This article originally appeared in the February/March 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Italy’s past and present passions collide around Lake Garda. Ancient thermal waters run into spa pools at ultra modern hotels. Ruins of Roman villas rest above the lake speckled with windsurfers chasing adrenaline under neon sails. Lago di Garda is the largest lake in Italy and touches the …
Casa Dreosti – Affordable Cortona Charm (February/March 2023)
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Casa Dreosti is a dream come true. “I was in Cortona 24 years ago as a tourist. I decided that day, that in the future I wanted to move to Cortona and live here. It is a place of history, art, food, and wine,” says Jeroen Janeke. Holding …
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 …
Members Only: Virtual Workshop – How to Plan an Extended Stay or Move to Italy
I was completely blown away by our two sessions for our How to Plan an Extended Stay or Move to Italy Virtual Workshop – which is a free bonus for all current paid members. Even if you are not sure if an extended stay or move to Italy is part of your future, do yourself a favor and watch the two …
Recipe: Patalani Family’s Fritelle di Riso
This article originally appeared in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Riccardo shared the Patalani family’s secret recipe for fritelle di riso with Dream of Italy. These sweet fried pastries are made only during Carnevale and can be found in pastry shops and cafes of Viareggio during this festive time. FOR THE PASTA CHOUX Ingredients -½ …
Spotlight on Locals: Meet the Patalani Siblings (December 2022/January 2023)
This article originally appeared in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. To learn more about Viareggio, check out Paola Vojnovic’s report here. The Patalani siblings hold tight to their Viareggio roots and sprinkle pieces of their city in their work. Roberta beautifies the art world with her play on light and darkness, and Riccardo runs a successful bakery …
Viareggio: A Pearl on the Tyrrhenian Sea (December 2022/January 2023)
This article originally appeared in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Known as the “Pearl of Versilia,” Viareggio is a seaside town located on the Tyrrhenian coast in the province of Lucca. While the history of the Versilia region (the territory named for the Versilia river, encompassing parts of the Lucca and Massa-Carrara provinces) goes back to …
What to See and Do in Molise (December 2022/January 2023)
This article originally appeared in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Scott and Meagan know what makes Molise truly special: the people. We asked the Holcombs to share some of their don’t-miss experiences. Based in Montagano, though he moves around with his bees in the summer, is Nazario Fania’s Miele del Molise. Rumor has it his honey, …
Taking a Chance on Molise (December 2022/January 2023)
This article originally appeared in the December 2022/January 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. An Italian expression remarks “Molise non esiste” meaning “Molise doesn’t exist.” Easy to miss at first, Molise is home to only about one percent of Italy’s population and is the country’s second-smallest region. Americans Meagan and Scott Holcomb took a chance on this special corner of …
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 …