Here’s a roundup of the latest news from Italy: February 2nd through February 8th: Frozen Venice – in picturesA stunning photo collection from Venice, where canals have frozen over in the historic winter storm that's hit much of Europe this month. (via @WalksofItaly on Twitter) Rome, Colosseum closed February 2012Word out of Rome is that the Colosseum is closed temporarily due to snow. There are conflicting reports on when it'll re-open (this note says the 9th, another I saw says the 8th), but if you're in Rome right now be prepared to make alternate sight-seeing plans if the Colossem remains closed for a few more days. Italy Roundtable: Earth–47, Morto che ParlaThis month's Italy Blogging Roundtable topic was "the elements," & Rebecca shared some of the reasons why cemeteries in Italy are some of her favorite places – and she did so in that eminently readable, eloquent fashion I've come to expect from her. This is a beautiful post that may have you looking at cemeteries a bit differently yourself. Destructive Elements – Italian churches damaged by earth, water, air and fireAlexandra's art historian self is on display for her contribution to the Italy Blogging Roundtable, where she talks about churches in Italy that were damaged by one of the elements. It's a fascinating historical look at some of the country's most treasured monuments, & a sad reminder that the same thing could happen again at anytime when there isn't enough money in the budget to to preventive work. Braving the Elements: A Rare Snowfall in RomeMelanie's Italy Blogging Roundtable post is a great overview of the historic snowfall that hit Rome this month – she's collected several wonderful photos of Romans enjoying the white stuff in their city, not to mention some beautiful shots of famous monuments decorated by a layer of snow. The Elements and the Seasons: Fire and WaterIn Tuscany, Gloria's Italy Blogging Roundtable post shows how two of the elements – fire & water – work their way through the seasons. It's a pretty post full of photographic evidence that these elements are everywhere you look, no matter what time of year it is. English Bookstores in RomeJourneywoman's got a list of English bookstores in Rome as well as gift ideas that come in at under $5.00 – in case you need to bring home lots of goodies for family, friend, coworkers, & yourself! Vernazza FloodFor those of you who are interested in keeping up to date with how Vernazza and the rest of the Cinque Terre are faring after the October 2011 floods, this page is updated fairly regularly. Italian cruise ship survivors offered $14,460 per person for their pain and suffering – NY Daily NewsAfter a passenger sued for $100 million, the Costa cruise company has offered less than $15,000 per person as a settlement for their pain and suffering. Would you take it? (via @michellefabio on Twitter) The Truth—and Translation—Behind the Fiat 500 Super Bowl AdThis is awesome – not just a translation of what was said in the ad (which was completely in Italian, with no subtitles), but also some tidbits about the gorgeous Italian woman featured in the ad – including the fact that she's not even Italian! Venice’s Frozen LagoonI loved seeing the photos of Italy under snow that were posted all over Facebook and elsewhere, but this one really stunned me. Venice under a light dusting of snow is magical – but a frozen lagoon? That's some SERIOUS cold! Rome’s Best Bus… for Food: The Unofficial "Hop-On, Hop-Off" Dining BusThis is an absolutely BRILLIANT post about the public bus that hits Rome's best neighborhoods for eating, along with tips about what spots to seek out once you've disembarked and are wandering around – hungry. Clever, clever, clever! Thanks to Italy Beyond the Obvious on Facebook for pointing this out. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Italy-Beyond-the-Obvious/128228997204488) Venezia pronto interventoMy pal Christine of WhyGo France alerted me to this reality TV show, which is all about Venice's first responders. I'm trying to find out if it will ever come to the US – it's on the National Geographic Channel in Italy, and there's a NatGeo channel in the US, so it's possible, right? What a fascinating show it would be! Rome For FoodiesWhen I hear from Italy travelers who are excited about eating in this gastronomic wonderland, I make sure they know about Katie Parla's excellent blog, Parla Food. She lives in Rome, & writes mostly about food in the capital, & she has now put all that knowledge into an app for the iPhone/iPad/Android – Rome for Foodies. It's crammed with her foodie picks for the Eternal City, including maps and insider tips, and it all works offline once you've downloaded it – so no worrying about roaming charges while you travel. It's $3.99 in the iTunes store, & $2.79 in the Android market.

