Category Archives: Explore Italy

A Local’s Guide to Salerno, Italy

Salerno marina

It is easy to write off the Amalfi Coast as too touristy. While there are several towns that are brimming with visitors, Salerno Italy just to the south is truly overlooked. When we finally visited the Amalfi Coast, it was love at first sight. And one of the most unexpected favorite parts of our trips […]

Discovering Sicily Off the Beaten Path

I have been to Sicily for long weekends before. That usually means flying into Palermo or Catania and quickly exploring one of the island’s two largest cities, then patting ourselves on the back, and heading back to Rome. However, this year I am determined to find the more unexplored sides of Sicily. I’ll be traveling […]

La Polledrara: Tranquil Agriturismo in the Rome Countryside

Pasquetta is “Little Easter.” Also known as Easter Monday, this is the day in Italy when you gather your friends and head to the countryside for a day of eating. The first day of spring may be marked on the calendar, but this is its unofficial start. But do you really think you need to go […]

How to Buy Museum Tickets (and Skip the Line) in Florence

Florence is one of my favorite day trips from Rome. It is only 1.5 hours away by train, which means that we can be in a completely different Italian city with very little coordination or planning. Which presents its own challenges… we sometimes cannot resist the temptation to travel to Florence on (very) short notice! […]

A Day Trip From Rome to Narni, the Center of Italy

At Latitude 42.516667 and Longitude 12.516667, Narni claims to be the center of Italy.  The small Umbrian town piles on itself, climbing a hillside overlooking a valley. The town’s location as the geographic center of Italy is approximate. Another town is fighting for the title. But Narni has an even better claim to fame – it is […]

Gelato University: A Masterclass in Gelato Making

“Oh. My. God.” I said, dumbfounded. “Gelato University is a REAL university?” But the proof was directly in front of me. The orderly rows of desks, piled with notes and calculators. Gelato University is very real, and just as spectacular as it sounds. Yes, there is a lecture hall but there is also (gloriously) a […]