Italy Archives - Rachel's Ruminations

Herculaneum or Pompeii: Which should you visit?

Rachel Heller — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:30:04 +0000

Pompeii gives a vivid impression of life in Ancient Rome. So does Herculaneum. Read this article for help deciding which to visit: Herculaneum or Pompeii.

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The beauty of the Rhaetian Railway in Switzerland

Rachel Heller — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 11:53:59 +0000

The Rhaetian Railway, a UNESCO site in southern Switzerland, is a marvel of engineering, taking passengers past absolutely stunning scenery through the Alps to Italy.

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A sightseer’s guide to the history of Ortigia, Sicily

Lisa Franceschini — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 13:46:03 +0000

The history of Ortigia, Sicily is long and varied. Read here what to see on this little islet, the oldest part of Siracusa.

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Beginner’s guide to the top historic sites in Rome

Danny Newman — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 12:21:07 +0000

Historic sites in Rome that any first-time visitor should see: from the ancient Romans to the Baroque and Renaissance.

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Mardi Gras around the world – and Mardi Gras food!

Rachel Heller — Fri, 11 Nov 2022 09:33:00 +0000

Mardi Gras around the world has morphed into a range of different pre-Lenten celebrations. Read here about how different countries celebrate!

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Ostia Antica: The Perfect Day Trip from Rome

Alexandrina Nickolova — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 16:51:01 +0000

Ostia Antica was an important ancient port city, supplying goods to Rome. Its extensive ruins are a perfect day trip from Rome.

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Italian Days Food Tour: A review

Rachel Heller — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:39:50 +0000

Our tour guide from Italian Days Food and Wine Tours was far too cheerful for such an early start. We had been picked up at seven in the morning—before sunrise in mid-January—and denied even a cup of coffee before leaving. Our hotel’s breakfast only started at seven, so we had run downstairs and grabbed a...

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Osteria dè Poeti: Classic Bolognese Food

Rachel Heller — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 15:08:25 +0000

Housed in a former wineceller, Osteria dè Poeti restaurant in Bologna offers a menu with all the classic must-try Bolognese specialties.

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Walking the Portico di San Luca in Bologna

Rachel Heller — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 15:54:31 +0000

For centuries, in the city of Bologna, Italy, a byzantine image of the Madonna and Child was carried ceremoniously from the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca every year during Ascension week down to the Cathedral of San Pietro in the city center. It stayed there overnight, then was carried back up. The problem...

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Hotel Touring: quality in a great Bologna location

Rachel Heller — Wed, 27 Jan 2016 17:45:52 +0000

When I met Manuela Stagni at the World Travel Market in London and saw her enthusiasm in describing her hotel, the Hotel Touring in Bologna, Italy, I made a note to keep her in mind if I ever traveled in Italy again. A couple of months later, when she mailed me an offer to stay...

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