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cooking class in tuscany guide

Railpass.com Announces New Greece ‘n Italy Railpass Available For Summer Olympics
In anticipation of the Olympic Games returning to its ancient roots in Athens, Greece from August 13-29, Railpass.com announced the availability of the Greece ‘N Railpass. History and culture have always linked Greece and Italy—now this regional rail pass, exclusively offered through Railpass.com, provides an inexpensive and flexible means for visitors seeking an adventurous odyssey by land and sea through both of these chic Mediterranean destinations. The Greece ‘N Railpass includes unlimited travel on the train network of Hellenic State railways and Trenitalia, plus a return crossing between Ancona/Bari and Igoumenitsa/Patras on board the Superfast Ferries ships, or between Brindisi and Igoumenitsa/Corfu/Patras on board the Hellenic Mediterranean Lines and Blue Star Ferries ships, for the period of validity of the pass. The passes are available for 4 to 10 days of unlimited first- or second-class travel in 2 months. Discounts fares are available for groups of two to five passengers traveling together, for youths under age 26 (second class only), and for children under 12 (children under 4 years are free when sharing seat or bed with paying customer).

Fares start at $214 US.According to Mike Fuller, CEO at Railpass.com, "Athens hotel bookings

Tuscany Photos
<p><a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/tuscanypictures/ig/Tuscany-Photos/"><img src="http://z.about.com/d/goitaly/1/0/S/G/-/-/pitigliano-blog.jpg" alt="pitigliano picture" width="116" height="170" border="0" hspace="5" align="right"></a>Tuscany, one of Italy's most popular travel destinations, is a picturesque region dotted with evocative medieval hill towns that have ancient walls and towers and lively squares where you can sit at an outdoor cafe for a coffee or glass of wine. Take an armchair photo tour of Tuscany's hill towns, from popular towns like Cortona and Siena to less visited choices, with our <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/tuscanypictures/ig/Tuscany-Photos/"><strong>Tuscany Photos</strong></a>.</p> <p><strong>Tuscany</strong>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/tuscany/tp/toptuscany.htm">Top Places to Go in Tuscany</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/tuscany/tp/tuscanybooks.htm">Tuscany Travelogues</a></p> <p><small>Pitigliano Photo © 2009 by Martha Bakerjian</small></a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/09/tuscany-photos.htm">Tuscany Photos</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 11:27:34.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/09/tuscany-photos.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/09/tuscany-photos.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/09/tuscany-photos.htm&#038;zItl=Tuscany Photos">Email this</a></p>
Spring Is On The Way in Italy
<p><a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/whentogotoitaly/a/spring.htm"><img src="http://z.about.com/d/goitaly/1/0/X/N/-/-/spring-flowers-blog.jpg" alt="puglia flowers picture" width="116" height="170" border="0" hspace="5" align="left"></a>Warmer weather has made its way into many parts of Italy and it's starting to look like spring is on its way. We have a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-goitaly&#038;tid=1769">forum post</a> with spring photos from <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.duepadroni.it/UK-bed-and-breakfast-italy/UK-bed-breakfast-italy.html">Villa I Due Padroni B&#038;B</a>. I added links to a couple of my spring favorites, too. Drop by the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-goitaly&#038;tid=1769">forum</a> to talk about spring in Italy, check out the photos or post your own photo of spring in Italy.</p> <p><strong>Spring Travel</strong>: <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/whentogotoitaly/a/spring.htm"><strong>Why Visit Italy in Spring?</strong></a></p> <p><small>Photo of Spring flowers in Puglia © 2010 by Martha Bakerjian</small></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/07/italy-in-spring.htm">Spring Is On The Way in Italy</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 13:46:42.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/07/italy-in-spring.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/07/italy-in-spring.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/07/italy-in-spring.htm&#038;zItl=Spring Is On The Way in Italy">Email this</a></p>
Rialto Special Events in the Heart of Venice
