A terrible moment — August 14, 2018 — has led to a period of rediscovery for the city of Genoa. On that day, a huge autostrada bridge above the city center collapsed. New San Giorgio Bridge The government of Italy immediately took on the task of constructing a new bridge, and on August [...]
Frans Hals Self Portrait When Franz Hals created canvases, he painted what today we would call the “real people” of the city in pubs and on the streets: musicians, barmaids, and governmental and community leaders. A self-driven tenacity created Hals’ reputation as nearly unapproachable. That attitude was exacerbated by his insistence that [...]
Binnenhof Palace, Dutch parliament in Den Haag Portrait of Rachel Ruysch by Godfried Schalcken On an early November day, I traveled to Den Haag, the Hague. The train route from Amsterdam’s Centraal station includes a brief stop in the strikingly beautiful station in Leiden. I was tempted to disembark the train [...]
The news came quietly, leaving the art world stunned to learn that a fresco in the church of Santa Maria in Marcialla, not far from Florence, had been attributed to none other than Michelangelo. Fresco: The Deposition of Christ Residents of Marcialla, a tiny village south of Florence, have claimed for generations that [...]
Since the time of the Grand Tour, Italy has beckoned travelers to the cities of Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, and Naples. Beyond those well-traveled cities lie less well known places, regions, and cities of incredible beauty. Such is the case of Apulia, Puglia as it is called in Italian. Archaeological finds in the region date [...]
An accomplished culinary teacher and writer, Pat Gambarelli s private Italian cooking classes became an instant hit with women who wanted to learn both classic cooking techniques and modern preparations. Before long, bachelors living on their own, young executives, and men from all walks of life and professions attended the classes. Pasta for Men Only [...]
Many readers have asked "How do I keep up with new articles on your Travels Across Italy blog?" It is VERY easy. When you are reading any of the articles, on the right side of the screen you will see a space where you can enter your email address. Enter your email address in that [...]
Join Francesco Lombardo, noted artist from Western North Carolina, on an incredible eight-day drawing workshop in the heart of Florence.
Mark Smith, Owner of Private Italy Tours, above Positano on the Amalfi Coast. We wish to extend our deepest gratitude to all of you who have read, or follow, our travel blog about Italy. This week, we surpassed the 200,000 views of our blog. Thank you. We are dedicated to continuing improvement about [...]
Southwestern US Tour Our southwestern United States tour in October of 2018 offers a group size limited to twelve guests the opportunity to explore one of the most hauntingly beautiful areas of the country.