This month, the Italy Roundtable bloggers decided to get elemental – we each chose one of the Greek classical elements to apply to Italy in some way. Maybe because Italy’s in the midst of the coldest winter it has experienced in 27 years, maybe because my favorite color is orange, maybe by pure chance, I’ve chosen the element of FIRE. And what that brings me to this month is, then: Volcanoes in Italy Travelers may more frequently associate Italy with its historic monuments and coastal views, but a quick peek at a topographical map of the peninsula reveals an incredibly mountainous country, indeed. Almost the entire border of Italy with its European neighbors is mountainous, with the Alps to the west and the Dolomites to the east. The Apennines run nearly the length of the entire boot, and even the mountains on the island of Sicily are an extension of the Apennine range. It should come as no surprise, then, that at least a few of those mountains are actually volcanoes. As it happens, Italy is home to the only active volcanoes in mainland Europe – and it’s got quite a few. Some of these volcanoes are islands (and occupy pretty much all the land area on the island), and some of them are so active they’re listed as having “continuous activity” – a tempting designation, no doubt, if you’re an adventurous traveler with a penchant for eruption photos. Active Volcanoes in Italy Italy has three active volcanoes, all of which are in southern Italy. There’s a host of inactive volcanoes in Italy, too, but since those can just as easily be called “mountains” or “hills” when they’re not apt to burp ash or lava, we’ll stick to the active volcanoes for the purposes of this article. Here’s a bit more about each of Italy’s active volcanoes, including where they are and how you can visit. Mount Etna – Sicily Italy’s largest and most active volcano is Mount Etna, near Sicily‘s eastern coast, standing at over 10,900ft. It also happens to be one of the most active volcanoes on earth – it wears its “continuous activity” label with gusto. Etna was named one of 16 “Decade Volcanoes” by the United Nations, which recommended taking a closer look at the volcanoes listed because of their tendency to have particularly destructive eruptions but also how close they are to populated areas. Mount Etna may be in a constant state of erupting, but the kinds of eruptions aren’t all the same. Etna has a history of producing great clouds of gas and ash (pyroclastic flow) as well as fountains of lava. Additionally, there are six craters and hundreds of vents on Mount Etna now, which may produce different kinds of eruptions. As mentioned, Mount Etna is close to people – there are towns surrounding the base of the mountain, and the city of Catania lies within 30km of the peak. The last time an eruption from Etna was responsible for destroying a town was in 1928, but lava has damaged or destroyed countless buildings and transportation lines since. Mount Etna: Visitor Information The point from which most tours of the volcano depart is Rifugio Sapienza, roughly 4,500ft from the summit on the south side of the mountain. Note that if you’d like to stay for longer than a regular day tour, Rifugio Sapienza is a true Italian rifugio – a mountain lodge providing rustic accommodation to hikers. Buses run daily from Catania and Nicolosi to the rifugio, and there’s also a big parking lot where you can leave your car (for a fee) if you’ve got a rental. There are also organized day tours you can book from the nearby resort area of Taormina, Nicolosi, and other area towns – these vary in terms of difficulty, so be sure to ask how strenuous the tour is before you book. Day tours range in price depending on the starting point and what’s included, but there are a few in the €35-75 per person range. Longer tours and those that involve more actual trekking cost more. Tours of Mount Etna leave from Rifugio Sapienza when the weather permits – if the weather is inclement, experienced mountain hikers can explore on foot, but be warned it can get extremely cold on Etna. In fact, during the winter, Etna is a popular ski destination in Italy. Tours departing from Rifugio Sapienza are roughly €60 per person. You can also take the train around the volcano on the private Ferrovia Circumetnea – it doesn’t climb the mountain, but it circles the base and you’ll get plenty of great views of Mount Etna (weather permitting, of course). A Catania-Riposto-Catania train ticket is €11.60 and you’ll find a PDF of the train timetable here. Stromboli – Aeolian Islands If you think “stromboli” sounds more like some kind of baked pasta dish you might find on the menu at Olive Garden than an Italian volcano, you’re not alone. It is, in fact, a bastardized Italian-American foodstuff, but the original Stromboli is a volcanic island just off the northern coast of Sicily. Stromboli is one of the Aeolian Islands, all eight of which were formed by volcanic activity. Two of the islands are considered active volcanoes today. Vulcano (appropriately named) is technically “active,” although it last erupted in the late 1800s, so is listed as “dormant.” Stromboli, on the other hand, is (like Mount Etna) in a state of continuous volcanic activity. Most of the eruptions don’t involve lava flows, although most do produce spurts of lava-like rocks – these are particularly spectacular at night, when the rocks glow orange in the dark. Mount Stromboli: Visitor Information Mount Stromboli makes up the entirety of the island of Stromboli, rising in a nearly-perfect triangular shape out of the sea and standing at more than 3,000ft, but there’s still a bit of room at the base of the mountain for a few small villages. The only way to reach Stromboli is by boat – there’s regular ferry service connecting the island