Italy

Since I first visited as a teenager, Italy has had a hold on my heart.  I returned a couple years later to spend a summer here learning both Italian and my host mom’s amazing tiramisu recipe, and now I make sure to come back every couple years.  It calls to me, and I want other people to love its nooks and crannies as much as I do.
Sure, Florence and Rome get all the glory (and I love them to death), but get out to the vineyards of Montepulciano, hike the trails of Cinque Terre (which, sadly isn’t as under-the-radar anymore), and sun on the beaches of Sicily.  Devour real pizza and pasta and arancini and panna cotta and all the food that my favorite cuisine has to offer.  Sit and drink a bottle of wine and watch the sunset.  I’ll share my best tips for secret viewpoints, how to structure your itinerary, how to use Italian trains, and how to fall in love with this amazing country!