RomaPolacchi

Confused by cavolo and caponata ? Puzzled by polpo and passito ? Part of the joy in dining out in Italy is trying new things (and not limiting yourself to restaurants where the menu is printed in English!). Budget Travel has a very convenient Menu Decoder that you can study before you leave or take with you when you dine out. You'll never be stymied by saltimbocca (above) again!

L'Espresso, La Repubblica's weekly cultural magazine, has published its top restaurant choices in Italy for 2009. You can search by region for the best of the best in every city. Their top pick for Lazio is La Pergola at the Rome Cavalieri Hilton. Also among their top ten are L'Altro Mastai and Il San Lorenzo, two restaurants that the Modern Traveler has reviewed. Buon Apetito!

Another holiday gift idea for the young roman tic is the children's classic This Is Rome by Miroslav Sasek. First published in 1960, the book has been updated to reflect changes in the 21st century. Children and grownups who remember the book from their own childhoods will love the charming pictures and stories about the famous monuments of Rome.

Sharon Waxman's new book Loot: The Battle Over Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World takes readers through centuries of archaeological treasures stolen from their native lands. Many countries are now fighting back and demanding that their national heritage be returned. There is controversy over where these treasures belong and some of the most famous museums in the world are battling to keep them. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the J. Paul Getty Museum are at the center of these issues, along with the Louvre and the British Museum . Waxman devotes an entire chapter to the fate of Marion True, the former curator of the Getty Villa in Malibu. See where Sharon Waxman is speaking next or listen to a discussion with her on KQED's FORUM show.

Alitalia, Italy's struggling airline, is all set to be revived-but new problems may be in store for the carrier. Easyjet is now offering 4 flights a day from Rome to Milan, one of Alitialia's most popular routes. And trains may pose even greater competition. On December 15th a section of new track between Bologna and Milan will cut out half an hour of the four hours it takes to get to Milan from Rome. And another company, the privately owned Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori , is opening a new high speed train service between major cities in Italy, including Rome and Milan. Alitalia is certainly facing some daunting competition. Read more about it in the Economist.

The Modern Traveler is always looking for on-line travel resources that are interesting, thoughtful and naturally, all about Italy. National Geographic Traveler Magazine has a travel blog called the Intelligent Traveler and it offers all sorts of fun information on sites all over the world-and raises awareness about the planet. You'll find great pictures, unusual stories, and links to useful resources. Some favorite Italian stories: Walking Rome and Turning Water to Wine in Marino .

After Prime Minister Berlusconi's Obama gaffe last week, the wife of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, told a French newspaper that "I'm very happy that I became French!" To this former Italian president, Francesco Cossiga (who is a supporter of Berlusconi), replied "We too are indeed happy that she is no longer Italian." The Washington Post reports that tonight Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi are attending a White House dinner for world leaders. Will sparks fly?

Google Earth unveiled its latest project last night- Ancient Rome 3D -a virtual satellite view of ancient Rome. Now you can zoom in on Rome in the 4th century CE just as you would zoom in on Manhattan today. The project is in conjunction with the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities at the University of Virginia and many other contributing universities. On November 20, the city of Rome will open a short movie based on the project in a theater near the Colosseum called "3D Rewind Rome" that will take viewers through the ancient city. Google is even hosting a competition for educators to design a curriculum around the model. Read more about the project in today's New York Times and have fun!

If you are looking for a terrific wine selection and delicious food that is often quite reasonable, try a wine bar (or enoteca ). In recent years, many of Rome's wine shops have expanded and now serve small plates and full meals to accompany wine tastings. You can often reserve a table ahead of time, which is rare in Rome. Cul de Sac is the enoteca of choice-located near Piazza Navona , it consistently gets the best ratings and has great atmosphere. For more recommendations from insiders, see Starklandcellars and katieparla .

