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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 

Our day trip to Assisi proved to be more enriching than we all thought it would be. Most people go to see the Basilica of St Francis, but this sweet little city also offers a plethora of history. The Temple of Minerva from the first century BC, along with several other significant churches, and Rocca Maggiore, a 14th castle on the highest perch of the city, are all incredible, yet we didn’t have time to delve into all of it in just one episode. Assisi appears to be almost “fake” due to it’s restoration after the earthquake of 1997, but beyond that pristine façade, there is so much history to absorb in this small mountain top city. If you are fortunate enough to go off season, I think you will enjoy it as much as we did. https://www.kimberlysitaly.com Instagram Facebook 

Our friend Suma recounts her recent multi-day hike through the Dolomites, which were so breathtakingly beautiful, “it almost seemed like they were in a movie”.   She and her friends started in Innsbruck, Austria which was a good route to drive to prepare them for the stunning geography they would see for the rest of the trip. This episode delves into the logistics of the trip, including the benefits of using a company to book accommodations and transfers.  We also discuss the hiking experience itself, the fitness level required and the surprising lack of crowds even during the busy Italian tourist month of September. Suma also shares her insights into the Ladin culture of the region, the warm hospitality of the locals, and the hearty mountain cuisine that fueled their journey. She convinced us to go next September, so you might feel the same! https://www.kimberlysitaly.com Instagram Facebook 

It was our first time at the quintessential Tuscan dream dinner... one long table for 50 people, outdoors, at night, on the edge of the Arno River in Florence. The guests were from around the world, all gathered to celebrate our mutual friend Lolita. The table was topped with endless candles, flowers, wine bottles, etc., busy but beautiful. This dinner was the last night of our somewhat short 4-day stay in Florence, and what a treat it was!  However, earlier in the day we went to one of my favorite places, Michelangelo's house on Via Ghibellina. Casa Buonarroti is filled with color, artwork and history, but most importantly, you can't help but revel in the fact that you are walking through the same rooms that Mic did! 

A full day in beautiful Florence / Firenze included the perfect lunch in Piazza Santo Spirito, and then an energetic walk straight uphill to Piazzale Michelangelo to combat the amazing gnocchi, compliments of Osteria Santo Spirito. The view from the Piazzale did not disappoint, yet times have changed and that meant there was no more shade to beat the heat. After multiple bottles of water, we descended to the Arno River and enjoyed a lazy stroll while taking in the view. The evening culminated in the aforementioned Bisteca Fiorentina, an Aperol Spritz (or two) in Oltrarno, and pure joy in meeting up with old friends in this magical city.

Our first night in Firenze was anything but mellow and relaxing. Instead, it involved a faulty jacuzzi and a cast of characters to fix it. Luckily, it all worked out in the end, and we had a new friend in Francesca and her colleagues, who treated us to a lovely lunch that turned out to be one of the best meals of the trip! Firenze was quite warm for the second week of October, and we shared the city with a copious amount of other tourists. Yet, the capital of Toscana still warrants attention with it's architecture and history, so we made the most of it and walked and walked and walked, as one does so easily in bel'italia.