Benvenuti! Welcome!

I’m so glad to have you here as we wander through sun-drenched vineyards and medieval hill towns, sink into the hum of bustling markets and Italian bars, and savor the simple beauty of Italian regional cuisine.

Here you’ll find insights into Italian hidden gems, practical travel advice to make the most of your trip, and books to take with you on your journey.

Whether you want to plan a vacation, recreate the tastes of Italy in your own kitchen, or lose yourself in a cozy mystery where food and intrigue intertwine, you have found your gateway to authentic Italy.

So come with me, as we step into the heart of Italy…

one bite, one page, and one journey at a time.

📖 Love a good mystery? Explore my cozy culinary mystery series set in Italy—perfect for food lovers and armchair travelers alike.

🍷 Planning a trip? Dig into my Italy travel guides filled with must-visit cities like Matera, Venice, Bologna, and Turin, along with underrated Italian villages such as Spello (where I lived for two years), Norcia, and Sulmona. No trip to Italy is complete without eating, so make sure to check out my guide on how to eat in Italy. Want windows onto more than Italy? In my Around the World section, you’ll find travel insights into Paris, Ghent, Bilbao, and so much more, all through the lens of a committed Italophile.

🇮🇹 Want a deeper experience in Italy? Join me in Puglia on my “Pen-Paper-Passport” tour, perfect for aspiring writers (no experience necessary!), life-long learners, and seekers of deeper travel. See if it’s for you by checking out my post on the boons of pushing against your comfort zone or go straight to Ciao Andiamo’s website (my travel partner who puts together the tour, while I lead the writing training) for the itinerary and sign-up.

🍝 Craving Italian flavors? Find authentic recipes inspired by traditional Italian kitchens from four secrets to an extraordinary ragu to bucatini alla amatriciana to Italy’s famous fried balls of rice.

✍️ Looking for storytelling and travel musings? Read the latest blog posts. And don’t forget to sign up for The Grapevine, so you’ll get once-monthly newsletter delivered into your email inbox, brimming with stories, deals, travel tips, recipes, and ideas for slow travel in Italy. As a welcome to the Grapevine, you’ll receive an e-copy of my bestselling novel set in Umbria, Santa Lucia. Just think! In moments, you can be transported to the beauty, the mystery, and the flavors of Italy.