to the others in the Aeolian chain as well as to Sicily. There are no cars, buses, or trains on the island, so once you get there you’ll be doing a lot of walking (or riding a scooter, or the small three-wheeled Apes). There are a few hotels on Stromboli, and a few locals who rent out rooms, although most visitors take day tours to Stromboli and don’t spend the night. Note that in order to climb to the summit, you’ll need to be hiking with a guide. You can hire a guide on the island. Mount Vesuvius – Campania photo by Jessica Spiegel and may not be used without permission Perhaps Italy’s most famous volcano is Mount Vesuvius, whose 79AD eruptions were responsible for burying and preserving the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, among others. The mountain still looms large over Campania, and still poses a volcanic threat. While the other two active volcanoes listed above are in a constant state of eruption, Vesiuvius is not – the last major eruption was in 1944. Still, Vesuvius was named one of the UN’s 16 “Decade Volcanoes” (like Mount Etna) for the severity of its eruptions in the past and for how close it lies to population centers. While you can’t see Mount Vesuvius, which stands at just over 4,200ft and less than six miles from Naples, from the historic center of of the city, it’s almost impossible to miss if you’re not standing in narrow streets between tall buildings. Get onto a nearby hill or a ferry headed for Sorrento and you can clearly see not just the mountain but the houses that climb up its slopes. The entire population of Naples, let alone the cities surrounding it, would be in jeopardy if Vesuvius were to erupt – yet efforts to convince people to move (even offering them cash to do so) have as yet been largely unsuccessful. Vesuvius remains a quiet threat, and authorities hope the warning systems and evacuation plans they’ve developed do the trick when they’re needed. Mount Vesuvius: Visitor Information You can get to Mount Vesuvius by using the Circumvesuviana train and getting off at either the Ercolano Scavi or Pompei Scavi stations. From each of those stations, there are buses that run trips up to Vesuvius regularly (more often from the Pompei station than from Ercolano), and tickets for the bus cost under €10. You can opt for a private taxi to take you up the mountain instead, although this is more expensive. Note that from the drop-off point for both buses and taxis (the entrance to the national park) you’ll need to hike quite a distance uphill before you get to enjoy the views. Getting into the national park costs €6.50 per person. Other Voices from the Italy Blogging Roundtable What elemental aspect of Italy did the other members of the Italy Blogging Roundtable write about? Find out by clicking on their links below. ArtTrav – Destructive Elements – Italian churches damaged by earth, water, air and fire At Home in Tuscany – The Elements and the Seasons: Fire and Water Brigolante – Earth: 47, Morto che Parla Italofile – Braving the Elements: A Rare Snowfall in Rome photos not credited within the article are by: alexbravewolf, NASA/Johnson Space Flight Center/Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, alexbravewolf, giopuo, Neuwieser, Averain new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'search', search: '#italyroundtable', interval: 30000, title: 'Italy Bloggers Roundtable', subject: '', width: 'auto', height: 300, theme: { shell: { background: '#8ec1da', color: '#ffffff' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#444444', links: '#1985b5' } }, features: { scrollbar: true, loop: false, live: true, behavior: 'all' } }).render().start();

The topic of whether to plan and book your own Italy trip vs. going with a package tour has come up a few times recently, both on the WhyGo Italy Facebook page and in the comments of some of the articles here on the site, so I thought I’d take a moment to post my thoughts here. So, should you book your own Italy trip or go with a tour? My short answer is: it depends. Those of you who have poked around on the site probably won’t be surprised to hear me say that. On certain topics, I’m happy to take a stand – but most of the time, I don’t feel like it’s my place to lay down some kind of travel law everyone must live by. I’m just happy y’all are traveling, y’know? Browse Italy tours options Learn how to plan your own Italy itinerary And now, yes, here’s my longer answer. I genuinely believe that planning and booking your own trips, no matter where you’re going, results in more rewarding travel experiences. This is partly because you, as the traveler, get to see the process through the whole way, from sowing the seeds right up to harvest. It’s extremely gratifying to do your research to find, say, a secret ticket window in Florence that lets you get reservations to bypass the line in front of the Uffizi – I give you permission to feel a bit smug when it works just like you heard it would. Besides the personal satisfaction of a job well done, however, there is the simple fact that when you’re on an organized tour you don’t have the leeway that’s required for spontaneity. