Michelle Damiani
  • Buy my books
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  • Spello Visiting Umbria Travel in Italy Around the World
  • Books and Movies Food and Drink Gabe's Blog Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
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Michelle Damiani
  • Buy my books/
  • Blog/
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • What I Love/
    • Books and Movies
    • Food and Drink
    • Gabe's Blog
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
  • Coaching/
  • About/
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Michelle Damiani

writing with Italy at heart

Travel in Italy

Michelle Damiani
  • Buy my books/
  • Blog/
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • What I Love/
    • Books and Movies
    • Food and Drink
    • Gabe's Blog
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
  • Coaching/
  • About/

From alpine lakes to sun-drenched coastlines, this is where you’ll find stories from my travels across Italy—the hidden corners, the unexpected delights, the journeys that stay with you. Want new wanderlust in your inbox once a month? Sign up for The Grapevine.


January 10, 2026

A woman alone in Bari's fish market

January 10, 2026/ Michelle Damiani
A woman alone in Bari's fish market

Walking Bari alone led me to its fish market, street food, and daily rhythms—an intimate look at food, sound, and life in Puglia.

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January 10, 2026/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
italy off the beaten path, italian hidden gems, italy travel
Puglia, bari, markets, underrated italy, authentic italy
December 07, 2025

Roots of Puglia

December 07, 2025/ Michelle Damiani
Roots of Puglia

Dive into Puglia’s heart—winding through storied caves of ancient ceramics, tasting centuries-old olive oils, and sipping bold Primitivo, this region blends history, art, and flavor like nowhere else.

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December 07, 2025/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
italian hidden gems, italy off the beaten path, italy travel, Food and Wine
Puglia, Travel, italy without crowds, authentic italy, olive oil
  • Buy my books/
  • Blog/
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • What I Love/
    • Books and Movies
    • Food and Drink
    • Gabe's Blog
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
  • Coaching/
  • About/

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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ONE SPOT LEFT ✨ Max and I are at it again! We’re taking a small group to Italy, this time Tuscany and Umbria. Max (co-owner of Ciao Andiamo, a fabulous boutique travel company) brings the Italy know-how like niche truffle hunting experiences an
As a shy and insecure child who moved every few years, I was lonely. A lot.

Stories became a way to feel connected. They opened doors into other lives when mine felt small and uncertain.

I’m 54 now. No longer shy, no longer insecure, and pret
One year ago, I became an Italian citizen. ❤️🤍💚
Flashback to gathering wild asparagus outside Spello 🌸 one of those flavors I miss!
Anyone else more than a little in love with Bologna? The city’s unofficial motto is “the red, the fat, and the learned”… what is your favorite aspect of Bologna?
Happy birthday to Rome! I love you for your old bits and your new bits. You make aging an inspiring thing.
What nobody tells you about Japan is even when you’re too early for cherry blossom, there are plum blossoms. Plus, Japanese gardens are glorious with no blossoms at all.
As a person who grooves on food and connection, the Omicho Market Tour and Cooking Class offered by In Kanazawa House was one of the most satisfying and delicious experiences I had in Japan. Our guides Naoko and Kazuko (tagged in stories) introduced
Remember yesterday when I mentioned the Japanese alpine town that taught me how fall in love with sake? That town is Takayama. Known for sake, Edo era architecture, and a kind of beef so excellent that my husband, after an entire meal of steak and su

A trip to Italy is better with language basics! Here’s my recommended course to learn Italian and make your trip fantastico!


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”

Featured speaker on panel discussing Romance for “Santa Lucia”

Featured speaker on panel discussing Romance for “Santa Lucia”