Witty Tours Italy

26/04/2021

We are final back in a yellow zone, which means museums will slowly start opening again.
Which will you want to see first when you come to visit?

23/04/2021

Things I love about this country!

Today was a bit better as far as weather is concern. We got up to 21°c today and “kind“ of sunny. So glad is the end of April.
When the weather gets warmer Italians love to change their lunch options. No more vellutata, zuppa, or trippa. We start seeing more lighter sauces, loads of lemon or lemon zest, seafood pasta and salads.
Or my favorite Prosciutto con Mozzarella.
Prosciutto crudo or cured is Italians gift to the world. The word prosciutto is derived from Latin pro (before) + exsuctus, past participle of exsugere -to suck out the moisture.

A number of regions have their own variations of prosciutto, each with degrees of protected status, but the most prized are the Prosciutto di Parma PDO from the Emilia-Romagna region and the Prosciutto di San Daniele PDO from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Unlike Italian Speck, based on the South Tyrol region and also known as Speck Alto Adige PGI, which is also a dry-cured ham, prosciutto is not smoked

It’s Flavorful, slightly salty, and could be eaten alone, in a sandwich or occasionally in a cooked dish.
It’s great for an aperitivo, lunch or light dinner.
Italians love as a dish for the summer with mozzarella or melon. That sweet and salty combo. A bit of bread and you have the perfect plate to remind you that warmer days are coming and life is about to get better.

21/04/2021

Looking fabulous at your age!

Did you know that today is the birthday of Rome?
2774th birthday to be exact.

We’ve celebrated April 21 as the foundation of the city. But it depending on who you talk to it could also be the 20th of April or perhaps another day.

As for the year of Rome’s birth, contemporary historians pegged it as 753 BC. Even though archaeologists have found traces of much older settlements on the Palatine Hill and surrounding areas, we still acknowledge 753 BC, let’s keep it simple.

Writing in the 1st century BC, Marcus Terentius Varro identified April 21st from the records available and set it as the starting point of Roman calendar, years were afterwards measured ab urbe condita, or ‘from the founding of the city’, making 753 BC the year AUC 1.
So not only according to the Roman calendar are we in year 2774 and not 2021, the Romans thought they were so important the start of their calendar was the year of their foundation.

Oh how we love Roma!

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16/04/2021

“If I could hang this in my living room, I would. Welcome to Art History101”

Those were the first words my first Art history professor said to the class on our first day.

I thought she was crazy. Why would anyone want this violent scene in their living room?

Then she told us her dogs were called Michelangelo and Caravaggio. In hindsight this would all make sense.

And soon this crazy women with two dogs that must have had a very hard time being called by her every time, would soon change my life.

This professor of art history filled me with passion, curiosity, a desire to learn and a life path. I will forever be grateful.

A year later I moved to Rome and the rest was, well, History.

Degrees, stories, years of experience later, I hope that I deliver that same passion, fire and love that she gave me, to my clients while on tour.

Finally I saw that violent painting in person:
“Judith Beheading Holofernes” /“Giuditta e Oloferne” painted by Michelangelo Merisi better know as Caravaggio 1598-99 located at Palazzo Barberini, And I was in awe.

You know what, I’d put this in my living room as well.

14/04/2021

This weeks virtual tours

Thursday, April, 15th at 6pm EDT
“Marocchinate And the women who suffered”
We honor, and remember the sacrifice of the Ciociare mothers, who had to defend the honor and life of their daughters from the brutality of troops during World War II, that of all the mothers who in every place have seen their children fall to war.
This chat is not subtle for children, as it covers violent discussion.

Friday, April 16th, 6PM EDT
“Cucina Povera”
From the beginning of Rome’s history food has been the center of everyday life. See how the peasant dishes over the centuries have become deeply rooted into Roman cuisine even today.

Saturday April 17th & Sunday April 18th
Pasta making classes! Each class is different, new recipes and fun.
To book DM here or email [email protected]

07/04/2021

Great timing for this article. Tomorrow night we will be offering a virtual tour about Lavina Fontana in Rome.
For those of you in Virginia you can see her work first hand.

