This Editor’s Note originally appeared in the Winter 2026 issue of Dream of Italy. Members receive access to more than 190 back issues—if you’re not a member, join here.
I had such an incredible experience re-visiting the region of Le Marche last year. Why? Because I felt like I had been taken back in time to the Italy I fell in love with 30 years ago — the real, everyday Italy with almost no tourists in sight.
There are so many layers to this region and it would be impossible to capture them all, but this “highlights” article will give you a feel for the countryside, the coast, the natural wonders, the viniculture and so much more. Plus if you are looking for a place to buy real estate or to move to in Italy, you would be smart to consider Le Marche.
Across the Alps, contributing writer Kevin Raub takes us through the Valle d’Aosta, where Roman arches still frame the streets of city of Aosta and more than a hundred medieval castles crown rocky outcrops. Beneath the towering presence of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, he traces a culture shaped by altitude: bilingual traditions, fortified villages and a cuisine built on high-altitude living, from Fontina cheese aged in mountain caves to wines cultivated on steep terraces.
We spend a Dream Day in the Dolomites above Cortina d’Ampezzo, riding the cable car to Rifugio Scoiattoli, skiing along panoramic routes, sharing dinner at the mountain hut and descending by snowmobile under a dark alpine sky. On the back page, the story of the alpine folk song Quel Mazzolin di Fiori (“That Little Bouquet of Flowers”) that echoes through history.
The hot springs of Bagno Vignoni in Tuscany are a secret to many and a place to visit or re-visit to remind us of the powerful, healing powers of Italy both in terms of beauty and nature.
I always welcome your feedback, questions and comments, so feel free to reach out to me at kathy@dreamofitaly.com
—Kathy McCabe