Italian life and culture
Football, fashion, politics, books and the odd news of the day.
Italy Roundtable: A Decade With Italy
One year ago, the Italy Blogging Roundtable published our first posts - and I'm thrilled to still, one year later, be sharing our thoughts on a chosen topic each month.
Italy Roundtable: The Power of an Invitation
It's hard to believe, but next month we'll celebrate our first anniversary of the Italy Roundtable .
Italy Roundtable: What I've Learned from Italy
Now that I'm an adult, September is one of my favorite months of the year - harvest festivals, a slight crispness to the evening air, and the promise of shoulder season travel bargains .
Things to Know About Soccer Games in Italy
Let's say you've already checked off the major museums and art galleries and Roman ruins in the Italian cities you're visiting, you've got more time on your hands, and you'd like to experience…
2011 Giro d'Italia: Race Route & Stages
The 2011 Giro d'Italia is about to begin - and whether you're a cycling fan or not, if you'll be in Italy in May this is something you need to know about.
Italy Roundtable: Why I Write About Italy
This month, I'm excited to announce the debut of a new writing partnership with some really fabulous Italy bloggers.
Jersey Shorizato: Do Italians even care about Jersey Shore?
Earlier this week, I offered up my Italy travel tips to the cast of the Jersey Shore - but since I don't live in Italy, I thought it would be interesting to include the perspective of someone who has…
Travel to Italy to Watch the Champions League
As the soccer season in Italy is about to get started this weekend, arguably the best soccer tournament anywhere - the Champions League - has already begun.
Amateur Traveler Italy Podcasts
A travel podcasting and blogging friend of mine, Chris Christensen, is the man behind the popular Amateur Traveler podcast - and when he graciously offered to put together a cute Italy map with links…
How to Read an Italian Soccer Schedule
Since the Lega Calcio folks just published the schedule for the 2011-2012 Italian soccer season, I thought I'd bring this post back up to the top so people who are traveling in Italy this year have…
10 Movie Locations in Italy You Can Visit
While many movies these days are filmed on Hollywood sets or in front of green screens and full of fantastic animation, there's nothing that can quite compare with a stunning - and real - Italy…
BootsnAll Moleskine Giveaway
I was in New York not too long ago with my colleagues from BootsnAll at the Travel Blog Exchange conference .
Where to Watch the World Cup in Italy
I've been asked a couple of times by people on Twitter and via email where to watch the World Cup in Italy .
Italy's Hottest Soccer Players Part IV: 2010 World Cup Edition
With the 2010 World Cup starting in T-minus five days, I thought it was time for another installment of my hottest Italian footballers series.
Google Earth 3D Treatment in Italy
The Google Earth folks have just released the newest "3D city" in their lineup - and it's Venice .
New All-Italy Podcast: Eye On Italy
Regardless of how long you've been reading WhyGo Italy, it probably won't surprise you to hear that I never tire of talking about Italy.
Italy News Posts are Back!
Many moons ago (read: late last year) I had to put the weekly Italy news posts I'd been doing on WhyGo Italy on temporary hiatus - the holidays were looming, life was crazy busy, and I just couldn't…
How to Impress an Italian Guy
There's a joke floating around the interwebs that goes something like this: Q: How do you impress an Italian girl?
How to Impress an Italian Girl
Travel opens you up to all kinds of new experiences, so it's only natural that travelers are more susceptible to falling head over heels in love with people they meet on the road.
Why I Like Being a Woman in Italy
I will admit that there are things - some pretty big things - that make being a woman in Italy difficult (to say the least).
WhyGo Italy Interview: Melanie Renzulli of Italofile
For the third installment of the WhyGo Italy interviews series, I'm pleased to introduce you to my blogging friend and fellow Italophile, Melanie Mize Renzulli .
Hottest Italian Soccer Players, Part III
As time goes by, I find I'm even more into watching Italian soccer than I was a couple years ago.
WhyGo Italy Interview: Adrienne Davis of A&R Tours
Serendipity strikes in the strangest ways sometimes - which is, I suppose, why it's called serendipity.
"Miss Expatria" by Christine Cantera - Italy Book Review
I can't even remember now how I first came across the Miss Expatria blog , or how I first got in touch with its author, Christine Cantera.
Italy 6th on 2009 "Nation Brands Index"
I've never heard of the Simon Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index (and is there any wonder, with a name like that?!?), but when I read a headline that says, "Italy tops for tourism in 2009 nation…
Italy Featured Prominently on Conde Nast Traveler 2009 Readers' Choice Awards
The 2009 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards has come out, and - as in years past - Italy is featured pretty prominently in several relevant categories.
