A Personal Guide to Travel and Life in Italy

The trials and tribulations of making the perfect latte di mandorla, with this traditional almond milk recipe from Sicily.

The Festa di San Giuseppe in Sicily is a feast day that honors St. Joseph, and it mainly centers around food. The tavolata – laden table – of sweets and festival breads, and a day-long food auction are part of the celebrations. Of course, I was there to bid.

Autumn wildflowers in Italy include the magical mandrake plant, said to have mysterious powers.

Bartering with a farmer in Modica, Sicily brings us traditional caciocavallo cheese in exchange for weeds.

Take a tour of my walled garden in Modica Sicily, and enjoy the real world of spring.

Spectacular walking & hiking tours in the Dolomites just got more enticing with these special offers and discounts.

The blooming thyme in my garden in Sicily is glorious right now, while more backaches are in store before I can get the latest drought resistant plants in place.

Life in a Tuscan farmhouse is interrupted by a plumbing adventure, and the mystery of the black well unfolds.

Experience the artichoke moment, when huge bundles of artichokes are bargain priced at the outdoor food market in Syracuse Sicily, and learn how to cook them with one of our favorite Italian artichoke recipes.

Accepting an invitation to dinner on a cashmere goat farm in Tuscany can be an unusual experience in veterinary training.