Michelle Damiani
  • Il Bel Centro Santa Lucia Series The Road Taken
  • Spello Visiting Umbria Travel in Italy Around the World
  • Coaching
  • Blog
  • About
  • Gabe's Blog Food and Drink Books and Movies Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
Michelle Damiani
  • Books/
    • Il Bel Centro
    • Santa Lucia Series
    • The Road Taken
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • Coaching/
  • Blog/
  • About/
  • What I Love/
    • Gabe's Blog
    • Food and Drink
    • Books and Movies
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
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Michelle Damiani

writing with Italy at heart

Blog

The continuation of our journey.

Michelle Damiani
  • Books/
    • Il Bel Centro
    • Santa Lucia Series
    • The Road Taken
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • Coaching/
  • Blog/
  • About/
  • What I Love/
    • Gabe's Blog
    • Food and Drink
    • Books and Movies
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas

Chronicling our return home from a year in Umbria and the preparations for our around-the-world journey.

November 14, 2018

Gifts for Italy-Lovers, from Simple to Spectacular

November 14, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Gifts for Italy-Lovers, from Simple to Spectacular

This year I offer eight highly-curated gift ideas for the Italophile on your list, with variations to create a thoughtful present for any budget. If you have a loved one who has a passion for food, wine, history, art, or more—you’ll find a worthy gift idea here.

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November 14, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ 4 Comments
blog, Gift Guide
Gifts, Italy, travel, Gift Guide
  • Books/
    • Il Bel Centro
    • Santa Lucia Series
    • The Road Taken
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • Coaching/
  • Blog/
  • About/
  • What I Love/
    • Gabe's Blog
    • Food and Drink
    • Books and Movies
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas

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. 

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The Silent Madonna: Book Two of the Santa Lucia Series

A ruined castle. A town picking up the pieces. And a mysterious stranger who could change everything.

The Road Taken: How to Dream, Plan, and Live Your Family Adventure Abroad

Loaded with inspiration and practicality, “The Road Taken” will set your feet on the path to your family dream, and show you how to make it happen. Because you owe it to yourself and your family to consider discovering the world together.

Santa Lucia: Book One of the Santa Lucia Series

Santa Lucia is the contemporary saga of an Italian town on the brink of change, and the villagers that call it home. Awarded a place in the 25th annual Virginia Festival of the Book

Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center
By Michelle Damiani

A year in Umbria transforms an American family. Read how it all began. Did you finish IBC and want to know what happened next? Get the FREE Epilogue by clicking the button below! Awarded a place in the 2016 Virginia Festival of the Book

Free Epilogue
Featured speaker on panel discussing Romance for “Santa Lucia”

Featured speaker on panel discussing Romance for “Santa Lucia”

