“Why Italians Love to Talk About Food” by Elena Kostioukovitch is a very interesting book about Italian cuisine and its history. What’s even better is that it doubles up as a highly effective travelogue as well. So if you are foodie and a travel buff who might just vacation in Italy this year then you must absolutely read this book which has a foreword by none other than the great Umberto Eco. However if you do not care much for food and would just like to take in the best sights that Italy has to offer then this article might just provide you with the best tips that you are likely to get from anywhere else. Italy has been blessed with many great and varied vacation spots and it is entirely up to the personal tastes of the vacationers to decide how and in which places of Italy they would like to spend their vacation. There are big cities like Rome, Venice or Florence and then there are hilly areas, sandy beaches and quaint villages as well.
If you have a great interest in exploring art and history then the Piedmont region would be an ideal choice. It is home to the Egyptian Museum and the Royal Armory in Turin. At Vercelli you will find the Borgogna Museum which houses the works of many Renaissance painters. If you have been ever fascinated by the Alps then you should visit the Acosta Valley. From this area you will be able to view the Alps in all their glory. The Valley is surrounded by some exquisite peaks and is also home to the national park Gran Paridisio where you can find a variety of animals and birds like the chamois, ibex and eagles. You can also visit the capital city of Acosta and check out spots with historical significance. If castles fascinate you then you should drop in at Alto Adige which has the largest number of castles compared to any other region in Italy. Among the cities Milan is highly recommended for its Romanesque architecture. You can visit marvelous cathedrals palaces that were built during the Italian Renaissance. The Cathedral of Milan is a fine representation of Gothic architecture.
The island of Sardinia offers beautiful beaches facing the Mediterranean. Here you can also explore ancient cultures by visiting the Tombs of Giants, the nuraghi and the houses of the witches. Sicily is of course one of the most heavily promoted Italian destination. It is a beautiful island which offers a delightful combination of mountain peaks, sea beaches and hillside villages. Here you can also visit Etna which is an active volcano, the Valle dei Templi and ruins from the Hellenistic Age.
For more information and help with planning your best Italian vacations do visit the website of Tuscan Way.
Tuscan Way offers you a unique and rare opportunity to live and experience life with Italy vacation tours, as it really is, in Tuscany.
I can’t speak for most people, but I often build a big appetite when I visit my favorite museums in the NYC like the Met Art Museum or Museum of Modern Art. However, it’s often difficult to find the right place to eat that matches the mood and experience to accommodate my day at the museums. When deciding where to eat, I usually have four standards that I abide by: nice atmosphere, good food, great customer service, and good on prices. Luckily, there are some places that deserve a worth mention and will actually accompany a day spent at the museums.
Cafe 2 
The Museum of Modern Art
9 West 53rd Street, Second floor
New York, NY 10055
Hours:
Wed. – Mon.: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Closed Tues.
Fri.: 11:00am – 7:30pm
Espresso Bar Hours:
Wed. – Sun.: 10:30am – 3:30pm
Closed Tues.
Fri.: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm
I often find myself eating here when I’m indecisive about where to eat. Don’t get me wrong, this place is bad; it’s the MoMA’s most casual option when eating with a great variety in food choice. Their Executive Chef, Lynn Bound, works hard to makes an assortment of paninis, pasta, salami, salads available to cafe visitors. The cafe is only open to people that visit the museum, since it’s on the 2nd floor of the MoMA. The atmosphere assumes the image of cafe-like settings; having customers pay at cashier counters and seating guests at communal tables. There are no reservartions; guests are served on a first come, first serve basis. Dishes are moderately priced between 10 to 22 dollars.
The Modern
11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019-5497
Lunch: Mon. – Fri. 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Dinner: Mon. -Thurs. 5:30 – 10:30 pm
Sat 5:30-11:30 pm
The Bar Room
Mon. -Thurs. 11:30 am–10:30 pm
Fri. – Sat. 11:30 am–11:00pm
Sun. 11:30 am – 9:30 pm
The Modern is regarded as one of New York’s finest, upscale restuarants; the restuarant won the 2006 James Beart Foundation Awards for “Best New Restaurant” and “Outstanding Restaurant Design.” It wouldn’t be where it is now if it weren’t for Executive Chef Gabriel Kreuther, who is largely appreciated for his famous style of French-American fusion cuisine, along with Pastry Chef, Marc Aumont, for his desserts. The Modern makes a Bar Room available for casual dining and for those looking for a place to enjoy their favorite alcoholic beverage. Moreover, there’s a street level entrance off of West 53rd Street, for guests to hang out and enjoy the restaurant’s food, past the MoMA’s hours. However, make sure you’re to spend a pretty penny at the Modern; entrees can run as high as 50 dollars!
American Wing Cafe 
1st Floor of Met Art Museum
1000 Fifth Ave,
New York, NY 10028-0198
Fri. and Sat.: 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Sun., Tues – Thurs.: 11:00 am – 4:30 pm
Closed Mon.
Newly reopened in May 2009 in the Charles Engelhard Court, this cafeteria style cafe is great for a quick bite. They’re well known for their traditional America cuisine, soups, salads, and sandwiches.
There is also a spectacular view of Central Park and adjacent to the cafe, is the Grand Pavilion which houses beautiful sculptures and stained glass art.
Click Sample Menu to see some good eats they offer and additional contact information.
[Thanks NYPost.com, MoMA.org, Technically.us, MoMACafes.com, TheModernNYC.com, MetMuseum.org!]