<p>Rialto Bridge and Market area, in the center of Venice, is holding a series of special events to introduce <em>Rialto Cuore della Citta'</em>, or heart of the city. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.rialtovenezia.com/eventi">Events</a> (listed in Italian) start March 6 and run through April 10. Look for special markets displays, theater, and music on Fridays and Saturdays and <em>Women in Jazz</em> performances on Thursday evenings at 6:30. </p> <p><a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/venicepictures/ig/Rialto-Bridge-Pictures/"><img src="http://z.about.com/d/goitaly/1/6/N/J/-/-/venice-rialto.jpg" alt="rialto bridge picture" width="119" height="118" border="0" hspace="5" align="right"></a>The Rialto Bridge is one of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/veniceitaly/tp/venice-free.htm">Venice's top free tourist sites</a> and you'll easily find it by following signs put up in many parts of Venice. But not so many tourists visit the spectacular Rialto fish market, held weekday mornings for about the last 1000 years. Arrive early to see fresh fish being unloaded from the boats. Nearby is <em>San Giacometto</em>, probably Venice's first church, founded in 471 and rebuilt in 1071, about the same time the Rialto Market was built. You'll find several good, inexpensive places to eat near the market, too. See our <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/veniceitaly/tp/sestiere_map.htm">Venice Neighborhoods Map</a> for location.</p> <p><a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/venicepictures/ig/Rialto-Bridge-Pictures/"><strong>Rialto Bridge and Market Pictures</strong></a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/05/rialto-heart-of-venice.htm">Rialto Special Events in the Heart of Venice </a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Friday, March 5th, 2010 at 18:10:53.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/05/rialto-heart-of-venice.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/05/rialto-heart-of-venice.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/05/rialto-heart-of-venice.htm&#038;zItl=Rialto Special Events in the Heart of Venice ">Email this</a></p>
Free Museum Days in Italy
<p>For the <em>Festa della Donna</em>, Women's Day Festival, Italian national museums and archeological sites will offer free admission for women March 6 and 7, 2010. Here's the list of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.beniculturali.it/mibac/opencms/MiBAC/sito-MiBAC/Contenuti/MibacUnif/Eventi/visualizza_asset.html?id=65965&#038;pagename=129">participating museums and sites</a> (in Italian).</p> <p>2010 <em>Settimana della Cultura</em>, Week of Culture, is April 16 through 25. National museums and archeological sites have free admission and some have special events and guided tours. Sites not normally open to the public are sometimes opened during this week, too. Watch for updates on the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.beniculturali.it/mibac/opencms/MiBAC/sito-MiBAC/Contenuti/MibacUnif/Eventi/visualizza_asset.html?id=65951&#038;pagename=52">Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities</a> site (in Italian).</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/04/free-museum-days-in-italy.htm">Free Museum Days in Italy</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 13:21:24.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/04/free-museum-days-in-italy.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/04/free-museum-days-in-italy.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/04/free-museum-days-in-italy.htm&#038;zItl=Free Museum Days in Italy">Email this</a></p>
San Gimignano View - Italy Travel Photo of the Week
<p><a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/sangimignano/p/sangimignano.htm"><img src="http://z.about.com/d/goitaly/1/0/N/N/-/-/san-gimignano-garden-ww.jpg" title="san gimignano photo" border="0" alt="italy travel photo of the week" width="300" height="404" ></a></p> <p>View of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/sangimignano/p/sangimignano.htm">San Gimignano</a> from the fortress gardens. </p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Travel-Weekly-Photos/">2010 Italy Travel Photos of the Week</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Photos-of-the-Week/">2009 Italy Travel Photos of the Week</a></li> </ul> <p><small>San Gimignano Photo © 2010 by Martha Bakerjian</small></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/03/san-gimignano-view-italy-travel-photo-of-the-week.htm">San Gimignano View - Italy Travel Photo of the Week</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 21:27:49.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/03/san-gimignano-view-italy-travel-photo-of-the-week.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/03/san-gimignano-view-italy-travel-photo-of-the-week.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/03/san-gimignano-view-italy-travel-photo-of-the-week.htm&#038;zItl=San Gimignano View - Italy Travel Photo of the Week">Email this</a></p>
Italy Travel Tips from Italy Blogs
