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 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

Dec 16, 2009

Romantic Italian Getaway, Pt. 6/6

Montepulciano, Italy

By Lisa T. Bergren

We are nearing the end of our romantic sojourn in Tuscany, and we’ve saved the hill town behind us, known for its vino nobile, for last. We’ve been to Montepulciano before, briefly, but today we have the luxury of slow, casual observation and touring. Continue reading

Dec 15, 2009

Do you know what these are?

Montepulciano, Italy

Old cemetery stones? Roman settlement stones? Fill us in! They were incorporated into a wall on the main street through Montepulciano, Italy. Please comment below! Continue reading

Dec 10, 2009

Romantic Italian Getaway, Pt. 5

Pienza, Classic Medieval/Renaissance Town

By Lisa T. Bergren

We’ve been circumventing her perimeter for days now, and can see her in the distance from our villa, Terre di Nano. But today is the first time we’re setting out, solely to tour the ancient city of the pope, once called Corsignano, but renamed in honor of his holiness’ presence, Pienza. Continue reading

Dec 8, 2009

Romantic Italian Getaway, Pt. 4

Pitigliano and Saturnia, Massa Maritima

By Lisa T. Bergren

In the name of novel research, we’re on the trail of the Etruscans (a people who inhabited Italy in the 2nd-5th centuries B.C.) and so Tim and I head down to south and west to  Pitigliano. There is a huge Etruscan museum in Chiusi that looks fab—just 40 minutes away—but I’m wanting to stay in the Tuscany vacation mindset, and Chiusi is pretty modern. So we opt for a smaller venue, farther away. Continue reading

Dec 7, 2009

Romantic Italian Getaway, Pt. 3

Val d'Orcia & Montalcino

By Lisa T. Bergren

So our fabulous, summer-like weather has come to an end, and it’s suddenly autumn here in Tuscany. Dips in the pool are no longer a possibility since the high is about 55 degrees today and it’s not looking like it will get warmer. The staff has covered the pool and anchored it with rocks–not something you can just peel back–and apparently believe that we’ve finally embraced our Octoberdom. Continue reading

Dec 5, 2009

Romantic Italian Getaway, Pt. 2

Monticchiello, Italy

By Lisa T. Bergren

You know those romantic, calendar-worthy shots in Tuscany that are taken of winding, cypress lined roads, among fields and stone houses? Yeah, they’ve likely been shot from locations all around us. Continue reading