Piedmont, tucked in the northwest corner of Italy’s boot, is a region for all seasons, offering a smorgasboard of the best that the Bel Paese has to offer.  The second largest of Italy’s 20 regions, after Sicily, Piedmont has a population of about 4.4 million and is the home to some of the country’s most iconic exports: Fiat, Asti-Spumante, and Ferrero chocolate, to name a few.  Half of the region’s population lives in the Baroque city of Turin, a breaking ground for Italian unification 150 years ago, the country’s former capital, and host of the 2006 Olympic winter games.

With an appropriate name meaning “at the foot of the mountains,” Piedmont is surrounded by the Alps on three sides, making for plenty of skiing and winter sport activity.  That mountainous soil is also ideal for agriculture: rice, fruit, corn, grapes for wine, and the highly sought-after delicacy truffles all grow abundantly.  The region is spotted with 56 national parks, including Gran Paradiso, home to ibex, eagles, and chamois, in addition to rare flowers.  Italians and foreigners alike enjoy visiting the Piedmont Lake District and traveling the long-distance trail Grande Traversata delle Alpi, which links many remote, picturesque mountain valleys, each one home to their own treasures and secret villages.

Because of its proximity to France and Switzerland, which are both accessible through tunnels and mountain passes, the cuisine in Piedmont varies greatly from the rest of Italy.  Expect heavy dishes like risotto and fondue and rich, cream-based sauces laden with butter instead of olive oil.  Food is so revered in Piedmont that it became the seat of Italy’s Slow Food movement.  And it is rightfully revered—Piedmont, especially in the Langhe region, produces over 10 DOCG wines, including the bold red wines Barolo and Barbaresco.  And with truffle season upon us, the Langhe is also bustling to find those earthy gastronomic treasures.

No matter the season, there’s always plenty to do at the foot of the mountains in Piedmont.  How do you like to spend your time there?

Pack the popcorn and grab a seat for a four-plus-hour animated short film marathon in Milan’s Parco Sempione.

On September 12, animated films including some from different genres like 3D, graphic, dreamlike, and narrative will play for the public, putting the spotlight on an art that is usually considered for kids.  Showcasing new techniques and breakthrough artists, the marathon brings some of the best international creators and studios together to celebrate their artform.

The marathon is part of the 16^th Annual Milano Film Festival, which runs from September 9 to18, taking over various theaters around the city with 15 feature films and 55 shorts from 34 countries.  Also included in the festivities will be a retrospective on American actor Jonathan Demme, who will teach a lesson on cinema, plus a tribute to American film music supervisor Randall Poster, who will present five of his works.  There will also be plenty of other workshops, talks, and discussions, plus nightly musical entertainment and a festival geared toward elementary-aged kids.

Sit down and enjoy the show in Milan!

The view of Florence's iconic Duomo dome seen from the church terrace--which is only open once a year on September 8.

Every year, a spectacular opportunity arises in Florence: the chance to go on a passeggiata along the Duomo terrace.  Located at the top of the church, meaning the top of the elaborate marble façade, the vantage point offers a 270° view of the Renaissance City and a wonderful, up-close view of Florence’s famous and massive red dome and a bird’s eye view of the Baptistery.

While you can climb all the way up the dome nearly any other day of the year, the terrace is halfway up and therefore half of the work.  It is open for just one day every September 8^th to celebrate the laying of the cathedral’s cornerstone in 1296.  And perhaps the best part—it’s free!

After climbing a few flights of stone stairs, you’ll be in awe as you step out onto the terrace, seemingly floating atop an extraordinary panorama of sprawling city and countryside.  Looking up at the dome brings the building you’ve been snapping pictures of into perspective—the circular windows at the dome’s base are three times your height.  A waist-high wall separates you from unparalleled views of nearby Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce, and San Lorenzo plus Pitti Palace and San Miniato a little further off, and a glimpse of Fiesole tucked into the northwest hills. Charming rooftop gardens, only visible from this vantage point, and iconic clotheslines adorn the sea of red terra cotta roofs and yellow stucco buildings in between.

After slinking along the narrow walkway on the façade side, you’ll round a corner and suddenly be brought inside where a stunning aerial view of the cathedral’s vast interior will help you realize the building’s enormity—visitors milling about below look like moving mosaic tiles, complementing the circular design on the floor they’re walking on.

Then it’s back outside where Giotto’s belltower suddenly shoots up in front of you, forcing you to take in its geometric green, pink, and white marble patterns, its hundreds of statues, and the thousands of bells housed inside just feet away.

Getting to walk along the Duomo’s terrace and be on top of the Florentine world literally takes your breath away.

Three years ago, Vogue magazine started Fashion’s Night Out, an all-night shopping extravaganza that mixes fun, fashion, and shopping.  Called the “best fashion party in history,” this after-hours event spans over 20 cities across the globe from New York to New Delhi over the course of a week.  And Italy’s fashion capitals of Milan and Rome are amongst the shopping cities.

While Milan has been participating for all three years, this will be Rome’s first time hosting, but it’s sure to draw celebrities, fashion designers, and fashion lovers alike, just like Milan.  On September 8 and September 15, Milan and Rome, respectively, will let boutiques and stores citywide keep their doors open all night long.

In between shopping in the 600 participating stores in Milan and the 400 in Rome, there will be bonus events in each city.  Normal shopping glitz and glam will be counterbalanced with special coffee concoctions by Turin’s Caffe Vergnano and Campari will have booths set up in each city.  In Milan, there will also be a mix and mingle session for photographers called Portfolionight and a performance by the 100-member Under 13 Orchestra.  And in Rome, the Red Passion Prize will be awarded to one inspiring Italian for following his/her passion.