Italy's Beautiful Decay
On my very first trip to Italy, I used Venice as my entry point . It made sense at the time based on my itinerary, but looking back it's quite possible that decision played a huge part in why I fell…
WhyGo Italy Interview: James Martin of Wandering Italy
I feel incredibly fortunate to have "met" so many interesting people through my work.
Berlusconi as Colbert's Alpha Dog of the Week
I don't know if you're a fan of The Colbert Report like I am, but a couple of weeks ago Stephen Colbert featured Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as his "Alpha Dog of the Week." It's…
Dreams of Having Europe at My Door
As I'm writing this, I'm taking a break from cleaning the Milan apartment I've been staying in for the past month and packing up my bags to head back to Oregon.
Predictions: How I'll Feel About Leaving Italy
If everything has gone according to plan and schedule, I'm en route back to Portland at the moment.
All the People I Met in Italy this Month
Whether I intend it to or not, most of my trips seem to end up having a theme. And while I joked recently that this was the Italian boyfriends trip , the truth is that it's much more the internet…
WhyGo Italy Hits the Road: 1 Month in Italy
I'm not typically one who makes last-minute overseas trips, but somehow the stars aligned a little over two weeks ago and I booked a ticket for Italy.
"Winning at All Costs: A Scandalous History of Italian Soccer" by John Foot - Italy Book Review
Although I'm admittedly a bit of a latecomer when it comes to being a sports fan, I've taken to Italian soccer wholeheartedly.
"Italy: Instructions for Use" - Italy Book Review - Win a Free Book
Want to have a chance to win your very own copy of this book? Be sure to leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm Pacific Time on Monday, May 18, 2009 to be eligible to win a copy of Italy:…
Sports in Italy: Giro d'Italia
One Saturday each May, a three-week sporting event begins in Italy which will criss-cross much of the country and catch nearly everyone in its wake.
Italy's Version of April Fools Day: April's Fish
Lest you think that April Fools Day is a strictly American thing, let me set the record straight. (And no, I'm not making this whole "fish" thing up in the spirit of April Fools Day. I swear.
Italian Women: More Hot Italian Soccer Wives & Girlfriends
After I posted my first list of hot Italian soccer players , the boys in my office requested equal time for the women who date soccer players. I obliged with a post about hot Italian WAGs .
Italian Flag: What the Colors Mean & A Little History
As a schoolkid in the United States, I distinctly remember learning precisely what all the symbolism of the U.S. flag meant - the stripes, the stars, and the colors.
Soundtrack for Italy: My Italian Music Mix
Whenever I travel in Italy, I like to pick up a music CD or two of Italian artists I have trouble finding in the United States.
Hottest Italian Soccer Players, Part II
As the Italian soccer season is in the midst of its holiday break (which means I'm suffering from a severe case of withdrawal), I thought I'd take take another look at some of the hottest Italian…
2009 Giro d'Italia Route Unveiled: It's Amazing
Those of you who've been following along here at WhyGo Italy no doubt remember my newfound love of Italian soccer .
The Weirdest Laws in Italy
I like to say that Italy invented red tape. It certainly seems that way to anyone who's attempted to navigate the murky waters of the Italian bureaucracy to do just about anything.
Italy Tourism Website Needs Help
Those of you who have spent any time in Italy this summer fighting crowds , forking over exorbitant fees for gondola rides in Venice , or stood in long Vatican Museum lines may be shocked to hear…
Italian Soccer Stadium Travel Information
I know not everyone who loves Italy loves Italian soccer (heck, not even all Italians love Italian soccer), but I happen to love both - and I'm really looking forward to the new Serie A season…
Italy is #1 Destination Choice for Americans
For 11 straight years, when Americans were asked what country they'd most like to visit if cost weren't a factor, they ranked Australia at #1. Well, move over, koalas, there's a new kid in town.
4 Most Expensive Italian Cars
Personally, I'm not much of a car person. But I know plenty of people who love to travel in Italy love it partly because it is the land where so many shiny red and yellow fast cars are born.
Italian Women: 13 Hottest Soccer WAGs
After seeing my post about the hottest Italian soccer players , a few of my male colleagues kept hinting that I should do a similar post about the hottest Italian WAGs (which is short for "wives and…
Which way do you kiss in Italy?
Contrary to what you might be thinking, based on the title of this post, this is not going to be a primer about the Italian equivalent of the "French kiss," or anything like that.
