Here’ll you find insights into Umbria, culled from living in Spello for two years, as detailed in my memoir Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center, which you can download right here or at your preferred marketplace here or you can find it on Amazon here. Buy it now to read about how our family of five abandoned life in the United States to clink glasses with local communists and join the village all-nighter decorating cobblestone streets with flower petals. You’ll also read about embarrassing language minefields and a serious summons to the mayor’s office. Ultimately, though, Il Bel Centro is the story of how travel can change you if you let it.

April 10, 2018

Piegaro, Umbria

April 10, 2018/ Michelle Damiani

On the Umbrian map for its history of glass-blowing and its celebration of the chestnut.

Where to stay: Colleen and Tom's L'Antica Vetreria is our favorite launching pad for travelers wanting easy access to both Umbria and Tuscany. The property is an old glass factory, and Colleen and Tom are veritable fonts of information on how that industry connected little Piegaro to both Venice and Orvieto. In addition, L'Antica Vetreria makes for a relaxing home base (the pool is marvelous), and a place where guests can bask in their hosts' knowledge and warmth. Jeep tours through the nearby celebrated vineyard of Montevibiano is a treat.

Michelle Damiani

Website for Michelle Damiani, author of Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center, the funny and heartfelt memoir of an American family living in Spello, as well as Santa Lucia, a page-turner set on the Umbria border.

Rumors. Romance. And more than a little espresso.

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Mother’s Day is my favorite holiday. I mean, how many days do we get to celebrate our role in the lives of others? Early in my parenting, I realized the specialness of this opportunity so we started celebrating Big Brother Day, Big Little Siste

I sent these photos of Gabe’s recent prom to my friend in Italy, who said “In queste foto vedo l’entusiasmo e la freschezza dei ragazzi che solo a questa età si può avere. Loro sono dei ragazzi, non sono ancora adulti,

My newest hobby? Thumbing through beloved “wanderlust reads”, curating a curriculum for my upcoming tour of the Italian Riviera, where we learn the art of how to “travel write to travel RIGHT.”

I’m collecting delicious

As my youngest rounds home plate on his junior year, I can’t help but remember how when he attended public school in Spello at age 5, he’d entertain himself by speaking Italian with a British accent to see if anyone noticed.

**Festival participant, speaking about “Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center”**

Featured speaker on panel discussing Romance for “Santa Lucia”

Visiting Umbria

Michelle Damiani

Rumors. Romance. And more than a little espresso.

Follow me on Instagram!