When I started organizing culinary tours to Italy, I thought I knew what my role was. I would plan beautiful itineraries, introduce travelers to places they…

There are certain moments of the year in Italy that feel less like dates on a calendar and more like rituals. Christmas is one, of course….

If you have ever traveled through Italy and stumbled upon a small town filled with folding tables, food stands, music, strings of lights, and what seems…

If you happen to be visiting Italy in the middle of August, you may notice something unusual. Your favorite little shop is suddenly closed. The streets…

When people dream about Italy, they usually picture the rolling hills of Tuscany, the canals of Venice, or the dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast. Rarely…

Nearly thirty years ago, I picked up a copy of the book Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes. I was nineteen years old, had never been to…

There was a time when even I thought the more places I visited, the better the trip. Like many travelers, I believed that if I was…

One of the questions I’m often asked is, “How can I avoid looking like a tourist in Italy?” My answer usually surprises people. You don’t. At…

If there’s one lesson Italy has taught me over the years, it has very little to do with food. That may sound surprising coming from someone…