My Bella Vita Travel

26/03/2025

🌲✨The breathtaking Sila National Park is a natural paradise of towering pines and ancient forests. Hiking through the misty trails, breathing in the crisp mountain air, and admiring the intriguing evolution of this beautiful forest.

Have you explored the Sila National Park yet? 🌲👣

24/03/2025

La Sila National Park is the largest park and mountain range in Calabria. It expands into three provinces: Catanzaro (Sila Piccola), Cosenza (Sila Grande), and Crotone (Sila Greca).

On a nice day, is there anything better than getting outdoors and enjoying some fresh, clean air? And guess what? Sila is said to have the cleanest air in all of Europe!

Sila Grande offers lots of activities that you can do throughout the year. Here are some fun experiences you may want to include in your travel plans that are perfect during the warmer months. Traveling with kids? No worries, they’ll have a blast, too!

Sila National Park has lots of activities for the whole family. Try these fun experiences that are perfect during the warmer months.

23/03/2025

🇮🇹💛 Witnessing our guests reconnect with their ancestral roots in Calabria is pure magic. Walking the same streets their grandparents once did, meeting distant relatives, and feeling that deep sense of belonging—it’s more than a trip, it’s coming home. 🏡✨

Ready to rediscover your own history? Let’s make it happen! DM us to start your journey. 🌿❤️

22/03/2025

Choosing to spend your vacation in Calabria is just the first step in planning the perfect southern Italy vacation, here is my idea of a how to spend a perfect Spring day in my adopted hometown-Catanzaro.

Choosing to spend your vacation in Calabria is just the first step in planning the perfect southern Italy vacation, but between beaches and mountains, ruins and architecture, your options are downright daunting. Here is my idea of a how to spend a perfect Spring day in my adopted hometown-Catanzaro....

21/03/2025

Winding streets come alive with vibrant cascades of flowers and plants bursting with color. There’s something about these little tucked away corners bursting with flowers that make every stroll feel like stepping into a fairytale. Which hidden village is calling your name? 🌷🏡

20/03/2025

Happy First Day of Spring a tutti!

19/03/2025

Today is the Festa di San Giuseppe, or St. Joseph’s Day and there are so many people celebrating this special day. Let’s start with the Sicilians, who for many of them look at St. Joseph as their patron saint. You see, during the Middle Ages it is believed that St. Joseph saved Sicily from a severe famine.

Then we have all the people who are named Giuseppe or Giuseppina, and there are a lot of them, who are celebrating their namesake.

And last, but not least, all the dads and father figures are celebrated because the Festa di San Giuseppe is also Father’s Day in Italy. It makes sense since St. Joseph was Jesus’ foster father.

So, what do the Italians do to celebrate?

Eat, of course!

Throughout Italy, bakers are rolling up their sleeves to make traditional sweets that are connected to this festive day. Here’s a look at three sweets you’ll typically find in southern Italy. Although they are very similar, they all have something unique that ties them to their region.

Today is the Festa di San Giuseppe, or St. Joseph’s Day and there are so many people celebrating this special day. Let’s start with the Sicilians, who for many of them look at St. Joseph as their patron saint. You see, during the Middle Ages it is believed that St. Joseph saved Sicily from a [.....

19/03/2025

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! And Buon Onomastico to all of you named Giuseppe and Giuseppina! We are indulging in some of these delicious sweets today, would anyone like a zeppola?

19/03/2025

Buona Festa di San Giuseppe... Time for some zeppole 😋

18/03/2025

The South of Italy is often unfairly tied to mafia stereotypes, but those who visit know the real story—warm-hearted people, deep-rooted traditions, and a culture built on family, hospitality, and resilience. 💚🏡

Yes, history has its dark chapters, but the people of the South are writing a new one—one of pride, community, and a deep love for their land. You’ll find kindness, passion, and a spirit that refuses to be defined by the past. Come see for yourself! 💛

17/03/2025

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Buona Festa di San Patrizio!

☘ Did you know Irish and Italian immigrants frequently intermarried? By the 1940s, it became one of the most common cultural blends in America!
☘ From St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) to St. Joseph’s Day (March 19), Irish-Italian families celebrate a heritage full of love, faith, and family traditions.”
☘ Did you know that Robert De Niro has an Italian father and an Irish mother?

