Good food, beautiful travel destinations, and fascinating history. www.theitaliansouth.com
I have been watching Stanley Tucci's Searching for Italy (I know, I'm late to the game) and was delighted to discover that his roots in Calabria, in the town of Marzi, are very close to my own. Scigliano is about 30 minutes away by car, and my mom and I actually visited Marzi when we were in Scigliano in 2004!
Temperatures in the 90s and 100s are prompting extreme heat warnings in Italy this week. While much of the southern peninsula has high temps in the lower 90s, some of the northern and inland cities are even higher, such as Florence, with forecasts over 100 degrees. And hotter weather is expected in the south too.
Forecasters on Tuesday said the upcoming weekend was expected to be the “hottest of the year” in Italy, with highs of 40C in the north and 43C in the south.
This doesn't even look real, but it's all over the news--yesterday Mount Etna blew smoke rings. A strange volcanic phenomenon!
Mount Etna in Sicily, the largest active volcano in Europe, has been blowing spectacular “smoke rings” into the sky since Wednesday.
I'm always looking for books about or set in Italy. In fact, right now I'm reading a novel called Our Italian Summer. So I thought this article looked interesting. QUESTION: What one book about or set in Italy would you recommend to someone planning to visit or move to Italy?
If you’re planning on upping sticks and moving to Italy, there are some reads that can help you get a useful insight into the nuances of life in the country. Please tell us your own recommendations.
I'm practicing Italian, preparing for a trip in a few weeks. Challenges: where to place "anche", "di solito", and "nuovo" in various sentence constructions. They seem to move around, depending...
Giant sinkhole in Naples--glad it wasn't me falling in there!
How about a novel set in southern Italy? The Islands Call by Sandy Frykholm (that's me) is a time travel adventure set in modern day Seattle and the medieval Amalfi Coast. This Valentine's Day treat is on sale this week for Kindle in the U.S. 99 cents through 2/14, and $1.99 2/15-17. https://www.amazon.com/Islands-Call-Time-Travel-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0BSGCWKH5
Christmas is approaching like a fast train! Time to plan your Christmas feast. I've done the Feast of Seven Fishes a couple of times--great fun. Here's more advice:
If you want to do Christmas Italian style, here's what you need on the table for a truly festive feast.
The Naples area is feeling a little shaky lately. Anybody near there have a report on the recent Campi Flegrei activity?
Experts fear the volcanic region of Campi Flegrei, or the Phlegraean Fields, near Naples could be reawakening after generations at rest.
Here's a 1-Euro home buyer's report on his results--an interesting follow up from The Local:
While offers of one-euro homes might sound like a simple route to that dream Italian property, reader John Ware warns the real cost will be higher and that there are no shortcuts for anyone hoping to buy a cheap home.
Back to Italy at last! I'm planning a trip with my grandchildren and two daughters next summer. My granddaughter is obsessed with Venice, so we are starting there (We had fun at Las Vegas's version of Venice this year--see photo--but can hardly wait to show her the real thing.), and then to Rome. Unfortunately, we will have only ONE DAY in the Italian South--a day trip to Pompeii.
After one daughter and grandkids head home, I'm planning on some time further south with my other daughter, probably to Sicily.
The heatwave in southern Europe is affecting Calabria and Sicily, and resulted in many wildfires.
Firefighters battled blazes in the southern Italian region of Calabria and properties on the island of Sicily suffered blackouts as temperatures surged again during a heat wave that has caused chaos across parts of Europe.
I'm reminiscing this morning about a drive up into the Sila one August day. Approaching Lake Arvo, we drove through a town where big baskets of mushrooms were for sale along the roadside, and at Lorica a festival or street fair under way. Beyond that, about mid-day, we discovered a barbecue place set up by the road, grilling sausages for sandwiches. Smelled too wonderful to pass by, so we stopped and had lunch, sitting at picnic tables with almost all local people. A beautiful outing!
"Music Festival" might not be your first thought when planning travel to Italy--but here's a nice line-up of them, and many are in the south and Sicily. https://www.thelocal.it/20230605/nine-of-italys-best-small-summer-music-festivals/?tpcc=newsletter_member&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_airbnb_rules_and_italys_best_small_summer_music_festivals&utm_term=2023-06-05
If you lean to classical music, Ravello's festival is a great choice, though it didn't make the list from The Local.
Every summer, some of Italy’s most picturesque locations transform into stunning backdrops for diverse music festivals. Here's our pick of the best in 2023.
Did you know Calabria has 19 Blue Flag Beaches? ⛱
This week, two new beaches were added to the list: Catanzaro Lido (Catanzaro), and Rocca Imperiale (Cosenza). 🌊☀️
The Blue Flag Award is given out annually by the Foundation for Environmental Education to coastal areas, marinas, and beaches that demonstrate high standards of water quality, safety, and environmental management.
Below is a list of all 19 Blue Flag beaches in Calabria, have you been to any of them?
