to avoid large groups of drunken tourists in the center who defile the city and disrupt its residents. The ordinance refers to pub crawls as “tours whose aim is to get people drunk”, and has entrusted the municipal police with the responsibility of identifying those who continue to illegally sponsor them both locally and on the internet. Bars who are found to receive such groups will be forced to close for a period between 3 and 60 days, with repeat offenders possibly losing their license to operate. The penalties for the actual organizers of pub crawls have not been made public.

My advice? Plan your Rome sightseeing activities carefully and avoid the pub crawls!

Italian M&Ms

While shopping at the local grocery store yesterday, May 24, this packaging caught my eye.

"Isn't it a bit early for Christmas M&M's", I thought to myself?

Wait a second, those aren't Christmas M&M's, they're little Italian ones!

Italy M&M's. Just when you thought you've seen it all.

The Psychology of Sales in Italy

In Italy, sales are not a regular occurrence as they are in many other countries. Generally shops only hold sales twice yearly, at the end of the winter season and at the end of the summer season. Other sales might happen when a store goes out of business and liquidates its stock beforehand, or a store decides to hold a promotional sale.

When a promotional sale is about to take place, there is a special protocol that many shops adhere to. We're not talking about a little ad in the paper and a few red signs above racks, but major sale hoopla.

For example, on my way to work this past Monday I noticed that one of the shoe stores along my way had not opened as scheduled. In it's window was a sign that read "Closed. Sale preparation." Large ads were plastered all over the show windows announcing a sale to begin three days later, on Thursday. THREE DAYS to put up a few racks of shoes on sale?! Only in Italy...why rush when we can take our time. Worth mentioning too is that in order to have a sale, a shop must obtain permission from the city hall first and provide a clear outline of how long the sale will last, and what the discount amounts will be.

On Tuesday, the store remained closed in preparation for the sale, but I noticed the arrival of a flat-bed truck carrying a massive advertisement for the sale.

Come Thursday, the store finally laid out the red carpet and opened its doors for the grand sale day. Except as you can see below it was not a red carpet at all but a chain and poles to keep order among eager shoppers while they wait to get inside! Yes, a line to get in the door. This is another thing I find amusing about Italy, they like to make people wait outside the door to make it look like what is inside is totally worth waiting for. The line lasted all day and night. Hence, as I refuse to wait in line to get into a store, no shoes for me.

Assuming that the line will eventually go down at some point before the end of the sale, Davis shoe store on Via Appia Nuova does sell some great quality Italian shoes. If you are sightseeing in Rome near the basilica of San Giovanni or the Holy staircase, wander on over and see for yourself. The area is quite good in general for shopping in Rome, as unlike the Via del Corso and other areas convenient for sightseeing in Rome, this is where you would find mostly only Italians shopping in Rome.

The World's Best Pizza

Just the other day a friend invited me to join her on a day trip to Acilia for a taste of “the World's Best Pizza.” Never one to turn down such an offer, I humbly accepted.

We headed out of Rome and down the Via Cristoforo Colombo on the way to Ostia Antica and the beaches. Acilia is a turnoff just before Ostia Antica. Pizza 120 lies just a mile or so up Via Di Acilia on the left and from the outside and in, it has FUN written all over it. From the playful décor to the smiling servers, it is an instant good time.

"Mother-in-law's hot peppers"

Once I was introduced to the owner and his family and then shown about the place, we sat down and the pizza started coming. We had pizza with mushrooms, with anchovies, zucchini flowers, stuffed with speck, mozzarella di bufala, fresh tomato and basil, you name it, it was on the table. With each new slice the sensation grew more and more powerful that quite possibly, I was enjoying the best pizza in the world. Oh and if you don't believe me, I'll have you know that my friend Ersilia and I are not the only ones who think so.

A few slices of heavenly pizza

Last February Pizza 120 won the World Pizza Championship held in Rimini, Italy. 200 Pizzaioli were competing for the title, and Alvaro Paganelli of Pizza120 won first prize for his pizza with tomato, boscaiola salsa, Golfetta salame, parmigiano reggiano, lemon, and olive oil.

Simplicity: tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil

Next time you feel like taking a day trip outside Rome or find yourself hungry on the way back from the beach, stop in and visit Alvaro at Via di Acilia 120. Have a cold beer, a slice (or 4) of the best pizza in the world, and tell him When in Rome sent you!

Owner/worker of Italian pizza miracles: Alvaro Paganelli

5 Reasons To Marry Berlusconi

According to recent news, Berlusconi and his soon to be ex-wife Veronica Lario spend five hours behind closed doors with their lawyers and a judge, debating on the divorce settlement. In the break with Berlusconi, Lario will most likely walk away with:

1. 3.6 Million Euro per year in alimony

2. Their 78 Million Euro home, Villa Belvedere near Milan

3. Homes and jobs in the Berlusconi empire for the couple's three children

4. Unspeakable joy and lifelong satisfaction when she looks at this picture

Photo of Berlusconi after being attacked by a figurine-wielding madman.

5. Oh and this one too.

Our sympathies go out to Ms. Lario, it can't have been easy spending 30 years with Silvio Berlusconi. Although, she might have figured as much, since he picked her up while she was performing topless in a play called the Magnificent Cuckold...just a thought.

Now readers, confession time. What would it take to make YOU agree to marry Berlusconi? Discuss(t)!

Image by ITN.co.uk

Mbrella Mbrella

Not everybody hates the rain. In fact, some people depend on it. Here in Rome, at the first hint of a cloud in the sky, the streets are flooded with African and Bengalese men who peddle umbrellas. Hence their nickname 'mbrella 'mbrella or “vu cumpra” (butchered Italian for “want to buy”). There is even a rap song about them on youtube.

They sell the umbrellas for about 3 Euro each, although they will try to get more from people who do not try to bargain with them. It used to amaze me how these people manage to survive, and one day I decided to ask one of them just how they manage in an expensive city like Rome. As it turns out, the margin of profit on these umbrellas is about 1 Euro. Now, you might be thinking, how many umbrellas do they have to sell in order to actually make a living? The answer: not that many.

It is not uncommon for these immigrants to live in apartments in or outside of Rome where they share a living space with 15 or 20 other people. Mattresses or mats are strewn about the floor, and the men who live there work in shifts. While some work nights, peddling roses around Rome's restaurants and nightclubs, others sleep. When they wake, they head out to sell umbrellas, sunglasses, socks, cheap children's toys, or anything else that might make them a buck while their pals rest up for the night shift.

A word to he wise, however, if they are selling knockoff designer goods, the fines are very steep for both the seller AND the buyer of the goods. If a police car pulls up and these guys are selling umbrellas, they will most likely scurry away. But if they are selling fake Prada bags or glasses, you will see them hurl those goods into a sheet, toss it over their shoulder like santa claus, and sprint off into the sunset.

To live in one of these shared apartments, 100 Euro per month is usually more than sufficient. Everyone pitches in to buy groceries and someone prepares food regularly. Aside from that, what they earn is put aside and usually sent home to their country of origin, with hopes that one day they too will return home and have the money to live a life there without worrying about where they will sleep, or how they will feed their children.

Next time you get bombarded by these guys on the street while sightseeing in Rome, remember they are just trying to make a living. Their job isn't easy, which goes to show you that back home they must have it a lot worse.

I for one don't mind them nearly as much as the gypsies, who target people sightseeing in Rome from miles away. Besides, I can recall at least one occasion when I have left home without an umbrella and was thankful that these guys sprout up all over the place before the first drop of rain even hits the ground!

The Most Bizarre Bed in Italy

In the small town of Prata Sannita near Naples, Italy there is a very interesting new “hotel”.

Having backpacked across Eastern Europe for months as a a college student, I thought that when it comes to “creative” sleeping arrangements, nothing could surprise me. Alas, I was wrong. Not once have I slept in an outdoor cage-bed that protrudes from a run down medieval building in small town Italy.

The Feld 72 association is known for taking on projects which “re-program the ways people use spaces and how they respond to social rules.” It recruited 40 volunteers who transformed this ruin of a building into the Million Donkey Hotel, whose website can be seen here.

If you have a healthy sense of adventure, inquire about spending a night or two here during your next holiday in Italy. Here is a link for the reservations page of the million donkey hotel. Now, we cannot vouch for whether the cage-bed is safe or what happens if it collapses and you plunge down into the valley, but hey, that's where the fun lies now isn't it?

5 Things To Do In Bologna

To Italians, Bologna is the city of the Two Towers; worldwide it’s known as the city of pasta, lasagna, and cured meats and cheese but also as the birthplace of the modern university. Here are 5 things you should do if you get a chance to tour Bologna:

Visit the Two Towers. You can spot them right in the heart of the city, between the shopping district and the beginning of the university area. Built between 1109-1119, they are called Garisenda and Asinelli (the tallest one), supposedly after the families that commissioned them. Legend has it among students of the University of Bologna that you should never go on top of the Towers, or you will never graduate! So if you aren't a Bologna student, feel free to check out the stunning view form the top of the Asinelli Tower.

Visit the Basilica of San Petronio, the fifth biggest church in the world. Be sure to take in the controversial late gothic fresco inside representing a scene from Dante's Inferno, in which Mohammed is being devoured in Hell by demons. Also check out the the longest sundial in the world, on the left aisle of the Basilica. Inlaid in 1655, it has the form of a meridian line and its measurements are astonishing for the time in which it was built.

Take a walk to the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of San Luca under the longest archway in the world. It starts at Porta Saragozza and goes all the way up to the Sanctuary. It's a 3.5 km walk, but the beauty of the archway and the Sanctuary and its history of pilgrimage are worth it.

Walk around the city center, get lost in its medieval settings and streets; you won’t regret it. Check out Galleria Cavour where you will find every famous Italian designer shop, beginning with Gucci. You shouldn’t miss a quick walk in via Zamboni, the main university street, and Piazza Santo Stefano, possibly the most beautiful square in Bologna.

Have dinner and drinks. If you are into college settings, via Zamboni is the place to go for a cheap drink and meal. Be sure to order a Spritz: white wine with Aperol or Campari. If you are looking for quieter scenery, then head to the area around Piazza Maggiore. There are plenty of restaurants where you can enjoy quality local Italian cuisine and wine, then have a gelato and a taste of the nighlife in Bologna.

11 Naples Police Officers Arrested

Eleven agents from the "Falcon" unit of Italian Police (Motorcycle-riding police who are known for being the toughest crime fighters in Naples) are now under arrest. According to an article in il Giornale today, the officers seized about a ton and a half of stolen goods from a container that been hijacked from the Naples port last month. When their reports were perceived as being suspicious, an internal investigation began to unravel the events. Two of the officers have already confessed to stealing part of the container's contents: Prosciutto and other cured meats and cheeses.

Hey, if there's one thing that might tempt me to risk it all by stealing, it's prosciutto di Parma.

Italian Barbie

Well, if there's a Burkha barbie, Renaissance Barbie & edible Barbie, I suppose it is only fair that there should be an Italian Barbie.

Italy Barbie is fabulous. The opposite of traditional tall blond barbies, she has dark skin, dark hair, intense red lipstick, designer dress, and of course fabulous shoes. She even drives a Fiat Cinquecento. All that is missing is a cell phone and cigarette and she would be 100% authentic.

Barbie Dolls of The World Italy Barbie Doll

Italian Farmer Lashes Out At Belching Neighbor

In Italian culture, name-calling is a punishable offense. This lesson has just been learned the hard way by Francesco A. of Ferrara, who was so sick and tired of his neighbor's loud belching habit while he worked his land that he called him a pig and threatened to beat him with a club if he didn't mind his manners.

According to an article in the Nuova Ferrara, the Cassation court found Francesco guilty and has sanctioned him with a fine. Insulting someone in Italy is a crime, even if that someone can belch louder than a tractor engine, as it would seem.

San Crispino: The Patron Saint of Gelato

A few days ago on one of the first Spring Sundays in Rome I paid a visit to oen of my neighborhood gelaterias, "San Crispino". As locals will agree (though a few will try to argue that Fassi or Giolitti are superior), San Crispino is the Gucci of Italian Gelato.

The Mystery of San Crispino
While waiting in the LONG line to get my gelato, I marveled at how secretive this whole operation is. For example, there is no commercial menu, the flavors are written on a dry erase board by the entrance. You cannot actually see the gelato before ordering, as it is contained beneath stainless steel canisters with lids on them. You have to decide what you want, take a leap of faith, and just order it.

When going for a gelato in Rome, it is easy for tourists to choose which gelato to order by simply looking at it, recognizing what flavor it might be, and finding the "prettiest" mound, the one that rises up like a mountain. This, according to the true Maestros of Gelato, is a common mistake. Properly made gelato should not stay put in a mound like that, but rather it should flatten out. True to this theory is the gelato of San Crispino. As I enjoyed my cup of gelato (In Italy it is customary to mix flavors, so I decided to try meringue gelato with bits of chocolate and also the pistachio, which is made with actual bits of pistachio-no artificial flavors) I got to reading about the history of Italian gelato as we know it, and the story is really quite interesting.

The History of Italian Gelato

San Crispino toys with the idea that perhaps it was Isaac who offered Abraham the first gelato ever, made from goat's milk infused with snow when in the bible he told Isaac to "Eat and drink." If it hadn't been a gelato (or at least a sorbetto), wouldn't he have just said "Drink?"

While no one knows exactly when and where gelato was invented, we do know that in the 16th century, Caterina de Medici, when preparing to leave Italy to marry Enrico, (duke of Orleans and the future King of France) insisted on bringing not only a team of cooks and pasty chefs, but also the sole individual who she felt capable of putting the French in their place, at least in the kitchen. That man was Ruggeri, an Italian chicken seller and struggling cook who was laughed at by the top chefs of the period until he won a local "cook-off" with his delectable fruit based sorbetto recipe. De Medici ordered her men to seize Ruggeri and load him onto the ship destined for France.

Chicken Man Goes Global
While in France, Caterina tried her best to keep her personal gelataio under close watch. He quickly became the envy of local gelato-making hopefuls and harassed, beaten, and robbed on many occasions until one day, he jotted down his sacred gelato recipe on a piece of paper, sealed it in an envelope addressed to Caterina, and added a short note that read "With your permission I am going back to my chickens! I hope people will finally leave me alone, forget I even existed, and just enjoy my gelato".

Ruggero's gelato recipe then spread like wild fire in all of France and Europe, with new inventions and ingredients paving the way for what we know as Italian gelato today. The man known for making gelato into a true business was Procpio dei Coltelli, a Sicilian who invented the earliest gelato machines, using snow, creams, and fresh fruit to create gelato.

No tour of Rome should be complete without a visit to San Crispino for a truly unforgettable gelato. Come to think of it, no tour of Rome should be complete without SEVERAL visits to San Crispino. Don't ask me what the connection is between the actual St. Crispino and gelato, because I cannot seem to put my finger on it. What I do know is that as far I am concerned, he is now the Patron Saint of Gelato and I have A LOT of worshipping to do.

Rome Taxis Offer Discounts for Solo Women

The city of Rome has announced an initiative that will provide 5 Euro discount coupons for women traveling alone in Rome at night. The coupons will be valid towards any taxi trip for females with radiotaxi 3570 between 9:00 PM and 06:00 AM, according to an article today in Il Giornale. The goal of the project is to protect women from aggression and sexual violence in the major cities of Rome and Milan.

The initiative will begin in May and last through September, possibly longer if the city finds additional sponsors to subsidize the cost. Beginning in May, coupons will be made available at Rome nightclubs, universities, and other places of business. Now the question left is, how will we be able to get our hands on them to give some to female tourists in Rome? Stay tuned, we've got our people working on it!

Nutella Chic

When in Rome Tours is proud to launch its new line of "Nutella Chic" jewelry. Not only is it fabulous and stylish, it is hand made, one of a kind, bears the colors of the tricolore Italian flag, and last but not least, there is one ounce of perfectly edible nutella inside.

Should you ever get caught in a storm or stuck on a train, have no fear-nutella is here!

In our shop window you will also find additional hand made pieces such as Pinocchio and son (above) and the three horned necklace (Below. if one red horn will protect you against the malocchio, with three you should be blessed with lifelong bliss).

Stay tuned for more fabulous and edible accessories from When In Rome Tours!

Happy Birthday Roma!

According to popular legend, there was once a vestal virgin named Rhea Silvia who failed miserably at her job and consequently gave birth to twin boys named Romulus and Remus. She set them afloat in a basket on the Tiber River, and they later washed ashore on the Palatine hill where they were rescued and raised by a she-wolf (a.k.a Lupa, or prostitute).

As the story goes, Romulus and Remus had a feud, and Romulus fought his brother to the death. He then began founding the city of Roma (which otherwise could have been called "Rema").

2763 Years ago today, in 753 B.C., Romulus founded the city of Rome.

Here you will find the list of activities in Rome planned for the birthday celebration, including free museums in Rome, parades, and shows).

Group and Private Vatican Tour rates will remain unchanged, as Vatican tickets are full price despite the free museum week in Rome.

Photo above is of the etruscan statue of the Capitoline wolf with Romulus and Remus suckling. Ironically, all museums in Rome are free this week EXCEPT for the Capitoline Museums, which is the one that houses this statue, the symbol of Rome.

Heaven on a plate & in a glass

While yesterday we felt it important to advise you on how to get a whopper fix in Rome after having a tour of the Vatican, today we are on to proper, authentic and exquisite Roman food and wine just steps from the Colosseum.

I must have passed Cavour 313 over a thousand times since moving to Rome ten years ago. Though its doors are plastered with awards from every guidebook imaginable, I never went in because I thought it was too close to the Ancient City and therefore must be a tourist trap. Since I have been working across the street, last week I finally had a chance to invite a friend to try the place out.

The result? A new obsession. I can't stop thinking about the smooth trentino red that went down a little too quickly for lunchtime and possibly caused me to drive my bicyle drunk all the way back to San Giovanni.

These wonderful little rolls of marinated eggplant wrapped around sun dried tomatoes are a must. Combined with a few green olives and marinated baby onions and a slice of soft crusty bread, it was heaven on a dish.

The Culatello (precious cured pork similar to prosciutto) “dumplings” are bursting with flavor with herbs and cheeses inside.

The average cost of a light meal and glass one wine at Cavour 313 is about 20 Euro, and worth every penny. It's location just a few blocks from the Roman Forum makes it a perfect option for lunch while sightseeing in Rome and touring Ancient Rome and the Colosseum.

I can't wait to go back, so if you plan to go while sightseeing in Rome, stop by and pick me up!

The Vatican Has a New Neighbor

More often than not, tourists along on our group and private Vatican tours ask us where to go and have something to eat near the Vatican. While finding top quality restaurants in Italy isn't hard to do, finding a restaurant near the Vatican with good price/quality ratio is actually not easy. Many of the restaurants near the Vatican will serve you frozen pasta or pizza and overcharge you for mediocre/poor food.

Just the other day I had finished signing in a private Vatican tour when on my way home I hadn't gone more than two blocks when I saw that there is a "new kid in town". On Via Leone IV just two blocks from the Vatican Museum entry, there is a brand new Burger King.

