Italy for centuries was and, to a large degree, still is a homogenous culture. Add to that the fact that issues of race here are discussed so frankly and openly -- there's apparently no taboo to saying, in a loud voice, "That black guy over there?" Moreover, the reality is that most people of African descent in Italy are working as street vendors, not bankers. All this may make travelers with darker skin feel -- correctly at times -- as if they're being singled out.
Pockets of racism do exist in Italy (primarily in the Northeast) just like anywhere else in the world, but on the whole, it is an extremely warm and racially tolerant country. As one Pakistani friend of mine put it, "They're just curious, that's all."
Black Travel Online (www.blacktravelonline.com) posts news on upcoming events and includes links to articles and travel-booking sites. Soul of America (www.soulofamerica.com) is a comprehensive website, with travel tips, event and family-reunion postings, and sections on historically black beach resorts and active vacations.
Agencies and organizations that provide resources for black travelers include Rodgers Travel (tel. 800/825-1775; www.rodgerstravel.com); the African American Association of Innkeepers International (tel. 877/422-5777; www.africanamericaninns.com); and Henderson Travel & Tours (tel. 800/327-2309 or 301/650-5700; www.hendersontravel.com), which has specialized in trips to Africa since 1957.
Go Girl: The Black Woman's Guide to Travel & Adventure (Eighth Mountain Press) is a compilation of travel essays by writers including Jill Nelson and Audre Lorde. The African-American Travel Guide by Wayne C. Robinson (Hunter Publishing; www.hunterpublishing.com) was published in 1997, so it may be somewhat dated. Travel and Enjoy Magazine (tel. 866/266-6211; www.travelandenjoy.com) is a travel magazine and guide. The well-done Pathfinders Magazine (tel. 877/977-PATH; www.pathfinderstravel.com) includes articles on everything from Rio de Janeiro to Ghana to upcoming ski, diving, golf, and tennis trips.
Tuscany Travel Experiences
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Lake Garda to Tuscany
Saturday, 8th & 9th November Next day we quickly passed into Austria for 5 minutes – took advantage of their cheaper fuel and food in Li... Continue reading »
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Olives and Brambles
Not only do we now know how to herd goats, but we can conquer olive trees! Our Italian WWOOF farm was located in Southern Tuscany near th... Continue reading »
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Under The Tuscan Clouds
Well the day I have been looking forward to for a long time has finally arrived and we awoke early to get the worm (well a 2 door silver... Continue reading »
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Day 7: San Gimignano & Monteriggioni & Siena & Pi...
The first city of our busy day, San Gimignano, is a picturesque little town with a lot of towers from the families in the... Continue reading »
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We're camping at the center of Etruscan civilization
So here we are in Volterra, Italy, in the heart of Tuscany. We were very fortunate... Continue reading »