<p>Last week I asked readers to submit their Italy blogs. On the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/form.htm">submission form</a> there's a place for travel tips so even if you don't want to read all the blogs, it's worth taking a look at the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/">blog submissions</a> to read the great tips about traveling in Italy. Here are a few examples:</p> <ul> <li>From <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/Bleeding-Espresso---Calabria.htm">Bleeding Espresso</a>: "Be open-minded and relaxed. Things are probably not going to go exactly as you had planned, and you'll be much happier if you embrace that instead of stressing about it." </li> <li>From <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/Cooking-and-Touring-in-Central-Italy.htm">Cooking and Touring in Central Italy</a>: "Don't rush your trip and try to see too much. The fondest memories you will have of your trip will not be of the landmarks you see, but the seemingly insignificant moments in between."</li> <li>From <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/Becoming-Italian-Word-by-Word.htm">Becoming Italian Word by Word</a>: "Learn a little Italian--if only basics like please and thank you (per favore e grazie). Yes, many Italians understand and speak English, but they'll relate to you on a whole other level in Italian."</li> <li>From <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/Bella-Baita-View---Piedmont-and-Italian-Food.htm">Bella Baita View</a>: "Monday is a good travel day or walking day as most museums and stores are closed on Mondays."</li> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/02/italy-travel-tips-from-italy-blogs.htm">Italy Travel Tips from Italy Blogs</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 19:04:29.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/02/italy-travel-tips-from-italy-blogs.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/02/italy-travel-tips-from-italy-blogs.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/03/02/italy-travel-tips-from-italy-blogs.htm&#038;zItl=Italy Travel Tips from Italy Blogs">Email this</a></p>
Bluegrass in Genoa, Italy
<p>Did you know that there's bluegrass music in Italy? I know Italy has festivals for many different types of music but I never thought of bluegrass. Last night we had dinner with friends who are on their way to language school in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2008/10/24/a-day-in-chiavari.htm">Chiavari</a> and to the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.redwinemusic.net/jmla/index.php?lang=english">Red Wine Bluegrass party</a> in Genoa, March 19-20. <em>Red Wine</em> played at last year's bluegrass festival in San Francisco. Laurie Lewis, a top bluegrass musician from the US, will be a headliner.</p> <p>Genoa, Italy's principal seaport, is a good city to visit these days. In addition to interesting festivals like this one, Genoa has a historic center said to be the largest medieval quarter in Europe and a nice port area with an interesting aquarium. Genoa makes a good base for visiting nearby <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/liguria/ss/italian_riviera.htm">Italian Riviera</a> villages.</p> <p><strong>Genoa for Visitors</strong>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/genoahotels/tp/genoa-top-hotels.htm">Where to Stay in Genoa</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/genoa/a/genoa.htm">Genoa Travel Guide</a> &#124; <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/genoa/ig/Genoa-Picture-Gallery/">Genoa Pictures</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/27/genoa-italy-bluegrass.htm">Bluegrass in Genoa, Italy</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 11:30:13.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/27/genoa-italy-bluegrass.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/27/genoa-italy-bluegrass.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/27/genoa-italy-bluegrass.htm&#038;zItl=Bluegrass in Genoa, Italy">Email this</a></p>
A Hotel, a Restaurant, and Supporting an Artisan in Florence
<p>As one of three Italy travel tips on her <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://becomingitalianwordbyword.typepad.com/becomingitalian/2010/01/bonus-blog-travel-secrets.html">Bonus Blog: Italian Travel Secrets</a>, <em>Dianne Hales</em> recommends staying at Palazzo Magnani Feroni in Florence (<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.venere.com/accommodation/florence/accommodation-palazzo-magnani-feroni/?ref=640468">book direct</a>).</p> <p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.operaetgusto.com/en/">Opera et Gusto</a> is an interesting sounding restaurant with dinner show in Florence. Currently they offer entertainment and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays, with some of the special shows having a fixed menu. </p> <p>Context's <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2009/07/20/florence-artisan-walk-supports-sustainable-travel.htm">Foundation for Sustainable Travel</a> has awarded their second artisanal apprenticeship to Elia Rizzo, a student of jewelry design. Elia will take an advanced etching course at Florence's <em>Le Arti Orafe</em>, a technical institution dedicated to jewelry, followed by an apprenticeship at a local jewelry studio, <em>Antica Bottega</em>. You can visit artisan workshops in Florence on Context Travel's <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2009/11/03/artisan-traditions-of-florence.htm/">Artisan Traditions of Florence</a> walk. </p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/26/florence-hotel-restaurant-artisan.htm">A Hotel, a Restaurant, and Supporting an Artisan in Florence</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Friday, February 26th, 2010 at 12:23:29.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/26/florence-hotel-restaurant-artisan.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/26/florence-hotel-restaurant-artisan.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/26/florence-hotel-restaurant-artisan.htm&#038;zItl=A Hotel, a Restaurant, and Supporting an Artisan in Florence">Email this</a></p>
