As you travel around Italy, you’ll notice a difference in the cuisine from region to region—and it’s not all about pasta.  You may fall in love with one dish in Florence, but when you get to Venice or Palermo it’s nowhere to be found.  In the north of Italy, meals tend to be heavy and substantial—enough to pack on the extra layers needed during the harsh winter.  But as you travel south, you’ll notice that risotto and polenta are harder to come by, being replaced by sardines and anchovies with vegetables or lemons.  Fear not, what you crave in one place can easily be satisfied with a specialty dish of the next city.  Here is a list of typical dishes of some of Italy’s most gastronomically-inclined regions:

Liguria—Gnocchi and trofie with pesto, seafood, focaccia, easy-to-eat food that fishermen can take with them on-the-go.

Sicily—Seafood, arancini (fried rice balls fills with meats and cheese), caponata (stewed vegetables mixed with olives, anchovies, and capers), pasta alla norma with eggplant, pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines).

Lombardy—Risotto, polenta, agnolotti (half-moon pasta), cotoletta (veal cutlet), osso bucco.

Piedmont—Vitello tonnato (veal in tuna sauce with capers); meat, egg, and cheese-filled agnolotti; dishes alla cacciatora, or hunter’s style.

Emilia Romagna—Ravioli and its relatives.  Meat and cheese-stuffed, spinach or chard with cheese, pumkin-filled, and chestnut-filled varieties of ravioli, tortellini, agnolini, cappelletti, tortelli.  Lasagna and tagliatelle are popular as well, but not as famous as Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese, mortadella, or prosciutto di Parma.

Tuscany—Bruschetta is common throughout the region, but not just topped with tomato.  Sliced veal, anchovies, capers, liver, and clams can also be put atop a crunchy piece of bread.  While pastas such as pappardelle and Siena’s pici are widely-used, rich soups thickened with day-old bread are more common first courses—ribolitta and pappa al pomodoro are some.  Bring your appetite for tripe and bistecca alla fiorentina, about half a kilo of beef cooked rare.

Umbria is where you’ll find variations of hand-made spaghetti: strangozzi, strozzapreti, umbricelli, brignoli.  Black truffles grow rampant, so winter and fall dishes will feature these delicacies.

Lazio—Pasta amatriciana, gnocchi alla romana, and pasta carbonara.  There are also an abundance of greens in the area, including many variations of lettuce, radicchio, endive, and arugula.  Also produced is pecorino romano cheese; ricotta; and fior di latte, provola, and provatura mozzarellas.

Abruzzo—The spicy pasta arrabbiata and pasta carbonara, which is now also popular in Lazio.  Lots of lamb dishes as well as dishes spiced with saffron, which grows in the region.

Campania—Pasta puttanesca, spaghetti with clams, mozzarella in carrozza (fried mozzarella), plenty of seafood, including mussels and anchovies.  Then, of course, you have Naples’s famous pizza and calzone.

Which region has your favorite Italian food?

Traveling to a country with its own set of customs, way of life, and, of course, language can be daunting.  Getting accustomed to Italy, with its foreign signs, ancient cobblestone streets, small cars, cover charges at restaurants, and Euro conversions may throw your mind into a tizzy.  Whether you’re in Rome or Florence, Verona or Milan, knowing some basic Italian can get you pretty far.  While chances are the locals you interact with will be able to speak English, and certainly your tour guide will, it’s still important to know a few key words and phrases to get through your trip.  Even in places like Venice, Naples, and Sicily, where dialects are heavily spoken, the more Italian you know, the more authentic you’re experience will be.  So, practice away—soon you’ll be able to sing the captivating song of Italian.

New Year's Eve turns Italy into one giant celebration.

There’s only one way to sum up how Italians celebrate the holidays: “Natale con i tuoi, Capodanno con chi vuoi,” Christmas with family, New Year’s with whomever you want.

New Year’s Eve is one of Italy’s biggest celebrations, rung in with fireworks across the country, swanky parties, dancing, music, and, of course, food.  The traditional New Year’s Eve menu consists of lentils, pork, and sausage, symbolizing prosperity and richness of life in the coming year.

After dinner, there are plenty of places to see and be seen on New Year’s Eve in Italy: the gala at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, the Concerto di Capodanno at the legendary La Fenice Theater in Venice, the world-famous fireworks display over Naples, or staying up until the sun rises with thousands of concert-goers in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo.

Ring in the new year in style with any of our customized New Year’s itineraries:

Concordia Tour—a week of exploring Sicily, spending New Year’s Eve in the island’s capital, Palermo.

Fantasia Italiana: Southern Italy—12 days in Italy’s breathtaking southern region, spending New Year’s Eve in the mountaintop perch of Taormina, the Pearl of the Mediterranean.

