Michelle Damiani
  • Il Bel Centro Santa Lucia The Road Taken
  • Spello Visiting Umbria Travel in Italy Around the World
  • Blog
  • About
  • Food Books and Movies Ecc...
Michelle Damiani
  • Books/
    • Il Bel Centro
    • Santa Lucia
    • The Road Taken
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • Blog/
  • About/
  • What I Love/
    • Food
    • Books and Movies
    • Ecc...
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Michelle Damiani

writing with Umbria at heart

Visiting Umbria

Michelle Damiani
  • Books/
    • Il Bel Centro
    • Santa Lucia
    • The Road Taken
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • Blog/
  • About/
  • What I Love/
    • Food
    • Books and Movies
    • Ecc...

Here you will find posts that didn't make their way into the blog (or were highly abbreviated in favor of narrative flow-- do note that posts from our year in Italy are far longer than similar entries in the book), travel highlights from newsletters, and new material about places to travel—in Italy, and around the world.

April 16, 2018

A Guide to Umbrian Festivals

April 16, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
A Guide to Umbrian Festivals

Festivals are Italy distilled. Here is your guide to celebrations in Umbria throughout the seasons.

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April 16, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ 4 Comments
travel
Umbria, Italy, festivals
April 15, 2018

Recommendations for Visiting Umbria

April 15, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Recommendations for Visiting Umbria

Resources for Umbria at large.

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April 15, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel, umbria
umbria
April 14, 2018

Gubbio, Umbria

April 14, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Gubbio, Umbria

Gubbio is…different. See what makes this evocative town stand out from other cities in Umbria.

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April 14, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel
Italy, Umbria, Gubbio, restaurant, festival, Perugia
April 14, 2018

Cascate delle Marmore

April 14, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Cascate delle Marmore

Our 2013 visit to the famous waterfalls of Umbria

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April 14, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel, umbria
day-trip, children, Umbria
April 13, 2018

Pranzo in Trevi, Umbria

April 13, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Pranzo in Trevi, Umbria

Trevi, Umbria: A little village with big atmosphere.

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April 13, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel, dining
trevi, Umbria, restaurant
April 13, 2018

Assisi, Umbria

April 13, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Assisi, Umbria

The birthplace of St. Francis.

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April 13, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel, dining, umbria
italy, umbria
April 12, 2018

Foligno, Umbria

April 12, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Foligno, Umbria

An untouristed small city.

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April 12, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel, umbria
travel, umbria
April 10, 2018

Piegaro, Umbria

April 10, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Piegaro, Umbria

A jewel-box of a town, known for glass manufacturing and chestnut celebrating.

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April 10, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
April 09, 2018

Serpillo, an Italian Gran Bouffet

April 09, 2018/ Michelle Damiani

Not all buffets involve endless sneeze-guards and noodles congealing in cornstarch baths. Discover this gem tucked away in the hills above Bevagna, Umbria.

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April 09, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
dining, travel
bevagna, Umbria, restaurant
April 01, 2018

Orvieto, on the other side of Umbria

April 01, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Orvieto, on the other side of Umbria

Where to eat in Orvieto, Umbria

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April 01, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel, dining
Orvieto, Umbria, Restaurant
March 28, 2018

Bevagna, Umbria

March 28, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Bevagna, Umbria

A medieval town, not on a hill, renowned for its festival of medieval life.

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March 28, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel, umbria, dining
travel, restaurant, umbria
April 13, 2017

Love in Bettona, Umbria

April 13, 2017/ Michelle Damiani
Love in Bettona, Umbria

A restaurant recommendation in Bettona, Umbria given with my whole heart.

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April 13, 2017/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
travel, dining
Bettona, Umbria, restaurant
  • Books/
    • Il Bel Centro
    • Santa Lucia
    • The Road Taken
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • Blog/
  • About/
  • What I Love/
    • Food
    • Books and Movies
    • Ecc...

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. 

Santa Lucia
By Michelle Damiani

Storybook Italian villages only look sleepy. Read the novel inspired by our year in Spello.

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.

