Most people love Siena for many reasons, but I fell in love, at first sight, with Piazza del Campo. I can still visualize every single detail that lured me in on my first visit many years ago. For any artist, or art history buff, just standing in the main piazza, being physically surrounded by the color siena, while in the city of Siena, is like a dream realized!There is clearly more to Siena than it's main piazza, but I promise you, that colorful circle of stone and brick will not disappoint. The Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, Siena's Duomo, is one of a kind. Tommaso is a fan, and he hasn't even seen it in person yet. The flooring which is comprised of mosaic panels has been called the most beautiful floor ever made. Most of it is covered to prevent further wear from the millions of feet that have traipsed over these teeny pieces of marble, yet they are uncovered twice a year, so a travel tip is to plan your visit around that!

Spring is a refreshing time of year basically everywhere, but there is something extra special about spring in Italy. It may be partly due to the abundance of wildflowers and wisteria, but also the vivid colors that come to life in the beautiful landscapes that cover the entire country. Early spring usually has less tourists in the countryside, but the weather can be a bit cool and damp, or warm and dry! We can not rely on the old standard of when the rainy season is anymore, so just go with the flow and enjoy the spring no matter what it brings – you will still be in Italy after all!Tommaso also shares some current travel news regarding what's being implemented this spring in some parts of Italy. It's always wise to know as much as you can before you arrive, hence Travel Tips are always a good thing!

2 years, 92 episodes, 3,036 minutes, 127 countries, and countless reasons why Kimberly's Italy Podcast will keep sharing our love of all things Italian! We have not suffered “Pod Fade” due to the enthusiastic feedback we get from our listeners around the globe.We decided we should celebrate this 2 year milestone with ravioli which Tommaso made from scratch, and as importantly, we invited Kitten Club 2 members to join us. It was a culinary feast enjoyed by all, and what's better than talking about our awesome Italian vacation while dining on spinach and ricotta stuffed ravioli and drinking Aperol Spritzs???Link to Page on our website:https://www.kimberlysitaly.com/ricotta-and-spinach-ravioli/ Follow us on social media: InstagramFacebook

We share the story of our friend Edie's connection to the world famous Harry's Bar in Venice. We invited her to our recording studio and thought it only right to drink a Bellini while recording, since this refreshing drink was invented by Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder of Harry's Bar. This understated, but world renowned bar, welcomes you as if you were part of it's rich history. It is truly one of a kind, and the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage feels the same since they declared it a National Landmark in 2001. It's nice to have friends with such connections, but if you listen to the entire episode, you will hear how Kimberly and Edie are connected as well in America's history. Small world stories indeed!

From a morning ferry to the port of Napoli, then into taxi driven by a Napolitano with no regard for red stoplights or speed limits, into the chaos of the Central Train Station, dropping off our luggage hoping to see it again, and finally into the streets of old Napoli with the goal of feasting on pizza in it's birthplace, all of which we did on the last day of the festival Tutti Santi. Did I mention there were about 9 million people on the streets with us? It was mayhem in all it's glory. It was Napoli at it's best!We didn't have enough time to wait in line at Pizzeria Antica da Michele (the alleged birthplace of pizza), but we somehow managed to find a table for 7 outside in a perfectly Napolitano atmosphere. Yes, we ate pizza, drank Aperol Spritz and sat next to a Banksy. It was a perfect day!

This island deserved the honor of being named the Italian Capitol of Culture in 2022. They could have added Hospitality, Generosity, Kindness and Happiness to the title in my opinion! We had the most perfect stay with the striking views from our terraces, the colorful palette of the island's architecture and the sound of fishing boats leaving the harbor at first light. The friendly locals and the seafood cuisine were yet even more perks to an island that I want to describe as, perfectly idyllic.Even during a very busy travel season, you can still escape the crowds here if you know where to do just that. You can also walk the entire island, stopping at each little inlet for a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Procida's big sister of Ischia is a short boat ride away, yet another bonus this teeny island has to offer.

