The Perfect Walk After Lunch in Florence
While the light is still tender, we take our perfect post lunch walk. Down from Pian de Giullari, where Galileo lived there from 1631 till […]
Buon Ferragosto !
Italy wide, everyone today celebrates Ferragosto. This ancient festival — ” feriae Augustae” in Latin — was decreed a day of holiday throughout the Roman Empire to […]
Where am I going in September and October ?
I have so often written in these Travel Letters about this, but I can’t help myself. Despite living here nearly all of my life, the […]
Italy in the Fall
When the first pine nut falls from the Roman umbrella pine tree, I know that fall is on its way in Italy. Fall, when the […]
Twelve Days in Italy (“Pace e Bene”)
St. Frances of Assisi greeted his brothers with Pace e Bene. Peace and Be Well. Talking to you, my clients, during your travels, I hear you, […]
Longing for Italy
There are moments when I am not in Italy and when I am overwhelmed by a longing for it. As you review the photo essay […]
Rome in August
“Pronto Margherita ? “ “Si.” “Ciao, sono Claudio. Tu ad agosto non parti, vero ?” “No Claudio, non parto. Tu sai che per volonta’ mia […]
Happy New Year !
Happy New Year to our new friends and our old ones ! More than ever, in 2018 we are longing to share our Italy with […]
The Joy of Preparing for Italy
When I first begin working with our Ultimo service travelers, I give them what I require first when I plan my own trips : wonderful […]
Intensity of Flavors
When I have been away from Italy for more than a week or so, I am all the more struck by the differences on my […]
Primavera !
Spring is here ! In Rome, we are celebrating with vignarola, which is spring in your bowl, a combination of artichokes, peas, fava beans, spring […]
Italian Father’s Day
Italian Father’s Day falls today, in coincidence with the feast of Saint Joseph, an older dad whom it is nice to celebrate with various wonderful […]
Memories and Holidays : The Presepio
Everyone who celebrates Christmas has Christmas memories. Mine go back more than 40 years and are nearly all memories in Rome. And most of them […]
What makes an Insider’s Italy City Hotel ?
Perhaps it is easiest to explain by introducing you to one that has all of the criteria. It is smaller rather than larger. It is […]
It’s the Journey not the Arrival that Matters, Italo !
An announcement is made, while we’re en route, that the train will be delayed by 30 minutes to an hour. Alas, it hasn’t happened yet […]