Kimberly's Italy Travel

These two idyllic islands are just a short boat ride from Napoli, yet they seem worlds away from the mainland of the busy Amalfi Coast. Colorful fishing villages brighten your day, as does the abundant sunshine and crystal clear water. The joy of riding a scooter on these islands is hard to beat... you feel carefree and happy because you are soaking in the beauty, the tropical scents and the salty...

Stunning, lovely, lavish, and dazzling are just a few adjectives to describe the island of Capri. Because of it's beauty and allure, it gets quite crowded, therefore we share where to go and what to do, so you can see for yourself why it's attracted people for hundreds of years. Cruising the coastline in a motor boat is the best way to soak in all it's beauty, but that also allows perhaps one of t...

Right below the villages of the Amalfi Coast, lies the small but vibrant city of Salerno. Due to the abundance of sunshine and warm weather, the people of Salerno love to be outdoors and share their social lifestyle in what they call Movida – a late night stroll through the main piazzas that can last well into the morning on summer weekends. Salerno is also a major transportation hub that allows f...

In this episode we share the colorful details of three villages on the southern end of the Amalfi Coast. Ravello, perched high above the sea, has been called Italy's most romantic town. It's allure includes two famous villas that boast gardens unlike any you have ever seen. The teeny fishing village of Cetara takes credit for creating a pasta sauce from the anchovies they catch off their shores. V...

As we travel south from Positano, we take you to the smaller and sweet villages of Praiano and Conca dei Marini which are both a bit more tranquil, for those who want to be off the beaten path. We also tell you all about the village of Amalfi and why it makes me so happy! Loads of history, the spectacular duomo, the street food of Cuoppo Fritto, the limoncello and of course the “one of a kind” win...

Positano is a colorful village with the scent of lemons and flowers that fill every little side street you walk, and you walk a lot in Positano. Up and down, and then back up again. The view of the village as you arrive to it by the sea, takes your breath away. Walking up to the top of the village to look down at the Tyrrhenian Sea, also takes your breath away, because of both the beauty and the a...

The quintessential and dramatic Mediterranean landscape of the Amalfi Coast is hard to surpass. We continue with our introduction of this remarkable coastline from our previous episode, describing the topography dotted with lemon orchards, vineyards and idyllic villages. Kimberly also shares her first trip to the Amalfi Coast many years ago for a fashion shoot she did with a cast of characters fro...

One of the most stunning coastlines in the world lies just south of Napoli, and arriving there via the infamous Amalfi Coast Drive, is one of the more exhilarating drives in the world. You can leave it to a professional however, or take a boat instead. Either way, your entrance to this magnificent coastline will not be forgotten. The dramatic mountains, lush with vineyards and lemon orchards, drop...

As Italians celebrate 77 years of Liberation in April, we celebrate our first year of this podcast. Thanks to listeners in over 70 countries, and all our new virtual friends, we feel compelled to give a shout out to everyone who shared their critiques, compliments and humor with us during our inaugural year. And by the way, what took place on April 25th, 1945 in a random little village on Lake Com...

One Year Anniversary Newsflash and Thank You All!!!

The perfect last day, of the perfect Italian road trip. A full day in Rome that ticked off all that we wanted to see, do, taste, and smell (cheese and flower market). You could spend 2 weeks walking through Rome and still not see it all, but we did our best in just 4 days. Rome is filled with so much rich history and is so visually stimulating, that you just can't get enough! However, a lot of vis...

Starting with Augustus's Mausoleum from 28 BC, to the Ponte Fabricio from 62 BC, to Teatro Marcello finished in 13 BC makes you think twice about all that has taken place since. Walking across the Tiber River in 2021, on a bridge that was built 2083 years beforehand is not something you get to do every day. Several buildings, theaters, porticos and even the bridge that crosses the Tiber, are from...

What are the chances you run into your friends on a Saturday afternoon at the Roman Colosseum? Well, it happened and luckily our Milanese friend suggested a visit to her favorite building in the city, three layers of history, and centuries, on top of each other. A somewhat under the radar archeological gem just a 10 minute walk from the Colosseum. Basilica San Clemente was built in the 12th centur...

The day after the savory dinner Paolo prepared for 12 of us (previous episode), we sat down in the recording studio and discussed his trajectory in life that let him to where he is today. What a travel-filled path it was, filled with cuisines from around the world that influenced his skills in the kitchen. Most Italians have it in their DNA to be able to whip up a tasty pasta with whatever is in t...

Trailer to Episode 41

Having a world class Tuscan chef come to your home for a long weekend is both wonderful and intimidating. Italians love their food and are very opinionated about it (rightly so!), and each of them has their little nuances about ingredients and preparation. My friend Paulo who is from Tuscany was in the New York and Chicago doing a series of private dinners for clients he had met over the years in...

A trailer for our next episode.

It's a priceless experience to witness someone's first time in Rome. And how lucky my travel companions were with their first day being sunny, warm and with few crowds. I happily repeated my steps from just 10 days earlier, to show Tomasso the most impressive monuments, fountains and architectural wonders that make this city the treasure that it is. Not even an hour into our Roman adventure that m...

Our commute from Matera to Rome was similar to the script of the comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles. It was all due to a “sciopero” (strike) by the Airport Union Workers, but the long commute made for a very rewarding first evening in the Eternal City. We were treated like locals when we arrived at my go-to Roman ristorante where we feasted on endless courses of regional specialties. The first...

My second group of guests were also in complete awe of Matera, which is a testament to how bewitching this ancient city is. As you wander through Matera, you can not help but think of the millions of feet that have walked on those stone steps before you. All you need are sturdy sneakers to fully appreciate and relish this extraordinary place.

Driving on back roads in any country allows you to see more of the landscape, but this particular drive was the definition of off the beaten path! And the paths that we drove on led us from the olive orchards of Puglia to the most mountainous region in southern Italy, Basilicata, which is where the otherworldly city of Matera lies. There are not enough adjectives to describe Matera, but we try!

Befriending a local man at his shop in Monopoli, led to a private tour of his family's olive orchard and mill. If you like olive oil, you will love hearing about the experience we had. We have a new appreciation for this predominant staple in our kitchen, and to see it made in the traditional method used for thousands of years in Puglia, was a sweet and tasty treat!

“Each region in Italy is so diverse from the other, it's almost like being in a different country”. You may have heard this expression before, and it definitely rings true of Puglia. It's as if you drive over an invisible border, where all of a sudden the soil is a burnt orange color, thousand year old olive trees lean away from the sea breeze and the architecture of the villages perched on hillto...

Thanks to James Bond, you've probably all heard of Matera by now. However, it's more incredible in real life than the little movie snippet. It's quite extraordinary to stand in a cave dwelling carved into the rock over 7000 years ago. The people of Matera are proud of their heritage and are happy to share it with you.

A busy and awe inspiring few days in Rome consisted of miles and miles of walking each day, a 3 hour Vespa tour, repeat visits to an art filled caffe and late night strolls to Rome's most iconic cultural landmarks. It's such an phenomenal city that you feel the urge to see as much as you can each day, and night!