RomaPolacchi

Watch a great video of NY Times "The Minimalist" Mark Bittman as he cooks the classic Sicilian dish, Pasta con le Sarde (Pasta with Sardines). In just 5 minutes, Bittman serves up a delicious and simple pasta that will bring you back to Palermo.

See the New York Times Travel Q&A section for some great Italian cooking school ideas . Check out cooking schools in Sorrento, Bologna, Sicily and Tuscany. Some of the schools even offer accommodations in nearby villas!

New York Times blogger Matt Gross (a.k.a the Frugal Traveler ) recently visited Italy with his wife and newborn baby girl. On the agenda were Venice and Milan . His posts last week were filled with all kinds of tips on visiting Venice with an infant and finding comfortable and stylish accommodations on a budget in Milan. If you are at all hesitant to take Junior on his first trip to Italy-don't worry! It can be done, even in winter, and you can still have a ton of fun. Remember, Italians love babies.

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!

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.

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.

In an op-ed entitled " Are We Rome? Tu Betchus ! " Maureen Dowd attempts to explain why the Republicans are losing this election-in Latin! It's funny, clever, and in near-perfect translation. Especially entertaining are the phrases that have no true equivalent in Latin, such as "lipstick on a pig" ( lipsticka in porcam ), "a little blow" ( snifferendum cocaini minimi ), and her inclusion of standard Latin phrases into English in a reversal of the Latin that we would include in our own rhetoric: "Oh bloody sight!" Be sure to read the comments of her readers. For more on Latin in present-day America, read last week's article in the NY Times " A Dead Language That's Very Much Alive. "

Moschino, one of Italy's more avant-garde fashion houses, has come to New York City's Meatpacking District. Moschino is known for its witty take on classic pieces. There are three brands, Moschino (the most expensive line), Moschino Cheap and Chic (not exactly cheap, but cheaper), and Love Moschino (the casual line). Moschino is definitely not for the faint of heart, but even the most traditional shopper can find something to love in their accessories lines. Their shoes are fun and fabulous! The Modern Traveler always tries to pick up a pair when she is in Rome (Via Borgogna 32/a). See the New York Times for an article on the new store in Manhattan. Readers: What do you think of Moschino? Fabulous or ridiculous?

New York Times writer, Matt Gross ("The Frugal Traveler") visits Rome this week on his Grand Tour of Europe. In his quest to save Euros, Matt stayed in a convent, used public transportation, visited (free) churches that are famous for their art, and found that it is easy to feast like a king in Rome on a budget. He spends a great deal of time in Trastevere, the Modern Traveler's favorite Roman neighborhood. See his article for the details of his adventures and a great video documenting his stay in Rome.

There's nothing more disappointing than going out to eat in Italy and finding yourself surrounded by Americans! There's a reason this happens-they are all reading the same American guidebooks. The New York Times Magazine recently featured two Italian guidebooks that will bring you to the best restaurants in town. The menus at these restaurants will not be written in English, but you will certainly have an authentic experience. The two guidebooks highlighted are Osterie d'Italia , the guidebook published by Slow Food Italy, and Ristoranti d'Italia del Gambero Rosso. The Slow Food movement advocates for organic food, seasonal produce, and traditional cooking methods. The Gambero Rosso (Red Shrimp) Group is a publishing house in Rome akin to Gourmet , Wine Spectator , the Cooking Channel and Zagat all in one. You can register on-line to access all of their recommendations or order the 2008 Gambero Rosso guidebook through their website.

Ian Fisher, the chief of the New York Times bureau in Rome, has a wonderful article on the attractions of the Eternal City at night . He suggests after-hours Vatican tours, outdoor musical performances, restaurants with a view of the ruins, and must-see piazzas and fountains illuminated at night. The Modern Traveler has always been a firm advocate of Rome after dark, especially in the warmer months. There truly is something magical about the gentle summer air and the golden glow of the light in the piazzas.

The Via Appia, the ancient road leading from Rome to Brinidisi, is lined with tombs, villas and all sorts of archaeological attractions. But modern Romans seem to be more interested in exploiting the ruins to make money than preserving them for posterity. Ruins have been turned into restaurants and banquet halls and are subject to vandalism on a nightly basis. Yet the Via Appia is a national park, protected by Italian laws, and truly a fascinating escape for the visitor. There are ancient tombs, catacombs, villas (like the Villa of the Quintili, pictured) and bath complexes lining the road in a park-like setting. See a recent New York Times article to read more about the issues facing this valuable historical resource.

The Palazzo Massimo, one of the galleries in the National Museum of Rome, is hosting a collection of frescoes from houses and villas of Pompeii, destroyed in the 79 CE eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The exhibit, titled "Rosso Pompeiano" (Pompeian Red, for the color of the pigment that has made the Pompeian style of painting so iconic) features scenes of daily life, mythology, and nature. Most of the Pompeian frescoes have been borrowed from the Naples Museum of Archaeology and they are displayed with the permanent collection of the Palazzo Massimo, which includes sculptures, coins, pottery and other frescoes from the same time period and beyond. To read more about the exhibit, see a recent New York Times article or visit the exhibit website . You can also make reservations on-line . The exhibit runs until June 1st.

A recent article in the New York Times Travel section highlights some of the incredible palaces in Rome that have been turned into museums for public viewing. More often than not, these palaces were built by popes or their relatives and house exquisite collections of classical sculpture and paintings and frescoes by Italian masters. Not only is the artwork contained in the palazzos a draw, but the gardens and architecture of the residences themselves are also worth seeing. Some of the palazzos are quite famous already, like the Galleria Borghese , but others are just beginning to be noticed by the amateur traveler, like the Palazzo Colonna and Palazzo Altemps (pictured). Mentioned in the article are also several artists' workshops, such as the Museum-Atelier Canova-Tadolini. You can use the Roma Pass to visit most of these "house" museums.

Today in the New York Times Travel section is a short article on the sights and tastes of the Via Appia (Appian Way). The Via Appia was the major road out of Ancient Rome leading to points south. Today you can visit catacombs, ancient tombs (like the tomb of Cecilia Metella, pictured), good restaurants and even a relatively well preserved circus (ancient racetrack). You'll avoid the crowds of the center of Rome as you walk along the ancient paving stones which still show the ruts from Roman chariots and carts. Go on Sundays when the road is closed to automobiles and scooters.

There has been a lot of talk lately in the newspapers about the " Study Abroad Scandal. " The states of New York and Illinois have launched investigations into 15 universities (including Harvard, Columbia, Cornell and Northwestern) concerning their relationships with providers of foreign study programs. There may be evidence that some independent foreign study programs have been giving cash incentives and other benefits to schools to ensure that the schools steer students to their study programs. Although students attending the programs that are being investigated may find that these programs are indeed the right fit for their purposes, the Attorney Generals of both states are concerned that the universities' Study Abroad offices may not be serving students' best interests. Two of the programs under investigation are the American Institute of Foreign Study and the Institute for the International Education of Students, which both have programs in Rome. What can you do...