While I normally find the spreading of fast food chains in Italy to be offensive, something about getting a whopper and a tour of the Vatican within a two block radius just seems, well, perfetto. And I love how in Italy, naturally even this American fast food chain is transformed into pure Italian chaos. Look how they line up! And they hug and salute one another while waiting for whoppers. So Italian!

Too give it the added Roman touch, they have a Roman panino called the Bacon Caesar Steakhouse, which apparently Julius Caesar himself goes wild over.

If there are any doubts in your head about eating at Burger King while in Rome, see the Grana Padano seal of approval over in the left corner. Your way, subito?

Beggars: To Give, or Not To Give.

While on holiday in Rome, you are inevitably going to get asked for money directly and indirectly by gypsies, beggars, and other interesting characters.

Some of these beggars (tumors all over the head, no arms, you know the ones) manage to pull on my heartstrings until I toss over a few coins. Others just make me mad (especially the ones who put their sedated babies out on the street to solicit).

Yesterday as I was on my way to sign in guests for a Vatican Tour, I came across this piece of work. Hunched over in prayer, steps from St. Peter's Church, she puts it all out there for passersby on holiday in Rome to see (and give).

While normally I wouldn't give her anything, I actually thought about it (after all, I snapped her picture, maybe that is worth a few cents). UNTIL she turned my way.

Wait a minute! Do you see what I see! Peeking out from under that kerchief is a woman who looks to be my age! She doesn't look too hungry either, in my humble opinion. Better luck next time mate, I've got a Vatican Tour to deal with.

Holiday in Rome Amidst Graffitti and Rubbish

There isn't much hope for a cleaner Rome when even the street-cleaning trucks are full of graffiti, now is there.

The sight of this AMA truck made laugh and nearly cry at the same time. There is so much that is wonderful about Italy, yet many Italians have so little regard for it that they defile it as in this photo (and then blame the immigrants for the decline of Italy).

Filth like this is hard to accept especially in Rome's historic center where people on holiday in Rome are generally out and about sightseeing in Rome. It is also unacceptable in the residential neighborhoods where people are not on Holiday in Rome but rather living here.

Ryan Air To Install Pay Toilets

If this were April 1 and not April 9, I would be certain that this is a prank.

As if the charges for checking in, carrying a suitcase, a drink of water on board, or anything above and beyond a ride on the magic yellow carpet, (is that obnoxious yellow sea of ads not an assault on the senses?) according to the Boston Globe today Ryan Air will be removing all but one of its toilets (in order to make room for 6 additional seats) on 168 of its planes. The one bathroom that will remain will become a pay toilet. The airline hopes that this way people will learn to better anticipate their needs and use the toilet before or after the flight.

Tourists, there has to be a better way to take a holiday to Rome. If I were in charge (When in Rome airlines?) it would be free prosecco per tutti!

Kirstie Alley On Gaining Weight in Italy

Kirstie Alley, star actress from the American TV series "Cheers" and countless other Hollywood films and TV series gave an interview with Ladies Home Journal in which she specifically mentioned Italy as one of the places where it was easiest to pack on the pounds. "It was the greatest thing in the world getting fat. Every meal out was an event. We'd go to Italy and have pasta, truffles and dessert and then plan the next incredible meal. It was a happy-go-lucky time. I never had so much fun," said Alley in the interview.

Despite the delicious food in Italy, much of which is rich in carbs, Italians are actually quite thinner than Americans. Granted, they don't pig out of truffles and tiramisu every day I suppose as she must have while sightseeing in Rome.

Thoughts? Did you gain weight on your trip to Italy?

Help Me, I'm Italian

While I was riding my bike past the Roman Forum today, the sight of this man got to me. I pulled over to toss him a coin, then I had to snap his picture. The more I thought about it, the more his sign struck me as odd.

I am in need.

Thank you.

I am Italian. (As if an afterthought, and in classic Roman dialect: "Sò Italiano")

On Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome, probably the most touristy street in Italy, would passersby sightseeing in Rome would be more sympathetic or generous because he is Italian? Naturally, I am not sightseeing in Rome but a resident here. If you ask me, all the poor are created equal (except maybe for gypsies in Rome, but that's a whole new can of beans).

Any thoughts on this one?

Venice Rejects Plastic Gondolas

When the Italian ship building company Cantieri Navali Brindisi proposed its prototype gondola made of fiberglass as a lower cost alternative to the traditional wooden gondola, the answer from Venice was a resounding "no".

In the city of Venice there is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the Gondola (much like in Parma there is a consortium for the protection of Prosciutto and in Campania there is a consortium for the protection of Mozzarella di bufala) which maintains that gondolas "can only be made of wood and built by our artisans using traditional techniques," according to an article by ANSA today.

The article goes on to describe how 8 different types of wood are used in the construction of a gondola, (pine, oak, cherry, walnut, elm, mahogany, larch and lime wood, while its oar is made from beech wood) whose price tag can easily soar past 25,000 Euro for a single boat. While a fiberglass alternative would surely be less expensive, the gondoliers association vows to “oppose this in every way possible. The idea of a 'plastic' gondola is unthinkable and I'm sure the whole world would agree," said Aldo Reato of the Ente Gondola in Venice.

In recent years, strict measures have been adopted to limit the amount of decorative accessories and even paint gondoliers may use to attract tourists into taking Gondola tours of Venice. Such measures are aimed at preserving traditional gondola practices.

Beware - Prostitutes!

In case you are worried that while driving in Italy, your vehicle may be besieged by wild prostitutes out for tourist blood, the Italian authorities have once again come to the rescue (and not a moment too soon). Now let there be no question, the women on the side of the street with their business hanging out are indeed prostitutes.

This sign definitely goes on my top ten favorite signs list, second to the "no defecating" sign on the beach in Ghana (below)

If you decide to risk it anyway while on holiday in Italy, you may have the added comfort of knowing that Swiss Brothels bordering Italy are now equipped with defribillators in case they need to restart your heart.

The more I think about it, the more I think maybe we are destined to begin a brothel tour of Italy. Is the Vatican tour a thing of the past?

Can't Come to Italy? Let Italy Come to You.

The Italian Art Foundation has decided to provide a rare opportunity to the United States by sending the famous Raphael painting "The Woman With The Veil" to the Milwaukee Art Museum for eleven weeks. The visit marks the first time the painting has left the Pitti Palace in Florence in over ten years.

The subject of Raphael's painting is believed to be his mistress and the heiress to all of his possessions upon his death. The arrival of the painting comes in conjunction with the 527th birthday of the Renaissance Artist.

Many of Raphael's paintings are located in the famous rooms of Raphael which can be visited during group or private Vatican Tours. Some group Vatican Tours do not cover the rooms of Raphael, so it is always a good idea to reconfirm this before reserving a Vatican Tour.

More information on the exhibit is available at uwmpost.com.

Italian Police Raid Uncovers Expired Easter Products

Tourists spending Easter in Rome should be weary of what they purchase in view of a recent bust by Italian police that uncovered more than 2 million Euro worth of expired Easter breads (known as Colombe), chocolates, and other sweets destined for consumers in Italy.

According to an article in novefirenze, out of 1662 production sites inspected, 869 of them were cited with infractions of some sort, including the use of expired ingredients, tampering with or falsifying labels, and health code violations.

A total of 270 tons of food items were removed from circulation and confiscated. Still, tourists spending Easter in Rome and Italy should be careful of what they purchase. Though the costs are higher, buying Easter breads at pastry shops who make their own fresh products is one way to increase your chances of getting a top quality product.

When Hello Kitty Goes Too Far

Today while reading the news, I saw that there is a new Italian wine bearing the Helly Kitty Brand. It got me thinking that Hello Kitty is actually starting to creep me out. Here are ten reasons why.

1. Helly Kitty Wine (or any alcoholic beverage).

2. Hello Kitty automobiles

3. Hello Kitty Toilet Paper

4. Hello Kitty Sanitary Napkins

5. Hello Kitty Assault Rifle

6. Hello Kitty Bathroom

7. Hello Kitty Villa

8. Hello Kitty Water

9. Hello Kitty Boxers

10. Hello Kitty Contact Lenses

I know what you're probably thinking. What does any of this have to do with vatican tours and sightseeing in Rome? Absolutely nothing. Sometimes we all get carried away! After all- like anything, vatican tours can get boring after a while!

Sometimes a girl's gotta have more than 10. The list goes on.

11. Hello Kitty Pantyliners.

Lucky for Benedict, Only God can Fire a Pope

Why Pope Benedict won't be winning any popularity contents this Easter in Rome.

Rome Police Detain Abuse Victims At the Vatican

Our Vatican Tour guides have a regular presence at the Vatican City, so from time to time we happen to be around to witness firsthand some of the breaking news and current events in Rome and the Vatican.

On Thursday, March 25 just as our Vatican Tour was assembling, four members of the American SNAP bureau (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) were detained by Italian police for holding an outdoor news conference without a permit, according to an article in the Associated Press.

The four were protesting the current scandal around whether the Vatican and specifically Pope Ratzinger were involved in covering up hundreds cases of sexual abuse.

Italian School Serving Bread and Water to Kids

I love reading over the menu my daughter brings home from her Italian preschool. Children at Italian elementary schools eat better Italian meals in the school cafeterias than many families abroad eat at home or in restaurants. Gnocchi, Italian pizza, pasta with fresh ricotta, roasted fish, meatballs, the list goes on and on.

Some children in a Northern Italian town of Montecchio Maggiore are not so lucky. Since their parents missed a few cafeteria payments, they have been put on a prison inmate's diet of bread and water.

While their classmates enjoyed pizza, pasta, and meat, nine children were served bread with a slice of ham or cheese and a glass of water.

According to an article by Ansa, the town mayor Milena Cecchetto said "the other kiddies decided to share their pasta with zucchini, burgers, salad and fruit" with the nine hungry children.

If Italian families are truly unable to pay for their children's lunches, there is an administrative process by which they can apply for subsidized meals. Let's hope the Italian bureaucracy doesn't take ages and that these bambini are back on spaghetti alla bolognese soon!

One thing is for sure, THIS mom is now rustling around looking for that cafeteria slip, must head to the post office and pay up before my kid gets added to the deprivation list!

When In Rome, Sleeping on the job is OK.

According to a ruling by Italy's Cassation court last week, sleeping on the job is NOT grounds for firing an employee, as reported by Ansa news agency.

Come to think of it, there really isn't much that IS grounds for firing when it comes to working in Italy. And some of the public offices in Italy are so slow and inefficient that the employees may as well be sleeping even when they're awake!

Sometimes it surprises me how much I still manage to love living in Italy.

What do you think? Should it matter whether employees catch up on beauty sleep while working in Italy?

Pompeii Opens Ancient Snack Bar

Beginning this Sunday, the 2,000 year old Thermopolium (snack-bar) of Vetutius Placidus will reopen for business in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy. The cafe will give visitors a chance to stop and have something to eat without having to leave the archeological park while taking a tour of Pompeii. More information on the grand opening activities are provided by Ansa news agency.

Now here's my question. Now that the snack bar will reopen, how long till they revive the brothels?

Diagrams were used for "ordering" sexual favors in Pompeii when there was no common language.

Nutella: Good Things Come in Small Packages

No wonder Michele Ferrero is the richest man in Italy. His company continues to invent fabulous things like the tinest little jar of nutella pictured here. 30 grams (1 oz.) of pure chocolate spreadable love. I'm not joking when I say there should be a nutella museum.

Where else can things like this be truly appreciated?

I can see it now. A Nutella tour for poeple sightseeing in Rome! Nothing would break up a long day of sightseeing in Rome better than a stop for a nutella sampling! Click here to join in the quest for a nutella museum in Italy!

Exorcist: Devil Just Doing His Job

CNN has just published a fascinating interview with Father Gabriele Amorth, top Exorcist at the Vatican and leader of the International Association of Exorcists. In his career, Amorth estimates that he has performed 70,000 exorcisms. In the interview, he speaks about the distinct difference between being temped by the devil and being possessed by the devil. The pedophiles in the Catholic Church, he claims, are tempted, not possessed.

CNN Interview with Chief Exorcist at the Vatican.

Can You Manage Italy Tourism Like McDonalds?

When Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi was faced with the problem of Italy's struggling tourism industry, he called on Former McDonalds Italy Chief Mario Resca.

Resca seems to be of the mindset that Italy's most famous monuments such as Michelangelo's David and the Colosseum are much like the McItaly sandwich, in the sense that if people don't appreciate them, we'll take them off the menu. Have a look at the video created by the Ministry of Cultural Patrimony.

Translation: If you don't visit them, we'll take them away.

What do you think? Effective, or stupid? I vote stupid. I think Italy has only itself to blame for the decline in tourism. The countries now ranked above Italy are probably there because they know how to treat tourists, ie not throwing them out of the pantheon ten minutes before the end of a concert or overcharging them in and around Rome's major tourist monuments. Once an inexpensive holiday destination, sightseeing in Rome will soon become a luxury that only the wealthy can afford.

What are your thoughts? Would you still come sightseeing in Rome even if they chopper out the colosseum?

Worlds Smallest Man Dies in Italy

He Ping, a Chinese man standing 2 feet, 5 inches tall died while in Italy filming a television broadcast. Ping was officially recognised as the world's shortest man in 2008, according to an article by the Associated Press. The young man was 22 years old and suffered from primordial dwarfism.

Extreme Makeover Termini Station

Construction began today at Termini Station in Rome to create a massive parking structure that will accommodate 1400 cars and 180 motorbikes. When finished, Termini station in Rome will be the first station to have a parking lot that is built on top of its train platforms.

Currently unable to accommodate the traffic of vehicles that transit around the station in conjunction with its 800 arrivals and departures each day, action was needed in order to render the station more accessible to visitors and to ease the traffic caused by cars illegally parked in the surrounding areas.

The renovation is expected to take four years, although it is not uncommon for projects like this to drag on endlessly in Italy.

Shops inside Termini Station could suffer during the four year renovation.

During construction, much of the train, subway and bus traffic that is currently concentrated around Termini Station will be transferred over to Tiburtina Station, the second largest train station in Rome. Tiburtina lies four metro stops going Northeast from Termini Station.

The construction could have a huge impact on hotels near Termini Station, as much of the appeal of staying in the Termini Station area had to do with the convenience of having all the city transport connections nearby for sightseeing in Rome. It is unlikely that the Tiburtina area could become a hub for Rome hotels, as sightseeing in Rome gets a bit difficult given that there is no direct metro access for Vatican tours (Tiburtina is on metro line B, while the Vatican is closest to metro line A). Tourists heading across the city for Vatican Tours would be wise to choose a hotel located elsewhere on Metro line A such as the Barberini or Spanish steps area.

Click here to view a slide show of what the completed station will look like in (or around) 2014.

When in Rome, STRIKE as the Romans Do.

March 12, 2010

Italy’s biggest Labor union, the CGIL has called a general strike today. The frequent strikes in Italy never used to bother me. Given my general feeling about the work ethic in Italy, I assumed they felt like having a long weekend and used the sciopero as an excuse to catch up on beauty sleep.

No public transport? Who cares! I’ll walk or ride my bike.

No posta? Good, one less nasty bureaucrat I’ll have to deal with today.

Alitalia on strike? Pffft, I’d be crazy to book a flight with them in the first place.

No school?? Now you’ve got my attention. Yesterday the teacher of my kid’s elementary school warned us: “We may come to school, but it’s possible the cafeteria workers will strike so if that is the case the doors will be closed and that is how you will know there is no school." Oh, great.

It was an anxiety-ridden walk along the four blocks to school this morning. To my relief, the doors were open and it appeared as though it was business as usual. While sending the little one into the class, however, the teacher said “We’re here, and judging from the smell of stewing vegetables it looks as though the cafeteria workers are here as well. But it is possible that the afternoon teachers will strike, and if that happens we will call you and tell you to come and get the children right away.”

Hmm, that makes it kind of hard to plan a day at the office of conducting tours of Vatican City now doesn’t it? Well, if worst comes to worse I can always start training the children to lead the tours of Vatican City. After all, it’s about time they start earning their keep!

Living in Italy takes a lot of patience.

Father of Nutella Becomes Richest Man in Italy

Whoever said that loving chocolate won't make you rich? Michele Ferrero, "father of the Nutella" and owner of the Ferrero chocolate empire has just surpassed Silvio Berlusconi to become the richest man in Italy, with a net worth of 17 billion Euro. Ferroero also made the Forbes list as the 28th richest man in the world, according to an article today in the Sole 24 Ore.

Italy School Selling Discount Condoms

Rome's Kepler Liceo Scientifico (scientific secondary school) began selling more than just snacks and soda in it's vending machines yesterday. High school students at this Italian school may now purchase condoms at school.

Despite heated opposition by the Vatican, which condemns "any action which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation," the condoms are now sold in the school's restrooms at about half the retail cost.

More on condoms in Rome schools at the Guardian.

Russian Sextet Kicked out of Rome's Pantheon

Picture this: Rome's Pantheon, 2,000 year old monument set in the heart of Rome. A Russian sextet and soloists perform a wonderful concert of Vivaldi's music in the ancient temple. Just as one movement comes to a close, an angry Roman state employee comes marching up to the performers in stiletto heels, saying something inaudible to the cameras (luckily, I understand Italian hand gestures and here translate to "pack up your crap and get moving, it's closing time").

She then goes to the podium and declares: Ladies and Gentlemen, the pantheon is closing, please make your way to the exit. The concert is over, because today is Sunday and the Pantheon closes at 6:00 PM."

Concert attendees shouted that the group should play on, and when they picked up their instruments to resume playing, the woman races over to the violinist and stops his bow with hands. Have a look.

Come on guys, we have to get home, mamma's making gnocchi tonight! Ah, the pride of Italy...

According to an article in the Guardian, a meeting will be held today with Rome's mayor to discuss the sad state of public employees in Italy and the negative impression they leave, especially on tourists as they visit the city on Rome and Vatican tours.

Junior Soprano Sings Core 'ngrato

A moment of silence, please.

The Homeless Protest In Rome's Colosseum

The city of Rome has made a round of evictions after checking on the residents of subsidized housing units and finding that in some cases those living in the homes were not the people to whom the units were assigned. After the (long) process of being evicted, they have taken to the streets, threatening to jump from windows, occupy major roads, and even pitch tents at Rome's Colosseum.

In Italy, Evil Always Comes From Abroad

Living in Italy for many years now, one of my favorite pastimes is admiring the Italian culture and its many peculiarities.

Today while watching the weather report it occurred to me that here in Italy, things that are bad are always attributed to other origins. It's as if they need to find someone to blame for the unpleasantries of life.

Today's phenomenon happened to be a weather alert for "Il Freddo Siberiano" (Siberian cold front). I have also heard this referred to as "Il freddo della Russia" or the Russian Cold.

The scirocco winds that sometimes whip through Italy are from Africa, as is the unbearable summer heat. The influenza on the other hand comes from Australia (hearing friends say they had contracted "L'influenza Australiana" made me laugh so hard I could barely breath). Imagine hearing "the British flu" or something as crazy as that?