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a few hours of free time each day, but asking serendipity to adhere to a schedule sort of defeats the purpose. Making your own agenda (or making up your mind not to have one) gives you the freedom to explore whatever strikes your fancy. Spend longer in a cafe because you’re having a great conversation with a stranger, seek out a suburban flea market to look for treasures, or take a wrong turn on purpose just to see where it goes. In my own experience, it’s these unexpected detours that have led to some of my most cherished travel memories – and most would have been impossible if I were being shepherded around on a tour. All of this waxing on about the merits of planning your own trip, and I still think “it depends?” Absolutely. Planning your own trip to Italy does require more work than booking a package trip, there’s no getting around that. If you’re one of the many over-worked people who barely has time to do the grocery shopping, let alone research hotels in Venice, you might feel a panic attack coming on at the very thought of figuring out all the details involved in trip planning. Folks, travel is supposed to be fun. The best kinds of trips include challenges, I firmly believe that, but the overall feeling shouldn’t be one of dread, obligation, or discomfort. The bottom line is that you need to listen to your gut – what are you comfortable doing? Do you get excited about planning your own trip, or does the very idea make you want to stay home? The answer to that question will tell you whether you should go DIY or book a tour. Either way, so long as you’re getting out and seeing the world, that’s a good thing. photo by www.ciccioetneo.it

Planning a trip of any length is a fun yet challenging experience for travel lovers worldwide. Deciding where to go, what to do, where to stay, and what to eat are all part of the fun. When going on vacation, the planning aspect takes some time, but it typically doesn’t encompass one’s life. If you are a travel lover who has thought of taking a longer trip, though, more planning is necessary. When planning a trip around the world, setting an itinerary can be quite the challenge. For many RTW (round the world) travelers, deciding where to go is the hardest part. Many long-term travelers like to take advantage of the cheaper destinations and regions in the world, so oftentimes Europe is bypassed for places like Southeast Asia and Latin America. But we wanted to throw our hat in the ring for Italy, and more specifically, Rome. Adding Rome to your RTW itinerary should be takent into consideration, even on your long-term travels. It is not cheap, this much we all know. But there are plenty of tips out there to help those budget travelers save a few bucks when visiting Rome. We think Rome would make a great addition to a long-term trip because of the time one has when traveling around the world. Many people travel to Rome as part of a longer Italy trip and only have a few days in this historic city, but if you add it to your RTW trip, you can spend as much time as you want here. Part of the reason travelers spend so much money in Rome is because they blast through it in three days, seeing anything and everything, and spending boatloads of money in the process. But if you have a week, two weeks, even more, you can take your time, slow down, and save a few bucks in the meantime. There are services out there now like Airbnb and Couchsurfing that are perfect for those who are on a longer trip and can save a tremendous amount on accommodations. There are even house-sitting services that long-term travelers can take advantage of if they plan on being in a specific place for a while. So don’t discount Europe, Italy, or a major city like Rome on your RTW trip just because it could be too expensive. Time is on your side during a trip like this, and if you have always dreamed of seeing ancient Roman ruins, the Vatican, and taking in one of the world’s most historic cities, then use this free time you will have to do it properly. Photo credit: 1

Here’s a roundup of the latest news from Italy: January 20th through January 31st: Nonna Lina Has Guts and StyleAs @adventurevida said on Twitter, "This Italian grandma might be the most stylish bike rider you've seen. Guaranteed to make you smile." (via @davisphinney on Twitter) Anti-mafia priest sent pig’s head in Godfather-style warningA priest in Calabria found a bloody pig's head on his doorstep, its mouth stuffed with cloth – and last week the priest had his car vandalized. He's being targeted, it's believed, by the 'Ndrangheta mafia for "speaking out against organised crime." In Italy, Art As A Window Into Modern BankingThis is a cool look at the history of banking in Italy, and its ties to art and beauty. Unfortunately, the exhibit discussed in this story, which ran for several months at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, is now over – but the story itself is still interesting. Italian Authorities Call Off Search For Missing In Costa ShipwreckWith 17 deaths and 16 still missing, Italian officials say they're calling off the search for any more bodies, as that would put the searchers in too much danger. Italy: A mushroom haven in the cloudsSometimes looking for a path up a mountain means accidentally stumbling into prime mushroom-hunting grounds. And yes, you may get stopped by the Italian police. (via @tweetaly on Twitter) Sunset in VeniceSuch a gorgeous sunset picture in Venice! (via @GoSeeWrite on Twitter) Frescoes in FlorenceFlorence's museums may have more than their fair share of amazing paintings hanging – framed – on the walls, but Jenna thinks you shouldn't overlook these five fantastic frescoes on your visit to the Tuscan capital. Slow Umbria: how to discover the Italophile’s ItalyDo you like the idea of 'slow travel' but aren't sure where to best embrace it? Guidebook & iPhone app author Alex Leviton says you should make a beeline for Umbria. (via @tweetaly on Twitter) L’Italia sfida il grande freddoThis article is in Italian, but for those of you who don't speak the language here's the main point – this is the coldest winter Italy has seen in 27 years. Pack warm clothing if you're headed over there anytime soon! (via @newsfromitaly on Twitter) Italian priest caught out lying to parishioners after Concordia disaster – TelegraphHere's a story I didn't expect to come out of the cruise ship disaster in Tuscany… A priest apparently told his congregation that he'd be gone for a week at a spiritual retreat – when he was really going on a cruise. (He survived the shipwreck.) ‘Disaster tourists’ swarm to Costa Concordia islandI guess it's to be expected, what with all the rubber-necking that goes on alongside highway accidents, but this is pretty grim – especially when they're still pulling bodies from the ship. (via @MalloryOnTravel on Twitter) Smallest coffee maker in the worldThis is so many kinds of adorable… A tiny mokapot, the smallest in the world, stands at a whopping 19mm. And yes, it actually works – it takes 25 seconds to brew a few drops of coffee. Divers find 16th body in cruise ship wreckAnother body was found in the Costa Concordia ship, still lying on its side off the coast of Tuscany, bringing the death toll to 16. 