My Italian Life
/
Seven ways I keep Italy alive while on home soil.
Read MoreChronicling our return home from a year in Umbria and the preparations for our around-the-world journey.
How to Host a Spritz Party
/
Aperol is an Italian apéritif that tastes lightly of citrus with bitter undertones. Learn how to turn Aperol into a cocktail that will elevate your afternoons, and how to turn that cocktail into a party.
Read More
How to Celebrate Christmas Like an Italian
/
Have a craving to mix up your American traditions with some Italian heart?
Read MoreSeven Gifts to WOW Italophiles, 2017
/
Stumped for what to give your loved ones who adore Italy? Here are seven singular gifts that are sure to surprise and delight.
Read MoreA Spello Homecoming
/
Laughter bloomed like dandelions in a field of sunshine. Everything was shinier, rosier, more glowing, more dramatic, more emotional, more vivid. I started wondering about why and then thought, “Because Italy.”
I stopped wondering.
Read MoreHow to Host an Unforgettable Party
/
Hold onto your party hats, because I’m about to tell you how to throw the most incredible, fantastical, unforgettable celebration.
Read MoreA Visit from La Befana
/
The story of Italy's Christmas witch, and what she can mean for you.
Read MoreNine Sensational Gifts for Italy-Lovers
/
Gift ideas for the Italophile on your list. These aren't "things" that get shoved in the back of a drawer by the time La Befana visits. Rather, these are intended as experiences to enliven days and bring people together—to create a sense of daily celebration.
Read MoreLet's Talk about the Earthquakes
/
Getting beyond the rhetoric, and thinking about how to actually help.
Read More
Reading Questions
/
Questions to deepen and further the experience of reading IBC, either with a group, or on your own.
Read MoreTop 5 Ways to Let Travel Change You
/
Even if you can't stay abroad for a year, there are ways to allow travel to change you, no matter how short your stay.
Read MoreThe 2015 "Il Bel Centro" Holiday Gift Giving Guide
/
The Christmas music playing at Michael's and the sudden switch from everything pumpkin-flavored to everything candy-cane-flavored indicates that though I'm still enjoying the crunch of fall leaves underfoot, the holiday season really is upon us. Though there's a part of me that misses the simplicity of our Umbrian Christmas, there's much to enjoy in the patterns of gift giving we've developed here over the years. From these patterns I've collected a list of gift ideas that I thought I'd pass along to you. Each gift idea embraces the IBC values of savoring moments and encouraging connection, of course with an Italian flavor.
Read MoreOur Other Neighbors
/
I hated taking this post out of the book. It felt like I was betraying the cats that gave our Spellani days such flavor and joy. So I'm so happy to be bringing this back to the website. I love it when people send me photos of these animals from their trip to Spello. If you take a photo, include it in the comment section! I'd love this to be an homage to the animals that enrich small town life.
Read MoreSkiing the Dolomiti, Siena at Cimo Uomo
/
As my skiing in the Dolomitiwas limited to the barest of slopes, I'm delighted to present a guest post by Siena, who thrilled to each peak and crag of the alps she skied. I hope her words convey the beauty of her experience, which she describes as the best of her life.
Read More
