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We’re moving on to the region of Liguria, that enchanting crescent on Italy’s northwestern shore. Last spring, I spent a few dreamy days in Portovenere. The Romans believed that this spot is where the Goddess Venus rose from the sea. In early May, before the summer tourist crowds, it was heavenly. A lovely way to get there is by ferry from La Spezia, bobbing past fishing villages on the Gulf of the Poets, and then the Portovenere harbor appears…Click here for ferry schedule–the ride is about 45 minutes. Start your day with a buon capuccino at the Bar Lamia, right at the marina, where youRead More →

Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, is a gorgeous spot for relaxing and discovering charming towns. The jewel of them all is Sirmione, on a peninsula at the lake’s southern edge, surrounded by water on 3 sides. If you dash in for the day, or on a weekend in the summer tourist season, you may get turned off by the throngs of travelers. But if you wander away from il centro, and spend the night after the tourists have gone, you’ll experience paradise. The entrance to Sirmione is magical: you leave your car behind to enter this pedestrian-zoned town, and cross a moat that leads to the medieval Castello Scagliero. IfRead More →

For a beautiful experience of country life, check out Rowena Castelli’s Rubber Slippers in Italy blog. Rowena is originally from Hawaii, now enjoying life in the Province of Lecco, north of Milan, on the southeastern side of Lake Como. Her byline is, “You can take the girl out of the island, but you can’t take the island out of the girl.” Rowena’s posts lead us to discover off the beaten path spots around her home province and beyond, such as one of my recent favorites about a Sagra del Riso  in Valle Lomellina. She also gives great restaurant advice and her recipes are fab. “Go take aRead More →

I have loved traveling in Italy with Sandy Cutrone–we’ve explored and enjoyed delicious meals together in Abruzzo and Sardinia. Sandy is the award-winning President and founder of Vista Travel Consultants, a Virtuoso leisure travel agency and European Connection, a Specialty tour operator. She travels to Europe at least 10 times a year to keep her finger on the pulse of what’s happening, so her ideas and advice for hotels, restaurants, guides, and off the beaten path experiences are always current and exciting. Sandy has a great passion for Italy (her parents were born in the southern town of Caserta), and she brings her knowledge of history,Read More →

Star Meyer’s My Milan (Italy) blog is the perfect place to discover unique historic details of the city, find practical links, and get info on up to the minute happenings–such as her recent post about events to support the much needed restoration of Milan’s Duomo. Her passion for art shines through in her Milan posts–(she has a Ph.D. in art history)–and you may also enjoy her needlepoint blog, where she incorporates Italian art and architecture into her designs. She’s been living in Milan since 1996, works at the city’s Bagatti Valsecchi Museum, and teaches English at the John Peter Sloan School. I’m so grateful she’s joined in to giveRead More →

GOLDEN WEEK IN TUSCANY: For Women Only! NOVEMBER 3-10, 2012 Join Susan Van Allen, author of 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, for an inspiring adventure in the Tuscan countryside. Immerse yourself in breathtaking surroundings, celebrate the olive harvest, indulge your taste buds with delicious traditional food and wine, stroll through hilltop villages, stand awestruck before world famous masterpieces, shop for artisan treasures, relax in natural thermal springs. This Golden Week is a Harvest Gift of La Dolce Vita=the Sweet Life, custom-designed by Susan so that women can fully experience the rejuvenating pleasures of bell’Italia. You’ll join in with a small group ofRead More →

Elizabeth Condelli has a boundless passion for Italy, that has inspired her to create the wonderful website, Escape-Artists. Here she shares her knowledge of Italy’s cooking, culture, and traditions and offers travel consultations–whether you need assistance with luxury stays in the major cities or advice for off-the-beaten-track destinations. I love clicking through the dreamy videos of every region. When I saw Elizabeth last fall, just after she returned from Cremona, she was bursting with enthusiasm about her time there. I’m so grateful she’s joined in to share her take about this treasure: Five Reasons to Visit Cremona One might overlook the charming medieval town of Cremona, located in Lombardy’s CremonaRead More →

I was drawn like a magnet to the Patience blog (who doesn’t need Patience!) and am grateful to have virtually met its charming creator, Denise Soto Ferreira. Denise is a native of Portugal, who married an Italian and now lives in Milan. Her blog beautifully reflects her passion for life in Italy–with gorgeous photos, enticing recipes, musings and helpful info. When I asked Denise to choose one of her favorite spots for a Golden Day, Iseo Lake was her answer. Most travelers head to Lake Como when they’re in Lombardy, so I’m grateful for Denise’s excellent insider’s advice on this under-the-tourist-radar paradise: Located in the Franciacorta territory, Iseo is a picturesque lakeside town that goes backRead More →

The small town of Mantua is a gem of the Lombardy region–surrounded by lakes, with stunning Renaissance architecture from the days when the great Gonzaga family reigned here. Of its many palaces, most spectacular is Palazzo Ducale–a sprawling complex of courtyards and about 500 magnificent rooms. Have a Golden Day wandering around… The Hall of Tapestries… Zodiac Room… Camera degli Sposi (Bride’s Room) with beautiful Andrea Mantegna frescoes… It’s completely overwhelming. Which may be why what I find most enchanting in the Palazzo is tucked away on the ground floor: the tiny grotta and studiolo of Isabella d’Este==First Lady of the Renaissance. Isabella moved into the Palazzo in 1490, whenRead More →

It has been great fun to connect with Barbara Conelli, a writer who divides her time between New York and Milan. As she puts it, her mission is to “bring Fantastic Fearless Feminine Fun into women’s lives.” Barbara shares her passion for Milan in her book, Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita and is following that up with Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore. You can also listen to her delightful Radio Show AND Barbara’s Blog is a must click if you’re planning a visit to Milan–full of insider’s advice about everything from trattorias, to spas, gardens, and bookstores. I’m so grateful to have this expert join inRead More →