17 people remain unaccounted for, although six of the bodies found haven't yet been identified, so the number of missing is more realistically 11. (via @TravelBlggr on Twitter) Italy Strikes Snarl Transport as Monti Presents Growth PlanItaly's interim prime minister has announced some ideas to get the country's economy back on track, which led to truckers and taxi drivers going on strike (and blocking traffic). More strikes in other business sectors are planned for the coming weeks. The first artificial sweetener poisoned lots of RomansApparently the ancient Romans liked their food sweet – and found an artificial sweetener they could brew up from grapes that did the trick. The problem? The sweetener contained about 1,000 times the acceptable dose of lead. Oopsie! (via @WalksofItaly on Twitter)

Anytime we’re outside our familiar surroundings, it’s a good idea to take safety precautions you might not think about at home – even when you’re traveling in a country like Italy. This doesn’t mean you need to go overboard, and if you approach travel saftey in Italy properly you’re unlikely to notice your own precautions after awhile. I’ve covered each of these individual topics in different articles on WhyGo Italy, so consider this your table of contents to the “Italy Travel Safety” series. Travel Insurance for Italy First things first, if you’re going to get travel insurance that’s something you need to do before you leave home. There are different kinds of insurance you can get, from medical insurance to trip protection, and the type that’s best for you will depend on a few things – where you live, the kind of trip you’re taking, the activities you’re planning to engage in while traveling, etc. You can see the differences between several major and highly-rated travel insurance policies on the BootsnAll Travel Insurance section – it breaks each policy down into individual components so you can figure out which one applies best to your situation. Travel insurance is often much cheaper than you think it will be, and it’s free to get a quote, so definitely do that. >> Get a quote on travel insurance for your Italy trip Money Safety in Italy Having your purse or wallet stolen can be a nightmare at home, and it’s even worse when you’re traveling. Pickpocketing is certainly a problem in some parts of Italy, and tourists often make good targets – they’re distracted and, what’s more, they’re likely to be carrying expensive cameras and more money than the average local. You can’t prevent a pickpocket from trying to steal from you, but you can make yourself a less-appealing target. You can also take precautions before you leave your hotel each day to make sure that if your wallet does get stolen, you’ve got a backup plan. >> Read more about money safety in Italy and anti-pickpocketing tips Passport Safety in Italy After you pass through passport control to get into the European Union, you might think you could put away your passport in a safe place and you wouldn’t need to have it available again until you leave. In Italy, you’re required to hand over your passport at any hotel to which you’re checking in, and they may end up keeping it for up to 24 hours – they’re registering it with the authorities, as they’re required to. In other words, you’ll need to have your passport at the ready when you check into a hotel – and after that, you’ll need to make sure it’s in a safe place. >> Read more about passport safety in Italy Italy Tourist Scams to Watch Out For Some countries are notorious for their tourist scams – and although Italy doesn’t tend to rank highly on that scale, there are a couple of scams that you should be aware of. >> Read more about tourist scams in Italy Safety Gear You Might Want to Consider You don’t need to invest a huge amount of money in safety gear for traveling in Italy, but I do think there’s one item no traveler should be without – and others that you might want to consider, depending on your circumstances. >> Read more about safety-related travel gear you may need in Italy photo by krossbow

Traveling in Italy doesn’t really require lots of travel gear purchases (unless you’re planning to do some specialty activity like rock climbing or skiing, that is), but there are some general pieces of travel gear that I think are good to have with you when you go anywhere. Why? They’re safety-related. >> Get a quote on travel insurance before you leave for Italy These pieces of travel safety gear will serve you well in Italy and beyond, and nothing on the list is crazy expensive, either. Is there any travel safety gear that you don’t leave home without and that you think would be good for people to bring to Italy? Let me know in the comments! Money Belt If you’re going to purchase one piece of travel safety gear before your Italy trip, I would recommend that you get a money belt. I know, they’re not comfortable, and (depending on your outfit) they’re bulky, but