A Luxurious New Year’s Eve in Florence—a relaxing stay at the five-star mansion Villa Cora, just steps from Boboli Gardens, with a 6-course grand gala dinner to celebrate the new year.

A Five-Star New Year’s Eve in Rome—four days at Rome’s exclusive Hotel D’Inghliterra near the Spanish Steps with day tours and an indulgent 6-course New Year’s Eve dinner.

Dinner and Music for New Year’s Eve in Rome—Be in the center of Italy’s New Year’s Eve celebrations with this 4-day stay at the Regina Hotel Baglioni near the Trevi Fountain.

No matter where you end up this New Year’s Eve, but sure to pop open the prosecco as the clock nears midnight!

Milan's Duomo is even more beautiful during December. (photo by angelocesare via flickr)

With winter arriving early to the northeast and across many other parts of the US, it’s time to start thinking about the holiday season.  Falling snow, jingling bells, and twinkling lights help make the season brighter here in the States, but Italy has its own holiday wonder that lasts for a month, starting in early December.

With elaborate Nativity displays, gorgeous light shows, and charming markets occupying many of the country’s bustling piazzas, Christmas in Italy is a magical time.  After slipping into a food coma for a few days, the celebration starts up again for New Year’s Eve and then once more for Epiphany.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll bring you information about holiday activities in all of Italy’s major cities, as well as off-the-beaten-path celebrations, traditional holiday menus and recipes, and, of course, ideas on how to see the best of Italy during the holidays and every day.

From Rome to Florence, Torino to Palermo, Venice to Naples, learn the holiday traditions of the cities and regions across Italy, and ready yourself to go home to Italy for the holidays—be it this year or next.

Do you have any tips for spending the holidays in Italy?  Share them with us!

Tuscany's thousands of vineyards makes it one of Italy's largest wine-producing regions. (photo by rayced via flickr)

Every September, Italy moves from summer mode into wine mode, with la vendemmia, the annual grape harvest, during which time the country’s most beloved crop is gathered and turned into stunning red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines.

With nearly one million vineyards throughout the country with perfectly parallel rows of grapevines everywhere from the flat lands of Tuscany to the staggering cliffs of Cinque Terre, Italy is one of the largest and oldest wine producers in the world.  It may come as no surprise, then, that the country also leads the world in wine consumption.  So when you go, it’s only right to join the locals.

Italian wines are classified under four categories: Vino da Tavola (basic table wine made in Italy), Indicazione Geografica Tipica or IGT (simple wine made from a specific Italian region), Denominazione di Origine Controllata or DOC (wine made under government regulations to preserve a its unique identity), and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita or DOCG (a small number of the highest quality wine produced under government regulations)—the most being produced in Tuscany and Piedmont.

With the grape harvest right around the corner, here is a region-by-region look at some of the most sought-after wines from around Italy.  Keep it handy during your vacation so you’ll know what kind of wine to sip in every city you visit.

Abruzzo DOCG: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane; DOC: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Controguerra, and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo

Basilicata DOCG: Aglianico del Vulture Superiore; DOC: Matera and Terre dell’Alta Val d’Agri

Calabria DOC: Bivongi, Ciró, Greco di Bianco, Pollino, and Verbicaro

Campania DOCG: Aglianico del Taburno, Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Taurasi; DOC: Campi Flegrei, Capri, Cilento, Penisola Sorrentina, and Vesuvio

Emilia–Romagna DOCG: Albana di Romagna and Colli Bolognesi Classico Pignoletto; DOC: Lambrusco, Sangiovese di Romagna, and Bosco Eliceo

Friuli–Venezia Giulia DOCG: Ramandolo, Colli Orientali del Friuli Picolit, and Rosazzo; DOC: Friuli Aquileia, Collio, and Lison Pramaggiore

Lazio DOCG: Cesanese del Piglio and Frascati Superiore; DOC: Castelli Romani, Colli Albani, Montecompatri-Colonna, Est! Est! Est! di Montefiascone, Velletri among others.

Le Marche DOCG: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi; DOC: Bianchello del Metauro, Rosso Cònero, Lacrima di Morro d’Alba, and Falerio dei Colli Ascolani

Liguria DOC: Cinque Terre Schiacchetrà, Colli di Luni, Colline di Levanto, Golfo del Tigullio, Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Rossese di Dolceacqua, Val Polcevera, and Pornassio

Lombardy DOCG: Franciacorta, Moscato di Scanzo, and Valtellina Superiore; DOC: Garda Classico, Cellatica, and Botticino

Molise DOC: Biferno, Molise, and Pentro di Isernia

Piedmont DOCG: Asti, Barbaresco, Barbera d’Asti, Barbera del Monferrato Superiore, Barolo, Brachetto d’Acqui, Dolcetto di Diano d’Alba, Erbaluce di Caluso, Gavi, Gattinara, Ghemme, and Roero; DOC: Barbera d’Alba, Freisa d’Asti, and Freisa di Chieri

