Castello Falconara in Butera, Sicily

Not far from Caltagirone, just off the road that leads from Siracusa to Agrigento, is the Norman-era Castello Falconara. The castello and its grounds are now host to the 5-star Falconara Resort. The resort lies on a promontory in the Mediterranean and is redesigned in a stunning marriage of classical and modern elegance. Every amenity is available, from spa facilities, pool and tennis to a children's playground and canoe rental. The restaurant and the rooms are stunning, with panoramic views of the castello and the sea. If you are headed to southeastern Sicily, the location of this resort in Butera is ideal, for it is centrally located among the great sites of Piazza Armerina, Agrigento and Siracusa.

A Driving Tour of the Amalfi Coast

National Geographic Traveler has the scoop on driving the scenic roads of the Amalfi Coast. You'll find tips on what stops to make, what routes to take and how to avoid crowds (and the dangerous traffic that comes with them). Here's a couple of tips from me: don't drive the roads at night and make sure your car is small-not like the huge station wagon I drove the last time I was there!

How to Get Your Italian Fashion Fix On-line

Italian style is bold, whimsical and elegant. Not only are the designers unique, but the way that Italians put themselves together is so different from the rest of the fashion world. But where can you go to get your Italian fashion fix? Sei di Moda, DWeb and Velvet are three fashion websites connected to La Repubblica, Italy's premier newspaper. They will tell you all about the latest trends in Italy, give you updates on the fashion shows in Milan, and alert you to the important fashion events in Italy (like Saldi!). They will also clue you in to Italian gossip, home design and beauty. Of course, it's all in Italian, but the pictures can tell you more than enough!

Naranzaria Wine Bar in Venice

In another life I was definitely an Italian contessa, living la dolce vita in one of my many villas and dressing in the latest Milanese fashions. Real-life contessas in Italy certainly do those things, but they also do so much more! Contessa Marie Brandolini, who owns her own Venetian glassmaking studio, runs the wine bar Naranzaria on the Grand Canal that showcases her family's wines and the fresh tastes of the Veneto region. Seafood is the specialty and with the Rialto so close you are guaranteed to have the best of what is available daily. The views of Venice from the restaurant are superb. Naranzaria stays open until 2 a.m., unusual in a town which is known for turning its lights out early.

Ca' Matilde in Reggio Emilia Earns a Michelin Star

With a regional tasting menu at 45 Euros, Ca' Matilde in Reggio Emilia is a bargain-and until now has been a well-kept secret. Recently the restaurant, which is part of an inn just outside of Rubinniano, Reggio Emilia, earned a Michelin star. The menu is full of local favorites with modern and creative twists, such as pumpkin tortellini and the favorite dessert of the region, Zuppa Inglese (English trifle with ladyfingers). There's even a kid's menu! The setting of the restaurant and inn is idyllic and certainly worth getting off the beaten track for.

Villas Villas Villas

Travel and Leisure highlights Tuscan villas this month-and how to enjoy them on a budget. T and L has five villas where doubles cost less than $300 a night. Locanda del Glicine in Campagnatico offers an inn in the village and a farmhouse (Pieve Vecchia, pictured) in the countryside. Choosing which one is the hardest part! Villa Bordoni in the Chianti region is owned by the very same proprieters of Trattoria Baldovino in Florence and there is a cooking school on-site. Villa il Poggiale in Val di Pesa is an historic estate with wood-beamed ceilings decorated in superb Renaissance style. There is also a small private two-bedroom cottage on the estate available for 300 Euros, complete with kitchen. Villa le Luci in Castagneto Carducci, not far from the Tyrrhenian Sea, has six bedrooms and one suite, all finished in luxuriously spare style. Villa Poggiano near Montepulciano (one of my favorite regions!) has a gorgeous pool, light and airy rooms, and a breakfast to die for. PS: The next Twilight movie is filmed in Montepulciano!

Contessa Nally: Must-See Italian Fashion Blog

If you want to see fashion shows, artists and beautiful people up close, go to contessanally.blogspot.com. Venice resident Contessa Nally Manfredi Bellati is a photographer and stylist who has worked for Vogue and Bazaar and whose photos appear in magazines all over the world. Now you can see her candid photos of Milan (pictured), Paris and New York's Fashion Weeks and many other fashionable and fabulous events all over Italy on her blog. You will definitely be mesmerized by her beautiful world.

Venice Glassmaking Made Clear

Venice has been the home of the world's best glassblowers for centuries. But which glassmakers should you visit when you are in Venice? Here are a few that you will enjoy, with prices ranging from accessible to fantastical! Giberto Arrivabene makes glass according to the traditions of the aristocracy, and you can find his works at Chiarastella Cattana in Piazza San Marco and also at Emporio Le Sirenuse in Positano. Carlo Moretti brings a modern and colorful touch to assymetrical pieces that you can buy all over the world, even in the United States. Marie Brandolini designs tumblers and serveware incorporating the famous Venetian glass beads (pictured). Giordana Naccari's colorful and organic shapes evoke the past-with a funky point of view. Visit her shop, L'Angolo del Passato at Campiello dei Squelini.

