personal

Wildflowers and Wild Horses: My Summer on Italy’s Highest Plateau

Last summer, I set out for one of Italy’s hidden treasures—the magnificent high plateau of the Monti Sibillini National Park. ...
Read More

That Time I Found Myself Alone in an Ancient Etruscan Tomb

I never expected to find myself completely alone in an ancient Etruscan tomb. Yet, there I was, standing in silent ...
Read More

Sleeping in a Medieval Tower: My Night in Italy’s Most Beautiful Village

Ever wanted to sleep inside a piece of living history? I just had the chance to spend a night in ...
Read More

Picnic Under Roman Arches: Finding Ancient Engineering in Modern Rome

Walking through Rome’s Aqueduct Park along the ancient Appian Way feels like stepping into a living museum. Here, engineering and ...
Read More

Watching Bronze Transform into Music: My Day at Italy’s Oldest Foundry

I breathed in the crisp Italian morning as I stepped into the Marinelli Bell Foundry. Centuries of tradition seemed to ...
Read More

Kayaking Italy’s Heart: My Adventure on Lake Scanno’s Waters

Last weekend, I stumbled upon one of Italy’s best-kept secrets: Lake Scanno, a gorgeous heart-shaped lake tucked away in the ...
Read More

Climbing to Clouds: How I Discovered Italy’s Most Dramatic Castle

My journey to Rocca Calascio started with an early morning hike through the misty hills of Abruzzo, Italy. As I ...
Read More

Boat Caves and Hidden Coves: My Summer Escape to Ponza Island

Last summer, I discovered Italy’s best-kept secret – Ponza Island. This enchanting Mediterranean gem, just a few hours from Rome, ...
Read More

How the Hill Towns of Lazio Changed My View of Central Italy

I never expected to fall in love with Lazio’s hill towns, but these hidden gems completely changed my view of ...
Read More

Dining Above the Waves: My Seafood Feast on an Ancient Fishing Platform

Last weekend, I stumbled upon one of Italy’s best-kept culinary secrets—dining on a trabocco, an ancient wooden fishing platform stretching ...
Read More

Finding Wolves and Wild Orchids: My Trek Through Maiella’s Valleys

Hidden deep in the green heart of Italy, Maiella National Park in Abruzzo offers one of Europe’s most genuine wilderness ...
Read More

Hiking Where Odysseus Met the Witch: My Adventure on Mount Circeo

Last week, I hiked up Mount Circeo in Italy, walking the same paths where legend says Odysseus encountered the witch-goddess ...
Read More

How I Found Solitude in the World’s Smallest Country

Finding peace in Vatican City wasn’t on my bucket list until last summer. As I stepped into this tiny nation ...
Read More

Spring Azaleas and Fashion Shows: My Favorite Season on the Steps

Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes my absolute favorite sight in the garden – azaleas bursting with color! ...
Read More

Why I Return to Sperlonga’s Shoreline Every Summer

Every summer, I find myself drawn back to the charming coastal town of Sperlonga, Italy. This medieval village sits perched ...
Read More

Midnight at the Trevi: Finding Magic When the Crowds Disperse

Rome transforms when the sun sets, and nowhere is this magic more evident than at the Trevi Fountain after midnight. ...
Read More

When the Rain Falls Through the Oculus: Nature’s Show Inside the Pantheon – A Mesmerizing Ancient Roman Experience

Standing beneath the magnificent dome of Rome’s Pantheon, I felt time slow as raindrops began their gentle descent through the ...
Read More

That Morning I Had Bernini’s Baldacchino Almost to Myself

I arrived at St. Peter’s Basilica just after dawn, slipping through the massive doors before the crowds descended. Standing alone ...
Read More

Palm Trees and Fresh Seafood: My Discovery of Italy’s Unexpected Riviera

When I first arrived at Italy’s Riviera, I was shocked to see palm trees swaying along the coastline. Most people ...
Read More

When I Found Myself Alone in a 2,500-Year-Old Painted Tomb

The morning sun cast long shadows across the ancient necropolis as I stood at the entrance of what would become ...
Read More

Island Monasteries and Lakeside Lunches: Perfect Day on Lake Bolsena

Nestled in the heart of Italy, Lake Bolsena captivated me from the moment I arrived. This volcanic lake, the largest ...
Read More