This month's Travel and Leisure features language schools around the world. In Italy, with locations in Florence, Rome, Siena and Milan, they recommend Scuola Leonardo da Vinci . The Scuola not only offers language classes ranging from two to 24 weeks, but also offers cultural classes in music and art history, among other topics. The Scuola in Rome is located at Piazza dell'Orologio, which is not far from Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori .

If some little girl you know is a fan of the Madeline series (or you are!), the newest edition in the series is about Rome. Madeline and the Cats of Rome is the first new Madeline book in 50 years and was written by John Bemelmans Marciano, the grandson of Ludwig Bemelmans, the author of the original series. Madeline and her classmates head to Rome for a spring vacation and find all sorts of trouble-including thieves and many cats!

The new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace , premiered in Rome at the Warner Theater in Piazza dell Repubblica on Wednesday. In an interview there, Daniel Craig, inspired by the American election, said that the world is ready for a black 007. This latest Bond movie has several scenes that take place in Siena and picks up just 20 minutes after Casino Royale ends. Reviews of Quantum of Solace claim that while Casino Royale was a hard act to follow, the new Bond flick delivers and is definitely worth seeing.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi put his foot in his mouth on Thursday when he commented to Russia's President Medvedev that Barack Obama was "young, handsome, and suntanned." Italian newspapers and liberals are in an uproar, but Berlusconi says they lack a sense of humor. Berlusconi is not exactly known for his tact. Among many social and political gaffes, in the past he has compared a German European Parliament member to a Nazi concentration camp guard. Some say that this latest comment is just one manifestation of the underlying racism in modern-day Italy. Let's hope that the recent Catholic-Muslim summit at the Vatican and the election of Obama in the U.S. will help to eliminate that prejudice.

A three day summit at the Vatican between Christian and Muslim leaders ended last night with a joint declaration of cooperation and intention between the two religions. After the Pope's comments in 2006 about Muslims and the violent protests over Danish cartoons depicting Muhammad, this summit was long overdue and much welcomed. There was even discussion of forming a Muslim-Catholic crisis management committee for conflict resolution. Perhaps the recent outcome of the U.S. election has inspired a few world leaders?

Major foodie Robert Sietsema's series Eat Like A Roman on Gourmet.com is all about the unusual cooking methods of the Ancient Romans and how to bring them into the modern world. Recent articles include an attempt at Roman placenta (which is not that kind of placenta-it's actually a cross between lasagna and cheesecake!), garum (a fish sauce which the Italians still use today and call colatura ), and a simple cilantro, mint and feta salad that you'll want to make for your friends. If you want to attempt some Roman recipes yourself, try Mark Grant's cookbook, Roman Cookery: Ancient Recipes for Modern Kitchens.

If you have some experience in archaeological fieldwork, the University of Michigan may be looking for you. In June of 2009, UM will launch a six-week excavation at the urban site of Gabii , an ancient settlement of Rome's Italian allies. Gabii is located just east of Rome and excavators will be housed in nearby Frascati at the Hotel Villa Mercede . Read more about the excavation in UM's Literature, Science and Arts magazine . The Modern Traveler can't think of a better way to spend the summer-living and breathing Roman history!

Dying for a real cup of coffee? Just can't seem to get the sauce for pasta con le sarde right? Looking for that perfect holiday gift for your favorite Italophile? Check out gustiamo.com , a website devoted to bringing the absolute best products from small Italian producers to the world at large. Be sure to order coffee from Caffe Sant' Eustachio in Rome-which is actually worth flying to Italy for!

In this election season, it's important that you make your choices clear! Vote for Rome as the world's most romantic foreign city. Clearly Venice and Paris have nothing on the Eternal City!

Recently redone and reopened as part of Hilton's Waldorf-Astoria collection, the Rome Cavalieri Hotel certainly delivers luxury. However, the New York Times reviews it this weekend -and is less than pleased with the experience. While the hotel is beautiful, filled with works of art, and has exceptional service, every amenity comes with a price. The gym costs 20 Euros a day, poolside chairs and towels cost 16 Euros, and room service is exorbitant. The bottom line? Nice views but not worth it.