Do you have Irish-Italian heritage? Or would you just like to wander Ireland’s rolling emerald hills, explore timeless castles, and stroll through quaint villages?

We are working on a thoughtfully crafted journey that lets the true magic of this enchanting island unfold before your eyes!

Do you want to join us? We've had a lot of interest for this tour so send us a DM or comment below and we'll make sure you are the first to know about this special tour.

13/03/2025

We will be staying on the Riviera dei Cedri for part of our small group 2026 Food & Wine of Calabria tour.

Southern Italy boasts some of the most beautiful beaches and coastlines in Europe – perfect for sunning by the sea, enjoying a drive along the scenic coastal roads or finding that perfect hidden away village. Let me introduce you to this beautiful Calabrian coastline – Riviera dei Cedri.

Southern Italy boasts some of the most beautiful beaches and coastlines in Europe – perfect for sunning by the sea, enjoying a drive along the scenic coastal roads or finding that perfect hidden away village. Sicily has stunning beaches and the Amalfi Coast is home to some of the most famous vacat...

13/03/2025

Tucked away in the heart of Calabria, where time slows down and every stone street tells a story. Exploring these quaint villages feels like stepping into a dream—where laundry sways between ancient balconies, the scent of home-cooked meals drifts through the air, and the locals greet you like family. 🥖☕

Ready to taste the dolce vita? Join our next food & wine tour! DM for details! 💚🤍❤️

10/03/2025

Like most of southern Italy, Calabria has castles sprinkled throughout its medieval towns and villages. There are hundreds of them, some with barely a glimmer from their glory days, others remaining imposing monuments of their ancestors’ conquests.

Some you can enter, walk around and peer outwards from within their hollowed walls, while others are viewable only from the outside. Some are grand. Some are small. But they are all pretty damn remarkable.

Like most of southern Italy, Calabria has castles sprinkled throughout its medieval towns and villages. There are hundreds of them, some with barely a glimmer from their glory days, others remaining imposing monuments of their ancestors’ conquests. Some you can enter, walk around and peer outwards...

08/03/2025

Today is the Festa della Donna, or International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to women that is becoming recognized more and more across the globe.

If you don’t know what Women’s Day is, head on over to this blog post that explains its origins. As Valentine’s Day is famous for roses, Women’s Day is known for the Mimosa flower.

Today is the Festa della Donna, or International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to women that is becoming recognized more and more across the globe. If you don’t know what Women’s Day is, head on over to this blog post that explains its origins. As Valentine’s Day is famous for roses, Women’...

06/03/2025

Carnevale has come and gone and the Lenten season is in full swing. One of the Catholic traditions during this season is to abstain from meat on Fridays. This doesn’t mean you are sentenced to six weeks of grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese pizza. Oh no, my friends, Italian food was created for vegetarians. With the rich array of cheese, vegetables and pasta, there is no limit to what you can do senza carne.

Carnevale has come and gone and the Lenten season is in full swing. In case you missed it, I told my Facebook fans about my plan, not to give something up for Lent, but to spend a little time each day doing something for someone else. So … if YOU need something, just shoot me […]

05/03/2025

In the heart of Bari Vecchia, you'll find "La Via delle Orecchiette," where local nonne (grandmothers) can be found skillfully hand-rolling orecchiette pasta on wooden tables right outside their homes, keeping a centuries-old tradition alive.

We still have some spots open for our 2025 & 2026 Small Group Tours to Puglia - book a spot to discover this hidden gem of Southern Italy!

Puglia: Culture, Cuisine, and a Bit of Bella Vita

2025 Tour (Sept 6 - 12) : https://mybellavita.com/tour/puglia-culture-cuisine-and-a-bit-of-bella-vita/

2026 Tour (Sept 6 - 12) : https://mybellavita.com/tour/puglia-culture-cuisine-and-a-bit-of-bella-vita-2026/

05/03/2025

Has anyone ever been to Ischia?

This castle was once a refuge for islanders during pirate invasions (crazy right??)....today this medieval marvel invites visitors to wander through its ancient halls, explore secret tunnels, and even catch a romantic sunset over the Tyrrhenian Sea from its panoramic terraces!

Interested in visiting Ischia on your next trip to Italy? Message us, we'd love to help!

Aragonese Castle, off of Ischia Island, Italy.🇮🇹❤️