10 Favorite Reads on Italy this Week: May 2

Favorite Reads on Italy (FRI) is a weekly roundup published on Fridays featuring interesting articles, fascinating experiences, and handy resources that I’ve come across that week.

Postcard from Italy – Stunning sight of St. Peter’s Basilica at night

This week’s roundup includes some amazing photos from the canonization at the Vatican this past Sunday, an underground city in Palermo, an all-night party in Florence, and more.

Culture and Travel

When in Rome… find a new way to maintain the Colosseum by CNN – Rome is an open-museum and that means the responsibility in maintaining the many of these incredible sites. With budget constraints, the private sector has come to rescue to fund some of these initiatives.

Michelangelo’s ‘David’ ready to fall, researchers say by UPI – If that happened, it would be tragic! Read on to see what’s the cause of its instability.

Palermo Has an Underground City Filled With Its Mummified Dead by The Daily Beast – I’ve always said what lies beneath is as equally fascinating. “This 400-year old crypt is filled with 2,000 mummies displayed in rows of upright bodies”. Creepy or cool?

Photos of the Canonization taken from the Police helicopter by La Repubblica – What an awesome gallery of photos of this historic event as seen from above. It gives you an idea of how large the turnout was for the canonization. Mind-blowing!

The Most Adorable Italian Inns—That Won’t Break the Bank by Yahoo Travel – From an agriturismo (family farm) in Piedmont to a dreamy hideaway in Sicily, here are some lovely places to stay in Italy.

Rome city guide: a day in Monti by The Guardian – One of the most charming neighborhoods in Rome, it’s worth walking through when you are in Rome. You’ll be glad you did!

Food and Drinks

Pistachio, polenta and olive oil pound cake by Emiko Davies – Simple ingredients that make a divine cake that is good with a cup of cappuccino or for afternoon tea.

Keys to Trastevere by Eleonora Baldwin via The American –  When in Rome, don’t take for granted that you will get fabulous food at every restaurant. Here’s research done for you and you can’t go wrong with Eleonora’s recommendations.

Life in Italy

Five Photographs of Milan’s Beautiful Buildings by Night by Italy Chronicles – Stunning photos of Milan at night. Evocative and if you think that Milan is just about business, take a look at these photos – Milan can be sexy too!

A photo diary of Notte Bianca 2014 by Girl in Florence – Notte Bianca in Italy means partying until the wee hours! Here’s a look at what took place in Florence.

Have you come across any great reads or resources on Italy this week? Share them with us in the comments below.