Funny, all of the above are negative. Whereas everything good is naturally 100% Italiano.

Italian Police Raid Toxic Warehouse

As part of an ongoing investigation involving the merchandise sold in stores in the Esquilino neighborhood of Rome and in particular the so called "Chinatown," police seized a warehouse outside Rome containing thousands of items set to hit the city's stores. According to an article in La Repubblica, among the items seized were newborn clothing and bibs destined for sale in Rome which were made with toxic and harmful chemicals.

Italian police deserve a nod for removing these goods before they could begin poisoning children in Rome.

Andrea Bocelli Gets Star on Hollywood Blvd

Tuscan singer Andrea Bocelli has been awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard. Bocelli is best known for his 1996 single "Con Te Partiro'," which he sang with British singer Sarah Brightman. Since then, he has sold more than 65 million records.
I remember exactly where I was when I heard his song for the first time. I was traveling in Italy that summer, and one hot day I was boarding a bus in Sicily on my way to the Aeolian Islands. This song came on and it stopped me in my tracks. I asked an Italian man sitting on the bus if he knew who sang it, and he said "Certo, the blind one, Aleandro Baldi." Sure enough I went right out and bought the guy's CD only to find out it wasn't him! Aleandro Baldi happens to be another blind Italian singer with a similar name. With a little more research I found my way to Andrea Bocelli, and it was the start of my Italian love affair with the voice of this amazing tenor who many have compared to the late Italian opera great Luciano Pavarotti.

Andrea Bocelli - Amore

Here is a performance of Bocelli and Brightman singing Con Te Partiro' (Time to say goodbye).

Still gives me the goosebumps. But does anyone else find it annoying the way she gropes him all the time?

McItaly Ad is McStupid

In case it isn't clear in the photo, this is a strip of Italian Pancetta, manipulated to be shaped like the golden arches.

Not even amusing.

Lindsey Lohan Teaches Italian Paparazzi a Lesson

Lindsey Lohan has just concluded a visit to Italy in honor of Milan Fashion Week. When Italian paparazzi wouldn't leave her alone, she decided to shower them with red bull and bottled water. Way to "make a splash" Lindsey!

Photos of the red bull attack at Metro UK.

5 Gifts From Italy Your Friends Will Love

While sightseeing in Rome and Italy you are bound to be bombarded with gift items, many of them tasteless and cheap. You know the ones I mean, the alabaster figurines they try to sell you as you leave the Vatican museum tour or the Colosseum? Do yourselves and your loved ones a favor and take a pass, these will only collect dust on someone's mantle!

Here are five ideas for fun and practical gift items from Italy.

Special edition Balsamic vinegar or olive oil. Not the stuff you pour on a salad, spend 10 Euro or so on a small bottle of superior quality oil, vinegar, or even wine. You can find them at most supermarkets in Rome and Italy, they come in lovely little packages which you can easily fit into your suitcase.

Chocolate. There are dozens of fantastic types of Italian chocolate at your fingertips. Here is a page with my personal Italian chocolate favorites.

Artisan ceramic. While carrying large bowls and sets abroad in your luggage is hardly practical, when visiting new towns and regions of Italy I often pick up a small item like a sugar bowl, espresso cup, or trivet as a souvenir. Wrap them well in tissue and if possible, transport in your carry-on luggage.

Penis pasta. OK I'll admit it's not that practical, but what it lacks in practicality, it makes up for in fun. Take it home and cook it up with a nice Alfredo Sauce, crack open a nice bottle of Barolo and you'll feel like you never left Italy. Also look out for wearable pasta, sure to make a statement!

Murano Glass. Genuine Murano glass is one of the nicest gifts from Italy you could buy. Hold it up in the sunlight and watch as the colors explode out at you. Be careful of Chinese imitations (what you'll find in the 2-8 Euro range), which may look similar to the naked eye. Real Murano will have a Murano stamp on the underside. While the glass is easiest to find in Murano and Venice, you will find it in all major cities, with chain stores like "la Murrina" now present in many Italian shopping malls.

Have you bought a gift in Italy that people loved? Share!

Wearable Pasta

Now I know exactly what I want for my birthday. A ravioli ring - obviously nothing less than 2 karats will do. And maybe some orecchiette earrings to match. Ooh and a belt made out of rigatoni. Must get a box of Penis Pasta as well, the possibilities are endless!

I'm thinking these may be the perfect new uniform accessory for the Vatican Tours guides (Now who said Vatican Tours are boring)?

L'Aquila Summit Was Most Expensive G8 in History

It sounded like a great idea when the Italian government decided to move the location of last July's G8 summit to L'Aquila in solidarity for the earthquake victims of Abruzzo. Sure enough, that great idea turned into the most costly G8 summit in history, running up a 500 million Euro bill over five days.

To add insult to injury, while the earthquake victims slept in crowded blue tents in a field, the world leaders received nothing but the best. Here is a sample of the list of expenses from the summit, as printed in L'Espresso Today (Italian).

Designer towels: 24,000 Euro

Silver Bulgari cups: 22,000 Euro

LCD and Plasma TVs: 350,000 Euro

Tea kettles: 10,000 Euro

Catering by Relais le Jardin: 1,000,000 (how many dishes of pasta does that buy? And as a mere coincidence, this company belongs to the in-laws of Marina Letta, the daughter of one of Italy's most powerful politicians.

Press material and interpreting: 1,250,000 Euro

Telephones and telecommunication: 12,000,000 Euro

Hotel reservation service: 2,500,000

In short, it is a long list of outrageous sums paid to "recommended" vendors without any resemblance of an open bid. And all in the name of solidarity and sobriety for the people of L'Aquila.

Impressed by Mypressi!

The Mypressi TWIST is the niftiest invention I have seen in a long time. While I cannot complain about the quality of coffee here in Italy, this would come in very handy while traveling (hotel coffee tends to be disgusting, as does coffee in many countries other than Italy). All it needs is a little hot water and it will use a french press-type mechanism to make a perfect Italian espresso anytime, anywhere. This baby is going on my birthday wish list (are you reading, sweetheart?)!

Google Executives Convicted in Italy

Three google executives have been convicted of violation of Italian privacy laws and sentenced to prison in Italy. The case in mention dates back to 2006, when a video showing a boy with down's syndrome being bullied was uploaded to youtube. According to Italian law, videos may not be shared publicly without the consent of all persons appearing in the video.

Youtube took the video down after it was reported, and the defense attorneys compared the accusation to holding the postal service responsible for hate mail letters that circulate within its system. Surely this will be the start of years of appeals. Follow the story here.

Do you think youtube should be forced to censor its website for inappropriate or illegal content?

Pope: Body Scanners Defile Human Integrity

Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out against airport body scanners, suggesting that they "Defile Personal Integrity." That's all well and good, but I can think of many things that defile personal integrity. Just off the top of my head, molesting young boys for example? How come we have Cardinals in Rome like Cardinal Law of Boston, who resigned from his post at the Boston archdiocese after it came to the surface that he turned a blind eye while several priests under his control were sexually abusing hundreds of boys?

Though critics called for his resignation from the College of Cardinals, instead he got sent to ROME to run the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica? He even gave mass at the high altar of St. Peter's when Pope John Paul II died. Talk about being ashamed to be Catholic.

To make a long story short, would be great if B16 could worry more about doing some "spring cleaning" around the Vatican and less about airport security.

3D Glasses Confiscated in Italy

The Italian Health Ministry has confiscated 7,000 sets of 3D glasses used for viewing the film Avatar from cinemas throughout the country, claiming that they pose hygiene risks as well as short term vision problems, according to Reuters today.

Wait a minute, isn't this the same country where people believe that a cool draft, a drink with ice, improper digestion, and the evil eye (against which Italians employ thousands of witches and warlocks to protect themselves) are also deadly? Mamma Mia!

Day of Reckoning for Public Officials

I’m starting to really like this guy. Minister Renato Brunetta began stirring up controversy in Italy several months ago when he proposed a law that would require adult Italian children to move out of their parents' homes and fend for themselves at 18 years of age.

This week, Brunetta has many Italians all fired up for another reason. His package on public administration reform includes a rule that requires all public employees (except for the higher ups, naturally) to wear a name badge. Ahhh, it will be a year of reckoning for so many evil public servants! Now we will have the ease and pleasure of reporting city employees, town hall workers, records clerks, you name it. Conveniently, I believe that one blanket letter will work for nearly all my present and future complaints with just slight modifications to suit each situation. Here’s what it looks like:

Dear (insert public office title here),

I am writing to inform you of what I consider to be unacceptable and downright appalling behavior on the part of one of your employees (insert name here, in future will be referred to as "XXX").

On (insert date here), I arrived at 9:30 to submit a (insert name if Italian bureaucratic process here). Although your office opens at 9:00, XXX arrived at 9:40, then decided to leave immediately for a coffee before beginning work.

When I finally got to speak to him (though the tiny opening in the bulletproof glass, of course), XXX took a phone call from his mother in order to discuss the menu for lunch and where he would like the pleats ironed into his shirts. The phone call lasted 8 minutes.

After the phone call, he stood up and walked out of the room without any explanation (bathroom break? Cigarette? Another call to Mamma, this one private?). Upon his return, he looked at his computer screen only to tell me “Mi dispiace, the terminals are down, you should come back tomorrow. Much to my dismay, I left and returned the next day.

The lovely and neat ticket machine Who cares if we have numbers? We still stand and hover.

The next day, XXX was actually in his office at 9:15. I took a number and waited my turn. After looking over my paperwork, he told me that due to a discrepancy in one of my documents (city of birth spelled differently by one letter in two different documents-what the HELL does city of birth have to do with anything anyway??!), there was nothing he could do for me. Despite my repeated protests (after all, some moron in his office had to be the one who spelled the city wrong in the first place), he looked at me with the cold and unsympathetic eyes of a lifetime underachiever and hit the “next number” button.

I now understand why you DO need bullet proof glass. If it hadn't been there, I might have bitten the man's jugular. But what you DON’T need are any more employees like XXX. As my friends at "Only in Italy" say: it's not like one needs an incredible educational competence to work in these offices. An eggplant can do a more efficient job and it doesn't even have to be "parmigiana".

Cordially,
A disgruntled Roman (sortof)

Swiss Brothels Equipped With Defribillators

Italians travel across the border to Lugano, Switzerland for two main reasons.

1. Brothels are legal there.

2. If they have a heart attack while doing the deed after taking too much Viagra or for any other reason, the prostitutes will now be equipped with defibrillators to revive them.

The sex trade is now booming in Lugano, according to an article in ninemsn.com.

Shroud of Turin to Attract 2 Million Pilgrims

Normally, the Shroud of Turin is put on display once every 25 years. However, in order to provide Turin with a much needed cash infusion, the Shroud will open for one month this April. One million pilgrims have already reserved tickets to see what is believed to be the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in after his crucifixion, according to an article in The Independent today.

Though researchers claim the cloth contains traces of writing in Aramaic, ancient Greek and Latin, most scientists agree that the relic is of medieval origin. The Vatican refrains from stating its position on the relic, but says the shroud is a "powerful symbol of Christ's suffering".

Corruption Cases in Italy up 228 percent

According to the Italian audit court in Rome, cases of corruption were up a staggering 229 pct last year. Apparently Berlusconi is not the only one in the hot seat being accused of corruption & accounting fraud.

President of the court Tullio Lazzaro stated "Corruption is part of our culture and the legal code is no longer enough," according to an article published by Reuters today. The article goes on to state that according to Industry Minister Claudio Scajola, corruption penalties need to be harsh, and Italian bureaucracy must move faster so there would be "less room to corrupt public officials" in order to obtain licenses.

In 2009 Italy ranked 63rd with regards to integrity of public life, below both Botswana and Namibia.

Researcher Says Southern Italians are Stupid

The debate on whether there is a link between race and intelligence is nothing new. However, one researcher is making headlines (and enemies) in a new study called"In Italy, the north-south differences in IQ predict differences in income, education, infant mortality, stature, and literacy".

Richard Lynn, professor Emeritus at the University of Ulster has dedicated much of his career to "proving" why people are mental laggards, claiming that “The lower IQ in southern Italy may be attributable to genetic admixture with populations from the Near East and North Africa,” according to a study published at improbableresearch.com.

I'd like to see what would happen to Mr. Lynn should he decide to travel to Southern Italy any time soon. I'm thinking the "mental laggards" would be happy to show him what they know about giving a good old school pummeling.

Italian TV Host Under Fire for Proposing Cat Meat

La Prova del Cuoco is one of the very few Italian TV shows that I can stand to watch. This is partly due to the fact that there are no naked women dancing around (why is it that Italian programs, even the most serious ones, feel they need dancing girls in order to keep the audience's attention?).

The show is an Italian food show featuring two women in the kitchen who work together to make a dish, followed by a cooking competition between visiting Italian chefs. For years now, Beppe Bigazzi has been a regular on the show. I always thought that he ruined the show, it was as if his purpose was only to provide an unnecessary "male authority" figure for cooking on what is otherwise a great program run by a couple of charismatic women. I never liked him because his remarks were often arrogant, Italocentric and patronizing, not to mention his dental hygiene situation (surely he can afford a whitening).

Yesterday Beppe got what was coming to him. When he began speaking about the use of cat meat in an Italian recipe he was suspended from the show. He claims he was only speaking figuratively, referring to times during the war when Italians couldn't afford other meats. Here's hoping Bigazzi's days on the Prova del Cuoco are over.

Photo courtesy of shapiro.splinder.com

Italians Watch Martha Stewart!

While Americans tune in to Italian cooking gurus such as Lidia or Giada De Laurentiis to learn how to make the perfect red sauce and other Italian recipes, Italians just happen to be tuning in to none other than Martha Stewart! On Sunday evenings, the Gambero Rosso channel (Italy's major food network) features Martha's show at 1:30 PM.

I can just imagine the old Italian nonnas in Italy as they watch the Marthe Show. "What does that American ex-convict know about making a crostata!" (it sounds much better in Italian). And Martha's voice dubbed in Italian is priceless.

Snow in Rome!

It's a white Friday morning in Rome, Italy. At 8:00 AM, snow began falling on the Eternal City, and not just up in the hills! Snow is still falling all over Rome's center.

When it snows in Rome, it is like seeing a miracle. All the neighbors stand at the windows and stare in disbelief!

As if traffic in Rome isn't bad enough already!

Death By Italian Chocolate

Although world nutella day may be gone (but not forgotten by a certain Italy writer who shall remain nameless apparently), that is no reason to turn our backs on chocolate. As ambitious as your agenda for sightseeing in Rome may be, one must set aside time for hunting for the perfect chocolate experience in Italy. Here are ten of our favorite types of Italian chocolate.

1. Nutella.
In my opinion, this heavenly spreadable chocolate will forever occupy the pedestal at the chocolate parade. Enjoy it by itself, on bread, or in any of these creative ways to eat nutella.

2. Novi nocciolato
My all-time favorite chocolate bar. This is what it looks like.

It also comes in dark and white chocolate, but do yourself a favor and stick with the milk chocolate with hazelnuts. You won't regret it!

3. Gelato al cioccolato

Go to one of the better gelaterias in Rome and try the gelato al cioccolato. In Italy is common to mix several flavors of ice cream in the same cone or dish, so if you want to change it up a bit, mix the plain chocolate with the nocciola, stracciatella, or Rocher flavors.

4. Cioccolato caldo
If the weather is too cold for gelato, I have just the thing to warm you up. Try the Italian version of hot chocolate (made by Eraclea brand if you can find it). Sometimes these are so thick that your spoon will actually stand up in the cup (when this happens I like to refer to them as "hot pudding" rather than hot chocolate.

5. Baci by Perugina
These little individually wrapped bundles of goodness each have a fortune inside (although really what is there to say besides "you are about to have some seriously good chocolate, bravo").

6. Gianduiotti
Gianduiotti come from the Piemonte region are made from hazelnut chocolate. Caffarel makes delicious little golden wrapped triangular shaped gianduia chocolates that are wonderful.

7. Tortino al cioccolato
This is similar to the internationally renowned "molten chocolate cake" where when you cut into it, the inside pours out like hot lava. As with many things, in Italy it just seems to taste better!

8. Ferrero rocher
The Ferrero Rocher is another pocket sized beauty that is sure to brighten your day.

9. Pocket Coffee
Also produced by Ferrero, these little guys kill two birds with one stone. A bite sized piece of chocolate that has a shot of espresso inside, just waiting to explode into your mouth. So good, and so sensible (you'll be shocked at how much sightseeing in Rome you get done after downing a few of these)!

10. Amedei Chocolate bars
The Amedei chocolate bars are worth their weight in gold, literally. In a small factory near Florence, the Tessieri family makes this delectable chocolate from scratch. They do not buy chocolate in bulk and melt it down the way most chocolatiers do, they make it from start to finish, and it shows in their divine product. The Amadei price tag reflects this, but some things (like Amedei chocolate) are worth paying for.

If you liked our advice on the best chocolate in Italy, you'll LOVE our post on the top 10 must-eats in Rome!

Rome "unveils" Muslim-friendly Supermarket

Rome, 10 February, 2010

While France debates whether to ban the use of the the Islamic veil, rioters in Teheran call for the blood of Italian Prime Minister, and the recent scandal involving the poor working conditions of immigrants in Southern Italy all remain fresh in our minds, one supermarket in Rome is making headlines in a positive way with Rome's immigrant population.

The COOP Supermarket in Rome's Casilino neighborhood has inaugurated a new department where female clerks wearing veils will sell Halal meat. Several large refrigerators now contain Halal (meat from animals that have been slaughtered with a swift incision to the neck in such a way that kills the animal instantly and painlessly, draining much of the animal's blood) beef, chicken, and lamb.

The Casilino neighborhood of Rome is home to a large Muslim population.

Rome Declares War on Graffitti

Mayor Gianni Alemanno passed new measures today aimed at keeping the city and streets clean for residents and tourists sightseeing in Rome. According to an article in La Repubblica, those caught "tagging" the walls and monuments of Rome will now be subject to a 1,000 Euro fine for degrading the city, in addition to having to personally clean up the graffiti. Also under fire are those who sell spray cans to minors who then use them to degrade city property with graffiti, as well as those who throw cigarette boxes or paper advertising on the streets.

Brava Roma! Now all we need is the power to enact citizens' arrests so that we can bust these guys while the Italian bureaucrats sit back and enjoy their perpetual coffee breaks.

Quiz: Of the subject matter above, which is most offensive to city property?

1.3 Mln Italians Seek Help From Witches

It is no secret that Italians are heavy believers in superstition. From the evil eye to the cold draft to the perils of cold drinks with ice cubes, there are certain beliefs which they consider sacred. In the Italian culture, it is quite common to look to fortune tellers, magicians ("streghe"), and tarot card readers to help ward off a broad range of evils as well as to attempt to discover winning lottery numbers. A report by the antiplagio non-profit association reveals that about 18% of Italians seek the help of self proclaimed "astrologers" and "magicians" who earn an estimated 6 billion Euro per year, 95% of which is undeclared (and therefore untaxed) income.

