The Fatal Charm of Italy: A Question and Answer Po 5s2v56

Diverse options for traveling to Italy, from large tour groups to independent travel, we discuss the pros and cons of different ways to tour Italy.

We all know the Top Ten sites to see in Rome. But after those, what's "the best of the rest?" The post FCI 039 – Top Sites to See in Rome with Elyssa Bernard appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Top Sites to See in Rome with Elyssa Bernard on The Fatal Charm of Italy Podcast. Elyssa tells us what to see after we've seen the Vatican and Colosseum.

​I mean, everybody wants to move to Italy, right? (Or in any case, if you’re reading my blog, I assume that you’ve at least entertained the idea.) But hold on a second. While it's a tempting and romantic dream to sell all of your possessions and buy a crumbling farmhouse in Tuscany, you might want […] The post FCI 038 – Move to Italy the Right Way with Damien O’Farrell appeared first on Rick's Rome.

I am speaking with Damien O'Farrell, a Global Mobility Specialist, focusing on tailor-made solutions for corporate and individual clients who want or need to relocate to Italy. Damien covers all aspects of how to make a new life for yourself in the land of dolce vita... and how to do it the right way.

In the Cucina with Adina Antonucci learning how to eat Italian in America The post FCI 037 – In the Cucina with Adina Antonucci appeared first on Rick's Rome.

An Interview with Adina Antonucci, creator of Adina Cucina, a blog dedicated to creating simple Italian recipes that are both healthy and delicious. We talk about the differences regarding food culture in Italy as compared to the United States.

Italy, in all its charms, lends itself very nicely to romantic quotes, soft-focus photos of rolling landscapes, and Facebook “stories” that make our friends back home jealous. But if you crave a deeper connection, like I do, it’s the real stories that touch us much deeper than easy sentimentality. I’ve consumed more of these tales […] The post FCI 036 – Writing About Italian Ancestors with Carol Faenzi appeared first on Rick's Rome.

On this episode, I talk with Carol Faenzi about writing about Italian ancestors, and traveling back to Italy to find our roots through the stories handed down across generations. us as we discuss her great-grandfather, a stonecutter and opera tenor who traveled to the New World and back in search of a better life for his family.

Make no mistake, learning a foreign language as an adult is NOT easy. Luckily, there are some aspects of the Italian language which are so simple that a child can understand them. To wit, I’d like to offer an Italian pronunciation guide, “co-produced” by my three year-old daughter, Demetra. More on that later… As far […] The post FCI 035 – Italian Pronunciation Guide appeared first on Rick's Rome.

Rick Zullo discusses some of the most common mistakes made by English speakers when learning Italian. There is also a brief interview with his three year-old daughter, Demetra.

Quando si tratta di iniziare le pratiche relative alla Green Card, é meglio affidarsi ad un avvocato, oppure no?

Here is the demo that we made in class for the Palm Beach Podcaster at the Mandel Public Library in downtown West Palm Beach. Interviews with attendees and a really bad intro by the teacher (that's me).

OK, so if you’ve been to Rome once or twice already, you might be looking for some unique Rome tours that will help you get acquainted with this ancient city on a deeper level. Not that you’d EVER exhaust all of the stops on a standard checklist—heck, even most native Romans don’t see “everything” in a lifetime. But stepping off the beaten path can give you a whole new appreciation for the complexity and richness of Roman culture and history. Today on the podcast I spoke with Beth Rubin from Select Italy tours, and we discussed a few unique Rome tours for curious travelers who want a few experiences that they haven’t seen in the movies or someone else’s vacation photos. Unique Rome Tours Rome Underground: San Clemente. This is one of my favorite places to bring family or friends visiting Rome. For one thing, it’s so unexpected. You enter the 13th Century Basilica at street level, then descend into a 4th Century church—and then go down further still into a 1st Century Roman house. It’s the metaphor of Rome’s “layer of history” brought to life in a very literal way. Another bonus: when visiting in July or August, the lower levels become progressively cooler as you descend, until you find a refreshing 60 degrees Fahrenheit at the bottom level. Bring a picnic lunch and stay all day! (Kidding) Dungeons of the Colosseum: Behind-The-Scenes Tour. So what happens to the Gladiators who lose their battles? Yes, I’ve seen the Russell Crowe movie, too, and it wasn’t pretty. If you didn’t become the pranzo of a lion, then you got thrown in the dungeon where your prospects of a long life weren’t good. This tour also includes the view from above, the so-called “upper tiers.” These two areas cannot be accessed with a standard entry ticket to the colosseum, so if you want the “backstage ” experience, then this is the way to go. Become a Roman Gladiator for One Day. Yes, this one is tailor-made for families, because let’s be honest, I don’t know of any 8 year-old kids who are saying, “Please, dad, can we go see another Flemish tapestry or Baroque statue?” The bambini enjoy the ambiance of Rome, but many of the famous sites are just plain boring to them. And you can only give them so much gelato in one day. My little princess fancies herself quite the warrior at times, and I’d love to dress her up as a gladiator and watch her take on the entire asilo nido from the local parish in a mock battle. To the victor goes the Kinder Eggs! What great photos to have as souvenirs of a family vacation! Tour Rome in a Vintage Fiat 500. I love this idea. They have a Vespa tour, too, and I’m not sure that a 500 provides much more protection against the swarms of aggressive drivers around Piazza Venezia. But I can just imagine channeling the spirit of Marcello Mastroianni as the car swerves down the Via Veneto escaping from the paparazzi. OK, well, you might have to use your imagination a little bit, but I truly love these cars, if only out of nostalgia. One bit of advice for the taller ones among us: you might want to warm up and stretch a little bit before attempting to contort yourself into the vehicle. Or request one with a sunroof. Day Trips from Rome. Not surprisingly, when Beth and I discussed our favorite day-trip from Rome, we both said Tivoli. And when talking about Tivoli, I automatically assume that we’re talking about the Gardens at Villa D’Este. After a few hectic days in the city center, it’s soooo relaxing to wander around the lush elegance of Villa D’Este’s sculpted hedges, worn statues, and cascading water features. The star of the show is the famous “singing fountain,” (Fontana dell’Organo), which uses hydraulic energy to power an automated pipe organ that plays a tune every two hours. Don’t miss it! Select Italy with Beth Rubin During our conversation, Beth and I also discussed tips for visiting Italy during peak season. The crowds,