they’re also clever and can keep you from losing all your credit cards and passport if someone steals your purse. I don’t know about you, but the discomfort of wearing a money belt pales in comparison to the discomfort of losing all my credit cards during a trip. The imperative thing with the money belt, however, is that you wear it properly – it does you no good to put your extra cash, credit cards, and passport in it to conceal them, only to wear the money belt outside your clothing. That’s like wearing a waist-high advertisement to theives saying, “Here’s where the valuable stuff is!” Now, there are other styles of under-clothing pouches out there besides the money belt – some worn around the neck, some worn around the leg, and some worn tied to bra straps. Choose the one that makes the most sense for you, keeping in mind that if it’s all visible then it’s not doing its job. >> You can find money belts at AAA, at any good travel store, and on Amazon Cross-Body Bag This is one mainly for the girls, although if you’re the kind of guy who carries a messenger-style bag instead of a backpack then this applies to you, too. Anything carried across your body rather than slung casually over one shoulder is more difficult for a would-be thief to grab quickly and run off – and anything that slows down a potential purse-snatcher is going to make him/her think twice about stealing from you. Some travelers I know swear by the Pacsafe brand of bags (they make purses, day packs, backpacks, etc.) because they’re made from a “slash-proof” material that means thieves can’t even slice through your bag to catch falling cameras and wallets, but if you’re not already in the market for a new bag I think wearing a cross-body bag and being aware of your surroundings goes a long way toward keeping your stuff in your hands. >> Amazon carries an array of cross-body bags, from leather to nylon and all colors of the rainbow Front-Pocket Wallet Carrying a wallet in a rear pocket is a habit that’s hard to break for many men, but when you’re traveling it’s a good idea to move the wallet to the front. Unfortunately, most wallets I’ve seen are too bulky and crammed with stuff to be comfortable in a front pocket. So for your Italy trip, you might want to pick up a wallet that’s specifically designed for the front pocket. There are front pocket wallets that are shaped to fit the inside of a pocket, and another popular option is to use a money clip instead of a wallet. With both of these, they’re not just smaller designs overall, they’re not even capable of being over-stuffed the way a typical tri-fold wallet is. If you just can’t abandon the back pocket wallet, you might at least try one that’s suede rather than leather – some people swear that makes it tougher for a pickpocket to grab, but I still think you’re taking your chances there. >> You’ll find an array of travel-friendly wallets on Amazon, including front pocket wallets, money clips, and suede wallets Purse Hook When you’re sitting at an outdoor cafe or a bar or anywhere else that’s crowded, the last thing you want to do is hang your purse or backpack over the back of the chair behind you. You no longer have your eyes on it, which means it’s a prime target for thieves, and you won’t even notice until it’s far too late. You can avoid having to put your bag on the ground (which may be dirty/wet) or your lap (which makes eating awkward) by hanging it from a purse hook instead. Yes, I know, the name “purse hook” makes it sound girly, but there are options available that don’t have crystals or pink poodles or whatever on them, and these babies hold quite a bit of weight – so that daypack you’re carrying around, guys, with your camera and iPad and laptop (or whatever else guys carry in daypacks, I seriously have no idea) can hang from a purse hook, too. >> I call these “purse hooks” because that’s the easiest way to find them in an online search, but you can also find them easily on Amazon

Tourist scams are probably about as old as tourism, and it seems there are new ones popping up every day. Italy doesn’t have as many well-known scams as some other countries, but it definitely has some potential pitfalls of which tourists should be aware. Here are the main ones to know about – if you’ve heard of or experienced others, please let me know in the comments! >> Get a quote on travel insurance before your trip to Italy The “Gypsy” Beggars This is perhaps the most commonly talked-of “scam” in Italy – or at least it used to be. Tourists in the major cities (especially Rome) would be warned to keep an eye out for the groups of “gypsy” beggars outside tourist attractions – usually the groups were made up of a woman carrying a baby, accompanied by a number of small children. They would reportedly crowd around people, some serving to distract them from their belongings by asking for money while another plucked a wallet from a pocket or purse or a camera from a backpack. This kind of “scam” isn’t unique to Italy, of course, but it was particularly noted around the Colosseum for many years. In 2000, the city swept most of that clean for the Jubilee Year, and in my visits since I’ve seen very little of the “gypsy” groups – but it’s always something to be aware of just in case. And really, if you’re ever in a crowd you should be even more careful about your belongings than you usually are. The “Lira” Scam Old 500-lira coins on the left, new 2-euro coin on the right Italy has been using the euro for more than a decade now, and I’m not sure this scam is as common as it used to be, but it never hurts to be aware of it. The old Italian currency, the lire, had a couple of coins that – to the unsuspecting – resemble modern euro coins. The issue, of course, is that lire coins are worth nothing today, while