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/

There are so many ways to see Italy and one of them is pure magic….. charter a sailing yacht.  Spend the afternoon swimming off of the yachts swim platform while sipping your favorite drink, have shower and get dressed for dinner.  The crew ferries you in on a rigid inflatable tender after the day trippers have gone, enjoy a little sight seeing and either: have dinner ashore or call and get picked up and have dinner aboard…. Maybe even a midnight swim.   For the cost of a villa rental the Italian coast is your oyster. Yacht website: https://constanter.com

Most of us play the lottery from time to time, It is just to much fun to dream of what you would do with all that money $500,000,000 ! Do some good in the world …of course!!! Also treat yourself to a trip via private jet to Italy. No lines, no crowds, luxurious accommodations, fine wine and arrive refreshed. Our old friend Chris, whom Tommaso knows from sailing, is now a private jet pilot. He and Tomasso have raced sailboats in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the east coast and raced to Bermuda. Chris is now a pilot flying one of the most advanced private jets in the world today, the Gulfstream 500. Join us and learn how to spend some of your winnings getting to Italy in the lap of luxury.

Several of my clients have been sending me photos and updates from their October vacations in Italy, and we are only 11 days into the month! Rain or shine, they are all happy as can be with private drivers on the Amalfi Coast, bike tours from Lake Como into Switzerland, private boats, Vespa rides in Rome, and of course, the best table at my favorite restaurants. There are festivals all over Italy celebrating everything from mushrooms to wine to centuries old bird hunting. Yet, October is also the month of truffle season and vineyard harvests. It's the perfect month to be in Italy!

The small city of Ravenna on the east coast of Italy, is truly a jewel. Ravenna boasts 8 Unesco World Heritage Monuments, each of which display the Byzantine Era's most significant art form, mosaics. Not only did mosaic tiles beautify a building, they also instructed the illiterate with their depictions. A visit to Ravenna is a treat since it's somewhat off the tourist radar, therefore you can share one of these monuments with only a few other new converts of mosaic art.

All the stars aligned to make Bologna “Italy's Most Delicious City”. Not only is it the birthplace of Ragu alla Bolognese, but tortellini is another source of pride for this culinary city. The near proximity of Modena and Parma, contribute Balsamic Vinegar (otherworldly) and Prosciutto (cult-like following) and to top it off, all three of these cities are in the region of Emilia-Romagna. And it is only in Emilia-Romagna, that you can find the legitimate Parmigiano Reggiano. Add all of these regional specialties together, put them in the kitchens of Bologna, and..... you may never leave.

This beautiful city offers more than just the best cuisine in all of Italy, and surprisingly most Italians admit to this claim! Bologna has 24 miles of porticos within it's city walls, and no other city can boast that. The world's oldest continual university, established in 1088, is yet another fact that make the Bolognese proud. It is also a bit under the tourist radar for some unexplained reason, but I can attest to the fact that after your first visit, you will always return.

The villages of Orvieto and Todi in southwest Umbria are quite simply, fantastic! Orvieto's crown jewel is the Duomo from 1290, yet two-thirds of it's exterior is so contemporary it's hard to believe it's 732 years old! This hilltop small city should be on your list to visit for the visuals alone, not to mention the underground city carved from the volcanic rock, the cuisine and of course the people. Teh village of Todi has the distinction of being called One of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, and rightfully so. It's a perfectly preserved teeny village that looks as if it stepped right out of the middle ages. It's a wonder to visit, but even more special extraordinary if you stay the night. You will be happy you did.

Two more completely intoxicating medieval villages in southern Umbria... Montefalco and Spoleto. The citizens and local governments are so proud of their history and heritage, that they make the utmost effort to keep their villages as well preserved, and intact as possible. And we are the lucky recipients of their efforts, since we can walk through these beautiful towns and feel as though we are in the 12th century, yet at the same time, enjoy the modern conveniences of ice cubes in your Aperol Spritz at your late lunch al fresco, in the piazza.... oh la dolce vita!

These three villages in southern Umbria are so stunning, and so well preserved, you feel like you are thrown back in time to the medieval ages. Yet, you can treat yourselves to the modern comforts of fantastic restaurants, unique accommodations, and shops where you can buy local handmade crafts. A delicious cuisine and rich bodied wine just add to your visit in this lovely region which they call The Green Heart of Italy / Cuore Verde d'italia.