There are some unique tours of Rome that will help the curious traveler get to know the Eternal City on a deeper level. Today on the show I talk with Beth Rubin from Select Italy Tours about some of the different offerings for an "off the beaten path" experience while visiting Rome and Italy.

During the summer of 2010, I took a trip back to my “ancestral village” in the remote mountains of Molise, about 100 kilometers from nowhere. I didn’t know much about the place; only that my great-grandfather had left there in 1880s with 20 lire in his pocket and a one-way ticket to the American Dream. Recreating his journey in reverse was one the best travel experiences of my entire life. Although I was excited about seeing the origins of my roots, I wasn’t prepared for the emotions that awaited me at the end of the road. It’s hard to explain the overwhelming feelings when confronted by the reality of how much he sacrificed—and how much I’ve benefited from his choice. (Well, I literally wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t, but I’m referring to a more philosophical argument.) Anyway, if I have one regret about that trip it’s that I wasn’t nearly prepared enough to get the most out of the experience. My cousin and I did all of the “research” beforehand, relying on our own limited skills and a few random websites. Suffice to say that were left with some considerable holes in our findings. We did the best we could, but in the end it was a pretty weak effort. Alas, we saw his village, and even met a few people with the same last name. But we never did realize the grand reunion/homecoming that I had been imagining. We should have hired a professional. Lesson learned. Digging up Roots in the Boot Many people are into genealogy these days, and yes, there are plenty of websites to help. But like any search tool, they’re only as good as the person wielding them. It’s A LOT harder than you think it’s going to be. At the time I didn’t speak very good Italian, so that’s obstacle number one. Then you have to be persistent to the nth degree, with the tenacity of a bulldog. And of course, there are certain “tricks” and techniques that can only be acquired through trial and error. Lots of error. So this brings me to my guest on today’s podcast, who is exactly the person I should have ed ahead of my homecoming trip. Not only would she have saved us time and aggravation, but the process would have seen its way to the triumphant end instead of falling short and leaving us a more than a little disappointed. Like me, Laura learned the hard way through her own homecoming journey. Unlike me, she kept pushing through until she achieved her goal. Now she’s an Italian citizen living in Calabria, and she has tons of experience in battling with the comuni, churches, and other sources of genealogy information. By the way, that’s a lesson for getting anything done in Italy: the first “no” is only the opening salvo in any negotiation. Let it bounce off, retreat temporarily, and then come back at the problem from a slightly different angle. “Non è possibile,” (It’s not possible) really means, “I just don’t feel like it at the moment. Try again another time and maybe I’ll be in a better mood.” Laura Watson Laura Watson is a proud third generation Italian American who ventured abroad to Italy in 2005 with the intention of digging a little deeper into her Italian roots. She visited her ancestral villages in Sicily, where she met and developed ongoing relationships with distant cousins. She’s also had her Italian citizenship recognized along the way. It was after this amazing journey that she decided to dedicate herself to promoting the richness of Italian cultural heritage, while helping other individuals realize their dreams of a homecoming experience. I’d like to give a big GRAZIE to Laura for chatting with me on the podcast today, and reminding me of how wonderful it is to have roots in the boot. Check out her website where she offers various genealogy services including document research, citizenship consultations, and Italian heritage tours. Honestly, I could have used her help in all three areas, but it’s the heritage tour that I really missed out on.

