Paradise of Exiles

17/01/2025

Well, I don't know how much of an authority Tripadvisor is, but it has named Rome the world's top food destination. I'm not going to quibble. I love eating in Rome.

What do you think? Where in the world do you most like to eat?

Rome was named the top food destination of the year by Tripadvisor. Here's where to go to get a taste of the Eternal City’s best pasta, pizza, and gelato this year.

14/01/2025

Some thoughts as I walk by the lines one sees in Florence these days as a result of TikTok and Instagram influencers.

13/01/2025

Ciao amici! My friend Jeni Moretti runs Moretti Wine and Food Travel and creates unforgettable journeys in Italy.

Jeni and her husband are experts on Italian wine and their trips are planned around unique destinations they know well. They have a down-to-earth approach along with in-depth knowledge of wine, food, and Italy. I recommend their small group tours for unique adventures that promise soul-moving experiences at every turn. They do an amazing job and have frequently returning customers.

To see their offerings: https://www.morettiwinetravel.com/small-group-tours

10/01/2025

Pretty Pretty Florence ~~ Enjoying the lights and decorations while they still last. The most beautiful season in Florence is almost over. 😔 Can anyone name each of the streets (or any of them) in the photos?

09/01/2025

A typical scene on Via Tornabuoni.

What’s your preference, a 3-hour opera in a fancy theater or catching a few spontaneous opera songs in the street?

07/01/2025

Wow, Bolzano at Christmas is Super Fabulous!

The city’s Christmas market is famous. Located in Piazza Walther, the eighty wooden chalets sell only products made in South Tyrol. This really sets it apart, particularly for me as an American, coming from a country where Christmas is heavily commercialized.

Bolzano oozes authenticity. The attractive Tyrolean architecture was bedecked in Christmas gaiety, and we frequently came across stands selling glühwein and hot cider.

Go to my Substack to read (for free subscribers) my mini guide to Bolzano, including a fascinating museum, and a super cool place to stay reached by suspension cable car🤩
https://chandiwyant.substack.com/p/bolzano-christmas-on-steroids

07/01/2025

Over on a Facebook group called Visionary Village Italy, there's a post with this image and a blurb comparing the two places. The hundreds of comments showed strong reactions. Frustration was evident. Many clearly felt a strong need to "defend" either Italy or California. Some people even said they didn't care about history and art, so they didn't give Italy any points for having it!😧

From the amount of responses, this is a topic of surprising interest to many. There were a lot of Italians commenting in Italian so I decided to write my reply in Italian. I will add a translation of it here. My experience of the two places is just my personal experience-- coming from someone who DOES love history and art, and who also can't manage to give up California 😉

Vengo dalla splendida città di Santa Cruz sulla costa della California. La natura è stupefacente. Possiamo vedere balene e delfini e leoni marini e lontre, abbiamo foreste di sequoie che si trovano a un miglio dalla costa. Abbiamo una solida cultura del surf e le migliori onde per questo sport nel paese. E abbiamo molte fattorie biologiche e prodotti di alta qualità. Tuttavia, sono sempre stata sbalordita dalla bellezza e dal patrimonio dell'Italia da quando ho vissuto per la prima volta in Italia negli anni '80, quando avevo vent'anni. Sono diventata uno storico della Firenze del Quattrocento come risultato degli anni che ho vissuto a Firenze e il mio fascino per la sua storia. Ora vivo di nuovo a Firenze (part time) e sono ancora spesso stupita dalla bellezza e dal patrimonio culturale e artistico dell'Italia. Per me, come storico che ama l'arte, non c'è posto paragonabile all'Italia per queste cose. Ma sarò sempre una Californiana e non sono mai stata in grado di rinunciare completamente alla California. Sono d'accordo con Tiziano Cini sul clima. Ho vissuto in Medio Oriente, in India, in 3 paesi europei e in 4 stati degli Stati Uniti e posso affermare senza ombra di dubbio che il clima della California è il migliore al mondo. Ma è chiaro che per migliaia di anni di profonda storia ed eccellenza nell'arte, nessun posto può essere paragonato all'Italia.

I am from the beautiful city of Santa Cruz on the California coast. The nature is amazing. We can see whales and dolphins and sea lions and otters, we have redwood forests that are a mile off the coast. We have a strong surfing culture and the best surf waves in the country. And we have many organic farms and high quality produce. However, I have always been amazed by the beauty and patrimony of Italy since I first lived in Italy in the 1980s when I was in my 20s. I became a historian of fifteenth-century Florence as a result of my years living in Florence and my fascination with its history. Now I live in Florence again (part time) and am still frequently amazed by the beauty and the cultural and artistic heritage of Italy. For me, as someone who loves history and art, there is no place like Italy for these things. But I will always be a Californian and have never been able to give up California completely. I agree with Tiziano Cini on the climate. I have lived in the Middle East, India, 3 European countries and 4 US states and I can say without a doubt that California has the best climate in the world. But it is clear that for thousands of years of deep history and excellence in art, no place can compare to Italy.

07/01/2025

I LOVED Bolzano this time of year. I hadn't been there since the 1980s and OMG, Bolzano is Christmas on steroids. And there's the most fascinating museum there too. Read all about it on my free Substack article🤩

I mentioned in my post about romanticized ideas of moving to Italy that the bureaucracy is a monster who gleefully eats up your patience every time you produce more of it.

05/01/2025

Bringing you la bellezza di Firenze!

03/01/2025

The light show on the Ponte Vecchio is mesmerizing. They’ve done a fab job with it this year🤩👏🏼. How about a historic walk through Florence’s center at night with me? Discounted through January 😍 Message me here to sign up!

01/01/2025

Buon Anno e Tanti Auguri da Firenze🥂 What are your New Year’s plans or wishes related to Italy? Share in the comments! What place in Italy do you most want to visit in 2025?

01/01/2025

Florence New Year's fireworks, seen from my apartment.

27/12/2024

Venice at night in December. Che bellezza! 😍 One thing not to miss when in Venice is getting into the Grand Canal at night. Whether in a gondola or a private taxi boat.

26/12/2024

The island of Burano in the Venetian Lagoon looks like a place in a children’s story book. It’s renown has increased a lot due to Instagram & TikTok but this time of year it’s not overrun. My friend and I enjoyed lunch today at a trattoria here that still cares about quality, which I booked many weeks ago. Lots of people were being turned away. Authentic places in Venice are harder to come by these days and you’ve got to do some planning and booking ahead to experience them rather than ending up in tourist traps.

23/12/2024

The Ponte Vecchio definitely becomes the most beautiful bridge in the world at Christmas time. Guarda che Bellezza!😍

23/12/2024

One of my favorite places at Christmas time. The Sant'Ambrogio Market. Particularly joining the scene at the very local bar, doing the very local thing😅🍷🍷