September’s Fashion’s Night Out celebrations are not to be missed, especially considering the huge contributions that Milan, Rome, and Italy as a whole have made to the fashion industry.

Naples and pizza go hand in hand—the birthplace of this world-renowned pie, Naples takes pride in its signature dish and pizzamakers there like to keep things simple: flour, water, salt for the dough and tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil on top—none of the other “junk” we use as toppings.

While Neapolitans and tourists alike celebrate this gastronomic art every day, a group of pizzaiuoli (pizzamakers) have decided to fire up their wood-burning ovens and make it official with Napoli Pizza Village: four days of all things pizza.  Taking over Mostra d’Oltremare, this annual festival sets up an authentic Naples village where pizza-making workshops and demonstrations take center stage alongside music and entertainment, giving visitors a glimpse into one of the oldest professions in Napoli.

From September 7 to 11, mangia la pizza for dinner between 6pm and midnight, when Napoli Pizza Village will be in full swing and the savory specialty will be taking over town.

What’s your favorite kind of pizza?

There are several paths to hike in Cinque Terre and they are great for all experience levels.

With summer still rolling on strong here and in Italy, and with the warm weather sure to last well into September, there are plenty of outdoor activities to take advantage of while touring the Bel Paese.  At the top of the list is hiking through Cinque Terre.

Those five small fishing towns nestled into the cliffside on the Ligurian Sea commonly referred to as the Italian Riviera can be explored via train, boat, or, more interestingly, by foot.  It’s then that you get to truly take in Cinque Terre and its surroundings.

There are several ways to hike Cinque Terre.  The most accessible and easiest is the Blue Path, which hugs the coastline from village to village, taking four to five hours to complete.  This path, which includes the famous Via dell’Amore, brings you along the cliffs, where you’ll hear crashing waves and perhaps spot a dolphin swimming below.

To get a more aerial view, head to the Red Path way up in the mountains, taking you from Portovenere to Levanto.  In between the blue and the red paths are smaller ones that will offer stunning views from town to town via hillside vineyards, endless olive groves, and cool forests.   From either path you’ll awe as new towns come into view—little specks of vitality floating between neighboring seas of green vegetation and crystal teal-blue ocean.  Plan ahead—you won’t be able to complete all of the paths in one day.

In order to take advantage of the footpaths, purchase a Cinque Terre Card, which also gives you access to museums, environmentally-friendly bus transport, and mountain bike rentals. For 7 Euro or less, you can take in the beauty of Cinque Terre while completely relaxing, getting lost in nature, and forgetting about everything else anywhere else.

Have you hiked through Cinque Terre?  What was your favorite part?

Along with Piazza del Campo, the piazza at San Francesco will host music and dance acts during Siena's La Città Aromatica festival. (photo via wikipedia)

Small town Siena goes big town entertainment this summer as La Città Aromatica rolls into the medieval city.  Setting up stages in both Piazza del Campo and Piazza San Francesco, this annual festival brings nightly music and dance shows to the Tuscan city from August 23 to 26.

Under the direction of Mauro Pagani, rock, classical, jazz, and pop music from national and international artists will travel through Siena’s winding cobblestoned alleys, entertaining viewers and passersby alike.  Opening the series on the 23^rd will be Roy Paci & Aretuska with a lively rock concert with special guests Cico and pianist Ekland Hasa.  The following night will switch to dance with the Motus company and Francesca Selva presenting two breathtaking performances.

Next to light up the piazza will be “Rock News: New Rock in the City” featuring two bands: Hashmir and AfterShave.  The following night, Filippo Fraziani, son of famed Italian singer/songwriter Ivan Graziani, will take the stage, bringing a huge following that stretches to New York, where he is a staple on the Lower East Side.

The concerts, which are free to attend, will conclude on the 26th in Piazza del Campo, also home to Siena’s historic palio, with Naples-born pop singer Massimo Ranieri, who will bring a slew of surprise guests onto the stage to perform with him.

With this all-star lineup, this year’s La Città Aromatica in Siena is not to be missed!

We’re in the midst of one of Florence’s best summertime events: In Fortezza.  This mix of concerts, movies, cultural presentations, food pavilions, sports, and a book fair is guaranteed to show visitors a good time.

Held until August 15, the historic Fortezza da Basso near the Santa Maria Novella train station will be broken up into different piazzas to host a multitude of daily events.

Peruse over 40,000 books at the book fair and then check out presentations on Italian artisanal goods like wine and beer, as well as cooking lessons at the section called Fortezza dei Saperi.  The games and sports area is great for the young and the young-at-heart, offering children’s activities as well as jumping, Mixestreme, and a 6D cinema.

As for entertainment, take in concerts and theater at Piazza Puccini.  Musical acts will feature alternative, rock, funk, soul, dance, and country music.  You can also catch a wide selection of films from Italian, British, French, and American directors.

If all of that fun makes you work up an appetite, there will be plenty of food to satisfy, taking you on a global gastronomical journey.  In Piazza Latina, enjoy South American food and drink, dancing, and themed shows.  Around the corner, transport yourself to Asia with an array of fare: Indian, Vietnamese, Sushi, and Chinese.  Appropriately, the Mediterranean section is the biggest, hosting regional performances and showcasing cuisine from Tunisia, Greece, Morocco, and, from closer to home, Ligurian focaccia, Neapolitan pizza, specialties from Emilia-Romagna, and plenty of Italian sweets.

As if there’s not enough to do in Florence, the next few weeks of In Fortezza gives you a chance to take advantage of multiple cultural activities every day and never repeat one—unless you want to!

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?