Italian genealogy expert Laura Watson from Digging up Roots in the Boot explains the process of researching your family tree, planning a heritage tour, and claiming your Italian citizenship. She also talks about life in Calabria as an American expat.

I wrote a blog post a few years ago about buying property in Italy. I’ve never actually made the dive, but I’ve looked into it… so of course I felt qualified to speak as an expert. Anyway, the Tweet that I’ve sent out for this particular post is: “Buying property in Italy. My concise guide to your inevitable descent into madness and regret.” I’ve received from a few Italians over the years who’ve asked, “Why does every mid-level manager from Milwaukee suddenly want to pick up a hammer, call himself a carpenter, and move to Tuscany?” Well, it’s true, right? Anybody who reads this blog has probably entertained the same fantasy—including me. The stories that eventually turn into Hollywood films are always some version of pastoral bliss. A country house with a view of rolling vineyards, quirky but friendly neighbors, and enough Chianti to drown yourself. Sure, there are the comical scenes of roofs collapsing and other reconstruction setbacks. But everybody has a good laugh in the end, and the village residents all come over to welcome their new expat neighbor with baskets full of Italian goodies. Then everybody sits down at a long, outdoor table to savor the bounty of life in Italia.  Ahhh… But wait! What about the permits and the unreliable contractors and the pizzo and the lack of infrastructure and the sudden discovery of an ancient cistern that triples the cost and quadruples the amount of time required? Oh, Hollywood forgot to mention all of that! Well, suffice to say that both versions have some truth to them, as my guests on today’s podcast episode will share with us. They’ve experienced it all first hand—the tragedies and the triumphs—and now have settled in to a comfortable, fulfilling lifestyle in rural Puglia. Under the Puglia Sun Over 12 years ago, while visiting his family in Terlizzi, Puglia, Paul literally stumbled upon a villa in the Italian countryside. It was in ruins. Here was this historic site along the ancient Via Appia Traiana without purpose or life. But there was something magical about the place, so while Paul’s kids ran all over the property in sheer delight, he knew this would be an amazing home someday. Paul says, “From the moment we stepped foot on this property, we felt the need to restore its soul. In the process, it has restored ours.” Over the years, Paul and Steven have painstakingly restored this historic villa to the beautiful home it is now. But they didn’t stop there. Surrounded by ancient olive groves, vineyards, and fruit trees, they decided it was time to share all of these wonders with everyone else. That is how Villa Cappelli was born. Ridiculous Rituals in Italy This episode of my podcast is actually half of a “podcast exchange” that we did. Recently I was honored to be a guest on their brilliant podcast, where they asked me about one of my favorite topics: Superstitions in Italy. This always makes for a lively discussion, and inevitably I wind up adding a few more wacky examples to my on-going list. Check out my guest appearance on their podcast here: Living Villa Cappelli Podcast Furthermore, my cohorts in expat rebellion (C.O.S.I.) are weighing in on the general topic of “Ridiculous Rituals in Italy,” which has the potential to cover SO many different points, from personal hygiene to food rules to health obsessions, and yes, superstitions. Here’s my irascible crew for your entertainment pleasure: Girl in Florence Surviving in Italy Sicily Inside and Out Sex, Lies, and Nutella An Englishman in Italy Paul and Steven at Villa Cappelli The conversation also covers the cultural differences between the U.S. and Italy. Paul has a really unique perspective. He was born in Pisa, moved to New York at age seven, spent summer in Italy growing up, then eventually moved back to his mother’s hometown in Puglia.