A Little 2006 World Cup Reminiscing (& Hopes for a Similar Euro 2008 Outcome)
Here's a quick one, just a little something to help us all get in the proper mood to cheer on the Italy Euro 2008 team , the Azzurri, in the upcoming Euro 2008 tournament .
10 Hottest Italian Soccer Players (According to Jessica)
In light of the upcoming Euro 2008 Championships in which Italy's national soccer team is playing (and favored, at least by some, to win), I thought I'd introduce a lighter side of the sport for…
Italy Plays for Euro 2008 Championships in June
As I've mentioned in the past, I wouldn't ordinarily describe myself as a sports fan . I mean, I like to watch a few sports now, but before marrying a sports fan I was pretty much indifferent.
"Italy vs. Europe" Video
I am the first to admit that I'm a bona find Italophile. I'll defend my love of Italy to anyone who asks, but I'm not so blinded by mozzarella that I don't see Italy's faults.
12 Celebrities With Homes in Italy
Being an international celebrity would probably be annoying on some levels, but if it meant I could buy houses anywhere I wanted that wouldn't be so bad.
Stop the Madness: Decoding City Addresses in Italy
This article was written and submitted for publication on the Italy Logue by Chris Bright.
Italian Men Told to Keep Their Hands off Genitals - Their Own
It's Sunday night in Italy and I've just spent the day in Torino (which I'll write about later), but I couldn't let the day pass without popping in here momentarily to share a news story I saw the…
Gourmet Magazine Giving Away Free Trip to Italy
I'm sitting at the airport killing time before my flight to Italy this afternoon, and as I was cleaning out my email inbox I found something I thought I'd share with y'all.
Italy to Hold Elections in April
Maybe you're reading this from someplace in the United States, and you're overwhelmed enough with the upcoming US election - but I'm here to tell you that you're not the only one with an election…
Italy Logue Forums
I want to say up front here that I'm not a tech expert. For instance, I'm finally learning some HTML, only to discover that it's an almost entirely outmoded form of writing code for these here…
Italy Travel Guide Gets Reviewed - By You?
Usually, with the Italy Travel Guide here, I just write stuff because I like writing about Italy. The fact that people are reading what I'm writing is, well, a bonus.
Italian Government Collapses. Again.
Well, it's official. The 61st Italian government since World War II has finally collapsed .
Win a Half-Kilo of Italian Candy
This is just a quick post, because I wanted to get it up here before the contest I'm about to introduce you to ends this Friday.
Welcome to Italy - One Day of Soccer Riots, Coming Up
I arrived in Milan yesterday afternoon, and the husband was actually at the airport to greet me - this surprised me, as I thought he had been planning to go to the Inter/Lazio soccer game at San…
Italy Ranks Highly in Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards
Every year the publishers of Condé Nast Traveler ask their readres to vote on "the best" of a whole host of travel-related areas - like hotels, transportation, resorts, etc.
Postman in Crema, Italy Goes Green
While a new study rates many Italian towns and cities as in very poor environmental health, and cities like Milan are trying to do something about that by charging vehicles to drive in the city…
Join Our Italy Travel Facebook Group
Do you like traveling in Italy? Well, of course you do, or you wouldn't be reading this travel guide. Here's another question - are you on Facebook ?
The World's Oldest Bank is in Italy
Not long ago, the husband and I were watching an Italian football match on TV between Siena and someone else.
The "End of the Internet" in Italy?
The Italian blogosphere is abuzz at the moment with the announcement of a proposed law which could severely restrict the rights of everyday people to have blogs and express whatever the heck they…
Squatting is Deemed Legal in Italy
I've been dreaming about living in Italy for years now, and I have to say that there's plenty out there to discourage me. The latest thing is the rapidly dropping value of the U.S.
Make Up a Travel Rumor, Win Lufthansa Tickets
If you're used to reading about travel contests where you think it's too hard to enter, this is one travel contest you'll be pleased to hear about.
Publishing Your Italy Travel Stories
Lots of people think that being a travel writer sounds like a great gig, and how it would be a really easy way to travel for free.
What Italy Has Taught Me
A post Shelley wrote not long ago about what Italians have taught her about pasta got me thinking.
"Vucciria" by Mauro d'Agati - Book Review
Usually, when you pick up a coffee-table sized book of photographs taken in an Italian city, you know what you're in for.
Italy Travel TV Shows On Demand
When I can't be in Italy, the next best thing is usually watching TV programs about traveling in Italy .
