Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, Eyewitness, National Geographic, AAA , Rough Guide , Frommers, Fodors, the list of travel guides goes on and on. It is safe to say that there are travel guides for every taste and style of travel.What better gift for a friend or relative who is taking a trip this year than a selection of Travel Guide books?

Travel guides offer suggestions of where to stay, where and what to eat, what to do and how to get where you need to be. Most of books provide a wide selection based on price and location.

Guidebooks such as Lonely Planet offer up suggestions with an offbeat sense of humor. Eyewitness comes in two variations – one tells you everything you need to know about the place you are visiting the other fits snuggly in your pocket and only tells you about the top sites. Rick Steves tells you about out-of-the way places.

This is a true tale of a sometimes hard life in a difficult time but one that is sure to entertain the children for whom this book was written. The pictures are large and the stories are told in simple and understandable language. As you would expect, Nona Tell Me a Story also includes simple recipe’s though not simple enough for children to make without help.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2–Nonni Lidia tells her five grandkids about what Christmas was like in Italy when she was a child, with a juniper bush hung with real fruit, cinnamon sticks, and cookies. She so successfully evokes the fun and the tantalizing smells that the children decide to decorate their tree the same way. Bastianich, a television chef and cookbook author, clearly bases this story on her own family and experiences, and she includes plenty of delicious, if somewhat challenging, cookie recipes. The illustrations show round-faced, beaming family members cooking, eating, and celebrating together. A cheerful depiction of the making and sharing of holiday traditions.

The only injury was perhaps to Italian pride at having one of its main tourist attractions make the news for the lack of upkeep by the government or private donors. The collapse of the house underscored a controversy in Italy over the lack of maintenance at Pompeii.

The office of Pompeii's archaeological superintendent said the collapse occurred Saturday, (November 13, 2025) at around 6 a.m. Attendants opening the site saw the collapse about an hour later.

The house located on Pompeii’s main street, called by the Latin name "Schola Armaturarum Juventis Pompeiani," was closed to the public, and could only be seen from the outside. It was not considered at risk of collapse, officials said.

Antonio Varone, director of Pompeii's excavations, told the ANSA news agency that officials were trying to "preserve up to the last fragment of the 'Schola Armaturarum."' The Culture Minister, Sandro Bondi, said some frescoes on the lower walls may have been preserved. Bondi called for greater funds for Pompeii, while the opposition was quick to blame the government.

There was no official word on possible causes. News reports said water infiltration following heavy rains in the past days might be the cause.

If you think back to your High School World History class you may recall that Pompeii was destroyed in A.D. 79 by an eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius that killed thousands of people and buried the city in 20 feet (six meters) of volcanic ash. As deadly as the ash was, it gave Pompeii eternal life by preserving the ancient cities treasures. The preservation of Pompeii’s artifacts has provided much information about what life was like at the time of the eruption.

Italy is famous for its world renowned art, breathtaking landscapes and beautiful regions like Tuscany - so planning vacations in Italy should be child’s play. The people at DK Eyewitness Travel are helping you discover the wonderful region of Tuscany with accommodation hotspots taken from the DK Eyewitness Top 10 Tuscany Travel Guide.

Just steps from Piazza Grande and the cathedral, the family-run Duomo has rustic accents such as wooden dressers and cast-iron bedsteads alongside its otherwise comfortably modern decor.

In 1997 this 17th-century palazzo was opened as an exclusive hotel in the mining town of Pietrasanta, between Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio. It’s an opulent choice, with baths sheathed in marble.

In the centre of quaint Sovana, eight modestly-sized rooms mix the contemporary and the antique – engraved headboards, wooden dressers and exposed walls vie with modern baths and glass table tops.

This place incorporates the best of both worlds: a gorgeous beach-side villa, plus access via an under-the-road tunnel to the modern hotel Augustus, with its pool, restaurant and live music band.

Bellavista is everything an island retreat should be. The terraces of most rooms enjoy expansive views over the owner’s vines and olives to the wooded headland of Sant’Andrea. You can walk these paths to the resort’s beach or to a secluded cove. Rooms are simply furnished, tile-floored and comfortable.