“What was that?” I asked the waiter at my hotel, after my silverware vibrated, then shook violently, then fell off the table. He shrugged. “Oh, it’s nothing—just Colapesce trying to get comfortable.” “Well, can you ask him to be more careful? He nearly spilled my cappuccino!” I was joking with him, of course, as I’m well-acquainted with the particular folktale that he was referencing. Legend, religion, and superstition are never far apart in Sicily—but none of them are taken too seriously. The Sicilians claim that their ancient Trinacria (three-point island) was born from a precious gem, fallen from the crown of The Lord, and then ed by three massive undersea columns. Then about 800 years ago—practically last month by Sicilian standards—a humble fisherman’s son named Colapesce was diving in the waters off of Messina. While underwater, he noticed that the column of Pelora, on which the Northern cusp of Sicily leans, was cracked and ready to crumble. Fearing that at any moment his beloved isola might sink, he stayed down there—transforming into half-man, half-fish—to the pillar on his own shoulders. Nowadays, when the island experiences seismic tremors, it’s said that Colapesce is merely readjusting his position to get comfortable. So hold to your coffee with both hands, my friends. Eastern Sicily Highlights Saskia Balmaekers was one of the other “survivors” from our odyssey to the Aeolian Islands last October. We were reminded of this legend of Colapesce as we enjoyed a sublime seafood meal at Rosso Divino in Taromina. Our lunch table sat next to a series of painted mosaic tiles depicting the story of our aquatic friend, and the staff was only too happy to recount their version of the tale to us while we waited for our first course. During our conversation on the podcast today, which took place during our blog tour in October, we discussed, among other things, the pleasures of dining in Sicily. It started with the wine; a mineral-rich white Catarratto, Etna D.O.C. harvested from the slopes of the simmering volcano. The perfect complement to our seafood pasta dishes. Saskia is one of those travel companions who always makes a trip more enjoyable with her knowledge and ion for all things Italian. All I have to do is mention a local dish, a semi-famous work of art, or an obscure event from Italian history and Saskia fills in the rest of the conversation with limitless detail and illumination. She’s almost like a walking guidebook. Actually, that’s a really good metaphor in this case since she written more guidebooks on Italy than Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, or Rick Steves. The only reason you don’t have her books on your own shelf is because, well, she writes them in her native Dutch. Unfortunately for us. Saskia Balmaekers Saskia fell in love with Rome when she visited the Eternal City for the first time in 1998. She went back two years later and decided to study Italian, to experience more of the Italian culture, to discover more Italian stories, and to actually live in Italy for a while. She first finished her studies in the Netherlands, at the University of Tilburg, before heading to Florence to study Italian. When she came back to Amsterdam, she worked in the publishing industry – introducing Sudoku to the Netherlands and working as a marketing manager for children books and travel guides. Since her friends were always asking her advice when traveling to Italy, she started ciaotutti.nl to share all of her Italian stories. She published the first post on February 1st, 2010. After almost three years, her blog was so much more energizing than her “normal” work that she began to dream of traveling more often to Italy. So in December 2012, she decided to quit her job and to dedicate all her time to Ciao Tutti – and thus to Italy. Since then, she travels throughout Italy often,

Those of you suffering the mid-winter blues amid the frigid cities of North America might not like me and my podcast guest today. This conversation took place poolside on a warm day on the Sicilian island of Vulcano, chilled glasses of crisp white wine in hand. The smoldering black volcano in the background set against the blinding blue of the Mediterranean sky. We were reclined on comfy lounge chairs pondering how the other half spends a typical Tuesday afternoon in early October. I was there with Gillian McGuire and seven or eight other bloggers on what turned out to be an ill-fated odyssey to the Aeolian Islands. Our escapade resembled something between an episode of Lost and the misadventures of Gilligan. However, the camaraderie of our fearless crew made it the best blog tour that I’ve ever been a part of, in some twisted way. In any case, Gillian was right at home in this locale, one of the coastal Italy hotspots that should be on the bucket list of any self-proclaimed Italo-phile. She even has a friend living on Lipari who helped salvage our plans when we were all but abandoned by our official hosts. (In Sicily, friends with connections are much more useful than the local tourist board. Unfortunately.) Coastal Italy Hotspots Without a doubt, one of the most appealing characteristics of Italy is its diversity. From its fashionable cities, to its quaint hill towns, to seaside destinations. It really has it all—something for every taste. In case you haven’t already guessed, Gillian’s tastes favor beaches, islands, and small fishing villages along Italy’s west coast. Among her friends and fellow bloggers, she’s “the beach girl.” In fact, she shares her favorite coastal experiences in two guidebooks that she’s written; Amalfi Coast Travel Essentials, and Ponza Travel Essentials Guide. If you’re considering either of these balmy destinations as you sit there shivering in your flannel pajamas, then these two books should be your blueprint for planning your vacation. In this podcast episode, Gillian expounds on some of her practical suggestions for visiting these areas based her years of (*a-hem*) grueling research. She recommends a few places that I’ve never even heard of, and offers advice for moving about along the coastline. (Hint: It’s NOT by Vespa!) Gillian McGuire Gillian is a Rome-based blogger, eBook writer, information curator, traveler, coffee and cocktail drinker. Her friends call her “The Source” and she is your go-to girl for the best information on just about anything in The Eternal City, the Amalfi Coast, Capri and the island of Ponza.   I should also mention that she really knows her food and wine, and a few years ago she contributed the Amalfi Coast section to my little restaurant guide, Our Favorite Restaurants in Italy. Once again, I’d like to give a big GRAZIE to Gillian for being on my podcast today, and sharing her considerable knowledge on the best coastal destinations in Italy. If you’re planning a trip to this area—or even just dreaming of one—check out her blog, Gillian’s Lists, as well as her eBooks for the very best information on this popular vacation area. The post FCI 030 – Coastal Italy Hotspots with Gillian McGuire appeared first on Rick's Rome.