This article originally appeared in the August/September 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. On Halloween of 2010, a spunky, sweet wire fox terrier who had been given the name “Freeway” by American Wire Fox Terrier Rescue flew into my arms and indelibly into my heart. Coming to me after the one-two punch of some losses in my life including the passing …
Travel Chat – June 19 – Regent Seven Seas Cruise Excursions, Small Town Puglia, Train Strikes and More
We just wrapped our second Travel Talk LIVE and covered important Italy topics and answered fun vacation questions before handing out some of our best prizes yet. We kicked off the night with Kathy’s Regent Seven Seas cruise updates and all the exciting (tentative) excursions she is planning on taking from Taormina to Turkey. We also covered off the beaten …
Poggio alla Sala: An Oasis in Montepulciano (June/July 2023)
This article originally appeared in the June/July 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Have you ever missed a place before you have even left? That’s how I felt at the end of my stay at the newly opened Precise Tale Poggio alla Sala in Montepulciano. I was among the first guests at this property that was purchased and completed revamped …
A Fido, Esempio Di Fedeltà (April/May 2023)
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. A stray dog born in 1941 in the Tuscan municipality of Borgo San Lorenzo, left a far reaching legacy of love and loyalty. A brickmaker named Carlo Soriani found the hound mix on the side of the road one night and took him home. He named him …
Blending Art and Wine at NostraVita (April/May 2023)
This article originally appeared in the April/May 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Wine connoisseurs are always looking for the next great discovery and this boutique winery fits the bill. NostraVita is so small they typically only accept guests by word of mouth. While visiting Tuscany with a group of wine-savvy friends, one of them arranged a tour and tasting …
Dream Day in Italy: Go Antiquing in Arezzo (February/March 2023)
This article originally appeared in the February/March 2023 issue of Dream of Italy. Visit the Tuscan town of Arezzo and prepare to be transported back in time at the Fiera Antiquaria in Piazza Grande. Browse vintage furniture, paintings, jewelry, kitchen gadgets, previously loved books and more. Holding the vintage champagne glasses in your hands, you can try to guess 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 …
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 …