Sardinian Traditions - Italy Travel Photo of the Week
<p><a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Travel-Weekly-Photos/Sardinia-Traditional-Items.htm"><img src="http://z.about.com/d/goitaly/1/0/J/N/-/-/sardinian-ww.jpg" title="pitigliano photo" border="0" alt="italy travel photo of the week" width="300" height="234" /></a></p> <p>Traditional Sardinian items on display at <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goeurope.about.com/library/bl_hotel_gologone.htm">Su Gologone</a> on the island of Sardinia - one of my favorite restaurants and hotels.</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/sardinia/ig/Sardinia-Pictures/">Sardinia Pictures</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Travel-Weekly-Photos/">2010 Italy Travel Photos of the Week</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Photos-of-the-Week/">2009 Italy Travel Photos of the Week</a></li> </ul> <p><small> Sardinia Photo © 2010 by Martha Bakerjian</small></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/24/sardinian-traditional-display-photo.htm">Sardinian Traditions - Italy Travel Photo of the Week</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 at 12:52:34.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/24/sardinian-traditional-display-photo.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/24/sardinian-traditional-display-photo.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/24/sardinian-traditional-display-photo.htm&#038;zItl=Sardinian Traditions - Italy Travel Photo of the Week">Email this</a></p>
Tell Us About Your Italy Blog
<p>Do you write a blog about Italy? We're gathering blogs about Italy to make a good resource for travelers, armchair travelers, and people who love reading about Italy. Your blog can cover any city or region of Italy, travel in Italy, Italian food or culture, or just about anything else related to Italy. Share your blog with Italy Travel readers by using this form: <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/form.htm"><strong>Submit your Italy blog</strong></a>. </p> <p>Read the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/">Submitted Blogs</a></p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/22/submit-your-italy-blog.htm">Tell Us About Your Italy Blog</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Monday, February 22nd, 2010 at 20:16:30.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/22/submit-your-italy-blog.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/22/submit-your-italy-blog.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/02/22/submit-your-italy-blog.htm&#038;zItl=Tell Us About Your Italy Blog">Email this</a></p>


are lower than expected and there are still available tickets for many high-demand events at the Games. This is a rare opportunity that's not usually easy for last minute planners. The Greece ‘N Railpass is a flexible, inexpensive, and enjoyable way to see more of this region once you arrive in either Greece or Italy." and Greece together might be this year's dream team for those traveling to the 2004 Olympics. When travelers are ready to escape the fanfare and bustle in Athens, they can set off for the serene vineyards of Tuscany.Railpass.com (formerly Railpass Express) is the largest single rail pass outlet in the U.S. and over 100,000 rail travelers have purchased Rail product from Railpass.com.

Publishers of the best-selling guidebooks, Europe by Eurail and Britain by Britrail, Railpass.com's experienced agents have been helping fellow travelers for over 20 years. The Railpass.com call center (1-877-RAILPASS) and exclusive online help tools cut through the confusion of over 5000 pass combinations and passes can be shipped out the same day. In addition to unmatched experience and service, Railpass.com offers the choice of free guide books, discount coupons, accommodations or shipping for all online orders over $200 US. Railpass.com is a division of Wandrian, Inc.For more information or to book the Greece ‘N Railpass, Eurail, Regional, and Country passes, visit www.railpass.com or contact one of our rail experts at 1-877-RAILPASS in the US. Tickets for the Olympics may be purchased at www.tickets.athens2004.com.

Contact:Liz McGuireRailpass.com15 Hancock AvenueNewton, MA 02459Phone: 617-291-6630www.railpass.come-mail protected from spam bots.




