This episode explores the rich history and luxurious experiences of ancient spas, from the newly discovered private spa in Pompeii to the ancient thermal baths of Baia and the renowned Baths of Caracalla in Rome. I’ll also take you to Ischia's hot springs and Nitrodi, the oldest spa in the world. Learn about the technological marvels of Roman baths and how to incorporate these rejuvenating experiences into your own Italian travel itinerary.

00:00 Special Announcement: Chef Mario Stellato will visit New York on February 28, 2025, for a dinner at the James Beard Foundation’s Platform at Pier 57. Buy tickets here and use code cheffeb10 for a 10% discount.

01:59 Road Trip and Pompeii's New Discovery

02:59 The Wonders of Ancient Roman Spas

03:57 Exploring Pompeii's Private Spa

07:26 Baia: The Roman Elite's Luxury Escape

12:15 The Baths of Caracalla in Rome

16:56 Ischia: The Island of Hot Springs

19:41 Nitrodi: The World's Oldest Spa

24:41 Conclusion and Future Episodes

Want more ideas for your self-planned itinerary? Join our subscriber community here to access our monthly Zoom calls or book a one-on-one Trip Consultation. 

Note for subscribers: Our monthly Zoom is on January 21st at 8 pm ET and the link is the Tante Belle Cose community. If you can’t make it, email me your question. I’ll answer it live and share the recording the next day.

Florence is experiencing some of the world’s worst over-tourism, with wine windows and big sandwiches overshadowing the best reason to go there: art. In this episode, I hope to inspire you to step into the world of the Renaissance by introducing you to the Tornabuoni family. They were the second wealthiest family in Florence, next to the Medici, and their lives can be easily compared to those of the billionaire class of New York City or Silicon Valley.

In particular, you’ll meet 14-year-old Ludovica Tornabuoni and learn how she would have used horse urine to dye her blonde hair and the toxic herb belladonna to dilate her pupils, conforming to the beauty standards of her day.

This deep dive into the Renaissance offers a few solutions to Florence's toxic tourism. We can play a vital role in preserving Florence's cultural legacy by shifting focus from fleeting social media trends to the city's enduring artisanal traditions—be it leather crafting, paper marbling, or art restoration. If you think you’re not an “art or museum person,” give this a listen, and let me know if I’ve changed your mind in the comments.

00:38 Falling in Love with Florence

00:57 The Art of Florence

01:49 Experiencing Art in Its Original Setting

02:45 Overtourism in Florence

04:43 A Different Perspective on Florence

04:59 Exploring Santa Maria Novella

08:18 The Tornabuoni Chapel

18:18 Beauty Ideals in Renaissance Florence

24:14 Florentine Artisan Heritage

27:28 Conclusion and Subscriber Community

In this festive episode, I delve into the origins and traditions of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a cherished Italian American Christmas Eve celebration. Joined by Patrick O'Boyle from the Italian American Podcast, I explore the history and myths surrounding the 'seven fishes' notion, its sudden popularity in the 1980s, and how different fish dishes evolved. We share personal anecdotes, regional variations, and insights from chef Anita DiPietro on the significance of numbers in Italian culinary traditions. The episode also features a detailed account of Christmas Eve preparations and recipes from my dear friend Jennifer Federico, spotlighting the cultural richness and adaptability of Italian American holiday customs.

00:00 Introduction to the Feast of the Seven Fishes

00:39 Origins and Theories of the Seven Fishes

02:44 Italian American Traditions and Memories

05:37 Post-War Changes and Modern Adaptations

08:40 Cultural Significance and Personal Stories

19:28 Conclusion and Future Plans

This episode features a live trip consultation with Krista Senatore over Zoom. We discuss her upcoming trip to Italy with her 13-year-old daughter. We explore logistics, including traveling to Naples, renting a car, and visiting historical sites like Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, Matera, and various coastal towns in Cilento and Puglia. I provide detailed recommendations on accommodations, transportation, and unique experiences, such as the underwater archaeological site in Baia. We also discuss potential beach destinations and how to incorporate authentic cultural experiences into their trip.

The episode aims to offer valuable insights and practical advice for anyone planning a trip to Italy, mainly focusing on less touristy and more enriching experiences.