Notte Bianca & Vaffanculo Day: Two Kinds of Demonstrations, Same Date
You've heard of D-Day, and probably even VE-Day. But V-Day? No? Well, the first one was last weekend in Italy, and it marries two favorite Italian hobbies: Complaining about the way things are, and…
WhyGo Italy Book Reviews
Looking for Italy-themed books to help fill the time when you're not actually in Italy?
Luciano Pavarotti, 1935-2007
The opera world lost an icon today, as Luciano Pavarotti finally lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He died this morning at his home in Modena, surrounded by his family.
Italy's "Cat Ladies" Can't Keep Up With Growing Number of Strays
In English we call them "crazy cat ladies." You know the type - the sweet (and slightly eccentric) little old lady who lives down the street and who has adopted an inordinate number of cats.
Italian Town Paying Residents to Lose Weight
For anyone who has ever wondered how Italian women stay so slender despite a steady diet of pasta, take heart - not every Italian is stick-figure thin.
Italy Logue Nominated for a Blogger's Choice Award
Someone has kindly nominated the Italy Travel Guide in the Best Travel Blog category over at the Blogger's Choice Awards !
Italy Magazine Short Story Competition
If you fancy yourself something of a writer, then get yourself a copy of the latest Italy Magazine - this year's short story competition is included, and the prize is £250.
Intact 2,000-year-old Etruscan Tomb Uncovered in Italy
As you walk in wonder through the streets of the Roman Forum or Pompeii, contemplate this - all the treasures which have been unearthed in Italy are only a fraction of what actually exists…
Who is the Italian Britney Spears?
I am not what I'd consider a real music snob, but I do love good music and I do have certain standards. I never did, for example, like Britney Spears, no matter how popular her music might have been.
Book Revealing the Perks of Politics Causing Shockwaves in Italy
Yesterday morning as I was brushing my teeth, I heard a story on NPR about a new book that's a huge hit in Italy, about the " corruption and excess in Italian politics ." It seems this book, called…
Advertising in Italy, or "Are you talking to me?"
After I started learning Italian back in 2001, I quickly realized there were interesting questions to answer above and beyond the grammatical ones (because, let's face it, when are those…
Which Country is Better: Italy or the USA?
Earlier in July, an article ran in the New York Times comparing Italy with the United States.
Pardon Our Dust: Italy Logue Has a New Look
You might have noticed that we've been on vacation recently here at the Italy Logue - although, unfortunately, that hasn't meant that we've actually gone anywhere.
A Ferrari Races Through History (in a TV Commercial)
The husband and I went out the other day to what we thought was a local mini-festival of Italian-American products, but turned out to be more of an opportunity for the local Ferrari, Maserati, Ducati…
Italian Superstitions
You may already know this, but in case you don't - Italians are, on the whole, extremely superstitious.
North & South Growing Further Apart in Italy
Most tourists who visit Italy stay in the northern half of the country - they visit Rome , Florence , Milan , Venice and maybe places like the Cinque Terre and Siena.
Another Close Encounter of the Ferrari Kind
Some of you may remember a post I wrote about the husband's and my last trip to Italy, where we stopped outside Bologna to see a Ferrari Formula 1 car on the legendary car maker's own test track .
Crossing the Street in Italy Can Be Dangerous
Anyone who has tried to cross a street in Italy knows that, sometimes, that means a serious risk to life or health.
ID Required for Internet Access in Italy
I don't know how long ago this law was passed, but I just saw this note on Wikitravel: The Italian government has recently passed a law requiring all public-access internet points to keep records of…
Labor Day (May Day) in Italy
I've said that there's usually some kind of festival going on somewhere in Italy at any given moment, and for the most part that's true. For the most part, that's also a regional thing.
Having Sex in Italy
You've heard of Latin lovers, right? And that Italian is the language of love? (There are others who might try to lay claim to that title, too, but that's another matter.) Well, it turns out those…
Europe vs. Italy
Here's a fun look at the culture of Italians as compared with the culture of the rest of the EU nations (as if, in reality, every non-Italian nation is one massive culture - but I digress).
Do Blondes Have More Fun in Italy?
I can't imagine ever being mistaken for un'italiana , despite my dark hair - I just don't carry off "the look" right.
An Abstract Lamborghini is Better Than No Lamborghini
Just a quick one for today - the husband will be happy to see this, a photo of a Lamborghini.
Miss Italy USA Crowned in Connecticut
There are coincidences, and then there are freaky coincidences. This one is borderline.
The Arrotino - Italy's Traveling Knife Sharpener
One of the many charms of being in Europe is seeing what the rest of us calls "the old world" in action.