Vatican Rules Jesus to Stay Nailed to Cross

A recent cleaning project focused on Michelangelo's last work, The Crucifiction of St. Peter has started a war between art and history. In the painting (which sits in the private papal quarters hence one is unlikely to stumble on it during a vatican tour), Michelangelo depicted Christ as nude and voluntarily offering himself to the cross. Years later the Vatican ordered an artist to cover his unmentionables with a cloth and place nails which would hold him to the cross.

According to the Independent, a committe headed up by Pope Benedict himself ruled that the nails and cloth should stay. Way to paint history, B16!

Should Italians Get a "Leave Home" Allowance?

When I first moved to Italy over 15 years ago, I noticed that Italians had a hard time leaving the nest. Moreover, they couldn't believe that I was 20 years old and not only had I moved out of my parent's house, I moved across the ocean and all the way to Italy.

Curious about this phenomenon, I asked them questions about their lives and drew the assumptions that Italians spend much more time obtaining a university degree because the higher education system is much more rigorous in Italy. This assumption lasted until I met several foreign university students who one by one confirmed that the university in Italy is no harder than it is anywhere else. One thing that is different however is that Universities in Italy are for the most part free. One can understand the lack of motivation to sit a tough exam when there are absolutely no consequences for skipping it. In Italy, they can just postpone it until the next semester or for years even. I suppose this is true in a country like America too, although with university costs reaching as much as 35,000 dollars a year, repetition is a luxury few Americans can afford.

Once the university studies are finally complete, One would think that Italians would move onward and upward. This is true for very few of them. Most university grads remain home for years to come, well into their 30's and even 40's. Why? They claim that there are no jobs for university grads today. I accepted this to be true until it occurred to me that I myself never had any problems finding a job. Granted, I had to take some poorly paid jobs that were not exactly what I had always hoped for, but still they were jobs and they paid my rent. Same went for all the immigrants around Italy working hard to make ends meet. If everyone else seemed to find a job without too much effort, why couldn't these bright young Italians? Well, many told me point blank that they would rather not work than settle for a poorly paid job that is not professionally stimulating. In Italy there is a huge emphasis on the fact that someone has a professional degree. Many demand to be called "dottore" and addressed with the utmost respect. There is little glory in a "dottore" washing dishes at the local pizzeria.

Light bulb: When faced with living at home where daddy pays the bills, mama cooks, is the queen of clean, and even irons, the real world is suddenly not so appealing. Italian parents make it much too comfortable at home, it's no wonder they don't leave! One woman told me over coffee this past summer that until just recently she had still been cutting her 13 year old daughter's steak for her...mamma mia!

One Italian Minister is causing a stir in Italy by suggesting that Italians should be forced to move out of their homes at 18 years of age. The latest report even proposes cutting pensions to some parents in favor of offering a 500 Euro per month per person stimulus package to fund housing and incentives for young people to move out on their own.

Could this be the end of the road for Italy's "mammoni" (mamma's boys and girls)? I'll believe it when I see it!

Italian Boy Gives New Meaning to Cutthroat Sports

A peaceful day at home playing video games turned bloody for one Italian family yesterday. According to Reuters, when Father Fabrizio R. offered his son constructive advice on how to play better, his son took out a 15 inch kitchen knife and proceeded to cut his dad's throat. The boy then walked into the kitchen, washed off the knife, set it to dry, and sat in his room until the police came and arrested him.

Wife and mother Monica B is quoted as saying: "Mario is obsessed. He's forever playing on his PlayStation, and we bought him FIFA 2009 because we didn't want him playing violent games."

10 Vacation-busters for Rome

Well, it might take more than a raging sunburn to actually ruin your vacation, but below are ten ways in which a perfect trip to Rome can turn into a disaster. Really, I HATE to say “I told you so” and love to see what people do their research and avoid finding out what happens as a result of bad planning.

1. Wearing cameras or money belts around your neck
This seems like common sense, a big no-no, right? Still, I see them every time I get onto the Rome metro. If I had a dime for every time I have seen someone’s money and passports tucked neatly into a pouch and worn around the neck or on the outside of their pants, I would not be writing this story because I would be a millionaire sunning my buns on my private yacht. This, my friends, is a Rome gypsy's dream come true. You will neither see nor feel her as she heads off with all your goods.

How NOT to wear a money belt in Italy

2. Changing all your foreign currency at the airport
The money changers at the airport are probably the very worst in Rome. They will give you the worst possible exchange rate and also take a hefty commission on top of it. In our experience, the best way to get access to cash in Rome is by ATM withdrawal, using a debit or credit card. Find more on exchanging money in our FAQ section.

3. Getting into an unmetered taxi
As you exit the airport, Termini Station, and other heavily touristed places in Italy, you will be approached by people offering you rides. Nine times out of Ten these are unlicensed taxi drivers, and once they get you in their car they will charge you as much as they want for even just a ride around the block. Before taking a taxi, make sure it is a white taxi with a comune di Roma license on it and that the meter is running. Unfortunately, there are ways even the licensed Rome taxis will try to pull a fast one on you, but you are far more protected with them than with the vultures on the street.

Rome taxi drivers have earned a reputation for being thieving maniacs behind the wheel

4. Not bargaining with street vendors
If you stop to admire any of the goods sold on the street (a word of advice, buying knockoff bags in Italy can result in a 1,000 Euro fine to the BUYER, as well as a fine and confiscation of the seller’s goods), it is understood that the prices are flexible, more so if you are buying several items. At certain markets with high volume sales and clearly marked prices, the merchant may be unwilling to bargain and this is normal too. When prices are not marked, it is not unusual for a vendor to ask a much higher price from tourists than they would locals. You can usually knock the price down quite a bit by offering about ½ to 2/3 of the asking price. If the vendor is keen to sell, he/she will meet you somewhere in between. If not, don’t think twice about walking away.

Artists sell their work in Rome's Piazza Navona

5. Buying food and drinks from the food carts
Possibly the worst rip-off in Rome, these four wheeled money-pits are stationed all around the main Rome attractions such as the Vatican museums and Sistine Chapel and charge about four times the actual worth of bottled water, sandwiches, gelato, and snacks. Head to a bar or alimentari off the main squares and the prices will be much lower.

6. Ordering cappuccino or coffee drinks with lunch.

This is a big no-no which is never done in Italy. There is a scientific order to food in Italy (maybe one of the reasons why Italians are so much thinner), and they WILL be disgusted if/when you violate that order.

7. Sitting down to drink coffee at the bar
While this not a true hanging offense, you should know that at many Italian bars, especially those located around the main Rome attractions, the price doubles or even triples if your coffee is served to you at the table. Most Italians stand up at the bar and drink their coffee quickly. Sometimes, sightseeing in Rome can be so exhausting that all you really want is to sit and enjoy a nice drink without feeling rushed. When this happens, just be sure to ask what the price will be before you order - if it seems like too much, it probably is.

8. Relying on hotel concierge for all recommendations
The Hotel concierge in Rome can be a great resource. It is part of their job to know how to help tourists with any and all of their needs while sightseeing in Rome and getting around in the city. A word to the wise, they are usually “on the take” and when they recommend someplace to eat in Rome, a tour, or taxi service, it is usually because they are getting paid a hefty commission to do so. While the services they recommend may be perfectly on the up and up, it does pay to do your own research and rely on other recommendations as well as online research and guidebooks. It pays to be informed!

9. Pictures with Gladiators
These jolly old posing praetorians who will grab you and strike a funny pose for your pictures are not just doing it for fun. When I first came to Italy about 15 years ago they would charge 5,000 Lire (about 2.50 Euro). That price tag has now risen to 5 Euro, sometimes even 10! They get nasty when you try to barter with them, too. Think twice before you snap that picture for the family album.

10. Not wearing sun block
Let’s let this picture speak for itself:

(Face has been covered to protect the dumb and unprepared)

July and August in Rome can be brutal, with soaring temperatures and blazing sun. Bring sunblock and a hat to protect yourself from unwanted sunburns and heatstroke. If you can, beat the heat in Rome by loking into hotels with swimming pools or public pools in Rome.

Follow all of the above tips and you may well have yourself the vacation of a lifetime in Rome!

Italy Self-Proclaims Itself the Friendliest Country in Europe

A week after violent racial clashes in the Southern Italy town of Rosarno caused over 1,000 immigrants to flee Italy, European Affairs Minister Andrea Ronchi declared to fellow EU Ministers that Italy is the friendliest country in Europe, that does not have any racism related issues and that "only uneducated people" would suggest that it does. According to an article from emigrate.co.uk, to prove his point he invited any skeptics to join him on a complimentary sightseeing tour of Italy where he would show them in person that Italians are not racist. Sure Ronchi, Italians are sure to scream racial slurs and throw rocks at a bunch of fat white diplomats while they take a tour of Italy in the limousine motorcade...I love Italian reasoning.

Donald Trump Boycotts Travel To Italy

On his Blog on January 12, Donald Trump stated the following:

"I hope somebody in Italy goes after the "wild man" prosecutor who, as I understand, is already being looked at for abuse of power in an unrelated case. I watched his actions during the trial and they were shocking. In any event, Donald Trump will not be going to Italy, and in fact will be boycotting Italy, as long as Amanda Knox is sitting in jail."

Is he joking? Does he want to destroy the Italy tourism sector and all of us who depend on it? To prove what? As Kim Mance points out on the Galivanting blog, the US has held "suspected terrorists" at Guantanamo for nearly 10 years without ever convicting them of a crime. Do Americans really think their citizens should be untouchable in the world?

Maybe Amanda Knox murdered that poor girl, maybe she didn't. Does she deserve a retrial? Maybe. But she does NOT deserve a free pass just because she is American.

Buffalo Cheese Boss Accused of Fraud

In Italy, people take their food VERY seriously. In fact, one the major factors contributing to the resolution of the garbage crisis near Naples last year was the fact that the waste was seeping into the ground and polluting the food supply for the local buffalo, putting the mozzarella di bufala at risk.

Not surprisingly, in Italy there is a consortium for the protection of mozzarella cheese. The head of this consortium, Luigi Chianese was in charge of recent allegations of contamination of the buffalo mozzarella produced by certain farmers. Come to find out, a random test unveiled that Chianese's own mozzarella di bufala was contaminated with less expensive cow's milk instead of pure buffalo milk.

The consortium has now been disbanded, according to an article in the Telegraph today. With all the huffing and puffing about protecting the authentic Italian recipes throughout the world and the bastardization of Italian food abroad, maybe Italy should worry about it's own offenders before going on an international witch hunt!

Italy Declares War on Bastardization of Italian Food

It's no secret that there is a big difference between the Italian food in Italy and the so called "Italian Food" found on menus and in homes throughout the world.

As Italy likes to protect everything of Italian origin from wine, fashion, oils and vinegars and of course food, its latest war will be waged in the honor of protecting it's recipe for bolognese sauce.

Specifically, the Coldiretti Farmer's Union has declared that what people all over the world are eating and believing to be "Italian food" are actually “improbable concoctions” of jarred tomato paste loaded with absurd varieties of turkey, mortadella, bacon, and even meatballs.

Interestingly enough, American food is gaining popularity among Italians. Still, those of you who have been to Italy or know some Italians will agree that hell hath no fury like an Italian cook scorned by a bastardized dish of Italian food. Read more from the Times onine to get the full article with instructions on how to make an authentic Spaghetti alla Bolognese.

Italy Tax Amnesty Devastates Swiss Banks

The tax issue in Italy... where to begin. Those who do have money and choose to pay their taxes get socked with as much as 50% in VAT and income taxes. Those who decide to be "furbo" (sneaky) send their money to switzerland or offshore banks elsewhere and wait for an Amnesty such as the one that was declared in 2009 in Italy. To bring their money back to Italy, all bank account holders have to do is pay a 5% penalty and their tax evasion is pardoned. Not bad, huh? Make you wonder why Italy is a political disaster?

According to Reuters, as much as 7 billion Euro were drained from Swiss Bank Accounts in 2009.

Half of Nursing Students in Italy Smoke

Health professionals play an important role in educating the public about smoking, right? WRONG if you're in Italy, where 45 percent of nursing students and 25 percent of medical students smoke cigarettes.

A few years ago Italy placed a ban on smoking in all public establishments. I was skeptical of this new law, as many laws in Italy seem to be there just for show, but I must give props to Italy for strictly enforcing it. However, apparently it hasn't deterred people in health professions from smoking (besides, how else would Italians stay so thin).

In fact, I remember when my first child was born at a clinic in Rome. The labor was long and treacherous, and it was so nice how the Obstetricians stayed by my side all through the night EXCEPT when they had to run out for a smoke. When the baby started showing signs of distress, they deliberated and decided to do an emergency C-section- but not before a cigarette and espresso break. Only in Italy! But honestly, if a doctor who has been up with me all day and all night needs a nicotine and caffeine infusion before slicing me open, I'm not going to protest!

More information on the University of Milan Survey on Italian health professionals who smoke.

NYC Cab Driver returns 21,000 to Italian tourist

For 72 year old Italian tourist in New York Felicia Lettieri, there was a true Christmas Miracle. The woman left her purse containing more than 21,000 dollars in a New York taxi cab. The driver, Mukul Asaduzzaman later drove 50 miles in order to return it to her. He refused any reward and returned the wallet with every cent in place, according to the Canadian Press.
This kind of story really gives me the warm fuzzies and a renewed sense of faith in humanity. But that's only until I think about what would have probably happened had the tables been turned. If some American tourist was sightseeing in Rome and left 20,000 Euro in the hands of a Roman taxi driver, that driver would have probably put the pedal to the medal and headed straight to pick up us mistress (or mamma) and take her Bali for a few weeks. But maybe that is the pessimist in me speaking. Of course, honesty is the best policy.

The Truth About Rome's Roma Population

We have all heard about Rome's gypsies who have a reputation of being such skilled thieves that they can even steal one's socks without ever touching the shoes. Both tourists and locals are weary of them, and will hold on to their belongings for dear life in their presence. Still, what do we really know about the gypsies? A recent article by the Lancet gives a very real (albeit perhaps overly sympatheic) glimpse of what life is like in Rome's gypsy camps, the plight of gypsy children, and the threats they now face by the Italian government.

Best 15 Italian Swear Words (Parolacce)

Sadly for some, amusing for others, when learning about the Italian culture and language many of the first words one acquires are the naughty ones. Italian is no exception to the rule. Here is a list of fifteen of my favorite parolacce (bad words). You know, the kind of thing you hear coming out of the Roman Taxi driver's mouth when he gets cut off by a speeding vespa, or when a lady steps gracefully out of the house in her fabulous stiletto heels and straight into a pile of dog poop that some uncaring pet owner neglected to clean up? Here goes.

1. vaffanculo - The Italian equivalent of "F_ _ _ You." This V-bomb is widely diffused in Italian language, and there is now even a holiday called "Vaffanculo Day."

2. menefrego - I don't give a damn. Also heard the variation: Non me ne frega niente

3. porca puttana/troia/vacca - Pig whore/slut/cow/

4. stronzo - Shit, or literally a turd

Street art placed by a Berlusconi fan?

5. cornuto - One who has horns (mostly because they have been betrayed). Tip: don't use this one lightly, it's a major insult in Italy. Here is the hand gesture that will protect you against becoming one.

6. figlio di una mignotta - son of a whore

7. inculare - to give it to someone in the rear

8. pezzo/testa di merda - piece of shit/shithead

9. finocchio/frocio/orecchione - all colorful ways of calling someone gay

10. citrullo-cetriolo - cucumber head or dummy

Tony Soprano often called his son Anthony a "cidrule", slang derivative of Cetriolo

11. minchia - penis

12. coglione - testicle: Often used in a phrase such as "che coglione," or "what a jackass"

Again, presumably a Berlusconi lover calling him a "The real coglione"

13. testa di cazzo - dickhead

14. che cazzo vuoi/fai/dici? What the hell (literally what the dick) do you want/are you doing/are you saying?

15. incazzato: angry

I find it curiosly amusing that a third of the list resolves around the male genitalia.

There is a great video showing hand gestures that go with some of these parolacce here:

If you think the above curses are entertaining and you have a chance to visit Rome some time, be sure to eat at the restaurant in Rome called "La Parolaccia," known for servers who will verbally abuse you with all the swear words you could ever want to hear.

Have a parolaccia you want us to include? Send us your favorites via the comments section and we'll add them under reader contributions!

Clients wash their hands of Rick Steves

"Even my pastor knows I smoke pot," said Italy tour expert Rick Steves in a recent Boston Globe article about the growing number of baby boomers who openly support the legalization of marijuana use. Mr. Steves may soon regret those words, as clients have begun writing in to his company with seething messages like the following:

"I was planning a major Eastern European tour with my entire family for our 50th anniversary in 2010...until I read the Boston Globe article about how Mr Steves is a pothead and a proponent of drug use. I will never use your company again and will do everything in my power to discourage anyone from using your tours."

At least now we can attribute some of the silly things he writes in his Italy tour guides to the possibility that he was high when writing it?

Hear what Rick Steves thinks about the backlash here.

Mona Lisa Smile: Blame it on high cholesterol?

Italians have a remarkable ability to diagnose and attribute medical conditions, sometimes by just looking at a person. A Palermo researcher has now concluded that the ambiguous smile on the face of Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa may be attributed to her high cholesterol levels, visible from accumulations in the hollow of her left eye.
Mona Lisa isn't the first renaissance figure to be diagnosed by Vito Franco. He previously speculated that Michaelangelo's appearance in The School of Athens painting suggests that the artist suffered from kidney stones due to a steady diet of bread and wine while completing his work in the Sistine Chapel. More about Vito Franco's work at artinfo.com.

Next time you take a Vatican Tour, see what kinds of ailments YOU can find in the paintings!

How to Visit Rome on 50 Euro per day

Obviously, touring Rome is more fun when you have carte blanche on spending. However, that shouldn't stop you from enjoying your time in Rome even if you are on a budget. The key to visiting Rome and not spending too much is doing your research and knowing what things cost. There is a huge range in what things can cost in Rome. For example, a gelato or cappuccino can run anywhere between 1 and 18 Euros, depending where you have them and whether you stand or sit while consuming them.

A 70 cent coffee in Rome can cost up to 5 Euro when you sit and order at the table.

Where to Sleep:

You will be able to save up to 50% on the cost of sleeping in Rome by visiting during the off-season (November - March). A newly renovated double room with balcony at the When In Rome Accommodation can be found for as little as 15 Euro per person (in high season as little as 25 Euro per person if you get a last minute deal-it can't hurt to write and ask). This includes Italian breakfast which consists of a cappuccino and croissant. Overall, a great alternative to hostels and dorm beds.

running total: 15 Euro

Budget accomodation at When In Rome B&B

Transport and sightseeing in Rome

Getting around in Rome and visiting Rome's monuments has gotten much easier since the introduction of the Roma Pass. With this pass tourists gain entry to two of Rome's major attractions (Colosseum, Capitoline museums, Borghese Gallery included) plus transport on Rome's bus and metro network for three full days. In a nutshell, by paying for two attraction tickets, you get three days worth of transport practically free plus discounts to many other sites.

