Civita di Bagnoregio
Woman making pasta in the street

Tips, Insights, Inspiration

Good stuff to know for your upcoming trip to Italy

Liz’s practical insights, valuable tips and occasional opinions on soft, slow travel to Italy, especially Umbria and nearby regions, and a closer look at life in Allerona.

A bumper crop of olives - italian olive harvest tour
The risks and rewards of harvest season in Italy

Harvesting grapes or olives are among the most authentic things to do in Umbria But the success of harvest time in Umbria depends almost entirely on Mother...


10 tips for staying cool in Italy in the summer

Reader, there’s a reason we don’t have any tours scheduled for July and August...


Euro Spread
12 Ways to Save Money on Your Trip to Italy

You really can eat, drink and vacation well in Italy while still watching your...


Crowd at Piazza di Spagna in Rome
The live like a local in Italy myth

There's a difference between experiencing a place “like a local” and having an immersive, local...


Touring along the Tiber in Rome
How to dress for your summer vacation in Italy

What to pack, what not to wear, and how to (almost) blend in on your Italian...


Tipping two Euros in Italy
Should you tip in Italy?

Please ignore the people who tell you there’s no tipping in Italy Here’s what I’ve learned in 15 years of living...


No toilet paper
Going to the Bathroom in Italy

When you're in transit or out touring for the day, finding a decent bathroom is a...


An espresso, or caffè at the bar in Allerona
How to drink coffee at a bar in Italy

Let's spill the tea on drinking coffee in Italian bars, why you shouldn't ask for a latte, and what's the deal with ordering a cappuccino after 11...


Christmas Lights in Orvieto
Why the festive season in Italy is a month long

A month of eating, drinking, visiting with friends and not working very much Welcome to the holidays in...


Page 2 of 3

Download Liz’s free guide:
5 Roadblocks to an “Authentic” Italy Trip

(…plus how to avoid them, from someone who’s lived here for 17 years).