Topic: Tuscany

Northeast Italy shaken by biggest quake there since the 1300s

The 6.0-magnitude temblor left at least four dead and cracked bell towers, crumbled church facades, and caved in roofs in the region around Bologna early Sunday.

Did Caravaggio meet a grisly end - with the Vatican's complicity?

Citing documents from the Vatican Secret Archives, an Italian historian argues that 17th-century documents reveal Renaissance artist Caravaggio was assassinated by the Knights of Malta.

Can Costa Concordia's captain get a fair trial in Italy?

The amount of public anger directed toward the captain of the Costa Concordia, which wrecked off the Italian coast last week, may prevent him from receiving fair legal treatment.

After Costa Concordia disaster: 8 safety tips for cruise ship passengers

The recent cruise ship disaster in Italy has prompted travel industry experts to advise the public about safety steps they can take, not only aboard ships but also in hotels. When the Costa Concordia ran aground off the shore of Tuscany on Jan. 13, roughly 160 yards from the shore of Giglio Island, many of the more than 4,200 passengers and crew on board the ship were reportedly unprepared for the crisis and the evacuation that followed.

Nancy Dunnan, publisher of TravelSmart Newsletter, urges cruise ship passengers to take precautions to protect themselves and their belongings. She suggests the following:

After airing false footage of Costa Concordia, Italian media under fire (+video)

Critics say mistakes made while reporting on the Costa Concordia undermine the Italian journalism industry's argument that its strict regulations are essential to maintaining credibility. 

Concordia cruise ship captain left ship, ordered to go back (+ video)

Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino was ordered out of a life raft and told to get back on the sinking cruise ship, according to a transcript of a Coast Guard radio exchange

Costa Concordia: Why navigation might 'fail' and other cruise ship questions

Many questions remain unanswered after Italian cruise ship, Costa Concordia, collided with rocks off the coast of Tuscany and capsized this week.

Costa Concordia: Capsized cruise ship owners blame 'human error'

Costa Concordia owners say that the captain made an unauthorized deviation from the programmed course, leading to the deadly crash.

Third survivor rescued from capsized cruise ship

Authorities in Italy are holding the captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship for abandoning the boat before all passengers had escaped. 

Cruise ship aground: Search for missing off coast of Italy (+video)

Cruise ship aground: At least three died and some 50 people are missing after the Italian Costa Concordia cruise ship hit a sandbar Friday night off Tuscany, Italy.

Denmark's election a litmus test for Europe's far-right politics

Denmark's election Thursday is the first national poll in northern Europe to gauge appeal for radical politics since the Norway killings carried out by far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik.

For a waterwise landscape, consider Mediterranean garden design

Looking for plants that don't use much water? Those that originated in the Mediterranean region are ideal for a low-water landscape.

Ancient first-aid kit discovered in shipwreck

Scientists have discovered that a wooden box found on a Mediterranean shipwreck contains an early version of a first-aid kit.

Bestselling books the week of 3/31/11, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.

Certified Copy: movie review

Juliette Binoche stars in 'Certified Copy,' a provocative romantic drama that fudges the line between reality and fantasy.

Even Michelangelo's David is worried about his weak ankles

An underground railway project in Rome could bring Michelangelo's iconic David tumbling down because of weak marble around its ankles.

Mardi Gras 2011: New Orleans-style buttermilk beignets

Mardi Gras 2011 wouldn't be complete without enjoying warm beignets.

Solutions for four common water garden problems

Complaints from owners of water gardens tend to fall into four categories. Here are some solutions.

Letters to Juliet: movie review

The romantic plot twists of ‘Letters to Juliet’ are yawningly predictable but the beautiful scenery makes it all bearable.

Bestselling books the week of 4/1/10, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.

Bestselling books the week of 3/25/10, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.

Art, artisans, and artisanal grilled cheese

Megatrender John Naisbitt was right a generation ago, the Monitor's language columnist concludes: A high-tech society values the 'high-touch' skills of artisans.

After latest sentence, Germans eager for Nazi trials' end

Former officer Josef Scheungraber will face life in prison, a court ruled Tuesday. The next trial, of John Demjanjuk, may be the last for Nazi crimes in Germany.