The Roma Pass is not valid for visits to the Vatican museum, but by visiting on the last Sunday of the month you can enter for free. Be sure to get there early and be prepared to wait!

Be sure to take advantage of as many of the free things to do in Rome as you can. You won't have money for taking guided tours in Rome, so be sure to check some Rome guidebooks out of the library and learn as much as you can about Rome online and take notes with you.

running total: 23 Euro (cost of roma pass is 23 Euro divided by 3 days = approx 8 euro/day)

Food:

As breakfast will most likely be served at your hotel, you'll need to worry about lunch, dinner, and snacks. You will find loads of places in Rome that offer lunchtime bargains. For about 7 Euro many pizzerie in the center will serve a pizza of your choice along with water or soda. For about the same price you can get different kinds of pizza by the slice or a panino and soda. If you want to splurge and spend 2 Euro more, 'Gusto' in piazza Augusto Imperatore serves a wonderful lunch buffet with hot and cold pastas, meats, salads, vegetables and breads. The cost for lunch Monday to Friday is 9 Euro for as much food as you can fit on your plate.

lunch budget: 7 Euro

Most of Rome's budget hotels are located in the Termini Station area which is full of inexpensive places to eat in Rome. Should you wish to remain in the historic center for an evening meal, the pizzerie along via delle Coppelle by the Pantheon are affordable and serve good Roman fare. PizzaRe at largo dei Chiavari is also a great choice and offers fixed price menus to keep you on budget.

My advice would actually be to avoid a "dinner" altogether and just hit one of the nightspots that offers aperitivo. This is the best way to kill two birds with one stone-with 7 Euro you will get a cocktail or wine and also be able to eat from a great buffet of food that is put out. Many times you will even get to hear a DJ playing or live music. There are dozens of great spots to enjoy an aperitivo in Rome.

Naturally, the absolute cheapest way to eat would be to head to the closest supermarket in Rome and purchase some bread, sliced meats, cheeses, and fruits for a delicious and inexpensive meal.

Hotel staff will know where to find the closest supermarket in Rome

Dinner/aperitivo budget: 10 Euro

running total: 40 Euro

Remains of the Day

With the 10 Euro per day you have left, I would allow for a selection of the following:
A good Gelato: 1.50 Euro

Espresso: .70 Euro

Italian hot chocolate

Postcards: 1 Euro (read this before you go about mailing them from Italy)

cheap souvenirs from Rome: 5 Euro or less

Coins in the Trevi Fountain to guarantee return to Rome: .50 Euro

Tip: the higher the "mountain" of gelato, the less genuine it probably is. Still, it's more fun to look at!

There you have it, a full guide to touring Rome on 50 Euro or less. If you have any suggestions for ultra-cheap entertainment in Rome, be sure to add your comments below!

The love affair with Italy is over

I was afraid it might come to this. I saw it coming. And now, there is no denying the present backlash against Italy. In a few short months, certain disturbing events in Italy such as the murder conviction of Amanda Knox, the brutal beating of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the attack on Pope Benedict during midnight mass, the "cleansing" of illegal immigrants referred to as operation "White Christmas" in a northern Italian town, the discovery that even Italian pasta makers are accused of racketeering, and measures taken against thieving taxi drivers have knocked Italy off of her former pedestal in the world of top tourist destinations. Once perhaps the most visited country in the world, now people are crossing Italy off their "to visit" lists in favor of destinations that are perceived as being less risky and costly.

Can you blame them for losing the love for Italy? And more importantly, how can Italy get the love back?

Dolce Vita for Guantanamo ex-detainees in Italy

With the recent Amanda Knox trial fresh in our minds, many of us are left thinking what life is like in Italian prisons. While the media has recently painted Italy as a barberic country where laws don't matter, the reality is that La Dolce Vita exists even in Italy's prisons.
Two of the detainees who were sent from Guantanamo are now inmates at Italy's Opera prison near Milan. If convicted and sentenced to a term in the prison, they will have access to jobs that range from making ice cream to cultivating peppers and have the potential to earn up to 1,000 Euro per month which they can then send to their familes or save for when they are released.

In addition, musicals, theatre, and concerts are regular activities organized at the prison. More about the Opera prison of singing and dancing murderers, drug dealers and mafiosi here.

Polpettone: The Big Meatball

With the Christmas and New Years holidays just days away, everyone I know is planning at least one family dinner to celebrate. One of my favorite holiday recipes is the polpettone, literally translated as "the big meatball".

Truly a dish for any time of year, the polpettone is so much more than a meatball. In a nutshell, it is an Italian meatball mix that is flattened out, stuffed with prosciutto, cheese, and boiled egg and then cooked slowly in a tomato sauce. While it may sound complicated, it's actually quite easy. Here is a step by step guide to making this yummy Italian dish.

Here are the ingredients you will need to make an Italian Polpettone:

1 lb. ground meat

3 slices of milk-softened stale Italian bread, torn into small bits

2 eggs, raw

5 slices of prosciutto di parma

2 hard boiled eggs

1/2 cup provolone cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Salt, pepper, fresh parsley to taste

1. Prepare a large pan of simple Italian tomato sauce. Use imported Italian tomatoes or better yet, fresh garden tomatoes if you have them. Let it simmer while you prepare the polpettone.

Rienzi, Pastene, and Pomi are a few brands of imported Italian tomatoes

2. Start with a bowl of lean ground meat (about 1 lb of meat will make one polpettone)

3. One by one, add the parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, and a little chopped parsley

If imported parmigiano cheese is unavailable, use domestic parmesan cheese from your supermarket deli

4. Use your hands to blend the ingredients together until you have a homogeneous mix.

5. Spread out a sheet of aluminum foil on your work area. Pour a few drops of water on it, and use your hands to flatten it out and distribute the water.

6. Place the meat mixture on the sheet and use your hands to flatten it out into an oval shape.

7. Cover the meat with a layer of prosciutto slices, chunks of softened bread and the chopped boiled eggs. Then add slices of provolone cheese on top of that.

8. Gently fold over one corner, being careful to keep the meat mixture intact.

9. Use the aluminum foil to slowly guide the meat mixture in a rolling motion

10. Your roll should look like this. Use your hands to close up any tears that may have opened. Use a knife to poke a few holes in the top of the loaf.

11. Slowly lift the loaf with the aluminum foil, and carefully guide it into the pan of tomato sauce. Let it simmer, shifting gently with a wooden spoon from time to time for about one hour.

12. Use two spatulas to lift the polpettone out of the pan and place it on a flat dish. Let it cool for at least 30 minutes. Cut the polpettone into 1 inch thick slices and serve with a bit of the tomato sauce and some good Italian bread.

Buon Appetito!

If you enjoyed reading this, have a look at some of our other food related posts here at Eat as the Romans do.

Christmas Care Packages for Convicted Murderer

Though an Italian jury found Amanda Knox guilty of murder earlier this month, obviously not all Italians are convinced that she is capable of committing the murder she is accused of.

The people of Assisi, Italy have combined their efforts to put together a care package including Italian chocolate, books, and even a Christmas tree. Amanda's parents will also be spending Christmas in Italy and have accepted some of the gifts on her behalf, as not all of them are allowed in the prison.

This will be the first of 26 Christmases Knox will spend behind bars in Italy. More about the Christmas presents given to Amanda Knox here.

Pasta Wars: Pasta Makers Accused of Price fixing

Generally, everyone can agree that a dish of pasta constitutes a pretty cheap Italian meal. However, Italian authorities may not agree. After complaints from consumer groups, five of the major pasta producing companies including Barilla, Divella and Di Cecco are on the hot seat for what consumers call price fixing of the major pasta brands.

Over a two year period, prices of the various pastas rose as much as 36% simultaneously in order to control outside competition. Authorities have fined the companies over 12 million Euro. The union of pasta makers (don't you just love the fact that Italy has a "union of pasta makers") denies any wrong doing. More about pasta price fixing here.

Berlusconi Attacked by Figurine-Wielding Madman

It has been a tough year for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Aside from the political backlash he has faced since taking office, his wife left him after accusing him of improper conduct with young women and girls, and now a figurine-wielding madman bloodies his face during a political rally. I bet Berlusconi can't wait to see this year come to a close, here's hoping for a hapier 2010 for Silvio!

The following will provide you with more information on the attack on Silvio Berlusconi, to join the facebook fan page for Team Berlusconi, or to support his attacker Massimo Tartaglia.

Italy to Auction off "Monster Truffle"

Truffle aficionados all over the world are gearing up for what is expected to be one of the biggest truffle auctions of all time. A 900 gram truffle will be auctioned off in cities around the world at a satellite auction. While many are said to be interested in bidding, such large truffles normally end up being purchased for thousands of dollars by wealthy Chinese or Arab businessmen.

In Italy, truffles are used in making some of the most traditional pasta dishes in Italian cuisine such as tagliatelle with truffles and mushrooms. A little bit goes a long way. Read more about the monster truffle auction to be held at 13:00 GMT in Rome today here.

Quiz: Is Your Man an Italian Stallion?

Have a look at this profile of a typical Italian Stallion and see for yourself whether your man qualifies as a bona fide Italian lover! If your man exhibits 7 or more of the following traits, consider yourself warned!

1. His cologne: designer (and strong).

2. His nails: neatly manicured.

3. His eyebrows: sculpted

4. His hair: The more gel, the better

5. His clothes: tight.

Dating Italian Men: Tall, dark, handsome, and a textbook Italian Stallion?

6. Skin tone: tanned

7. Beachwear: Speedo

8. Likes to drive: fast, use lewd hand gestures at those who cross him, and talk on the cell phone without the hands-free device.

9. His ideal lunch: Anything made by mamma. If he does take you to a restaurant, he will pull out all the stops to make it a romantic one. Candles, flowers, and an overdose of compliments and flirtation.

10. Domestic duties? No thanks. Laundry, cooking and cleaning are chores transferred directly from mamma to wife.

Christmas In Rome and Handel's Messiah

This year while spending Christmas in Rome, you will see many posters for holiday concerts in Rome. By far the most commonly featured piece you will hear in a holiday concert is that of Handel's Messiah.

It is no secret that the Messiah is perhaps the world's most performed piece of music. Handel is a German performer born in Halle in 1685. What you may not know is that Handel spent several years of his musical career in Italy, on invitation from the De Medici family. More about Handel's musical career and the real story behind the Messiah.

Vatican Playlist Features Unlikely Artist

When Pope Benedict was elected, the hopes of many for a progressive and modern papacy were crushed. Pope Ratzinger has consistently held to a conservative and "old school" method of running the show at the Vatican.

Little did anyone know that the Papal playlist on myspace includes hits by unlikely artists such as Tupac Shakur (rapper also known as 2Pac). Alongside the Pope's own angelic voice and the music of Mozart and other classics, Tupac sings about "blasting oneself" and "giving the crack to the kids" as a prelude to the Vatican's Regina Coeli.

Vatican playlist:

1. Advocata Nostra – Music From The Vatican. From the album Alma Mater featuring the voice of Pope Benedict XVI.

2. Uprising – Muse. Single from the album, The Resistance.

3. Causa Nostrae Laetitiae – Music From The Vatican. From the album Alma Mater.

4. Il Mare Mi Salva – Rossomalpelo. Song from the band led by contemporary Italian singer songwriter Serge Gaggiotti

5. After The Rain – Dame Shirley Bassey. From the album The Performance.

6. Coexist – Nour Eddine. Song from Moroccan Musician, based in Italy.

7. Don Giovanni – Mozart.

8. Rafaele Merry Del Val – Lorenzo Perosi Inni Mottetti e Canzoni, Pablo Colino & Coro Academica Filarmonica Romana.

9. He Doesn't Know Why – Fleet Foxes.

10. Changes – Tupac Shakur.

11. Regina Coeli – Music From The Vatican. From the album Alma Mater.

12. Mi sarete Testimoni – Santo Subito! (DVD). Music DVD embodying the voice and image of The Pope.

Full article on the Papal playlist.

Italian Police Smash Lamborghini

Several years ago Italian police began using Lamborghinis in what was to be an attempt to thwart speeding Italians (not to mention the possibility of looking extremely cool and picking up women in them). The cars can reach up to 204 miles per hour and are finished in the classic blue and white Polizia di Stato fashion.

Yesterday while pulling away from a gas station, two officers had to swerve in order to avoid being hit by one car and as a result they collided with another. The Lamborghini Gallardo was destroyed, but both officers are in good condition. More from the Telegraph.

Thieving Rome Taxi Drivers Beware!

If you've been to Rome as a tourist, chances are that you have been ripped off, left waiting in the cold, or even hit by a taxi driver at least once. Some Rome taxi drivers will try to scam tourists in any number of ways, and they DO get creative. From baggage handling to extra passengers to holiday fare, it doesnt take much to watch the taxi meter go into tilt. Not to mention when the driver doesn't even use the meter, choosing to just throw out the first outrageous figure that comes to mind.

Thieving taxis beware, things are about to change. Rome's main cooperativa of taxis, Radio taxi 3570 has announced a series of new features that will make taking a taxi in Rome easier than ever. Whether sightseeing in Rome or christmas shopping in Rome, clients will be able to reserve a ride online, pay for their ride in advance via internet or cell phone, request an english, spanish, or german speaking driver, and more. Now if they could only get a proper english translation of their website, When In Rome Tours would give this initiative two very enthusiastic thumbs up for clients who are sightseeing in Rome!

To date, there has been no mention of how the Vatican will address the remaining problem of speeding nuns.

Italy Declares War on The Italian Lunch break

If you really want to tick off an Italian, try messing with their food. That is precisely what Cabinet Minister Gianfranco Rotondi did in a new campaign to eliminate long Italian lunch breaks and increase productivity in Italy. His argument is that the lingering Italian lunches are bad for the waistline, bad for the economy, and should be skipped altogether in favor of a sandwich or lunch brought from home. Rotondi has also proposed that the parliament cafeteria be shut down, as it is too costly to maintain and leads to lawmakers eating too much.

Italian food organization Coldiretti states that only one in five workers bring a packed lunch from home to work. Meanwhile, 44% eat lunch in a restaurant, and 36% in a workplace cafeteria.

The response to the proposal has been tumultuous. Workers unions are rallying to keep the right to a full Italian lunch break. Nutritionists warn that without a lunch break, Italians could very well collapse in the afternoon.

Could the minister be on the right track? Would shortening lunch breaks in favor of a bagged lunch or sandwich lead to the abolition of the Italian siesta (hours from 1:00 to 4:00 PM when many shops and offices close for business) and a work day that resembles that of the U.S. or Northern Europe?

I for one would not complain. It would be nice not to have to race against the clock to buy my bread before 1:00...but I won't hold my breath. Italy is a land of bureaucracy where traditions rule and change is hard to come by! Part of the mystique of living in Italy.

Full article from Reuters here.

Rudeness Poll: Top Airline Offenders

A recent poll conducted by Travelocity identified the 8 rude travelers you are most likely to encounter on your next trip. With tourist season now in full swing in Italy, you may want to mentally prepare for these "rudies" including the Smelly seatmate, Loud Talker, and Seat Kicker, and more.

Surprisingly, loud children ranked only number 5 on the list, coming behind poeple with poor hygiene, sneezers and coughers, obese travelers, and people who talk too much.

The Travelocity blog sums it up this air travel watch list in a neat little chart right here:

Disco Nonna

I couldn't help but post this. Number one because this grandma is seriously amazing. Her moves are WAY better than mine. At first it takes her a moment to get her groove on, but once she does, she is fierce as can be. And secondly because I love how Italian guys dance. Isn't it fun?

Work it, granny.

How the Airlines are Screwing Us

Next time you book a flight, have a good look at what the airlines are actually charging you for your seat on the plane. The results may be shocking. On my last trip with an airline who shall remain nameless, the round trip airfare from Rome to Boston came to just $330 dollars. The taxes and fees came to more than that at $375 dollars, not to mention a whole slew of additional fees for checking more than one bag and checking in in person instead of online.

I know that times are hard for the airlines, but these tactics of dropping the fares to rock bottom only to take advantage of us when it comes to fees, taxes (we'll blame government for these), checked bags, peanuts, and everything else they can think of to charge us more is not a nice way to solve their problems. It's no wonder people are at odds with the airlines.

American found guilty in Perugia Trial

American citizen Amanda Know has been found guilty of murder on all counts and sentenced to 26 years in an Italian prison.

Knox and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito are accused of sexually assaulting and murdering their british friend and leaving her body under a blanket in the apartment the two females shared in what police say may have been a "drug fueled sex game" in November 2007.

More information on Amanda Knox tria here.

Arrest made in Naples Mafia killing

Italian police have finally made an arrest in connection with the mafia shooting that was caught on tape last month and controversially distributed on TV and internet outlets.

According to SkyTG24, the 27 year old man was arrested today near Caserta and charged with killing Mariano Bacioterracino last month outside a bar where a video surveillance camera recorded the shooting. The shooter is shown as he shoots the man in the head, then calmly walks away while no one attempts to stop him. Controversy surrounded the fact that Italy feared undue negative attention to the Naples area and a decline in tourism to the area.

A Food Lover's Top 10 List in Rome

Everyone knows that when taking a trip to Italy, half of the fun is in the food. While it is hard to find a truly bad meal in Italy, not every restaurant in Rome is serving up top quality fare. Here is a list of 10 must-try foods while visiting Rome and a few pointers on where to get them at their finest.

First things first. Start out the day as the Romans do with an Italian sugar and caffeine bomb.

1. A delicious espresso or cappuccino at the Tazza d’oro bar near Rome’s Pantheon or another reputable coffee bar.

Cappuccino with a heart designed by my favorite Roman bartender

2. The perfect accompaniment to that coffee is without a doubt the bomba con crema. Though it may look like your run of the mill sugar donut with cream inside, there is so much more to it than that. These are best when fresh, so before you buy one ask how long ago they were made. If they have been sitting there for more than half a day, don’t waste the calories on it and wait for some fresh ones!

One bite of this bomba and you will be changed for life

After you have done a bit of sightseeing in Rome and you are ready for a savory meal, below are some essential tips for eating well in Rome.

3. mozzarella di bufala – this milky white ball of love is a wonderful appetizer along with a good quality olive oil, a little salt, and some fresh cherry tomatoes or Rughetta (arugula). Mozzarella is best served at room temperature, so if you buy some at the local market make sure you leave it out for a few hours before eating. At a restaurant it should be served at room temperature.

When it comes to mozzarella, bufala is best

4. Culatello di Parma – Much like the Prosciutto di Parma but an even more selective cut. Pure food of the gods – at 40-45 Euro per kilo you will only need a slice or two to realize why. Do not stuff it into a sandwich as to do so would be sacrilege. Savor it by itself. Buy it at a good quality deli, and be sure that the color is on the light side as in the photo. The darker the meat, the lower the quality.

