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The magic of Venice expands beyond its borders, to the Veneto — a region rich with beauties and deliciousness. I admit it wasn’t easy to pull myself away from Venice and explore its surroundings. But since my first visit to Padua, over 20 years ago, I’ve been enchanted by all I’ve discovered — from breathtaking masterpieces of art and architecture to transformational spa experiences, and elegant towns that aren’t overcrowded with tourists. To add to its appeal, extraordinary tastes, beloved worldwide, originated in the Veneto — including tiramisu and prosecco. Come with me and wonderful women in June, for Extra Golden Days in the Veneto: ForRead More →

Announcing – My story is a SOLAS Award Winner 2024! I’m stretched out on a lounge chair set on a rock on the island of Capri, staring atone of the world’s most beloved views: The faraglioni. Those white limestone formations, rising from the turquoise sea, have longinspired stories. The ancients believed that one-eyed giant Polyphemus, angered byhis father, God of the Sea Poseidon, threw these rocks down from the heavens.Homer wrote that sirens sang from them, luring sailors to their death. Odysseus,to escape their perils, ordered his men to put wax in their ears and tie him to his ship’s mast, so he could safelyRead More →

Over the past 12 years of hosting Golden Weeks in Italy, I’ve loved having Mothers and Daughters, Aunts and Nieces join in. Along with all the joys and deliciousness of Bell’Italia, when these women come along on Golden Weeks, they experience — Bonding Away from distractions of life back home, surrounded by warm Italian spirit and beauty, Golden Weeks become rich times for deepening family connections. Relaxing It’s so relaxing when details are all taken care of, there’s no stressing over “will it be okay?” and certainly no blaming mother-daughter-aunt-niece for making a travel mistake! Golden Weeks are all about having a fun-loving pro takeRead More →

December 13 — Feast of Saint Lucy Celebrate the Saint of Light and Sight, Italian Style Today is Saint Lucy’s Feast Day, where Hope comes to dark winter days The festa also brings me back to Siracusa, Sicily, and the island of Ortygia, where she is honored, along with other amazing females… Ortygia’s Duomo is built around the remains of a Greek Temple that honored the Goddess Athena, patron of Wisdom, Craftsmanship and Heroic Endeavors, who became Minerva to the Romans. Sprung from the head of Zeus, Athena was a real career goddess who did such great things as guide Odysseus home, think up theRead More →

Today, in Catholic tradition, is the Feast of the Annunciation, celebrating the day when the Angel Gabriel swept in and announced: THE DIVINE IS WITHIN YOU! Nine months later came Christmas. It’s no coincidence that both Florence and Venice chose March 25 as the date for their founding. Florence became a Republic in the 12th century, and traditionally celebrated their New Year on March 25, all the way up until the 18th century. This is still a day of grand parades and celebrations in the city. Venetians felt so connected to Mary that they chose the day to officially establish their Republic in 421AD.  TheyRead More →

Once spring is near, I start dreaming about Rome…and artichoke season. Here’s an excerpt from “Hungry for Italy”: “Order carciofi,” (pronounced car-CHO-fee), is what I tell travelers who ask for advice about Rome. Sure, you can run around oohing and aahing over the Forum, Colosseum, and Sistine Chapel, but for the True Roman Experience, you have to stop and taste the artichokes. From late February to early May, overflowing crates of these green and purple-tinged beauties from surrounding farmlands begin to appear in the Eternal City. Signoras in smocks sit in the open air Campo dei Fiori market, peeling Carciofi Romaneschi with their tiny knives, as if they’re made of butter. InRead More →

Happy International Women’s Day! All over Italy on March 8, this holiday is celebrated with mimosa flowers, given by men to the women in their life, or by women to their friends… It’s a global day to celebrate all female achievements–past, present, and future. Courageous women began it in the early 1900s, holding demonstrations for the right to vote and for equal pay and working conditions.  The Union of Italian Women officially declared March 8 Women’s Day in 1945.The scent of mimosas is everywhere, reminding us that spring is near… Girlfriends get together and have fun…and maybe get a little wild…with Mimosa cocktails… AND Mimosa cake… Every State-Owned Museum in Italy offersRead More →

With Valentine’s Day, thoughts turn to chocolate. Here’s an excerpt from “100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go” to help you find the best places for chocolate in Italy… “Let them eat chocolate,” was the kind proclamation of Madama Reale. The year was 1678. Madama Reale was thirty years old, widowed, with a boy to raise, and had become the ruler of the Piedmont region in northern Italy. She took her job seriously and carried on major beautiful changes to the city during her reign , continuing in the tradition her husband had began, remodeling the Palazzo Madama into pretty French style. In Madame Reale’s dayRead More →

It wasn’t my idea to design and host For Women Only Tours to Italy. Yes, I loved traveling there for decades, writing about Italy, going to Italy with family and girlfriends, arranging everything so we’d certainly have the most marvelous time. And I always loved meeting female travelers along the way, who, like me, were swept up in that fabulous magic Italy gives us women.All those women travelers and my own experiences inspired my first book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go. Then came The Surprise. During my book tour, after my presentations,  hands would fly up, and woman would ask: “Can we go withRead More →

The Legend of La Befana Sweep Away the Old Year, Italian Style According to Italian tradition, La Befana flies through the night sky on January 5 to sweep away all the troubles of the old year, and clear the way for a fresh start, the Epiphany on January 6. I’ll go along for that ride! Here’s an excerpt from my book of essays, Letters from Italy, about my experience of celebrating La Befana in Rome, years ago… Postcard from Rome: The Legend of La Befana* “There is no Santa Claus in Italy,” my Nana told me when I was a kid.I had nightmares of how awfulRead More →