Italy is one of the great countries on the planet. Wandering it is the best way to experience it. Go ahead, just land somewhere and take off with your backpack on foot, or by train...or Alfa Romeo.

We have a Wandering Italy Facebook Fan Page. Ask me what you want to know!

The first edition of our 2010 Giro d'Italia Map is up. It includes lodging info and will be frequently updated. Own or know of a bike-oriented B&B or agriturismo on the Route? You can email me to get it added.

If there's too much snow in Italy, you Italians can visit Palm Springs, a cultural oasis in the California desert: Wandering Palm Springs. Of course, Americans can go too!

Ah, Roma! If you can't go in October (the very best time: Rome weather) then go anytime. We have some information to help you from getting ripped off by Rome's notorious renegade taxi drivers: Rome Taxis.

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My latest Italy mussings: How to Find a Place to Stay in Italy. There's also pages on Self Catering in Italy, and my favorite vacation apartments, homes and villas: Recommended Self Catering Rentals in Italy.

And just in case you might want to buy a place permanently, we have Tips for Buying Property in Italy to save you some headaches.

Need a car in Italy? Please consider buy back leases if you're staying in Europe a while: Buy Back Leases Explained.

I've been rethinking Italian Rail Passes these days. I haven't bought one in over a decade, but now that I've done the math, I'm thinking I've made a very big mistake. See: Italy Rail Passes for some facts and figures.

Want to see how Tuscan artisans produce winter pork? We have a slide show on how pigs are butchered in my neck of the Tuscan woods, the Lunigiana: Tuscan Pork Buchering. Coming is a slideshow on the production of sausage, Tuscan salami, and mortadella from the same pig.

Every ten years you can see the Shroud of Turin. 2010 is the year: Shroud of Turin Visitor information

We've added Lake Como Weather and Climate to our Weather Pages.

Want to see opera in a Roman arena? Verona is the place for you. We have a Verona Map and Travel Information page for you. And if you like Verona for romantic reasons, see our Romantic Verona Video.

Want to get up to date deals on flights? See our Airfare Special Deals page. Then again: you can use Priceline.com Airfare and Choose your EXACT flight & time.

Know what you need to know to plan a rail tour of Italy? Here's a page that will allow you to see how much a ticket costs when you buy it in the US, and some info on when or when not to buy a rail pass: Italy by Rail and a large Italy Train Map. To zoom in to one of Italy's compelling rail lines, see our Torino to Trieste Rail Map.

If you want to experience Italy as a native, you'll have to rent a vacation house and shop for food occasionally. That's not a bad thing, but it might require a bit of know-how to get what you want from the deli counter. Perhaps you need to know How to Buy Salami. Believe me, you'll eat well and save on the meals and lodging. And hot off the presses is How to Buy Chicken in Italy. Of course, if you didn't want to cook and were stuck out in the countryside, you'd want to take in a sagra, where the food is local, good, and cheap, and there the action is in a small town, especially in summer. How do you find out about such food festivals? You notice the posters and read them. Of course, they're in Italian, so you'll likely need help interpreting them: Reading Sagra Posters.

We've had fun with our new and pocketable Sony HDR-TG1 4MP High Definition Handycam Camcorder, preparing to take it to Italy in three weeks and flood the market with compelling video.

Travel like me (or at least use the same online tools I use): Travel Deals

And if you are thinking about doing Italy a favor and letting them make fun of your driving, you might want to take a look at our brand new, interactive, Autostrada Map. Get some idea of how the system operates, plus where Italy's toll roads will take you and how far it is until you get there, or check out other Maps of Italy.

Of course, you can get around by Low Cost Airlines in Italy as well. Our list and transportation toolbox can help you get around Italy in the Air.

Climate is important for the traveler to Italy, especially if you're contemplating a trip in the "off" season. We've begun assembling some historic weather data for Italy's top tourist hot spots. Check out: Italy's Climate and Weather for a clickable map leading to lots of information on surviving the weather chalenges you'll come across during the year.

The Wandering Italy Store is open! find recommended travel guides, maps, and other favorite travel stuff.

Wandering Italy - The Blog

Keep up with our wanderings in the Lunigiana of Northern Tuscany in the spring and fall, and our philosophic and sometimes foody scribblings when we're home in the US.

Wandering Italy Blog

Taxi Cheat Slapdown: Rome vs. New York

Il Coperto, The Italian Cover Charge

Talk to Me of Italy

Experience Growth on Your Italian Vacation

(Not) Digging Pompeii: Pompeii Food and Drink

See more deals and find out which online resources I use to plan my travel in Italy and the rest of Europe: Italy Travel Specials.

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