Tortora (Cosenza)
Praia a Mare (Cosenza)
San Nicola Arcella (Cosenza)
Santa Maria del Cedro (Cosenza)
Trebisacce (Cosenza)
Diamante (Cosenza)
Villapiana (Cosenza)
Rocca Imperiale (Cosenza)
Roseto Capo Spulico (Cosenza)
Cirò Marina (Crotone)
Melissa (Crotone)
Isola di Capo Rizzuto(Crotone)
Catanzaro (Catanzaro)
Sellia Marina (Catanzaro)
Soverato (Catanzaro)
Tropea (Vibo Valentia)
Roccella Jonica (Reggio Calabria)
Siderno (Reggio Calabria)
Caulonia (Reggio Calabria)
My novel, The Islands Call, is set partly on the Amalfi Coast, and partly in Seattle. It's a time-slip romance with great reviews. And it is FREE this weekend in the USA, April 29-30, for Kindle!! I hope you'll give it a try--and I'd love to see your review of it, too.
In current-day Seattle, Gino makes his money writing a phony astrology column and playing fortune teller for party entertainment. Sara, a fraud investigator, has visions of the future that always come true—and she’ll do anything to keep it a secret. Her clairvoyance has destroyed im...
Would you enjoy a book set partly in southern Italy? I'm thankful for this great review from Midwest Book Review's senior reviewer, Diane Donovan! Full review here: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/apr_23.htm Please like and share, my friends!!
Buongiorno dalla bella Erice
Trapani Sicilia
I'm all in for a fair that was started by Frederick II in the 1200s!! https://calabrisellamiablog.com/2018/03/19/la-fiera-di-san-giuseppe-2018/?fbclid=IwAR1t36HL3e1nmHPCKn4pFMxfSvwYPaQYRgsxI-LfBiy-VXPS4SZhD8GdZiA
The Fiera di San Giuseppe is one of the oldest and most important traditions, not just for the city of Cosenza, but for the many neighbouring towns and villages that surround it. Check out my visit to the Fiera this year.
See the Amalfi Coast like you never imagined--700 years ago! My time-slip novel can be pre-ordered now from Amazon. The Islands Call by Sandy Frykholm. https://www.amazon.com/Islands-Call-Time-Travel-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0BSGCWKH5
My novel is almost ready to roll--and here's the cover! Coming February 22, an adventure in modern day Seattle and 14th century Amalfi Coast.
A long-term expat in Italy shares what he wishes he'd known before making the move:
An expert on moving to Italy shares his top tips and biggest mistakes to avoid for soon-to-be expats.
With Sicily on my bucket list, this article was interesting. Anybody been to Sambuca?
After Sambuca di Sicilia became the poster child for Italy's one-euro homes project, local authorities say the town's fortunes have turned around as the area is now enjoying a 'Renaissance'.
I love this article about the north/south differences in Italy!
Northern cities may consistently top the 'quality of life' rankings, but the true pleasures of life in Italy can’t always be measured, says reporter Silvia Marchetti.
Take a look at what one couple did with a low-cost (about $10,000) house in Sicily! https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/bargain-italian-home-elevator/index.html
US couple Massoud Ahmadi and Shelley Spencer snapped up an abandoned property in the Sicilian town of Sambuca, spending $250,000 to turn it into a stylish house complete with its own elevator.
Do you ever imagine how life would change if you moved to Italy? This article from The Local tells how it changed for people who actually made the move. Not focused on the south, but reflects Italian culture in general. https://www.thelocal.it/20200219/eating-well-driving-badly-and-daily-naps-the-habits-you-pick-up-in-italy/?tpcc=newsletter_member&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=italys_air_con_rules_and_what_temperatures_can_we_expect_in_august&utm_term=2022-08-03
Eating an entire pizza guilt-free and not taking traffic lights 'too literally' - here's how readers say their habits have changed since making the move to Italy.
Have you thought of teaching English in Italy? Here's an interesting article about that experience. https://www.thelocal.it/20210617/the-job-can-come-as-a-shock-what-its-really-like-working-as-an-english-teacher-in-italy/?tpcc=newsletter_member&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=who_has_to_pay_venices_tourist_tax_and_whats_teaching_english_in_italy_really_like&utm_term=2022-07-25
Teaching English as a foreign language can be a passport to a new life in Italy for native speakers. But how do you go about landing a job and what does it really entail? We spoke to people who've done it to find out the truth about TEFL.
What's your favorite lemony Italian food or drink? https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/climate-change-lemon-farming-amalfi/index.html
Italy's beautiful Amalfi coast is a tourist hotspot, but its unusually acrobatic lemon farmers largely go unnoticed and now their prized fruit and its traditional cultivation methods are under threat.
If you're headed to Sorrento (and I recommend it!) don't forget the cover-up for your bikini!! https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10991927/Italys-Sorento-resort-bans-BIKINIS-Wearing-swimwear-land-425-fine-indecency.html
The mayor of Sorrento, Massimo Coppola, said the exposed skin is upsetting locals and warned it would now result in fines of up to £425.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Italian South posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to The Italian South:
Want your business to be the top-listed Travel Agency?
