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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Then our last day dawned. After a final stunning breakfast with cheeses and meats and a chocolate-hazelnut spread that Max insists is better than Nutella—and could be, I would have liked three more pots to decide—we piled into the van for

I’m now in Brisbane, but have to tell you about Portofino.

On our first day in Sestri Levante, @max_brunelli of @ciaoandiamo pointed out how the cradle of the Ligurian Sea stretches to Portofino. Visiting Genova, Camogli, Recco, Sestri Levante

Sestri Levante.

Oh, this town now holds my heart. No wonder @max_brunelli of @ciaoandiamo made sure we passed a few days here.

Sherbet colored buildings, a welcoming beach (especially as the storm subsided and the water regained its blueness), and

The rain caused flooding and damage all over Italy (see yesterdays reel for dramatic visuals). Wave after wave of storms. We had to scrap our boat trip to the island convent because rivers had poured so much debris into the Mediterranean, the sea had

**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.

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