Travel Notes from Tours in Italy

Follow me when I’m on tour in Italy, and learn about where I go and who is traveling with me on our walking and culinary tours. Learn what it’s like to be a tour leader in Italy (hellish to heavenly) and come along as I scout out interesting new places, welcoming hotels, and quirky activities to add to our tours. Or you could just hop on a plane and come on over- I’ll show you a great time in Italy.

Peaks of Gastronomy – Michelin Chefs Bring Gourmet Cuisine to Rifugi in the Dolomites

Hiking Italian style means gourmet cuisine in the Dolomites, where Michelin-starred chefs have created special dishes served at mountain rifugi during the "Peaks of Gastronomy" initiative. [more...]


Italian Food Traditions–Furtaies Recipe for Funnel Cakes with Grappa from the Dolomites

The next time you see funnel cakes at a state fair, ask if they add grappa to the batter. That’s a key ingredient in this traditional dessert in the Dolomites, where funnel cakes are called by a variety of names –such as furtaies, strauben, or just plain delicious. [more...]


Involtini – Recipe from a Cooking Class in Sicily

This recipe for involtini, little meat rolls with a citrus flavored stuffing, comes from a casual cooking class in our home kitchen in Sicily. [more...]


Idyllic Coastal Walking in Tuscany’s La Maremma Regional Park

Southern Tuscany is home to an area known as La Maremma, and includes wild, untamed countryside and beautiful walking in a protected park on Tuscany’s coast. Anita reports from a walking tour in La Maremma. [more...]


Italy’s Traditional DOP Cheeses – Provola of the Nebrodi Mountains in Sicily

One of Italy’s historic cheeses is Provola dei Nebrodi, a DOP cheese made in the mountains above Messina, Sicily, and traditionally aged in damp caves. [more...]


Wildflowers in Italy-Orchids & Colorful Wildflowers on a Walking Tour in Sicily

Orchids are just a few of the delights to be found when walking in Sicily during the wildflower season in Italy. Then there's lunch. [more...]


English-Italian Lessons Served with Cappuccino on Tour in Tuscany

In an attempt to clarify pricing in English, a cafe owner in Pienza risked encouraging some wild behavior. Time for an English-Italian lesson along with cappuccino on a tour in Tuscany. [more...]


Christopher Buckley on Dolomites Walking Tour & Via Ferrata Hike

A walking tour in the Dolomites with Christopher Buckley takes an exciting turn as we venture onto a via ferrata hike near Cortina. Christopher talks about his tour on video. [more...]


Cucina – Palermo Sicily Restaurant Review

Cucina is a welcome new addition to the Palermo restaurant scene, with traditional food served in a friendly atmosphere [more...]


On Tour with Anita
Things to Do in Italy