Custom Italian Travel Planning for Unforgettable Moments

Ciao!

Y'all.  I missed a newsletter. 

(hangs head in shame)

 

I meant to send it.  I set a reminder and everything, but when I had to choose between more Dolomites or finishing the draft, I chose the Dolomites.  No regrets, but also... sorry about that!

 

If you want to see what was so distracting, I've got highlights saved on Instagram from both the vacation week in Liguria with my family (highlight one and highlight two) and the Dolomites work trip with one of my favorite collaboration partners in Italy (highlight one, two, three, and four).  I think you'll understand why the newsletter got a little derailed.

 

I'm obviously newly obsessed with both areas, so if you're interest is piqued for Liguria next summer or the Dolomites for skiing this winter or trekking next summer, let me know!  I am bursting to share these great spots with clients.

This 16th-century villa sits in the heart of Prosecco country in the town of Asolo, surrounded by rolling hills dotted with vineyards that produce those perfect bubbles you'll eventually be sipping on the terrace.

 

Wake up to prosecco vines outside your window, spend the day exploring Asolo's medeival cobblestone streets and sipping prosecco in nearby wineries, and then return to Villa Cipriani for aperitivo hour to sip more prosecco!

 

Because listen, we all drink a ridiculous amount of Prosecco when we want bubbles but don't want to splurge for champagne.  So let's give the wine the respect it's earned according to our liquor store purchase history and stay somewhere that actually matches the significance of our prosecco consumption. 

 

Villa Cipriani provides the perfect sophisticated setting where your prosecco habit finally feels intentional rather than just practical.

Bassano del Grappa is serious about its namesake spirit. This picturesque town sits at the foot of the Alps, where the Brenta River flows and distilleries have been perfecting the art of grappa-making for centuries. 

 

The famous Ponte Coperto (covered bridge) isn't just Instagram-worthy—it's historically significant and houses the Nardini Distillery, established in 1779. Here, you can sip grappa while watching the river flow below, which is either deeply contemplative or slightly dangerous, depending on how many samples you've had.  (See grappa below)

 

Beyond the liquid attractions, Bassano offers excellent ceramics shopping, charming piazzas perfect for people-watching, and mountain views that provide the perfect backdrop for your inevitable "is this a cute picture, or is it the grappa talking" moment.

The Romans knew what they were doing when they discovered Veneto's thermal springs. These natural hot springs have been soothing weary travelers for over 2,000 years, though the current spa facilities are perhaps a bit more luxurious than whatever the Romans were working with.

 

Picture this: you're soaking in naturally heated pools while surrounded by a gorgeous Italian landscape, feeling your travel stress dissolve along with any remaining skepticism about the healing powers of mineral-rich water. The thermal baths range from comfortably warm to "holy s**t, that's hot," each with different mineral compositions claiming to cure everything from tired muscles to existential dread.

 

It's the perfect antidote to too much sightseeing, too much Prosecco, or too much (choose your own vice).

While Milan claims panettone, Verona proudly presents pandoro.  The golden, star-shaped Christmas bread is basically panettone's cousin, but without all the gross, fruity bits that nobody likes. 

 

Pandoro takes the minimalist approach with a buttery and vanilla flavor that doesn't require you to perform surgery on your dessert before eating it. But here's where it gets fun: pandoro comes with a packet of powdered sugar that you're supposed to put in the bag with the cake and shake like your life depends on it.

 

There's something deeply satisfying about violently shaking a bag of Christmas cake until it's completely coated in sugar.  Who doesn't need a wholesome opportunity to let out a little pent up rage during the holiday season disguised as “dusting the dessert?”

Grappa is a test of character disguised as an after-dinner drink. 

 

In Veneto, grappa-making is an art form passed down through generations of families who've perfected the balance between "this will warm your soul" and "this might remove paint." Considering that it's made from all the left over bits from winemaking, the fact that it can sometimes be surprisingly delicious amazes me every time.

 

Proper grappa etiquette involves sipping slowly (never shooting), so go ahead and accept that your first taste is going to require everything in your power to not make the yucky face. Your second taste will be better. By the third, you might get it.  Or you might not, but at least you gave it a chance.