Italy

I lived in Milan for more than two years and despite its reputation as a high-powered business destination, there really are a few great sites to see, especially on a quick layover in Milan. For most, it’s just a layover destination as they connect to Venice or Florence. But here are a few reasons why spending a day in the world’s fashion capital is worth it. Milan, a city in northern Italy and the capital…

When I was an expat living in Milan, Italy, Tuscany became our escape from the hectic city life. After a few visits, we felt like “locals”, and preferred renting a villa in Tuscany over staying in a tourist hotel. That’s when I discovered the agriturismo concept, which is the best way to experience Tuscany. What is an agriturismo?Agriturismi are accommodations located on working farms in Italy. The term is derived from the Italian words “agricoltura”…

Because I lived in Italy, people are always asking for my advice on where to go and what to see in their Italy trip planning. I pulled several emails I’ve sent over the years and culled all of my advice into this post. The first thing with Italy trip planning is to figure out the region you want to visit. Much of your trip planning will also depend on how much time you have. My one…

Chris’s grandfather came to the U.S. from Sicily when he was 17 years old. He left behind seven sisters but never returned to his homeland. He wound up a fat, happy Italian man working in the garment district of New York City. Chris’s mother had always retained her strong ties to Italy. She had visited Italy before but had never ventured to the island to re-establish her roots. She had in fact kept in touch with two…

With one year of culture shock under our belts, I invited my mother to come live with us.  After all, she was 68 year old widow, in good health, with no job….when else will she get the opportunity to live in a foreign country and tour exotic destinations. It didn’t take much to convince her. One day, while wrestling with her swimming pool vacuum, I said, “why don’t you leave all this behind and move…