Umbrian Adventure

07/21/2024

We’ll be in Umbria for the Christmas season this December. Looking forward to visiting Gubbio and Assisi, hitting a small town festival, and search for the holiday spirit.

We’ll visit local artisans, have cappuccino in piazza, eat is beautiful hill towns and soak in the rhythm of Umbria.

06/16/2024

We’ll be in Umbria for Natale this year! Winter is the cozy season with warm fires and red wine. The landscape is still gorgeous, the food is still delicious and there are fewer crowds!

This trip is with an intimate group and we will be searching for that holiday spirit in hill town walled valley towns and markets.

Though this one is full, the next one could be yours. Umbria, Venice, Florence and soon - Sicily. PM me for details.

05/19/2024

Montefalco, always a favorite but with so many beautiful places to visit in Umbria it’s hard to choose a favorite. The Sagrantino calls to us.

04/18/2024

Working on details for the 2025 Umbrian Garden Adventure over coffee in my local piazza.

In America we sometimes have to work a bit to find those slower morning moments that are part of the Italian ritual. You have to find your own campo or piazza.

04/18/2024

Just came back from a Venetian Adventure with a great group of folks! We spent ten days wandering and exploring the neighborhoods, islands, meeting local artisans, being wowed by art, craft, history and food.

If anyone tells you that you can see Venice in a day, they have not seen Venice.

We’ll be headed back to Venice in fall/winter 2025. The timing is still evolving, but if you are intrigued, reach out.

04/18/2024

We just missed the opening of this season’s Biennale while we were in Venice but we did get to see some of the preparations. Nothing quite like Venice during the Biennale.

Jeffrey Gibson is the first Indigenous artist selected to have an exhibition in the US pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Here he discusses his ambivalence about the honour.

03/25/2024

A quick walk outside this morning with a macro lens shows how important it is to leave native plants standing through the winter. The insects that we invite during the warm months to our plants are currently using the dead stems of natives for overwintering as adults, larvae, or in their egg stage. The holes that they make in the stem are usually inconspicuous at around 1-3 millimeters wide. Some insect species also overwinter in leaf litter, bark, or under the ground.

01/24/2024

Often overlooked by travelers, Umbria offers a wealth of ancient walled cities, art, natural beauty and good food. We’re working on a June 2025 adventure in the Umbrian countryside.

Our adventures are small, slow tours that focus on the small towns, traditions and people that make this region special. We’ll have a home base in the hills and make day and half day trips into the hills and valleys, visiting artisans, local makers and cooks, all at an Italian pace. 🙂

Reach out for details.

01/18/2024

Our second tour of 2025 will be in Venice!
Adventures in Venice: A Venetian Christmas Card

The scenery and architecture of Venice is always beautiful, but even more so during the Christmas season when the canals are strung with lights and the Christmas markets are open. Join us in the heart of the Venetian lagoon for 10 days of music, markets, and magic.

We’ll base in a Venetian Ca’ (house) tucked away from the crush of tourists, but within easy walking to our destinations. Our adventure begins at the Marco Polo airport with a private water taxi taking us to our canal-side home for the week. During our stay we will wander like locals, cook at home, enjoy neighborhood restaurants and cafetiere, and visit places that illuminate the deep cultural significance of the most serene republic.

PM me for details!

01/17/2024

Our 2025 Adventures are percolating! The first will be in Umbria...

Join us in the green heart of Italy, enjoying its rolling hills, farm fields and ancient stone hill towns in search of the history, food, wine, and crafts people that make this often-overlooked agricultural region unique.

In late May/early June we are planning a 2-week Artisan Adventure in Umbria. Early summer is the perfect time to visit before the intense heat of summer sets in. Our hillside villa offers an infinity pool, shady oaks and quiet nooks for reading, writing, or getting lost in the views of the valley.We're a proponent of slow, sustainable travel that supports the local economy and moves to the rhythm of the places we visit. Step outside yourself and into the Italian countryside.

For details, private message me.