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With its wonderful climate year round, Italy is a perfect destination for a holiday whether you are an art lover or a gourmand; what else we can say about Italian cities, art, Read more...
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cooking class in tuscany news:

Fiabe Italiane
<p>The New York Times notes in "<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/theater/07turturro.html">With Turturro, Italy Knows No Bounds</a>," that the actor John Turturro directed and acted in "Fiabe Italiane" ("Italian Folk Tales"). The production, on tour last month in Torino, Napoli, and Milano, featured "...minstrels, two overlapping stories, [and] layers of language (English, Italian, Western Lombardian, Sicilian, Neapolitan, Piedmontese, Abruzzese)."</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/03/07/fiabe-italiane.htm">Fiabe Italiane</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 02:32:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/03/07/fiabe-italiane.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/03/07/fiabe-italiane.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/03/07/fiabe-italiane.htm&#038;zItl=Fiabe Italiane">Email this</a></p>
Sing in Italy
<p>Want to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.singinginitaly.com/">learn to sing opera in Italy</a>? A three-week workshop, organized by professional opera singers, is being held this June in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/orvieto/">Orvieto</a>. The program includes voice lessons, coaching sessions, master classes, concerts and language lessons with Italian soprano Laura Toppetti and coach-accompanist Riccardo Cambri. One operatic style sure to be covered is <a href="http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa042501a.htm"><i>bel canto</i></a> (beautiful singing).</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/03/02/sing-in-italy.htm">Sing in Italy</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 20:36:48.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/03/02/sing-in-italy.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/03/02/sing-in-italy.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/03/02/sing-in-italy.htm&#038;zItl=Sing in Italy">Email this</a></p>
Spaghetti Eastern
<p>To film buffs, the term "spaghetti Western" is fairly common. It's a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s, so named because most were produced and directed by Italians, usually in co-production with a Spanish partner. The best-known and perhaps archetypal films were the "Man with No Name" trilogy directed by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood and with the musical scores of Ennio Morricone: <i>A Fistful of Dollars</i> (1964), <i>For a Few Dollars More</i> (1965), and <i>The Good, the Bad and the Ugly</i> (1966).</p> <p>Now, though, there's a more recent film sub-genre: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118015570.html?categoryid=1236&#038;cs=1">spaghetti Eastern</a>! The Italian government has approved a co-production treaty with China, with the provision that an English-version of the films produced must be made for international distribution, along with versions in Italian and Mandarin.</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/25/spaghetti-eastern.htm">Spaghetti Eastern</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 02:47:16.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/25/spaghetti-eastern.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/25/spaghetti-eastern.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/25/spaghetti-eastern.htm&#038;zItl=Spaghetti Eastern">Email this</a></p>
Codice Itanglese
<p>Beware the Italian language police! Agostini Associati, an Italian translation and interpreting services agency, has proposed a series of rules called the <a href="http://www.agostiniassociati.it/codice-itanglese.php"><i>Codice Itanglese</i></a> (Itanglese Code) to determine when it is appropriate to use an English term or expression when speaking or writing Italian (and when it is not).</p> <p>There have been a series of efforts by politicians and academics to defend the Italian language against what's often referred to as <i>italenglish</i> or <i>itangliano</i>. Several years ago, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa062100a.htm">members of the Italian parliament launched a campaign against English phrases and syntax</a> that were flooding into their culture and language, and, according to them, threatening to kill off Italian!</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/21/codice-itanglese.htm">Codice Itanglese</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 02:21:57.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/21/codice-itanglese.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/21/codice-itanglese.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/21/codice-itanglese.htm&#038;zItl=Codice Itanglese">Email this</a></p>
Petrarca's Love Sonnets
<p>Back in the 1300's, before card stores and chocolate manufacturers all conspired to commercialize the true spirit of love, passion, and romance, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/od/petrarca/Francesco_Petrarca_Canzoniere.htm">Francesco Petrarca</a> literally wrote the book on infatuation. The collection of Italian verses, <em>Rime in vita e morta di Madonna Laura</em> (after 1327), translated into English as <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/library/weekly/aa021600a.htm">Petrarch's Sonnets</a>, were inspired by Petrarch's unrequited passion for Laura (probably Laure de Noves), a young woman Petrarca first saw in church.</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/14/petrarca-love-sonnets-4.htm">Petrarca's Love Sonnets </a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at 02:18:35.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/14/petrarca-love-sonnets-4.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/14/petrarca-love-sonnets-4.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/14/petrarca-love-sonnets-4.htm&#038;zItl=Petrarca's Love Sonnets ">Email this</a></p>
Esatto? No!
