A Personal Guide to Travel and Life in Italy

Follow the wild orchid season while walking in Italy and find out the best times to go on a wildflower walk from Sicily to the Dolomites.

In my travels through Italy, I have compiled a list of recommended hotels that serve the best breakfast in Italy. Here are two of my 5–star favorites.

A few special wildflowers bloom in autumn in Italy, like fragrant saffron crocus and bright yellow sternbergia, a daffodil masquerading as a crocus.

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

My favorite walking route for this spectacular hike in the Dolomites of Italy, and how to avoid most of the crowds on the popular walking trails around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

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.

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.

Take a short walking tour of my backyard in Sicily in the spring and you’ll soon find enough wildflowers for a beautiful bouquet. Here are some tips on making a wildflower bouquet.

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

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.