Italy is a blast from the past and this I feel, is the real reason why people love to come here. It reminds us of our innocent childhoods when life was simple and tomatoes tasted like real tomatoes.

In the historical center of each town there are no flashing neon lights full of advertising – only 400 year old buildings made of marble and sandstone with iron 18th century street lamps and a discreet bronze plaque with the name of the business.

EASTER IN PRAIANO AND POSITANO

by Edward Close

The towns of Praiano and Positano on the Amalfi coast are a must see for an Italian traveller. This area of Italy is a place of beauty and captivating landscapes that should be on every Italianophile’s itinerary. You must first endeavor through the windy roads that lead into these tiny pockets of civilization that have crept up into existence like flowers popping up out of rocky crevices. The views are breathtaking and the sea breeze invigorating as you take in the wonder of the region. As you sip the local wine and taste the exquisite gifts of the sea, the sunsets will never be forgotten.

Catching trains in Italy I always find stressful. One can never relax. It is always busy on the Eurostar the high speed train. They are always heavily booked.  One always climbs in at the wrong door and one has to drag the heavy bags up an isle approx. 70 cm wide.  I highly recommend using a suitcase with wheels that turn sideways for train travel...READ MORE!!

By Edward Close

During the January freeze in Arcidosso, Tuscany, my brother Oscar and I kept asking members of his beloved host family, whether it would snow the next day. We joked about the possibility of Australians doing a snowdance and they said maybe later in the winter it would come and we would sadly miss it. We both prayed for snow as it is a novelty for us Brisbanites and we wanted to see the town blanketed in white like some photos we had seen. Oscar parted for Australia soon after and the cold continued for me down in bella Roma. I therefore continued my quest for snow and questioned some Roman friends whether this was a possibility....

Sting will be playing at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy on Sunday July 15. Passion for Italy clients who book their full Italy trip with us get a full list of the best hotspots for Festival happy hours, Jazz lunches, wine tastings and Jazz dinners. No bookings for Jazz festival only will be taken at this late stage. 

Umbria Jazz Festival is without doubt one of the main musical events in Italy and is renowned internationally for high quality performances and unique location. Every summer the Festival attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world to Perugia, where they share their passion for music....

I always seem to write articles about food when down here on the gulf of Napoli at Pozzuoli.  It is because the Italians are obsessed with food and what they are going to eat today and how good was it yesterday and yes maybe tomorrow even better…!!! And yes it rubs off on you!!...... read more click below

I am a foodie when other people cook for me but running Passion for Italy Travel I do not have much time left over for cooking after a hard day at the office. I appreciate the labour of love that other cooks offer me but normally at home I find it a chore to cook. Maybe that has something to do with having had to cook every day for a large family for many years!!….

I have spent the last four days working in Florence and making contact with the wonderful staff of the Passion for Italy Florentine hotels. I must say I think that Florence is taking over number one stance rivaling Roma as my favourite city in Italy.!!I always judge this by the number of time your breath gets taken away e.g. when you turn a corner and there in your view is the most amazing building of sublime architecture and sculpture!! This has happened to me many times this week...

In this series of blogs we will highlight some of our favourite day trip destinations in Tuscany.

SAN GIMIGNANO

San Gimignano is a small hill-top town in Central Tuscany. It is a tourist magnet, but we love it just the same! Its famous towers (once numbering 72, now only 14 remain), its cobble-stoned streets, its setting surrounded by lush productive land all add up to make this an enchanting day trip destination.....

- THE LATEST AFTER THE FLOODS

For all tourists wishing to walk the paths of Le Cinque Terre, Liguria Italy here is a trustworthy blog stating the current paths that are accessible and not accessible still to the public.

http://www.cinqueterre.com/blog/the-cinque-terre-paths-situation-updated

Italy is a blast from the past and this I feel, is the real reason why people love to come here. It reminds us of our innocent childhoods when life was simple and tomatoes tasted like real tomatoes. In the historical center of each town there are no flashing neon lights full of advertising – only 400 year old buildings made of marble and sandstone with iron 18^th century street lamps....