February 27, 2019
February 12, 2019
“There is no shortcut to an intimacy with Italy.” - Edith Wharton
January 29, 2019
If you view Ellis Island through an immigrants eyes, the vast majority ended up having a pretty good first day in America.
January 15, 2019
An Ellis Island Story, Part One: Those Who Came and Those Who StayedJust before Christmas, I went to New York City with my Italian cousins, Monica and Carlotta. They live in Rome and we are related through grandfathers who were […]
November 28, 2018
A Favorite Tuscan Holiday Treat!Simple to make, decadently delicious and No Sugar!This is one of the best-loved Tuscan desserts that are included in “la cucina povera,” the poor man’s kitchen. Many Tuscan specialties like gnocchi and polenta came from the […]
October 28, 2018
Notes from Our Recent ARIA TOUR...Day 1 - Within an hour of picking up our guests from the Florence airport, we welcomed them to our Villa, settled them into their rooms and treated everyone to a welcoming massage. Because we […]
October 11, 2018
Taken by itself, “luxury” can conjure up images of opulence, privilege and great expense. But in today’s consumer-driven society, a new definition of luxury is emerging, based more on experiences that enhance well-being, that have the power to transform us.What […]
October 4, 2018
When people tell me they do not like opera, I oftentimes sense their physical resistance, a pulling back from something unknown that might sweep them away. They are not wrong. Italian opera: dazzling, otherworldly, delirious, unrestrained glory….acrobatic performers masquerading […]
September 25, 2018
Choosing an Italy Tour That’s Right for YouTraveling to Italy can be a once-in-a-lifetime event. At the very least, it represents a significant investment of time, energy and money. If you have decided to join a tour group, I recommend […]
September 20, 2018
I grew up in the warm embrace of Italian grandparents, which meant all my senses were constantly being charmed to one degree or another. A deep connection was fashioned between the lyrical sounds and meaning of Italian words with […]
