Kimberly's Italy

Welcome to another episode of “Kimberly’s Italy,” where your hosts, Kimberly and Tommaso, take you on a journey through the heart of Italy, exploring its art, culture, cuisine, and the unique challenges travelers face. This episode is packed with insights, stories, and recommendations for anyone looking to experience Italy beyond the surface. Main Themes: Transportation Challenges: Learn about the hurdles travelers encounter, from navigating Rome’s streets to dealing with taxi shortages at airports. Hear a firsthand account of a car accident in Rome and the struggle to find alternative transportation with the complexities of local services. Practical Travel Recommendations: Discover apps like IT Taxi and the benefits of hiring private drivers or using the Leonardo Express train for efficient airport-city commutes. Upcoming Events and Strikes: Get insights into how the planned nationwide taxi strike and the Vatican jubilee in 2025 could impact travel and transportation in Italy. Responsible Tourism: Reflect on the importance of traveling responsibly, considering the environmental and cultural impact of our visits. Learn about the fines for taking sand from Sardinia and the effects of overtourism in cherished locales. Enrolling in STEP: Understand the value of staying informed about potential risks while traveling abroad, especially amidst global unrest. Heartwarming Travel Stories: Be moved by a touching narrative of a client visiting her grandparents’ village in Puglia, showcasing the depth of personal connection that can be found in Italy. What You’ll Learn: How to navigate Italy’s transportation system, including alternatives to traditional taxis and strategies for dealing with strikes and shortages. The importance of responsible tourism and how to minimize your footprint while maximizing your experience. Safety and preparedness strategies for international travelers, ensuring a smooth and informed journey. Episode Highlights: Kimberly and Tommaso share their expertise and passion for Italy, offering listeners a comprehensive guide to making the most of their Italian adventure. Hear real-life stories from clients, including the challenges they faced and the unforgettable moments that made their trips special. Gain valuable insights into planning your trip, from choosing the right transportation to finding those hidden gems that offer a genuine Italian experience. Join us as we delve into the beauty and complexity of traveling in Italy, offering you the tools and knowledge to navigate your journey with confidence and joy. “Kimberly’s Italy” is your passport to a deeper understanding of this magnificent country and its many wonders. Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us make each episode even better. Safe travels, and until next time, Arrivederci!

It was Tommaso’s first visit to this history rich city, therefore we hired a private tour guide who made our visit perfetto! No matter how much you research and read about a destination, you will never learn as much as with a (good) guide. The amount of interesting facts and details we were told kept us happily engaged for hours. Verona offers so much visually with its mix of architecture and a significant amount of the frescoed facades from the 16th century are still visible today, hence it’s nickname of The Painted City. Another big lure to Verona is that it is so small you can walk absolutely everywhere, so no need to find a taxi stand! Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Instagram Facebook

The legendary trattoria on the island of Burano was the perfect way to start our second day in Venezia. It’s one of those family run restaurants that you will remember for years to come. Delicious food, engaging and attentive staff and a classic interior which all comes together to create the perfect Venetian culinary treat. Our second legendary stop was at Venice’s most iconic hotel. It just celebrated it’s 200th anniversary as a continuously run hotel, so it’s clearly filled with history and a roster of notable people who have rest their heads in this luxurious palazzo originally built in the 1400’s.  We share all about both of these legendary places so hit the play button and enjoy!  Follow us on Instagram or Facebook Instagram Facebook

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Episode Summary: In this heartfelt episode, we unpack the bittersweet feelings of returning home after an enchanting trip to Italy. We dive into the complexities of “reentry stress” juxtaposed with their deep longing for the Italian way of life. From navigating travel hiccups to cherishing the quiet moments away from the hustle of tourist spots, we share their honest experiences and tips for future travelers. What You’ll Learn: The Realities of Coming Home: We discuss the emotional rollercoaster of returning to routine life in the States after the freedom and beauty of Italy, using the phrase “reentry is a bitch” to capture their sentiments. Staying in Venice: As a duo we reminisces about our unique stay in a charming, renovated apartment in Venice, located in a former glass blowing factory. This experience allowed us to live like locals, away from the crowds, highlighting the importance of sustainable tourism. Local Dining Experiences: Listeners will get a taste of Italy as we recount our dining adventures, from enjoying fresh seafood in Venice to discovering the exquisite white wines of Friuli. Special mention is made of a cozy meal at Sao Paulo in San Polo Sestiere. Challenges of Tourist Destinations: We provide insights into preparing for visits to popular cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, offering advice on how to navigate the overwhelming tourist presence. Embracing Technology: From QR code menus to Vaporetto tickets, learn how technology can enhance the travel experience in Italy, making navigation and exploration smoother for visitors. Discovering Murano and Burano: We share their experiences visiting the islands of Murano and Burano, touching on the vibrant history, colorful houses, and the centuries-old lace-making tradition of Burano. A Nostalgic Attempt to Revisit Cafe Florian: The episode also shares a touching moment of attempting to revisit memories at Cafe Florian in Piazza San Marco, highlighting how COVID restrictions have impacted traditional experiences. Closing Thoughts: “Kimberly’s Italy” goes beyond just sharing travel tales; it’s about connecting with the heart and soul of Italian culture, and embracing the beauty of its local traditions and people. Whether you’re navigating post-travel blues or planning your next Italian getaway, this episode offers a genuine look into the joys and challenges of traveling, and why, despite everything, Italy remains a country that captures the hearts of many. Next Episode Teaser: Stay tuned for our next episode where we’ll dive deeper into our special lunch in Burano, share more hidden gems of Italy, and continue our discussion on sustainable travel. Join us as we continue to explore the richness of Italian culture, one episode at a time. Remember to subscribe or follow “Kimberly’s Italy” on your favorite podcast platform to stay updated on our adventures and insights. Buon viaggio! Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook

