Get insider tips and tricks from someone who has lived on the Neapolitan island of Ischia and plan a blockbuster vacation.

The beauty of the island of Ischia in Italy is its simplicity. Known as l’Isola Verde or the the Green Island, Ischia is the largest of the three Neapolitan islands that also include Capri and Procida. The island is 19 miles off the coast of Naples, and is about 18 square miles. With a population of 60,000, this is the most lived in Neapolitan island. Therefore, you will find many comforts and welcoming people, who rely on tourism to survive.

Ischia is composed of six comuni or communities. There is comune d’Ischia, which includes the capital Ischia Porto with its…

Discover the charming island of brightly colored buildings, black sand beaches, and giant lemons.

Few people know of Procida, a small island off the coast of Naples in Italy. Overshadowed by the neighboring islands Ischia and Capri, Procida offers untouched beauty and far more tranquility. Perhaps, you will recognize it as the setting of the critically acclaimed film “Il Postino.” A few scenes of the “Talented Mr. Ripley” were shot here, too.

With under 2 square miles of territory and only 10,500 inhabitants, Procida is cozy. …

This Neapolitan island gets all the love from American tourists because of its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s.

The sun shines down on Capri as if it’s a sparkling gem. From the moment you step onto the island, which is off the coast of Naples, you will feel as though you are on the playground of starlets and VIPs. That’s because, well, you are.

Capri is polished in a way the other two Neapolitan islands, Ischia and Procida, are not. It is safe to describe Capri, in fact, as the polar opposite of Father Naples, the gritty city of which it is a province.

What I mean is that visiting Capri is like walking into a travel brochure…

Learn how people in Italy eat at each meal of the day. There are more meals than you’re used to… and extra deliciousness to the day.

Breakfast

Breakfast is called colazione in Italy. Most people eat something light between 7 and 9 a.m. Children will have warm milk and cereal or cookies. Adults will have espresso or macchiato, which is espresso with a “stain” of milk. They often dip some biscotti (cookies) in the espresso or have a sweet like a sfogliatella pastry. They may also have toast with jam.

Snack

Around 10 or 11 a.m., some people take a break for a spuntino or snack. Italians do not snack like Americans do. …

Find out, from someone who knows firsthand, why Italian men are so appealing.

Many people the world over adore Italian men. Although Italian men have a reputation for being handsome and well-dressed, their appeal is more about their attitude. They flirt like it’s part of their DNA, and they have a way of making each person feel special, like she is the only one in the room. This sensation is palpable and intoxicating. Most people want to feel like that over and over again.

I have written for Businessweek, Ladies’ Home Journal, iVillage, and About.com, large and important publications and websites in their time. …

Get the most out of the fresh vegetables available in the summer, and fulfill your pasta craving without the carbs

Have a hankering for pasta but don’t want all those calories? Well, then you need to turn to zucchini pasta with fresh tomatoes. It makes for a light meal and it is more satisfying than you would think.

Trust me. This Italian mamma loves her pasta, and I was a big doubter when the trend of spiralized vegetable pasta was taking over my Instagram account. Then, I received a spiralizer for Christmas, and my husband was intrigued. So, we went for it, and this recipe was born.

In the summer, nonno’s garden is full of zucchini, and he shares the…

Discover the Italian town square and immerse yourself in the culture of Italy.

If you are the kind of tourist in Italy who wants to make like the Romans, then your first stop should be the town square, known as the piazza. Every town in Italy has one, and it gives you the chance to people watch and study the culture.

The piazza is everything, and everything happens in the piazza. When the Italian national soccer team won the Euro2020 tournament, which actually took place in July 2021 because of the global pandemic, Piazza del Popolo in Rome was loaded with roaring fans. In fact, their excitement was literally palpable because it caused…

Find out about the songs that played on repeat for the team that made Italy the champions of Europe despite all the naysayers.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a fan of the Italy national soccer team, also known as Gli Azzurri, which was crowned the champions of Europe on July 11, 2021. The songs that carried the team to victory are becoming the summer playlist of Italy fans everywhere.

Let the musical tastes of the Euro2020 champions move you. Discover the team’s favorite songs:

“Un Estate Italiana”

The song Notti Magiche by Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato goes back to 1990, when Italy hosted the World Cup tournament. The lyrics treat this sports competition like a love affair for the ages.

“Notti magiche, inseguendo un…