Icy Italian PM shows irony

Reuters reports on the ironic ice statue of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi unveiled today in the Roman Forum.

The statue is timed to melt by the start of the U.N. climate change summit on December 7 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

"Berlusconi don't be stupid -- save the climate," read the slogan on the ice sculpture, which stood next to an ancient stone statue of Roman emperor Julius Caesar.

Greenpeace said in a report accompanying its pre-summit stunt that 93 percent of Italy's energy still comes from fossil fuels. The government hopes to revive nuclear energy, which it quit two decades ago, to help cut emissions and energy bills.

Read the full story: Ice statue chides Berlusconi for being cool on CO2

Escape from crowded Capri

The Washington Post reports on getting away from the crowded parts of Capri with a scenic trek.

Capri is a beautiful and heavily-touristed island near Naples, Italy. It may seem hard to escape from the crowds but Kristin Harrison managed to do it on a three-day trip:

On a Sunday morning last May, my boyfriend and I strolled through a field of pink and yellow wildflowers on the island of Capri, following a dirt path that seemed more suitable for goats. There wasn't another person in sight. We scrambled up rocky bluffs and hiked along a grassy meadow until the path ended abruptly at a steep drop-off to the Mediterranean Sea. Yachts and sailboats dotted the waters below, small flecks of white on a canvas of azure, turquoise and aquamarine.

Read the full story: Trekking the casual side of Capri

Photo by Jeremy Ginsberg

Winery tour by bike through Tuscany

Stars and Stripes reports on a bike and winery tour through Italy's Tuscany.

We were in the Maremma region of southern Tuscany. Its wines are not as well known as those other Tuscan favorites: Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile of Montepulciano. Yet, the area produces some excellent vintages that are gaining recognition among producers and consumers.

Biking was often off-road, on gravel paths surrounded by farm fields and distant hills. We did encounter some uphill pedaling, but nothing too strenuous.

Read the full story: Bicycle tour takes riders to three Tuscany wine estates

A walk through Italy's Cinque Terre

On this Earth Day we at Ecotravel News wish we could be hiking through the picturesque towns of Italy's Cinque Terre again like Rick Steves' did recently.

The day-long meandering hike passes through the five (cinque) towns perched along the Mediterranean coast.

The area is a national park and is easily accessible by train.

Read the full story: Step back in time

Venice floods bespeaks of global warming

USA Today reports on the recent Venice, Italy flooding, which is the worst since 1986.

The low-lying and highly-touristed Italian city has been prone to flooding for centuries. This time the water reached 61 inches, well over the 40-inch flood mark.

"It was the fourth highest tide since 1872, when the city started keeping records. The last time Venice saw such high waters was in 1986, while the all-time record was 76 inches in 1966."

Natural disasters such as flooding and more severe storms are effects of global warming.

Read the full story: Venice faces worst flooding in 20 years