Antico Sole Italy

23/03/2025

Picturing a sunny Sunday in Bologna ✨

16/02/2025

Ravenna's glittering and magical mosaics are worth a detour from Venice or a day-trip from Bologna, just an hour away by car.

If you’re fed up with the crowds in Venice, head to Ravenna, with its dazzling mosaics and evocative museum dedicated to the romantic poet

16/02/2025

Here is another town to add to your list for Tuscany: Arezzo, a historical jewel nestled between Florence and Perugia. The mid-sized city with Etruscan heritage is packed with art and charming architecture but happily not usually packed with visitors, unless it's the first weekend of the month when its celebrated Antiques Fair takes over - worth the effort! Wandering the streets and porticoes and enjoying a hearty Tuscan lunch at a local trattoria makes the perfect relaxing day-trip from Florence (just an hour by train or car), Cortona, Perugia or another town. It can also be an excellent base for your Tuscany stay!

31/12/2024

Happy New Year ✨
Buon Anno Nuovo!

14/12/2024

How do Italians celebrate the Christmas holidays? Join us this weekend for a live Zoom presentation Sunday, December 15 at 1:00 PM CST in USA / 8:00 PM in Italy. Buone Feste! ✨✨

Sunday, Dec 11th at 8pm Florence time (7pm London, 2pm New York, 1pm Chicago, 11am Los Angeles)

16/11/2024

Looking for a surprising, more authentic experience on the Italian Riviera with fewer tourist crowds and great food? Dive into Genoa:

Formerly known as one of Europe’s grungiest port cities, Genoa is now welcoming travelers who seek an authentically Italian vacation.

30/10/2024

Local market update: early autumn edition

31/07/2024

Flee the city crowds and slow it down in Tuscany's Val d'Orcia with a walk around the hill town Pienza and its Path of Art and Soul.

The Sentiero dell’Arte e dell’Anima, or Path of Art and Soul, in Pienza, is lined with 28 benches created by well-known artists where visitors can take in the countryside of the Val d’Orcia.

01/07/2024

It’s always easy to find a parking spot with a scooter!

02/06/2024

Early Sunday morning is the best time to have the city to yourself.

25/04/2024

Starting today day-trippers to Venice between 8:30 am to 4:00 pm for 29 select peak days through mid-July will need to pay an entry fee of Euro 5 per person. Visitors in hotels or private residences are exempt from payment but must register before arrival to avoid the fee. See this link to register or pay before arrival: https://cda.ve.it/en/

Day visitors to Venice on Thursday had to pay to get in as the famous city started implementing the much-talked about day trip fee

25/04/2024

Today is Liberation Day in Italy - or Festa della Liberazione, a national public holiday. Each year on April 25 Italians commemorate the end of the Fascist regime and of the N**i Germany occupation during World War II, as well as the victory of Italy's Resistance movement of the courageous partisans - partigiani - who opposed the regime. The partigiani comprised a network of anti-Fascist activists from diverse backgrounds including workers, farmers, students and intellectuals across Italy. Their courage and strength is appreciated today. 🇮🇹

April 25th is a public holiday in Italy, but what exactly are we celebrating? Here's a quick look at the history.

23/04/2024

The other side of Pisa…unexpected! Similar to its neighbor Florence down the river, but with a laid back university vibe when you get out of the shadow of that famous tower, away from the crowds. Try it!

13/04/2024

Stunning new frescoes in excellent condition have been uncovered in Pompeii, a treasure chest of ancient Roman art and architecture.

Archaeologists unearth significant new paintings in the ancient Roman town buried by a volcano in AD79.

21/03/2024

Join us this Sunday, March 24 as I guest speak for my colleague Elaine Ruffolo's Art History Encounters series in a LIVE virtual Zoom tour of "Easter Traditions Across Italy" - a journey across the peninsula to discover how Italians celebrate not just Easter Sunday but all the other holidays that fall into the passionate nine-day Holy Week. We'll cover a panorama of centuries-old traditions from street processions to sacred representations to food festivals, as cities from Florence to Naples to Trapani, Sicily bring out thousands of people to participate in their springtime festivities and folkloric events. Naturally Easter food - and sweets - will be enjoyed along the way!
Sunday, March 24 at 1:00 PM CST (USA) / 7:00 PM CET (Italy).

JOIN PRESENTATION HERE:
https://elaineruffolo.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5e1ba05215edf5753b71773dc&id=5075376324&e=d7345285e2

12/03/2024

A tiny piazza in Rome will lead you to this hidden paradise...art, food, color, architecture, history, cheer 🍋

19/02/2024

Peek into an early spring here in Vignoni, a medieval castle perched above the ancient spa town of Bagno Vignoni. We are in the Val d'Orcia, one of Tuscany's most picturesque valleys featuring celebrated towns like Pienza and Montalcino.

But for something more unique, tuck into lesser-visited Bagno Vignoni for a day or even overnight, to experience the ancient thermal springs renowned here since Etruscan and Roman times. The natural flowing springs are known for their therapeutic qualities and bubble up from an impressive rectangular stone pool in the center of the square where most Italian villages have a piazza. It is a surprising and delightful sight, especially in early morning and night when the water gurgles and fumes in a magical play.

Piazza delle Sorgenti is one of the most charming squares in Italy...while you can't swim in this public pool anymore there are natural springs just down the hill where the same water flows underground, and a variety of spa hotels in the area offering thermal spring pools and treatments.

You can also just stop for a coffee or meal at one of the quaint eateries with outdoor seating along the stone-paved lanes, breathing in the clean air and marveling at how many charming towns Italy sneaks in along your journey here.

14/02/2024

Buon San Valentino ♥️
Who was San Valentino? See below!