At 40 Euro per kilo, Culatello is worth its weight in gold

5. Bucatini all’amatriciana – a true Roman classic. This dish is made with guanciale, or pig’s cheek (some restaurants substitute pancetta which is also good) in a tomato sauce and sometimes with a bit of peperoncino. My favorite is at Vecchia Roma, a restaurant that resembles an ancient Roman cave and has been serving this dish up for decades. It comes inside an opened wheel of Pecorino Romano (not parmigiano!) cheese and is blended inside the wheel in front of your table before serving. Vecchia Roma is located at Via Ferruccio, 12/C just a block from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.

Rome's best Bucatini all'Amatriciana

6. Spaghetti alla Carbonara- A more fattening version of the Amatriciana (hey, you're on vacation). Instead of tomato sauce this is made with a creamy sauce made of egg and cheese. Vecchia Roma also makes a delicious carbonara.

How do Italians eat like this and stay so thin?

7. From Turin to Trapani, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has been adopted as a staple food for Italians Used to top pasta, pizza, and even on its own, only 100% natural ingredients are used to make this wonder cheese. If you get the chance, try some that is aged 24 months and enjoy it on its own before grating it onto pasta or anything else.

In Italy, Parmigiano can even be used as collateral for a mortgage

8. Gelato - No matter what time of year it is, gelato is always in season in Rome. At any given time, one will see Italians enjoying a delectable cone of cioccolato, pistacchio, nutella, or any of the hundreds of flavors put on the earth to tempt us. When looking for a great gelateria, it's best to stay away from tourist stands and chain gelaterie.

Gelato: how to choose?

9. Cannolo – Originating in Sicily, the Cannolo has now invaded the world. Try to find a Sicilian bakery such as Ciuri Ciuri located in the Monti district and you will understand why Cannoli have Italians and tourists alike fully addicted.

Italian cannoli with chocolate chips

10. An anytime comfort: hot chocolate. A cioccolato caldo in Italy is something you must experience before leaving. On a cool day, find a bar that serves hot chocolate from a machine that keeps it churning. If you are concerned because your spoon stands up straight when you dip it into the cup, rest assured and know that you have a winner.

Italian hot chocolate (a.k.a. hot pudding).

Once you have eaten all of the above (and of course had your fill of sightseeing in Rome) you can safely return home or to your next travel destination. And start a diet?

SOME MORE TOP EATS IN ROME CONTRIBUTED BY OUR READERS!

Cherrye from My Bella Vita: One of my favorite Roman dishes to add to this list is cacio e pepe.

it is always in season and features freshly ground black pepper and Pecorino Romani cheese. It is a specialty at one of my new favorite restaurants in Rome's Monteverde, La Pietra Scheggiata where they smother the dish in a thick truffle sauce ... Mamma mia!

Lisa from Wanderlust women -I will agree that Bucatini all'amatriciana is the best in Rome but THE best has to be at Hotel 47 near In Bocca di Verita. I know you are thinking hotel must be overpriced and not that good, only for tourists. Trust me when I tell you that you will be happy all week long........and do follow itup with the chocolate lava cake for dessert.
By the way, the fresh sfogliatelli at Fiumicino are some of the best I've had in 2 countries.

FoodloverKathy's list

1)Penne alla vaccinara at Trattoria Capo di Ferro (in Trastevere)
2) Second Shayma's Cacio e pepe at Roma Sparita (in Trastevere)
3) My fav bucatini all' amatriciana was at Da Bucatino (in Testaccio) and Ai Spaghettari (in Trastevere)
4) Gelato from Giolitti
5) Piazza Bianca at Il Forno in Campo dei fiori
6) Arancini, Cannoli Siciliani & Granite from Mizzica near Piazza Bologna (for a little taste of Sicily in Rome)
7) Anything from Il Fico near Piazza Navonna
8) Picnic fare at Volpetti (in Testaccio)
Better stop, I'm way too hungry now.

Send us yours! What was the best thing you ever ate in Rome? Tell us what you had, where you had it, and send a pic if you have one!

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My Big Fat Italian Honeymoon

Planning a wedding in Italy

Like most weddings, ours took a lot of planning. We were both expats living in Italy, so no matter where we got married there was bound to be some traveling involved for our guests. We decided to keep our wedding on the small side and invited about 50 people to an intimate ceremony just outside Rome on the Lago Albano. A wedding right in Rome would have been wonderful, but the thought of 50 of our friends and relatives let loose in this city was a bit more than I could bear. If no one was robbed, lost, or involved in some other kind of disaster while sightseeing in Rome, it would have been a miracle. Our lovely little convent overlooking the lake, the Castelli Romani wine region, and the town of CastelGandolfo where the Pope has his summer residence seemed like a much more sensible option for us.

The Big Day/Hair Crisis
The wedding itself was everything we dreamed it would be, but not without a few minor disasters. Firstly, when I got to the Italian hair salon I had entrusted to transform me into a gorgeous blushing bride with fabulous hair, I sensed that something was not quite right. There were four stylists and a receptionist just sitting there in the salon, all doing nothing. Granted, from time to time you will find Italians just doing nothing in Rome. There is less of an urgency to be productive here in Italy (especially in the South), but still this seemed a bit extreme. One of them shrugged his shoulders and said "my dear I'm afraid we can't do anything for you, there is no running water". Music to my bride-to-be ears. Down came the tears and with them came some early signs of a nervous breakdown. While I had made my appointment in advance, maybe I forgot to mention that I was GETTING MARRIED that day! Once I informed them of this, the hairdressers knew that there were faced with the challenge of an extreme makeover wedding edition. Three hairstylists yanked, curled, teased, blewdry, and whipped my sorry locks into a hairdo one could get married in, and all without so much as a drop of acqua.

Our wedding ceremony was beautiful, and the party continued with dancing, singing, eating, drinking and playing into the wee hours of the morning (probably why our wake-up call failed to wake us up the next day).

The Day After

When we woke the next morning we faced the herculean task of organizing about 35 people who needed to get to various trains, planes and automobiles for their return home. Once they were on their way, it was then down to the 19 of us. That’s right, My new husband, myself, and the 17 of our nearest and dearest who would be joining us on our honeymoon. I know what you must be thinking. ARE YOU CRAZY! As a matter of fact I am. Mad as a hatter. Although It seemed like a good idea at the time…all those relatives spending so much money to come to Italy from North America and South America, how could we just abandon them and go off on our own? Without further ado we loaded our belongings into four rental cars and headed off for Termini Station (about 35 kilometers) to catch a train, then a taxi, then a ferry, then another taxi to our destination. The ride to Termini was like something out of a 007 adventure but with 3 emergency stops along the way for gasoline, restroom visits, and to remove my slow driving father from behind the wheel. We made it to our train without a minute to spare, and just 8 hours later (prosciutto di Parma sliced off the bone to keep us nourished all the while) there we were, safe at our hotel in Lipari.

Aeolian Islands

Lipari is the main island of the Isole Aeolie, which lie between Calabria and Sicily. In his famous book “the Odyssey”, Homer wrote about the island Aeolia, which is believed to be the island of Lipari. We spent an unforgettable week exploring Lipari and the surrounding islands. The highlights of our not-so-intimate honeymoon in Lipari included:

A boat tour of the island group with stops at the white beaches for a swim from the boat before watching the eruptions of Stromboli lighting up the starlit sky.

Excursion to the island of Vulcano where we climbed the crater of this (stinky) volcano

Food. The food on these Sicilian Islands is out of this world. The capers are the size of grapes, fresh and delectable sardines, pasta dishes made with eggplant, fresh tomato and oven-baked ricotta.

Cannoli. Cannoli may be classified as food, but they deserve a line of their own.

When All Hell Breaks Loose

We were scheduled to leave the island to head back to reality on a Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, just as we had put out a cake and begun singing happy birthday to my dear old dad, the concierge at our hotel came running out to tell us that there was some stormy weather brewing in the Mediterranean. After that day, no ships would be allowed to sail to or from Lipari for several days. While there are worse things I can think of than being stranded in Lipari, friends and family had planes to catch and a few still had not done any sightseeing in Rome. Therefore, the only option for us was to pack all our things and make our way to the port to catch the last boat out of Lipari which would be leaving in approximately 20 minutes. I never saw anyone move as fast as we all did that day. We paid our room tabs, packed our things and were off in the blink of an eye.

We made it to the ship just before it departed, and the gracious ticket sales woman explained to us how we needed to pair up in groups of four for the cabins. Before I could count to four, everyone had sorted out with whom they would be spending the night on the ship, and who was left but me, my new husband, my mother, and my father. Who happen to be divorced. Talk about a happy ending for my big fat Italian Honeymoon.

Italians Give New Meaning to Clean

When it comes to being clean, Italians top the European Charts. A recent poll found that Italians clean their houses more often than any other Europeans. This does not come as a surprise to me, as since I moved here I have marveled at the level of cleanliness inside Italian homes.

We all like to keep a clean house and I am even lucky enough to have someone help me with the chores, yet still in my home there is always the telltale hairball from the dog (I hope), dirty laundry on the floor, or some other incriminating evidence lying around.

When Italian friends invite me over, I sometimes just sit in awe of their sparkling floors, shiny appliances, and the sheer lack of even one grain of dust anywhere. Their doors are polished, their windows are spic’n’span, and you would think that each Italian woman has been crowned the queen of clean. A few brave girlfriends have confessed that if you open up a drawer or the doors to the armoire, a tsunami of clutter will spill out all over you. I have my doubts about this.

The study reports that most Italians clean (that’s CLEAN, not tidy) their homes at least four times a week. This means a full top to bottom scrub with this pure alcohol solution that smells horrid. I’m lucky if I manage to bathe my children four times a week, let alone a full Martha Stewart clean-off! Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the occasional declaration of war on dirt, but I have miles and miles to go to even come close to catching up with my Italian cohorts.

Confession time: mainly while looking at my cluttered house, I sit and curse at my neighbor, who is awake and cleaning her windowsills EVERY MORNING at 6:45 AM. Shouldn't there be a law against that?

If only I could stick to organizing Rome sightseeing and have an Italian mamma around to get the job done right!

Worth mentioning is that this obsession with all things clean does NOT apply to the Italian streets. Particularly in Rome, the streets remain a public dumping ground full of trash, dog poop, graffiti, and worse.

If only we could find a way to balance what you find inside and outside Italian homes, life in Italy would be ever so much better.

Study results from Reportbuyer.com

Ten Reasons To Take a Tour of the Vatican

In the years that I have been working as a Rome tour specialist I have heard some bizarre reasons people give for taking or not taking tours. Finally I decided to set the record straight, but not because I want to sell more Vatican Tours (although if this were a by-product of my opus, I would not complain). More importantly, I want to make the tourist experience in Rome as good as it can possibly be by providing a few key points of information which people can use to help them decide whether to tackle sightseeing in Rome and the Vatican on their own or with a good Rome tour guide.

These are the top reasons why people usually forego Rome tours, and why these people will probably regret it.

1. My husband/mother/friend is ½ Italian. And? Does that qualify them to act as your tour guide in Rome? Many tourists in Rome know more about the city and its history than the majority of Romans themselves! Just because someone has Italian heritage or speaks a little bit of Italian does not mean they should be leading tourists around.

2. We have a Rick Steves book. I hate to break it to you, but Rick Steves is a jackass. Ok maybe not a jackass, but he is not the God of travel and his books contain flaws. Besides, a book simply cannot replace a human being who will prevent you from losing your way and bring the artwork to life for you.

3. We just want a driver. OK perfect. Let me know how fast he drives you through the roman forum? No matter how you look at it, Rome is a pedestrian city. You simply cannot use a car while touring the major monuments of Rome. If you are coming with a large group and/or people who are mobility challenged, then it makes sense to use a vehicle. For the rest of us, the best plan of action is to avoid driving in Rome and tackle the city on foot, using short and inexpensive taxi transfers as needed.

4. We already bought Hop-on, Hop-off tickets online. Good going. But this will only get you around the city. What you see and learn once you get to the main Rome attractions is another story.

5. Two hours is too much time to spend inside the Vatican. Please believe me when I tell you that you will waste at least double the time without a guide. Nothing is marked inside the Vatican Museum and it has over 1400 galleries. After a while, you will just stop registering what it is that you are seeing. This is a normal response to what I like to refer to as artistic overload. A guide will get you in, show you what is important, and get you out. This is their job.

6. We only want to see the Sistine Chapel. Sure you do, but you can’t. It is located at the very end of the above-mentioned 1400 galleries. They do this on purpose to torture you into walking past papal tapestries, papal busts, papal statues, and more papalabilia. After all, they want to make sure you get your 14 Euros worth.

7. We’re slow walkers or handicapped. This is not a stupid reason at all. Having to struggle to keep up with a fast-moving tour group can be a nightmare for the elderly or people who are physically challenged. In situations like this I would always recommend a private tour guide for Rome so that you can go at your own pace and not feel pressured. If you have any doubts on whether you would be better of with a walking tour or driving tour of Rome, ask us or ask someone who knows Rome well and explain your situation. Also important to know is that the Vatican museum offers wheelchairs for complimentary use. To reserve a wheelchair at the Vatican museum, you can phone the day before your visit.

8. We don’t have the money for a tour (So leave us alone while we go and spend 4 Euros on a can of coke and 6 Euros on a gelato right in front of St.Peter’s Basilica). Folks, guides were put on this earth for a reason and that reason is to prevent you from making mistakes like this.

9. We’re not TOUR people. Did you decide this without every trying one? Or was it after a bad experience? Not all tours are created equally. A bright and engaging tour guide can turn an average holiday of sightseeing in Rome into the trip of a lifetime.

10. We’ve been to Rome before. You could go 20 times and still have no clue what any of it is or was. You owe it to yourself to do it right at LEAST once.

Have I left any questions unanswered? Use the comments section to put your two cents in!

Selected photos are courtesy of eyalos

10 Places not to miss on a 2nd visit to Rome

When people come here to visit, nine times out of ten the standard Rome sightseeing agenda applies: Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, gelato, end. This is understandable. After all, most tourists only spend two nights in Rome, and some even attempt to see Rome in just one day! While some people do stay a bit longer and are able to see more, most see the basics and then toss their three coins into the Trevi with hopes of coming back some day.

Some people never do make it back to Rome. Others do, and finally have the time to enjoy sightseeing in Rome the way it was meant to be done - leisurely and thoroughly. Below are some of the Rome attractions that are often overlooked on a first visit, but definitely should not be missed while sightseeing in Rome the second time around.

1. Basilica of San Clemente - Three layers tell the fascinating story of this church, dating back to the first century when the structure was a temple to the Pagan God Mithras. A Christian church was erected on the site in the 4th century, and the Basilica standing over it all today was finished in 1120. This church is truly an amazing representation of three exemplary periods of Rome. San Clemente is located in Piazza San Clemente, tucked behind the coliseum off of Via Di San Giovanni in Laterano.

Mosiac of St. Peter at the Vatican Capuchin Friars used bones to decorate walls

2. Scavi Tour under St. Peter’s Basilica – Few tourists know about this tour, yet it is one that absolutely warrants a visit. The Scavi are the excavations underneath St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. The Scavi tour guides you through the remains of the original Basilica which was commissioned by Emporer Constantine in the 4th Century AD as well as where the tomb of St. Peter lies. This tour must be booked directly through the Vatican and can be done here.

3. Catacombs – The Roman Catacombs are all located outside the center along the Via Appia Antica, or the Appian Way. This is the area of Rome where Christ is believed to have appeared to Peter as he fled Rome during the times of the Christian persecutions. There are at least 40 different catacombs in Rome, but the most popular are outlined here. To get to the catacombs, take Metro line A to the stop “San Giovanni” and from there take bus 218 going outbound to the Via Appia Antica.

4. Capuchin Crypt (Also known as the Bone Church) This crypt is located below the church of Santa Maria della Concezione in Rome’s Piazza Barberini. The Capuchin friars used the bones of their departed to decorate this six room crypt. There are rooms that are decorated using only the bones from one specific body part, ie crypt of the pelvises, crypt of the leg and thigh bones, etc. A video tour can be found on youtube.

5. Borghese Gallery Museum – Easily one of Europe's finest art collections with paintings of masters such as Raphael, Titian, and Caravaggio. However, what people really come to see at the Borghese Gallery is the world’s largest collection of sculptures by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, a genius of the Baroque who mastered the ability to fight gravity and win. Works housed in the gallery include the Rape of Prosperina, David, and Apollo and Daphne. Located at Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5 more info.

6. Caravaggio Paintings inside San Luigi dei Francesi Church- A series of paintings by Caravaggio are located inside this otherwise unassuming church just off Rome’s Via Del Corso. A look at these paintings tracing the life of St. Matthew shows why Caravaggio is known as the master of the chiaroscuro technique, which plays on the contrast between light and shadow. Located at Via Santa Giovanna d'Arco, 5 more info.

Borghese Gallery Museum Ancient Roman Column

7. The Ecstasy of St. Teresa This sculpture by Bernini is located inside the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria church at Largo Santa Susanna. This piece is one of the sculptural masterpieces of the high Roman baroque period, and is only a short walk from Rome’s central train station, Termini. Few tourists actually get over to see her, but those who do will have a lasting impression of the grandeur of Maestro Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s work in Rome.

8. Il Chiostro del Bramante: Home to art exhibits, conferences, libraries and a fantastic cafe, this space is a haven in the middle of a chaotic Rome. The space was designed by Bramante and is attached to the church of Santa Maria della Pace along Via Della Pace (not far from piazza Navona) The café is an indoor/outdoor space in the courtyard that serves lovely salads and light fare as well as coffee and aperitifs. There is free wireless access (which is hard to come by in Rome)! You won’t find this in many of the Rome guide books, so enjoy it while it is still a hidden jewel!

9. The lake at CastelGandolfo. Just a 30 minute train ride from Termini Station, and it is where the Pope’s summer residence is located. The volcanic lake is always a serene and relaxing place to spend a cool day away from the chaos of Rome. There are places to rent bicycles, boats, etc, and several excellent restaurants serving up local Porchetta from nearby Ariccia and wine from the Castelli Romani. My favorite is Da Agnese, which is along the lake (just after the tunnel, turn left. Da Agnese is about ½ Kilometer up on the right side).

View of Lake Albano and Castelgandolfo Wine tasting at the Castelli Romani

10. The view from Piazza Garibaldi on the Gianicolo hill - the perfect spot for a quiet break from sightsee

ing in Rome and the best place to watch the Roman day winding down at dusk. There is a little kiosk where you can enjoy the view with a beer in hand, picking out the shallow Pantheon amongst the numerous domes on the horizon. When the rain or cold air has blown all the smog away, he mountains of Abruzzo will appear from off in the distance.

