I hopscotched across several canals by way of footbridges—each one different from the next—and strolled alongside the glittering waterways without any crowds jostling me. In fact, I marveled at having the place practically to myself on a sunny day in late June. Next, I clambered into a flat-bottomed boat called a batana for a placid glide along the canals...
Sipping Aperol spritz at an outdoor café while watching the high-fashion parade of the evening passaggiata unfold along marble-lined promenades…or lazing on the terrace of a centuries-old stone farmhouse as the heat haze shimmers on a vista of cypress trees and olive groves… Everyone has their own personal dream of Italy...
If you want art and culture, Italy has plenty of that. The world’s most acclaimed artists and composers lived and worked here, defining the concepts and ideals of their fields. There are countless places to enjoy world-class museums filled with archaeological artifacts and exquisite art. But a region that stands out for its quality of life and beautiful cities is Emilia-Romagna. It’s one of the wealthiest regions in the country and offers great lifestyle, with a blend of outdoor activities and cultural pursuits.
When Lisa and Tony Castrignano boarded their flight in Boston this past September to start a new life in Italy, they also had their two dogs and two cats in tow. "We never considered leaving our pets in the States," says Lisa. The couple...
The first thing you notice is the calming scent of lavender. It hangs faintly on the air everywhere, in the garden and in the house. That’s not surprising; the eco-lodge is named for the lavender that owners Elizabeth Perkins and Hans Groot grow on their farm amid a patchwork of rolling hills in Le Marche, between the mountains and the sea.
Your morning begins with a frothy cappuccino and a fresh-baked cornetto at the café just a few steps from your stylish loft apartment. A chat with the other regulars and a glance at the newspaper ease you into the day. Then you make your way through the weekly mercato to select ripe...
With the heady fragrance of fresh truffle wafting from the kitchen, my mouth waters as I await the plate of handmade tagliolini pasta that will soon be coming my way, while sunlight filters onto the patio. It’s easy to think that this is the perfect Italian hill town. But then, there are so many to choose from.
The geographic heart of Italy is Umbria, which is smack in the center of the peninsula. It is also called the “green heart of Italy” for its agricultural heritage, its forests, and its verdant hills of olives and vines. Umbria shares a lot with its neighboring regions of Tuscany and Le Marche—the same picturesque landscape, brick-built hill towns, and similar cuisine.
I remember the moment when the thought of moving to Italy first embedded itself in my head. My husband and I already loved the country after several trips there—but hadn’t considered anything beyond a few weeks’ vacation. We were in the lovely seaside town of Sperlonga, south of Rome, meandering along the delightful, squiggly lanes, when suddenly we walked into a small piazza, and a picture-perfect scene of daily life played out in about one minute.
Sitting at a cliff-side table overlooking the white-washed old town of Polignano a Mare, my husband Bryan and I marvel at how it manages to stay on its rock and not slide into the water below.