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You’ve heard it here first! My novel series takes place in fictional Santa Lucia. But I’ll set my spin off series in...Bologna! In the next few days I’ll post my fave Bologna photos so you can see why I chose this magical city. This fishmonger agrees, what do you think? . . . . . #italy #italytravel #igers_italy #familytravel #familyadventures #exploremore #exploremoretogether #italy🇮🇹 #italyiloveyou #travelblogger #travelbloggers #documentyourdays #passportlife #italylife #wonderful_places #italydestinations #bologna #bolognaitaly #emiliaromagna #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram
You’ve heard it here first! My novel series takes place in fictional Santa Lucia. But I’ll set my spin off series in...Bologna! In the next few days I’ll post my fave Bologna photos so you can see why I chose this magical city. This fishmonger agrees, what do you think? . . . . . #italy #italytravel #igers_italy #familytravel #familyadventures #exploremore #exploremoretogether #italy🇮🇹 #italyiloveyou #travelblogger #travelbloggers #documentyourdays #passportlife #italylife #wonderful_places #italydestinations #bologna #bolognaitaly #emiliaromagna #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram
My son is 21 years old today. In the wink of a coin into the Trevi fountain he has transformed from this little boy on his first trip to Italy obsessed with good pasta to a man who this summer went to the Biennale in Venice with his girlfriend. And who is still a little bit obsessed with good pasta. I guess that part hasn’t changed. Neither has his adventurous spirit, razor-sharp humor, and fierce capacity to love. Happy Birthday, Nicolas. May the years ahead be full of new doors to open, new languages to learn, new art to explore, and new horizons to embrace. Thank you for 21 incredible years. . . . . . #familytravel #familytravels #travelmemories #passportready #travelingfamily #travelers #wanderlust #traveldeeper #traveltogether #familylife #familyinspiration
My son is 21 years old today. In the wink of a coin into the Trevi fountain he has transformed from this little boy on his first trip to Italy obsessed with good pasta to a man who this summer went to the Biennale in Venice with his girlfriend. And who is still a little bit obsessed with good pasta. I guess that part hasn’t changed. Neither has his adventurous spirit, razor-sharp humor, and fierce capacity to love. Happy Birthday, Nicolas. May the years ahead be full of new doors to open, new languages to learn, new art to explore, and new horizons to embrace. Thank you for 21 incredible years. . . . . . #familytravel #familytravels #travelmemories #passportready #travelingfamily #travelers #wanderlust #traveldeeper #traveltogether #familylife #familyinspiration
The Bay of #Naples boasts many treasures... one of which is this hot spring found on the island of #ischia. . . . . . #italy #italytravel #igers_italy #familytravel #familyadventures #exploremore #exploremoretogether #beachbaby #hotsprings #italy🇮🇹 #italyiloveyou #travelblogger #travelbloggers #documentyourdays #passportlife #familieswhotravel #italylife #islandtime #takethekids #travelmemories
The Bay of #Naples boasts many treasures... one of which is this hot spring found on the island of #ischia. . . . . . #italy #italytravel #igers_italy #familytravel #familyadventures #exploremore #exploremoretogether #beachbaby #hotsprings #italy🇮🇹 #italyiloveyou #travelblogger #travelbloggers #documentyourdays #passportlife #familieswhotravel #italylife #islandtime #takethekids #travelmemories
No matter where we go in the world, this will always be home. . . . . . #spello #umbria #umbriainunoscatto #umbriacuoreverde #ig_umbria #italy #volgoumbria_ #volgoumbria #volgoitalia #exploremore #travel #travelblogger #travelblogging #travelbloggers #travelbloggerslife #travelwriter #travelwriting #traveling #travelgram #italiantourism #italy🇮🇹 #italytravel
No matter where we go in the world, this will always be home. . . . . . #spello #umbria #umbriainunoscatto #umbriacuoreverde #ig_umbria #italy #volgoumbria_ #volgoumbria #volgoitalia #exploremore #travel #travelblogger #travelblogging #travelbloggers #travelbloggerslife #travelwriter #travelwriting #traveling #travelgram #italiantourism #italy🇮🇹 #italytravel
This is a sponge. But sometimes a sponge is not just a sponge. You see, when we returned from our year in Italy, we started hiring someone to clean our house. Felt great, even though that feeling of walking into our spotless house lasted approximately 45 seconds (parents, I know you feel me). When we committed to our upcoming trip around the world, we realized the time had come to pinch the pennies again. Now every weekend we all clean the house together. My job is the kitchen, and the whole time I’m cleaning I’m thinking about Scotland, Sarajevo, Tokyo… or wherever my mind wanders. The last step of cleaning the kitchen is to replace the sponge. Today I realized that we have fewer sponges left than we have combined fingers and thumbs in our family before we leap off into the arms of our next adventure. One more Costco run for sponges, max. One more, and we’ll be off. Sometimes  a sponge is not just a sponge. . . . . . #familygoals #travelfam #travelfamily #travelwithteens #exploremore #documentyourdays #travelwithkids #adventurefamily
