How to get the Green Pass for Travel to Italy and in EU 2021 (October update)
updated 14/10/2021 The Green Pass (digital travel pass) Since June 15, within Italy to travel to another EU region for non-essential reasons such tourism, travel between regions and to attend some events such as trade fairs, conferences and ceremonies (even weddings) will require a “green pass” proving you have been vaccinated or recovered within the […]Read More
Covid-19 updates September 2021: information for tourists to Italy
Regulations for visiting Italy Last updated: Sept. 1, 2021 In brief: Remember to complete a passenger locator form upon entry into Italy. A Green Pass, digital proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test, is required to enter most public buildings, venues and events. 5 day fiduciary quarantine for UK travelers to Italy has been lifted […]Read More
Italy: Mandatory Green Pass & Extended State of Emergency
23/07/2021 – After careful deliberation, and much debate, the Italian government has decided to make the “green pass” (digital proof of recovery, vaccination, or a negative Covid-19 test) mandatory to enter some public venues and events. The new rules were announced by the Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri (Presidency of the Council of Ministers) yesterday evening. From […]Read More
Florence’s San Marco Museum, where mystical faith and classical knowledge meet
Taking a step back in time to the Florentine renaissances and the heart of Italian art and mystical knowledge with principal fellow Joanna Mendelssohn of the University of Melbourne. In 1981, I visited the San Marco Museum on my very first visit to Italy. I had been totally overwhelmed by the volume and concentration of […]Read More
Italy: 24 Hour Air Transportation Strike July 6th
A 24 hour general strike has been called by Unions representing Italy’s air-transport workers on July 6, 2021. Worker unions Filt Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uiltrasporti and Ugl Trasporto Aereo have called the strike to support the protest of workers of airlines badly effected by the crisis caused by COVID-19, including Alitalia, Air Italy, Ernest, Blue […]Read More
How to Find Covid-19 Info for Italy
Since November 2020 when the Italian government and Minister of Health implemented a color-coded tier system indicating Covid-19 criticality of each region, restrictions and regulations seem to change as frequently as the weather. White – low risk areas, no restrictions, wearing a mask is obligatory Yellow – moderate risk areas with some restrictions Orange […]Read More
Can US citizens travel to Italy? Update May 2021
Readers want to know: Can US citizens travel to Italy? Update May 3, 2021 | Due to Covid-19 restrictions, non-essential travel (i.e., tourism) to Italy from most non-EU countries (and including the United States) is prohibited. Essential travel is allowed and includes students, businesspersons, EU residents, and relatives of Italian citizens. A 5-14 days of […]Read More
15 Things To Do in Lombardy
What kind of Italy traveler are you? Do you search for fine art, rich history and exciting adventures, or is fashion, design and luxury your destination? Italy truly has something for everyone and here in the region of Lombardy, culture thrives, the past intertwines with the present and the landscape is breathtaking. You don’t have […]Read More
Milan Fashion Week 2021 and Fashion Museums in Lombardy
Phygital Milan Fashion Week From 23 February to 1 March 2021 Milan hosts the Milan Fashion Week dedicated to Women’s Fashion F / W 2021-2022. The event is one of the most important international events in the industry and expected by both professionals and fashion enthusiasts who are more attentive to emerging trends. This year’s edition is held […]Read More
48 Hours in Verona
What better way is there, than to spend Valentine’s Day in Verona, Italy’s city of love? Begin the tour at Castelvecchio (corso Castelvecchio 2). This medieval castle with its brick exterior and turrets is a wonderful architectural gem which houses an incredible collection of Medieval and Renaissance art. During your visit, take some time for […]Read More
Australians don’t have a ‘right’ to travel. Does COVID mean our days of carefree overseas trips are over?
Susan Harris Rimmer, Griffith UniversityMain image: www.shutterstock.com Australia is a nation of enthusiastic travellers, it is one of our defining national characteristics. At any given time, around a million of us are living and working overseas. In 2019, a record 11.3 million Australian residents went on short-term trips, double the figure of ten years earlier. […]Read More
Canadians may enter Italy, Americans may not
(July 17, 2020) The “safe list” for citizens of countries that may enter Italy has been updated and reconfirmed. The ban on citizens from the United States and most South American countries remains in force. The only exception for Latin America is Uruguay and now Canadians may travel to Italy. The list was updated, Jul 16, 2020 by the […]Read More
Eu Opens Borders But Not For US Visitors
(July 2, 2020) The European Union Member States have approved a draft list of 54 countries (see below), considered for Safe Entrance regarding measures taken during the Coronavirus crisis. The “safe list” will be used as a guide for member countries for opening their borders after the Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted July 1. The United States is […]Read More
Adventure Parks in Italy – great time for friends and family!