After 6 days in Venezia, we thought we would share with you how to take in the full beauty and magic of this dramatic city despite the crowds, and it’s not even full tourist season yet!  Getting away from the masses around Piazza San Marco allowed us to see the real Venezia. Everything we took in visually, as we roamed through the web of canals and sidewalks (primarily by ourselves), granted us the time to think about the city’s ingenuity and resilience – not the Instagram influencers we left behind! This strategy involves a lot of walking, yet that’s a good thing since you can enjoy a gondola ride on a quiet canal and have your choice of local osterias, not to mention the “tranquilita”! Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook

Everyone as heard of Lake Como, but it’s bigger cousin to the east is a beauty and should probably be added to your list of dream vacations in bel’italia. We will dedicate a few episodes to Garda when we get back to our recording studio, but we share enough here to give you a glimpse into this sweet place. We drove the entire perimeter of the lake and can assure you it’s worth renting a car so can see and experience all that we did. They have public boats as well so you can stop in most villages but it’s a large lake so you will spend more time on the boats, which is obviously not a hardship! Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook

We recorded this episode upon our arrival in Lake Garda after a busy week of planes, trains and automobiles….well, to be honest we took a metro instead of a train! We share a few travel tips on Apple Air Tags, what to do with a long layover in a different city and how to make sure a specific Airbnb is right for you. We flew from Palma, Mallorca to Milano, picked up a rental car with 5 minutes to spare before they closed for the evening, got onto the highway in the pouring rain and within 20 minutes were in the best AutoGrill (highway rest stop) and took advantage of their 50% off sale on wine!   Another travel tip might be to suggest to not arrive in Italy the night before Easter, since just about everything is closed for both Sunday and Monday, which I now know is called Pasqueta, meaning little Easter. Link to my Apple Air Tag Page on our website! Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook

The busy and vibrant port city of Genova is steeped in Maritime history, yet also lays claim to being the birthplace of both Christopher Columbus and the modern-day architect Renzo Piano. Our journey through Genova wouldn’t be complete without savoring the city’s culinary masterpiece, Pesto Genovese! It is reason enough to visit the city, but fortunately there are architectural wonders to visit between your pesto tastings with very grand and refined palazzos which adorn Via Garibaldi. To experience the authentic Genova, you can walk the myriad of “caruggi” (alleyways) that are home to some of the original trattorias featuring pesto naturally, and perhaps some of these same caruggi are where blue jeans were first made.   Follow us on Social Media Instagram Facebook

We decided to share with our listeners the suggestions Kimberly gives her clients while traveling in Italy. Whether it’s your first time or your 10th visit to this amazing country, common courtesies go a long way, and may just get you the best table in the ristorante! Italians excel at dressing well and appreciate when tourists make the effort also. You can still look good in comfortable (and hip) sneakers and believe me when I tell you, they will notice your shoes! The more your travel, the more you learn about each culture and in turn, you also learn how to respect that country’s customs. Hence, our travel tips of how to be a respectful visitor in Italy. Follow us! Instagram Facebook

In this episode we have an entertaining chat with author Angela Correll who bought an ancient house in the teeny village of Montefollonico in the Val d’Orcia area of Tuscany. With a population of just 400, you can imagine the humorous experiences she and her husband have had over the last few years. Angela wrote a book on this adventure called Restored in Tuscany. There is more depth to the book than just the renovation, but I love her way with words and the hilarious manner in which she describes life in a place so small, yet filled with a cast of characters that truly turn it into that Dolce Vita we all dream of. Click here to see where you can buy the book. Follow us! Instagram Facebook

We have more travel news and updates for 2024 and we also want to share some cautionary advice regarding the misinformation which is rampant online. There are thousands of self-proclaimed Italian Travel Experts and Influencers out there who are not as knowledgeable as they try to appear, yet they do look good in a bathing suit! There are new rules being implemented in various parts of Italy and we want you to be aware of them, so you don’t get fined. We assume our listeners don’t fall into the category of Disrespectful Tourists, but you should know what not to do in Lake Garda just in case!   Follow us!  Instagram Facebook

