How to Be Part of the Coffee Bar Culture in Italy

Caffe latte og iskaffe (Photo credit: Wikipedia) How to Be Part of the Coffee Bar Culture in Italy

By M. Cowan


Want to fit into & feel part of the lively coffee bar culture in Italy?
Busy local bars (cafes) in Italy attract a steady stream of regulars who drop by daily for a quick coffee (espresso) and later on a quick drink, to get caught up on local news with each other, glance at the newspapers, and chat back and forth with the barista. Cafes are a type of gathering place for the community.
Later they usually offer a variety of freshly made sandwiches so you may return there for a quick bite. At any time of day you can choose from a wide choice of drinks from fruit juice to wines to hard liquor like scotch to liqueurs.
Breakfast in bars in Italy is typically an espresso, caffe latte or cappuccino with a croissant or similar pastry. At home most people have a caffe latte and biscuits or bread with jam and that's it, the continental breakfast. Many better hotels offer a wider choice for tourists like ham, cheese, cereals, fruit and yoghurt. But why not have breakfast Italian style at a bar with local people and mix and mingle? It will also cost less than your hotel breakfast.

How to Eat Real Bologna Food With Locals in Bologna, Italy

The Fountain of Neptune, by Jean de Boulogne, in "Piazza Maggiore" square at Bologna, Italy. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
By M. Cowan


On Skype I talked with our long time Bologna cooking tour colleagues, who've lived in Bologna for 40 years and grew up nearby. How to find good places to eat in Bologna where locals go?
The question was more complicated than that in Bologna, they said. Better to ask, "How to find good places to eat top quality, real Bologna style food where locals go in Bologna?"
Our Bologna cooking school tour colleagues have four criteria for a great restaurant:
- top quality food,

- a warm welcome,

- very clean.

- good value for the money

A mesmerizing Journey along the coast of Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre (Photo credit: University of Maryland School of Languages)

Author: Jacob

The picturesque coast along the Cinque Terre is one of Italy's most prized tourist destinations. This land of five villages is situated on the western coast of Italy. When you travel to Cinque Terre, the beautiful scenery of this region provides a mesmerizing view and gives immense satisfaction to the travelers.

The New Stunning Destination to Travel to - Calabria in Southern Italy

Cliff at Tropea. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By Marco A Rossi


If you're looking for a vacation or travel destination that will leave a lasting impression, it's time for you to visit the new stunning destination to see - Calabria, Southern Italy. This region might leave a lot of people dumbfounded. It's not exactly a household name in terms of popular travel destinations. But that's because Calabria hasn't been very accessible for a really long time. In fact, only some parts in the UK, Europe and the US have had a direct routes to the region's airports. It was only recently that the Italian government and the Calabria local authorities have made giant steps in upgrading its road infrastructures and airports.

Top Things to Do in Milan

Milan Duomo (Photo credit: underflowR) By Mark McLaine


Milan is one of the best cities in the world where you can visit and explore. This city is called as the 'Fashion Capital of World'. The city has a number of options for those who are interested in the art and culture of Italy. There are a number of things which you can do in Milan when you come here. Here are some of the top things which you can do once you come to Milan.
a. Pay a Visit to Duomo: This is undoubtedly the number one suggestion one can give you when you come to Milan. The Duomo or Cathedral is one of the largest Gothic Cathedrals of Italy. The church provides you some of the best views of the nearby areas.

All About the Cinque Terre in Italy

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Cinque Terre is a picturesque series of five villages located along the Italian Riviera in the region of Liguria a little west of La Spezia. In fact, Cinque Terre means five lands or "five earths" in Italian. The five villages (alphabetical) include Corniglia, Manarola, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore and Vernazza. This is a great area for hiking and also for swimming, so it attracts many outdoor enthusiasts. It also attracts loads of tourists in the summer because of its awesome and rugged beauty.

Tourist Treasures Of Rome

Rome (Photo credit: ryarwood)

Author: Adam Singleton

Rome is home to many fascinating attractions and its historical significance expands beyond the birthplace of the Roman Empire. Its links to Christianity are evident around every corner in the city, and none more so than at the Vatican City. The Vatican City attracts thousands of visitors each year and it is easy to see why.
A city within a city, the Vatican is home to the Pope, the elaborate St Peter's Basilica and the beautiful Sistine Chapel; famed for its architecture and renaissance decoration by artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Sandro Botticelli. While the queue to see Michelangelo's work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel alone will take up a large proportion of the day, it will be time well spent as you eventually get to fully appreciate its attraction.

Pantheon, the Glorious Pagan Temple of Rome

Pantheon, Roma (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Author: Jacob

The Pantheon is an ancient temple in Rome. It is also known as the "temple of all gods". Astounding architectural design combined with its rich history makes it a famous tourist destination.
Very few architectural master pieces get the attention the Pantheon gets. A "temple of all gods", this work of genius has fascinated human imagination for centuries now. If you are visiting Rome don't miss visiting this pagan temple. A fine example of glorious Roman architecture, it's a reminder of the splendid days in Roman history.