This is a sponge. But sometimes a sponge is not just a sponge. You see, when we returned from our year in Italy, we started hiring someone to clean our house. Felt great, even though that feeling of walking into our spotless house lasted approximately 45 seconds (parents, I know you feel me). When we committed to our upcoming trip around the world, we realized the time had come to pinch the pennies again. Now every weekend we all clean the house together. My job is the kitchen, and the whole time I’m cleaning I’m thinking about Scotland, Sarajevo, Tokyo… or wherever my mind wanders. The last step of cleaning the kitchen is to replace the sponge. Today I realized that we have fewer sponges left than we have combined fingers and thumbs in our family before we leap off into the arms of our next adventure. One more Costco run for sponges, max. One more, and we’ll be off. Sometimes  a sponge is not just a sponge. . . . . . #familygoals #travelfam #travelfamily #travelwithteens #exploremore #documentyourdays #travelwithkids #adventurefamily
We had our own vendemmia in #Cville today! Picked our muscadine grapes, made juice, and then jelly (recipe on my FB page, Michelle Damiani, author). What fun! . . . . . #bloomwhereyouareplanted #harvest #familytime #virginia #backyardgarden #ediblelandscape #familyfun #autumnharvest
I love finding niche things to do that embody a sense of place. Especially when they involve snacks. We’ve been coming to polo matches at @KingFamilyVineyards for years now, love the thrill of the game, the lawn sports during breaks, and did I mention snacks? How do you find local activities when you travel? . . . . . #crozet #virginia #virginiawine #polo #familytravel #familyadventures #exploremore #travelwithkids #familytravels #familyfun #familyforlife #charlottesville #rosewine #adventurefamily #getoutside #lawngames
I love finding niche things to do that embody a sense of place. Especially when they involve snacks. We’ve been coming to polo matches at @KingFamilyVineyards for years now, love the thrill of the game, the lawn sports during breaks, and did I mention snacks? How do you find local activities when you travel? . . . . . #crozet #virginia #virginiawine #polo #familytravel #familyadventures #exploremore #travelwithkids #familytravels #familyfun #familyforlife #charlottesville #rosewine #adventurefamily #getoutside #lawngames
They tell you the parenting—it passes quickly. A blip in your timeline, and that baby nestled in the crook of your neck is waving goodbye as he gets on the airplane. And it’s true. True in a way that you can’t really understand until you walk out of your child’s dorm room with no idea what he’ll be eating for dinner. I tell you this not to alarm you—there are already too many alarms in parenting. Not to shame you into putting down that novel you’re reading (or this post) to play Thomas the Tank Engine for the zillionth thankless hour— parenting is already filled with too many unrealizable expectations. I tell you this for only one reason. In the hopes that you figure out what your family does well together and do that thing with all your heart. So that when that sodden yet golden hour comes and you say farewell to that piece of your heart, you have memories to lean into, and patterns of being together that you can build a life around with your adult children. Who are still, no matter what they protest, still your babies. . . . . . #familytravel #familytravels #travelwithteens #travelwithkids #kiawahisland #exploremore #familytraveltribe #travelers #travelphotography #trip #familyadventures #adventurefamily #familyadventure #takeyourkidseverywhere #adventurekids #familytrip #familytrips
They tell you the parenting—it passes quickly. A blip in your timeline, and that baby nestled in the crook of your neck is waving goodbye as he gets on the airplane. And it’s true. True in a way that you can’t really understand until you walk out of your child’s dorm room with no idea what he’ll be eating for dinner. I tell you this not to alarm you—there are already too many alarms in parenting. Not to shame you into putting down that novel you’re reading (or this post) to play Thomas the Tank Engine for the zillionth thankless hour— parenting is already filled with too many unrealizable expectations. I tell you this for only one reason. In the hopes that you figure out what your family does well together and do that thing with all your heart. So that when that sodden yet golden hour comes and you say farewell to that piece of your heart, you have memories to lean into, and patterns of being together that you can build a life around with your adult children. Who are still, no matter what they protest, still your babies. . . . . . #familytravel #familytravels #travelwithteens #travelwithkids #kiawahisland #exploremore #familytraveltribe #travelers #travelphotography #trip #familyadventures #adventurefamily #familyadventure #takeyourkidseverywhere #adventurekids #familytrip #familytrips
