Are you planning a trip to the charming streets of Italy? Whether you're a language enthusiast or just looking to connect with the locals, learning a few essential Italian phrases and slang words can take your experience to the next level. Here's a quick guide to some of the spoken and unspoken la

Ever wonder what it’s like living in a small town in Sicily? Well, I can give you a glimpse of San Giuseppe Jato, a small town in the middle of the valley of Mazara between Corleone and Calatafimi! View overlooking San Giuseppe Jato I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up near the mountains, which m

Monastery of Monserrat⛰️: Montserrat originated millions of years ago, when this whole area was a delta. A slow process of erosion molded the rocks creating a very peculiar relief of capricious shapes. Many of its peaks are over 1,000 meters high, the highest being St. Jeroni, which reaches 1,236 m

Galicia, tucked into the northwest corner of Spain, truly is the country’s hidden gem. It has delicious food, beautiful scenery and great weather (in the summer!*) - and the best part is that it has fewer tourists than other parts of Spain. *As Galicia is located on the northwest Atlantic coast, i

Murano is a colorful island about 30-minutes east of Venice via water taxi. It’s most known for the tradition of glass-making. In fact, the biggest attraction is the Museo del Vetro, which tells the story of glass through the centuries. On the island stands the Basilica of Saint Mary and Saint Don

After hiking for about 30-40 minutes up a hill you will find an entrance to Grotta del Garrone. I’d suggest bringing a hard hat, hiking boots, a flashlight, and water on your excursion. The entrance to the cave has about three sections. First, you will enter the cave and be stopped by a rope.

There are so many pizzerias in Florence, but I’m convinced I found one of the best ones! It has a great atmosphere, delicious food, and is located away from the city center. This pizzeria is on the north side of the city, across the Mugnone river, and near Piazza della Vittoria. You enter Pizzeri

La Valle dello Jato, luogo in cui risiedo, nasconde delle bellezze inestimabili. Naturalistiche, storiche, archeologiche, etc...Le nasconde e non possiamo che scoprirle :) Ecco perché un gruppo di volontari ha deciso di lanciare l'iniziativa Valle dello Jato - Mappiamo la bellezza, che ho il piac

La struggente bellezza della valle Jato colpisce e ammalia il visitatore, tanto da far avvertire un certo "malessere" da sindrome di Stendhal nel visitarla. Da qui l'espressione "Mal di Jato" (coniata da un mio caro amico) che ne sintetizza il fascino. Nell'antica città di Jato, in più 2000 anni

I took a trip to Italy the day of the outbreak in COVID-19 cases I arrived in Milan February 22, 2020 and was part of the large group of people who underestimated the virus. A part of me thought while leaving the US, “there’s no way I should be allowed to travel” but I figured if the situation

Bologna has food for all cravings, and to fit all budgets. Top pasta restaurants: 1. Sfoglia Rina - Bologna: Via Castiglione, 5/b, 40124 Bologna BO, Italy: Located in the city center with the line out the door, the wait is completely with it! They make fresh pasta everyday and also sell it in th

Florence is flooded with millions of tourists each year, but when should you go to avoid the crowds? Florence is the home of the Uffizi Gallery, 'The David' by Michelangelo, the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), and of course the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It is a living museum! There’s no q

Before you even consider going skiing, you need first decide whether you mind being helpless for a week afterward because it is an extremely physically exhausting holiday. On the other hand, Arinsal is unquestionably the best spot for you to learn how to ski or snowboard! Arinsal is a village in And

Ever wonder what it's like to roam fairytale-like castles and the most enchanting gardens? Well, Sintra is the place for you! With the colorful and unique castles in the foothills of Portugal’s Sintra Mountains, this is the perfect day trip from Lisbon. We took a trip to Sintra in May and he

It's hard to believe you haven't seen these photos by now, but this is Cinque Terre. With nearly 2 million visitors per year, it has quickly become a popular destination for tourists, but I've always wondered why? The Basics 🗣 Pronunciation: Chin-quay Ter-re If you're still lost - try a quic

Florence, as the primary Renaissance city, is a mandatory holiday destination for history, food, and culture lovers. Sitting at the north of Tuscany, Florence was founded by the Romans and maintained its status as a commercial centre during the middle ages before becoming the cultural hub it is know

Short history lesson: The Medici were an Italian banking family and political dynasty. The family rose to power in Florence in the 15th century and ruled till the 18th century. They owned several villas outside of Florence. Villa Demidoff is the current name of Medicean Paggeria of Pratolino, one

Hiking in my town is very common, we live in Jato Valley, surrounded by mountains. Near the small town of San Giuseppe Jato, Sicily, is a town called Dammusi. There you can find a Mountain Dammusi, next to another more well known mountain called ‘Mirabella’. Between these two mountains is an old

The small towns of Sicily are charming, picturesque, and all very different. I am from a small town in Sicily, so my opinion might be a little biased, but I hope you can agree with me after reading this post! Sicily has been influenced by the Greeks, Romans, Arab, Normans, French, and Spanish. Th

In the center of Italy, just above Rome, are two thought-provoking places that will help anyone with a creative block or capture the attention of someone who likes aesthetics. La Scarzuola: An Architect's Dream According to their website it was a convent founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1

Tenerife è una delle 7 isole dell'arcipelago delle Canarie (Spagna). La città principale dell'isola è Santa Cruiz de Tenerife e anche capoluogo della provincia omonima.La lingua principale è lo spagnolo, ma si parla anche l'inglese. La sua origine risale a circa 12 milioni di anni fa, ed è preva

Bologna has some hidden gems that take you around the city. 1. La Piccola Venezia: Via Piella, 5, 40126 Bologna BO, Italy: This literally translates to ‘The Little Venice’. It has a view that is similar to Venice through a small window. You will find the window on Via Piella, but there is another

I love Barcelona! Barcelona is so colorful and filled with art that you’re going to need at least a week to really embrace the culture and drink all the sangria you can. It’s the home of Gaudí, Miró, Casas, and so many other artists that come from Catalonia or Barcelona! The mosaics that make up