Kimberly's Italy Travel

An entertaining drive from the quiet tranquility of Val d'Orcia into the booming mayhem of Rome during the busiest weekend of the last few years no doubt. It was memorable, as is everything in Rome is. I also share my first Travel Tip, which I learn from personal experiences. You will surely appreciate knowing what NOT to do!

An afternoon spent with my friend Paolo was beyond our wildest expectations: truffle hunting, visit and tasting at a family run cheese maker and yet another vineyard to top off what had already been an amazing morning in beautiful Tuscany. This region of Italy is famous for a reason because it's a feast for your eyes and your palate.

In April of this year we started this podcast to share our love of all things Italian. From our little island off the New England coast, our episodes have been downloaded in 61 countries. That proves the love for Italy runs deep around the world! We want to thank all of you in this Picolo Pezzo, for sharing Kimberly's Italy to your friends, families and colleagues. Grazie Millie amici!

A family run vineyard in Tuscany where there is as much art as great Brunello. The world just does not get much better than this. This road trip was so wonderful it is really hard to describe. Let us take you away, grab a glass of wine, sit down, close your eyes and let us take you to Toscana!

One of the highlights on the drive from Como to Tuscany included “the best paninno ever” from Italy's famed Auto Grills. A dream-like villa that we had all to ourselves (off season perk!) and a late night stroll through Montepulciano after a delightful dinner at the local osteria. Day one in Tuscany was as it should be – perfecto!

The first few days of my epic Italian road trip from north to south. 1970 kilometers, 26 hours total of driving, two different cars, several cappuccino stops and lots of laughs. Speeding tickets? Don't know yet! Part One is the first three days in Lago di Como with three women who had never been. Will they go back...Si!!!!!

Join us as we record harborside in Monopoli on the Adriatic Coast. We spent three days in Puglia based out of Monopoli staying in the historic district. The days and nights were filled with fabulous sights, great food, tasty wines and warm and friendly people!

I just escorted two groups to Italy over three and one half weeks. I was SO IMPRESSED how Italy was handling COVID! We have a lot to cover in the next couple months, lots of great stories about our trip to this wonderful country. Let's start!

Kimberly is in Italy on a three and a half week trip, From lake Como to Puglia. In this episode she interviews the owners of one of her favorite hotels in Lake Como, a renovated boat house. 

FINALLY, I’m off to Italy!!! I will be gone for three and a half weeks with two seperate groups of guests. I am basically going from Lake Como to Puglia. I’ll tell you where I am going and whom I’ll be meeting. We are travelling Covid safe, staying at small intimate places. ANDIAMO! 

Italians love to express themselves, and they love to "speak" with their hands. Kimberly explains her view of this wonderful habit and tells you where to watch on You Tube so you can become and expert! ( Hint: Marco in a Box)

Every nook and cranny of Venice holds a piece of history, and not just your average history of a 1200 year old city! Venice was built over water for one thing, and is also the lucky recipient of many cultural influences in architecture, art and cuisine. Walking around Venice at night is one of our favorite pastimes because you can absorb the history that much better in the quiet beauty of Venice w...

And for our third Piccolo Pezzo (Short Episode) we want to share with your a pasta recipe, because who doesn't love a new recipe? This is one of our easy and quick to make weekday recipes that make a boring Tuesday all that much better. Life is better with pasta, si?

Enchanting, alluring, magnificent Venice should be visited by everyone at least once in their life. It is unlike any other city in the world, but to really see all her beauty, you need to go off season. My first suggestion is to turn off your phone and just get lost! The maze of canals and footpaths will always lead you to a trattoria, where after a lingering and delicious Venetian lunch, you may...

We have a 10 minute interview with Luisa from Bergamo, Italy. She teaches Italian via Skype so you can watch her pronunciations on those very long words and see her hand gestures at the same time. They say Italian is 20% words and 80% hand gestures!

Our friend Conrado continues this second episode on his years in Lucca, and shares his favorite (meat laden) dishes, and where to find them. You will also hear about the month long music festival each July with an incredibly diverse range of musicians, performing outside in the Piazza de Napoleone no less.

We present Piccolo Pezzo, which are 5 to 10 minute “mini episodes”. We will upload these every other Tuesday, to fill in while you await our normal length episodes on the alternate Tuesday. Piccolo Pezzo (Small Pieces) will be random suggestions, travel tips, fun facts or just some Italian quirks that we want to share with you.

We interview our friend and former Lucca resident, Conrad Hunter. Lucca's medieval and Renaissance walls used to keep out invaders, now they keep out the sights and sounds of more modern day life. Walking through the car-free Lucca center is one of it's most cherished attributes. After a tasty Tuscan lunch you can walk or bike the entire perimeter of the city atop it's walls, and after dinner, wal...

For a perfect day trip from Firenze, we take you on back roads to the medieval village of San Gimignano. Besides the fourteen stone towers that frame the skyline of this teeny-car free village, there also happens to be perhaps the best gelateria in all of Italy! We also share where to find the 12th century castle that played a huge part in saving the heritage of Italy's Renaissance artwork.

Remember to follow us on Social Media! Grazie Mille! Instagram Facebook  In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso delve into the culinary landscape of Firenze, sharing insights on local cuisine, dining etiquette, and must-visit neighborhoods. They also explore the rich history and traditions that shape Florence’s unique food culture. Key Points: Florentine Food Culture: Sampling Italian food is like...

Remember to follow us on Social Media! Grazie Mille! Instagram Facebook  Kimberly and Tommaso kick off a two-part series about Florence (Firenze) Tuscany, sharing historical insights and personal experiences. They highlight iconic art and architecture and also discuss the city’s cultural pride. Key Points: Firenze is best explored off-season to avoid crowds. The Renaissance took shape in Italy in...

The Emerald Coast in Sardinia is nature at it's best. Blue-green waters with white sandy beaches, a dramatic rocky coastline, an archipelago of 7 islands and rocks that date back millions of years! It also happens to be one of Europe's most expensive playgrounds, but that's more in terms of the very large yachts and villas owned by those that want to take advantage of this beautiful area. We share...

We continue with our road trip to Cinque Terre from the Tuscan mountaintop village of Vezzanello. After the breathtaking hike above the five villages on the Ligurian coast, we return to the beautiful northwestern corner of Tuscany, which isn't quite as popular as other parts of the region. And that makes exploring the surrounding medieval villages all that much sweeter! Lets go!

We take you on a little road trip from the teeny Tuscan village of Vezzanello to Cinque Terre on the Ligurian Coast. However, first we share with you why you need to go to local festivals that celebrate just about anything, from mushrooms to snake catchers. Vezzanello and it's neighboring villages are gems where you may be the only tourist. How sweet is that? Then onto stunning Cinque Terre, where...

Hear about the stunning mountains that surround Lake Como, and all they have to offer. You can choose from a variety of trails: easy walking paths through medieval villages slightly above the lake, or more athletic hikes up to idyllic mountain accommodations that serve regional cuisine and the best night sleep you might ever have! A bird's eye view of the lake, fresh mountain air and alpine cuisin...