euro coins have actual value. Familiarize yourself with the look of the big euro coins so you can more easily spot a lira if you see it. And don’t be afraid to count your change carefully before leaving a shop or market stall. You don’t have to clog up the whole line, you can step to the side and count your money before moving on. The Knock-Off Designer Bag Sellers Again, this isn’t a “scam” that’s unique to Italy, as you’ll see guys selling designer knock-offs in just about any big city around the world – spread out on sheets on a sidewalk, they’re able to bundle everything up at a moment’s notice in case a police officer comes by. The bags aren’t good quality, of course, but they’re cheap – and that’s always appealing. The fact that the sellers are ready to move the second a police officer is around should give you an idea of the legality of the operation, but in Italy the buyers can get in trouble, too. If you buy a fake designer bag on the street and get caught, you could be fined as much as €10,000. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure any designer knock-off is worth that risk. The Bracelet Guys This is another thing you’re only really going to see in big cities or around major tourist attractions. You’ll see guys loitering in public squares with handfuls of braided bracelets, and if you get close to them and are moving slowely they’ll walk up and try to get you to buy one – by tying it directly to your wrist. It’s hard to walk away gracefully from a pushy salesman when you’ve got what he’s trying to sell on your arm, so the best thing you can do to avoid this altogether is look around before you stop to read a passage from a guidebook or snap some photos. And if someone approaches you with a bracelet aimed at your arm, walk quickly in the other direction. ATM Skimmers This isn’t unique to Italy, but I’ve heard from people in various parts of the country (including a few Italians who live there!) who have had their cards “skimmed” when they used bank machines – so it’s definitely worth being aware of. Skimmers are basically devices that are attached to card readers (most often at outdoor bank machines) that, in one way or another, “read” your card’s information and allow the thief to “see” your PIN, so even if they don’t have your physical card they’re able to make transactions with the information later. Skimmers can be really hard to spot, especially if you’re already in a foreign country and not accustomed to what the bank machines look like, so it pays to be extra-alert when withdrawing money. >> For more information on ATM skimmers, including photos of how they work and some examples of skimmers to look out for, see this article: ATM Skimmers: What They Are, How to Spot Them, How to Protect Yourself The Taxi Drivers Taxi drivers in Italy – particularly in Rome and Naples – have had plenty of ink spilled on their behalf, usually because they’re ripping off tourists (or tourists think they’re getting ripped off). Certainly, there are unscrupulous taxi drivers in Naples, Rome, and other Italian cities – just as there are in other parts of the world. Things have gotten better in recent years with things like fixed fares to/from airports, but it’s still possible to get overcharged for a taxi ride. Some of the things you can do to avoid getting ripped off by a taxi are: Be a smart traveler – do your research in advance to find out whether there are fixed rates for the taxi trips you’ll be taking. Only get into marked taxis. If you’ve arranged for a private car and driver, of course, that’s different – but getting into an unmarked cab in Italy could be a costly affair. Not only that, because unmarked taxis are illegal, you’d have little recourse with the police to protest being overcharged. Make absolutely sure the taxi has a meter – and that the meter works – before you get in. If you’re just arriving in a city, you can ask someone at your hotel in advance of your arrival what the taxi fare should be (roughly) from the train station or airport to the hotel so you know what ballpark to be looking for. Don’t be the one putting your luggage in the trunk of a taxi while the driver sits in front – I’ve heard stories of people who shut the trunk of the car and had the taxi speed off with all their bags. When traveling with others, it’s easy to let one person sit in the car while the other deals with bags, but if you’re on your own you can always feign the need for assistance with your bags to get the driver to get out of the car. Just note that this may cost you an extra euro or two, as drivers often add on a small charge for helping passengers with luggage. Trust your gut – if you don’t feel good about getting into a given taxi, don’t. There are certainly other taxi options. photos: beggar by The Wolf, bag seller by batintherain, bracelet seller by Paul and Jill, ATM by m.gifford, Rome taxis by rmlowe

Here’s a roundup of the latest news from Italy: January 16th through January 18th: Italy’s Accordion Industry: Tiny And ThrivingSpeaking of Italian crafts (see the Roundtable posts below), here's this story from NPR about Italy's "accordion industry." (via @WalksofItaly on Twitter) Italy Train Ticket Discounts: Now up to 60%!Good news, Italy travel fans! The train ticket booking system on WhyGo Italy now has tickets at up to 60% off the regular price (it used to be up to 30%)! The prices depend on the route, date/time, and type of train, but there are some awesome deals to be had. The Best Pizza Town in Italy: Rome and Naples Battle for the TitleKeeping in mind that Naples & Rome produce different kinds of pizza, & therefore you can love both equally without trying to figure out which makes the "best" pizza, this is a good list of pizza places in both cities that are worth checking out