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced their recent acquisition of Portrait of a Lady (1585) by Lavinia Fontana (1552-1614), a celebrated woman artist from Bologna.

06/04/2021

Today is Carbonare day. Don’t make us cry here in Italy today!

Hi friends from UK, USA, Australia, France, Spain, Sweden… all over the world. This is an urgent appello to all of you from fazzoletti Tempo in Italy. Everyday Italians cry. Because they see your ricette di carbonara on Facebook. Bacon?? Piselli? Funghi???! Panna? Ma all the life pecorino, guanciale, uovo, pepe… We are tired of asciugare tears of zii, nonni, mamme e papà. Even little children ☹ So please, stop rovinare carbonara.
And remember: NEVER add cream, la panna, to your carbonara. Please, don’t make an Italian cry. Soprattutto una nonna.

30/03/2021

Today is !

While you can’t take photos like this one quite yet, it doesn’t mean you can’t discover the extensive history of the beautiful city of Rome!

I’m taking the strongest of COVID precautions by offering you of Rome, from the comfort of your couch!

You can book a tour via EventBrite, available at my link in bio.

The April virtual tour schedule launches this Thursday!

26/03/2021

Hi there! 👋🏼

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Do you love watching cooking shows? What if I told you that you could learn how to cook a new, authentic Italian pasta dish every Saturday and Sunday, like the one pictured?

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This is much easier than it sounds. You purchase a virtual tour for the designated date, and I send you a recipe list of items to purchase beforehand.

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The best part? Unlike watching a cooking show on your TV, this is LIVE. I cook the dish with you, guiding you from start to finish and answering questions along the way.

Join me for a weekly pasta making class every Saturday and Sunday. Please be sure to book your tour at least 6 hours in advance!

Link in bio to book a tour. Space is limited!

25/03/2021

At the Colosseum, Romans were given free entrance. Spectators were given numbered pottery shards as tickets. These indicted the appropriate sections and rows, according to ones social status. Women and slaves were at the top, and there were 76 entrances for spectators, with four reserved for the emperors, patricians, visiting dignitaries and vestal virgins.

The Coloseeum is not the only Roman amphitheater, but it just happens to be the largest. The name is Greek for “theatre with seats on all sides,” but have you ever wonder why the structure is filled with holes? The Colosseum was built from travertine stone and tufa because Ron clamps were to hold the stone together. The other side would have been impressive, covered in marble and niches filled with statues.

Want to learn more? Join my Roman Forum/Colosseum virtual tour tomorrow, March 26! Book a tour today. Space is limited.

23/03/2021

Happy !

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While Italy isn’t yet open to tourists via plane, I’d like to welcome you with open arms via virtual tour!

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Travel Rome from the comfort of your couch. Booking a virtual tour with me is easy! Just go to the link in my bio and book via EventBrite!

I can help you cure that wanderlust! 😁

19/03/2021

Women’s history month is almost over! How have you celebrated?

If you missed out on International Women’s Day (May 8), don’t fret. I’m hosting a Women’s Tour on March 25.

When one thinks of Rome, they often think of emperors, popes, generals. The common factor: Men.

But what about the wives of the emperors, the mothers of famous politicians, female artists, and so many more influential women?

I want to share the stories of powerful women in order to encourage and create a dialog to better understand what it means to be a woman, both now and in Rome’s past. Learn all about the fabulous women that have helped create Rome.

Join me on my Women’s Tour next Thursday, March 25! Book your tour today. Space is limited.

18/03/2021

You might not know this, but the Jewish people have a storied history in Italy.

The Jewish Ghetto Synagogue is the largest synagogue of Rome. Over 13,000 Roman Jews live in the city currently, but the Jewish community of Rome goes back thousands of years, all the way back to 2nd century BC due to an alliance with Judea under the leadership of Judah Maccabaeus and Rome.

On April 13 1986, Pope John Paul II made an unexpected visit to the Great Synagogue, which marked the first known visit by a Pope since the early history of the Roman Catholic Church.

Want to learn more? Join my Jewish Ghetto virtual tour on March 19! Book a tour today. Space is limited.

16/03/2021

Happy !

