Florence & Me

This new years was different for me. I didn't feel as melancholy as I usually feel. I was excited! I created a vision board for 2023 on the 31st. I used to create vision boards every year in my 20s. I'm so in love with this one. Hope you have an amazing 2023!!

I'm hoping to connect more with my audience, here's how you do it: 

Send me a voicemail message here, with your questions, travel queries, moving abroad, anything about Italy will do.

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Our Tuscan Wine Club waitlist will close on Jan 6th. Sign up here to get on the waitlist. 

We dove deep into the wine doors spread all over Florence & Tuscany. These doors have been around for 5 centuries. And during the recent pandemic they re-opened for wine & food service. Owned by most of the noble, wealthy families of Florence, these buchette were popular by all people. Wine was drunk by all classes. Given to the sick, in moderation and mothers of newborns. Even today it is said to improve the blood. “Fa buon sangue”. Vintners, traders, and sellers were official suppliers, who had their own guild since 1288. The guild - the arte dei Vinattieri- was open not only to innkeepers and taverners, but also to anyone who sold wine for most of the year or just for one season. So many amazing stories about these very unique little doors. I hope to take my clients on a tour of them during one of my retreats in Florence. :) Hope you enjoy it!

A little more about Giulia:

Urban Yolk Youtube - all about Giulia's move to Italy with her 6 cats and husband, she also has videos on her rare disease, Syringomyelia.

About Katie:

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Leave us a message with your questions on Florence, Italy Travel, how to order a coffee, anything at all.

Giulia from Urban Yolk is back! She and I discuss the meaning of wine in Italy. We compare the differences between South African & American wine cultures. Wine is such a big part of Italians culture. Not just for drinking but for making wine for over 4,000 years. I hope you enjoy it!

A little more about Giulia:

Urban Yolk Youtube - all about Giulia's move to Italy with her 6 cats and husband, she also has videos on her rare disease, Syringomyelia.

Creation Vineyard in South Africa

About Katie:

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Leave us a message with your questions on Florence, Italy Travel, how to order a coffee, anything at all. 

I'm so excited for you all to meet and get to know my dear friend Giulia. Originally from South Africa, she and her husband (and 6 cats) recently moved back to Italy. We have reconnected which has been amazing for us and now we are creating and building our businesses together. YAY! You'll learn how we met or what we remember from meeting each other. And you'll get a feel on how much we both love and feel so connected to Italy. I seriously cannot wait to see what unfolds with us working together. :) OH and Happy Thanksgiving to my American listeners!

Here's how you can get to know Giulia and her journey more: Urban Yolk YouTube , Urban Yolk website

Check out my retreats next year: Tuscany Travel Retreats

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Cantina La Frasca is the first vineyard I've visited outside of the Chianti. This is also the furthest south I've visited a vineyard. I was welcomed by Matteo on our first visit, last June, with a smile. Our tour of the vineyard seemed more than an hour because we talked and talked and talked about all the amazing traditions his family created because of this vineyard. A very small vineyard, they have a wine bar in the center of Cetona where locals and tourist alike visit. We were treated like family when we visited. I got to meet and speak with his mom and dad. The best part was seeing how happy his mom was when she presented the cheese, meats and bread. I can tell how much the family enjoys their work. It comes from within, from their heart. 

Wanna visit Matteo and his family next year? Choose our first women's retreat, Spirit & Soul Retreat.

Check out my retreats next year: Tuscany Travel Retreats

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Follow me on instagram: @katerinafiore & @truly_italy

Castelfalfi is a resort town. If you are looking for a morning visit to a historic borgo on a hill, Castelfalfi is the place. We visited here in early October, I was so surprised of the beauty that surrounds this angelic place. It is on the high end of restaurants, shopping and hotel experience. If you are like me who likes to visit and that's it, then I would recommend it. The views from above are AMAZING! Wanna visit Castelfalfi with me? 

Check out my retreats next year: Tuscany Travel Retreats

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Follow me on instagram: @katerinafiore & @truly_italy

Monteriggioni was one of Stefano and I's first stop on one of our week long vacations in Tuscany. I had never heard of this town and was glad we spent the morning here back in 2012. This castle was a lookout for the Sienese army while Florence and Siena were battling over land and cities. I plan on taking my clients here just to see what it looks like on top of the wall. You can so so far over the Tuscan Hills. The history is amazing as well. Enjoy! 

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Thanks to all my listeners and all new clients contacting me for trip consulting. I truly appreciate your business. 

This episode highlights Altiero Winery in Greve in Chianti. This vineyard is a newer one for me, because my first visit was in September 2021 with Chelsea. I've talked a lot about Paolo and how passionate he is about his wine. And I love everything about this place and Paolo. 

Altiero is in my new Tuscan Wine Club launching this January. For more information go to Tuscan Wine Club on Truly Italy. 

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I'm still on a high from my retreat. I've been debriefing and thinking hard on how I want my next retreats to be and convey. I got great feedback from my guests and enjoyed getting their feedback being first time Italy travelers. More news coming on what each new retreat will include.

Also Giulia has been the best gift this year thus far. I haven't seen here in 10 years and she made the trip down to Florence to meet me during my retreat this September. We have been talking for the past 3 months on how we can collaborate together. Can't wait to share what we come up with!!

Here's her youtube channel to get to know my South African gem: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj1x-nzCv8oHLjxvUqtjjhA

All about Giulia below

Urban Yolk: https://urbanyolk.ch/

Coltivatore: https://coltivatore.com/

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I'm back from another trip to Tuscany. Our first retreat was a HUGE success! I got great feedback and visited towns I haven't been to in 20 years. It was great looking at Italy through the eyes of a first time traveler to Italy. More good stuff is coming. Be on the lookout for an email with all of the details for our upcoming retreats! 

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Tuscan Wine Club Waitlist (scroll to the bottom)

Follow me on instagram: @katerinafiore & @truly_italy

Website: Truly Italy