You know those moments that are almost too much #travel adventure? Seeing this fellow in our backyard lagoon on #kiawah ranks up there. #traveladventure #familytravel #travelvideos #eek
We had to lose Paris from our global itinerary. But the upside is two weeks back home in Spello. It’ll be November, so not as flower filled as in this video from last summer, but those bells... . . . . . #spello #umbria #igers_italy #travelmemories #aroundtheworld #italy🇮🇹 #Italy #italia #italytravel #italy_hidden_gems #umbriagram #italygram #travelgram #travelvideos #travelinspiration #travelblogger #traveling #travelholic
Our last morning in #NYC, and we stumbled on a cafe that looked good so we took a seat. Soon we noticed waves of student tour groups speaking... Italian! And taking photos. Looked it up and realized we’d accidentally found the cafe that brought the cappuccino to America! After our year in Italy, I love finding Italian wherever we travel. I hope we find bits of Italy during our global year. (Great sfogliatelle, too) . . . . . #nyceats #iloveitaly #familytravel #travelfam #italytravel #pastries #yumyum #greenwichvillage #caffereggio #travelwithteens
Our last morning in #NYC, and we stumbled on a cafe that looked good so we took a seat. Soon we noticed waves of student tour groups speaking... Italian! And taking photos. Looked it up and realized we’d accidentally found the cafe that brought the cappuccino to America! After our year in Italy, I love finding Italian wherever we travel. I hope we find bits of Italy during our global year. (Great sfogliatelle, too) . . . . . #nyceats #iloveitaly #familytravel #travelfam #italytravel #pastries #yumyum #greenwichvillage #caffereggio #travelwithteens
A city like #nyc, where it’s easy to confuse a shop with a gallery, makes me really think about the nature of #art. Here’s my piece of art, standing in front of art at the #fordfoundation. #nofilterneeded #motherdaughter #travelfam #familytravel #motherdaughtertrip #travelblogger
A city like #nyc, where it’s easy to confuse a shop with a gallery, makes me really think about the nature of #art. Here’s my piece of art, standing in front of art at the #fordfoundation. #nofilterneeded #motherdaughter #travelfam #familytravel #motherdaughtertrip #travelblogger
There are places you go because they have broad appeal, and places you go because, for one reason or another, they live in your heart. Today I visited the Leonard Street Library in Brooklyn, where Betty Smith discovered a love of reading, and where she had her character, Francie Nolan, do the same in #atreegrowsinbrooklyn... it’s been my favorite book since I first read it at 11 years old and visiting today was like coming home. Just wish there’d been a brown bowl. #brooklyn #library #bookworm #readersofinstagram #bookwormsofinstagram
There are places you go because they have broad appeal, and places you go because, for one reason or another, they live in your heart. Today I visited the Leonard Street Library in Brooklyn, where Betty Smith discovered a love of reading, and where she had her character, Francie Nolan, do the same in #atreegrowsinbrooklyn... it’s been my favorite book since I first read it at 11 years old and visiting today was like coming home. Just wish there’d been a brown bowl. #brooklyn #library #bookworm #readersofinstagram #bookwormsofinstagram
It’s our third mother-daughter NYC trip and I’m feeling unbelievably blessed. #familytravel #exploremore #nyc #chinatown #motherdaughter #traveling
It’s our third mother-daughter NYC trip and I’m feeling unbelievably blessed. #familytravel #exploremore #nyc #chinatown #motherdaughter #traveling
I’m not a dog person or a snow person but I learned in Quebec that I can be both. I wonder what new things I’ll learn about myself on our family global journey? . . . . . #mytravelgram #instatravel #quebec #dogstagram #winteradventures #familyadventure #travel #traveling #travelling #travelbloggers #globaljourney #familytravel #travelfam #familytraveller #dogsledding #visitquebec
I’m not a dog person or a snow person but I learned in Quebec that I can be both. I wonder what new things I’ll learn about myself on our family global journey? . . . . . #mytravelgram #instatravel #quebec #dogstagram #winteradventures #familyadventure #travel #traveling #travelling #travelbloggers #globaljourney #familytravel #travelfam #familytraveller #dogsledding #visitquebec
It’s amazing how you can think you know how something is supposed to taste and then you eat it where it comes from and it’s like HOLY CRAP. What I’ve called a clementine and is called a “mandarino” in Italy tastes like nothing I’ve ever imagined possible. So orange it almost tasted like pine. What flavors have surprised you when traveling? . . . . . #travelblog #travelfam #tasteoftravel #italianfruit #procida #amalfi #exploremore #igers_italy #italy #postcardsfromtheworld #foodietravel #foodiefamily #visitamalfi #travelling #travels #discoveries #italianflavour #travellingthroughtheworld #traveldeeper
