Do you know the name of this mountain? (and why you should know local names)
October 23, 2009Is it: a) Matterhorn b) Mont Cervin c) Monte Cervino d) all of the above The answer is D. Asking Italians about The Matterhorn – a Swiss mountain also visible from Italy and France – will produce blank…
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What to do in Padua
October 19, 2009Here’s what I do in Padua – known as Padova in Italian – I wander, I eat, and I admire the city’s beauty. Just 20 minutes by train from Venice, the city of Padua is one of northern Italy’s best-kept secrets….
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Unfinished Churches in Italy: Lessons in Project Management
October 05, 2009Imagine leading a project involving hundreds of workers, no email, lots of big egos, and with a timeline of several hundred years. And yet many such art & architecture projects have been very (!) successfully completed in Italy over the…
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What to see in Verona: beyond the balcony
June 15, 2009As the fourth most popular tourist destination in Italy, Juliet’s balcony attracts many people to the city of Verona. But there is a lot more to see and do in Verona. It’s a small city, easy to walk around, with…
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How to Avoid Crowds in Venice: 10 tips
June 01, 2009On an average day in Venice, there are 60,000 people, and half of those are tourists. So yes, there can be crowds. And yes, you should go visit the main sights, because they are famous for a reason. So go…
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Murano vs. Burano vs. Torcello: I Vote Burano
May 25, 2009Here are my top three reasons to visit the lovely Venetian island of Burano: 1. If you like to amble, or enjoy a wander off the beaten track, you'll appreciate Burano's atmosphere (less touristy, authentic, but still lots…
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Italy’s Best Bridges, Part II
May 11, 2009Here are my picks for best bridges south of Florence. For Italy’s best bridges of Florence and the North, see Part I. Civita di Bagnoregio An hour and a half north of Rome, this spectacular 2500 year old town…
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The Venice Biennale
May 08, 2009Venice is known for – among other things - its gorgeous Byzantine mosaics, jaw-dropping Tintorettos, and hand-blown glass masterpieces. But the city also hosts a significant contemporary art exhibition every two years, the Venice Biennale. The event is always held in the…
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Italy Bridges: picks in northern Italy
May 04, 2009Architects and engineers appreciate that a bridge is more than just a way to cross a gap, but how many of us would include bridges on our list of Things To See in Italy? These bridges are fun to visit, will give…
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Write a blog post for Italy Beyond the Obvious
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