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- August 28th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italian Soccer Stadium Travel Information
I know not everyone who loves Italy loves Italian soccer (heck, not even all Italians love Italian soccer), but I happen to love both - and I’m really looking forward to the new Serie A season starting up on August 31 (even if my team last seas
- August 27th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Sicilian Granita: The Real Deal in Italian Ice
Semifreddo and gelato are all well and good, but for serious chilling out, Sicilians have another trick up their sleeves - granita! Unlike the icy-confection found elsewhere, Sicilian granita’s intensely pure, crystalline texture is far more di
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Hostels in Florence
If you’re not interested in paying the high prices for hotels, then chances are good you’re looking at staying in a hostel. Well, if you’re looking for hostels in Florence, here are reviews of the Florence hostels I’ve either
- August 26th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Catholic Priest in Italy to Hold a Beauty Contest for Nuns
If you thought the Roman Catholic church was so last century, there is a priest in Italy who’d like to change your mind. And he’s got a creative (I’d call it very outside-the-box) scheme to try to attract new followers. He’s c
- August 25th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Getting To & From Malpensa Airport by Bus
I’ve gotten quite a few questions recently about the best ways to get to and from Milan’s Malpensa Airport, and since I’ve already talked about the very-fabulous Malpensa Express train, I figured I should cover more bases and talk t
- August 24th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy News: 08.24.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: An Italian court has ruled that teachers are not allowed to spit at principals. Good, I’m glad we cleared that up. Here’s another article about one reporter’s Home Food experien
- August 22nd, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy in October
There used to be a time that October in Italy was the start of the slow season, when prices dropped as the bulk of the tourists fled. In Italy’s bigger tourist cities, however, those days are a thing of the past. While April and October can sti
- August 20th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy Q&A: Getting from Malpensa Airport to Varenna
Here’s another of my Italy Q&A posts. Trudy left this question in a comment right here on the Italy Logue: What is the easiest way to get from Milan Malpensa to Varenna at Lake Como? Friends are arriving earlier than we are and my husband i
- August 19th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Fall Travel Deals to Italy
Summer’s coming to an end, which means there are all kinds of fall travel deals coming out right now. And with projections way down for tourist numbers in Italy this summer, no doubt the folks in the Italian tourist industry will be hoping to m
- August 18th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Day Trip from Milan: Visit Vigevano for Pizza in the Piazza
This article was written and submitted for publication on the Italy Logue by Chris Bright. If you need to take a break from the fast-paced lifestyle of Milan, the charming little town of Vigevano is just far enough off the beaten path to provide a re
- August 17th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy News: 08.17.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Okay, folks, this is just too good… Wondering what to give that friend in your life who has everything? I’ve got just the thing - the CD of Neapolitan love songs that’s being rec
- August 16th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy is #1 Destination Choice for Americans
For 11 straight years, when Americans were asked what country they’d most like to visit if cost weren’t a factor, they ranked Australia at #1. Well, move over, koalas, there’s a new kid in town. For the first time, Italy is now rank
- August 14th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
How to Read an Italian Soccer Schedule
I might be in the minority here, but when I first started looking at the Italian Serie A soccer schedules I found them really hard to figure out. In fact, I’ll admit that I still sometimes find them kind of unnecessarily confusing. So since I h
- August 13th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy Q&A: Getting from Venice to Malpensa Airport
It’s time for another in my Italy Q&A series. This one comes from Eduardo in Argentina: I’m planning a trip to Italy and Greece. We would like to get some information about travel in Italy. I was searching how to go from Venice to Mal
- August 11th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Nude Beaches in Italy: Yes, They Exist
Because Italy seems to be so dominated by the Catholic church, you might not automatically think that there would be a ton of nude beaches in Italy. But even though the Catholic homebase is in the country, and even though the vast majority of Italian
- August 10th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy News: 08.10.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Police in Bologna say they’ve detained five people on suspicion of recruiting for terrorist organizations in Iraq & Afghanistan, and of planning terrorist attacks. They’re still lo
- August 8th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Using Debit Cards in Italy
One of the biggest headaches about foreign travel used to be figuring out the whole money thing. I remember the things I used to have to consider when I’d travel years ago: Should I get some of the local currency before I leave home? How much s
- August 7th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy Q&A: Soccer Games in Tuscany in October
Here’s another in the Italy Q&A series. This comes from Margie, who asks: I am going to be in Tuscany October 10-17. Are there any soccer matches in our area during that time? I’m sorry, Margie, I wish I had better news for you! You w
- August 4th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Semifreddo: “The Fluffy Stuff in the Gelato Case”
So, you’ve studied your gelato flavors, learned the process for ordering gelato and even memorized the tips for finding the best gelato shops in Italy. Now you’ve walked into a gelateria and you’re faced with something new - what th
- August 3rd, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy News: 08.03.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: Everyone’s still looking for quiet corners of heavily traveled places to find one spot no one’s heard of. This article lists several such places, including one in Sicily - the fortifie
- August 1st, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
What to Do in Pisa
Most of the people who visit Pisa do so for a couple of hours, usually on their way to or from Florence or Siena, only to get a picture of themselves “propping up” the leaning tower of Pisa and maybe climb to the top of the famous tower.