00:00 Welcome to Tante Belle Cose

00:14 Live Trip Consultation Introduction

01:33 Meet Krista and Her Travel Plans

03:15 Travel Logistics and Flight Options

05:45 Exploring Matera: The Cave City

15:13 Pompeii and Surrounding Archaeological Sites

22:30 Driving in Italy: Tips and Advice

25:43 Navigating Matera: Parking and Hospitality Tips

26:21 Exploring Matera: Hotels and Walking Tips

27:20 Discovering Matera's Historical Sites

27:44 The Murgia Valley: Cave Churches and Ancient Footprints

28:28 The Cave of the Original Sin: A Unique Experience

31:37 Exploring Altamura and Nearby Beaches

34:44 Puglia: Beaches, Cities, and Budget Tips

41:58 Returning to Naples: Must-See Sites and Tips

46:33 Planning Your Trip: Final Tips and Resources

If you’d like to book your Trip Consultation, visit: https://www.feasttravel.com/travel-consultation

When I sat down to update our free guide, Five Essential Things to Know Before Planning Your Italy Trip, I realized it deserved more than a refresh—it needed to become a podcast episode that could be easily shared. With overtourism’s effects becoming increasingly visible, it’s important to have a realistic picture of what to expect so you can plan well. This episode distills the guide into actionable advice with fresh insights added.

I’ve also decided to offer a live Q&A for our subscribers. Put December 2 at 8 PM ET on your calendar. I’ll answer your travel questions live, and if you can’t attend, put your question in the subscriber chat, and I’ll answer it. Subscribers will also get a link to the Zoom recording the following day.

If you're already a subscriber, you don’t need to do anything. I’ll send you the Zoom link before the call—just mark the date. And if you’re not yet a subscriber…

00:38 Upcoming Changes for 2025

02:14 Trip Planning Essentials

03:07 Overtourism and Pricing

04:57 Exploring the Amalfi Coast

09:24 Rome Travel Tips

12:42 Venice Is Not A Day Trip

14:24 Wine Tasting Beyond Tuscany

16:31 Debunking Myths About Naples

18:45 Bonus Round!

20:04 Conclusion and Q&A Reminder

Last year, I wrote “Authentic Italian Food Is Not What The Internet Thinks It Is” about the unlikely places where traditional Italian cooking is found. One is Antica Trattoria Di Pietro, which opened in 1934 in the village of Melito Irpino. When an earthquake destroyed the ancient town, the government built a new Melito designed by Brutalist architects. The trattoria moved into its new home, where it remains today.

Since last year, I’ve gotten to know Anita Di Pietro a little better, and I was honored she opened the doors for me on their day off to record this episode. Officially, she is the chef but doesn’t feel comfortable with that title, which she’ll explain in this episode. Her mother, Teresa, who helmed the kitchen before Anita returned home at 27 years old to take over, was also there testing a new recipe while we chatted. Crescenzo, Anita’s father and one of the fiercest stewards of traditional Italian cuisine, was out shopping with Rafi Bildner, an American chef who fell deeply in love with the Di Pietro family, and you’ll hear all about his restaurant called Hilltown, which will recreate a piece of Melito in the Berkshires. You’ll also meet Sarah Pompei, a passionate ambassador for Irpinia’s food and winemakers who have so much to share but are challenging to find in the tourism marketplace.

I intended for this episode to explore traditional recipes in depth, but when you’re in Anita’s “magic circle,” you go where the conversation takes you. It’s an episode full of laughter, clanking forks, and a cameo from my dog Lenù, who ate her weight in steak that day.

We do also discuss dishes like minestra maritata, from which the Americanized “Italian wedding soup” derives. In Irpinia, it’s made with seven different kinds of wild greens, inexpensive pork cuts, and a crunchy piece of polenta. You’ll also hear me gush over the delicious involtinti di verza and cabbage-wrapped cheese, and I’ve included the recipe for our paid subscribers.

The episode also discusses the massive changes in Italian food culture, including the impact of the passing generations and the importance of local food and food makers.

00:24 Discovering Melito Irpino

01:16 Inside the Trattoria

01:41 Traditional Italian Recipes

04:22 The History of Antica Trattoria di Pietro from Melito to South Africa

06:32 Anita's Magic Circle

10:48 Cooking Classes Are Part of a New Era For the Trattoria

17:39 Why Anita Does Not Want To Be Called A Chef

23:07 Reflections on Simple Living

If you enjoy this episode, please share it on social media! This is a new podcast, and I want it to reach all those who will appreciate these stories about Italy's hidden treasures.

Last week, I helped one of my relatives harvest olives at Borgo La Pietraia. Giovanni reflected on his memories of when women collected olives entirely by hand and would place them in the folds of their aprons. We discussed this while watching the gardener use a mechanical weed whacker designed to knock the olives loose from the tree, and he said something wise. (Giovanni has many wise things to say; I call him my Italian Yoda.)

He said that we're no longer at the end of an era. We're firmly at the beginning of a new, very long era. And changes are occurring that we can't barely imagine. But we're also still at a place where we can look back and see how people have lived for centuries, especially in these small villages around southern Italy.  And they are very much worth looking back at because they have so much to teach us.

In this week’s episode, I’ll take you for a walk around Trentinara, one of my favorite small towns in Italy, and share how I look and notice all the small details that reveal so much.