Puglia DOCG: Primitivo di Manduria; DOC: Aleatico di Puglia, Cacc’e Mmitte di Lucera, Salice Salentino, and Rosso di Cerignola

Sardinia DOCG: Vermentino di Gallura; DOC: Malvasia di Bosa, Moscato di Sorso-Sennori, Moscato di Cagliari, Vernaccia di Oristano, Cannonau di Sardegna, Nuragus di Cagliari, Carignano del Sulcis, and Mandrolisai

Sicily DOCG: Cerasuolo di Vittoria; DOC: Moscato di Noto Naturale, Moscato di Pantelleria, Moscato di Siracusa, Marsala, Malvasia delle Lipari, and Sambuca di Sicilia

Trentino-Alto Adige DOC: Alto Adige/Südtirol which has six subzones, Valdadige, Teroldego Rotaliano, Casteller, and Lago di Caldaro/Caldaro

Tuscany DOCG: Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Carmignano, Vernaccia di San Gimignano and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano; DOC: Bolgheri, Vin Santo del Chianti, Bianco della Valdinievole, and Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario

Umbria DOCG: Sagrantino di Montefalco and Torgiano Rosso Riserva; DOC: Rosso Orvietano, Colli del Trasimeno, Assisi, and Colli Altotiberini

Val d’Aosta Blanc de Mordex et de la Salle, Petit Rouge de Enfer d’Arvier et Torrette, Petite Arvine; DOC: Val d’Aosta

Veneto DOCG: Amarone di Valpolicella, Recioto di Soave, Prosecco, and Bardolino;  DOC: Valpolicella, Lessini Durello, and Bianco di Custoza

Cool down with a splash of water on the face or a quick drink at the Barcaccia at Rome's Spanish Steps. (photo via wikimedia)

Summer in Italy can get hot—really hot.  From mid-80s in the Alps to mid-90s in Sicily, temperatures soar in July and August, the month when most Italians head for cooler climates.  While humidity doesn’t play a big factor in Italy’s hot summers, lack of wind in the big cities can make scenic walks or standing in lines a bit uncomfortable.  But you’re in Italy, after all, so you’ll make the best of it!  Here are a few ways to beat Italy’s summer heat:

Stay hydrated. There are plenty of public drinking fountains all around Italy’s major cities: Piazza del Campo in Siena, Piazza San Marco in Florence, or even the boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain at Rome’s Spanish Steps.  Just make sure to read any posted signs: “Potabile” means you can drink the water, “non-potabile” means you can’t.

Get inside. While air conditioning can be scarce in some smaller hotels, restaurants, and shops, bigger establishments and museums will be pumping the cool air.  Otherwise, head to places that are naturally cool, like churches and castles made out of stone.  The Duomo in Siracusa and Castel dell’Ovo in Naples are great choices.

Dress the part. Be sure to pack according to the weather, but keep in mind that proper dress is required to visit certain sights, including the Vatican and other churches like San Marco in Venice and the Duomo in Florence.  So, no shorts on men and women must have their shoulders covered.

Grab a chilly treat. Be it a cone of multi-flavored gelato or a sparkling glass of Prosecco, take advantage of Italy’s consumable cold specialties—they’ll cool you down from the inside out.

If all else fails, hit the beach!  With 5,345 miles of coastline—varying between sandy, pebbly, and craggy—and plenty of lakes throughout the country, there is always a nearby place to take a dip, cooling down while catching some rays.

Most travelers to Italy (and even locals) will probably agree that a perfect summer night consists of sipping wine under the stars in a bustling piazza.  Between the people-watching, the vino, and the iconic Italian setting, you’ve got yourself a picture-perfect evening.  While you’ll likely find this laid-back scene on any given night in the Bel Paese, August 10 makes it an official event with Calici di Stelle.

On the Feast of San Lorenzo, piazzas in over 300 cities from Italy’s north to south will host live concerts, dramatic productions, and fireworks, as well as tastings featuring the highest-quality Italian wine presented by top-notch sommeliers.  Each city, including Florence, Rome, and Trapani, to name a few, will feature wine from the surrounding region, so the best Chianti, Frascati, and Marsala will be on display, in addition to many other Italian wine favorites.

Like so many events this year, the 2011 installment of Calici di Stelle will celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Italian unity, honoring one of the many gastronomic products for which the country is known.  In between flights of reds and whites, take a glance up at the stars and pick out some constellations with the help of expert guides.  A summer night of wine and stars—it can’t get better than that.

So, what’s your favorite wine to drink on a midsummer night?

Every May and June, the National Institute of Ancient drama brings a little bit of Greece back to Sicily with performances of classic Greek plays in the Ciclo di Spettacoli Classici in Siracusa.  Performed in the incomparable and ancient Greek amphitheater in the heart of Siracusa’s archeological park, right next to the famous Ear of Dionysus, this drama festival attracts thousands of Italians and visitors alike for magical performances under the stars.