Adventure parks (parchi avventura) are a fairly new phenomenon in Italy, but there are quite a few that are really worth visiting. Apart from being great places where everybody, children and grown ups can have fun, they will give you the chance to see Italy in a different light. Have lots of fun, feel the […]Read More
5 Museums in Milan offering Virtual Tours
Just because the museum is closed or you are far away, it doesn’t mean you can’t visit the best museums in Milan. Through the Arts & Culture Project managed by Google and launched in 2011, using their Street View technology we are now able to visit hundreds of museums throughout the world. Consult the image […]Read More
Val Tidone – a castle on every hilltop
You know you’re in Val Tidone when you see a castle on practically every hilltop, when you find yourself surrounded by a literal sea of vineyards, and when the road winds lazily through one hamlet after another as it slowly rises, revealing breathtaking views of the hills and the valleys! When you have to slow […]Read More
Eating the Italian Way
For Italians food is something extremely special. It is connected with pleasure, tradition, family and leisure and must always be savored with gusto! In Italy, eating is synonymous with slow, so take your time and enjoy your meal! The MammamiaFamily will guide you on an exploration of Italian food habits; their peculiarities and secrets with […]Read More
Italy’s top spa destinations
Spa, or terme in Italian, have been known since the dawn of time for their healing powers, offering a range of treatments that include: bathing (hot springs – thermae hot tub, mud bath, hydro massage, sauna, sensation shower, steam bath), aromatherapy, massage, body wrap, beauty treatments (manicure, pedicure, waxing, exfoliating) and more. Check out these recommendations […]Read More
Italian Holidays
Moving to a new country has all sorts of novelties including a few new holidays to get used to. So before being the odd one racing to work on a day in which you could have stayed in bed, jot down these national holidays: January 1st– New Year’s Day or Capodanno January 6th– Epiphany or […]Read More
Day trips from Milan for families with kids!
Ten destinations only one hour away by car from Milan. The best choices when you run out of ideas in town. Castello di Gropparello 80 km from Milan Travel back in time for a fantastic family adventure in an authentic medieval fortress. Castello di Gropparello is located over a ravine above the Vezzeno stream. This […]Read More
48 Hours in Milan
Italy’s fashion capital has recently become one of top destinations in Italy! Your first stop (mandatory for anyone visiting town) is Milan’s Cathedral, affectionately called Duomo (Piazza Duomo) in the city center. Admire at one of Italy’s finest examples of Gothic architecture and be sure to visit the rooftops (via stairs or elevator) for a […]Read More
Understanding Italian coffee
In Italy drinking coffee is a ritual. Italians love going to cafés for their coffee and if skipped they won’t survive the day. Before you order a coffee, let’s clarify first the difference between café and caffè. Well, coffee translates in Italian as “caffé“, while café is known as the “bar”, the place where you […]Read More
48 Hours in Turin
Although Turin is not your typical tourist destination when visiting Italy it does offer unexpected surprises to its visitors. First on our list, is the recently renovated Egyptian Museum (Via Accademia delle Scienze 6) that houses one of the largest collections of Egyptian artifacts in Europe including the Tomb of Kha and his wife Merit and […]Read More
Introduction to Italian Customs
Italian languageItaly, as we know it today, is a very young country, just over 150 years old. It was ultimately unified in 1861 following a campaign lead by Garibaldi. Before then, it was a peninsula with dozens of independent city-states, ruled by lords, kings and popes, with their own laws, dialects and customs. Yet, the […]Read More
Milan: Mixing Old with the New
As an American, one thing that strikes on your first trip to Europe is the history. The relative age of North America is nothing compared to that of the European continent. Buildings of historical significance here can easily be two or three times as old as the historical sites in the United States. The same […]Read More
48 Hours in Rome
Day 1 Rome is truly one of a kind. It is filled with incredible buildings and architecture, ancient ruins from the great Roman Empire, and some of the most important religious landmarks in the world. The most difficult part about a trip to Rome is narrowing down a list of the best things to see […]Read More
History, wine and nature in a glass… or two!
As they say, life’s too short to drink bad wine, which is a perfect reason for visiting Val Tidone! Just an hour’s drive south of Milan will put you in the center of a landscape that is characterized by endless waves of vineyard creating glorious panoramas. The terroir of the Val Tidone is perfect for […]Read More
The Venice Carnival
When thinking of the Carnival, two cities stand out from the rest of the world, Venice and Rio. Given the cold temperatures in Italy since the start of 2016, my pick would definitely be Rio, but as I live in Milan with my wife and two small children, let’s talk about a more realistic travel option, […]Read More
Traveling with Kids
Like international couples, my wife and I travel abroad frequently, often to spend time with family and friends. For expats, traveling is like brushing your teeth, something you do on autopilot without giving it much thought. Well, at least that was the case before you had kids. Now this has become something far more challenging. […]Read More
Staying in Milan With Kids This Summer? Stay Sane and Have Fun!
It’s nearly here again…summer! And with it comes the end of another school year and the start of what seems to be both the fastest and slowest season of the year, depending on where you’re sitting. Some of you have summer calendars already jammed so full with plans that you risk whiplash racing from one […]Read More
