Laura Morelli holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University, where she was a Bass Writing Fellow and Mellon Doctoral Fellow. She authored a column for National Geographic Traveler called "The Genuine Article" and contributes pieces about authentic travel to national magazines and newspapers. Laura has been featured on CNN Radio, Travel Today with Peter Greenberg, The Frommers Travel Show, and in USA TODAY, Departures, House & Garden Magazine, Traditional Home, the Denver Post, Miami Herald, The Chicago Tribune, and other media. Recently her art history lesson, "What's the difference...

From the author ofMADE IN ITALYcomes a tale of artisanal tradition and family bonds set in one of the world's most magnificent settings: Renaissance Venice. When Luca Vianello, the heir to a renowned gondola-making enterprise, experiences an unexpected tragedy in the boatyard, he believes that his destiny lies elsewhere. Soon he finds himself drawn to restore an antique gondola with the dream of taking a girl for a ride. Lovers of historical fiction will appreciate the authentic details of gondola craftsmanship, along with an intimate first-person narrative set against the richly textured...

Going to Venice, Italy? Don't buy anything in Venice until you read this book If you're traveling to Venice, Italy, you want to go home with a special souvenir: a piece of Murano glass, a work of Burano lace, a carnival mask, or one of the city's famous luxury fabrics. But selecting which mask or which goblet to buy can be an intimidating experience. How do you know if you're buying something authentic, something made in Venice, something made in a traditional way? How do you determine if you've fallen prey to one of the city's many tourist traps? Buyer Beware: Venice is full of tourist...

Every traveler to Florence wants to go home with a special souvenir: a leather handbag, a piece of
gold jewelry, hand-printed stationery, or one of the citys famous luxury fabrics. But selecting which jacket or which wallet to buy can be an intimidating experience. How do you know if youre buying something authentic, something made locally and in a traditional way? How do you gauge how much you should pay, and how do you know if youre being ripped off? How do you determine if you have fallen prey to one of the citys many tourist traps?

Laura Morelli, art historian and trusted guide in the...