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Tania and Keith Von Barkenhagen never meant to move to Italy. The California couple thought they'd spend a year, and then go back to southern California—Keith to his IT career and Tania to managing small businesses. That was 14 years ago, and their lives and jobs have evolved a lot since then.
Italy offers endless sights and historical attractions; I could list a hundred just in Rome alone. There’s so much to see no matter where you go. But part of the pleasure of “la dolce vita” is combining sightseeing, with unique only-in-Italy experiences. Here’s my 10 things to do...
With the heady fragrance of fresh truffle wafting from the kitchen, my mouth waters as I await the plate of handmade tagliolini pasta that will soon be coming my way, while sunlight filters onto the patio. It’s easy to think that this is the perfect Italian hill town...
The inherent beauty of Italy’s architecture and landscapes has made it the ideal film set for many movies. Who doesn’t immediately recognize the canals of Venice, the Colosseum in Rome, or the cypress-lined lanes of Tuscany? Italy has dreamy towns that are so picture-perfect...
Mention Italy’s Lake District and most people will think of the northern glacial lakes—Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda, and of course Lake Como. Their glitzy reputation as a playground for the rich and famous draws lots of visitors, especially in the summer months...
I'm Valerie Schneider, the Italy Correspondent for International Living. I wanted to take a few minutes to talk to you about connectivity, because this is a question I get asked frequently, both at the IL conferences and by email...
One of the great things about Italian cuisine is that it’s never boring. Each region, even small swaths within regions, have their distinct dishes and food specialties, so traveling around gives you new things to sample...
My enchantment with Italy was sparked on my first visit, as it has happened for so many travelers to this romantic land. It wasn't a flirtation or a fleeting attraction, but a visceral, soul-stirring amore, a sense of destiny. There are so many reasons to love Italy...
Close your eyes and dream of your perfect Italian hill town. Tidy brick buildings with pretty piazzas and romantic lanes, lounging on its hill amidst a dreamy countryside striped with vines and bathed in that inimitable ethereal light. Picture it?
When the writer Dante Alighieri was unceremoniously kicked out of Florence, he wandered around for a few years, finally finding refuge in Ravenna. In this city in the Emilia-Romagna region, Dante found such hospitality and care that he praised Ravenna in his most famous work, The Divine Comedy...