Scenic overlook of Rome

Vending Machines Insult the Art of Pizza

I have heard for some time now that they are coming. I suppose until I saw them I was able to live in denial that such a thing could truly happen. Let me get right to the point: there are few things that disgust me more than the thought of pizza from a vending machine. It is just plain wrong for so many reasons. Mainly the following:

1. What will the Neapolitan skilled pizzaioli do for a living if these things start spreading like wildfire across Italy?! Taking away jobs from skilled Italian pizza chefs in a country where jobs are already scarce is asking for trouble.

2. Infrared rays used to make the dough? I don’t know exactly what this entails, but I don’t like the sound of it.

3. What if it is burnt, raw, or just disgusting? Whose face are you supposed to throw it in? (ok I have never thrown a pizza in anyone’s face, but on a few occasions have had to send them back)

4. 5 euro? For 1-2 Euro more you could go to a proper pizzeria with a wood fired oven and have the real thing! Sure, you wouldn’t have it in 2.5 minutes, but maybe 5. What’s the rush? You’re in Italy, take time to stop and appreciate the art and tradition of making authentic Italian pizza.

5. It looks like a frisbee

I am sure I left left out some important reasons but you get the point? Some things belong in vending machines. Canned drinks, chewing gum, candy bars, even hot coffee. Pizza does not. Nor do eggplant alla parmigiana or filet mignon. I agree with the Neapolitan restaurant owner on the video when he says “we should scrap this machine and replace it with a jukebox. At least then it would have some charm”. If it were up to me, I’d tell those techies up at University of Bologna to invent a machine that can mop floors instead.

Top Ten Italian Proverbs

Italian humor is really quite funny. Whatever the occasion, no matter how sad, scandalous or joyous, they have an appropriate saying. While some reflect the Italian propensity towards superstition, others are similar to popular English sayings, but put together in a way that is 100% made in Italy.

Here are ten of the most popular Italian “detti”.

1. Fatta la legge, trovato l’inganno

My personal favorite. For every law that is passed, a loophole is discovered.

2. Hai voluto la bicicletta, ora pedala!

You wanted the bicycle, now pedal! (in other words, you insisted on parking on the handicapped ramp, now you get to pay a 150 Euro fine!)

3. Cane che abbaia non morde

A barking dog rarely bites

4. Chi va con lo zoppo impara a zoppicare

He who walks with the cripple learns how to limp (be careful whose company you keep)

5. Il diavolo fa le pentole ma non le coperchie

Being shrewd and evil works to create the pots but not their covers

6. La gatta frettolosa fece I gattini ciechi

The hurried cat gives birth to blind kittens

7. L’ozio e’ il padre dei vizi

Sloth is the father of all sins

8. Non tutte le ciambelle escono con il buco

Not every doughnut has a hole (things don’t always turn out as planned)

9. Quando la neve si scioglie si scopre la mondezza

When the snow melts, the garbage below is revealed.

10. Dall’albero della pera non nasce una mela

An apple doesn’t grow on a pear tree (The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree)

These proverbs were collected with the assistance of barattelli.com (after all, we are in the business of Rome sightseeing and not proverb invention:)

Italian Supermarkets 101

When visiting Italy, a visit to the local supermarket is not only a way to save money, but it also offers a window into Italian life that you wouldn’t normally get while Rome sightseeing, eating out in restaurants, etc. But before you tackle the job of buying groceries in Italy, here are a few pointers to prepare you for what to expect and prevent you from any potential embarrassment.

Italian supermarkets come in all shapes and sizes, from the “one aisle wonder” to mega supermarkets that would make your local Big Y look like a minimart. While there is some variation between them, the following five tips will apply to most of them.

Get your carriage. Slip a 50 cent or 1 Euro coin into the little round hole, and slide the gadget over until it clicks and the chain is released. Now here’s where the fun begins. Moving right along, we head towards the produce department.

Gloves. You will need to put on the plastic gloves which are supplied for you by the store before you can touch the food. Put your items into a plastic bag, and have a look at the code that is printed on the card that corresponds to your food item. Remember that number as you head over to the scale.

Weigh it. You must remember to do this, as it is very embarrassing to get all the way to the checkout and have the clerk tell you that you screwed up and send you back to do it while everyone waits and glares at you. Put your goods on the balance, and hit the code (if you are lucky the scale will also have pictures, when this happens I experience a sensation of unspeakable joy). A little sticker will emerge, and you will then stick it onto your bag. At that point you can ditch the gloves, or save them in the event that you ride the bus and have to grab onto any grimy poles while Rome sightseeing.

The rest of the supermarket is normally well divided with appropriate sections for dairy, meat, pork (now with signs attesting to its origin since the emergence of swine flu in Italy and worldwide), canned goods, frozen foods, beverages, etc.

Pay. Make a concerted effort to pay in exact change or as close to it as you can get. Hell hath no fury like a cashier who is handed a fifty Euro note to pay for just a few items. There is a deep Italian appreciation for small change and your efforts here will be greatly appreciated.

Bag. The cashiers do not bag your items for you, you will need to do it yourself. Begin doing so while she rings items in, this way you will not hold up the line. Bags are not free, generally they will cost about 5 cents each so be prepared to buy them or bring your own!

Remember to return your carriage (you will get your money back), and you are off to cook up a fabulous Italian meal with the goodies you just paid for!

Events in Rome

September

September 18-20, 2009 - International Storytelling Festival in Rome

Raccontamiunastoria (read me a story) Storytelling Company will host its first Storytelling festival to celebrate and share the magic of stories through tales, legends, myths, and music in both English and Italian. The world's best storytellers will create a bridge of images between their culture and the audience, reviving the traditional art of storytelling.

Some interesting events for adults and children alike will take place over the three day festival, including open floor storytelling where anyone is welcome to tell a story, Rome sightseeing storytelling, and an ethnic music jam. Events will be ongoing from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM at different venues throughout the city-places to be announced. Visit the event website here.

Through September 20, 2009 - Via dell'Impero: The Birth of a Road

An exhibit with traces the demolition of the historic center that took place under Benito Mussolini in order to construct the Via Dei Fori Imperiali in 1940 which would connect the Colosseum to his own residence in Piazza Venezia. Historians estimate that up to a third of Rome's Ancient City may have been buried forever during this operation. Drawings, paintings, and artifacts discovered during the period are on display at Palazzo Caffarelli.

Tuesday-Sunday 9.00am-8.00pm - ticket office closes an hour before closing

Tickets: € 8.00, Reduced Rate: € 6.00

information: 060609 (9:00 AM to 9:00 PM)

Address: Palazzo Caffarelli, Capitoline Museums, Capitoline Square

website: http://en.museicapitolini.org/mostre_ed_eventi/mostre/via_dell_impero

When In Rome tours is a small company dedicated to providing innovative and thought-provoking Vatican Tours and Rome Tours for all audiences. Native-level English speaking guides of Rome and Italy help the tourist to discern between documented history and legend, bringing the Eternal City to life like no other tour provider.

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When In Rome, Camp as the Romans Do

Some of my fondest childhood memories involve going camping in New Hampshire’s white mountains with my parents, brothers and cousins. For a week we would rough it in the wilderness, sleeping on the floor packed into tiny tents, listening for bears, hiding our food in coolers, eating canned beans and then having farting contests (prizes for the most, the loudest, the longest, and the strongest-in our family everyone’s a winner!), and so on.

Since I “grew up” and moved to Rome, my camping days had become a distant memory. When some friends invited us to join them at their beachside campsite for a day last weekend, I was curious to learn what camping in Italy might be like and so accepted happily. Given the 100+ temperatures in Rome, a day at the beach seemed like just what the doctor ordered.

Our destination was a tiny fraction of the city of Terracina, a popular Italian beach along the Tyrrhenian Sea and not far from the beaches of Sperlonga and Saubaudia. When we got inside the campground, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I am not exaggerating when I say that these campgrounds are better equipped than many Rome hotels! Each lot has room for a trailor, screened in tent, outdoor dining area, fully equipped and enclosed kitchen, and direct access to the beach.

As I looked around I was stunned to see people with flat screen televisions with dvd players and even cable TV, laptop computers, curling irons, crock pots, you name it they have it. Our friends even rigged up a washing machine at their campsite. The kitchen was one that I would be proud to have in my home.

Hours later after a bit of sun and a swim, while enjoying dinner with our friends it became obvious why such a kitchen would be needed in a place like this. While as children in the U.S. we would eat hot dogs, hamburgers, and a vast array of canned delicacies made by Chef Boyardee, Italians do not cut corners when it comes to their food. This was truly an all Italian meal. On the menu were bruschette with garlic, olive oil, and grilled sausage, a dish of spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and peperoncino, steaks on the grill, mozzarella di Bufala, local marinated green olives, bread, salad, and delicious ripe fruit for dessert. Ah, and don’t forget the espresso!

When In Rome, LEAVE as the Romans do.

Living in Rome and working in the tourism industry for the past ten years, I long ago resigned to the fact that each August I would be destined to roast in my hot apartment and watch out my balcony as my fellow Romans pack up their lives, board up their homes, and flee the city for greener (read: cooler) pastures for the month. While over the years I have managed to put together a bit of a survival guide to spending August in Rome, I must admit there is something special that happens during the month of August, especially in the small towns of Italy.

When friends recently invited me to visit them at their family’s home in the mountains near Rome, I happily accepted the invitation. I didn’t know what to expect from their mysterious town aside from the fact that it was in the mountains, which meant goodbye hot-and-bothered self, hello cool-as-a-cucumber new me. Little did I know what a completely different world would await me just 70 kilometers from busy Roma, the Caput Mundi.

Cervara di Roma sits on a hilltop in the Simbruini mountains. Founded by Benedictine Monks in the 8th century, it is now home to a whopping 465 inhabitants. To get there one must park their vehicle along the main road that leads to the town, and walk up about 150 feet of steps that wind up and down and around this magical little town.

The town boasts one alimentari shop which sells essential food items (the milk arrives once every four days, and when it sells out you just have to wait until the next shipment), two butchers, two coffee bars, one bed and breakfast, and a shop that sells local honey, wine, and jams. This, readers, is the lowdown on commerce in Cervara di Roma. However, in August something magical happens in this tiny town. Those who moved away come back (their apartments are very much just as they left them, real estate is not exactly booming in such a town so most people just hold onto their homes for vacation use), and with them they bring their children, and sometimes even their children’s children. Suddenly Cervara is overflowing with the joyful sounds of children playing and families reunited. The tiny piazza is illuminated with rocky cliffs rising up around it, and friends and family gather there day and night to catch up on the goings on of the past year. Marriage or divorce, birth or death, gossip rules in a small town like this one.

Each night there are concerts with live music, theatrical performances, or comic acts in the piazza. During the special feast days there will be processions where dozens of volunteers carry giant statues of saints, Jesus or the Madonna through the town and into the church. Craft projects, games, and races are set up for the local children. All of this is organized and paid for by the town.

The beauty of a place like this is that one simply has no choice but to relax, breathe in the clean mountain air, take leisurely walks up and down hundreds of steps and paths, and marvel at the fact that a town so close to Rome can seem worlds away.

When In Rome B&B

A high quality, modern city-centre B&B in Rome offering very comfortable rooms each with a distinctive global theme and decor.

We are a brand new budget hotel in Rome just a few minutes walk away from Termini Station and conveniently close to the archaeological and historical sites in and around the city centre.

Each room represents a different continent and each item of decor is hand picked to proffer a truly unique experience. When in Rome Accommodation takes pride in the finer details of hospitality and has worked hard to ensure that each room includes that personal touch which is difficult to find in many larger hotels.

Upon arrival, each client is given a mobile phone to use during their stay. The phone can be used for incoming calls (free of charge) and to make calls while here in Rome. Clients need only pay for the outgoing phone credit consumed.

For the most updated availability calendar and/or to complete a booking online, click here.

Outlet Shopping, Italian Style

As we have mentioned before Italians love getting all dressed up and showing of their finest threads on an evening stroll. Some of my earliest memories of travelling to Rome to visit with family revolve around packing my bags. I had to have clothes for lounging around the house in or sun bathing in, and then I had to make sure I had my smart fancy clothes to head out in even if this was just popping over to the corner shop!

Understandably, while sightseeing in Rome all most poeple are concerned with is what will keep you cool and comfortable. However, we are in Italy, where fashion rules above all else. After all, only in Italy will you find that you may not have a car or even a roof over your head, but if you have a designer suit that's all that matters! Well folks obtaining that designer suit has just gotten a tad bit easier, and not a moment too soon-the cost of dressing in high fashion can be downright outrageous!

The Castelromano outlet shopping center outside Rome is a Mecca for discount shoppers, set in a reproduction style that echoes that of the great Roman Empire. It boasts 110 quality high end label stores ranging from Asics, Bruno Magli, Calvin Klein and Diesel to Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Roberto Cavalli. The discounts are not only on last season's goods, you also may be lucky enough to pick up a discount on current season stock. Discounts range between 30% to 70% and there is even an onsite alteration service to mend anything that happens to be a size to big or a bit too long!

The outdoor mall itself has the feel of walking around a perfect little village, with nice boulevard style walks with impressive window displays facing on to it, so even window shopping is a treat. To relax and cool down in between shopping or even to just sit and ogle at all your new purchases there are plenty of options to chose from in the line of refreshments.

The centre itself is not hard to reach with a shuttle service running from Piazza Barberini in the heart of Rome to Castel Romano. The service departs Monday to Thursday with departure times of either 9.15am or 2.15pm. The return trip is 1pm or 6pm. The schedules are devised to still leave a half day open for sightseeing in Rome. On Saturdays and Sundays there is only the one trip and it departs t 9.15am and returns at 1pm. Arrangements can be made for a hotel pick up if organized the day before the shopping trip, see here for more details. The centre is only 15k south of the suburb of EUR so is reachable by car too.

Castelromano offers everything that you would expect to find in a regular shopping mall, including child care facilities, ATM and even a huge FREE car park! With the heat of Rome it can be too hard to find the energy to go shopping in the centre so Castleromano with its coastal breeze makes for the perfect place to spend the day shopping and of course you’re getting everything on discount so it’s even better in these recessionary times.

Eat as the Romans Do

Ten Reasons Why Italians Are Thinner

Some of the most common remarks I hear from tourists visiting Rome are “You never see any fat Italians! How come Italians are so thin when all they eat is pasta and pizza? Though it may seem as though the Italian diet is a carbaholic’s dream, there really is much more to it than that. Here are ten reasons why the Italian diet is among the healthiest in the world.

First things first: Breakfast. While a croissant and cappuccino (typical Italian breakfast) may seem like a fattening way to start the day, this sweet combination tips the scales at only about 250 calories. HOW, you may be asking? Well, about 4 Italian cappuccinos would fit into one of its counterpart products at Starbucks, for one. Serving size will be a common theme in this piece, get used to it!

Many Italians eat breakfast late (many come to work, “clock” in, then go straight to the bar for an early morning break), which holds them over without the need to snack before lunch. When Italians come to America on the other hand, they have apparently embraced Denny's.

A proper Italian lunch consists of three or more courses. An antipasto, pasta or rice dish, meat or fish dish, vegetables, fruit or dessert, and coffee. In that order. Portion sizes are smaller than you might expect, and Italians take time to savor each dish, stopping for a pause between one course and the next.

So what are they eating that others aren't? Generally fresh, inexpensive, and simple ingredients. Sure Italian cuisine does boast some divinely creamy and rich recipes, but the most common and best loved Italian dishes are the simple ones. Pasta al pomodoro, risotto with seafood, roasted meats, raw, grilled, or stewed vegetables, etc. What’s missing? Just about anything fried, breaded, or processed in any way.

What about pizza? By all means. Pizza is a true art form in Italy. It comes in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, with a few common denominators. It is always fresh, the crust is thin (except for in a few regions) , and it is rarely overloaded with too many toppings. By too many, I mean more than 2 besides cheese. Fresh mozarella is the cheese of choice, and a little bit goes a long way. Oh, and did I leave out the fact that Italians don’t generally share? That’s right, to each his OWN PIZZA. One entire pizza with cheese and other fresh toppings carries about 750 calories. Now a quick look at some American pizza data shows us how one slice of the good stuff can pack in up to 530 calories! Multiply by three or four, and you can see how numbers add up (along with the lbs)!

Sadly, a recent invention has brought about the introduction of vending machines that make pizza in Italy. I for one hope the machines are outlawed.

Mid-meal snacks? Better not. Many Italians have replaced snacking between meals with a cigarette and espresso, or just the espresso for those who do not smoke.

Walking. Most Italian cities and towns were built centuries before the automobile was invented. While Italians have embraced automobiles and each family has at least one, the fact remains that they just aren’t the most convenient way to get around. Many cities have now banned vehicles from entering into their downtown areas in order to reduce traffic and smog. Even in areas outside the center, the following is an all-too familiar scenario.

You need to go the supermarket in Rome. You head outdoors, walk three blocks to where you were lucky to find a parking space last time you used the car. You then drive the 8 blocks to where the supermarket is located, you circle around the area 4 times looking for a place to park, and you settle on a spot up the street. After shopping you leave the supermarket, shlep your bags to the car, drive home, circle the block 4 more times, this time you find a spot a mere 2 blocks from home. All in all, you kick yourself for not just taking the little trolley (yes, the one that the little old ladies walk around with) and walking.

Drinks. Have a look through an Italian home goods store and you will find some lovely glassware. You will probably be thinking, what lovely shot glasses, but where are the real drinking glasses? Those ARE the real glasses. Italians drink tiny little glasses of water, beer, wine, soda, etc. Whatever it is, it is NOT a 64 oz. big gulp and therefore HAS to be less fattening.

Digestion. Everything I know about it, I owe to the Italians. Never have I seen anyone so in tune with their digestion. If you want to know about the proper order in which one should eat things, when and what to drink, what to avoid, ask an Italian. They just know.

Gelato. How can this creamy cold goodness not be sinful and enormously fattening? It just isn’t, because Italians gobble it up at all times of day, any season, indiscriminately. Again, the difference is in the serving size. While a little cup of gelato will satisfy a sweet urge, it probably won’t break your zipper.

A different kind of comfort. We have all heard of the term “comfort food.” For me images of apple pie and vanilla ice cream immediately come to mind, but everyone has their “go to” food when the going gets tough. My feeling is that Italians do not tend to indulge as much, preferring a chamomile tea or a talk.

The proof is in the pudding. Literally. If the above reasons don’t have you convinced, pictures speak louder than words.

5 Reasons to Love August in Rome

While many Rome experts will tell you to avoid visiting Rome in August due to drawbacks such as extreme heat, those who actually bite the bullet and come anyway may find that it is actually a perfect time to visit. Here ‘s why:

1. Shopping! The end of season sales begin in July and continue on straight through to about mid August. Prices on all spring/summer clothes, shoes, and even household goods and accessories will be marked down by 50% or more by August. The new autumn collections will also be out, which means one can get great deals on goods for this season, and a sneak peak at what’s in for the season to come.

2. Weather Over the past decade, the weather in Rome has shown an increasing trend of record heat during the month of July, with August being slightly cooler and at times rainy.