This is a tiny, much-requested hotel in owners Mauro and Nadia’s own home. There’s a friendly, homely atmosphere - Mauro may even entertain you with his accordion. Perched atop St Catharine’s convent, the whitewashed rooms are quiet, and two have views of the Duomo.

Nothing goes better with a warm summer day than a chilled glass of sparkling wine and in Italy that means Prosecco. Prosecco is the perfect drink to counter the summer heat with its refreshing bubbles and chilly temperatures. Not only is Prosecco refreshing and tasty but it is also reasonably priced.

Prosecco has been around since the 1100’s though chances are it was in a very different form than what we see today. It was most likely faintly effervescent rather than the bubbly drink we have today.

Prosecco is the name of the grape used to make the sparkling wine bearing its name. The high acidity in sparkling wines makes them perfect to have with summer foods: salads, seafood and chilled soups.

Prosecco is protected as a DOC within Italy. DOC is a designation, Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which strictly defines requirements, including the grapes that can be used, for individual wines.

At 56 years old Montalbano is feeling his age. Much in this novel is familiar to readers of Camilleri’s past books: Montalbano is still savoring meals at Enzo’s as well as those fixed by his housekeeper, his conversations with desk sergeant Catarella are as confusing as ever and of course Montalbano still lives in the fictional town of Vigata where he is still enjoying long walks on the jetty. Camilleri continues to take undisguised swipes at Silvio Berlusconi. Though I would be inclined to miss many of the subtleties the author thoughtfully includes notes at the back of the book to help his non-Italian readers.

The mystery in The Wings of the Sphinx revolves around the discovery of the body of a young woman who has been shot in the face and left naked in the city dump. Montalbano leaves the scene of the crime as quickly as he gets there unable to deal with the death of yet another young victim. The book tackles the media’s obsession with subjecting us daily to stories of death and violence.

Schiavone is the second oldest woman and the first Italian in the 126 – year history of grand slam tennis to win a major and she did so with the style you would expect of an Italian. She jumped around, put her hands together and shook them in a prayer of thanks and kissed that clay. “To kiss the ground for me is to thank this clay, this beautiful tournament and this arena, “she said.

Schiavone came into the French Open unseeded . The only other time Roland Garros has been won by a woman not seeded in the top 10 was in 1933.

Schiavone defeated Stosur 6-4, 7-6 (2) taking complete charge in the second set tie breaker. Schiavone was seeded 17th and with the win at the French breaks into the top 10 for the first time in her career. She starts the week ranked sixth in the world.

Before my first trip to Rome a number of people told me to skip it, it was not worth the effort. But they were wrong. Castel Sant'Angelo is fascinating, a little odd, but very interesting.

Walking up the long wide ramp that winds its way up to the top of the Castel Sant'Angelo to the statue of the Angel Sheathing his sword gives you time to think about what it would have been like to have been imprisoned in Castel Sant’Angelo. Once you get to the top and see the beautiful view of the rooftops of Rome you will forget that you are in what was once a prison, mausoleum and hiding place for popes fleeing the Vatican.

Castel Sant’Angelo was built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian (AD 130-139). That was just the start. It has been both a prison and a papal residence, sometimes both at the same time. There is a secret (though it is no secret now) passageway that connects Castel Sant’Angelo to the Vatican. Popes used to go to Castel Sant’Angel through the passageway if they felt they were in danger at the Vatican.

The Castel has a long and interesting history, let’s suffice to say it has been looted and ransacked by just about every invader that entered Rome.

The Mediterranean diet does not follow the American Heart Association exactly, there is too much fat. The good news is that it is low in saturated fat with most of the fat calories coming from olive oil. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat which does not raise blood cholesterol levels in the same way saturated fat does. Olive oil is so flavorful that a little bit goes a long way so you don’t need to use much. Ever mixed a little olive oil and a little lemon juice and put it on a fresh salad? It is delicious.