when you visit. Italy Roundtable: Crafts in UmbriaIt's time for another Italy Roundtable! This month the topic is "crafts," and Rebecca's post has me dreaming of strolling through markets in Umbria. I knew about the food & ceramics the region was famous for, but had no idea about the linens! The lace! So lovely… Stefano Giusti, Modern LuthierIf you could define "luthier" before reading this Italy Roundtable post by Alexandra, you're ahead of me! Wood, leather and flowersGloria highlights a few of the local crafts near where she lives in Tuscany for this Italy Roundtable post – not surprisingly, they're not as common as they once were. Marble Run: Shopping for Traditional Marbled Products in ItalyMelanie's Italy Roundtable contribution shows that "marbling" applies to more than just stone. Autogrill and Starbucks Coffee extend partnership in EuropeContinuing its infiltration of Europe, Starbucks is now going to be working with Autogrill. Starting in France, Autogrill will begin operating Starbucks shops in some of their locations. There's no indication yet of when the Italian Autogrills will get Starbucks, but it seems like it's more of a question of "when" and not "if." (Insert sad face here…) Costa Concordia captain’s route change blamed for disasterThe captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship that sank off the coast of Tuscany evidently changed course so that the ship could go much closer than it ever had to the island of Giglio, where the ship's head waiter's family lives. This is now being cited as the main reason for the disaster. So what DID cause the cruise ship to hit the rocks?This article has a few really interesting charts and diagrams showing what happened to cause the ship to sink, plus some theories about why the ship sank. Concordia disaster: Five bodies found in cruise wreckAs of January 17, five more bodies were found in the capsized ship, bringing the death toll to 11. Transcript: Costa Concordia captain and Italian coast guardThe transcript of the conversation between the cruise ship's captain and the captain of the Italian coast guard in Livorno has been released, and to say it paints the ship captain in a very bad light is a massive understatement. Art Begins Reviving Vernazza SlideshowArtists using boarded-up doorways in Vernazza as canvases for bright pieces of art? Wonderful stuff… What uplifting imagery in an area that needs it so much.

This month, the Italy Blogging Roundtable topic is CRAFT. Naturally, that has me thinking about shopping in Italy. Italy is the kind of country that can turn even die-hard anti-shoppers into crazy people on a spending spree. There’s just so much shiny, pretty, sleek, historic, fashionable, artistic (etc etc, ad nauseum) stuff around, it’s hard to stay immune to the allure of bringing home a little bit of Italy with you. You can, of course, pick up a knock-off Gucci bag from a sidewalk vendor (risking a €10,000 fine in the process), or a T-shirt bedazzled with the word VENICE, or even a snow-globe featuring the Pope. To get to the real heart of Italian craft, however, you’ll need to step away from the tchotchke stands and be prepared to spend more than a few euro. You may also need a guide. Good thing there’s already a fantabulous book that serves this very purpose. Made in Italy by Laura Morelli serves double-duty, as an excellent compendium of the artisan crafts around Italy as well as a resource for anyone actually shopping their way through the country. Morelli has broken Italy down by region, listing the various specialties shoppers should be looking for along with the cities or towns in which they can best be found. She includes information on why each item is notable and therefore worth buying, giving the shopper a bit more confidence before going into a market or antique shop. She lists price points for everything so you know what to expect. There are even listings at the end of each regional chapter with Morelli’s favorite places to shop. Basically, if you’re planning to buy more than postcards and souvenirs you’d be very smart to pick up a copy of this book. The 2nd edition of the book was published in 2008, but there doesn’t appear to be anything more recent. The parts where that may be troublesome are the individual shop listings in each chapter and the price points (which may be out of date) – but the basic information on what to look for where is pretty timeless, and you can at least use the price points as a rough guide. Laura Morelli’s book means that you’ll have all the background you need to bring home a spectacular piece of Deruta ceramics, a 25-year-old bottle of aceto balsamico from Modena, a handmade Sardinian basket, a Sicilian marionette, or – heck – a Venetian gondola, if you like – and a well-informed, fantastic story to go along with it. >> Buy a copy of Made in Italy by Laura Morelli on Amazon for $18.21 Other Voices from the Italy Blogging Roundtable What did the other members of the Italy Blogging Roundtable have to say about CRAFTS in Italy? Find out by clicking on their links below. ArtTrav – Stefano Giusti, Modern Luthier At Home in Tuscany – Wood, leather and flowers Brigolante – Crafts in Umbria Italofile – Marble Run: Shopping for Traditional Marbled Products in Italy new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'search', search: '#italyroundtable', interval: 30000, title: 'Italy Bloggers Roundtable', subject: '', width: 'auto', height: 300, theme: { shell: { background: '#8ec1da', color: '#ffffff' }, tweets: { background: '#ffffff', color: '#444444', links: '#1985b5' } }, features: { scrollbar: true, loop: false, live: true, behavior: 'all' } }).render().start(); Italy Blogging Roundtable Archives: [display_feed=http://www.italylogue.com/tag/italy-roundtable/feed;items=10;desc=0]