Arriving to the village of Amalfi by boat, allows you to see the majestic beauty of the entire Amalfi Coastline. Once we arrived to our sweet accommodations, a glass of wine on the terrazza was just what we needed to confirm that this is indeed one of the most stunning landscapes on the planet. As one should do, we ate pizza under lemon trees, sipped on limoncello like you've never had before (unless you have already been to Amalfi) and swam in the sea, in late October no less. Then onto Pompeii with a uniquely charming and friendly driver, where we were completely absorbed in a 2 hour tour of Pompeii, by yet another friendly and insightful tour guide. The Amalfi Coast offers so much, you just need to know where, when and how to savor it.

The most intoxicating part about Capri for me, is the geography. The jagged coastline and grottos formed by the sea and time, make for a stunning landscape. Yet, in addition there is tropical flora, cactus, azure water and the bluest of skies, which all makes for a captivating visual treat. In this episode we talk about 2 of the 7 main hiking trails on the island, and why they are such a treasure, for both the history and a feast for the eyes. Capri has inspired poet, painters and writers for hundreds of years, so perhaps you should join crowd, but preferably not at the height of the season.

If you can only visit Capri during the high season, you can still find quiet places to stay and stroll the piazzetta at night, when the day trippers are long gone. However, if you can go the end of October, do so! We were the only tourists in the restaurants, shared the beach at Marina Piccola with five Italians, and had the Arco Naturale hiking path to ourselves. The tropical foliage and the island's dramatic cliffs combine to make it one of the most visually stunning places on earth. It was Capri at it's finest, and my favorite visit yet.

We have received multiple requests for another pasta recipe, which we promised to do over a year ago! To make it up to you, we are sharing Sugo di Roma, a very tasty tomato based sauce from a friend of a friend in Rome, via Milano. This happens to be (one of) Tommaso's favorite sauces, due to the distinct taste that results from the yummy combination of ingredients that simmer on the stove top for hours. It is a definite commitment to make according to our instructions, but you can make an afternoon out of it... listen to music, drink some wine and invite some friends over to share this labor of love. Buon Apetito!!!Links: New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/19/world/europe/milan-italy-duomo-cathedral.htmlSugo de Roma Recipehttps://www.kimberlysitaly.com/sugo-di-roma/

This episode details the last few days of our time in Milano during our three week trip to Copenhagen and Italy over the holidays. We were thrilled to see the exhibition in Milano that highlighted the history of the patronage of the arts in Italy, from the Renaissance to 20th century. We also went back to the “scene of the crime” where Tommaso ordered a second cappuccino at the most iconic of all coffee bars in the city, Camparino. Milano holds a special place in my heart and I was so very happy to be back there with my fellow art and history lover, Tommaso.

Who would have known that that one event in a grand hotel in Milan, changed the way the world listened to music, and remote recording in general. Tommaso and I were lucky enough to see the room where this took place in 1902, and then we recorded our own podcast episode in another room, in the same hotel in 2023! The first remote recording of music is just one of the many historic events that took place in The Grand Hotel et de Milan. Opera stars, divas, actors, writers (Ernest), and eccentric artists all had one thing in common, a love for the Grand Hotel et de Milan.

January 1st was filled with our favorite things... cappuccino, gawking at Italian architecture, a second cappuccino, multiple church visits for Kimberly, pizza and Peroni with the locals at a tiny, yet perfect place, fulfilling our bookstore obsession, a late afternoon gelato treat, etc... The unique and charming city of Lucca delivered for us on our short, but sweet visit. It's history is apparent in all the buildings and narrow streets that wind through this walled city. We feel very fortunate to have started the new year in this Tuscan gem.

We arrived in Lucca in time for the tastiest last lunch of the year! Being that it was Tommaso's first time in Lucca, we fit in a lot. We walked a little over a mile and a half of the wall after lunch, took in every inch of Piazza Napoleone, same goes for Piazza San Michele, and just about every little random street we came upon. Lucca is the perfect place to never worry about getting lost, since you will always hit the wall, and find your way back. A bottle of champagne to ring in the new year, gifted to us by our gracious hosts, and one last late night walk in this idyllic village, was the perfect end to 2022.

Can you ever tire of hearing about the Italian cuisine in Bologna? We share the tasty details of our last few meals in the birthplace of ragu, and the very interesting story of a certain Pope who invented the Gregorian calendar from his beautiful palazzo in Bologna. This small city begs you to stroll it's many little streets, and loose your way, which just leads to unexpected treats like the Pope's palazzo. On top of the addicting cuisine and the towering architecture (pun intended), the Bolognese people are as friendly and generous as they come. Go to Bologna and meet some of them, and have ragu wherever they suggest!