Subscribe for the Epilogue

For two years, Il Bel Centro readers have asked me "What happened next? Was the transition horrible? Did you ever get back to Spello?" I listened, and wrote an epilogue I'd love to give you. As soon as you sign up for the newsletter, I'll zip you a free copy of IBC: Epilogue. You'll also receive periodic updates, recipes, travel gems, and exclusive offers.

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Follow me on Instagram!

Boys in Bologna.
Boys in Bologna.
Cats of Spello. #catsofspello #cats
Cats of Spello. #catsofspello #cats
Ciao, Rasiglia. I’ll see you in my dreams. #umbria #cometoumbria #rasiglia #italy #offbeatItaly #nofilter #travelphotography
Ciao, Rasiglia. I’ll see you in my dreams. #umbria #cometoumbria #rasiglia #italy #offbeatItaly #nofilter #travelphotography
My favorite game, #spotthecat in #spello #umbria
My favorite game, #spotthecat in #spello #umbria
#Spello through the poppies #umbria #papaveri #poppies #italy🇮🇹 #italy_photolovers
#Spello through the poppies #umbria #papaveri #poppies #italy🇮🇹 #italy_photolovers
A day in #Spello #umbria . Who’s ready for pizza?
A day in #Spello #umbria . Who’s ready for pizza?
Breakfast in #Foligno. #nofilter #delicious #granita #pastries #umbria
Breakfast in #Foligno. #nofilter #delicious #granita #pastries #umbria
My Bellini, home in #Spello #umbria
My Bellini, home in #Spello #umbria
My baby is 16! @sienadamiani #lovemygirl #birthdaygirl🎉
My baby is 16! @sienadamiani #lovemygirl #birthdaygirl🎉
Did you know meerkats hug? Neither did I. Flip through and see. #meerkats #animallove #animalfriends
Did you know meerkats hug? Neither did I. Flip through and see. #meerkats #animallove #animalfriends
I never figured out what this rice cakes were used for in #LuangPrabang. I didn’t see them on menus, and it’s not what I saw handed out to the monks. Do you know? Part of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #nofilter #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
I never figured out what this rice cakes were used for in #LuangPrabang. I didn’t see them on menus, and it’s not what I saw handed out to the monks. Do you know? Part of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #nofilter #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
A very special part of a visit to #LuangPrabang is getting up early to watch the monks progress through the town, collecting rice from the townspeople.  Humbling. Part of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
A very special part of a visit to #LuangPrabang is getting up early to watch the monks progress through the town, collecting rice from the townspeople.  Humbling. Part of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
The #KuangSiFalls are a stunning day trip from #LuangPrabang. Get there early so you have a little time with the falls to yourself. The water is rich with limestone, which makes the water a fairy-land color. Bonus if you are into it, fish will come and clean your feet for free.  Day 20 of of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
The #KuangSiFalls are a stunning day trip from #LuangPrabang. Get there early so you have a little time with the falls to yourself. The water is rich with limestone, which makes the water a fairy-land color. Bonus if you are into it, fish will come and clean your feet for free.  Day 20 of of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
The wats, or temples, are one of the aspects of #LuangPrabang that make it so special. There are temple grounds on every street, and watching saffron-robed monk boys dash out for an ice cream is a sight to make you sit back and think, “Wow. This is Asia.” Day 19 of of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
The wats, or temples, are one of the aspects of #LuangPrabang that make it so special. There are temple grounds on every street, and watching saffron-robed monk boys dash out for an ice cream is a sight to make you sit back and think, “Wow. This is Asia.” Day 19 of of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
I could post a year of photos just of the markets in #LuangPrabang. Extraordinary quality and variety, served humbly on spotless burlap in front alongside a temple. Okay, so the larvae did give us pause (and watching a guy steal one and get yelled at by the larvae seller was amusing) and I did get a little queasy at the sight of live frogs impaled on sticks, ready for grilling, for the most part, I wish I had the time and language and kitchen to talk about every single things I saw with the sellers. Gorgeous. Day 18 of of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
