Custom Italian Travel Planning for Unforgettable Moments

Ciao!

 

January and February were the longest months, but March is going to be the complete opposite because I'm about to be EVERYWHERE.

 

First up: Disney. My daughter has a big, national cheer competition coming up this weekend, which means I'll be spending quality time with her in the most magical expensive place on earth.

 

Then I'm finally, FINALLY ending my Italy drought. I haven't been since July, my proverbial bucket is empty, and my soul needs a boost.

 

Even though I was just there in July, I'm headed back to the Dolomites - this time to ski! Showcasing this area in both seasons is like experiencing two completely different places. Summer is all about the hiking, biking and mountain splendor, while winter is cozy rifugios, world-class skiing, and après!

 

And then, before the month is over, it's time for family spring break in Barcelona and Andorra.  Andorra will be a new country for all of us, and we're hoping to ski there too.

 

So, lots going on. Lots of sports and travel content coming your way. Follow along on Instagram for the highlights, bloopers and lots of food and wine pics.

 

Speaking of sports I'm passionate about: let's talk tennis. HARD PIVOT!

 

Because this month, instead of diving into a specific Italian region, we're exploring something a little different: 

 

How to combine your love of tennis with an Italy trip...OH YES 🎾

Every May, the Foro Italico hosts the Internazionali BNL d'Italia (or in easier terms, the Rome Open). It's one of the biggest clay court tournaments before the French Open, which means world-class tennis with Roman ruins as a backdrop. The stadium was built by Mussolini, which is awkward, but the marble statues and fascist architecture make for dramatic Instagram content.

 

Get tickets early, wear sunscreen, and plan your cute outfits.  This is Italy, after all. 

 

Between matches, the grounds have plenty of food and wine options, because watching tennis on an empty stomach is not the Italian way. 

 

Make a long weekend of it like my husband and I did last year: tennis by day, aperitivo at sunset, cacio e pepe for dinner.

Villa d'Este and Grand Hotel Tremezzo - Lake Como
Two hotels with clay courts on the shores of Lake Como with views so good you'll be easily distracted. Book court time with a pro if you want coaching or just an Italian to flirt with. After tennis, the floating pools on the lake are mandatory.

 

Hotel Cipriani - Venice
One clay court on a private island with views of the Venetian lagoon and San Giorgio Maggiore. It's the only tennis court in Venice (because, canals), which automatically makes it special. Play early before the heat sets in, then take the hotel's private launch across to Venice for lunch. The combination of tennis and a boat commute is unmatched.

 

Verdura Resort - Sicily
Two clay courts and one hard court on Sicily's southern coast with views over olive groves and the Mediterranean. If you're a multi-sport athlete, there are also two golf courses on property as well as a massive spa and a beach club. It's the kind of place where you can be as active or as lazy as you want.

 

Il San Pietro di Positano - Amalfi Coast
One court carved into the cliffside with views of Positano below. It's more about the vibe than serious play ie. this is where you rally for 20 minutes, take photos to prove it wasn't all a dream, and then head to the beach club via the hotel's private elevator. Peak glamour, moderate athletic commitment.

If you want to actually improve your game (or at least say you trained where the pros train), the Mouratoglou Tennis Center at Cala di Volpe in Sardinia is the move. 

 

This facility offers everything from beginner clinics to intensive training programs.  You'll play on the same courts where champions train, get video analysis of your serve, and probably realize you need more practice.

 

The setting is absurd.  Sardinia's emerald coast, white sand beaches, and Mediterranean light make everything look better, including your volley. 

 

Come for the tennis, stay for the fact that you're in Sardinia at a world-class resort.

Look, you could do another beach resort trip where you sit by the pool and catch up on books. 

 

Or you could go to Italy with your girlfriends, play tennis at hotels with views that'll ruin every other court for you, drink wine that costs less than a diet coke, get tan on Mediterranean beaches, squeeze in some culture between matches, and generally live your best life.

 

The Rome Open in May is an obvious anchor: world-class tennis, crowds who are also excited about the sport, and ancient city full of sights and wonder. But you could just as easily skip the tournament and build a trip around playing tennis at ridiculously beautiful hotels, eating your way through different regions, and pretending you're training for something when really you're just on vacation with better amenities.

 

Tennis whites, wine, and Italy. Your friends will say yes before you finish the sentence. Feel free to invite me along too - HA! Feeling inspired? 😉