paula reynolds

“Would you like fries with that?” may not be as modern a phrase as we think. You’ve probably seen the recent headlines extolling the full excavation of a gloriously intact fast-food joint, or thermopolium, in Pompeii. Virtually undisturbed save for …

Did my use of “rules” and “Italian” in one sentence cause a second glance? Other than keeping that left lane on the Autostrada open for high-speed designer cars, or maybe dutifully respecting the ZTL signs (Zona Traffico Limitato) that come …

“No poem was ever written by a drinker of water” ~ Horace Rome, the beloved Eternal City, has contributed much to the modern world. Think about it: architectural innovation, models of governing, roadways, the Julian calendar, amazing art, cement…the list …

“Amo solo te” ~ I love only you You’ve said “yes” …and the planning begins. Opulent or simple, a wedding is probably the closest most of us will ever get to crafting our own real, live fairy tale. Naturally, a …

If hope springs eternal (oh how we need a lot of that these days), so, too, do the enchanting thermal springs of Bagni San Filippo. These temperate mineral waters have warmed the bones of many a person for more than …

I can recall more than one incident of tap-tapping my foot on Italian pavement, repeatedly checking my watch as an exasperated sigh escaped my lips. The orario (schedule) said the train was to depart at 13.15 – where is it? …

There’s a lot to cheer about this summer. We’re eating in restaurants again, festivals are underway, swimming pools overflow with squealing children – we can even have a BBQ with the neighbors! Like a longed-for prodigal son, normalcy is making …

The famed marble quarries of Carrara are practically sacred ground. The gleaming white surface of the exposed marble graces the crests of the Apuan Alps, often mistaken by the unknowing for snow. Gargantuan chunks cut from the mountainside for almost …

It’s quite easy to toss around the term “magical” when referring to Italy’s vast number of charming, romantic villages. Some, however, wear the title a bit more earnestly than others. The tiny Umbrian borgo of Rasiglia is one such place. …

What do a giraffe, a unicorn, a small owl, and a tower all have in common? Despite no apparent links, each of these entities proudly represent one of Siena’s 17 contrade, or neighborhoods. These are more than just fun mascots, …