Summer of 2022 in Italy has been intense! The country was inundated with tourists from around the globe, and even though it was chaotic (and HOT), the Italians were grateful for the business after the long Covid lockdown. Everyone in the hospitality industry worked harder than they ever had, yet were still gracious, patient and welcoming. What a testament to the country's fortitude. With the fall season fast approaching, that means cooler temperatures, less tourists and enjoying a meal that you didn't have to reserve 2 months in advance. We are also including an interview with two women who joined us on a small group trip last fall. Listen to what they appreciated about enjoying a fantastic time where they didn't have to do a thing except show up! Andiamo a bel'italia!

Just a quick update!

The diverse and amazing things you can do in Perugia.... walk the entirety of a Roman Aqueduct from the 13th century, eat the world famous Perugina Baci (kiss) chocolate, get lost in the maze of the underground “basement” of a Papal Palace from the 1500's and stand in awe in front of the Fontana Maggiore (main fountain) which depicts agricultural life in the medieval ages through sculpted marble panels. The capitol of Umbria does not disappoint! As old as this city is, it has a lively and hip vibe due to the university students from all over the world, who thrive in this bustling and beautiful city.

We start in the northern half of Umbria and share with you three villages to visit that should definitely be on your radar. Citta di Castello, Gubbio and the capitol city of Perugia are all so well preserved that you feel like you could be living in the medieval ages. Yet at the same time, you can shop and eat and enjoy an aperitivo hour as if you were in Roma or Milano, just with less tourists, and what's not to love about that?

The region of Umbria may be Italy's 5th smallest region, but it also has the country's 6th lowest population density! That alone should convince you to spend at least a week in it's vast green landscape which boasts olive orchards and vineyards. Pair the savory wine with the famous cured meats from the region, most notably, the prosciutto from the ancient village of Norcia. Umbria is also home to the acclaimed black truffle, and luckily these gems are harvested in both winter and summer. Umbria is a year-round destination for those who appreciate the rural road less traveled, yet one that satisfies your palate at the same time.

The southern half of Puglia entices you with whitewashed hill top villages, crystal clear water that just begs you to dive in, houses dramatically perched on the edge of limestone cliffs and the ever present sunshine and sea breeze. The capitol city of Lecce, is much more than you would expect, with some of the finest masterpieces of Baroque architecture in Italy. When the sun sets in southern Puglia, everything, including the sandstone walls of these Baroque jewels, glow in an ochre color like you have never seen. Throw all of this on top of a simple and seasonal (yet delicious) cuisine and the bountiful (and also delicious) wine, Puglia is a feast for the senses, all five of them.

If you think you like olive oil, just wait until you try it in Puglia. The olive orchards are the Puglians pride and joy, their heritage and their claim to fame. They locals allege it's the best in the world, and I tend to agree with them. The older villages along the coast and those inland as well, are mostly white-washed, due to the very warm summer weather. You feel as though you could be in Greece, Spain or Portugal, yet in Puglia, you are dining on Italian cuisine, and most of the time you eat outdoors. So while you are enjoying the pasta al mare with Puglian bread, you smell the salt air while sipping the divine Puglian wine. What's not to love about this combo?

Bread is Puglia's claim to fame, and rightfully so. Yet, when you also dip this bread into Puglian olive oil, while drinking a glass of Puglian red wine, you realize that life doesn't get much better than this! Puglia has the winning combination of endless sunshine and rich soil that produces vegetables bursting with flavor. And let's not forget the cheese! When you have your first bite burrata cheese, that's when you realize that moving to Puglia would be an excellent idea.

The people of Napoli know that their city is chaotic, and they have no intention of changing it. This is what endures most adventurous people to this colorful, loud and bustling city on the sea. The locals also know that pizza is their claim to fame, and therefore the tourists will always come. They are proud of their cuisine, their somewhat gritty nature and their southern heritage. Napoli feels like it hasn't changed in hundreds of years, and that alone is why it's worth a visit. That, and the pizza of course!

These two idyllic islands are just a short boat ride from Napoli, yet they seem worlds away from the mainland of the busy Amalfi Coast. Colorful fishing villages brighten your day, as does the abundant sunshine and crystal clear water. The joy of riding a scooter on these islands is hard to beat... you feel carefree and happy because you are soaking in the beauty, the tropical scents and the salty Mediterranean air. The seafood centric cuisine also seduces most visitors, especially when paired with local vino bianco. Everything about Ischia and Procida make for the ideal island-life vacation – a pure treat to your overworked soul!