- July 30th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Super Secret Uffizi Ticket Booth in Florence?
You may remember that I recently wrote an article about the long lines in Florence in March for sights like the Uffizi - my goal was to try to implore you to buy tickets ahead of time so that you don’t risk missing out on some of the city’
- July 28th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
4 Most Expensive Italian Cars
Personally, I’m not much of a car person. But I know plenty of people who love to travel in Italy love it partly because it is the land where so many shiny red and yellow fast cars are born. One of these people happens to be the husband, with w
- July 27th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy News: 07.27.08
Before we begin, here’s a quick announcement - I’m sure you noticed, when you looked at this post that something was different this week. (You noticed, right? Please say you noticed.) I’ve been running this weekly feature of a list
- July 25th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Hostels in Venice
Venice is full of hotels, but there aren’t many hostels in Venice - the city just isn’t known for cheap places to sleep, unfortunately. In fact, it’s just not known as a haven for anyone who focuses on cheap travel. But Venice hoste
- July 23rd, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
My Favorite Florence Gelato Shop: Festival del Gelato
I’ve written in the past about arguably the most famous gelato shop in Florence, Vivoli - I felt it was my duty to you, my dear readers, to investigate whether Vivoli lived up to its reputation. You may remember that while the gelato itself is
- July 21st, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Avoiding Lines in Florence
Anyone who’s planning a trip to Florence has probably heard the horror stories of people who had to wait 5-6 hours in line to get into the Uffizi Gallery. And when you’ve heard those stories, I’m guessing you had one of two reaction
- July 20th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italian News Snippets: 07.20.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: What’s going on in Italy lately? First we have the couple having sex in a cathedral confessional box, and now we’ve got a couple that got arrested after having sex in the street. Some
- July 19th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
How to set Up a Prepaid Cell Phone in Italy
More and more travelers are choosing to stay connected with folks back home - as well as people they meet along the way - by purchasing prepaid cell phones in the countries they’re visiting. It’s both cheap and easy to stay in touch this
- July 18th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Add your Italy budget hotel or guesthouse to the Hostel Directory
If you own or operate budget hotels in Italy, hostel, agriturismo, guesthouse or any other budget accommodation – or you know someone who does – you (or they) should enter the information into the new worldwide Hostel Directory . This will be a r
- July 16th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
First Class vs. Second Class on Italy Trains
Because I work for a company that sells Eurail passes, and because I used to do customer service for said company, I often get asked, “Is buying a first class train pass really worth the difference in price?” So I thought I’d throw
- July 14th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
How to Order Gelato in Italy
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve studied my vocabulary list of Italian gelato flavors and you’ve taken notes on my tips to finding good gelato in Italy. Now comes the best part - actually trying the gelato. But believe it or
- July 13th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italian News Snippets: 07.13.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: An Etruscan tomb has been discovered in Perugia, removing one thing from what I imagine is still a miles-long list of really cool stuff still underground in Italy. Do you have a spare €220,
- July 11th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy Q&A: 3 Weeks in September
Here’s another in my Italy Q&A series of posts. I got a note from Milton which read: i am going to italy in september for about 3 weeks and was thinking about taking an apartment in rome, or maybe another town. i would love your thoughts. i
- July 9th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Siena
Although most people spend their Italian vacation in the “holy trinity” of Italian cities - Venice, Florence, and Rome - those who branch out and go just a short distance off the well-trodden tourist path also tend to flock to a few of th
- July 8th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
I’m Going to BlogHer 2008 - Are You?
