Roads Less Traveled Italy

30/10/2024

Well, I finally made it to Friuli Venezia-Giulia, in the far northeast corner of Italy. What an amazing place! For architecture, the city of Trieste is stunning. But you are also a train ride away from the lagoon town of Grado, where you can bike to a nature reserve and see pink flamingos, not to mention heading north to the Julian alps. Here, the mountains and lakes are stunning, and without the crowds of the Dolomites. In between the mountains and sea is the excellent wine region of the eastern hills. If you buy Pinot Grigio from Italy, it's almost guaranteed to be from here! We particularly loved Cividale del Friuli and were surprised by how pleasant the town of Gorizia was. One final stop not to miss is the ancient Roman town of Aquileia, with its stunning mosaics.

23/09/2024

Thinking about a trip to the Dolomites, while spending time away from the crowds? Here you go: Begin your journey in the picturesque town of Merano, where you can wander through the lush Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens, marveling at the diverse array of flora from around the world. Next, venture to the historic town of Vipiteno, known for its well-preserved medieval architecture, and be sure to coincide your visit with the annual Canaderli festival. Immerse yourself in the local culture, tasting traditional dumplings and watching lively music and dance performances. Continue your exploration by making your way to the stunning Val di Funes, where you can hike amidst the towering Odle Peaks, taking in the breathtaking vistas. Finally, spend several days on the Ritten plateau, traversing the network of trails and discovering charming villages along the way, each offering its own unique charm and natural beauty.

05/06/2024

If you're taking a trip to the Basilicata region, make sure to at least take a day trip to the towns of Castelmezzano and Pietrapertosa, in the middle of the Lucanian Dolomites. You may have heard of these towns, as they are connected by the Volo dell'Angelo: https://www.volodellangelo.com/ a jaw dropping zipline that goes between the two towns. However, if you aren't quite that much of an adrenaline ju**ie, there is also the new and strangely mysterious feeling Percorso Sette Pietre: https://www.basilicatadavedere.com/it/blog/item/59-percorso-sette-pietre a 2 km walk between the two towns placed with stone monoliths with attached sensors that play music and narration as you pass. We'll be checking this out in November when we're there.

15/03/2024

Looking for some truly off the beaten path spots not too far from Venice? Take advantage of Italy's great train system and head to the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. From the region's capital, Udine, you can easily take buses and trains up to the alps, down to the sea, and across to the eastern wine growing hills. And, of course, you can't miss the grand city of Trieste!

06/01/2024

Hey all - I had the honor of being featured in this week's Cascadia Daily News.

CDN's weekly community profile

16/12/2023

I'll be teaching again this Winter session at Whatcom Community College Continuing Education. If you or someone you know is thinking about how to travel off the beaten path to Italy and want to learn more, here are the details. Hope to see some of you there!

29/11/2023

Go way off the beaten path in Tuscany with a visit to the towns of the Lunigiana. Set in the hills where Tuscany meets Liguria, the Lunigiana is a land of castles, stele statues, caves, hot springs, and medieval villages. It is also crossed by the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage route that connected Rome to Canterbury. All of the villages are easily accessed by train and bus, with fabulous local cuisine and beautiful vistas around every corner. Pontremoli is a highlight, with its fascinating Museum of the Stele Statues (mysterious prehistoric sculptures). Walking or biking the area is a treat! I took the bus up the hill to Bagnone and then walked back down to Villafranca, thoroughly enjoying the quiet country lanes and tiny villages along the way.

20/10/2023

20/10/2023

Is it really possible to go off the beaten path in Rome? Well, a few weeks ago, my husband and I answered that question. Here are a few of the amazing things we saw, with few to no crowds around us: Perhaps Michelangelo's 2nd most famous sculpture, Moses, found in a small church in the Monti neighborhood, video & VR enhanced frescoes hidden underground at the Domus Aurea, the original frescoes from Casa di Livia, found at Palazzo Massimo, works of Caravaggio & Rafael in random churches and villas throughout the city. These were the things that really made our trip to Rome special!

17/06/2023

Next stop in my journey was the magnificent Portofino Peninsula. I stayed in Camogli, which I can suggest as the perfect base for the area. My apartment was up quite a few flights of stairs but left me with a stunning view! I honestly spent only a short time in Portofino itself, as it is extremely crowded with tourists from cruise ships. But the area easily rivals Cinque Terre for hiking, beaches and natural beauty, with many less crowds except for the above mentioned Portofino.

12/06/2023

The next stop on my trip was the Riviera di Ponente, the closest area in Liguria to France. What a great spot! Very few tourists but some of the cleanest beaches in Italy. Plus, some gorgeous medieval villages. Highlights included Cervo, Bordighera, Albenga, and the Infiorata of Diano Marina. Plus, I got to stay at an agriturismo with fabulous food that was in walking distance of the train station!

06/06/2023

Hey folks. I'm finally back to posting after taking a break to plan lots of off the beaten path adventures in Italy for clients this summer and fall. Right now I'm in Casale Monferrato in the south east corner of Piedmont. Beautiful hill towns growing grapes and rice...amazing risotto here! Today I head for Asti and some more wine tasting.

03/02/2023

For a different take on an Italian city, try Turin
A gem of a city, Turin has a bit of a French feel to it, influenced as it was by the Savoy dynasty. Here you will find some of the most beautiful piazze in all of Italy, filled with small shops and restaurants famous for such delicacies as Gianduiotto chocolates, Grisini breadsticks. Museums include an incredible interactive Cinema Museum and one of the premier Egyptian Museums in the world. Just outside of the city, the grandeur of the Savoy dynasty can be experienced at the many incredible royal residences that dot the countryside. And a bit farther afield, you'll find some of Italy's best wineries, not to mention the Western Alps!

06/01/2023

One of the most amazing things about traveling to Italy is the sheer scope of history on display there! Besides all of the breathtaking Roman structures, you'll be amazed at the huge variety of ancient history at your fingertips. Explore sights such as the Nuragic structures of Sardinia built as early as 1900 BCE, the Greek Amphitheatre at Siracusa, the Etruscan Necropoli at Tarquinia or one of Calabria’s many Aragonese castles. Speaking of castles, they are one of the highlights in Aosta Valley. For travelers passionate about Greek ruins, the temples at Paestum in Campania are a marvel!

30/12/2022

Just thinking about New Year's and the coming of 2023 - should be a great year for travel to Italy! Here's a fun story about Italian New Year's Eve traditions that you can (mostly) try at home: https://www.eventicapodanno.com/en/italian-new-years-eve-traditions/

See you all next year 🥳