Of course diet alone does not keep the Mediterranean’s healthy, their lifestyle is a big help. People in Europe walk everywhere and that has to help.

The novel follows Rosa Fiore from childhood through middle age. For Rosa, the kitchen in her family's farmhouse in the Alcantara valley in Sicily was the source of all her happiness when she was growing up. Throughout her life Rosa cooks obsessively. She cooks when she is sad, when she is happy and most enthusiastically when she is in love. Food in La Cucina is sexy.

Structured so that the titles follow the seasons the reader starts with L’Inverno and the darkness that accompanies winter and ends with L’Autunno bursting with colors as the characters settle into their lives.

There is the odd assortment of characters that readers have come to expect when reading novels set in Italy - the wayward father, the evil brother and the promiscuous mother.

At first I avoided the Osteria Laguna thinking it would be touristy since it was right across the street from the hotel but by the second night I needed Italian and it was just so convenient. I wish I had gone there every night. It is a real find. Now I eat there every time I am in the City, usually with a friend or sister in tow.

I visited Osteria Laguna most recently a week ago on a visit to New York City with my sister. I had built the restaurant up to my sister and was afraid it would not meet the high expectations we both had, but the restaurant did not disappoint.

Bread accompanies every meal. Real grissini as well as great crossitini senza oil and Italian bread accompany every meal. Along with your bread you get a nice selection of Italian olives. Well, I don’t know for sure that the olives come from Italy but they are certainly Italian style olives.

Even though Venice is surrounded by water this is the first time Leon tackles life lived on the lagoon and the sea and those who eat their catch. You do not find the bleak cali here that are in her other novels. Rather in a Sea of Troubles, Brunetti visits Burano with its brightly colored houses and lively population.

The crowds from Venice have migrated to the lagoon islands preventing Brunetti from eating at his favorite restaurant in Burano and causing him to have to navigate the rules of Japanese etiquette in a restaurant on Pellestrina.

Leon provides a vivid description of being caught at sea when the Bora comes down from the north. The weather changes quickly, the rain comes in sheets, the wind picks up and waves crash into the boat throwing debris through windows. You almost feel like you are on the boat with Brunetti and Montisi.

A Sea of Troubles provides a rare glimpse into the personal life of Signorina Elettra Zorzi (this is the first time I remember her last name being used) who visits a cousin living on Pellestrina in order to help in the investigation. While there she finds a beau who shares her love of Mortadella and pale yellow sweaters.

Some years ago I took a class in the history of the Italian language. It was somewhat difficult, as it was taught in Italian, but I learned so much about a language that I love, that I became completely absorbed in studying and reading.

Imagine my surprise when I came across a book that has much of the same information, and more, written in English! The book, La Bella Lingua by Dianne Hales, is the story of one woman’s love affair with Italian. This book includes chapters on the history of Italian, including entertaining descriptions of Dante, Machiavelli and other famous Italian writers. There are also chapters which address the uniquely Italian approach to loving, eating, living, and even getting angry.

If you have ever wondered why In boca al lupo (In the mouth of the wolf) means good luck in Italian and buona fortuna (good luck) is considered unlucky—this is the book for you. It is highly entertaining and readable—and will be enjoyed whether you speak fluent Italian or just a few words.

It was a beautiful day when we set out to explore the lake. We had planned to go to Menagio but the boat which came to our dock was going nearly everywhere except Menagio; we got on anyway. We crossed the lake on a charming boat enjoying the towering mountains and the warm sun. We decided to get off in Tremezzo as we planned to take the boat again the next day—all the way to Como. We did not venture far from the water in Tremezzo—it is a small but charming little town. We noticed a restaurant where all of the tables were on a deck built out over the water. Even though it was early we decided to eat lunch there. The restaurant, called Albergo Tremezzo, though we did not see much of a hotel there, was very good. I had homemade tagliatelle with cinghiale—wild boar! My husband, Allen had an excellent pizza. We each had a glass of wine—I had Prosecco, the sparkling white wine from a neighboring region.