An Italian Sojourn

Book Recommendations:

A transcendent novel about how we move on after loss, specifically on the Amalfi Coast, One Italian Summer takes a us on a journey through love between a mother and a daughter. Starting in Naples, My Brilliant Friend is the first in a 3-part series that explores a votalie friendship during a time where Italy is rapidly changing itself.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Do as the Romans do

• Hotel: Settle into Hotel de Russie (enjoy $100 hotel credit and free breakfast through my hotel partnership!). Sip cappuccinos and order the Amatriciana pasta in the gorgeous courtyard.

• Shop: Meander down Via del Babuino right outside your hotel, get a personal shopper at Sandro or Prada to pick outfits for you, and browse the designer stores.

• Explore: Go early in the morning to the Spanish Steps to avoid crowds and walk up to the park Villa Borghese. Stroll around the grounds, take a picnic, or rent an e-bike carriage for 12 euro an hour to cruise around the park.

Day 2: All about food

• Walking Tour: I'll book you a small group tour with archeologists where you'll discover more than 20 food and wine tastings.

• Pizza: Grab lunch at Panificio Bonci pizza, named one of Eater's best pizzerias in Rome. Next to the Roman Forum, visit the iconic Antico Forno Roscioli for its crispy, thin-crust Roman-style pizzas.

• Snack: Walk through the Basilica of Santa Maria, the main square in the Trastevere neighborhood and grab the carbonara suppli from Suppli Roma.

Day 3: Historical exploration

• The Colosseum and Roman Forum: Visit the Colosseum, famous for its gladiatorial contests and public spectacles and the Forum where public meetings, law courts, and open-air markets where conducted in republican times. Ask me about how to access the Colosseum undergrounds that are not typically open to the public.

• The Catacombs: This special private tour explores secret Pagan temples and ancient burial grounds, by visiting three different holy sites. Your Catacombs private tour takes you through nearly 2,000 years of history.

Day 4: Travel to the countryside

• Time to hit Tuscany. Jump on the high speed Italia train for a quick 2 hour ride to the city. Just a short 30 minute drive from Florence, stay at COMO Castello del Nero - with a sprawling property and a small olive oil and wine operation, you feel like you're living like Italian royalty. Take a dip in their outdoor gorgeous pool, enjoy aperitifs next to the fire in their bar La Taverna and stroll down to the 'al fresco' Pavilion.

Day 5: Relax

• Wake up fresh and get ready for truffle hunting! Spend 2 hours roaming around the on-site forest with adorable pups training to find truffles in the ground. Our guide Mateo provided insight on how labor intensive the process is and delighted our toddler with his interactions. Your truffle hunting experience wraps with a 3-course tasting menu with found truffles. The fried, poached egg in cream sauce with shaved truffle was one of the best things we ate. So good, we asked for it again at dinner!

• Relax with an Aperol Spritz at La Taverna - the bartender will become your very good friend, before you head to your dinner at the Michelin-starred La Torre. You know you're in for something when they bring you a water menu and prepare an Italian gin and tonic at the table. The chicken agnolotti was in a delicious cream sauce and the playful amuse-bouche were my favorite.

Day 6: Bike and eat!

• Rent e-bikes and coast around the property to abandoned buildings, snapping photos along the way. Bike to the charming and local Osteria La Gramola for lunch. Flip through the owners' book of recipes and the story of their restaurant.

• You must go off property to the magical La Cantinetta di Rignana for dinner. Why? Because you will feel like you are with your imaginary Italian friends on their private Tuscan estate. Peaceful and beautiful, you reach this restaurant by driving down an endless gravel road. Keep going, you will make it! You will need to order the local pig lardo specialty – cured underground with salt for many months, this appetizer is soft, buttery and great on crusty bread. But the star of this meal was the truffle taglierini pasta. With truffles shaved as thin as tissue paper and a thick, but light cheesy cream sauce. I don't know about you, but I don't tire of truffle.

Day 7: Back to Rome

• I recommend not lining your train ride up with your flight home. You never know what can happen. Enjoy the final train ride with snacks and an espresso.

• Take that final espresso, finish the final bite of Caio e Pepe and say so long to everything that Italy offered. A morning or early afternoon flight home is my preference so I get back right back on Eastern Standard Time, but you tell me. Ciao, bellissima!