This is just a quick note to say that I’m going to be at the BlogHer Conference in San Francisco July 17-20, 2008 - so if you’re going to be attending the conference, send me a note or leave a comment here to let me know. I’d love t
- July 7th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
The Longest Italian Word
For all you Italian language enthusiasts out there, I’ve got a special little tidbit today. You’ve already read about my favorite Italian swear words, and you’ve seen my periodic posts about Italian idiomatic expressions, but this i
- July 6th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italian News Snippets: 07.06.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: World happiness studies indicate that people in Italy aren’t as happy as some of their European neighbors - Italy ranks only 45th in overall happiness, whereas Ireland is 6th. Britain comes
- July 5th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy Monasteries Website Makes Booking Easy
An Italy Logue reader recently sent me a note drawing my attention to a website that I thought I’d pass along to everyone. I’ve talked before about the budget beds which can be found in many of the monasteries and convents in Italy which
- July 4th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy Photo of the Week: David
For this Italy photo of the week, we’re in Florence: Michelangelo’s David is, perhaps, one of the most famous images of Florence. And yet the one that’s outside the Palazzo Vecchio - the one everyone poses in front of for photos, a
- July 3rd, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Why I Love Moleskine City Notebooks
When I was planning my last trip to Italy, I’d already heard about the Moleskine City Notebooks - and in fact I already had the one for Milan, the city where I was going to be based. But when I first heard about these little gems, they didnR
- July 2nd, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Emerald Fields Hostel in Florence: 3 Hostels in One
Since the Emerald Fields hostel in Florence is in an apartment building about a 10 minute walk from the train station, I can only assume that the name “Emerald Fields” refers to the beautiful Tuscan hills that surround the city. In any ca
- July 1st, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
The Most Popular Museums in Italy for 2007
Anyone waiting in the long line to get into the Uffizi Gallery or the Vatican Museums on a hot summer day will recognize that they’re standing outside one of Italy’s top museums. But if you’re looking for a list of Italy’s mos
- June 30th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Parking a Car in Italy: Sidewalks & Crosswalks
There are lots of reasons why I may never drive a car in Italy. For one thing, I’m not one of those people who “loves driving” even in the U.S., so I have no problem letting the husband - who does love driving - take the wheel when
- June 29th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italian News Snippets: 06.29.08
Some Italian news for your Sunday reading pleasure: If the idea of a “Pope Casanova” seems surprising to you (as it did to me), then check out this Times Online article about the young man’s entry into Rome before his more legenda
- June 28th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Milan #41 in World for Overall Quality of Expat Life
Mercer has just released its 2008 Quality of Living survey - it ranks cities around the world in terms of cost of living, personal safety, recreation opportunities, public transportation, and many other factors to come up with an overall ranking on &
- June 27th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Milan for the Blind
Although I was based in Milan during my last trip to Italy, I was gallivanting around the country for roughly half of the entire trip. So, although I do know Milan quite a bit better than I did before, I still feel like there are surprises waiting fo
- June 26th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Try Home Food in Italy This Summer
I’ve mentioned how much I love the Home Food organization before, and even wrote about attending a Home Food dinner in Milan, so with the busy summer travel season ahead of us I wanted to remind everyone who’ll be in Italy this summer of
- June 25th, 2008
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Italy Photo of the Week: Tortelloni
For this Italy photo of the week, we’re in Asolo: Food shop windows are some of my favorites in Italy, because even the uncooked displays are mouth-watering. This is a tray of ready-made pumpkin-filled tortelloni, dusted with powder to keep fr
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bootsnall has posted a new entry on: Italy Travel Guide
Hostels in Rome
Looking for hostels in Rome? Here are some of the ones I’ve visited personally, or stayed in. The links go to the detailed reviews I’ve done, including photographs, so you can better choose which of these hostels in Rome is best for your