Book lover? Plan your trip around a literary festival:
"As I tell my solo vagabond girlfriends, it’s the best of all worlds: great books, new friends, safe travel."
Upcoming Literary Festivals
Bologna Children's Book Fair April 1-4
Turin International Book Fair May 10-14
Una Marina di Libri Palermo June 6-9th Festivaletteratura Mantua Sept 4-9
Pordenonelegge Festival Pordenone Sept 18-22
Travel Designer Tip:
Trek through the City at Night For the night owls, Rome becomes a different city at night. Gone are the big tour groups and buses and the city reveals its shadows. Whether its a lovely stroll through the sites or a private telling of ghostly tales, the night time can be the right time in the Eternal City. Contact Our Travel Designers
Insider Tip: Live like The Pope
Castello di Leonina
Once the residence for Cardinal Fabio Chigi aka Pope Alexander VII, this 13th century fortress and noble mansion became an elegant and modern oasis. Between Sienna and Asciano in the Tuscan countryside, guests can enjoy the wellness center with turkish bath, hiking, horesback riding, biking, swimming and more. Indulge here.
Insiders Tip: San Gimignano
The Manhatten of Italy This medieval Tuscany hill town is a city walkers paradise. Originally having 42 towers, the fourteen that remain are a mystery of historical significance. Tuscan home-style cooking can be enjoyed at many places. A site to behold and a city with a towering skyline. See it on our Enchanting Italy Tour.
EVENTS AND CONCERTS Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour:
Torino Feb 19-21
Bologna Feb 25
Florence Feb 26 and more
Bergamo Jazz Festival Mar 17-24
Ravenna Festival:
Hamburg Ballet John Neumeire July 5th
Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals July 7th
Did You Know... Nestled in the Portofino Regional Park is one site you have to swim to see. The trek through the park to San Fruttuoso Abbey is where you'll find the famous Christ of the Abyss statue out in the Mediterranian sea. Further north you'll find the 'Sunken Town' of Curon, now Lake Resia, where an entire town was flooded to make a reservoir. The only remaining evidence is a clock tower that towers above the surface of the lake. While you may not want to swim around it, winter provides an opportunity to walk the frozen lake to the tower.
Netflix and Travel
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. Put this series on your Netflix cue! We loved this show, especially the first episode, shot in Italy. From olive harvesting, to making pesto with a pestle and mortar, the show confirms why Italy culinary tradition reigns supreme.
Valentines in Verona
During the week leading up to Valentines Day, this city becomes literally full of hearts. Visit here in our Northern Italy Tour.
