This article originally appeared in the June/July 2024 issue of Dream of Italy. Silence and illusions loom in the middle of the Sacro Bosco (“Sacred Wood”) of Bomarzo in the region of Lazio. In 1552, Pier Francesco “Vicino” Orsini created this labyrinth of walking paths and larger-than-life sculptures. Neptune, giant dragons, an enormous elephant and a sitting mermaid wait to greet you …
Sperlonga: Buried Treasure on the Tyrrhenian Coast (April/May 2024)
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2024 issue of Dream of Italy. On the Lazio coast between Rome and Naples, the small beach town of Sperlonga beckons history lovers with one of the region’s best-kept secrets: the ruins of a waterfront villa and grotto constructed for Emperor Tiberius around the 1st century B.C. Villa Tiberio, adored by archaeologists and art historians …
Dream Day in Italy: Exploring Rome’s Underground City of Water (April/May 2024)
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2024 issue of Dream of Italy. On any given day the scene around the Fontana di Trevi is crowded with thousands of tourists hoping to toss three coins into its waters. Legend says one coin will have you return to Rome, two coins will have you fall in love with an Italian and three will …
Italy’s Bellybutton (October/November 2023)
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Piazza San Rufo in Rieti has an offbeat claim to fame. Locals say that in this square, marked by a round, travertine monument sits the geographical center of Italy. The spot is labeled as “Umbilicus Italiae” or Italy’s bellybutton. Critics of the monument’s style claim it looks like a “caciotta” …
Travel Chat – April 13 – Lake Garda, Driving in Italy, Best Places to Live
We just completed our first ever Travel Talk Live and what a success it was! Sixty members tuned in for two hours packed of Italy travel tips and best practices. We discussed everything from how to bring your pets abroad to the best places to see in Puglia and Sicily this summer. We also cover citizenship topics, transfer services and …
The Beating Heart of Rome’s Testaccio (February/March 2023)
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. “This space is an example of a way of life that puts citizens’ needs first. It is, above all, a meeting place.” —Marco Pucci, olive farmer and 30th generation Roman You feel the real Rome in Testaccio. The real Italy. It is just one short bend in the …
Dream Day in Italy: Taste Porchetta in Ariccia (December 2022/January 2023)
This article originally appeared in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Ariccia, 35 minutes by train from Rome in the Castelli Romani, is known for its architectural works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and the historic palazzo-turned-art-museum of the noble Chigi family. But the main attraction is their roasted pork called porchetta. For decades, I have hyperbolically claimed …
Dream Day in Italy: Flight of the Angel Zipline (February/March 2022)
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2022 issue of Dream of Italy. I’ve had many incredible experiences and breathless adventures here in Italy, but by far the most thrilling and adrenaline pumping was getting strapped into a harness and rocketing across a 1,200-foot-deep gorge at 75 miles an hour. Truly the “flight of the angel,” as it is called. …
The Small But Essential Pleasures of Italy (October/November 2021)
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2021 issue of Dream of Italy. For me, dreaming of Italy—which is all I have done since my last visit there in October 2019—might not be what you would expect. Yes, there is the sublime cuisine and superb wine, but I write Italian cookbooks and can make dishes at home that remind me of la …
Dreaming of Italy Through Atmospheric Paintings
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2021 issue of Dream of Italy. The new TV special Dream of Italy: Travel, Transform and Thrive will also be airing on PBS stations as a pledge special to raise funds for public television. Actor Joe Mantegna joins me to co-host these breaks but because of the pandemic, we had to film virtually in private …