Siracusa's Greek Theater is the setting for an amazing summer festival of classic Greek dramas.

Siracusa’s Greek Theater, the largest amphitheater in Sicily, was built in the 5^th century BC out of stone from the hill on which it is perched.  Capable of holding over 10,000 people, that setting is a huge part of what makes this festival so special.  Very rarely do you have the chance to watch a play being performed in such an iconic space—where, thousands of years ago, Greeks sat in the very rows you’re filling, watching the same stories unfold on the stage before them.  If this isn’t stepping back in time, we don’t know what is.

This season offers up three classics, running on rotation until June 26 at Siracusa’s unrivaled Greek Theater:

Written by Euripedes around 430 BC, Andromache is the story of Andromache post-Trojan War during her enslavement to her husband Hector’s murderer, Neoptolemus, and his wife Hermione, with whom Andromache has continual conflict.

In Sophocles’s prize-winning play Philoctetes, Odysseus and Neoptolemus go to a desert island to take disabled and begrudged Philoctetes out of exile so that he can help win the Trojan War.

The Clouds by Aristohpanes is considered the first “comedy of ideas” and gained fame for its characterization Socrates, and is said to possibly have influenced the philosopher’s trial and execution.  In the play, an old man named Strepsiades is facing legal action for not paying debts.  In order to fight his creditors, he enrolls his son in Socrates’s The Thinkery where he will learn rhetorical skills to help his father argue his case.  But a twist of fate tears father and son apart and leaves The Thinkery in flames.

A cruise ship on the sunset horizon in Cinque Terre, one of the many shore excursions offered to cruise passengers.

With an increasing number of cruise lines turning Italian hot spots into exotic ports of call, passengers have a unique opportunity to enjoy both land and sea in this boot-shaped country.  While it’s easy to visit the magical canals of Venice or the vibrant gardens of Palermo because of their easy-access ports, some of Italy’s other main attractions are farther away from their respective ports of call.  Even though most cruise operators offer organized shore excursions, there’s nothing like having a local expert pick you up in a private car to whisk you off in style to explore the best that Italy has to offer.

While Italy’s busiest cruise port, Civitavecchia, has attractions of its own such as second century ruins, the big draw is its proximity to Rome.  With a full day on land, it’s possible to make it to Rome and back, enjoying its famous sights: the Colisseum, the Vatican, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain—all of the City of Lights, all during a comfortable, private excursion.

Likewise, Livorno is a wonderful springboard to the treasure trove that is Tuscany.  Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Siena, and San Gimignano are all within an hour’s drive from the port, so it’s easy to visit multiple locations in one day, taking in the rolling green hillside en route.

The ports of Naples and Sorrento, beautiful in their own right, offer easy access to the swanky island of Capri, the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, and Pompeii, rich with history.

And if a cruise doesn’t quite quench your thirst for Italy, extend your vacation and with a pre- or post-cruise tour, adding on a few days before or after you set sail.

Have you been on a memorable Italian shore excursion?  Tell us about it!

While the tarentella is one of Italy's most recognized dances, Tango World in Venice is about to take over the City of Water. (photo by Peter Hummers via flickr)

From June 1 to 5, Venice’s passenger terminal 103 will be transformed into an Argentine milonga, transporting you across the Atlantic for the fourth installment of Tango World in Venice.  While Italians are more known for their fast-paced tarantella than their sultry tango, Italian immigrants to Buenos Aires put their stamp on the national dance, influencing controversial changes in the lyrics, the music, and even the dance itself.  During Tango World in Venice locals, visitors, and cruise passengers alike can mix it up with professional dancers at nightly milongas, tango-ing the night away to live music.

While Italians may have put their stamp on the tango, here are some of the dances that they are really known for:

The Furlana, popular in Friuli and in particular Venice, is an old-fashioned dance that has a waltz feel to it, often featuring a couple flirting, courting, fighting, and making up.  Fast-paced and dramatic, the woman’s handkerchief is passed back and forth between the couple.

Liscio is a fluid, polka-like folk dance from northern Italy’s Romagna region that involves a couple circling the dance floor.  Both the dance and its music gained popularity across the country.

The Monferrina is a lively dance from the Piedmont region danced in two phases: the promenade and a couple dance.  The female dancers playfully move their skirts along with the accordion music.

By far the most well-known of Italian folk dances, the Tarantella, varies across Southern Italy and Sicily in name and performance (for example, the Puglia region calls it pizzica)—all of them fast-paced with jumpy movements and lots of tambourine playing.  Originally known as the cure to a deadly tarantula wolf spider bite, the frenzied dance known as the tarantella snuck its way into Italian and global culture.