00:17 Harvesting Olives with Giovanni

01:11 Exploring Small Villages in Italy

01:44 A Walk Through Trentinara

03:33 The Charm of Small Towns

08:06 The Wisdom of Small-Town Living

11:53 Revitalizing Small Villages

13:41 Finding and Visiting Small Villages and the Borghi Piu Belli

21:56 Conclusion and Community Invitation

Planning an Italy trip is difficult, especially considering the incredible range of experiences you can have in a geographically small country. This challenge is paired with many misconceptions that can lead you astray. In this episode of Tante Belle Cose, I’ll discuss the most common ones and give you a more accurate picture of iconic experiences like the Tuscan Villa and Amalfi Coast. I will address practical challenges such as driving necessities and hidden costs of renting a villa while debunking fear-mongering myths, particularly around pickpocketing.

I’ll also discuss why August can be the best month for travelers seeking a truly authentic experience of Italian life for those willing to leave the bucket list behind and get into Italy’s small towns in the mountains and along the coast.

It also offers strategies to navigate the crowded, popular sites impacted by cruise tourism, with tips on visiting during off-peak times and exploring lesser-known regions. And for the early-bird planners who fear that Italy is already sold out for 2025, I’ll explain how the sausage is made in the travel industry and why you’re not too late to book your trip.

00:12 Common Misconceptions About Italy Trips

01:13 The Tuscan Villa Experience

03:07 Challenges of Driving in Italy

05:00 The Reality of the Amalfi Coast

07:36 Navigating YouTube Travel Advice

11:11 August: A Controversial Travel Month

11:21 Debunking August Travel Myths

11:45 Discovering Authentic Italy in August

12:32 Exploring Italy's Summer Festivals

13:52 Tips for Visiting Italy's Small Towns

15:50 Navigating Italy's Tourist Hotspots

19:22 Planning for Your Italian Adventure

21:41 Join Our Subscriber Community

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Trip Audits are a professional evaluation of your travel plans and/or self-planned itinerary. Within 48 hours, you’ll receive a detailed video packed with my advice, recommendations, and tips.

Trip Consultations are a 60-minute conversation on Zoom with Danielle Oteri about your trip. It’s ideal for those overwhelmed by trip planning to skip the learning curve and get right to the best answers.

Last year, Michele Iorio gave me the most delicious olive oil I ever tasted. I was fresh off an overnight flight and had just stepped out of the shower when Arianna, my cousin and business partner, sent me a messagino to come say a quick hello to her friend. He, too, had a business with his American family.

Seeing my wet hair and tired eyes, Michele said, “I speak English!” which was a relief. He told me a little about his new olive oil company, Ventiolivi, which means twenty olives. Over one hundred years ago, his great-great uncle left Italy when he was just 16 years old to work in the Pennslyvania coal mines. He sent back money that allowed the family to purchase land with twenty olive trees and change their fates. Michele had stopped by Borgo La Pietraia to give samples to Arianna and Chef Mario Stellato, and he also gave me two small bottles.

Back home, I carefully rationed every drop of olive oil because not only did it taste brighter or fresher than anything I could buy in the US, but it also tasted like the herb-strewn land of Cilento—the place I love best and where my own family tree is rooted.

In this episode, I speak with Michele, who makes this olive oil from the thousands of olive trees that followed those first twenty. In June of 2024, we met again at Borgo La Pietraia to discuss his company and oleo tourism, which connects tourists with olive oil producers to have experiences similar to wine tastings and more deeply connect to Italy’s food culture. Michele is also a professor of oleo tourism at Università degli Studi Roma Tre.

Then, in August, I chatted with his American cousin, Michael Yorio. Michael met Michele when he traveled to Italy to run a half-marathon. He decided to go up in the hills and find his grandfather’s village. A local cop spent the afternoon digging through the village’s records and reconnected the family who had lost contact for decades. I spent the afternoon with Michael at The Cloisters in New York City, where you can hear birds chirping in the background.

I hope you will be inspired by this story, which taught me how beautiful life can be when you give attention and appreciation to the earth and all her gifts.

Vittoria Colonna was the most influential woman of the Renaissance, known for her 'male brains' and collaborations with Michelangelo. The discovery of a mummy in Naples may explain what happened to her body when she died and reveal an even more significant, history-changing secret.

00:00 A Love Story for the Ages

01:05 Exploring Naples and Ischia with Rita

01:44 The Aragonese Kings and Their Health Secrets

02:41 The Mysterious Mummy Discovery

03:53 Unraveling the Mystery of Vittoria Colonna

05:44 A Personal Journey to Ischia

08:57 The Life and Legacy of Vittoria Colonna

12:58 Michelangelo's Obsession

22:15 The Androgynous Ideal in the Renaissance

31:14 The Final Mystery and Conclusion