Italy

The Costa Concordia, refloated.

The Wrecked Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Is Finally Being Towed Away

The ship's remains will be broken down for scrap metal

Pope Calls Out Italy's Most Powerful Mob, Which You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The 'Ndrangheta reportedly made more money than McDonalds last year, but you've probably never heard of them

Michelangelo’s David Has Weak Ankles

The iconic statue may be in danger of collapse

"The Murder of Caesar" by Karl von Piloty, 1865.

Explore Julius Caesar's Rome

From his former neighborhood to the place where he met his demise, check out these spots associated with Rome's most famous leader

The Forum was among the many sights in Rome that amazed Copley, who said he was “feasting my eyes.”

When Colonial America’s Greatest Painter Took His Brush to Europe

John Singleton Copley left for Europe on the eve of the American Revolution. A historian and her teenage son made the trip to see why

Celebrate Carnival Italian Style, By Pelting Your Neighbors With Oranges

Carnival celebrations can get a little crazy, but in one Italian town, it gets downright messy

Naples' Dog DNA Database Tracks Owners Who Don’t Clean Up After Their Pets

U.S. condo building picked up this idea, and now Naples is spreading it across a city

A gondola, piled high with books, sits in the middle of the shop.

Why Does This Bookstore Keep Its Books in Bathtubs?

Venice's Libreria Acqua Alta keeps its books in bathtubs, gondolas and canoes—and not just for show

Matera’s paleolithic past has made it a thriving tourist destination: It is competing with cities like Siena and Ravenna to be the European Capital of Culture 2019.

How Matera Went From Ancient Civilization to Slum to a Hidden Gem

Once the “shame of Italy,” the ancient warren of natural caves in Matera may be Europe’s most dramatic story of rebirth

Troops encountered ruin across Europe (in Palermo, the bombed-out church of Sant’Ignazio). In that city, recalled war correspondent Richard Tregaskis, “buildings were smashed into the street as far as one could see.”

How the Monuments Men Saved Italy’s Treasures

As Allied Forces fought the Nazis for control of Europe, an unlikely unit of American and British art experts waged a shadow campaign

Sewage Water Reveals Community’s Illegal Drug Habits

Sewage analyses in the US found the highest levels of methamphetamines to date, but revealed that cocaine use in the US seems on par with that in Europe

The zocalo in Oaxaca, Mexico, blocks away from the Hotel Las Golondrinas

For a Happy Hotel Experience, Take the Middle Road

Neither too luxurious nor too austere, mid-range inns are often a great choice for travelers. Here are some of my favorites in Europe, Mexico and Morocco

View from Piazza Garibaldi in Rome

In Rome, a New Museum Worth Celebrating

A Roman museum devoted to 19th century hero Giuseppe Garibaldi is a bright spot amid the gloomy news from Italy

During gladiatorial games in the arena, a vast network of man-powered machinery made animals and scenery appear from beneath a wooden floor as if by magic.

Secrets of the Colosseum

A German archaeologist has finally deciphered the Roman amphitheater's amazing underground labyrinth

Rick Steves' Europe: Venice, Italy

Piazza San Marco—the storied square punctuated by its 11th century basilica—endures as an awe-inspiring portal to the city’s many splendors

Rick Steves' Europe: Florence, Italy

In Florence, Michelangelo's masterpiece epitomizes the heroic power and surpassing artistry of the Renaissance

Rick Steves' Europe: Cinque Terre, Italy

Italy's answer to the French Riviera offers swimming, hiking, romance and relaxation along the Mediterranean

Rick Steves' Europe: Rome, Italy

An after-dark walk takes in the Eternal City’s most famous fountains, grand palaces, a soaring temple, candlelit outdoor cafes and street musicians

St. Mark’s Basilica (above) reflects the apogee of Venetian influence: gilded ornamentation, including equine figures looted from Constantinople in 1204, caused it to be known as the Chiesa d’Oro (Church of Gold).

Venice, Italy

Vernazza was once nicknamed "Little Venice" due to the series of romantic bridges that connected the two sides of the town before the main road was built.

A Guided Walking Tour of Vernazza

Introduce yourself to this village in Italy’s Cinque Terre through its characteristic town squares

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