paula reynolds

Volcanic ash rained down, followed by a fiery flood of pyroclastic rock and toxic gas; the noonday was cast into darkness. Where only moments before a normal August afternoon had been underway, now lay mayhem and devastation. The opulent villas, …

I might lose my credentials without some clarification: Italians love nuts year-round, but when fall arrives, nuts take center stage. While not as romanticized as the autumnal grape and olive harvests, the variety and quality of nuts cultivated in Italy …

For too long Sicily was an island given not much more than a side glance. Now a rising star in Italian tourism, she is making her mark as a top travel destination. Tourism statistics show 4.89 million visitors crossed Sicily’s …

There’s a lot that qualifies as “enchanting” when speaking of Italy’s Ligurian coast. An array of crystal-clear seascapes, colorful villages, dramatic craggy vistas, beaches for miles, and incredibly fresh food specialties offer a bounty of sensory delights in this stretch …

As soon as you set foot in an Italian trattoria, there’s a good chance your gaze will lock with a showy, colorful, eye-catching rooster…just the way any rooster worth its salt would want. But this fellow is not looking for …

It was mysteriously dark and inviting. I watched as the last tremors of ripples eased to a glassy calm on the surface of the cobalt-colored liquid. I’d requested a local digestivo from the attentive waiter, something unique to the beautiful …

Italians are hardcore about their food. Dare if you may question whether Town X makes better (fill-in-the-blank) than Town Y and you’ll get an earful of the deep-seated pride and honor welded to local cuisine. It’s a given; from entire …

Take your pick. Any of northern Italy’s “lake region” lakes are not going to disappoint. Not even one of the smallest of the lot, the often-overlooked Lago di Orta.  Tiny Lake Orta lies furthest west of Italy’s famed lakes, the …

Why is Italian food so awesome? We’re not talking red-checkered tablecloth chain restaurants but authentic, satisfying, unforgettable Italian food – the kind you’ll likely find only in Italy. It assails your senses strolling down the tiniest village vicolo, meandering through …

Welcome to Umbria, the “green center” of Italy — home to St. Francis’ stunning Assisi, the university (and chocolate capital) town of Perugia, swaths of alluring forests where wild truffles hide, and the world-famous wines of Montefalco. But there is …