Nov 11, 2011

Tivoli’s Fountains

Context Tour, Part 2: Villa d' Este

By Lisa T. Bergren

After our visit to Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana), we moved up the hill to the Renaissance estate inspired by the crumbling remains, Villa d’ Este. Here, Cardinal Ippolito d’ Este built one of the finest 16^th century villas and gardens ever created, on the site of a Roman villa and beside a Benedictine monastery. It was—and still is—so awe-inspiring, that many European gardens were modeled after it. Continue reading

Nov 7, 2011

Gelato Crawl

The Best (?) Gelaterie in Rome

By Lisa T. Bergren

Looking for the best gelato in Rome? Ask anyone who’s been to the city and they’ll talk about the historical sites, the wondrous sculpture, the amazing art, the delicious wine and pasta. And then they’ll mention gelato. “The gelato…you gotta have the gelato.” And then they’ll tell you which gelaterie you need to go to…and believe me, they’ll all have different suggestions. Continue reading

Nov 6, 2011

The Best Gelato in Rome!

Download our map of the best gelaterie...

Download our GELATO MAP with names and locations of the best gelato in Rome! Many of them taste-tested by Emma and Lisa Bergren on their recent trip to the Eternal City…

Download Here

Nov 5, 2011

Grand Canal, Venice

Moment of Peace Video

A gentle ride down the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy on the vaparetto…Enjoy! Continue reading

Feb 25, 2011

My 10 Most Memorable Travel Moments

In no particular order after #1, which started it all...

By Lisa T. Bergren

#1 Staring at the Pantheon aglow, beside husband and best friends, all of us abroad for the first time in twenty years. Stunned, we all kept repeating, “Can you believe we’re seeing this?!” (Rome, Italy) Continue reading

Aug 12, 2010

How to Grocery Shop in Italy

Embrace the Experience!

By Lisa T. Bergren

My cousin and her husband are renting a private villa in Tuscany this Fall with three other couples and I’m drooling with envy. Sure, the villa and views will be sumptuous. But I’d kill to sink my teeth into the hand-crafted mozzarella or perfect, Roma tomatoes or spicy, local sausage or tart, dry Pecorino cheese…We love cooking in Italy! For us, it’s a part of the experience. And so is the grocery shopping. Continue reading

Jun 9, 2010

A Dream Realized

From an Image in a Magazine to Living It

By Lisa T. Bergren

It began with a “Room with a View” feature in Conde Nast’s Traveler.  A shot out the window from Terre di Nano that captured what I’d been longing for—a visit to the heart of Tuscany—territory in which we could just be, absorb, live like the locals. Continue reading

Feb 14, 2010

Happy Valentine’s Day, World!

What's the most romantic place you've visited?

OK, where is the most romantic place you’ve been? Comment and share the “love”…Via Dell’ Amore—the “Way of Love”…Happy Valentine’s Day to you all! Continue reading

Feb 6, 2010

Venice, Italy

Venezia for the entire family

By Lisa T. Bergren, 2007; updated 2/6/10

Our entry into Venezia was less than auspicious. Our GPS wasn’t programmed right, so we weren’t sure we were heading the right way (signs were surprisingly unhelpful!); it was pouring rain, and we were almost out of time to get the rental cars turned in and our keys for the apartment in time. STRESS! Continue reading

Feb 3, 2010

3 Generations Tour Tuscany

Siena, Florence, San Galgano and Chianti

By Lisa T. Bergren, 2007, updated 1/31/10

We did a March 2007 trip with two grandparents (in their 60s), two parents (in their 40s) and three kids (ages 11. 8 and 4). Our first leg of the trip was in Rome, and our third was Venice, but Tuscany, as always it seems, stole our hearts.

Day 1:

We drove up from Rome (about 2 hours from the airport) on Saturday afternoon and had to get groceries before reaching our agriturismo, the incredible Odina, where we shared the luxurious, roomy, fabulous Redento villa, complete with full kitchen and wood-burning pizza oven (see pizza oven tips below). Continue reading