✈️
While my fair country of Italy isn’t yet open to tourists via plane to see sights like this in person, I’d like to welcome you with open arms via virtual tour!

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Booking a virtual tour with me is easy! Just go to the link in my bio and book via EventBrite!

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Travel through Rome’s famed — and not so famed — history from the comfort of your couch and cure that wanderlust!

15/03/2021

Hi, I'm Jeannette! I'm an authorized Roman tour guide and the virtual guide behind Witty Tours Italy. Do you have a case of the ?

Join one of my to cure a case of

Buckle up your (virtual) seat belt, you're in for quite a ride! No plane or passport needed—just an hour of wit, wisdom and all that Rome has to offer!

I guarantee a tour of Rome that's COVID compliant: Just sit on your sofa and enjoy a fun hour of history, culture and food from one of the greatest cities in the world!

Check out this month's schedule at
wittytoursitaly.com

12/03/2021

It's almost the weekend! What better way to celebrate, than with some freshly made pasta? 🍝🍝🍝

Have you signed up for one of my weekend pasta making classes yet? A different dish every class! Sign up before classes fill up—space is limited!

12/03/2021

10/03/2021

Ever been curious about one of Rome's most famed buildings, St. Peter's Basilica? Join my this Friday, March 12!

08/03/2021

Happy ! 👯‍♀️

Looking for an interesting way to commemorate? Join me this week for a few tours that celebrate Roman women and all they've accomplished throughout history!

I will be hosting a special virtual tour TODAY to discuss 10 women who did what they wanted, said no when needed to and created their own paths.

Today at 5pm ET/ 11pm Roman time.
To book, email me at [email protected]!

And on Thursday, 03/11, the virtual tour topic will be all about Her Renaissance. Curious to learn more? Sign up today! Space is limited.

08/03/2021

“For most of History, Anonymous was a woman” -Virginia Wolf

We at Witty Tours Italy believe that Women’s history is just as important as any history. Working with some amazing feminists from around the world who also focus on Womens history tours, we created a video to embrace, support and share our stories.

We as women have a voice. Let’s empower that voice so that we continue to be heard.

Share these stories, tell us what you think, and save this video so that you remember there are companies that support the stories of great women throughout history, around the world, in all languages.

Happy International Women’s Day! Continue to be courageous and amazing.

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de New York,🇺🇸
de France 🇫🇷bsas de Buenos Aires, Argentina 🇦🇷
de Roma, Italia 🇮🇹
de Washington🇺🇸
de Spain 🇪🇸

05/03/2021

Wondering what is covered in a ?

Today's tour (at 6pm EST) about "Roman Architecture" will touch on Trajans Market.

Constructed on three different levels into the terraced hillside behind it, access to the various parts was provided via connecting staircases.

The ground level shallow alcoves opened onto a street and were used for small shops, with even more shops in the arcades above.

The buildings are largely constructed using concrete and faced with brick, and it is one of the finest examples of Imperial roman architecture that uses these materials.

But how does this all relate to Roman architecture? You'll have to sign up for tonight's virtual tour to find out!

Sign up via our EventBrite page! Space is limited.

04/03/2021

💻 What does a with me look like, from my end? A little like this!

✈️ I'm an authorized in Rome, but I've evolved during the times of COVID, to make tours safe for you.

🇮🇹 The key to a Witty Tour (besides me, obviously. Ha!) is all in the history. Each tour includes a visual glimpse into Rome, whether it be its architecture, its food, its culture or its people. Explore more on one of my tours and ask questions—I love questions!

03/03/2021

Have you been wondering how exactly to book a spot on one of my Witty Tours? The EventBrite page is now live with March's tours! Now it's easier than ever to travel from the comfort of your couch. Book a tour today! Space is limited.

Tour Rome from the comfort of your couch with a one-hour virtual tour!

01/03/2021

The March virtual tour schedule is live! In honor of , our tours have a bit of a feminine touch. From Women in to her Renaissance, explore the many sides of with me! ⁠
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And, as always, making classes are every Saturday and Sunday. A different dish every class! Join me for some wit, some wisdom and a Roman adventure that will cure your !⁠
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26/02/2021