But. I do not only love Italy…

Since visiting Italy for the first time at 18 years old, I have devoted myself to her through exploration in literature, lived experiences, and food.

     I completed a BA in English literature with a concentration in creative writing. Here, I am happy to explore a new digital channel to fuse my passion for writing with my passion for Italian culture (history, literature, art, food and wine!). I spent a semester in 2007 studying abroad in Rome, Italy, and this was decisively the most influential five months of my life (which I will expand on in my Lazio section). After finishing my BA, I went on to complete an MA in English Literature at the University of York in England; specifically, I studied Romantic and Sentimental literature, focusing my research on 18th-19th century British writers who visited and wrote about Italy (the bel paese), and Rome, in particular. I have now lived in Rome permanently since 2010.

I reference my literary predecessors (and other literary connections) throughout this website, while also attempting to contribute to the canon of practical and creative 21st century travel writing by providing tips and suggestions for English speaking travelers planning a visit to any or all of the 20 regions of Italy.

The purpose of this website…

In the 21st century, we have a wide range of resources at our disposal, from personal blogs to academic books; if you are anything like me, you consult the gamut when planning a trip. That said, I do understand not everyone enjoys conducting laborious, or academic, research while planning what should, ultimately, be a relaxing escape. Therefore, I have attempted to synthesize, or rather pepper in, some provocative literary, cultural, and historical facts that will enhance your experiences in the diverse regions of Italy. As English-speaking travelers and expatriates, we are building on a legacy that started with the Grand Tour and continues today. The earliest Grand Tourists that came to Italy were only wealthy young English men and their governors in as early as the 17th century. Fortunately, the world of travel became much more egalitarian after 1815, and the end of the Napoleonic wars, and this trend has continued for over 200 years. For more information about Grand Tourists, I would consult James Buzard. He is an eminent authority on travel writing and his work is accessible and enlightening:

Buzard, James. The Beaten Track: European Tourism, Literature, and the Ways to ‘Culture’

1800-1918. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993.

 —. “The Grand Tour and After (1660-1840)”. The Cambridge Companion to Travel Writing. eds. Peter Hulme and Tim Youngs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, 37-53.

     I have attempted to make this website fairly academic by consulting and citing reliable (and some scholarly) sources, but I also worked to make it accessible and useful. For example, I will not be offended if you scan the content and click on the Food and Wine and specific Restaurant recommendation sections. I can personally vouch for every recommendation, and I would love you to share your feedback in the comments after visiting. Although I recommend restaurants in which I have had delightful and delicious experiences, all of them are (should be!) rated over 4 stars on Google.  Please let me know if you observe anything different.  (I now prefer Google Reviews to Tripadvisor, although I often consult both sites in addition to Yelp and other independent food blogs. See an article in support of Google for reviews here.)

Unfortunately, as time passes, some restaurants inevitably close their doors. I find this happens MUCH less frequently, however, in Italy than in the United States. Still, the pandemic did take its toll on some restaurants making post 2020 closures, especially outside of the major tourist destinations, more common. I am attempting to keep everything up to date when this happens.

     As stated, I encourage you to use my work to cross-reference with other websites, blogs and books. While I have included references to literary figures and what they said about certain regions, I have also included contemporary anecdotes that my Italian friends and students have shared about the regions they call home. Therefore, I hope a wide audience will find this site educational and practically useful. 

The organization of this website…

     I have commented on all twenty regions of Italy, sharing unique experiences of my travels in these regions, and originally, I chose one primary city to highlight per region. I provide recommendations for Restaurants and Spots in the featured city and then recommend other Regional Features such as other cities to explore within the region.

     Some cities will be more comprehensive, and others will have plenty of room to grow. For example, I initially selected ten Restaurants, ten Spots and ten Regional Features for Lazio, as I have made Rome, Lazio my home. For restaurants in Rome, I have also added a general introduction to the area in which the restaurant is found.

     For each region, I start with a General Introduction. Here, I include some anecdotes that touch upon aspects of the regional culture and history, both ancient and modern. I frequently make connections to literature and film, two of my favorite things.  Next, you will find a more specific post for an Introduction to the featured city as well. Finally, there is a Food and Wine post for each region. The purpose of this is to provide background information on the most popular dishes from each region. These are the dishes and wines I encourage you to seek out in the recommended Restaurant sections.

I have now continued adding posts as I make second, third, fourth rounds of the regions. Thus, you will find more posts some titled ‘Revisited’ and others will be additional Regional Features.

     I encourage you to read about every region if you are considering a trip and undecided about which region(s) to visit. I suggest some regions that can be paired together as well. Happy reading and buon viaggio!

     All photographs are mine, taken by me, or by my travel companions, and thus, they are published here with permission, unless otherwise cited with the origin in the caption.