Free Guide to Rome's Angels and Demons

Angela Nickerson, the author of A Journey into Michelangelo's Rome, has published a guide to the Rome of Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. You can get this guide for free at Roaring Forties Press. Thanks eternallycool.net for clueing us in!

Serious Eats in Italy

SeriousEats.com, a website devoted to serious food all over the world, is a great resource for restaurants, cafes and bars in Italy. A recent search on the website turned up articles on a mozzarella bar in Rome, a day of food in Abruzzo, and prosciutto di Parma. There is even an entire blog devoted to pizza, slice.seriouseats.com. Buon Gusto!

On the Beach in Positano

Positano is certainly where the beautiful people are. At the Grande Spiaggia (big beach) you can join them at La Scogliera (the reef) for drinks and snacks or for lunch and dinner on the terrace at L'Incanto. The restaurant is open-air and offers a myriad of seafood options and a view of the sea. They will gladly reserve a beach chair and umbrella for you-and bring your lunch to you as you lounge in the sand.

Angels and Demons Walking Tour

Tomorrow is the big day-Angels and Demons opens all over the U.S.! If you are headed to Rome, you can take a walking tour of the major sites. For $74 per person, Viator will take you to the famous and not so famous places mentioned in Dan Brown's book. They will even read some of the passages aloud at a few sites to truly bring the book to life. If a guided tour (that costs money!) is not your idea of chasing down Angels and Demons, talk a walking tour by yourself. MSNBC has created an Angels and Demons 48 Hour Itinerary that you can follow on your own. They even recommend restaurants and shopping, like TAD department store, along the way. Diverti te!

Estate Romana 2009

More concert dates have been announced for Estate Romana 2009. Lauryn Hill (July 3), Burt Bacharach (July 24) and Tracy Chapman (July 27) will be performing in Rome-get tickets and details at www.romeguide.it. Stay tuned for the Estate Romana 2009 website.

Candied Chestnuts from Piedmont

One of the greatest delicacies of Italy are marroni canditi (candied chestnuts). Hard to find in the U.S., Zingerman's now imports them from the Bardini brothers in Cuneo, Piemonte. The process of making the chestnuts is intense-they are soaked in water for a week in underground caves, then in vanilla syrup, and then rolled in sugar. You won't recognize them as chestnuts, but you will definitely fall in love.

Hotel Capo d'Africa in Rome

An award-winning boutique hotel close to the Colosseum, Capo d'Africa is a an easy home base for the tourist who wants all the comforts of space, efficiency and modernity. Breakfast is included in the price (rooms start at under 200 Euros if you book in advance) and every Wednesday they offer live jazz. Located in a 19th century palazzo, this thoroughly updated hotel is perfect for visits to the Roman Forum and Nero's Golden House.

The Best Sandwiches in Florence

Students and locals alike adore l'Antico Noe, a sandwich shop just a short walk from the Duomo. Here you can have real Italian panini made with the best meats and cheeses (salami, prosciutto, bufala mozzarella!). The food is cheap and you can even order a glass of wine to wash it down. Next door is an osteria owned by the same proprietor serving slow-cooked steaks and Tuscan dishes. The owner, Massimo, makes the sandwiches and if you become a regular, he'll never forget you! Volta di San Piero 6r.

Castello Ruspoli in Vignanello

The Ruspolis and their ancestors have been prominent in Italy since the days of Charlemagne, and their ancestral home, Castello Ruspoli in Vignanello, is famous for its gardens. Designed during the Renaissance by the architect Sangallo, the parterre (garden) of maze-like hedges was set up by Giulia Farnese, the wife of the famous Count Orsini who built the Parco dei Monstri in Bomarzo. You can visit the Castello and its gardens every Sunday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (or arrange for a private tour). You may even catch a glimpse of Princess Claudia Ruspoli, who often helps to collect the tickets!

Antinori Estates-623 Years of Winemaking

60 Minutes aired a spot on the Antinori family vineyards of Italy last night. Since 1385, the Antinori family of Florence has been producing white and red wines according to traditional methods and using old-growth vines. They have estates all over Tuscany and Umbria, including Badia a Passignano where you can purchase wine and dine in the osteria (Italian wineries are not usually open to the public as they are in the USA). Their palazzo in Florence even has special wine-related art exhibitions from time to time (most recently on ancient Greek glassware). Their wines are distributed all over Italy and even the USA.

Castello di Reschio-Villa Rental in Umbria

Deep in the hills of Umbria is an 11th century castle surrounded by 2,700 acre private estate. On this estate, Castello di Reschio, are 50 farmhouses that have been painstakingly and luxuriously restored by the Bolza family. The villas are for sale to the public (don't ask the price) but if buying a villa in Italy is a little out of your reach, four of these villas are available for vacation rental! They definitely are not cheap, but the prices per night are comparable to the luxury hotels of Italy and you get your own pool, concierge service, gourmet kitchens and access to the estate's extensive hiking and horsebackriding trails. Castello di Reschio is just 20 minutes from Perugia and 2 hours from Rome and Tuscany, the perfect home base of an extended vacation in your own private Italy.