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GOLDEN WEEK IN TUSCANY: For Women Only! NOVEMBER 3-10, 2012 Join Susan Van Allen, author of 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, for an inspiring adventure in the Tuscan countryside. Immerse yourself in breathtaking surroundings, celebrate the olive harvest, indulge your taste buds with delicious traditional food and wine, stroll through hilltop villages, stand awestruck before world famous masterpieces, shop for artisan treasures, relax in natural thermal springs. This Golden Week is a Harvest Gift of La Dolce Vita=the Sweet Life, custom-designed by Susan so that women can fully experience the rejuvenating pleasures of bell’Italia. You’ll join in with a small group ofRead More →

Elizabeth Condelli has a boundless passion for Italy, that has inspired her to create the wonderful website, Escape-Artists. Here she shares her knowledge of Italy’s cooking, culture, and traditions and offers travel consultations–whether you need assistance with luxury stays in the major cities or advice for off-the-beaten-track destinations. I love clicking through the dreamy videos of every region. When I saw Elizabeth last fall, just after she returned from Cremona, she was bursting with enthusiasm about her time there. I’m so grateful she’s joined in to share her take about this treasure: Five Reasons to Visit Cremona One might overlook the charming medieval town of Cremona, located in Lombardy’s CremonaRead More →

I was drawn like a magnet to the Patience blog (who doesn’t need Patience!) and am grateful to have virtually met its charming creator, Denise Soto Ferreira. Denise is a native of Portugal, who married an Italian and now lives in Milan. Her blog beautifully reflects her passion for life in Italy–with gorgeous photos, enticing recipes, musings and helpful info. When I asked Denise to choose one of her favorite spots for a Golden Day, Iseo Lake was her answer. Most travelers head to Lake Como when they’re in Lombardy, so I’m grateful for Denise’s excellent insider’s advice on this under-the-tourist-radar paradise: Located in the Franciacorta territory, Iseo is a picturesque lakeside town that goes backRead More →

The small town of Mantua is a gem of the Lombardy region–surrounded by lakes, with stunning Renaissance architecture from the days when the great Gonzaga family reigned here. Of its many palaces, most spectacular is Palazzo Ducale–a sprawling complex of courtyards and about 500 magnificent rooms. Have a Golden Day wandering around… The Hall of Tapestries… Zodiac Room… Camera degli Sposi (Bride’s Room) with beautiful Andrea Mantegna frescoes… It’s completely overwhelming. Which may be why what I find most enchanting in the Palazzo is tucked away on the ground floor: the tiny grotta and studiolo of Isabella d’Este==First Lady of the Renaissance. Isabella moved into the Palazzo in 1490, whenRead More →

It has been great fun to connect with Barbara Conelli, a writer who divides her time between New York and Milan. As she puts it, her mission is to “bring Fantastic Fearless Feminine Fun into women’s lives.” Barbara shares her passion for Milan in her book, Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita and is following that up with Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore. You can also listen to her delightful Radio Show AND Barbara’s Blog is a must click if you’re planning a visit to Milan–full of insider’s advice about everything from trattorias, to spas, gardens, and bookstores. I’m so grateful to have this expert join inRead More →

If you are anywhere near Milan, make plans to visit Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper. Sure, you’ve seen copies all over the place, but when you actually stand in the room with it, you’ll be astounded by how this Renaissance genius captured such a deep range of emotions in one of the Bible’s most dramatic moments: Immediately after Jesus makes the “One of you will betray me…” announcement. Also astounding is the fact that this mural has even survived. Always the experimenter, Da Vinci decided to try oil painting on dry wall, rather than follow the fresco style that everyone else was doing in the Renaissance. The result was disastorous–paint started peelingRead More →

Landing in the Fashion Capital of the World is a luxurious rush. If you’re like most travelers, (including me), a first visit starts at Milan’s gasp-inspiring   Duomo–a white marble Gothic wonder–the second largest church in the world. It’s worth it to take the elevator or steps to the rooftop where you’re surrounded by spires and statues. Down below in the magnificent Piazza Duomo, you’ll easily distinguish the tourists from the stylish Milanese–signoras gliding by you in furs, signors in impeccably tailored suits. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (the world’s oldest mall) will inevitably draw you in, and you can have a peek inside the first Prada store (foundedRead More →

One of the most wonderfully delicious times I’ve had in Italy was when my husband and I joined Arthur Schwartz’s Cook at Seliano group in Paestum. Arthur is a passionate expert when it comes to Italian cuisine—check out two of his many inspiring cookbooks: Naples at Table and The Southern Italian Table. It’s great fun to be around him and his co-host, Baronessa Cecilia Bellelli, who owns Tenuta Seliano, the agriturismo where the cooking vacation is based. Even if you’re not taking class, Tenuta Seliano is a perfect spot to relax in rural surroundings, eat very well, and explore Campania. Just a short walk away areRead More →

I always enjoy dinners with my friend Mary Sherman Indelli, where we trade stories of our Italian adventures. Mary has been in the travel biz for  over 35 years. She was inspired by her passion for her favorite country to create ItalyItalyItaly,  a company that offers customized tours in every region for groups or individuals. I envy Mary’s frequent research trips, where she hops around from countryside villas to boutique city hotels, checks out top wineries, cooking classes, and tour guides–and then comes home with loads of up-to-date contacts and experiences, so she can create itineraries that suit each client. “I always give travelers aRead More →

One stop before Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana train is Torre Annunziata, where you’ll discover Oplontis–an amazing villa where the Empress Poppea Sabina, (second wife of Nero) lived. She was  a high-maintenance woman, who insisted upon being carried about by mules shod with golden shoes, and needed to bathe daily in donkey milk, or as some say, the milk of 500 asses. Romans would come to relax in her villa, that was considered the suburbs of busy Pompeii.  Wandering about, through the salons, dining rooms, and interior gardens, you’ll get a feel of what life was like before the whole shebang got covered in lava inRead More →