There Are Many Types of Italy Tours

St. Peter's Basilica at Early Morning (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Author: Phoenix Delray

People that are looking for Italy tours are often surprised at how many different kinds are available. There are ones that go to almost every area of this country and that have emphasis on many different things.
Many people immediately associate this country with Rome. They want to see this city because of all the historically significant features it has. They may also want to visit nearby Vatican City to see the artwork and possibly get a glimpse of the Pope. While this is an interesting place, this area is not the only reason that people visit this country.

Tours to Palermo - Beyond the Sicilian Legend

Detail of the bell tower. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Author: Aman Kapur

When planning vacations time visiting Palermo, every person has different evocations associated to this place. Some people think of Palermo as a beach of cosmopolite charm, some others recall its historical connotation associated to ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Roman, and the Byzantine Empire, while others associate Palermo with the modern urban legends of Sicilian "bad guys." Whatever is written in your mind, Palermo is a tourist destination you must keep in your list to places to visit sometime.
Located in the south of the Italian peninsula, Palermo is the capital city of the Island of Sicily, a city that was founded around 2,700 years ago, although there is archeological evidence that the city was founded not later than 8000 years BC. Sicilia is an autonomous Italian region in the south tip of Italy, with Palermo connecting to mainland via by train or car via its highway, although the Aeroporto Internazionale Falcone Borsellino is the easiest way to arrive from almost anywhere around the world.

Syracuse, an Amazing Sicilian Tourist Spot

English: Piazza Duomo, Syracuse, Sicily, Italy. Français : Piazza Duomo, Syracuse, Sicile, Italie. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Author: Jacob

The city of Syracuse sits handsomely on the shores of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea. Probably one of the few cities which could challenge Rome in terms of power and prosperity, Syracuse exudes an old world charm that will transport you back in time. Make sure you spend some time in Syracuse while travelling around Italy.
This ancient city was founded in the year 733 B.C by the Corinthians and has a bloody political history that had seen the rise and fall of many great leaders. Syracuse was allied to Sparta and Carthage when it was founded and later became a powerful city-state in the Mediterranean region. Later it came under the Roman Republic and thrived as a port of trade between the Eastern and Western parts of the Roman Empire. The Vandals captured Syracuse which was not meant to last for long as the Byzantine Empire came to claim it in the year 535 A.D. In the year 828 A.D., the Arabs besieged the city and under their two century rule, they rebuilt the city along Islamic styles. Again in 1038 A.D., the Byzantine Empire reclaimed it and thus ended what seemed to be the most part of Syracuse's blood-spattered history.

France - The Rules of the Restaurant

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Liz Olkowicz


No holiday walking in France would be complete without sampling various forms of the regional cuisine. The good news is that there's no need to worry too much about restaurant etiquette, though a little basic awareness might help you avoid feeling awkward!
Restaurants and restaurants
In many English speaking countries, restaurant etiquette is relatively informal just about everywhere, apart perhaps from the very top-end establishments. When on a holiday walking in France, you may be pleasantly reassured to know that the vast majority of restaurants will also be relaxed and relatively informal. Of course, there will be haute cuisine establishments that bring with them certain formal conventions, but these are a relative minority. Dining is typically a relaxed affair, whether breakfast, dinner or lunch.
Yet there are a few things worth knowing!

Travel to Volterra and Discover the Real Tuscany

Vineyards in Gaiole in Chianti in the Chianti Classico region (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By Giovanni Balboni


Volterra is not one of the best-known settlements in Tuscany, however, it is certainly one of the most appealing. Of all of the hilltop towns in the region, there are few that can match it.
There are many reasons so many people decide to make their holidays in Tuscany; villas in this region provide visitors with rolling hills, exquisite landscapes, quaint architecture and a more relaxed way of life. Volterra has all of these in abundance, making it the ideal place to spend some quality downtime.

The Often Overlooked Beauty of Naples, Italy

English: A view of Mount Vesuvius from a convent across the waters. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Religious Tourism: Montecassino Abbey

English: Montecassino Abbey: First cloister with San Benedetto's statue Italiano: Abbazzia di Montecassino: Primo Chiostro con la statua di San Benedetto (Photo credit: Wikipedia)With the beginning of the summer begins also the tourism machine, and the religious tourism is not an exception.

In summer, more than in other seasons, the cities famous for their places of worship and religious buildings are filled with tourists and pilgrims. In this sense, Italy has certainly a rich legacy: the destinations most appreciated by tourists are without a doubt the Vatican, Basilica of Saint Peter, Padre Pio Sanctuary in San Giovanni Rotondo and the Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua. Beyond these three main places of worship, in Italy you can find many other buildings and places of high cultural and historical value, and the Abbey of Montecassino is one among the most proper examples in this sense.