I could post a year of photos just of the markets in #LuangPrabang. Extraordinary quality and variety, served humbly on spotless burlap in front alongside a temple. Okay, so the larvae did give us pause (and watching a guy steal one and get yelled at by the larvae seller was amusing) and I did get a little queasy at the sight of live frogs impaled on sticks, ready for grilling, for the most part, I wish I had the time and language and kitchen to talk about every single things I saw with the sellers. Gorgeous. Day 18 of of my 3 week series “Remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 17 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. Loved all the action on the Mekong River in #luangprabang. Though this bamboo bridge in the foreground took quite some mustering of courage to cross. Breaking boundaries, that’s what travel is all about, right? . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 17 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. Loved all the action on the Mekong River in #luangprabang. Though this bamboo bridge in the foreground took quite some mustering of courage to cross. Breaking boundaries, that’s what travel is all about, right? . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 16 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. Welcome to #LuangPrabang! This is where we each, one by one, got the flu, so it’s nice that all three kids were so cheerful on this day! . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 16 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. Welcome to #LuangPrabang! This is where we each, one by one, got the flu, so it’s nice that all three kids were so cheerful on this day! . . . . . #laos #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelLaos #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 15 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. Not the most spectacular photo perhaps, and I had wanted to post one of the magnificent banyon trees festooned with incense, nonetheless, before we say goodbye to #Hanoi, I wanted to post this one that captures so much of what I found evocative. The easy connection, the markets in doorways, and the psychotic wires. . . . . . #vietnam #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelVietnam #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 15 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. Not the most spectacular photo perhaps, and I had wanted to post one of the magnificent banyon trees festooned with incense, nonetheless, before we say goodbye to #Hanoi, I wanted to post this one that captures so much of what I found evocative. The easy connection, the markets in doorways, and the psychotic wires. . . . . . #vietnam #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelVietnam #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 14 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. One of our most intense taste discoveries in #Hanoi was egg coffee. We had it at least once, sometimes twice a day. It’s akin to a meringue or zabaglione perched atop Vietnamese #coffee. Sounds simple? Try replicating it at home and you’ll realize how much grace and ingenuity is in that inconspicuous cup. . . . . . #vietnam #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelVietnam #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 14 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. One of our most intense taste discoveries in #Hanoi was egg coffee. We had it at least once, sometimes twice a day. It’s akin to a meringue or zabaglione perched atop Vietnamese #coffee. Sounds simple? Try replicating it at home and you’ll realize how much grace and ingenuity is in that inconspicuous cup. . . . . . #vietnam #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelVietnam #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #foodietravel #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 13 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. Sometimes the best part of the vacation can be the vacation from the vacation, amiright? Here we escape the heat and intensity of #Hanoi with a jaunt to #HalongBay. . . . . . #vietnam #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelVietnam #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #travelblog #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
Day 13 of of my 3 week series “remembering 3 weeks in SE Asia by posting a photo a day”. Sometimes the best part of the vacation can be the vacation from the vacation, amiright? Here we escape the heat and intensity of #Hanoi with a jaunt to #HalongBay. . . . . . #vietnam #NatGeoTravel #instatravel #travel #familytravel #travelasia #travelVietnam #instadaily #travelwriter #travelgram #tourism #instago #passportready #travelblogger #wanderlust #ilovetravel #writetotravel #instatravelling #travelblogger #instapassport #postcardsfromtheworld #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #igtravel #travelblog #travelpics #travelphoto #travelphotography #instago #ig_worldclub
 

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  • Michelle Damiani, Author
    RT @SpelloBC: A #Spello i colori del tramonto accendono la pietra rosa del #Subasio Immaginate niente di più romantico? In occasi… https://t.co/4tbmBxUBWp
    about 2 days ago
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    If you're looking for a #travel #game, I suggest Hive. Solid pieces won't blow away in sudden Umbrian breezes, cons… https://t.co/XWXCRCBung
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    I know this sounds roll-your-eyes obvious but one of the great things about being in #Italy is that everyone speaks #Italian.
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Festival participant

Festival participant