<p>A community member of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-italian">About.com Italian Language Forums</a> remembers an interview some years ago with a professor on RAI TV during which, in her words: "he had an explosive fit over the word 'esatto' when used as confirmation or agreement by the second party."</p> <p>Another poster postulates that the professor found it reprehensible on grounds of lack of variety. The point is, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=12&#038;nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-italian&#038;tid=9129">the Italian language allows a number of possible affirmative answers</a>, depending on the question and on the context, including: "<em>S?t;/em>," "<em>S?certo</em>," "<em>Certamente</em>," and "<em>?cos?t;/em>."</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/09/esatto.htm">Esatto? No!</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 02:06:20.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/09/esatto.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/09/esatto.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/09/esatto.htm&#038;zItl=Esatto? No!">Email this</a></p>
McDonald’s Parla Italiano
<p>McDonald's has introduced a new line of "McItaly" sandwiches and salads in its Italian locations, including a burger topped with olive oil, onion, and smoked pancetta. To coincide with the new menu items is a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.pubblicitaitalia.it/news/Creativita--Marketing/Campagne-e-Spot/con-mcitaly-e-twbaitalia-mcdonalds-parla-italiano-_27011212.aspx">marketing campaign</a> with the tagline: "Il gusto McDonald's ha un nuovo sapore. Tutto italiano."</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/02/mcitaly.htm">McDonald’s Parla Italiano</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 02:05:57.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/02/mcitaly.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/02/mcitaly.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/02/02/mcitaly.htm&#038;zItl=McDonald’s Parla Italiano">Email this</a></p>
Sicilian Tragedee
<p>"Sicilian Tragedee," by Ottavio Cappellani (translated by Frederika Randall), is, according to The New York Times, "<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/books/review/Leavitt-t.html ">a funny novel that both celebrates and satirizes 21st-century Sicily</a>...where donkey carts share the street with sports cars and everyone has a cellphone."</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/31/sicilian-tragedee.htm">Sicilian Tragedee</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 02:32:07.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/31/sicilian-tragedee.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/31/sicilian-tragedee.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/31/sicilian-tragedee.htm&#038;zItl=Sicilian Tragedee">Email this</a></p>
Fare Il Pieno With a Subject Pronoun
<p>The <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.nytimes.com/pages/crosswords/">New York Times crossword</a> today features a clue for Italophiles: "Gas brand that's also an Italian pronoun." The answer, of course, is ESSO, a brand name derived from the phonetic pronounciation of the initials of Standard Oil ("S-O").</p><p>It's also one of those <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/od/grammar/a/aa052808a.htm">forgotten Italian subject pronouns</a> that include <i>egli</i>, <i>ella</i>, <i>esso</i>, <i>essa</i>, <i>essi</i>, and <i>esse</i>.</p><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/28/esso.htm">Fare Il Pieno With a Subject Pronoun</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 02:05:38.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/28/esso.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/28/esso.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/28/esso.htm&#038;zItl=Fare Il Pieno With a Subject Pronoun">Email this</a></p>
Pin-up Italiana
<p>A community member of the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-italian">About.com Italian Language Forums</a> points outs out that sometimes "<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=178&#038;nav=messages&#038;webtag=ab-italian&#038;tid=111">it's all right to use a foreign word when the Italian equivalent is awkward or non-existent</a>."</p> <p>Case in point is the term <i>ragazza di cui appendere la fotografia alla parete</i>&#8212;a pin-up!</p> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border:1px solid #d5d0bf;clear:both;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/25/pin-up-italiana.htm">Pin-up Italiana</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 02:38:11.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/25/pin-up-italiana.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/25/pin-up-italiana.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/25/pin-up-italiana.htm&#038;zItl=Pin-up Italiana">Email this</a></p>