3. Driving This perk may be more of a benefit to those who live in Rome as opposed to those just visiting, but for any of you who have had the opportunity to drive in Italy, you know how scary it can be. With most of the Romans away for the summer holidays, suddenly the Roman streets are a driver’s heaven. No traffic, no beeping, no road rage, and no problem parking just about anywhere your little Roman heart desires.

4. Staying Cool If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Between the beaches, lakes, and pools right in the city, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat in Rome. For those with an ambitious agenda for sightseeing in Rome, the best way to plan your day would be to get an early start when visiting outdoor monuments such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Historic Center. By lunch time you should be ready to have a bite to eat and then back to the hotel for a siesta or swim in the pool. While there are only a handful of Rome hotels with swimming pools, rates are not much higher than those without. When the temperatures soar above 35, you won’t regret spending a few exra Euro for this added convenience.

5. Ice cream! Scientific studies (carefully carried out by yours truly) prove that the hotter it is, the more gelato one must consume in order to maintain a healthy body temperature and overall disposition.

Emilia Romagna: Fast Cars and Slow Food

For lovers of authentic Italian food, no visit to Italy is truly complete without a visit to the Emilia Romagna region. Often overlooked, this region borders Tuscany to the North and is home to the major city of Bologna. While most of the Italian continent is covered with hills and mountains, Emilia Romagna is a region of fertile plains and booming industries.

We arrived in the small city of Modena on a Friday and checked into the Hotel Real Fini on Via Emilia Est. Having booked a suspiciously cheap rate of 63 Euro per night (in June) on Venere.com, I was not expecting much from this four star hotel. However I was pleasantly surprised. The hotel was clean, stylish, well located, and had a great breakfast.

We set right out to do some local sightseeing. Just a short ride from Modena is Marranello, where Ferrari cars are manufactured. We spent an hour at the Ferrari museum tracing the life and work of Enzo Ferrari through his fabulous cars. This tour made it just a slight bit depressing to leave and climb into our otherwise perfectly adequate Fiat.

Heading back to Modena, we decided to pay homage to another local hero: Luciano Pavarotti. His villa with its endless tree-lined drive was just what we expected of the home of this billionaire opera singer. While we didn’t get past the gate, it was enough to just sit there, crank out some “Nessun dorma” on the iPod, and imagine what it would be like to live in the same town as Pavarotti. The people of Modena seem to have mixed emotions about him these days. Once an untouchable lyrical genius, he began to lose face among the Modenese when he left his wife of 36 years to marry Nicoletta Mantovani, 34 years his junior. Compiled with his performances in Modena with their hefty 300+ Euro tickets, the locals started to feel that maybe Luciano had gotten a bit too big for his britches. Now after his passing, it does seem that the fond memories are the ones that remain and that he will live on forever through his music.

The next day we woke up early and rode over to the neighboring city of Parma. It is no coincidence that the European Union has chosen Parma to be the home of the European Union Food Safety Authority. While food in Rome is nothing to complain about, these guys mean business when it comes to the art of mangiare, so we decided to hire a lovely local guide named Laura to take us around.

Our first stop was a small factory that produces Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. According to the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese consortium, this cheese is “a true miracle of nature and of the traditions of the people who produce it. It is for the enjoyment of those who seek in what they eat not only nourishment, but also incredible flavor, love for the earth, and respect – a lot of respect – for nature and its mysteries.” Personally, my respect for this 800 year old tradition had just quadrupled. We watched as they loaded the fresh local milk into the tubs that are then brought to carefully controlled temperatures as master cheese makers transform it into the early stages of Parmigiano Reggiano. It takes 1200 liters of milk to produce one perfect wheel of Parmigano cheese that will weigh in at about 45 kilos. Only 100% natural ingredients are used, no additives or chemicals whatsoever (no wonder Italians recommend it as a first food for babies as they begin eating solids). We then followed our guide as she showed us the various phases of cooling, salting, and seasoning that each wheel of cheese undergoes before it can finally be tested, certified, and stamped “Parmigiano-Reggiano”.

Parmesan cheese is so highly regarded in this region that the Credito Emiliano bank will now take cheese from local producers as collateral for a bank loan. Its air conditioned maximum security vaults hold over 200 million Euro worth of the finest Parmigiano Reggiano.

After a tasting of the various Parmigiano Reggiano products (aged 12 months, 18 months, or 24+ months), we saluted our hosts and followed our guide on date with none other than the Prosciutto di Parma.

The factory chosen for our Prosciutto tour is a medium sized production facility with three main products: Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello, and Culatta. We watched as hundreds of legs of locally raised ham were hauled in, inspected, weighed, massaged, salted, and stored in various refrigerated chambers for specific amounts of time at precisely controlled temperatures. Our guide explained the entire process to us from start to finish (which anecdotally happens to be when the master prosciutto sniffer takes a sharp tool made from the bone of a horse’s leg, stabs the prosciutto in three places, smells the tool, and gives the product a thumbs up or thumbs down). She took us through an endless labyrinth of hanging legs of prosciutto in their various phases of “stagionatura” that was almost comical. While finding our way out of this prosciutto cathedral we worked up a bit of an appetite, just in time for lunch.

The Calicella di Pilastro winery is set amongst a gorgeous backdrop of the Parma countryside. Our hosts graciously served us a light lunch consisting of their own wine (Lambrusco dell’Emilia sparkling red and Malvasia white) which we sampled along with trays of Prosciutto di Parma, Coppa, Parmigiano cheese, sun dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, marinated mushrooms, and crusty bread. Pleasantly full, we sipped an espresso, saluted our guide, and vowed to come back again!

For information about organizing a tour like the one described above, contact us at info(at)wheninrometours.com. To learn more about the Emilia Romagna region, view Emilia Romagna Turismo on Facebook.

Agritourisms Foster Eco-Tourism In Italy

If you are travelling to Italy for the first time, ideally you will have the luxury of combining sightseeing in Rome, Florence, and any of the other major Italian cities with a stay in Italy's beautiful countryside such as that of the Tuscany region.

When you begin your search for the various types of accommodation on offer you will most likely come across a few key words like tenuta, borogo or agriturismo. Agritourism is a new concept for travelers to Italy and the world over, encouraging visitors to experience agricultural life first hand. Though there are agritourism options around Italy where you don't necessarily have to participate in any agricultural life, but can still enjoy the products that the nearby farms produce like delicious meats, vine-ripened fruits, all kinds of cheeses and of course wine!

For the most part, the agritourism industry is trying to take an Eco friendly approach to holidaying. Many of the properties you will find have been fitted out with solar panels and ecologically decorated using renewable resources from the surrounding areas.

Agritourism is gathering strong support from small communities as rural people have realised the benefits of sustainable development brought about by similar forms of nature travel. Visitors have the opportunity to work in the fields alongside real farmers and even to wade knee-deep in the sea with fishermen as they haul in their nets.

Agriturismi (the plural of agriturismo) are offered in the form of a whole house, apartments, or rooms. In most cases, these farm houses have been carefully restored and furnished with beautiful country-style antiques. Considering the rural setting, one might think that this style of vacation would be a bit rustic. On the contrary, many agriturismi feature complete kitchens, luxurious bathroom amenities, swimming pools, and fine linens.

An Italian agriturismo usually serves food prepared from ingredients grown or made on the farm. A few allow guests to participate in farming activities, while others offer cooking classes to teach traditional recipes and preparations. Some cater to unique groups such as yoga enthusiasts, artists, and ceramicists. You can also book out an entire house and have it all self catering if you prefer.

Staying in an agriturismo is about experiencing rural Italian life as opposed to limiting one's exposure to sightseeing in Rome and the Vatican. It is about adopting a slower pace, and can be a wonderful way to spend your vacation in Italy.

Italians and the Dreaded Colpo D'Aria

Living in Italy for the last 10 years or so, I have had the chance to observe and ponder on many of the cultural curiosities that set it apart from much of the rest of the world. Having grown up in an Italian family, I was often warned of the perhaps fatal consequences of certain practices such as drinking anything with ice, going out with wet hair, or being given the “malocchio” (evil eye) to name a few. All these superstitions I would take with a grain of salt, as I found them harmless and would for the most part simply ignore them.

The dreaded “colpo d’aria”(gust of air) on the other hand, which once gave me a chuckle has now become a bit of a bone of contention. It all started at my neighborhood gym a few days ago. Summer had just descended upon Rome without warning, and hardly any of the shops and places of business were ready to turn on the air conditioning (I know, the fact there even IS air conditioning now in Italy is a miracle). Now I have been living here since the good old days when the currency was the Lire and air conditioning was some silly invention adopted by the rich Americani, and therefore I can and have lived without it. What I can’t live without, especially while working out in a hot gym, is a fan. Intending to endanger only my own life by turning on the ceiling fan, I made my way over to an abandoned corner of the gym where no one else was exercising and went ahead and flicked the switch. Moments later as I was happily sweatin’ to the oldies, a woman I recognized from a step class began to make her way towards me. Before getting onto a machine near me, and without any hesitation, she switched off my fan. Thinking that was incredibly rude but not sure I was ready for an all out altercation, I got down off my machine, marched over and turned it on again. This is when it got ugly.

Paranoid schizophrenic but otherwise lovely aerobics queen: (from here on out we will refer to her as PSBOLAQ): Excuse me, you can’t do that!

Me: Oh no? Funny, I don’t remember you asking before you shut it off, and seeing how I was here first, maybe you could come back in ten minutes when I’m done if you’re so worried about it.

PSBOLAQ: Everybody knows that it’s dangerous! All I need is to get on that machine when a blast of air hits my neck and I’ll be laid up for 15 days with bronchitis!

ME: (trying to be nice) No, of course you don’t need that, but I came over to this abandoned corner just so that you and the rest of the folks here would not have to take that fatal risk

PSBOLAQ: Yes, well naturally I cannot stay on the same machine all morning long, I need to diversify!

ME: Good for you, then you’ll have to put up with the fan. I have exercised with a fan on for about 15 years now, and low and behold I am still alive to tell the story!

PSBOLAQ had had enough. Without further ado she marched over to the gym manager and reported my reckless attempt to murder everyone in the gym by exposing them to a little fresh air (by the way, what are the fans even THERE FOR if we can’t turn them on). The manager tried to keep the situation under control, and in the end he decided to turn the fan down to low instead of off. PSBOLAQ proceeded to begin stepping, and the moment I finished my workout she shut that fan off with the speed of lightning.

While this scene was unfolding in the gym, I tried to scan the room to see how the other Italians reacted to it (Italians seem to enjoy getting involved whenever there is a “situation”). What I saw was a mixed bag…a few sympathetic smiles, a few pretending not to listen, and a few looking at me as if I were the mad hatter.

My question is this. If modern science has taught us anything, we know that colds and flus are transmitted by the spread of a virus or bacteria. Why then, do people still insist that they ride on the magic carpet of a gust of air? It’s going to be a long summer at that gym unless I somehow transform into a proper Italian and start having paranoid fears of the harmless.

An All Italian Meal

How hard would it be to have a complete meal that consists only of the colors of the Italian flag? Not very! As the anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic draws near, we have designed a special patriotic menu that is sure to please even the pickiest palates!

Antipasto: Insalata Caprese

A delicious salad made up of thick slices of vine-ripened tomatoes, even thicker slices of mozzarella di bufala, a few leaves of basil, and a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper over the top.

First course: Choice of the following:

Spaghetti al Pomodoro and Basilico (An Italian classic better known as spaghetti with tomato sauce).

For the more adventurous, a gorgeous dish of gnocchi with sun dried tomatoes and erba cipollina in a cream sauce.

Condiments:

To either of these first courses, I would suggest adding a touch of peperoncino, but not too much-this stuff is hot!

Dessert

To finish off, an Italian tricolored granita.

Buon Appetito and Viva L’Italia!

WIRT Guide to Ethnic Restaurants

WIRT Guide to Ethnic Restaurants in Rome

Upon reading the title of this article, you may be thinking “How could anyone get sick of delicious Italian food in Rome!” Trust me, after a while one does need a break from the carbohydrate rich Italian diet. Here are some of our favorite spots for ethnic cuisine.

Japanese/Sushi:

Sushisen

Sushisen is tucked away on a side street just behind the Piramide metro station along line B of Rome’s Metropolitana. The food is consistently fantastic, and prices are reasonable (about 25 Euro per person with a glass of wine or beer). As this restaurant is quite busy, reservations are highly recommended. The dining room is divided into two parts, the sushi bar, and the general seating area. The staff are very efficient and helpful.

Via Giuseppe Giulietti 21/A

Closed Mondays

Hiyashi Sushi

This new Japanese restaurant located a few blocks from the San Giovanni Metro station offers good competition to the beloved Sushisen (above). Prices are slightly lower, and there is no sushi bar to be found, but the general dining area is nicely decorated and has traditional Japanese style seating.

Via Faleria 36, Metro line A “San Giovanni”

Thai:

Thai Inn

Thai Inn is located in the Monteverde quarter of Rome. The owners and staff are all Thai, and are extremely gracious. Their restaurant has a back “garden” room in which clients can dine amongst exotic plants and flowers. Especially good here are the soups and noodle dishes.

Via Ozanam 94
Tel. 06 58203145

Ethiopian:

Africa

This restaurant has received all kinds of praise from Italian restaurant critics as well as Let’s Go and other Rome travel guides. It offers very affordable Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine in a quiet atmosphere. It’s hard to imagine getting sick of Italian food, but if you are in the mood for something different, try Africa. Meats are generally cooked in thick sauces, and served on top of the African flatbread called ‘ngera along with okra and other vegetables. It is customary to eat with one’s hands, using the bread to “grab” your food.

Average cost: 15 Euros per person for entrée and beer or wine.

Via Gaeta, 26

Middle Eastern:

Ali Baba'

This restauant is a bit off the Rome sightseeing path, but if you happen to find yourselves in the Via Casilina area of Rome when a kebab jonesing sets in, try Ali Baba' in Piazza della Marranella. Though there are hundreds of kebab joints in Rome, none of them hold a candle to this place. The bread is home made, and instead of just meat and sauces they fill the sandwiches with fresh tomato, shredded cabbage, lettuce, olives, onions, and just about anything else you could want. There are a few stools to sit down on, but most of the business here is take-away.

Peruvian:

El Norteño

This family run Peruvian restaurant is new on the scene in the Termini Station area. The Ceviche de Pescado appetizer ( traditional Peruvian specialty made of white fish, marinated in lime, ginger, salt and pepper) is delicious and possibly big enough to be an entrée.

Via Castro Pretorio, 26

Tel. 06 49381722 open every day

Mexican

There are several Mexican restaurants in Rome. Most are overpriced for mediocre food, although La Cucaracha is fairly good. Lots of traditional and spicy Mexican fare to choose from, as well as a nice cocktail menu.

Via Mocenigo 10a (Vatican Museum area, easy to integrate as a stop while sightseeing in Rome) Open every evening.

Italian Stallion

Italian Men are a breed of their own. All these years of living in Rome have taught me many things about the particularities of the proverbial 'Italian Stallion''. While we cannot paint them all with a single stroke, here are a few pointers on what you can expect from many Italian men.

The Approach:

Italian men are not shy. If they see an attractive woman (well, any woman really) walking down the street, there is nothing to stop them from catcalling. “Ciao Bella!” This a typical cry on the streets of Rome that a woman inevitably grows accustomed to until it begins to just fade into the surrounding city traffic. Yes, this can even be expected on those lazy jogging suit and bad hair mornings.

If an Italian man likes you, he will tell you. He will not waste time, and if you give him your number, he will call you. There are no games in this system, no “3 Day Rule” of waiting before calling someone. They will call the next day, (if not a few hours after you gave them the number), and the day after, and the day after… They can be quite impatient, so I would suggest giving it careful thought before giving your number to an Italian man.

Dating:

Italians are in love with love. They are extremely romantic and old fashioned. This is a very nice treat sometimes, as they will never let a woman pay for her own meals. Italian men are great at showing how much they care, by paying ‘little attentions’ to the woman they are with, including small gifts and romantic Italian phrases. This is one of the ways they effortlessly win over women of other cultures.

However, while romanticism is definitely at the forefront of Italian relationships, an Italian man will not find anything wrong with looking at other women while in the presence of his date/girlfriend. In fact, jealousy plays a large part in Italian relationships, and some men like this because they find that it shows how much they care about the other person. Due to this factor, it can be very difficult to go out with male friends, or make them in general, if the man has not previously befriended them.

Cultural Curiosity

In many other Western countries, the housewife-working man relationship between men and women has faded enormously, with men staying at home to cook and clean and women wearing the work pants. Italy on the other hand tends to stay true to tradition. This means that many Italian men do not cook or clean, and many live with their families until they are 30+, or until they are married (hence, wife becomes their mother). Mammone is the term for a “mama’s boy” in Italy, a very common thing.

While you are sightseeing in Rome, it is always entertaining to understand the local culture. The Italian Stallion is a very real thing, and as a woman it is a phenomenon you will most definitely encounter on your journeys. I always find it easier to take the loudly voiced comments with a grain of salt. After all, as one of my favorite Italian websites states:

"Some men in Italy claim they can carry a dozen doughnuts without their hands. Truth is...most of us can't carry two and we would pass out if we tried with more than three".

And if you actually are lucky enough to find a handsome and available Roman who wants to grab a cappuccino with you, just remember that if you give them your number, he will call (probably on his way home from that very cappuccino to tell you he is already missing you so much it hurts)! Also be sure to give them fair warning if you do not do laundry or cannot cook in order to avoid future heartbreak.

Bartender for Life

We all know that food in Italy is more than just way of life, it is practically a religion. The people who work within the food industry consider their occupations as a way of life too, and the lifestyle that surrounds it is a truly Italian one.

One of the first things that any tourist thinks of when sightseeing in Rome is what they are going to eat. It is sufficient to say that Italian food is at the top of any travelers’ top interests. However, there are many differences between an experience in a Rome restaurant or bar (which is Italian for a café), that are not easy to discern at first sight.

In many other countries, the job of a bartender or a waiter is a go-between job, something to suffice while a college student is working to go to school or what someone does while they are looking for a new job. In Italy, and therefore in Rome, these jobs are not a temporary fixture in the job market, but a profession that is taken very seriously.

Many bars and restaurants in Rome are family owned and run. For example, a small Italian restaurant can be owned by two brothers, where the mother helps in the kitchen, a cousin will wait tables, and the daughter will help seat customers and her mother in the kitchen. A local bar may have the father, son and daughter all working there as well. While this might sound cliché, it is not far from what one will find in many places. In fact, many of these businesses find it hard to hire staff outside of the family, because why hire someone who may not be trustworthy when there is a readily available cousin or nephew?

Due to the extreme importance of eating in the Italian lifestyle, these occupations are held in extreme importance. They are professions of food, not of service. Therefore, restaurants and bars that have kept their slow-paced, family run atmosphere can boast about workers who know how to serve food properly, make coffee the right way, or who can suggest the right wines to complement your food. True to the Italians’ wonderful ability to hold on to tradition, anyone lucky enough to walk into a restaurant or bar run in this fashion when sightseeing in Rome will be able to experience it the way it should be.