celebration

See Umbria Jazz Festival’s 40th Berklee Anniversary celebration

I always look for festivals that are more than just a music lineup, and Umbria Jazz in Perugia totally delivered. It’s an event where the music truly becomes part of the city itself, creating this incredible atmosphere from July 11-20, 2025. I was excited to see how they weave jazz into the fabric of such a historic Italian location, making it feel like a genuine cultural celebration. It’s not just about listening; it’s about experiencing music spread throughout the charming

Rome’s Birthday Celebration and Gardens to See

I first heard about Rome’s birthday, the Natale di Roma, from a friend who lives in Trastevere. She told me that on April 21st, the city throws a party that feels less like a tourist event and more like a giant, ancient block party. According to legend, Romulus founded Rome on 21 April 753 BC, and the city still celebrates it with parades, historical re-enactments, and gladiator fights at the Circus Maximus. I knew I had to see it for

Italy’s Seven Carnivals: A Celebration of Chaos

My recent travels through Italy revealed a side of the country I never knew existed—a vibrant, chaotic, and utterly unforgettable celebration of culture and community. This year, the carnival season felt like a true convergence of Italy’s most spectacular events, with Putignano Carnival joining the ranks of Viareggio, Ivrea, Acireale, Fano, and Cento, creating an unparalleled spectacle. It’s an experience that truly embodies the spirit of Italian festivity. The Capital of Papier-Mâché Viareggio Carnival Viareggio in Tuscany sets the stage

Emily
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A Morning With Florence’s Artisans in Oltrarno

On Via della Chiesa 29R in the Oltrarno, Ginevra Gemmi works in the studio where she was born — handcrafting jewelry without moulds or reproductions, in gold, silver, bronze, and natural stones, on a street she grew up on. That kind of continuity isn’t rare in this district. Bottega Conti has been producing traditional paper marbling since 1786. Some furniture restorers on Via Maggio work in the same rooms their grandparents occupied decades earlier. The Oltrarno’s artisan identity didn’t develop to serve tourists — it predates the tourism industry entirely, and that sequence matters for understanding what you’re actually

A Morning With Florence’s Artisans in Oltrarno

On Via della Chiesa 29R in the Oltrarno, Ginevra Gemmi works in the studio where she was born — handcrafting jewelry without moulds or reproductions, in gold, silver, bronze, and natural stones, on a street she grew up on. That kind of continuity isn’t rare in this district. Bottega Conti has been producing traditional paper marbling since 1786. Some furniture restorers on Via Maggio work in the same rooms their grandparents occupied decades earlier. The Oltrarno’s artisan identity didn’t develop to serve tourists — it predates the tourism industry entirely, and that sequence matters for understanding what you’re actually

Milan’s Hidden Vintage Boutiques That Rival Any Fashion Week Find

Walk into Cavalli e Nastri on a Tuesday morning in Brera and you’re surrounded by silk Pucci prints from the 1960s and Versace jersey from the 1980s, each piece tagged and documented. This isn’t a thrift store in the conventional sense — it’s a deliberate archive, and the price tags make that obvious. What separates Milan’s vintage scene from most European cities is that access to fashion-industry supply chains is built into the city’s fabric. According to Milan Tourism, fashion houses regularly pass samples and archive pieces to dealers they’ve worked with for years, while wealthy Milanese residents direct

Furore’s Fjord Beach Hides Below a Bridge Most Drivers Never Stop For

I was driving the SS163 Amalfitana, the road that snakes along the coast between Positano and Amalfi, when I passed a bridge and caught a flash of blue below. I pulled over where I could, walked back, and looked down — a narrow gorge dropped straight into the sea, with a tiny pebble beach at the bottom. That’s how I found Furore’s fjord, a place I’d read about but wasn’t prepared for the scale of it. The SS163 bridge crosses 30 metres above the water — and most people drive right over it without stopping. – thewomtravel.com Emily’s Take

Skip Positano’s Crowds and Swim at Fornillo Before Sunrise Instead

I stood on the pebbles of Fornillo Beach at 5:45 AM, the sun not yet over the cliffs, and watched the water turn from grey to gold. No one else was there except a fisherman checking his boat. That moment alone made the early alarm worth it. Fornillo is Positano’s second beach, reachable by a 300-meter cliffside path, and it’s about 30% less crowded than the main Spiaggia Grande, according to local guides. If you’re looking for a way to enjoy Positano’s coastline without the chaos, this is it. Fornillo Beach sees roughly 30% fewer visitors than Positano’s main

Cetara Still Smells Like Anchovies and That’s Exactly the Point

I stepped off the bus onto the SS163 and the first thing I registered was the smell. Not the floral perfume of lemons that hangs over most of the Amalfi Coast. Something saltier. Sharper. Anchovies. Cetara makes no apologies for what it is — a working fishing village where colatura di alici has been pressed from fermented anchovies for centuries. In 2020, that amber liquid earned EU protected designation of origin status, legally tying it to this single stretch of coastline. Colatura di alici di Cetara is the liquid from fermenting salted anchovies in wooden barrels (terzigni), legally protected