It’s amazing how you can think you know how something is supposed to taste and then you eat it where it comes from and it’s like HOLY CRAP. What I’ve called a clementine and is called a “mandarino” in Italy tastes like nothing I’ve ever imagined possible. So orange it almost tasted like pine. What flavors have surprised you when traveling? . . . . . #travelblog #travelfam #tasteoftravel #italianfruit #procida #amalfi #exploremore #igers_italy #italy #postcardsfromtheworld #foodietravel #foodiefamily #visitamalfi #travelling #travels #discoveries #italianflavour #travellingthroughtheworld #traveldeeper
This is what one year out from a grand adventure looks like. Maps and atlases and guide books and Nat Geo’s everywhere. And yet, it’s still the personal connection that drives the momentum. Gabe had a teacher in his summer game theory class from Lithuania, and now he’s all about it. He even wrote a blog post for me (link in profile, under what I love, Gabe’s blog). Short story: now I know not only where Lithuania is but how it connects to Russia. And, according to Gabe, how we’ll be biking there. ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪#familieswhotravel‬ #travelblog #familytravelblog #familytravelbloggers #raisingtravelers #travelfam #offtoseetheworld #roamtheworld #havekidswilltravel #maps #welltraveledkids #borntotravel #involvethekids #lithuania #baltic #exploretogether #exploretogrow #worldschooling #mapoftheworld
This is what one year out from a grand adventure looks like. Maps and atlases and guide books and Nat Geo’s everywhere. And yet, it’s still the personal connection that drives the momentum. Gabe had a teacher in his summer game theory class from Lithuania, and now he’s all about it. He even wrote a blog post for me (link in profile, under what I love, Gabe’s blog). Short story: now I know not only where Lithuania is but how it connects to Russia. And, according to Gabe, how we’ll be biking there. ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪#familieswhotravel‬ #travelblog #familytravelblog #familytravelbloggers #raisingtravelers #travelfam #offtoseetheworld #roamtheworld #havekidswilltravel #maps #welltraveledkids #borntotravel #involvethekids #lithuania #baltic #exploretogether #exploretogrow #worldschooling #mapoftheworld
We’re now a year away from leaping into our year around the world! China, Belgium, Albania, Lithuania... ready for us? Find out more about our itinerary, link in profile! ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪#travelmemories‬ #travelinspiration #travelinspired #luangprabang #laos #ig_laos #southeastasia #familytravel #familytravels #travelwithkids #traveling #travelling #exploremore #aroundtheworld #aroundtheworldpics #destinations #offbeattravel #travelmore #travelwriter #travelblogger
We’re now a year away from leaping into our year around the world! China, Belgium, Albania, Lithuania... ready for us? Find out more about our itinerary, link in profile! ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪.‬ ‪#travelmemories‬ #travelinspiration #travelinspired #luangprabang #laos #ig_laos #southeastasia #familytravel #familytravels #travelwithkids #traveling #travelling #exploremore #aroundtheworld #aroundtheworldpics #destinations #offbeattravel #travelmore #travelwriter #travelblogger
Hey #bookworms, come to a reading at @chopsueybooks this Saturday at 7 PM! I’ll be reading from “The Silent Madonna” and @douglawson will read from “Bigfoots in Paradise”... so you’ll get romance / suspense in an Italian village AND fast moving and touching stories about awkward, lost adults who just won’t grow up. #freevent #rva #weekendplans #bookworm #localauthor #bookevent #freereading
Hey #bookworms, come to a reading at @chopsueybooks this Saturday at 7 PM! I’ll be reading from “The Silent Madonna” and @douglawson will read from “Bigfoots in Paradise”... so you’ll get romance / suspense in an Italian village AND fast moving and touching stories about awkward, lost adults who just won’t grow up. #freevent #rva #weekendplans #bookworm #localauthor #bookevent #freereading
Sometimes family can be the biggest, and most wonderful, trip of all. #dorayalfonso #magicalwedding #sisters #family
Sometimes family can be the biggest, and most wonderful, trip of all. #dorayalfonso #magicalwedding #sisters #family
 

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  • Michelle Damiani, Author
    What to do when you've spent the day editing your novel set in Italy until your brain is soft and mushy? Watch an… https://t.co/7VC9sFPXzo
    Sep 18, 2019, 9:48 PM
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    See how #Spello celebrates the #oliveoil harvest with warm, spiced wine and olive trees strung with fishes.… https://t.co/PHaeV1elyS
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Festival participant, speaking about “Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center”

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