We just returned from several days in this intoxicating capitol of the Emilia-Romagna region. There is so much to keep you intrigued – between the university's stunning Library and Anatomical Theatre, the interior of Basilica San Petronio, the endless porticos, salumerias, etc... you have to force yourself to stop for lunch. And then you can't wait for dinner to compare the ragu from one family recipe to the next! Bologna is a visual and culinary treat, which should not be missed. Give yourselves several days here and ask Tommaso for ragu comparisons!

We share a bit more of our time on Lake Como in the festive time frame of post-Christmas and pre-New Years Eve. We took several boat rides up the lake in the warm and sunny weather, enjoyed a few Aperol Spritzs outside and eventually took a train to Bologna. This was Tommaso’s most anticipated visit since he was finally in the birthplace of Ragu!!! It did not disappoint! Bologna has more than just Ragu, and we will tell you all that we experienced over the next few episodes.

We spent 6 festive days in Copenhagen experiencing Danish Hyyge before heading to Italy. It was filled with Christmas traditions that the Danes have passed down over the years, and naturally a lot of bread, cheese and beer was consumed by all! We arrived in Lake Como the day after Buon Natale to find the village of Cernobbio in full holiday mode with the entire village covered in lights. Listen to the end of the episode where we recorded “Happy New Year” in the multiple languages that our friends speak.F6EoJLX6DYNDTtE0QpmE

We are off to Europe soon for the holidays, but we want to share a few interesting things currently happening in Italy and in the new year as well, which is reason alone to think about a trip to Italy in 2023! We will return with a new episode on December 28th that we will record from the idyllic village of Cernobbio on Lake Como, which is lit for Christmas like no other place on the lake!

Perhaps the 3 best hours in Rome ever! Take a ride on a vintage Vespa behind a local Roman and learn about the history of everything you drive by, drive on, stand on. Rome is full of history as you know, but what better way to learn more of it, than from a local, on the back of a cool scooter. “When in Rome” as they say... Hear more about our fabulous history filled excursion, that is definitely not your average group tour.

No matter how many times you visit Rome, you can always experience something new, even though it's very, very old! In this episode we describe why you should climb the 196 steps to the top of the Vittoriano building in Piazza Venezia, not solely for the view, but also to stand under the bronze sculpture of Vittorio Emmanule on horseback and think about what we told you fit in the belly of the horse. We also share why you might want to visit Villa Farnesina for a Raphael fix, and why everyone should walk on the bridge called Ponte Fabricio, while you think about the fact that it's been there for 2084 years!

A short compilation of recent news to inform you and make you smile about belle Italia!

Tales from another small group trip : 10 days, 7 women, 2 trains, 4 ferries, 2 islands, 36 Aperol Spritzs and loads of laughs. First up was 3 fabulous days in Rome and about 110 miles (collectively) of walking. We were very lucky to share the Pantheon with only a handful of other people, and had the same good fortune at the Baths of Caracalla – the first time to these stunning ruins for all of us. It was the last week of October, and Rome was hot, crowded and as usual, completely intoxicating!

The name for this episode stems from the replies of so many Italians I spoke with on my recent trip to Italy. I asked every single person I came across who works in the travel / hospitality industry what the 2022 Revenge Tourism Season was like, and their answer was rather clear....go in the off season if possible. And if you take into account the prolonged heat wave they had all summer long, November is looking like a great time to visit Italy. I was there for the last 10 days of October and it hovered around 80 degrees every day. That is not nearly as brutal as the temps of over 105 that they had for weeks on end during the summer, but 80 degrees Fahrenheit in late October is not normal either. It was still a lovely trip however, made all the more so by the generosity and friendly nature of the Italian people.

Venice has inspired painters for centuries. They experienced Venice and left us visual documentation of this magical city without the overwhelming crowds of the high season. If you have the flexibility to go...NOW is the time. Experience the mist and the magic on your terms. Enjoy a wonderful hot chocolate at Cafe Florian and even get a table at Harrys bar. Venice in the off season is simply not to be missed!https://www.kimberlysitaly.com/venice-artists/