Tag: Italian
Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Friuli-Venezia Giulia is the most northeastern region of Italy. It lies on the Adriatic Sea and is bordered by Austria and Slovenia. My young friend Marta Cossettini lives in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which she refers to as “Nel Dolce Nord Est” or “The Sweet Northeast.” Marta is very proud of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, especially the agriturismi – […]
Vacation Rentals in Sicily and Beyond
The popularity of vacation rentals in Sicily has sky-rocketed in the last few years as travelers look for destinations within Italy that are authentic and off-the-beaten-path. Who wouldn’t want to rent a villa or an apartment on this island – maybe with a pool and an ocean view – and have space to spread out […]
We Loved the Palio in Siena, Italy
This trip report was contributed by Debbie Tucker of Del Mar, California. On Friday afternoon, August 16, 2013, my husband and I were on a private balcony above the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy, sipping Prosecco as a crowd of 32,000 filled the square. We were part of a small group of Americans who […]
Florence – 6 Insider Tips
This guest post was written by Marlane Miriello, owner of Il Campo Cucina – a unique cooking school in Radicondoli – 30 minutes south of Florence. You can Win a Food and Wine Adventure in Tuscany at Il Campo Cucina if you enter the contest before midnight PST on Sunday, August 4, 2013. Visiting Florence, one of the […]
Win a Food and Wine Adventure in Tuscany
Learn about Tuscany’s farm-to-table cuisine at Il Campo Cucina – a unique cooking school located in a picturesque hill town near Siena. Meet the “teachers” – local women who hold classes in their homes, on their farms, and in other historic buildings. Discover the secret to making perfect lasagna, gnocchi, tiramisu and other traditional Italian […]
Tuscan Cooking School
It was a stroke of good luck that I met Marlane Miriello and heard about her Tuscan cooking school. The Italian-American was visiting with friends in San Diego who thought I might find her story interesting. Of course, I was – not just interested, but really interested. Marlane and I are both of Italian descent, and […]
Le Marche, Italy
Vera Marie Badertscher contributed this guest post. The first time I went to Italy, I wanted to see the popular cities, but I also wanted to settle in to one of the country’s lesser known places. One by one, I looked at various areas. The fact that I couldn’t find much information online about Le Marche, […]
Italy – Discovering Authentic Tuscan Villages
One of the many joys of writing “Authentic Luxury Travel” is meeting people who share my love of real experiences and wandering off the beaten path. Case in point: Dear Elizabeth, I was just wondering if you could be interested in maybe suggesting some of your “followers” a trip to Italy – Tuscany, but a […]
A Villa In Sicily For the Holidays
I know you’re already thinking about the winter holidays. Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving on November 27, and many travelers around the world will observe Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year. Have you ever considered renting a villa in Sicily for the holidays? I’ve already written about vacation rentals in Maui , Tuscany and Florence – […]
Insider Tips – Exploring Northern Tuscany, Italy
Forte dei Marmi, Northern Tuscany, Italy When travelers think of Tuscany, it’s usually the splendid cities – Florence, Siena, Lucca, and Pisa – and the Chianti region that come to mind. However,things to do and sights to see are also located in the Versilia area of Northern Tuscany – a coastal section stretching from south […]
Insider Tips: VRBO in Florence, Italy
Panorama of Florence, Italy, taken from the Piazza de Michelangelo. This travel tip comes from my friend Shelley in San Diego, California, who stayed in a three-bedroom apartment – a “dream in the heart of Florence” – in December. When she told me how perfect it was for her family, I couldn’t resist sharing her comments with […]
Italy’s Charming Hotels
A moat surrounds Sirmione, a resort town on Lake Garda in Northern Italy Sirmione. Lucca. Rome. We enjoyed these Italian destinations on our last trip and found great hotels with local character in each place. Hotel Flaminia in Sirmione occupies an enviable position right on the edge of Lake Garda in Northern Italy. In fact, […]
Authentic Tuscan Town – Radda in Chianti
“A holiday in Tuscany” sounds idyllic, but finding an authentic Tuscan town requires research. The British have been vacationing in the Chianti region of Tuscany for so long that it is sometimes referred to as “Chiantishire.” Americans have been arriving in droves since they read Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun. The result is that some […]