This episode dishes out some travel news, updates and new rules implemented for 2024. Italy is trying to deal with the volume of tourists while maintaining it’s standing as the 4th most popular European country to visit. Venice has been faced with the possibility of being on Unesco’s World Heritage Danger list, so they finally implemented a 5 € entry fee which most people agree is not nearly enough to make a difference – and it will only be in place for 29 specific dates. However, baby steps is better than nothing. We will share the website below so you know exactly how to get your QR code to enter the city, and most importantly to find out the 29 days the fee will be required. We also share the news about the fabulous Orient Express and Dolce Vita train routes. The price may not be in your budget, but it’s always fun to dream big! Follow us!  Instagram Facebook  Kimberly's Italy is your source for all aspects Italian travel.... Ciao, Ciao! Venice Access Fee https://cda.ve.it/it

Tasting boards in Parma can’t be beat if you are a fan of ham or cheese, or both! To taste the difference between 24 or 36 month cheese is always a treat, but then throw in the various types of parma ham for meat lovers – pure heaven! Parma is capitol of the Emilia-Romagna Food Valley and it also boasts the honor of a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy title. This small and refined city is also home to Palazzo Pilotta which houses the stunning Reading Room named after their former Duchess, and Napoleon’s 2nd wife, Maria Luigia. The Palazzo’s crown jewel, Il Teatro Farnese is one of the most extraordinary examples of theatrical architecture from the XVII century. It was almost totally destroyed in WWII, yet gratefully it has been restored to it’s former glory. We believe you can enjoy several days in this sophisticated and appetizing city! Please follow us on Face and Instagram! Instagram Facebook  Our Website: https://www.kimberlysitaly.com

Tommaso’s first time in the Italian city of Parma was basically Prosciutto Paradiso! The city’s historic center is very charming, colorful, clean and full of well dressed, and well-fed Italians. We entered every salumeria, cheese shop and combinations of the two, all of which made us both want to live in this sweet little city.  The historic center is brimming with all kinds of culinary goods, but the Parma ham takes center stage. Who knew there are so many types of Prosciutto each with it’s own name and DOP label. The locals seem to take great pride in their city’s moniker of Citta di Gastronomia / The City of Gastronomy. Instagram Facebook  https://www.kimberlysitaly.com Kimberly's Italy is your source for all aspects Italian travel.... Ciao, Ciao!

Hopefully most of you know what a Fiat Cinque Cento looks like, however if not, they are the smallest cars imaginable, yet they are as cute as can be! Cinque Cento means 500 hundred in Italian, and when referring to a car, that means 500 horsepower.  We rented two vintage Cinque Centos for the day in Tuscany, one from 1969 and one from 1974. It was hard to believe that the little engine was as efficient as 500 horses, but it did indeed make it up each mountain and hugged each switchback! It was loud, and bumpy yet fun as could be. Afterall, how often do you get to drive a teeny car on back roads with a landscape comprised of cypress trees lining each curve, vineyards and olive orchards in the distance, and medieval village on the crest of every mountain top? It was a very memorable day indeed! https://www.kimberlysitaly.com Instagram Facebook

Tommaso finally gets to visit Nostra Vita in person! A small vineyard owned and nurtured by an incredibly creative family, is a little slice of Tuscan heaven. It is also an experience to treasure since everywhere you look, everything you see or touch or taste, was made by them. Annibale (the father and vintner) has been described many times as a present-day Leonardo da Vinci due to what he has designed, made, built, and envisioned. I have sent many clients to Nostra Vita who have thanked me profusely for “the absolute best day of their trip”. And the second-best part is when the wine they ordered, is delivered to their home country! Please follow us on Face and Instagram! Instagram Facebook  Our Website: https://www.kimberlysitaly.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Artist Emanuele Giannelli Website https://www.emanuelegiannelli.it/

Our first night in Montepulciano was just going to be dinner at a small local ristorante, however duty called when our friend we were travelling with requested some much needed supplies from a pharmacy / farmacia. The timing was not opportune since the autumn harvest festival took over the entire village which made the drive comically challenging, but we prevailed! There are a few travel tips to be learned in this episode between the advantages of small Italian pharmacies, and where NOT to go on a beautiful Sunday in the countryside – listen closely for Kimberly’s admission to the rookie travel mistake! Please follow us on Face and Instagram! Instagram Facebook  Our Website: https://www.kimberlysitaly.com

Our back road drive to Todi in Umbria was picture perfect, as was our stay in a renovated small castle. One wrong step off the road did result in a broken wrist for our friend, but she was a trooper and carried on to the medieval festival in Todi, along with lunch and aperol spritzs for pain management! Tommaso and Kimberly drove to the very old, and very small village of Montefalco and were pleasantly surprised to not run across a single other tourist – a welcome relief after the 4 days in Firenze. Umbria’s landscape differs from Tuscany’s, but it is also captivating and worthy of driving on back roads, which is the best way to see Italy’s stunning countryside. https://www.kimberlysitaly.com Instagram Facebook